"Haru... Hey, Haru! Are you even listening?"
It was then that I snapped back to reality. I found myself standing at the train station—the same station I always used to get home from school. I was still in my school uniform, holding my bag, with the loud chirping of crickets ringing in my ears. Everything around me felt strangely vivid. So vivid, in fact, that I struggled to tell if this was real life or another dream.
"Haru, seriously! Stop ignoring me," the voice in front of me whined, with a cute pout on her face.
I blinked, coming to my senses after zoning out for a few moments. The girl standing in front of me... It was her. The same girl from my dreams. She wore the same school uniform as me, her short brown hair framing her face perfectly, and her blue eyes shimmered like the calm sea. She was beautiful—so naturally beautiful that it was almost unreal.
"Ah, I'm sorry," I said, glancing at her cute, pouty expression.
The late afternoon sun was scorching, making the air feel heavy against my skin. She moved closer, stepping to my left side, and without warning, took my hand in hers. The sudden warmth of her touch sent a strange, familiar feeling rushing through me. When I turned to look at her, her cheerful smile only made my heart soften further.
"Um, I know this might sound weird..." I started, struggling to form the words, then continued, "but... What's your name?"
She gave me that same pouty look, but this time, it was playful, almost teasing. It was so adorable that I wanted to capture it, to hold onto it forever.
"Muu, you're so mean! How could you forget your own girlfriend's name?" she grumbled, her expression shifting into a mix of disappointment and amusement.
Wait... Girlfriend? How...?
I could feel my face heat up from embarrassment. How could someone like me, so ordinary, end up with a girlfriend this cute and beautiful? Not that I wasn't grateful, but it felt surreal. Too good to be true.
"I'm really sorry. Please tell me your name again... I promise I won't forget this time!" I begged, bowing my head slightly in apology.
Her pout faded quickly, replaced by a soft, amused laugh. She looked at me with gentle eyes, clearly not upset, just amused by how flustered I was.
"Fuufu, don't worry, I'm not mad. I know you'll always forget after 'that'. My name's Aoi, but this time, make sure you remember it, okay?" she said with a warm smile.
"Got it! Thank you, Aoi! I swear, I'll remember it forever!" I said, bowing once more, my voice full of determination.
But something she said didn't sit right with me. 'After that'? What was she talking about?
Just as I was about to ask, a train pulled up in front of us, its brakes screeching softly as the doors slid open. Aoi squeezed my hand and, before I could say anything, she pulled me toward the open door.
"W-wait, Aoi—" I stammered.
"Come on, Haru!" she said with a burst of excitement.
Without waiting for my response, Aoi practically dragged me into the empty train car. It was completely deserted, with only the two of us standing inside as the doors closed behind us.
"Aoi, I need to ask you something—"
But before I could finish, the train lurched forward, throwing me off balance for a moment. Aoi's grip on my hand tightened, and she giggled as if everything was perfectly normal.
I looked at her, my thoughts racing. The warmth of her hand, her carefree attitude, the way she acted like this was all just part of the everyday—it confused me even more. What did she mean when she said 'I always forget after that'? What was 'that'?
"Aoi, you mentioned... 'after that'. What does that mean?" I asked, my voice quiet but firm.
She glanced at me, her expression softening, though a hint of something else—something almost sad—flickered in her eyes.
"Oh, that..." She paused, biting her lower lip gently, as if choosing her words carefully. "It's not something you should worry about right now. Just... enjoy this moment with me, okay? I'll explain everything when the time is right."
My heart skipped a beat at the way she said that, but I could tell she was serious. There was something hidden behind her smile, behind those bright blue eyes that glimmered like the ocean. I wanted to push for answers, to know what was really going on, but a part of me couldn't help but trust her. The way she spoke, the way she looked at me—it was as if she knew something I didn't, something she was protecting me from.
The train continued moving, the gentle hum of the tracks and the soft sway of the car the only sounds around us. Aoi still held my hand, her thumb lightly brushing over mine, as if she was trying to reassure me. But my mind couldn't rest.
I stared at her, trying to piece everything together—the dreams, her sudden appearance, the way she seemed so familiar yet so mysterious. What was really happening here?
"Aoi... have we met before?" I asked quietly.
She smiled at me, her eyes softening even more. "Haru... We've met more times than you could ever imagine."
Her words left me speechless. My chest tightened, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. What did she mean by that? How many times? Where? When?
But before I could ask, the train slowed down, coming to a stop. The doors slid open again, and Aoi tugged my hand gently.
"Come on, Haru. Let's go," she said, her voice light but full of unspoken meaning.
With a knot of confusion tightening in my chest, I followed her off the train, wondering just how deep this mystery went.