Archive of Our Own

☆彡

‎Has anyone ever wondered why stars are constantly shaded with many hues of yellow and oranges, despite the fact that it can also take the appearance of vivid blues and deep reds?

Rui always wondered why they had such views on that subject—making him recall a memory back in kindergarten, the scent of wax crayons still fresh in his mind.

All the kids around him reached for the same old customary yellow, while he settled on its polar opposite, complimentary blue. He pressed the crayon down onto the paper, filling the sharp points of the star with brilliant blue strokes. Rigel has the same color, he mused, one of the brightest stars ever discovered. His thoughts were then suddenly interrupted by a shocked voice coming from behind him.

‎"Ah! Rui-kun, you are supposed to color the star yellow! Here, take this crayon." ‎The kindergarten teacher outstretched her palm over to Rui with a sweet smile placed on her lips.

He wanted to tell her that he wasn't mistaken. However, he also knew that the kind woman meant no offense. With slight hesitation, ‎his short fingers gently closed around the crayon, taking it from the woman’s hand. ‎

"Thank you... teacher." Rui returned the smile. 

‎For years, the question kept repeating in his head like a broken record, a stubborn, childish fixation he couldn't seem to shake. He knew it was ridiculous to care so much. Yet, all of that changed when he met him, him who bears the tones of golden yellow he unconsciously spite so much. He never thought someone could emit such radiating brilliance—they were brighter than everyone else, than the Sun, than Rigel.

‎"Kamishiro Rui, I want you to make shows with me!” The boy’s voice rang throughout the rooftop, earning the glances of the other students that were either eating lunch or just chatting with their friends.

“Well... that’s not an unappealing idea.”

“Great! Now that you agreed—”

“Seems like we share a passion for theater, and I wish you the best of luck Tenma-kun. Let’s meet again some other time.” Rui stated before heading to the door, earning a surprised exclamation from the man behind him.

“What, why?! I thought you would accept my invitation!” Tsukasa asked as he turned around, visibly bewildered.

“The thing is...” he paused for a moment, carefully thinking about his next words. “I like to work alone, and seeing the audience smile is quite enough for me.” The shorter man let out a scoff as soon as Rui finished talking.

“Then you are making a mistake by not joining me!”

“Oh? And why is that?” Rui inquired, his voice laced with curiosity.

“Because I will be a future international super-star, and you’d want me on your stage!” 

“Huh...?” 

“I sensed that you are a brilliant director, Rui. I promise you, that every single idea you throw at me, every role you want me to play, I'll put twelve thousand percent of my effort and passion into it!" He paused, extending a hand towards the taller man. The rays of the evening sun caught in his fingers, outlining them in gold. Rui’s breath suddenly got caught in his throat, captivated by the boy in front of him.

‎"So what do you say, Rui? Care to join my troupe?" Tsukasa asked with a big smile on his face. Rui slightly hesitated, just like back then. While thinking, his vision flickered down towards the the school yard below them, where a figure of a familiar person can be seen.

“This might be a great opportunity...” he murmured beneath his breath.

“Huh what was that?” Tsukasa questioned as he headed closer to Rui, trying to pinpoint what he was looking at. “Someone you know?”

“I will join you on the condition that you also invite a person I recommend.” A small smile appeared on his lips, heart beating faster as he awaited a response from the other.

‎"That’s fantastic! I got two new members in one go!” The golden boy exclaimed as he striked a over-the-top victory pose. “Let’s aim for the greatest stardom with our troupe. I look forward to working with you, Kamishiro Rui!" 

From that moment on, Rui knew he would be up for a ride, that he finally found someone special, whom he could express his ideas without judgment. ‎All those event feels like a fever dream now, and it made him realize how the world of entertainment is a place hard to live in.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

‎Roaring applauses echoed through the enclosed theater as the final day of their performance, namely Parade to Heaven, came to an end, and with flying colors at that. The group waved goodbye to the audiences as they headed towards the backstage. 

As soon as he was hidden behind the large curtain, Tsukasa's leg buckled as if all his burdens had finally crushed him. Fortunately, Rui was there to catch him, prompting the two girls to approach them with worried expressions.‎

"Thank you, Rui." Tsukasa sheeply smiled at him while trying to regain his balance. 

He hated how vulnerable the boy looked in his arms just now. It’s all because he pushed himself—no, how Sakaki pushed Tsukasa to the very edge, even having the intention to throw him off the endless darkness all for the sake of this role. Rui couldn't bring himself to do that to Tsukasa. However, the success of today's performance was undoubtedly all thanks to the rigorous training Sakaki put them all through.

If he can't do it, is he still worthy of that star? To help him fulfill his dream, to meet his expectations, to lift him to much greater heights? Rui is afraid of knowing the answer. However, he needed to do something about this dilemma; he can't let Tsukasa endure anything more heartless, anything more painful… when he's the one that allowed this happen.

“A-Are you okay Tsukasa-kun?!” Emu asked, her voice stuttering.

“I’m fine, I just need to sleep this off!”

“Geez, you’ve gone too far this time, idiot… Don’t make us worry again like that.” Nene chimed in, slight annoyance in her tone, but still visibly concerned.

Tsukasa apologized to the three of them as he scratched his cheek. Rui pulled the blond on a corner once things had settle down, amber eyes looking at his golden ones.

“Tsukasa-kun, there’s something I need to tell you... alone. Would it be alright if we go home together later once things wrap up?” Rui whispered, enough for the man in front of him to hear.

“Of course! How could I ever turn down the request of my dear director?” 

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Shibuya at night feels like another world. Despite the fact that the sun had already set, the area was still brilliantly lit by the massive screens displaying various advertisements, as well as neon lights from various stores hung up to attract customers. 

Regardless of the noise that surrounded them, Rui could only hear the frantic beat of his heart as he stared at the back of the blond’s head, his hair illuminated silver by the street lights as they passed by.

‎"Tsukasa-kun." Rui said before abruptly stopping in his tracks, a chilly breeze blowing right past them.

‎"What is it, Rui?" Tsukasa glanced over his shoulder before fully facing the taller man.

‎"Can you stop acting like that from now on?" Rui dropped the question, a bewildered expression plastered on Tsukasa’s face soon followed after. Of course he would be shocked, acting is everything to him if he lose that one thing he will— 

‎"What are you talking about...?" Tsukasa replied with a crack in his voice, visibly shaken up by what Rui said to him. 

‎"…I want you to stop the method of acting you’ve been using; it's not healthy for you. Emu-kun, Nene, and I might have been able to stop you from falling deeper this time, but there is no guarantee we will have the chance to do the same in the future, so—"

‎"Why does that matter?" The blond in front of him spoke up, cutting through Rui's words. His eyes hollow and tired. Before he could respond, Tsukasa spoke again. "This clearly helped us deliver the best performance of Wonderlands x Showtime yet. Didn't you see the smiles on their faces…?"

‎"I didn't see your smile!" Rui quickly retorted.

‎Tsukasa let out a faint gasp from his lips, taken aback by what the man had said.

"For the past few days, you didn’t look like yourself. We can't stand it... I can't stand it." Rui clenched his chest, as he squeezed his eyes shut, silence growing louder by the second.

‎"Alright."

‎Rui looked up at him, so fast the world seemed to shake violently.

‎"I'll do as you say. If I did, would that stop you from hurting so much?" Tsukasa flashed a sad smile at him, and before he could realize, the shorter man was already enveloping him in a hug.

It's so warm, he thought, the people around took a glance at them as they passed by. But at this moment, he didn't care at what those people thought of them. He raised his arms to return the hug before gently whispering to Tsukasa.

‎"Yes… yes it would."

From that point on, Tsukasa seemed more lively—freer even, just as Rui had always wished to see him. But that frail ray of hope vanished all too quickly. It was like being trapped in the depths of a sunless ocean, catching a flicker of light in the distance, only to realize it was nothing more than a cruel hallucination feeding a desperate fantasy.

‎They couldn’t surpass that legendary performance. No matter how hard they pushed, they couldn't reach the impossible height of the audience's expectations, and Tsukasa shouldered every ounce of that failure alone.

‎“It’s not your fault, Tsukasa-kun... please...” Emu’s voice quavered as she rubbed his trembling back in small, soothing circles. Tsukasa sank onto the cold floor, violent sobs tearing through his throat—Rui had never seen him break like this before. Even out of the corner of his vision, he could see Nene standing frozen, visibly shaken.

‎A wave of guilt crashed over Rui. He needed to say it. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I pushed too hard. It’s my fault, it’s my fault, itsmyfaultitsmyfaultitsmyfau—

‎”It’s your fault…!”

The sharp shout shattered the frantic loop in Rui’s head. He couldn't say anything, he can’t even deny it, because it’s true, and it hurts a thousand—no, a million times more hearing it from the man himself.

‎“I’m sorry…” Rui finally managed to croak out; who would’ve thought muttering a few syllables takes this much effort? He looked down at Tsukasa, hot tears stinging his eyes. “I’m really sorry.”

