The warm glow of the setting sun bathed the city of Arden in hues of amber and gold. From the bridge, its orange tint rippled across the river's surface, creating a mesmerizing golden sheen that seemed to dance with the gentle current. Toshi and Aiko walked side by side, their footsteps soft against the bridge's pavement. The hum of distant traffic and the occasional rustle of wind filled the silence between them.
"So, our exams are over… and college life is over too," Toshi said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and lingering uncertainty. His blue eyes drifted to the river beside them, the water catching slivers of the evening light, its surface rippling like the thoughts in his mind.
"Yeah. Time flies," Aiko replied softly. Her gaze stayed fixed ahead, her tone neutral.
Toshi let out a small laugh, the sound dry and short. "Guess the job-hunting arc starts now."
"Yeah…" Aiko murmured, her voice trailing off into the breeze.
Neither spoke again, but the silence that followed wasn't awkward. It settled around them like the cool evening air.
Soon, the familiar outline of their apartment building came into view, its dull exterior bathed in the fading orange glow of the setting sun.
Toshi slowed at his door and turned slightly, his hand already on the handle. "Well… see ya later," he said, his tone casual but softer than before.
Aiko paused in front of her own door, her keys clinking faintly as she unlocked it. "Yeah. See ya." Her response was light.
Toshi watched her door close before stepping inside his apartment, the hallway suddenly feeling emptier than it had just moments before.
Toshi entered his apartment, greeted by the familiar chaos of his messy living space. He tossed his bag onto the couch, the sound echoing faintly in the stillness. Sinking into his chair, he turned on his PC. As the screen flickered to life, his thoughts wandered—job applications, interviews, the looming question of what came next.
But he shook the thoughts away with a shrug, muttering to himself, not tonight. He booted up Nova Conflict, a game he had bought months ago but barely touched, his fingers finding their rhythm on the keyboard as the hours slipped by unnoticed.
By the time he removed his headphones, the room was quiet save for the faint hum of his PC. He stood, stretching, before heading to the fridge. The cool fizz of his drink offered a brief reprieve from his spiraling thoughts.
Meanwhile, in her own apartment, Aiko lay sprawled on her bed, aimlessly scrolling through social media. The light from her phone cast a pale glow on her face, but her eyes betrayed her boredom. Letting out a sigh, she tossed her phone aside and stared at the ceiling.
"I'm getting bored," she muttered, her voice cutting through the silence. Suddenly, as though propelled by a burst of restless energy, she grabbed her phone and walked to her door.
Across the hall, Toshi sipped his drink, lost in thought, when a knock at his door startled him. He glanced at his phone. 11:34 PM, 24 April 2184.
"Who could it be at this hour?" he murmured, setting his drink down and walking to the door.
When he opened it, Aiko stood there, her dark hair tied in a ponytail, her oversized T-shirt swaying slightly in the faint breeze from the hallway.
"Hey, Toshi," she began, her voice light but her eyes holding a hint of pleading. "Are you free right now? Let's go to the rooftop. I'm bored out of my mind."
Toshi blinked, caught off guard, then smiled. "Yeah, why not? It's a full moon tonight, too."
The two ascended the stairway, their footsteps echoing softly in the narrow space. When Toshi pushed open the rooftop door, a sudden gust of wind greeted them, tousling their hair like an unseen welcome.
Stepping onto the rooftop, Toshi stopped in his tracks, momentarily captivated. The city stretched out before them, bathed in silver light from the full moon. Its ethereal glow blended with the vibrant colors of city lights, creating a surreal, dreamlike tableau.
"Wow," Toshi whispered, pulling out his phone to capture the scene.
As he framed the shot, Aiko stepped into view, striking a casual pose. Toshi hesitated, his gaze shifting from the moon to her. The photo he took, with her figure silhouetted against the moonlit backdrop, somehow felt more beautiful than the scene itself.
"Hey, Toshi," Aiko began, leaning against the railing, her voice pulling him back to the moment. "Did you apply for any jobs yet?"
Toshi walked over, joining her at the railing. The cool metal pressed against his arms as he leaned forward. "No, not yet. I think I'll take a vacation first—clear my head. Horizon Biotech's job circular comes out next month anyway, so there's still time."
Aiko turned her gaze to him, her eyes soft yet searching. "Must be nice to have a plan," she murmured, her voice almost drowned out by the wind.
