A few days later...
The school bell echoed through the crisp autumn air, signaling the end of another day. Haruto stood by the lake, gazing at the ripples on the water's surface. Miyuki had asked to meet him there, her voice carrying an undertone of something unresolved.
When she arrived, she walked slowly, her usual lightness replaced by a quiet gravity. Her long sweater draped over her like a protective shield, and the way she clutched its sleeves made Haruto's chest tighten.
She stopped a few feet away and offered a faint smile. "You always wait here for me. Do you ever get tired of it?"
"Never," Haruto replied, his voice soft but certain. "This is our place, isn't it?"
Miyuki nodded, stepping closer. She sat down on the grass beside him, knees pulled to her chest. For a while, they said nothing, letting the gentle sounds of the lake fill the silence. Then, with a deep breath, Miyuki broke it.
"Haruto," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "You already know there's something... wrong with me."
Haruto froze, his gaze snapping to her. "What's happening?"
"I've seen the way you look at me," she continued, her tone even but laced with vulnerability. "You've noticed the fainting, the moments when I'm out of breath... I've tried to hide it, but I think, deep down, you've known something was really off."
"Miyuki..." His throat tightened, and he reached for her hand.
"I have a heart condition," she said, her words deliberate, as if she were forcing herself to push them out. "Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It means my heart is... different. The muscle is too thick, and it can't pump blood properly. For years, I've lived with it, but..." She trailed off, her eyes dropping to the ground.
"But what?" Haruto pressed, his heart pounding.
She exhaled shakily. "It's getting worse. The doctors have tried everything—medication, lifestyle changes—but there's no cure. And now, they're saying that my time is... limited."
Haruto stared at her, his mind reeling. "No. There has to be something. Some kind of treatment—surgery?"
Miyuki shook her head. "There's nothing they can do to stop it. I've known this for a long time, Haruto, but I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want you to look at me differently or... or feel trapped by my condition."
"Trapped?" Haruto's voice cracked. "Miyuki, I don't care about any of that. I care about you. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because I didn't want this." She gestured between them, her eyes glistening. "I didn't want our time together to be overshadowed by this... weight. I wanted to be the girl you fell in love with, not a ticking clock."
"You are that girl," Haruto said firmly. "Nothing changes that. You don't have to go through this alone."
Miyuki's tears fell freely now, her voice breaking. "But you don't understand, Haruto. If I let you in completely, it'll hurt so much more when I..." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"Don't say that," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. She stiffened at first but then melted against him, her head resting on his chest. "We'll face this together. No matter how hard it gets, I'm not leaving you."
For a long moment, they sat there, the world around them fading into the background. Haruto could feel the rapid beat of her heart against his chest, a fragile reminder of the time they had left.
"Promise me," Miyuki said finally, her voice muffled. "Promise me that when I'm gone, you'll keep living. You'll find happiness, even without me."
Haruto tightened his hold on her. "I promise, but only if you promise to let me be here for you. To let me love you for as long as we have."
Miyuki pulled back just enough to look at him, her tear-streaked face lit by the golden glow of the setting sun. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
In that moment, Haruto knew their love would be a fragile, fleeting thing. But it was theirs, and he would treasure every second.