‎Tsukasa instantly slapped a hand over his mouth, horror replacing the anger on his face as he realized what he’d just uttered. He forced himself to stand, head throbbing from all the crying.

‎“I—I didn’t... I didn’t mean that to say that." Tsukasa choked out, his chest heaving as he tried to swallow down the lingering sobs. “I apologize, Rui. I was out of line. I wasn't being myself.”

The taller man reached out, stepping forward to gently rest a hand on Tsukasa’s shoulder, earning him a flinch in return.

‎“I understand,” he said softly. “You’re just frustrated... exhausted. You feel that you aren't enough, don't you? But that couldn't be more further from the truth.”

‎Tsukasa kept his gaze locked onto the floor, his voice barely an audible whisper. “How could you possibly know that...?”

‎‎“Because to me—to all of us—you are already the brightest star in the world of theater,” the taller man uttered, his heart aching at the fragile sight before him. “You just haven’t seen your own light yet.”

‎“... Is that true?”

‎“Have I ever lied to my star?”

When Tsukasa finally lifted his head, Rui took the chance without hesitation. He reached up, his thumb tenderly brushing away the hot tears clinging to the man's eyes. Before the blond could pull away, a burst of pink crashed into him—Emu wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind, burying her face into his back and nearly knocking him off balance.

‎‎“It’s true, Tsukasa-kun!” Emu sobbed into his coat, her voice muffled and wet with tears. “You’re super-duper shiny whenever you’re on stage! You make everyone smile!”

‎“Emu’s right,” Nene added softly, stepping closer. “Rui even admitted you shine brighter than Rigel, his favorite star.”

“N-Nene...!” Rui’s breath caught, a rush of warmth hitting his pale cheeks.

A faint, breathy sound made Rui snap his attention back. Tsukasa was chuckling softly, his body still leaning against the taller man's chest for support.

‎“Is that so?” Tsukasa said. “Well... I suppose if even Rui admits it, then I really am quite incredible, aren't I?”

He pulled back slightly and offered Rui a warm, dazzling smile—the exact, practiced expression of a star who had everything under control. Rui felt a surge of relief, too grateful for the return of that smile to question the lingering sadness in Tsukasa’s eyes. He was, after all, a brilliant actor. None of them suspected a single thing.

‎Which made it all the more terrifying when, three days later, they found out he had tried to take his own life.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Beep beep beep

The rhythmic beeping of a machine filled the air, hands of the clock ticking away quietly accompanying it. The room was almost entirely white, making the boy's golden hair a stark contrast. Rui approached the bed, his legs heavy with every step.

There he was, sleeping peacefully. Rui would've mistake him for a corpse if it weren't for the cardiac machine constantly ringing in his ear. Another empty vase sat on the table by the window. Perfect. Now he had a place for the flowers he'd brought, yet again.

“Wow these tulips are beautiful, thank you Kamishiro-san!” Saki says, as she takes the bouquet from his hands.

“It’s nothing, I apologize for my constant visit…” 

“Don’t say that, I’m sure my brother is very happy whenever you go out of your way to see him.” 

Rui took a glance at Saki, already arranging the tulips into the vase. Alongside the new blooms were daisies, sunflowers, and white lilies—all brought by him during his visits over the past few days. He really should stop bringing more, lest this hospital room turn into an impromptu flower shop.

Without him realizing, they established eye contact. It was awkward, but Rui doesn't have the courage to look away, because if he did, it would seem like he's running away. Not a second after, tears started to escape from the girl's eyes.

“W-What should I do Kamishiro-san…?” She choked in between sobs. “What if my brother never wakes up again...?”

“That’s not true Saki-kun!” Rui blurted out without thinking, his nails digging onto his palm as he clenched his fist, sure it would leave some crescent marks.

“Your brother is a strong man, believe in him. Once you know it, he's already up and running all over the place.” He tried to comfort the girl, as well as himself.

“You’re right…” Saki replied as she wiped her tears using the cuffs of her cardigan. “My brother would be devastated to see me like this when he tried so hard to make me smile.”

Rui’s eyes went wide at that statement, his heart almost stopping. He unwillingly recalled what happened that night in Shibuya. If only… if only he didn't say that…!

“What’s wrong Kamishiro-san? You look pale…”

“Ah... It’s nothing, I-I should be going now.”

“I see, thank you for visiting today!” the blonde smiled as she bowed.

Rui nodded in response before retreating towards the door, glancing over his shoulder to see Saki sitting besides Tsukasa. "I’m sorry," he muttered under his breath, the girl was about to ask the man what he had said only to realize that he wasn’t there anymore.

Since that day, Rui hasn't gone outside. Wonderlands x Showtime announced their hiatus, of course they would, how could they do performances without their leader?

He started ignoring everyone, his teachers, his parents, his friends… Rui knows that he makes them worried. He feels bad about it, really, but he couldn't find the motivation to do anything.

His life was a mess, it’s been three months and a half since then, and nothing had changed. Tsukasa is still in comatose, those words of comfort he uttered that day now feels like a dream out of reach.

“Tsukasa…” Rui winced at his raspy voice.

He looked towards the window, his reflection staring back at him. Eyes dull and devoid of light, heavy bags underneath, he looked like a mess.

His vision suddenly flickered towards the night sky outside, catching a glance at a bright shooting star traveling towards the horizon. There is only one wish he wants to make, to bring Tsukasa back to them, and so he did, from the bottom of his heart.

Moments later, a chime can be heard coming from his phone. Rui unhurriedly brought it closer to his face, making him squint from the sudden source of light, only to see seconds later what the message contained—He’s awake.

‎Rui was so out of breath when he reached the hospital, he could hear the nurses scolding him not to run through the halls, however, he couldn’t care less.

‎Now he stood in front of the door, his hand hovering over the handle as a sudden wave of terrifying anticipation washed over him. Taking a deep breath to steady his shaky composure, he reached out and gently slid the door open.

“H-Hey Rui… it’s been a while!”

Tsukasa greeted him from the hospital bed, his voice lighter than it had any right to be, though his breath hitched slightly at the sight of him.

Rui stepped inside, his vision briefly blurring as he took in the room. Everyone was already there Ichika, Saki, Honami, Shiho, An, Toya, Akito, Emu, and Nene. Their faces marked by a quiet, collective relief.

‎There were a thousand things suffocating him in that moment—months of unsaid worries, restless nights, and a paralyzing fear that he might never hear that voice again. The carefully rehearsed speech he thought of evaporated into nothingness, rendering him completely speechless.

‎A single tear slipped past his lashes before he could stop it. A fragile, brilliant smile finally broke through the despair on his face, finally letting out the breath he felt like he’d been holding forever.

“Welcome back… Tsukasa-kun.”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

‎The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting shadows over the crowded park. Weekend energy filled the air as children ran across the grass. Tsukasa and Nene sat on a shaded bench while Rui stood nearby.
‎
‎Emu suddenly burst into their space, holding a hot, steaming pastry.
‎
‎“Tsukasa-kun, Tsukasa-kun! Here, have some taiyaki! It’s really delicious!”
‎
‎“Thank you, Emu! It looks appetizing!” Tsukasa said, taking the hot snack.
‎
‎“And these are for Rui-kun and Nene-chan!” The girl handed out the rest.
‎
‎They thanked her and took a bite. As the girls chatted, Rui’s gaze soon landed on the locks of blond hair. It's hard not to, really. But as he watched him, a strange feeling settled in his chest.
‎
‎The taller man stepped closer and met his eyes. “Tsukasa-kun, would you mind coming with me to buy drinks for everyone?”
‎
‎“I’d love to!” Tsukasa stood up immediately, overly enthusiastic.
‎
‎Rui gave a faint smile, though the reaction felt off. Was Tsukasa usually this excited about a vending machine run?
‎
‎“We’ll be right back, Nene.”
‎
‎“Alright, don’t take too long.”
‎
‎They walked over to the vending machines at the edge of the park. As Rui picked out the usual drinks, he noticed Tsukasa lingering by the machine next to him, staring at the options with an odd hesitation.
‎
‎“Is there something else you’d like, Tsukasa-kun?”
‎
‎“Ah… well, can I get this… ma…tcha? Yes, this one?” Tsukasa pointed, stumbling over the word.
‎
‎“Fufu, of course. Here."
‎
‎“Thank you, Rui!” Tsukasa smiled, reaching out to take the coin.
‎
‎As their fingers brushed, a wave of unease hit him. A thought was taking shape—one he desperately hoped was wrong.
‎
‎“Hey… can I ask you something?”
‎
‎“Hm? What is it?” The blond bent down to grab the drink.
‎
‎“You’re not Tsukasa… are you?”
‎
‎The heavy, metallic clatter of the falling can sounded deafening in the silence between them.
‎
‎“S-Sorry! I might have startled you—I accidentally dropped it,” the boy stammered.
‎
‎He slowly knelt to pick up the cold can, then froze entirely. After a long moment, he stood up and turned to Rui. The fake cheer was gone, replaced by a sad, quiet look.
‎
‎“How did you know…?” he asked softly.
‎
‎“… Because he’s someone important to me. I like him.” Rui said, his voice dropping. “So I tend to notice when something is different.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “Though I didn’t notice when it actually mattered…”
‎
“I really want to bring him back. I swear I do… but I don’t know how. I’m sorry…” ‎The blond lowered his head, tone filled with guilt.
‎
‎Rui let out a tired sigh. “It’s fine.”
‎
‎The cold condensation from the cans in his hands brought him back to reality. They had been gone for a while, Emu and Nene might start to get worried.

