The sound of chalk against the board felt unusually loud.
Aoki Kokoro stared ahead, but the words written in white blurred together, meaningless and distant. Equations, explanations, instructions—none of it stayed in his mind.
Because his attention—
Was somewhere else.
"…Aoki."
He didn't respond.
"…Aoki."
A small tap on his shoulder.
He flinched slightly and turned.
Emi Takahashi stood beside his desk.
Class had already ended.
The room was half empty.
"You didn't move," she said softly.
"…Sorry. I didn't notice."
"You've been like that since morning."
"…Have I?"
She nodded.
Aoki sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Just thinking."
"About me?"
The question came so naturally that it caught him off guard.
"…Yeah," he admitted.
Emi blinked.
Then smiled faintly.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Aoki looked at her.
There was no easy answer.
"…Because I want to understand."
Emi tilted her head slightly.
"Understand what?"
"You."
The word lingered between them.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Then Emi laughed softly.
"That sounds difficult."
"Probably."
She stepped closer, leaning lightly against the desk.
"…There's not much to understand."
"I don't believe that."
"You should."
Aoki shook his head.
"No one is that simple."
Emi watched him quietly.
"…You're persistent."
"Maybe."
Silence followed.
But it wasn't uncomfortable.
It felt like something slowly taking shape.
"…Are you free after school?" Aoki asked.
Emi blinked.
"…Again?"
"You don't have to come if you don't want to."
She smiled.
"No, I want to."
"Then let's go somewhere."
"…You really don't plan these things, do you?"
"I don't need to."
She laughed.
"Alright. Then I'll follow you."
—
The train ride was quiet.
The gentle shaking of the carriage, the rhythmic sound of wheels against tracks—it created a strange calm.
Emi sat by the window.
Aoki stood beside her.
Neither spoke much.
But neither felt the need to.
"…Where are we going?" she asked after a while.
"You'll see."
"That's suspicious."
"It's not."
"…It definitely is."
Aoki almost smiled.
—
They got off at a small station.
It wasn't crowded.
It wasn't loud.
Just… peaceful.
Emi looked around curiously.
"…This place…"
"It's near the sea," Aoki said.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…The sea?"
"Yeah."
They walked for a few minutes.
And then—
It appeared.
Endless blue stretching across the horizon.
Waves crashing softly against the shore.
The salty scent of the ocean filling the air.
Emi stopped.
Completely still.
"…It's beautiful," she whispered.
Aoki watched her.
Not the sea.
Her.
The way her eyes reflected the light.
The way her expression softened.
The way, for a moment—
She looked truly free.
"…Have you been here before?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"No."
"Then… I'm glad."
"…Why?"
"Because now we're here together."
The words slipped out.
Simple.
But honest.
Emi looked at him.
Then smiled.
"…Yeah."
They walked along the shore.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The sand shifted beneath their feet, the waves brushing close but never quite reaching them.
"…Aoki," Emi said.
"Hmm?"
"If I disappear one day…"
He stopped.
"…Don't say that."
She continued walking.
"As if nothing happened," she added.
Aoki clenched his fists.
"I can't do that."
"…Why?"
"Because I'll remember."
Emi looked at him.
"…That's enough."
"No, it's not."
Silence fell again.
The sound of waves filled the space between them.
"…Then what do you want?" she asked.
Aoki hesitated.
Then—
"I want you to stay."
Emi smiled.
A sad smile.
"That's not something I can promise."
"I know."
"Then…"
"…Then I'll just stay with you while you're here."
The words were quiet.
But firm.
Emi's expression softened.
"…That's unfair."
"Why?"
"Because it makes it harder to leave."
Aoki didn't respond.
Because he knew—
She was right.
They continued walking.
The sun began to set, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink.
Emi stopped again.
"…Aoki."
"Yeah?"
"…Can I ask you something strange?"
"Go ahead."
She hesitated.
Then—
"…Will you remember me?"
The question was soft.
Almost fragile.
Aoki looked at her.
"…Of course."
"Even after I'm gone?"
"…Yes."
She stared at him.
As if trying to confirm something.
Then—
She smiled.
A real smile.
Not forced.
Not hiding anything.
"…Then that's enough."
The wind picked up slightly, carrying her hair with it.
For a moment—
Everything felt still.
Like time itself had paused.
Aoki stepped closer.
Not too close.
But closer than before.
"…Takahashi."
"Hmm?"
"…Don't disappear too soon."
She laughed softly.
"I'll try."
"…Try harder."
"I will."
The sun dipped lower.
Their shadows stretched across the sand.
Two figures.
Close—
But not quite touching.
A distance that remained.
Not because they wanted it—
But because it existed.
A distance made of time.
Of fate.
Of something neither of them could control.
And yet—
They stayed.
Side by side.
Watching the horizon.
As if hoping—
That if they stood there long enough—
Time might slow down.
Even just a little.
But deep down—
They both knew.
It wouldn't.
Still—
They didn't move.
Because even if time was running out—
This moment—
Right now—
Was theirs.