Sakiya stood in the middle of her room, preparing to clean. Her aunt's voice echoed in her head: "Your room should reflect discipline." She sighed, staring at the mess on the floor. There were clothes scattered on the bed, textbooks piled up on the desk, and the faint scent of stale air. She had gotten so used to the chaos, and yet today, something urged her to tidy up.
As she started picking up the clutter, her fingers brushed against a small, worn box on the shelf. She hadn't seen it in years, but she knew exactly what it held inside. The box fell from its perch, scattering its contents across the floor. Among the random papers, trinkets, and souvenirs, a photograph caught her eye.
She bent down and picked it up. It was a picture of her as a child, smiling broadly with her parents beside her. Her father's arm was wrapped around her shoulders, a protective embrace. Her mother stood beside them, her smile radiant, her hand resting gently on Sakiya's shoulder. It was a picture of happiness, of a time long gone.
Her breath hitched. Memories rushed back—of family trips, laughter over dinner, and quiet evenings at home. But that time had passed. Her parents were gone, and the emptiness they left behind felt unbearable.
Her fingers shook as she held the photograph in her hands. A deep pain surged in her chest, and before she could stop herself, her vision blurred with tears. "Why did you have to leave me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She collapsed to the floor, clutching the photo to her chest. Her body trembled with sobs, her emotions spilling out uncontrollably. The overwhelming sense of loss and abandonment took over her.
Her tears stained the picture, but she didn't care. She wished she could turn back time, wished she could feel the warmth of her parents' love again. But all she had now were memories, fading and distant.
Sakiya curled up on the floor, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if she could hold onto the past.
From behind the door, her aunt stood silently, listening. Her heart ached as she heard the depth of Sakiya's pain. She had always tried to protect her niece, but seeing her so vulnerable, so broken, made her question if she had been enough.
The door creaked slightly, but Sakiya didn't notice. Her aunt stood there for a moment longer, then silently retreated. She wasn't sure what to do or how to help. Sakiya had always been so strong, so composed, but this—this grief—was something she couldn't fight alone.
Sakiya wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and placed the photo back into the box. She closed it gently, pushing it back onto the shelf. The grief was still there, but she couldn't let herself linger in it. She needed to get up. She couldn't stay on the floor forever.
---
The school bell rang, signaling the start of another day. Ryu walked into the classroom, his eyes scanning the room for a familiar face. He had barely entered when his gaze landed on Sakiya, sitting by the window. Her head was slightly tilted down, and her shoulders slumped in a way that was uncharacteristic for her.
Ryu hesitated for a moment at the door, the quiet hum of the classroom filling the air. There was something about her today that felt different, something off. He felt a strange sense of unease wash over him as if her sadness was palpable, hanging in the air.
He made his way to his seat, trying to shake off the feeling that something was wrong. As he passed Sakiya's desk, he couldn't help but notice the distant expression on her face. She didn't look up when he walked by.
"Good morning," Ryu said softly, his voice quieter than usual.
Sakiya glanced up at him for a moment, but her response was faint, almost detached. "Good morning," she replied, her tone lacking its usual warmth. It was distant, almost as if she wasn't fully present in the moment.
Ryu took his seat and couldn't help but glance over at her a few times. There was something about her mood that troubled him. She was normally so composed, so confident, but today, she seemed... fragile. Her gaze remained fixed on the desk in front of her, her hands folded neatly in her lap, as if she were lost in thought.
Throughout the lesson, Ryu couldn't focus on the material. His thoughts kept drifting back to Sakiya. He wanted to ask if she was okay, to know what was bothering her, but he didn't. He couldn't. He wasn't sure how to approach it, how to cross that boundary between mere acquaintance and someone who could genuinely help. He glanced at her again. She looked so distant, almost as if she were a million miles away, locked in a world of her own sorrow.
---
The school bell rang again, signaling the end of the day. Ryu's friends, Daiki and Shun, appeared beside him.
"Ryu!" Daiki clapped him on the back. "You coming to the arcade with us? We're heading there now. It's the weekend!"
Ryu forced a smile. "Yeah, sure. Why not."
Shun nodded. "Good way to unwind after a long week."
But even as they left school and headed to the arcade, Ryu couldn't shake the image of Sakiya's sad eyes. He found himself wondering what was going on in her life, what could be causing her to feel this way.
At the arcade, Ryu tried to focus on the games, but every time he caught a glimpse of something fun or exciting, his mind wandered back to Sakiya. He wondered where she was, what she was doing.
---
Later that afternoon, Ryu walked home alone, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Sakiya. He decided to take a detour through the park—a place he often went when he wanted to clear his head.
As he walked deeper into the park, he spotted her. Sakiya was sitting on a bench, her back hunched slightly as she stared at the ground. Her posture was slouched, and for the first time, Ryu noticed how fragile she seemed.
He slowed his pace, watching her from a distance. She seemed lost in thought. She tilted her head back slightly, her gaze fixed on the sky above. But then, to his surprise, she buried her face in her hands. Ryu froze, his heart dropping. He could see her shoulders trembling. She was crying.
Ryu stood still, unsure of what to do. He didn't want to intrude, but he couldn't just walk away either. He heard her whisper something through her sobs—something that broke his heart.
"Mom… Dad… I miss you so much…"
Ryu's breath hitched as he watched her, helpless and unsure. He felt as if he were witnessing something private, something she wasn't ready to share with anyone.
Her sobs grew softer, more strained. She wiped her face with her sleeve, but the tears kept coming. "You said you'd be with me forever… You said you would cheer me on when I got a job… You said you would be there for me when life got hard…"
The words struck him harder than he could have imagined. Ryu couldn't make sense of the emotions swirling inside him. He felt deeply for her—more than he had expected.
---
Later that night, after returning home, Ryu lay in his bed, his mind still swirling with thoughts of Sakiya. The image of her crying in the park haunted him. He couldn't understand why it felt so familiar.
As he drifted off to sleep, the dream came again. The faceless girl, the one who had appeared in his dreams for weeks, was there once more. But this time, her figure was clearer. She turned toward him, and for the first time, he saw her eyes—eyes that seemed to pierce through him.
His heart raced. He couldn't move. The girl in his dream, the one with no face… those eyes… they looked so familiar. Before he could process it, the dream faded away.
Ryu woke up abruptly, his chest rising and falling in quick breaths. He sat up in bed, his mind reeling. He could still feel the intensity of those eyes, the way they seemed to connect with his. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of what he had just experienced.
Sakiya's face flashed in his mind. The way her eyes looked today in class. The sadness he had noticed. Was it possible?
His heart raced, and for a moment, he couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were more intertwined than he had ever imagined.