‎“Let’s head back.” Rui said, turning, keeping a clear distance between them.
‎
‎“Okay.”
‎
‎The walk back was completely silent. Rui was glad for it, he couldn't bring himself to make small talk with a stranger wearing Tsukasa’s face.
‎
‎When they returned, Emu looked up from the bench, her smile instantly fading as she saw Rui’s expression.
‎
‎“Rui-kun? Is something wrong?”
‎
‎The shorter girl peeked from under his bangs. Everything was dark, his vision swam, and he felt like he was underwater, suffocating. He wanted to throw up, he needed to throw up, and so he did—the disgusting sound echoed in his head as the concerned voices gradually faded. The last thing he saw before passing out was the look on the stranger's face—a expression that clearly said, This is my fault, isn't it?

When Rui woke up, he saw a vast of white ceiling, so bright it almost blinded him.

“Where am I…?” 

“The clinic.”

The sudden voice startled him, he looked at his left where the sound came from. It was Nene—Rui let out a sigh of relief, putting a hand over his face, blocking the glaring light.

“What happened between you and Tsukasa earlier?” Nene questioned.

“Tsukasa is…” He started, but after that he hesitated, should he say it? What would her reaction be if he does? He needs to answer her, now. “Nothing… I'm just tired.”

“Liar.”

Rui was surprised by the girl's sudden accusation, his heart almost stopping.

“Something 's up with that guy isn't it?”

“How can you say for sure?”

“We're childhood friends, I could immediately tell when you're lying.”

Rui lets out a few chuckles, but not long before it soon turned into uncontrollable sobs, choking sounds escaping from his lips as saliva gets caught in his throat.

“Nene… The truth is, Tsukasa…”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

“What should I do...?” Tsukasa muttered, clutching his hair as anxiety gnawed at him.

He paced back and forth across the room, suddenly, he caught his reflection in the mirror, stopping him dead in his tracks.

“What did I expect...? I’m just a fraud,” he whispered, pressing a hand against the cool glass. “I’m sorry...”

Heavy silence enveloped the room, broken only by the faint hum of distant traffic, it only amplified the voices inside his head. Why was he here? Who was he? Where did he come from?

“Please... just answer me!”

“What is it, Big Brother?”

The sudden voice made him jump out of his skin. He spun around to find Saki looking at him with concern.

“Ah... Saki. When did you get back?” he asked, quickly trying to compose himself.

“Just a few minutes ago. I called for you, but you didn't answer, so I came upstairs.”

“Oh.” He rubbed his temple with a weary sigh. Even with the real Tsukasa’s memories residing in his mind, playing the part was agonizingly difficult.

“Is something wrong? You look out of it…” Saki said with concern, stepping closer. “Does something hurt?”

“Saki... if, hypothetically, an entirely different person woke up in this body instead of me... what would you do?”

Saki blinked, taken aback. “Huh...?”

God, I'm so stupid. Why did I ask that? I'm going to blow my cover! Panicking internally, he suppressed the urge to pull his hair out. Look at her—she's definitely suspicious now!

“If that ever happened...” Saki began, her expression softening, “I wouldn't be worried at all.”

He froze. “...Why?”

‎“Because you would never let something like that to happen! Like Kamishiro-san had said, you’re a strong person.”

A cold sweat broke out across his neck as the reality crashed over him again: I'm literally in his body right now!

“Right, Big Brother?” Saki offered a bright, trusting smile.

He stood paralyzed, unable to find his voice. A suffocating ache tightened his chest.

‎“Yeah,” he forced out, plastering on the same dazzling grin he remembered from the boy's memories.

Just then, their parents' voices echoed, calling them down for dinner.

‎Even if the guilt swallowed him alive, he could never let anyone find out. Except for Rui, who had already seen right through him. He still didn't understand why he felt such an instinctual trust in that boy—was it simply because the original owner of this body 'liked' him as well?

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

“I’m sorry, Tsukasa-kun. I had to tell Nene about your situation.” Rui said, bowing deeply with his hands pressed together in apology. Beside him, Nene simply stared at the boy, any lingering sense of familiarity entirely gone.

“So much for liking you.” Tsukasa muttered under his breath with a faint sigh.

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“Ah, it’s nothing!”

“Well, if you say so…”

‎The warm, sunny atmosphere quickly turned glum—at least for Tsukasa. He looked up at the sky, watching the clouds move so slowly they almost seemed frozen in place.

“Are you going to tell Emu too?”

“No.” Nene answered, a heavy note of guilt lacing her voice. Tsukasa understood all too well; keeping something like this from one of your closest friends was excruciating.

‎“I see,” he said in a low tone. “I’m sorry, Nene, Rui. You two—everyone waited for so long only for a complete stranger to wake up.”

“It’s… okay. You didn’t want this to happen either, right?” Nene offered gently as she sat on the bench beside him, though she kept a deliberate meter of distance between them. Rui, however, sat directly in between. He had never seemed overly wary of him in the first place—or perhaps that was just Tsukasa's own perception.

“I’m actually not so sure about that,” the blond confessed, resting his hands in his lap. “I lost my memories, so I don’t even know who I am.” He looked back at the pair, both of whom were watching him intently, waiting for what he would say next.

“So who knows… maybe I did want this.”

‎A heavy quiet settled over the rooftop. Neither of the two spoke, but the silence was surprisingly devoid of awkwardness. After a long moment, the chime of the school bell resounded, signaling the end of lunch break. Tsukasa was the first to stand, brushing the dust off his trousers.

“Don’t worry, I’ll act just like him so no one else finds out,” he said, stepping away without looking back before disappearing down the stairwell.

“We should get back to class too.” Rui offered, standing up.

‎Nene gave a quiet nod. They descended the rooftop stairs together, before splitting off toward their respective classrooms. Rui entered the room quietly and took his seat, his eyes landing on the blond across the room, who seemed visibly troubled.

‎"What's wrong, Tenma-kun? I've never seen you so down!" A male classmate approached him, patting his back. Tsukasa was startled; right, he was supposed to be acting cheerful.

‎"Oh my! If you really insist to know, I'm just rehearsing for our upcoming show!" he declared loudly, enough for his classmates to cover their ears, a common occurrence.

‎"I'd really appreciate it if you could come and watch, because I, Tenma Tsukasa, the star, will play the leading role!" he concluded with a loud laugh and his signature pose. He then looked at his classmate, who appeared to have had enough.

"I understand, I understand! It was an unwise decision to get concerned about Oddball #1…" the boy finally said before returning to his seat.

‎"I'm glad you get it!"
‎
‎"Get what, Tenma-kun?" A stern voice inquired as their teacher entered the classroom.
‎
‎"Ah, it's nothing, sir..." Tsukasa retreated into his seat amidst quiet chuckles.

As he did, he saw Rui staring at him, his head resting on his palm. Tsukasa shot him a grin in no time, earning a small smile from the taller man in return before turning to look at the whiteboard in front of them, signaling for him to pay attention to class.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

‎The darkness pressed in on him, accompanied by a biting cold that seeped straight into his bones. Far below, city lights glowed like embers, bleeding into a soft, golden warmth into the night. It looked so inviting, an irresistible sanctuary from the freezing void.

‎A voice suddenly broke through the stillness—muffled and distorted, as if travelling through miles of deep water. Drawn instinctively toward the faint sound, he took a step forward into the quiet abyss, only for the surface beneath him to instantly give way, leaving him plummeting into the dark.

Tsukasa opened his eyes to find himself lying on the cold, hard wooden floor. He realized it had been a dream, but the sensation felt incredibly real.

As he was still processing what had just occurred, the harsh morning light hit his face. He immediately stood up to check his phone, it was a staggering 8:45 AM, and he was late for class. 

"Hmm, I see…" Rui hummed, lost in thought as Tsukasa finished recounting his dream. The blond then noticed a caterpillar crawling on his right arm.

He gently plucked it off his blazer, bringing it closer to his face for a better look. This quickly caught the attention of the man beside him.

“... You are supposed to be acting scared right now.” 

"Ah well, this creature was so fascinating, I couldn't resist." Tsukasa explained, his gaze still fixed on the caterpillar. After a moment, he placed it back on his arm and cleared his throat.

“R-R-RUI! HELP! TAKE THIS CATERPILLAR AWAY FROM ME!!!”

The sudden scream caught Rui off guard, the students walking by also jumped by the boy's loud pleas. The taller man can't help but chuckle at the performance. His slender fingers reached out to take off the insect from Tsukasa’s arm, before gently placing it on the leaf behind them.

