The dream began like all the others—a blurry haze of laughter and warmth. Aito's voice echoed faintly in the background, and the familiar scene played out: a girl smiling, her face obscured, and a moment of quiet joy.
But this time, the fog lifted.
Haru stood frozen as the girl's face came into focus. It was her—Aika. Her gentle smile, her eyes filled with kindness, and the way she looked at him with a warmth that felt like home.
Then, like a cruel twist of fate, the scene shattered. The sound of screeching tires, Aito's shout, and the deafening silence of loss.
Haru jolted awake, his breath ragged and his heart racing. His hands trembled as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It was her," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "It's always been her."
The morning sunlight streamed through his window, but Haru felt no comfort in its warmth. The image of Aika's face lingered in his mind, vivid and unshakable.
He thought about Riku and Hana, about how they spoke of Aito and Aika with such reverence.
Should I tell them? Would they even believe me?
The thought of being dismissed as crazy made him hesitate. What if they thought he was making light of Aito's memory? What if they turned away from him?
"No," he muttered, shaking his head. "I can't say anything. Not yet."
But the weight of the dream pressed heavily on his chest, and the questions it raised refused to be silenced.
As Haru walked to school, his mind raced with possibilities.
Why am I seeing these things? Why do I feel like I know her?
Every step he took brought him closer to Riku and Hana, who waited at their usual spot near the school gates. Their laughter reached him before their faces did, a reminder of the bond they shared.
"Morning, Haru!" Hana called, waving.
"Hey," Haru said, forcing a smile.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Riku observed, frowning. "Everything okay?"
Haru hesitated, the words on the tip of his tongue. But the memory of Aika's face and the dream's vividness made his stomach twist.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said finally. "Just stayed up too late studying."
Hana raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.