It was a quiet night, the kind that felt both peaceful and unsettling, as the stars sparkled overhead, blanketing the sky in soft light. Hana lay in her bed, wide awake. She had tried everything: turning over, closing her eyes, even counting sheep, but sleep refused to come.
She turned over again, glancing at the clock. 2:15 AM. She sighed, staring at the ceiling. The constant swirling of thoughts in her head—about leaving, about the time they had left, about everything—was making her restless.
A sudden tapping sound at her window made her jump. Confused and startled, she slipped out of bed and peeked through the curtain. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Kaito standing outside, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
She opened the window with a frown. "What are you doing here, Kaito?"
"Couldn't sleep," he said, his grin widening. "Thought we could take a midnight run."
"A midnight run?" Hana repeated, skeptical. "Are you serious?"
"Of course," Kaito said, almost bouncing with excitement. "We'll ride under the stars. The roads are empty at this hour. Just you, me, and the open night."
Hana stared at him for a long moment. She hadn't expected this, especially not at such an ungodly hour. But there was something infectious about Kaito's enthusiasm, a sense of adventure she hadn't felt in a while. And, if she was being honest, she was a little tired of lying awake in her room, her thoughts racing.
She sighed, finally giving in. "Alright, fine. Let me get dressed."
The Midnight Ride
Kaito had a beat-up old bike waiting for her outside, its tires worn but sturdy. His own bike was newer, the kind that looked fast and sleek under the moonlight.
"Ready to go?" Kaito asked, already perched on his bike, looking far too excited for someone at this hour.
Hana gave him a small, reluctant smile. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
"You're with me now, Hana. You have no choice," Kaito said with a wink. "Let's go."
They rode through the quiet streets, the only sound the hum of their tires against the asphalt. The cool night air ruffled their hair, and for a while, neither of them spoke. The world felt still, as though they were the only two people in it.
The city lights faded as they made their way toward the park, the roads growing emptier the further they went. Hana felt the strange mix of freedom and peace that only a late-night bike ride could bring. The rhythmic pedaling, the quiet breeze—it was calming in a way she hadn't expected.
As they reached the edge of the park, Kaito pulled over and stopped, his bike skidding to a halt. He looked up at the sky, taking in the stars above. Hana followed his gaze, her eyes softening as she saw the constellations spread out, vast and endless.
"This is nice," Hana said quietly, her voice almost lost in the night air.
"Yeah," Kaito agreed, staring at the sky. "It's kind of crazy, you know? You think you're just one person in this big world, and then you look at the stars and realize how tiny you really are."
Hana turned to him, noticing the quiet look in his eyes. It was different from the usual mischievous glint she saw in him. There was something more... vulnerable there, like he was revealing a side of himself she rarely got to see.
"What do you mean?" she asked softly, her curiosity piqued.
Kaito shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his head. "I don't know. It just... feels like everything's been out of my control lately. I've always been the guy who's been in charge of my own little world, but now, with everything going on, it's like... I don't know what's going to happen next."
Hana tilted her head, trying to understand. "You're talking about me leaving, aren't you?"
Kaito nodded, his gaze falling to the ground. "Yeah. I guess I am." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I don't know what it is, but lately, it's been bugging me more than I expected. You've been so—well, you—and it's like I didn't even realize how much you'd been part of my daily life until... until you told me you were leaving."
Hana's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Kaito to open up like this, especially not so late at night, under the stars. He was always the joker, the one who was there to make her laugh, to distract her from everything serious. But now, he was being real. Raw.
"I didn't think it would bother me," Kaito continued, his voice quieter. "But it does. I guess that's why I've been... well, kind of stupid about things. I've been acting like nothing's wrong, when in reality, I'm scared of losing you."
Hana's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected him to say that, especially not out loud. She stared at him, unsure of what to say. There was so much she wanted to ask, so many things she wasn't sure how to voice.
"But hey," Kaito said, quickly brushing off the moment with a weak chuckle, "I'm not good at this emotional stuff. So, let's just enjoy the night and forget I said anything, alright?"
Hana remained silent, the air between them thick with unspoken words. But deep down, she knew that Kaito was more complicated than he let on. She knew that beneath the teasing and pranks, there was a side of him that cared—maybe more than he realized.
"You're not the only one who's scared, Kaito," she said finally, her voice soft. "I'm scared too. I've been trying to push it all away, trying not to think about it, but... it's hard. I didn't want to make anyone sad by leaving, but it's just something I have to do."
Kaito glanced at her, his eyes serious now. "Hana, you don't have to go. I mean... can't you just stay? There's got to be a way."
Hana smiled faintly, though it was tinged with sadness. "I wish it was that simple."
Kaito didn't say anything more. Instead, he reached out and lightly nudged her bike. "Well, I can't change the fact that you're leaving, but I can make sure you have an awesome time while you're here. How's that sound?"
Hana nodded slowly, her heart swelling. "That sounds perfect."
They stood in silence for a few moments, watching the stars above them, their breaths visible in the cool air. Finally, Kaito nudged his bike forward and gave her a playful look.
"Race you to the end of the park?"
Hana's lips curled into a grin. "You're on."
As they sped off into the night, the world felt just a little bit lighter. For a moment, it was as if nothing else mattered—just the wind, the stars, and the road ahead. And Hana couldn't help but wonder if, for once, maybe they could make the most of what little time they had left.