It was quite a bad idea to sit by the garden this time of the month, when insects are so active. To complete the act, Rui goes ahead to comfort the shorter man.

“There, Tsukasa-kun it's okay n—”

Abruptly, Tsukasa grabbed the front of his shirt and buried his face on his chest, drawing a yelp from the taller man.

“A-Are you sure…?” The blond looked up, meeting Rui's gaze.

“Y-Yeah…” Rui stuttered.

Only then did Tsukasa release his grip and return to his usual self. Throughout the encounter, Rui did not break eye contact, still reeling from the unexpected gesture.

“Hey what's wrong, Rui?”

“Oh, ah, it's nothing.”

“You sure? Your face is quite red.” Tsukasa says as he places a hand on the taller man's forehead. “You're not sick are you?”

For some reason, Rui slapped the blond’s hand away. He was quite surprised himself as well. Why did he feel so… angry?

“Don't touch me so casually, you might look like him, but you're not him.” Rui distances himself, and it hurts.

“Oh. I'm sorry…”

He found himself wishing Tsukasa would hold him longer, everywhere he touched was burning. But the guilt of seeking these things from someone who wasn't the real him weighed down in his longing heart.

“No, I should be the one apologizing. It was insensitive of me to say that.”

“Uh, I'll be heading back first then.”

Rui didn't have the chance to reply, as the boy quickly vanished from his sight. He looked down to the ground, clenching his fist.

“What should I do to get you back…? Please tell me, Tsukasa.”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Tsukasa dreamed the same dream from before, but this time, the heat was intense, as if he were being burned alive. The voice that had called him before was much louder. It sounded eerily familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it. Then, everything turned white, blinding him. When he opened his eyes, he saw these people, complete strangers, yet he recognized them somehow.

The door to his left suddenly opened, and when he saw him, he knew just that this person was incredibly important, someone connected to him. This person's name was Kamishiro Rui.

Tsukasa slowly opened his eyes. Thank goodness he hadn't fallen out of bed this time. Whatever he had been dreaming, it was definitely his memories, though still too vague to grasp anything concrete. But why now? Why not sooner?

A notification suddenly chimed from his phone. He reached for it, unlocking the screen to see a message from Emu.

Tsukasa-kun wake up! ＼⁠(⁠◎⁠o⁠◎⁠)⁠／

‎Just as Tsukasa was about to reply, he received a call from the same person. His thumb hovered over the screen to press accept, and then he was greeted by an energetic, high-pitched voice.
‎
‎“Good morning, Tsukasa-kun!”
‎
‎"Good morning, Emu." He managed to croak out, his voice still raspy from sleep.
‎
‎“Say, Tsukasa-kun, do you want to go to the beach?”
‎
‎“Huh?” Tsukasa pulled the phone back slightly. Was he hearing that right? The beach, first thing in the morning?
‎
‎“I invited Nene-chan and Rui-kun too, they both said yes!”
‎
‎“Wait, wait, wait—do you mean right now…?”
‎
‎“That's right!”
‎
‎“Well, this is so sudden—I haven't packed a single thing...” He pointed out, rubbing his temple as he glanced over at his wardrobe.
‎
‎“Don't worry, Tsukasa-kun, we already have everything ready!”

‎“That’s not the point—”
‎
‎Before he could finish his sentence, the chime of the doorbell echoed from downstairs.
‎
‎“... Don't tell me.”
‎
‎Tossing his blanket aside, he headed straight for the living room. He paused briefly at the mirror to smooth down his hair, intent on keeping up appearances. With a quiet click, he swung the front door open, revealing the trio waiting on the porch.
‎
‎“We're here, Tsukasa-kun!” Emu greeted him, waving enthusiastically.
‎
‎“Are you going to let us in or not? It's so humid out here…” Nene grumbled, looking him dead in the eye.
‎
‎“Oh—right, please come in,” he offered, stepping aside to make room.
‎
‎As he watched them pass by, a single thought crossed his mind: This is going to be a long day.
‎
‎The three guests made themselves comfortable on the couch. Tsukasa took the opportunity to ask about the sudden trip while serving them cold drinks from the kitchen.
‎
‎“So, what's with the sudden beach invitation?” he asked, setting the tray down on the coffee table.
‎
‎“What else, Tsukasa-kun? It’s summer!”
‎
‎“That’s the only reason…?”
‎
‎“What other reason would we need?” Nene chimed in after taking a sip of her juice.
‎
‎Tsukasa pondered the question for a moment. As he did, his gaze drifted over to Rui, who was already staring back at him. The instant their eyes met, Rui abruptly looked away, visibly uncomfortable with the silent interaction.
‎
‎“Oh.” Tsukasa accidentally voiced aloud, instantly catching the girls' attention.
‎
‎“What’s wrong, Tsukasa-kun?” Emu asked, narrowing her eyes. She paused, stealing a glance at the taller man beside her. “Did you and Rui-kun get into an argument?”
‎
‎“No!” Rui and Tsukasa blurted out simultaneously.
‎
‎Their eyes snapped back to each other once more in surprise. Masking the tension with a bright smile, Tsukasa stood up and turned toward the stairs.
‎
‎“Just give me time to pack my stuff so we can head out.”
‎
‎The three of them watched in silence as he vanished up the staircase.
‎
‎“So, what actually happened?” Nene demanded after a while, turning her gaze onto Rui.
‎
‎“Nothing.”
‎
‎“Liar."
‎
‎Nene always caught him off guard with how easily she saw through him. Sighing in defeat, Rui raised both hands in a quiet gesture of surrender.
‎
‎“We didn’t get into an argument, so don’t worry Emu-kun.” Rui reassured her, gently patting the pink-haired girl on the head. “We just had a… discussion.”
‎
‎“About what?” Emu pressed further, putting him on the spot.
‎
‎“Just a few things!” Tsukasa interjected from the top of the stairs, coming to his rescue. “Besides, that doesn't matter right now—today is supposed to be our fun beach trip!”
‎
‎“That outfit looks amazing on you, Tsukasa-kun!” Emu gasped, bouncing up from the couch to approach him.
‎
‎He had changed into a soft blue button-down shirt paired with white shorts and black sandals.
‎
‎“Of course it does!” Tsukasa proclaimed, striking a grand, dramatic pose. “Don’t you think so too, Rui?”
‎
‎“Huh? Oh—yes, you look very charming, Tsukasa-kun.”
‎
‎“Praise me more! You too, Nene!” Tsukasa demanded, puffing out his chest.
‎
‎“Yes, yes, you look great.” Nene muttered dryly. “But I'm afraid the grand applause will have to wait.”
‎
‎“And why is that?”
‎
‎“The train leaves in ten minutes.”
‎
‎“Ah.”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

‎The scene was nothing short of paradise on earth. A vast, endless blue ocean stretched to the horizon, its surface sparkling under the brilliant rays of the sun.

‎In the distance, cheerful laughter filled the air as children splashed in the water. The soft murmur of conversations echoed as the group strolled along the shore, searching for the perfect spot to settle down.

‎“Oh-oh! How about over there, Rui-kun?” Emu piped up.

‎“Fufu, that is a perfect spot. Good job, Emu-kun.”

‎“Let me carry that umbrella for you, Rui!” Tsukasa offered, placing a steady hand on the handle.

‎“That would be a great help.” Rui slowly released his grip, handing the heavy umbrella over.

The blond flashed him a bright smile before quickening his pace, hurrying to catch up with the pink-haired girl who had already dashed ahead.

‎“He really is a good actor, isn't he?” Nene spoke up softly from behind him.

‎“Well, he’s our one and only leader, after all.”

‎“I suppose.”

‎The two walked together in a comfortable silence, taking their time until Emu’s enthusiastic voice cut through the sound of the crashing waves.

‎“Rui-kun! Nene-chan! Over here!”

‎By the time they arrived, the umbrella and towels were already neatly set up on the sand, but the blond was nowhere to be found.

‎“Where's Tsukasa-kun?” Rui asked, setting the remaining luggage onto the ground.

‎“I don't know.” Emu admitted, tilting her head. “He just told me to wait here.”

‎“Oh well, let that idiot run around as much as he wants.”

‎“While we're waiting for Tsukasa-kun, let’s go get changed, Nene-chan!”

‎“Alright,” the green-haired girl agreed, pulling a set of swimwear from her bag before turning to Rui. “Keep an eye on our things, okay?”

‎“Got it.” The taller man nodded, retreating into the inviting shade of the umbrella. He sank into the sand, finally relieved to escape the scorching heat.

‎Beads of sweat trickled down his neck as he waited. The rising heat left him craving something cold to drink, his eyes absently tracing the rhythm of the tide.

‎“I wonder where Tsukasa-kun went…” he muttered to himself.

‎“Called for me?”

‎Something icy and wet brushed against Rui’s cheek, making him jump aside with a surprised yelp.

‎“Ah! Sorry! Did I startle you?” Tsukasa quickly apologized, stepping back to give him some room.

