"Hoshi"
A gentle voice echoed through every corner of the house. Hoshi, who had been playing with his toys, stopped in his tracks. His eyes darted around, searching for the owner of the voice.
"Over here."
The voice called out again. He rose to his feet and left his toys behind. This time, Hoshi took a step forward, certain that the voice was coming from somewhere nearby.
Step by step, he moved. The cold of the night stung his small feet, and his breath was visible in the air. Until he arrived at the room. His eyes scanned every corner. It was small, crammed with shelves full of books. Most of the room was shrouded in darkness, save for the moonlight streaming through the window, illuminating a small part of the room. And there she was—the owner of the voice. Hoshi's mother, Aoi.
"Look at this," Aoi invited, pointing towards the window with an excited smile. For a moment, Hoshi froze, captivated by his mother's presence. Her long, white hair shimmered like a full moon blooming in the night sky. Her blue eyes, like a calm night sky, gave a sense of peace that made anyone feel at ease.
Hoshi moved closer to his mother. As soon as his gaze passed through the window, his eyes widened in awe. He was mesmerized by the cluster of stars scattered across the night sky. For the first time, he saw stars so bright, despite the city lights still glowing vibrantly below.
"Wow, they're so beautiful!" Hoshi's eyes sparkled with excitement, his mouth stretching into a wide smile. Aoi chuckled softly at her son's reaction.
"That's the Taurus constellation," Aoi said.
"Taurus?"
"Yup, Taurus. One of the largest constellations. It only appears between April 20th and May 20th!" Aoi explained, sounding like an enthusiastic stargazer.
Aoi had always loved astronomy. She spent both time and money indulging her deep passion for the stars. Her room, filled with encyclopedias about stars and an expensive telescope, was proof of her love for the night sky.
"Hoshi must be tired of hearing about stars every day," Aoi said, gently stroking Hoshi's hair.
Hoshi shook his head and looked at his mother. "Hoshi loves stars too, just like you, Mom!"
Aoi laughed, delighted by her son's sincerity. "You sure know how to flatter me," she said, her voice warm with joy.
Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the night sky. Both of them caught the rare moment with their own eyes. Hoshi turned to his mother, as if signaling something. He didn't want to waste the chance.
"Did you see that, Mom? Let's make a wish!"
Aoi looked at her son, her gaze soft. "What's your wish, Hoshi?"
Hoshi closed his eyes for a moment, rubbing his chin as if in deep thought. "Hmm... I want to be a superhero who saves the Earth! What about you, Mom?" Aoi puffed her cheeks, trying to suppress her laughter.
Now it was her turn to think. "Hmm… if I could make a wish…" Aoi's words trailed off.
Sensing something, Hoshi looked at his mother. Unexpectedly, tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.
"Mom...?"
Startled, as if waking from a dream, Aoi quickly wiped her tears. "Oh, it's nothing," she said with a gentle smile.
She placed both hands on Hoshi's small shoulders. "I just wish for you to always be happy in everything you do," she said, her smile so radiant that it made Hoshi momentarily forget about the beauty of the stars outside.
"Mom... You always say things like that," Hoshi said with a playful huff.
Even though he had heard his mother's heartfelt words many times before, they always touched his heart deeply. As an only child, Hoshi knew his mother well. He noticed how her skin was always dry, how she couldn't lift heavy things, and how her hands often trembled, making it hard for her to hold onto objects without dropping them. Aoi suffered from a condition, though she kept it hidden from Hoshi.
Aoi simply smiled at her son's reaction. Slowly, her hand stroked Hoshi's hair. The cold night had turned warm, like the warmth of a mother's love.
"Star… is amazing right?"
★
"Mom... Mom!"
Hoshi's desperate cries reverberated through the house, sharp and frantic like the breaking of glass. No matter how many times he blinked or how tightly he rubbed his eyes, he couldn't allow himself to unsee what was in front of him. His mother, Aoi, had collapsed.
His heart pounded furiously, each beat an unbearable weight in his chest. The air felt suffocating, his lungs struggling to catch a full breath. Sweat dripped down his face, and his trembling hands reached for her as though touching her might change what had just happened.