"So, you're going somewhere… and I'll be all alone here, since I don't even have any friends," Aiko said with a sigh, her voice tinged with a sadness that she didn't bother to hide.
"Whoa, don't be like that…" Toshi replied, glancing at her. "I'm just going to Liora. It's a beautiful place, and my mom used to live there."
"Mom?" Aiko tilted her head, her curiosity immediately lighting up her face. The sadness vanished, replaced by an almost childlike fascination. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Toshi hesitated, his steps slowing as he leaned back against the railing. His gaze drifted toward the glowing cityscape, his expression softening as memories surfaced.
"She was someone who lived with me… and she told me to call her 'mom,'" Toshi began, his voice quiet, almost hesitant, as if the word itself carried a fragile weight. "I didn't really understand what it meant, but… she asked me to, so I did."
He paused, his gaze unfocused, as though sifting through distant, blurry memories. "I met her when I was just a kid. She took me in from LifeMatrix, and I stayed with her until middle school ended."
Toshi's voice grew even softer, tinged with something raw and unspoken. "But then… one day, I was told she'd died in an accident. They said her body was taken for post-mortem." He swallowed, his words faltering, as if they resisted being spoken aloud. "I never got to see her again… never got to say goodbye."
His eyes dimmed, a shadow of that loss flickering across his expression. "After that, I moved here. To Arden."
Aiko stopped walking and stood still for a moment, processing his words. "So, she was someone really important to you…" she said softly, her tone holding an unexpected gentleness. She looked at him with a quiet sympathy. "When are you planning to go?"
"Um… tomorrow, I think," Toshi answered, the sadness in his expression masked by a practiced calm.
"So, you're leaving tomorrow." Aiko's shoulders drooped slightly, and her gaze fell to the ground. Her earlier cheer faded, replaced by a quiet sadness that lingered in the air.
Toshi noticed the shift immediately. He tried to lighten the mood, offering a small smile. "Don't look so down. You can come with me if you want."
Aiko's head shot up, her eyes wide. "Really?" she asked, her voice brimming with excitement. The sadness melted away, replaced by an almost contagious enthusiasm.
"Yeah, of course," Toshi said, chuckling softly at her sudden change in demeanor. "You're welcome to come with me."
"Thank you!" Aiko beamed, her smile bright against the silver backdrop of the night. Before Toshi could process her words, she stepped closer, her presence startlingly near. Her hand brushed lightly against his cheek—warm and fleeting, like a breath of summer.
Then, standing on her tiptoes, Aiko leaned in. The soft press of her lips met his other cheek, tender and delicate, yet it ignited a spark that seemed to echo through the air.
Somewhere in the distance, the faint hum of a passing drone sliced through the silence, its sound blending into the night as an unexpected backdrop to the moment.
Toshi froze, his body locking in place. His breath hitched, trapped somewhere between disbelief and shock. The kiss was over in an instant, but its warmth lingered—spreading from his cheek to his chest, then deeper, like ripples on still water.
"Thank you again," Aiko whispered, her voice soft and nearly stolen by the wind's restless whirls. She didn't wait for a response. Turning swiftly, her flushed face half-hidden beneath her dark bangs, she walked briskly toward the rooftop door, her footsteps echoing faintly on the concrete.
Toshi remained motionless, his hand slowly lifting to touch the spot where her lips had been, as though verifying it had really happened. What… was that? His thoughts tangled into knots, a mix of confusion, surprise, and something else—something unnameable—swirling inside him.
His blue eyes followed Aiko's retreating figure as she disappeared into the stairwell.
On the stairway, Aiko paused. Leaning against the cold wall, she pressed her fingers to her lips, her cheeks burning crimson against the moonlit shadows. Her heart pounded wildly; each beat a reminder of her own impulsive actions. Why did I do that? she thought, her breaths shallow. And… Why am I blushing like this?
The rooftop door closed with a soft creak, leaving Toshi alone under the vast sky. The full moon hung high, casting its silver glow across the city of Arden, where distant lights shimmered like stars. The wind picked up again, swirling around him, tousling his hair as if to stir him from his trance.
But Toshi didn't move. He stood still—rooted to the spot, staring at the door where Aiko had vanished, the memory of her kiss playing over and over in his mind. It felt unreal, like a fleeting dream caught in the cusp of waking.
And yet, his heart beat louder now, as though something had shifted, as though something had begun.