‎“Tsukasa-kun?”

‎“Sorry I took so long. I kinda got lost trying to find these.”

‎The blond extended a hand, offering a clear bottle. Water droplets clung to the chilled glass, cool against Rui’s fingers as he took it.

‎“Ramune…?”

‎“Yep! It's your favorite, right?”

‎“How did you know?”

‎“Well… I saw it in his memories.”

‎“Ah… that's right. I forgot.”

‎Rui stared down at the bottle, a subtle wave of nostalgia washing over his expression.

‎“Actually, I got one too! See?” Tsukasa held up his own bottle. Inside, the liquid had a pale, golden hue—lemon or yuzu, Rui assumed.

‎“I'm curious about what it tastes like,” the shorter boy admitted, a smile touching his lips. “But I don't know how to open it. So… will you do it for me?”

‎“It's much more fun if you open it yourself.” Rui replied. “Part of the experience, as you might call it.”

The boy smiled as he dropped down beside Rui, watching intently as the taller man demonstrated the process.

‎“And… push!” Rui instructed.

‎A sharp pop echoed through the air, followed by the clinking sound of the glass marble dropping inside.

‎“I did it!”

‎“You did it.” Rui repeated with a smile, taking a sip of his own drink.

The cold, sweet soda hit the spot perfectly. Tsukasa followed suit, taking a quick gulp and licking his lips to catch the flavor.

‎“Why yuzu, though?” Rui asked, raising an eyebrow. “The original tastes much better.”

‎“Oh—uh, I actually didn't check the flavor.”

‎“Wait, really…?”

‎The blond nodded bashfully before continuing. “The reason I picked this one is simple—it’s yellow.” Tsukasa scratched his cheek in embarrassment. “I don't know why, but I've always been drawn to things with hues of gold.”

‎Rui’s eyes widened slightly. The simple statement stirred something deep inside him, pulling a memory to the surface—that fateful encounter, the exact day he had first met Tsukasa.

‎“I agree." Rui murmured softly. “I, too, am enticed by that color. It’s quite beautiful, isn't it?”

‎Tsukasa locked eyes with him for a quiet second before glancing back down at his drink, taking another slow sip.

“Yeah.”

‎What was that about? Rui wondered. But before he could pry further, Tsukasa spoke up again.

‎“Can I try some of yours?”

‎“My drink?”

‎“You said it's better than mine, so I’m curious.”

‎“Well… you can.” Rui hesitated. “But I’ve already put my lips on it.”

‎“What's wrong with that?” The shorter man tilted his head, looking completely unfazed.

‎Rui opened his mouth to explain, but closed it just as quickly. Seeing the absolute lack of hesitation in the other boy's eyes, he realized there was no point in arguing.

‎“Here.” Rui yielded, handing the bottle over.

‎He watched closely as Tsukasa took a sip. For a fraction of a second, Rui could have sworn he saw literal stars glittering in the boy's eyes.

‎“This stuff is amazing!” He gasped out loud. “You're right, Rui! It does taste better!”

‎“What tastes better?” Emu peeked over the star's shoulder, making him jump.

‎“Oh, Emu! We were just talking about how good the original ramune is!” Tsukasa beamed, grinning from ear to ear. “Rui was kind enough to share!”

‎“Heh…” Nene chimed in, glancing over at Rui with a knowing, subtle smirk that made his cheeks be dusted in pink.

‎“Here, Rui! You can have it back.”

‎“... You can have the rest.” Rui waved a hand.

‎“Eh? But it’s your favorite! I can't just take it!” Tsukasa protested, pausing thoughtfully. “Oh, I know! You can have mine instead! It's not as good as yours, but it's still tasty!”

‎“Eh?”

‎“You don't want it…?” Tsukasa hit him with a wide, pleading gaze, and Rui found himself entirely powerless against it.

‎“... Hand it over then.”

‎Behind them, the two girls exchanged glances. Emu smiled softly at the sight.

‎“It seems like they made up, right, Nene-chan?”

‎“Looks like it,” the green haired girl agreed, before stepping up and lightly tapping Tsukasa on the shoulder.

“Hm? What's up, Nene?”

‎“Did you get us drinks too, or did you forget?” she asked, gesturing between herself and Emu.

‎“Of course I didn't forget! Pink lemonade for Emu, and grapefruit for you!” Tsukasa proudly fished the bottles out of the plastic bag and handed them over.

‎“Yay! Thank you, Tsukasa-kun!” The shorter girl cheered, practically chugging her drink on the spot.

‎“Hmm, not bad.”

“Nene-chan, Nene-chan! Let's go play in the water!”

‎“Wait a second, Emu! You need to put on sunscreen first!”

‎“Oh, that's right!” Emu blinked, remembering. “Can you help me put some on my back?”

‎“Of course. Rui, can you pass me the bottle from my bag?”

‎The taller man obliged, handing over the small container. The two girls chatted happily as they helped each other out, finishing in no time.

‎“If you two are going, put some on too, okay?” Nene instructed, leaving the sunscreen beside Tsukasa before heading down toward the shore with Emu.

‎“Rui, I want to go in too!” Tsukasa declared.

‎“Alright, just make sure you put on enough.”

‎Tsukasa nodded diligently. He shed his unbuttoned shirt to slather the cream onto his arms and legs. But when it came to his back, he twisted awkwardly, struggling to reach the center spot.

‎“Here, let me help.” Rui offered, taking the bottle from him.

‎“Thanks, Rui! I couldn't reach it at all.”

‎“No problem.”

‎Rui squeezed a portion into his palm, before gently spreading it across Tsukasa's back.

‎“Cold!” Tsukasa chuckled, shivering for a brief moment. “I never realized how big your hands are.”

‎“Hm? Really? I think they're average.”

‎“Well, either way… your touch is really comforting for some reason.”

‎Rui was immensely grateful that Tsukasa is facing away from him, because he was certain the face he was making right now looked completely ridiculous.

‎“Done.” Rui said softly, stepping back.

‎“Great! Your turn!”

‎“Huh? Wait, hold on!”

‎“Why? Are you embarrassed?” Tsukasa teased.

‎“Of course not!” Rui denied quickly. “I’m staying here to watch our things.”

‎Tsukasa turned around and stared at him for a moment, his expression softening into a gentle smile. “It's much more fun if we're all together.”

‎“You're right, but—”

‎“Don't worry, I have a plan so nobody steals our stuff!” Tsukasa hurried back to his backpack, pulling out a pen and a slip of paper.

He scribbled frantically for a moment before shoving the paper into Rui’s face. Written across it in bold letters was: “DON'T TOUCH OR YOU WILL GET CURSED!!!” complete with a lopsided doodle of a ghost.

‎A fond laugh broke through Rui’s chest. “Being cursed might be a little too extreme, Tsukasa-kun.”

‎“You think so?”

‎“I think 'Don't Touch!' will suffice.”

‎“Got it!” Tsukasa crossed out his previous warning and writing down Rui's exact words before taping it securely onto their main bag.

‎The ocean water was cooler than Tsukasa had anticipated, but it was a welcome relief against the humid summer afternoon.

‎He waded in and sat down in the shallow waters, closing his eyes to feel the rhythmic tug of the waves against his skin. It was a completely new sensation.

‎Suddenly, a cold splash hit him square in the face, the taste of salt touched his tongue.

‎“Got you, Tsukasa-kun!” Emu giggled.

‎“Oh, so that's how it is!” Tsukasa laughed, scooping up a handful of ocean water and sending a wave right back at her. Before long, he was splashing Nene and Rui too.

‎“Take this!”

‎“Rui, you backstabber!”

‎Laughter and bright voices echoed across the water. Rui stood amid the splashing, watching the scene unfold. How long has it been since his heart felt this full? He pondered. He couldn't remember—and frankly, he didn't care to trace it back.

‎All he wanted was to hold onto this moment, letting the warmth of the day gently wash away the lingering weight of everything else.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

‎Hues of red, orange, and yellow painted the sky. The sun had already set over the city by the time they returned from their trip. All of them were exhausted, sand still clinging to the hems of their clothes, but it had undoubtedly been a day to remember.

“See you!” Tsukasa called out, putting energy into his goodbye's. Each of them exchanged final farewells before heading off in their own directions. Tsukasa walked down the familiar path to his house and gently pushed the front door open.

“Ah, Welcome home, Brother!”

Saki greeted him the moment he stepped inside. For the first time, hearing her call him ‘brother’ didn't feel out of place. Slowly but surely, he was getting used to this life—to Tsukasa's life.

“I’m home!” he responded, mirroring her bright enthusiasm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“How was your day? You must be exhausted.”

“I had a blast! I really wish you could've come!”

“I'm glad.” Saki said, a soft, genuine smile lighting up her face. “It’s important to take trips with your friends once in a while. Maybe I should invite Icchan and the others to go somewhere too.”

“That’s a fantastic idea! Just be careful if you go out, this summer heat is no joke...”

Saki giggled, waving off his concern. “I get it, I get it! You’re such a worrywart.”