"Mom..." his voice cracked, barely a whisper now.
Suddenly, the door to the room swung open with a loud creak.
"Hoshi? Aoi? What's happening?!" Eda Takizawa, Hoshi's father, rushed in, his face pale and drawn with panic. He had heard the screams and ran without a second thought, barging into the room. But the sight that greeted him stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Aoi..."
For a moment, Eda seemed frozen in disbelief. But the shock didn't last. Snapping back to action, he fumbled for his phone, his fingers clumsy as he quickly dialed the hospital. He knelt beside Aoi, shaking her gently, calling her name over and over.
"Stay with me, Aoi... stay with me," Eda muttered, his voice shaky yet firm, as if sheer willpower could bring her back. But there was no response. Her body remained limp, her breath eerily absent.
In the corner of the room, Hoshi stood rooted to the spot. His small frame seemed to shrink further with each passing second. He watched the scene unfolding before him, his mind spiraling in chaos. It felt unreal, like the blurry haze of a nightmare that wouldn't end.
"Dad... is she—" Hoshi's voice faltered, his throat dry and tight. His eyes, wide with fear, darted between his father and his mother.
"She'll be fine, Hoshi!" Eda cut in sharply, not looking up as he pressed his ear closer to Aoi's mouth, checking again for any sign of life. His hands trembled, though he tried to hide it.
But Hoshi wasn't so sure. The stillness of his mother's body was overwhelming. His mind replayed the moment she fell—how her hands had loosened, how her knees had buckled. He could still hear the dull thud of her body hitting the floor, a sound that had left him paralyzed.
"I..." Hoshi's voice cracked again. His knees buckled, and he sank to the floor. His small hands gripped the hem of his shirt tightly, twisting and pulling as if the motion could somehow tether him to reality.
The room felt colder now, the air heavier. Everything seemed to slow—the muffled sound of his father's frantic voice on the phone, the hum of the world outside the house, even the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. It all faded into the background, leaving only the image of his mother lying motionless.
"Mom..." Hoshi whispered again, his voice barely audible over the weight of his grief.
And for the first time in his young life, he felt a fear so deep it threatened to pull him into the void. A fear of losing the person he loved most in the world.
★
7 years later.
"Congratulations!"
"Let's take a picture!"
"Finally free!"
Those were the words Hoshi had heard over and over again today. It was the last day of school, the graduation ceremony marking the end of his teenage years and the start of adulthood.
From the beginning of the event until the very end, Hoshi sat alone, surrounded by the laughter and joy of classmates celebrating with friends and family. He had neither. It felt like he was in a completely different world from everyone else. When the ceremony was over, he left the school, his only companion being silence.
Aoi had been in a coma since the incident seven years ago. She had been confined to a hospital bed ever since, and every single day, it was Hoshi who came to take care of her, clinging to the hope that one day she would wake up.
As for his father, Eda, he was busy running a restaurant on the outskirts of the city. His work consumed so much of his time that he couldn't even attend his son's graduation ceremony.
Hoshi trudged away from the school, his steps slow and heavy. There was nothing he would miss about it. To him, it felt like a burden had finally been lifted from his shoulders. He didn't have any plans for the future—no dreams of college or a career. All he wanted was to keep taking care of his mother.
"Dad's so busy… I don't even know what he's doing that's so important," Hoshi muttered bitterly as he walked. "He couldn't even show up for my graduation."
Across the street, a group of teenagers around his age laughed and chatted, all dressed in stylish clothes, celebrating their freedom. But Hoshi didn't envy them. He didn't want that kind of life. For him, being with Aoi was enough to make him happy.
As he continued walking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw his father's name. Sighing, he reluctantly answered.
"Yeah, Dad?"
"Hoshi, are you near the restaurant? Can you come by for a bit? I need your help here," Eda said.
Before Hoshi could even respond, the call ended abruptly.
Hoshi clenched his teeth in frustration. "He couldn't come to my graduation, and now he's asking for help? Seriously..."
