It was then that I realized, my feet were sinking into soft sand. I was at a beach. Something felt off in my mind. How did I get here? I didn't remember coming to the beach, let alone in my school uniform. But every detail felt incredibly real—too real for just a dream.
The sound of the waves echoed in my ears, and the calls of seabirds were sharp and clear. The warm afternoon sun touched my skin, inviting me to savor every moment. It all felt so alive. Yet deep down, a quiet voice whispered that this wasn't real. But... was it truly just an illusion?
A sudden splash of salty water hit my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned, and there, at the edge of my vision, stood a girl—wearing the same school uniform as me. I didn't know her, but somehow... she felt strangely familiar.
"She's beautiful..." The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.
The girl danced joyfully along the edge of the waves, her bare feet splashing in the salty water. Her graceful movements held me captive. Her short brown hair fluttered in the breeze, and her face was lit with a smile I couldn't ignore. Her soft laughter filled the air, blending perfectly with the melody of the ocean. Every movement was like a perfectly choreographed dance, a harmony between her and nature.
Without realizing it, I began to follow her. My feet sank into the damp sand, my heart racing as the salty sea breeze filled my lungs. Finally, she stopped and turned toward me. Her blue eyes, like the sea, shimmered gently under the setting sun.
"Haru, why is your face so red? Are you embarrassed?" Her voice was soft, like a gentle breeze brushing against my cheek.
My heart pounded in my chest, warmth rushing to my face. I tried to say something, but the words stuck in my throat. The girl just smiled, her laugh light and teasing, as if she already knew what I was thinking. She knew... she had to know.
I wanted to say something. Something simple... maybe a question. But my mouth felt heavy.
"Uh... um..." My voice faltered, and she laughed again, sweet and full of warmth.
"You're so cute, Haru," she said with a mysterious smile. "But don't worry, I can guess what you want to say. Isn't that right?"
She knows? Could it be?
I stood frozen, staring at her in confusion. The girl turned her body, facing the endless ocean. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting soft shadows on the water's surface. Seabirds flew above us, the fresh scent of the ocean lingering in the breeze. Everything felt so peaceful, as if time had stopped.
"I've always loved this beach," she said, gazing out at the horizon. "There's something special about it... about us. You may not remember it now, but soon, everything will come back. The memories, the feelings... everything."
Memories? What is she talking about?
I was stuck on her words. What did she mean? My heart raced faster. Something stirred inside me, like a memory I could almost grasp, but it was still out of reach.
"Don't worry, Haru," she continued. "Just enjoy this moment. Let everything flow."
She held out her hand. Gently, I reached out and took it. Her touch... so warm, so real. My heart trembled, as if the world consisted only of the two of us in this place.
The sunlight slowly faded, our shadows growing longer on the sand. In the silence, we stood there, hand in hand, savoring a moment that felt eternal. I felt a peace I had never known before.
"Thank you," I whispered at last. "I'll remember this..."
The girl smiled, wider than before. She pulled me closer, the scent of the sea swirling between us. We stood at the edge of twilight, as if time had frozen us in this perfect moment.
But, like all beautiful things, this moment had to end. As night began to settle over the beach, she slowly released my hand. The cool evening breeze replaced the warmth, sending a sudden chill through me.
"It's time for me to go," she said, her voice still soft, but with a hint of sadness hidden beneath it. "But don't worry. We'll meet again."
I stared at her, my heart a mix of emotions.
"When?" I asked, my voice filled with hope.
She looked at me with a gentle smile, one that held a quiet mystery. "When time and fate bring us together again."
With that, she began to step back, leaving me standing alone in the cooling sand. But before she disappeared completely, she turned one last time. Her smile was bittersweet as she spoke:
"I love you, Haru. Even though fate keeps pulling us apart, that feeling never fades."
Her words pierced through me. A love left unsaid, locked in a different dimension. I stood there, frozen, watching as her figure slowly dissolved into the night.
And when she was finally gone, only the warmth of her touch remained, along with the promise etched in my memory.