Tsukasa chuckled, reaching over to pat her head affectionately before turning toward the stairs. “Tell Mom I’m skipping dinner—I’m still stuffed from lunch. Gonna head to bed early, too.”

“Got it! Goodnight, Brother!”

“Goodnight, Saki.”

‎He made his way to his room, letting the bag drop heavily beside his desk before collapsing onto the bed, the soft mattress yielded beneath him. His eyelids felt heavy from the long day, but before succumbing to sleep, he pulled out his phone.

‎He pressed the power button, wincing slightly as the sudden glare illuminated the dark room, and navigated to the gallery. He scrolled through the photos from earlier: playing in the sparkling ocean, sharing a crowded table at lunch, and holding up their matching fish keychains, each charm glinting in the sun.

‎A smile appeared in Tsukasa's lips. He saved them all into a new album, naming it “My First Trip to the Beach!” before finally letting his eyes close.

The black void was adorned with an endless sea of stars—a sight both terrifying and beautiful. Turning around, he saw the Earth, vast and impossibly distant.

"Is this outer space?" He tried to ask, but no sound escaped. He looked down, but he had no hands to see. He strained to hear his own heartbeat, but only a heavy, crushing silence met him. It was as if he didn't exist at all, and the sudden realization filled him with cold dread.

Suddenly, a voice vibrated through the quiet expanse, the same familiar tone as before, uttering a single name:

“Tsukasa.”

He moved toward the sound, the name echoing in his mind. Even though it wasn't truly his, he felt an irresistible pull towards it.

When he reached the source, a grand mirror hovered in the dark, reflecting the clear image of a boy.

Is this the guy named Tsukasa? What are they doing here…?

He moved closer to inspect it, without warning, the surface spiderwebbed into a million gleaming shards, and he plunged backward into the void once more.

A sharp gasp escaped Tsukasa's throat as he jolted awake. He sat upright, clutching his pounding heart as he fought to regulate his ragged breathing. Tears pooled in his amber eyes, hot against his cheeks.

“I finally remember…” he muttered, his voice trembling violently. “How could I forget that I'm already dead…?”

His gaze darted to the desk calendar, desperately calculating his remaining time.

"Today is July 2nd... that means I only have five days left," he whispered.

‎The weight of it crashed over him, he slid off the bed, collapsing onto the floor. He wrapped his arms tightly around his knees, trying to shrink into the smallest ball.

“I just got used to living... and you're suddenly going to take it away from me?” His body shook with silent sobs. “That's just unfair…!”

He pressed his forehead to his knees, swallowing back a bitter laugh. “But who am I to complain? This life… was only borrowed anyway.”

He took a sharp breath and forced himself to sit up, angrily wiping the remaining tear tracks from his face with his sleeve.

‎“This is no time to get depressed!” he declared, his voice cracking slightly. "I need a pen and paper.”

‎He hurried to his desk, rummaging through his bag until he pulled out the notebook and marker he used the day before. Dragging the stool out, he sat down and began to write furiously.

“What is this, Tsukasa-kun?” Rui asked, tilting his head as he examined the sheet of paper handed to him.

“A list of things I want to do!”

“I can see that, but why so sudden?”

“Oh—uh, well!” Tsukasa stammered, frantically searching for a reason. “I just realized how much fun I had at the beach, so I wanted to try experiencing more new things!”

“I suppose that makes sense,” Rui murmured. He looked back down at the paper, reading the handwritten lines aloud. “Ride a bike... watch the sunset with everyone... see Mount Fuji... eat fried chicken from the convenience store... bathe in a hot spring... and visit a festival.”

“What do you think? Sounds like a lot of fun, right?”

“It does. They’re quite... charmingly simple goals.” Rui allowed, offering a soft smile. “Are you sure this is everything?”

Tsukasa nodded vigorously.

“Alright. I'll share it with the rest of the group. We can take our time checking them off one by one, okay?” Rui began to hand the list back.

‎“Actually…” Tsukasa fidgeted with his fingers. “I want to challenge myself. So let's do all of it in five days!”

Rui let out a low, surprised noise, followed by a flat, uncharacteristic: “That’s impossible.”

Tsukasa instantly slouched toward the ground, utter defeat washing over him as he wondered if he should just pick one task instead. Sensing his shift in mood, Rui knelt down in front of him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“We have plenty of time, why are you in such a hurry?”

Tsukasa fell quiet, the silence stretching between them. He raised his eyes to meet Rui’s, catching his own faint reflection in those striking yellow eyes.

“Don't tell me you've already forgotten about him?”

“Of course not!” Rui denied immediately, a flicker of pain crossing his features. “It's just that... I don't have many leads to go on yet. I thought it would be better for you to recover your memories slowly, rather than me trying to force them out and ending up with nothing.”

“Oh.” Tsukasa said softly, offering a faint, melancholic smile. “But... I already remembered.”

Rui froze, his breath catching in his throat as he stared at him, completely unmoving.

‎“Hellooo? Earth to Rui?” Tsukasa reached out, waving a hand in front of the taller man's face. “Can you hear me?”

“Ah—y-yes,” Rui blinked, pulling himself back together, though his voice lacked its usual composure. “What... what did you find out?”

‎“Honestly, it's hard for me to explain just yet…” the boy said softly, looking down at his own hands before looking back up with quiet resolve. “But I assure you, Rui... his return is coming very soon.”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

‎“Ah, this feels incredible!” Tsukasa sighed, sinking deep into the steaming bath until the heat worked its way into his aching bones. “I never knew a hot spring could feel this relaxing!”

‎“Well, given the intense biking you put yourself through earlier, I’m not in the least bit surprised,” the taller man replied, a soft chuckle echoing off the damp cedar walls of the bathhouse.
‎
‎“We should've had a race competition, Rui!”
‎
‎“Fufu, I’m quite certain I wouldn’t have stood a chance at keeping up with you, Tsukasa-kun.”
‎
‎The blond let out a laugh and drifted further down, the water rising until it lapped just beneath his eyes. He closed them, letting the rhythmic rippling of the bath wash over him. With only the two of them there, the quiet was almost intoxicatingly peaceful.
‎
‎“So,” Rui started, the water sloshing softly as he shifted, “I suppose the only thing left on your list is to attend a festival?”
‎
‎Tsukasa surfaced slightly, eyes shining. “Come to think of it, I’d love to wear a yukata when we go!”
‎
‎“Taking in the full experience, are we?”
‎
‎“You’re the one who told me to!”
‎
‎“Did I? When?” the taller man turned, his eyes fixing on Tsukasa through the haze of steam.
‎
‎“At the beach! Back when you showed me how to open a ramune bottle.”
‎
‎Rui paused, resting a slick index finger against his chin in thought. “Ah… that!"
‎
‎The blond watched him quietly before dropping his gaze back to the water, tracing the fractured reflection of a face that wasn't originally his.
‎
‎Clearing his throat, Tsukasa sat up straight, pushing the bitter thought aside. “So, about the festival… is there one happening tomorrow?”
‎
‎“The only one that comes to mind is the Tanabata Festival.”
‎
‎“Tanabata…?” Tsukasa repeated, the foreign word tumbling awkwardly off his tongue.
‎
‎“It’s also known as the Star Festival.” Rui explained. “It celebrates the yearly reunion of the star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi.”
‎
‎“I want to go!” Tsukasa blurted out. Before he could stop himself, he lunged forward and grabbed Rui’s hands, gripping his wet wrists with a desperate intensity—as if anchoring him there until he agreed.
‎
‎The taller man blinked, startled, before a smile broke across his face. “I get it, I get it. You don’t need to squeeze my hands quite so tightly.”
‎
‎“Ah—apologies!” The blond released him instantly. “I just… got a bit overexcited.”
‎
“Why are you so invested in these festivals, anyway?”
‎
‎“I saw them in his memories,” he admitted. “It looked so fun.”
‎
‎“I see…”
‎
‎Silence accompanied the bathhouse once more, thick and suffocating. Tsukasa could feel Rui’s gaze burning into the side of his neck, he knew exactly what he was staring at.
‎
‎Slowly, he raised a hand, his fingertips brushing against a thin, jagged mark on his neck. “Are you curious about this scar?”
‎
‎The taller man's breath hitched. “I can’t say I’m not…”
‎
‎“I’m fairly certain he got it… when he tried to end his life.”
‎
The water around the Rui violently shook as a he heard those words.
‎
‎“It’s not your fault.”
‎
‎“I appreciate the comfort, but I don’t think you’re in any position to say that to me.”
‎
‎“You’re right.” Tsukasa conceded quietly, looking down at his hands. “I’m not him. But… I have a feeling he would tell you the exact same thing.”
‎
‎“I wonder about that…” Rui’s voice was barely a whisper.
‎
‎"You should ask him when he gets back."
‎
‎The taller man slowly stood up, water trickling down his skin. “We should head back. We’ve been in here too long, Nene and Emu-kun are likely waiting.”
‎
‎“… Alright.”
‎
‎“You two took your sweet time.” Nene muttered the moment the sliding door creaked open.
‎
‎“Sorry about that." Tsukasa offered with a weary, gentle smile as he padded over to his corner. “We just had a lot to catch up on.” He collapsed onto his futon, the day’s exhaustion crashing over him all at once.
‎
‎“Emu's already asleep, as you can see,” the green haired girl whispered, gesturing to the small bundle wrapped in blankets across the room. “She was hoping to play games with you both before bed. You two will have to make it up to her.”
‎
‎“I will...” Tsukasa yawned, his eyelids fluttering shut. Within seconds, his breathing evened out into a deep, heavy rhythm.
‎
‎Rui watched the sleeping boy for a moment before turning back to the girl beside him. “Nene… about tomorrow. Would you like to come with us to the festival?”
‎
‎She paused, adjusting her pillows. “The Tanabata Festival?”
‎
‎Rui nodded silently.
‎
‎Nene lowered her gaze, her tone shifting into something quieter. “Is it because of… him?”
‎
‎“Yes, It’s the final thing on his list.”
‎
‎“Why do you even feel so obligated to do all this for him?”
‎
‎“I… honestly don’t know.” Rui admitted. “I just can’t bring myself to ignore his requests. Especially not after he told me that Tsukasa-kun will be returning soon.”
‎
‎Nene’s eyes widened, her voice accidentally rising. “Really?”
‎
‎Both of them froze, darting anxious glances towards Emu. Fortunately, the girl barely moved, entirely unbothered. Tsukasa, too, remained blissfully unconscious.
‎
‎Nene let out a breath she’d been holding. “Wow. He’s completely out.”
‎
‎“He drained every bit of his energy today.” Rui said, a small, tender smile tugging at his lips as he looked at the blond's peaceful face. “Ah, back to what we were discussing—I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I just couldn’t find the right moment.”
‎
‎“Did he give you an exact date? For when he’s coming back?”
‎
‎“No... I suppose it’ll be a surprise.”
‎
‎The girl stared at the ceiling for a moment, absorbing the weight of it all. “I see. Well… as for the festival, I’ll only go if Emu goes too.”
‎
‎Rui slipped beneath the covers of his futon, the faint light of the moon catching the confidence in his expression. “Then it’s settled. The four of us are going.”
‎
‎Nene raised an eyebrow at him. “How can you be so sure she'll agree?”
‎
‎He closed his eyes, his smile widening just a fraction. “Because it’s Emu-kun we’re talking about.”

