The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the quiet road as Haru, Riku, and Hana walked home from school, their laughter echoing through the air.
"Do you remember when Aito used to scare you with ghost stories on this road, Riku?" Hana teased, grinning.
Riku groaned. "Don't remind me. I couldn't sleep for a week after that."
Haru smiled, enjoying their camaraderie, though his heart felt heavy. Every mention of Aito was like a whisper of a memory he couldn't quite grasp.
As they turned a corner, Haru spotted someone ahead—a girl walking slowly with her head down. There was something familiar about her, though he couldn't place it.
Riku suddenly stopped. "Wait... is that—?"
The girl looked up, her eyes widening as she noticed them. She froze, clutching her bag tightly.
Hana gasped. "It's her..."
Haru looked between them, confused. "Who is she?"
Before anyone could answer, Riku and Hana walked toward her.
"It's been a long time," Hana said gently, her voice tinged with both surprise and sadness.
The girl nodded, her expression guarded. "It has. I wasn't expecting to run into you here."
Riku smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "We've missed you. How... how have you been?"
"I've been fine," she said softly. Her gaze shifted to Haru, and for a moment, their eyes locked.
Haru felt a jolt, like a forgotten memory struggling to surface. "Do we know each other?" he asked, his voice tentative.
She shook her head quickly. "No, I don't think so."
But the way she looked at him told a different story.
"Would you like to walk with us?" Hana asked gently.
The girl hesitated before nodding. "Okay."
As they walked, the group began reminiscing about their school days with Aito, sharing stories and laughter. The girl listened quietly, her gaze distant but softened by their words.
"You remember that time Aito tried to build a treehouse, and we all ended up covered in mud?" Riku said, chuckling.
"He spent hours apologizing because I ruined my shoes," Hana added, laughing.
The girl's lips curved into a small smile. "He always cared too much about making sure everyone was happy," she murmured.
Haru watched her carefully, the weight of her words tugging at something deep within him.
As they neared a fork in the road, the girl slowed her pace. "I should head this way," she said, gesturing to the left.
Hana frowned. "Are you sure? It's still a bit of a walk."
She nodded. "I'll be fine. Thank you... for everything."
As she turned to leave, Haru couldn't stop himself. "Wait!" he called out.
She turned, her expression startled.
"What's your name?" he asked.
Her lips parted, as if she hadn't expected the question. "Aika," she said softly.
Haru froze. The name hit him like a wave, rippling through his mind with a cascade of emotions he couldn't explain.
"Take care, Aika," Hana said, smiling.
Aika nodded, her gaze lingering on Haru for a moment longer before she walked away.
As the group continued walking, Haru couldn't shake the feeling that he knew Aika.
"She seems... familiar," he said finally.
Hana and Riku exchanged a look.
"She was Aito's closest friend," Riku said. "She blamed herself for what happened and transferred schools soon after. We haven't seen her since."
Haru's chest tightened. "Did Aito... like her?"
Hana hesitated before answering. "He did. A lot. But he never told her."
"Why not?" Haru asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Because he didn't want to burden her," Riku said. "That's just the kind of person Aito was."
Haru looked ahead, his mind racing. The puzzle pieces were falling into place, but the picture they formed was both haunting and beautiful.