After a while on the rooftop, I suddenly remembered that Hikari hadn't given me an answer to my confession. I looked at her, my heart beating faster. "Hikari, you didn't answer me," I said softly.
Hikari sighed, her expression serious but gentle as she placed a hand on my face. "I'm sorry, Kazuki, but I can't give you what you want."
I stared at her, confused. "But why?"
Her eyes were filled with sadness. "I have just 85 days left. I won't be here for you… so I want you to choose someone who can be by your side until the end."
My heart immediately sank, but I refused to give up. "I don't care. I'll love you no matter how much time you have left."
Deep within Hikari she knew she couldn't return his feelings, but she couldn't let him go either. She stood up and, with a small smile, said, "Well, it is what it is. I'm going to die… well, isn't that just sad?"
My mind flashed back to their earlier conversation when Hikari had said, "If I knew when I was going to die, I wouldn't change anything. I'd live my remaining days the same as always." I clenched my fists, then stood up and smiled at her. But deep down I wanted to save her.
"Let's go home," I said.
We left the rooftop together in silence.
---
The next morning, I walked to school, but this time, I wore my contact lenses. Getting to school I couldn't find Hikari so I thought maybe she was just running late, so I brushed it off. But when break came and she still wasn't there, I went up to the rooftop, hoping to find her, but she wasn't there either. More periods passed, and she was still nowhere to be found. I went home, my heart growing heavy with worry.
Morning came again, and the empty seat beside me remained untouched. Hikari still wasn't at school. , I wanted to believe that she was just late, but break came and she still wasn't here. So I decided to try the rooftop again just to be disappointed. I whispered to myself, "Two days."
As I walked to class with my head down, looking lost in thought, Ren suddenly charged at me, grabbing me by the collar. "Hey! What did you do to Hikari? She wasn't in school all morning. You were the last to see her, weren't you, Kazuki?"
I glared at Ren, fury rising in my already suffocating chest. "So, you're saying her disappearance is my fault?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying!" Ren snapped, tightening his grip on my collar.
Filled with anger and pain, I punched him. "You think I'd hurt her? Do I look like that kind of scumbag to you? Are you seriously trying to put me in the same boat as you, huh?"
Ren, furious, lunged at me, and we began to fight. I was clearly stronger than him in every way possible, so pinned Ren to the floor and started punching him. Ren blocked some of the blows, but I made sure to land some punches. Suddenly, Natsumi rushed in and dragged me off of Ren.
"Stop it! What's wrong with you?" Natsumi shouted, struggling to pull me away.
I shrugged her off, my anger still boiling. Students gathered around, whispering in shock.
"Hey, look, Kazuki is fighting with Ren."
"Kazuki finally lost it. I feel sorry for Ren."
I slowly walked away.
Natsumi watched him with sympathy in her eyes.
---
A few periods later, school finally ended. I was walking out of the building when Natsumi caught up with me.
"Hey," she called.
I looked at her, my face tired and somber. "Natsumi…"
"I'm sorry about what happened earlier," she said gently.
"Don't worry about it," I muttered, my voice dull. "It's not your fault. Everyone hates me anyway."
She stopped walking and looked me in the eyes. "Not everyone hates you. I don't hate you."
I met her gaze, searching for sincerity. "Do you know why Hikari wasn't in school today?"
"I'm sorry, Kazuki, but I don't know," she said softly.
"Oh, I see…" I replied, my voice full of disappointment.
But Natsumi smiled faintly, trying to lift my spirits. "Look on the bright side—maybe she'll come to school tomorrow."
My eyes flickered with hope. "Yeah… yeah, she will come tomorrow."
We walked home together in silence.
---
The next morning, Hikari still wasn't at school. My sadness deepened. I rested my head on my desk during lessons, unable to focus. I didn't eat my lunch either. The hours passed in a blur.
By the end of the day, I was the only student left in the classroom. I didn't notice Natsumi standing at the door until she spoke.
"Hey, Kazuki, aren't you going home?" she asked, concern in her voice.
I didn't react. My head remained down.
Natsumi walked over to me and gently lifted my head. When she saw my empty expression, her heart ached for me.
She let go of my head.
I asked, "Natsumi … do you think it's really my fault that she's not in school?"
"No…" she replied, her voice thick with emotion.
"Do you think she's angry at me?" I asked, looking up at her, my eyes full of sadness.
"No," Natsumi replied softly.
My tears finally fell. "Do you think she hates me now?"
"No," she answered, her voice cracking as she, too, fought back tears.
I broke down, crying silently. Natsumi, heartbroken for me, walked around behind me and hugged me tightly. She whispered, "Kazuki, I don't know what you're struggling with, but I know you're doing your best. Many people can't see that, but I see it. Hikari sees it, too. Please don't be sad."
She pulled away, walking to the front of the desk. She dropped a piece of paper onto the desk and whispered something to me. Then, she turned and walked to the door.
I stared at the paper, my eyes widened as I unfolded it. I immediately ran outside. A flashback hit me, and I remembered what Natsumi had whispered: "Go see her."
---
I arrived at Hikari's house, out of breath from running. Her house was massive, a mansion belonging to a rich family. I paused for a moment to catch my breath before knocking at the door.
A man opened the door—Hikari's father, Megumi. He had blue hair like Hikari, a handsome face, and a left ear piercing.
I bowed respectfully. "Good evening. I'm a friend of Hikari's. I was wondering if I could see her."
After staring at me, Megumi smiled warmly. "Of course. Come in."
I stepped inside, and Megumi led me upstairs to Hikari's room. "She hasn't come down, and her mother's out shopping. Please, talk to her."
I nodded, my heart began racing.
I knocked on Hikari's door. There was no answer. "Hikari, it's me, Kazuki."
A faint whisper from inside. "Kazuki…"
"Mind if I come in?" I asked.
"Hmm," she replied softly.
I stepped into the room. Hikari was sitting in the corner, her head on her knees. She looked at me, but her usual cheerfulness and beautiful face were gone. She was sad, withdrawn, and didn't say a word.
I sat on the floor beside her. "Hey," I said gently.
Hikari didn't respond. She tried to speak, but the words didn't come out. I pressed on. "Why weren't you at school these past days?"
She didn't answer.
"Hikari, did something happen?" I asked again.
"Please… answer me," I urged, my voice breaking.
Finally, Hikari stood up, as if to leave. I grabbed her hand before she could walk away. "You're not going anywhere," I said firmly. "Not until you give me an answer."
Hikari collapsed to her knees, crying. I knelt beside her and held her tightly. She clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm scared, Kazuki. I'm scared," she sobbed, her voice shaky.
My heart shattered. I held her close, trying to comfort her.
She pulled away slightly, her tears still flowing. "I thought if I knew when I was going to die, I wouldn't change the way I live. I thought I could just spend the rest of my days like I always have… but now I know that I can't. I don't want to die, I'm Scared. Kazuki Please… save me."
My own tears had begun to fall. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry… I knew it would hurt you, but I went ahead and told you. I'm sorry…"
I held her tighter. "Hikari, I'm here. I don't know how tomorrow will be, but I won't let you be alone. I promise, I'll save you."
"Promise?" she whispered, still crying.
"I promise," I said, my voice filled with determination. But I knew timing was running out after all she had only 82 more days left