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Tsukasa hissed, wincing as he shifted his weight off his foot, sitting on one of the benches.

"Are you okay, Tsukasa-kun?!" Emu hovered around him, her hands fluttering in panic.

"I-I'm fine..."

"Don't act tough." Nene said with a heavy sigh. "It's your fault for forcing us to let you wear those geta."

Tsukasa grunted, unable to argue with her.

"Don't worry, Tsukasa-kun, it's not as bad as it looks." Rui reassured, kneeling down to check his foot. "It just needs an ice pack."

"Alright, we'll go get one! Let us handle this!" Emu grabbed Nene's arm and sprinted off.

"Wait—Emu, not so fast!" Nene's protest was cut off as they vanished into the crowd.

Tsukasa stared after them in disbelief. "... How can they even run in those things?"

"Fufu. It takes practice." Rui chuckled, standing back up. "I'm sure you'll get used to them next time."

"Right. Next time..." Tsukasa offered a small smile, though his eyes dimmed for a brief second. "Come to think of it, you're the only one in casual clothes tonight. The girls were so excited about wearing kimonos when they heard I wanted to try a yukata. Well, mostly Emu..."

"As you can see, traditional clothes aren't very easy to move in." Rui replied. "I'm not really inclined to wear them over normal clothes."

"I see. Still, it's a shame not to see you in one." The shorter man said slightly disappointed. "You looked really handsome in one... based on his memories."

Rui blinked, caught off guard. "You really shouldn't say that so casually straight to my face, Tsukasa-kun."

"Why not? I'm not lying! You really are handsome, Rui!" Tsukasa said rather loudly, his loud voice easily carrying over the crowd.

Nearby people turned, sharing amused smiles.

Rui buried his face in his hands with a deep sigh, heat gradually creeping up to his cheeks. This guy is so dense... he thought, keeping the words to himself.

When Rui looked back up, the boy was staring at the stalls lined up down the path.

"What are you looking at?"

"I want to try that one!" the blond pointed down the row.

Rui squinted in towards the said direction. "You want... shaved ice?"

"That looks good too, but no—the one next to it, on the right!"

"Takoyaki?"

Tsukasa nodded eagerly.

"You could have just told me."

"I couldn't read the sign! I just saw the big wooden octopus hanging over it."

"Alright, alright. I'll be right back. Just stay here, okay?"

"Don't take too long!"

As soon as Rui left, Emu and Nene hurried back. The pink haired girl dropped to her knees and pressed an ice pack right against Tsukasa's foot.

"Here you go, Tsukasa-kun!"

"Cold!" Tsukasa winced, pulling back slightly.

"Hm? Where's Rui-kun?" Emu asked, looking around.

"I asked him to buy takoyaki. He'll be back soon."

"I want to buy food too! Wait here, you two, I'll go buy us a bunch of snacks!" The shorter girl bounced up and took off again.

"Wait, Emu, we should go together—" Nene reached out, but Emu was already gone.

Nene sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Geez... I hope she doesn't get lost."

"Don't worry, she won't. And if she does, we can just call her."

Nene hesitantly agreed as she sat down next to him, notably closer than before. A heavy silence settled between them as time passed without either of the two returning.

"Can I ask you something?" the green haired girl spoke up, staring at her lap.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"How long did you mean... when you said Tsukasa would be back in the near future?"

Tsukasa froze. The cheerful energy completely drained from his face. "Oh. He told you...?" He rubbed the back of his neck with a faint laugh. "Well... maybe a few hours from now."

Her eyes widened. "Eh...?"

"The stars feels really close tonight, don't you think?" He asked, looking up at the sky.

Nene didn't answer. She just stared at him, quietly waiting for more.

"Please don't tell Rui." Tsukasa turned back to her. "This is our last day together, so I just want us to enjoy it until the end."

"But..."

"Please, Nene."

She bit her lip, unable to meet his eyes, and went quiet.

"Tsukasa-kun, sorry it took so long. The line was huge." Rui called out, walking up with a paper box in hand.

"Ah, Rui! Welcome back!" Tsukasa brightened immediately, snapping back to his usual energetic tone.

"Oh, Nene, you're back, where's Emu-kun?" The taller man asked, handing the takoyaki over. He then noticed Nene's unusually stiff posture.

"... She went to buy food."

"I see." Rui looked between them, suspicious. "Did something..?"

‎"We were just talking about the future!" the blond said smoothly, popping a takoyaki into his mouth. "This is great! Have some, you two!"

Rui sighed, realizing he wouldn't get a straight answer out of either of them. He reached over, guided Tsukasa's hand to his mouth and bit one off the stick.

"H-Hot!" Rui gasped, quickly fanning his mouth.

Tsukasa laughed, then brought the box closer to the girl beside him. "Here, have one too, Nene."

She looked down at the box, her vision blurring slightly.

"... Idiot," she whispered softly before taking one.

Tsukasa smiled, holding a slight sadness.

"I've always been," he answered in the same quiet voice.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━‎

‎"Ngh... I can't reach it." Tsukasa grumbled, straining on tiptoe. His arm extended as far as it could go, but the bamboo branch remained teasingly out of reach, swaying gently in the evening breeze.

"Here, Tsukasa-kun. Let me hang it for you."

Tsukasa exhaled a sharp breath of relief and handed the paper slip over. "Thank you, Rui! Ah...but don't look at what I've written down okay?"

Respecting the blond's request, Rui accepted the tanzaku without looking at its contents, before reaching up effortlessly to tie it around the highest branch he could manage.

"I wonder what you wished for, wanting it placed all the way at the top?"

Tsukasa puffed out his chest, crossing his arms. "That's a secret!"

"I suppose I can't force it out of you." Rui chuckled, shaking his head lightly before turning his attention to the rest of the group. "How about you two? Would you like me to hang yours up as well?"

"Yes, please, Rui-kun!" Emu bounced on her heels, eagerly holding out her strip of paper. "I want our wishes to be right next to each other! Don't you think so too, Nene-chan?"

Nene offered a gentle smile, nodding as she handed hers over as well. "Yeah. You're right, Emu."

The purple haired man took both slips, his long fingers making quick work of securing them to the branch alongside Tsukasa’s. "And... done. Is that everyone's slip?"

"Yep! It really is convenient having you around, Rui." Tsukasa noted, striking a proud pose as if Rui's height were a point of personal pride for the whole troupe.

"Fufu, I aim to please." Rui replied, gesturing toward the main path illuminated by paper lanterns. "Let's get going then. Be careful not to get swept away by the crowd, alright?"

Despite the warning, the festival was just too packed. As they neared the central plaza, a sudden rush of people pushing forward for a drum performance immediately split the group apart.

