The next morning felt… different.
Aoki Kokoro couldn't explain it.
Nothing had changed.
The same alarm rang at 6:30. The same sunlight slipped through the curtains. The same ceiling greeted him when he opened his eyes.
And yet—
Everything felt heavier.
As if something invisible had settled over his chest during the night.
He sat up slowly, running a hand through his messy hair.
"…Takahashi."
Her name slipped out without meaning to.
A strange habit.
One that hadn't existed yesterday.
He sighed, standing up and getting ready for school. The routine movements—washing his face, buttoning his uniform, adjusting his tie—felt automatic, like he was following a script he had memorized long ago.
But his thoughts weren't there.
They were somewhere else.
In a hospital room.
On a piece of paper.
In a quiet smile that hid too much.
—
The classroom buzzed with noise as usual.
Students talking, laughing, complaining about homework—it was the same ordinary scene Aoki had seen every day.
But now—
It felt distant.
Like he was watching it through glass.
He walked to his seat and sat down, his eyes instinctively moving toward the window.
And there she was.
Emi Takahashi.
Sitting quietly, as always.
Her gaze was directed outside, her expression calm, unreadable.
If he didn't know—
If he hadn't seen that report—
He would've thought she was just another quiet student.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
But now…
Now he knew.
And knowing changed everything.
Emi suddenly turned.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
She smiled.
A small, gentle smile.
As if yesterday had never happened.
As if nothing was wrong.
Aoki felt his chest tighten.
"…Morning," he said quietly.
"Good morning," she replied.
Normal.
Too normal.
It almost felt wrong.
The teacher entered, and the class settled down. Lessons began, chalk scraping against the board, voices explaining formulas and concepts.
Aoki tried to focus.
He really did.
But his mind kept drifting.
To her.
To what the doctor had said.
To the fact that the girl sitting just a few seats away—
Was living on borrowed time.
"…Aoki."
He blinked.
"Huh?"
The teacher was looking at him.
"Answer the question."
The class turned toward him.
Aoki stood up awkwardly.
"…Sorry, I wasn't listening."
A few students laughed.
The teacher sighed.
"Pay attention."
"Yes."
He sat back down, rubbing his forehead.
This wasn't like him.
He wasn't the top student, but he wasn't careless either.
And yet—
He couldn't stop thinking.
At lunch—
He hesitated.
Usually, he would just eat alone at his desk.
Quiet.
Simple.
Enough.
But today—
He stood up.
And walked.
Each step felt strangely heavy.
As if he was crossing a line he had never crossed before.
He stopped beside her desk.
"Takahashi."
She looked up.
"…Aoki?"
"Do you want to eat together?"
The words felt unfamiliar.
But he said them anyway.
Emi blinked.
For a moment, she looked genuinely surprised.
Then—
"…Okay," she said.
Just like that.
Simple.
No hesitation.
They moved to the rooftop.
The wind was gentle, carrying the faint warmth of the sun. The sky stretched endlessly above them, clear and open.
Aoki sat down.
Emi followed.
For a moment—
They just sat there.
Not speaking.
Not needing to.
"…This place is nice," Emi said softly.
"Yeah."
"I didn't know you came here."
"I don't."
She smiled.
"Then why today?"
Aoki opened his lunch.
"…I just felt like it."
Emi laughed quietly.
"You really like that answer."
"It works."
"…I guess it does."
She opened her own lunchbox.
Simple.
Neat.
Carefully prepared.
They began eating.
Slowly.
Silently.
But not uncomfortably.
"…Aoki," she said after a while.
"Hmm?"
"Do you regret it?"
He looked at her.
"Regret what?"
"Talking to me."
The question was calm.
Too calm.
Aoki frowned slightly.
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
She watched him for a moment.
"…You're strange."
"Maybe."
Emi looked down at her food.
"…Most people avoid things that hurt."
Aoki didn't respond.
"Knowing something painful," she continued, "usually makes people run away."
"…I'm not most people."
"No," she said softly. "You're not."
A gentle silence followed.
The wind brushed past them.
"…Then," Emi said, "what do you want?"
Aoki blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"You know about my condition now," she said. "So what do you want to do?"
He hesitated.
What did he want?
To save her?
Impossible.
To ignore it?
He couldn't.
To stay with her?
…Why?
"I don't know," he admitted.
Emi nodded.
"That's honest."
"But," he added, "…I want to spend time with you."
The words felt simple.
But heavy.
Emi looked at him.
"…Why?"
"I told you already."
"Because you don't want me to be alone?"
"…Yeah."
She smiled.
A quiet, fragile smile.
"…That's enough."
They finished their lunch slowly.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the break.
As they stood up—
Emi suddenly swayed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Aoki's eyes widened.
"Takahashi—"
Before he could react—
Her body tilted.
And then—
She collapsed.
"…!"
Aoki caught her just in time.
Her weight fell against him.
Light.
Too light.
"Takahashi!" he called.
No response.
Her eyes were closed.
Her breathing was shallow.
Aoki's heart raced.
"…Not here," he muttered.
Not now.
Not like this.
He remembered the doctor's words.
She can fall asleep anytime.
"…Hey," he said, shaking her gently. "Wake up."
Nothing.
Students began to gather.
"What happened?"
"Is she okay?"
"Should we call a teacher?"
Voices overlapped.
Aoki clenched his teeth.
"…Move," he said.
His voice was low.
But firm.
The crowd hesitated.
Then slowly stepped back.
Aoki lifted her carefully.
Her arm hung loosely.
Her head rested against his shoulder.
He could feel her faint warmth.
"…I'll take her to the nurse," he said.
No one stopped him.
—
The nurse's office was quiet.
Too quiet.
Aoki placed her gently on the bed.
The nurse checked her condition calmly.
"She'll wake up soon," she said.
"It's just one of her episodes, right?" Aoki asked.
The nurse looked at him briefly.
"…You know?"
Aoki nodded.
"I see."
She didn't ask further.
Minutes passed.
Each second felt longer than it should.
Aoki sat beside the bed, watching her.
Her face was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
As if she was just sleeping.
As if nothing was wrong.
"…This is what it's like," he whispered.
Everyday.
Without warning.
Without control.
"…How do you live like this?" he muttered.
He didn't expect an answer.
But—
"…You get used to it."
Aoki froze.
Emi's eyes were open.
She was looking at him.
"…Takahashi."
"Good morning," she said softly.
"…It's afternoon."
"Then good afternoon."
Aoki exhaled sharply.
"You scared me."
"Sorry."
She sat up slowly.
"…Did I cause trouble?"
"No."
"…That's good."
Aoki stared at her.
"…Does it hurt?"
She paused.
"…Sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"Not always."
She smiled.
"But it's okay."
Aoki clenched his fists.
"It's not okay."
Emi blinked.
Then—
She laughed softly.
"You're really strange."
"…Stop saying that."
"I can't."
She looked at him.
"…Aoki."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
He shook his head.
"It's nothing."
"It's not," she said gently.
He didn't argue.
Because deep down—
He knew.
This wasn't nothing.
This was the beginning of something.
Something fragile.
Something temporary.
Something painful.
But also—
Something real.
"…Let's go back," she said.
"…Yeah."
As they walked out of the nurse's office—
Aoki felt it again.
That weight.
That quiet pressure in his chest.
But this time—
It was clearer.
If these days were borrowed—
Then he wouldn't waste them.
No matter how they ended.
No matter how much it hurt.
Because some moments—
Even if they're short—
Are worth everything.
And this—
This was one of them.