The basement felt colder now. Shadows clung to the corners of the room like silent watchers, and the faint smell of damp stone lingered in the air. Ayane's sobbing grew quiet, her trembling fingers clutching her own arms as she whispered, "Please… let me meet him. Even if it's just once…" Her voice cracked as she choked back tears, "…I'll do anything. Even… even give my own life."
She lowered her head, shame and desperation interwoven in her tone. Her tears dripped onto the crimson patterns of the summoning circle.
Yumi tilted her head, her white hair catching the dim light. Her blue eyes, as serene as a winter sky, seemed to shimmer with an odd combination of mischief and compassion. "Hmm, it's such a simple request, Ayane. I don't need your life, not yet." Her lips curved into a teasing smile. "But when your time does come, you'll belong to me. Just a small favor. That's all."
Ayane hesitated, her fingers trembling. "I… I don't know if I can…"
Yumi stepped forward, her voice soft yet commanding. "Do you want to see him again or not?"
The room fell silent except for the sound of Ayane's shaky breath. Slowly, she nodded.
"Good," Yumi said with a satisfied smile. "Now, close your eyes."
I glanced at Yumi. "Wait, why do I have to close my eyes too?"
Yumi pouted and bumped my shoulder playfully. "Kaito-kun, don't ask silly questions. Just do it!"
With a sigh, I relented, closing my eyes. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, an odd sensation washed over me, like stepping into another world.
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the basement.
The Dreamlike Reunion
We stood on the surface of a vast, mirror-like lake. Its waters reflected a sky filled with countless stars, their light rippling gently on the surface. Tall, glowing trees dotted the far horizon, their ethereal light casting soft hues of blue and gold. Delicate butterflies with luminescent wings flitted around us, leaving trails of sparkling dust in their wake.
"What… is this place?" I asked, staring at my reflection in the lake's still surface.
Yumi didn't answer. She just smiled faintly, her gaze distant.
Before I could press further, a voice echoed across the lake.
"Ayane?"
Ayane froze, her breath hitching. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned toward the voice.
"Hikaru!"
A figure appeared in the distance, walking toward us. It was a young man, his face soft yet familiar, his eyes filled with longing. Ayane broke into a run, her bare feet splashing against the lake's surface.
"Hikaru!" she cried, her voice breaking.
They met in the middle, and Ayane threw her arms around him. Hikaru embraced her tightly, burying his face in her hair.
"I missed you so much," Ayane sobbed, clutching him as though she feared he might disappear. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't do anything to save you…"
Hikaru shook his head, his own tears streaming down his cheeks. "You have nothing to apologize for. You gave me the happiest moments of my life. That's all that mattered."
They stood there, holding each other, their words a mixture of sorrow and joy.
"You're so beautiful," Hikaru whispered. "Just like the last time I saw you."
"And you're still the same," Ayane replied, her smile trembling.
Their reunion was bittersweet, a fleeting moment of happiness against the backdrop of endless loss.
Finally, Hikaru stepped back. "I can't stay," he said, his voice heavy with regret.
"No, please," Ayane pleaded, reaching for him.
"You've already done so much for me," Hikaru said, his voice growing faint. "It's time for you to live your life, Ayane. Be happy. For both of us."
Ayane collapsed to her knees as Hikaru's form began to fade. He smiled at her one last time, mouthing the words, *I love you,* before disappearing into the starlit horizon.
The lake dissolved into darkness.
The Basement
I blinked, and we were back in the basement. Ayane sat motionless, her face wet with tears. I glanced around, but Yumi was gone.
"Yumi?" I called out, panic rising in my chest.
Before I could search for her, a voice called from the doorway.
"Ayane, is that you?"
A young woman in a nun's habit stepped inside, her expression a mix of relief and worry. "Oh, thank the heavens you're safe!"
She rushed to Ayane and embraced her tightly before turning her attention to me. Her eyes widened in shock as they fell on the summoning circle. Her expression twisted into one of fury.
"You!" she shouted, pointing at me. "You're the one who deceived her into summoning a devil!"
"Wait, no! It's not what it looks like—"
The nun cut me off, drawing a wand from her sleeve. Its tip began to glow with a blinding light. "How dare you defile her soul with this evil!"
"Listen, I—"
She didn't wait. A blast of energy shot toward me, and I barely dodged it, the force of the blast shaking the room.
I bolted for the door, the nun close behind me. "Get back here, you heretic!"
I stumbled into the street, my heart pounding. Yumi was nowhere to be found, and the weight of her absence hung over me like a storm cloud.
Longing
As I reached my house, I paused at the gate, looking up at the darkened windows. A deep ache settled in my chest.
"Yumi," I whispered to the night. "Where did you go? I didn't even get to thank you… or say goodbye."
I headed to my room, washed up, and climbed into bed. The glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling stared back at me as I lay there, wide awake. My thoughts were consumed by her—her playful smile, her teasing voice, and the way she'd always seemed to be one step ahead of me.
"Come back," I murmured to no one, my voice barely audible. "I miss you already."
Beyond the Veil
In the celestial expanse, Yumi stood silently, her white hair glowing under the pale light of the heavens. Opposite her, a stern woman with radiant wings folded behind her glared.
"You've sinned, Yumi-chan," Urielle said coldly. "Helping a mortal commune with the dead? Even as a Goddess of Death, this is forbidden."
Yumi's gaze didn't falter.
Yumi smirked. "Don't act like you're innocent. You've always been reckless. How about your *date* with that boy? Angels aren't supposed to meddle with humans, you know."
Urielle's got embarrassed, but as she looked up the stars...
"Her story reminded you on him?," Urielle said softly.
Urielle's embarrasment faded, replaced by pity. "Do you think you can save him this time?"
Yumi's blue eyes glistened with determination. "This time, I'll never let him go again."
Her voice cracked slightly, but she clenched her fists, a mix of sorrow and courage radiating from her.
"No matter what it takes," Yumi whispered, "I'll protect him."
Her resolve was unshakable as she stared into the infinite sky, her heart heavy with the weight of her promise.