‎Tsukasa managed to grab Rui's sleeve so the two of them wouldn't lose each other, but by the time they squeezed their way out of the crowd, the girls were already gone. Even with Rui's height, scanning the dense crowd for a glimpse of pink or green hair was useless. Giving up the search, the two boys retreated to a quiet place to wait.

‎"I can't believe that we still got separated..." Rui sighed as he leaned over the railing.

‎"Don't worry, we already contacted them. They'll be here soon." Tsukasa comforted him, placing a hand on his back. "I hope they make it before the fireworks start."

‎Below them was the sea of people, lights, and stalls, good thing they found a secluded spot. Tsukasa continued to gaze upon the scene as the cold breeze brushed his skin, it felt good, especially after sweating because of the heat from the sun that has long set within the horizon.

‎"Hey, what did you wish for?"

‎Rui stared him at the eyes, almost as if to say that it was the most obvious question he could ever asked.

Tsukasa chuckled quietly. "I guess there's only one thing, huh?"

‎"That's right."

‎"It makes sense. After all, I was the one who heard it first."

‎Rui frowned. "You mean...?"

‎"Do you remember the night you wished upon a shooting star?"

‎‎Rui paused, thinking back to that night. "Ah... yeah. I did." He stopped as the realization suddenly hit him, looking back at Tsukasa. "How do you know that?"

‎"Well..." The boy gave a faint smile. "Because I'm the shooting star you saw."

‎"... That's impossible. Things like that don't happen."

‎"They do. That's why I'm standing here right now."

‎Rui went quiet. His chest felt heavy, he searched the boy's eyes for any sign of a prank, but he was entirely serious.

‎"Then..." Rui’s voice cracked. He forced back the sudden sting of tears. "Then why isn't he the one who woke up in the hospital?"

‎"…It's probably because of me."

‎"What do you mean?"

‎"When I was passing by your planet, there were so many wishes placed upon me..." Tsukasa started, looking up at the sky. "But yours was the loudest. It was the only one that reached."

‎Rui stayed silent, listening carefully.

‎"That's when I saw him, reflected in a mirror. I didn't know what the feeling was back then, but... it was probably what humans call envy," he said, his voice unsteady. "I longed to be human."

‎He turned back to Rui, a sad look on his face.

‎"I'm sorry. My greed took him away from you."

‎Rui didn't know what to say. He felt a mix of confusion, anger, and a quiet sort of pity, unable to land on just one emotion.

‎"Do you feel human right now?" he asked softly.

‎"Huh?"

‎"Those emotions... those tears. That's what makes you human."

‎At that, Tsukasa broke down. Tears spilled over, and he let out a choked sob, struggling to catch his breath.

‎"Thank you... Thank you, Rui, for fulfilling my selfish wish..."

‎"It's my pleasure." He stepped forward and pulled the shorter man into a firm hug. For once, he didn't feel uncomfortable with the physical contact. He held him until his crying finally slowed to quiet hiccups.

‎Rui pulled back slightly. "Feeling better?"

‎"Mm." Tsukasa wiped his face with his sleeve. "Sorry you had to deal with that."

‎"You don't have to apologize. It's normal for us humans to cry," the taller man said softly. "You should ought to add more things to your list, there's still so much you haven't experienced."

"No...I'm already satisfied with everything."‎ Tsukasa shook his head. "It's my turn to fulfill your wish now."

‎Rui felt a drop in his stomach. "Y-You mean...?"

‎"Today is my last day."

‎"That's too sudden." Rui said, his composure slipping. "Can't you stay longer?"

‎"This festival is when you celebrate the stars, isn't it? Should you really ask a star to stay when it's time for it to fall?"

‎He was right. Rui's long-awaited wish was about to come true, so why did it hurt so much?

‎"What happens to you after this?"

‎"I'll disappear." Tsukasa said simply, though his eyes were devoid of any hints of sadness. "Don't make that face... I didn't have much time to begin with."

‎Rui wondered what expression he was making. He probably looked pathetic.

‎A loud bang shattered the quiet night, making Rui flinch, golden light erupted overhead as the fireworks started. Panic spiked in Rui's chest, and he quickly looked back at Tsukasa, terrified he would vanish right then.

‎"Beautiful..." the blond breathed, looking up at the sky. "Rui, look! That one is shaped like a star!"

‎"Y-Yeah."

‎"Too bad the girls aren't here to see it with us..."

‎Oh, it's still them.

‎The deafening booms of the fireworks rattled in Rui's body, a beautiful countdown for the cruel ending that awaits. They stood side by side, bathed in brief vibrant flashes of color that painted firmament. Before Rui could even realize, it was already over.

‎The silence that followed was suffocating.

‎"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" Tsukasa's voice was soft, devoid of the usual boisterous energy Rui was so accustomed to hearing.

‎"It does." He forced the lie out of his constricted throat. He couldn't see the moon at all, it was nothing more than a blurred sliver of light through the heavy tears building in his eyes.

‎"I guess it's time."

‎"Don't go." The words tumbled out, desperate and pathetic.

‎"Thank you."

‎"Please stay."

‎Why? Rui's mind screamed at him. Why are you begging him to stay? He’s not the real Tsukasa, he said so himself. Yet, the ache tearing through his chest was agonizingly real.

‎"What's your name...?" The taller man asked, to buy just a few more seconds.

‎"I don't have one," he paused, "But... if I could choose one for myself..."

‎When Rui looked up, the boy was already at arm's length, closing the distance between them. His heart hammered frantically against his ribs, anticipating the answer.

‎"Rigel. Please call me Rigel."

‎"Rigel…" Rui breathed. The name already painfully familiar in his tongue.

‎"It has been nice meeting you, Kamishiro Rui!" The shorter man exclaimed as a soft, ethereal golden light began to fracture from his form, drifting upward like dying embers.

‎He stepped into Rui's space, wrapping his arms around the taller man in an embrace that felt both incredibly warm and terrifyingly light.

‎"Don't let him go this time, alright?"

‎Rigel whispered the words into his shoulder just as the golden light flared one final, blinding time. Then, the warmth vanished. The light shattered.

‎The boy collapsed.

‎Rui caught him, hitting the ground with a harsh thud as the sudden, dead weight of Tsukasa's body fell limply into his arms.

‎"Rigel?" Rui's voice cracked, raw and terrified as he shook the unmoving shoulders. "Rigel? Do you hear me?"

‎A soft groan. "Rui?"

‎A warm hand clumsily reached up to cup his cheek. "Why are you crying?"

‎Rui froze. He stared down at the blond's face in complete awe, his frantic eyes looking for anything unusual in those golden-orange eyes.

‎"Tsukasa-kun...?"

‎"Yes?" The voice was louder now, more grounded. Unmistakably him.

‎"Is it... really you?"

‎Tsukasa furrowed his brows in genuine confusion. "What are you talking about? I've always been me."

‎"You don't remember anything?"

‎"Remember what?" Tsukasa pushed himself up, looking around at the quiet festival grounds. "Are we at a festival?"

‎"Yeah. Because Rigel wanted to go..."

‎The blond tilted his head. "Who's Rigel?"

‎"He's..."

‎Rui opened his mouth, but the words evaporated. A sudden, terrifying fog rolled over his mind. He scrambled to grab hold of the memory—of the golden light, of the soft smile, of the sad farewell, but it was slipping through his fingers like sand.

‎He doesn't know.

‎Tsukasa stared at him, waiting for an answer, but Rui couldn't think of one. An empty, aching void resided where a heart-shattering goodbye had just taken place.

‎"Tsukasa-kun..." Rui whispered, rubbing a stray tear from his eye, utterly bewildered by its presence. "What were we talking about again?"

‎Tsukasa's signature, blinding smile easily returned to his face. "You're talking about how I've always wanted to go here! Thank you for taking me, let's go again with everyone next year!"

‎Rui smiled softly, though a hollow phantom pain still lingered in his chest. "Of course, anything for you."

‎"Tsukasa-kun, Rui-kun! Sorry we didn't make it!" Emu's voice broke the quiet night as she bounced toward them, Nene following closely behind, catching her breath.

‎"It's okay! Let's all go again next year!" Tsukasa laughed.

‎"You're right! There's always the next one, and the year after that and the year after that year!"

‎"So you mean forever?" Nene stepped forward after recovering from all the sprinting, fixing her disarranged kimono.

‎"Mn! Ah, look!" The pink-haired girl exclaimed, pointing eagerly at the dark expanse above. "There's a lot of shooting stars! We should make a wish!"

‎Rui lifted his gaze to the sky. Just as the girl had said, the dark canvas was weeping light, adorned with endless shooting stars. They burned brilliant and brief before fading into nothingness. Somewhere deep in his soul, a dull, unexplainable ache throbbed at the sight of the falling stars.

‎However, he didn't feel the need to wish on one. As he looked back down at Tsukasa, alive and smiling beside him, he knew his wish had already been fulfilled.

‎Even if he didn't know what it costed him.

.-. . -- . -- -... . .-. / -- .