Despite his irritation, Hoshi knew he had no choice. He sighed and changed direction, dragging his feet toward the restaurant. He would have preferred to visit his mother at the hospital instead.
It wasn't a long journey—just a few minutes' walk. He cut through narrow alleys and residential streets, using shortcuts he had memorized over the years. Soon, he was standing in front of the restaurant. He pushed the door open slowly.
"I'm here, Dad. What do you ne—"
The words caught in his throat. The restaurant was dark. The chairs and tables were all neatly arranged, as if the place had already closed for the day.
"Did I come too late?" he wondered aloud, his brow furrowing in confusion.
He took a few cautious steps inside when, all of a sudden, the lights flickered on.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOSHI!"
The restaurant staff and his father popped out from behind the counter, grinning from ear to ear.
Hoshi blinked, stunned, but instead of the excitement they had expected, his face remained blank. He tilted his head slightly, his expression puzzled.
"Did… we fail to surprise him?" one of the staff whispered.
"Maybe he's too old for this kind of thing?" another replied.
"No way!"
Hoshi closed his eyes and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Wait… is today my birthday?"
Laughter erupted, shattering the awkward silence.
"He forgot his own birthday!" Eda said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Eda walked over with a cake in his hands. The name "Hoshi" was carefully written in frosting. "I'm sorry I didn't come to your graduation," Eda said, handing him the cake. "But I've been working hard to prepare all of this for you."
In an instant, Hoshi's anger melted away. The pieces finally fell into place. This was why his father hadn't come earlier.
"You could've just told me," Hoshi mumbled, trying to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. "It would've saved a lot of trouble."
"That would've ruined the surprise," Eda replied, grinning.
Together, they all sat down and enjoyed the feast that had been prepared. The table was packed with dishes of all kinds, but the one that caught Hoshi's eye was the plate of onigiri—his favorite. It brought back memories of his childhood, making onigiri with Aoi and eating them together while gazing at the stars.
Once the party was over, Hoshi helped clean the plates while the others tidied up the tables and chairs. He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already 8 PM. He was running late for his visit to the hospital. Grabbing his backpack, he made his way to the door.
"Dad, the dishes are done. I'm heading to the hospital now. If I don't leave soon, it'll be dark out," Hoshi called out.
"All right. Be careful on your way there," Eda replied, giving him a small wave.
Hoshi stepped out into the night. The streets were alive with activity. Some shops had already closed, but others, like convenience stores and small bars, were still open. Their bright, colorful lights illuminated the dark streets, painting the night with an artificial glow.
As he walked, a thought crept into his mind. What did Aoi see while she was unconscious? Was it complete darkness? Or was she reliving her last memories with him, playing over and over in an endless loop?
Hoshi didn't have the answer. But as he made his way to the hospital, he silently wished that, wherever she was in her mind, she could see the stars again.
Hoshi continued his journey until he arrived at the hospital. Without a second thought, he walked through the entrance. He knew this place like the back of his hand—every corner held countless memories, all tied to a single hope: the hope that Aoi would one day recover.
His footsteps slowed as he approached a familiar door. This was the room where Aoi had stayed for the past seven years. Yet, something about today felt different. Perhaps it was because today was his birthday.
Carefully, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.
"Mom…"
In an instant, the bag slung over his shoulder fell to the floor. His breath hitched. He couldn't believe his eyes—it felt like a dream finally made real.
"Hoshi…"
The person he had waited so long for was finally back.
He rushed forward, wrapping his arms tightly around his mother. He didn't want to let go, not even for a second. Aoi, filled with love and relief, gently ran her fingers through Hoshi's hair. She could feel the depth of his embrace, as though it was releasing seven years of pent-up longing.
"Seven years… I've waited seven years…" Hoshi whispered, his voice trembling as sobs escaped him.
Aoi said nothing, only letting him pour out his heart while tears soaked into her hospital gown. Slowly, Hoshi loosened his hold and looked up at the face he knew so well. Aoi smiled weakly, her cold fingers brushing away the tears on his cheeks. Her touch was cool, like the soft breeze of the night.
"Want to do the thing we used to do?" Aoi asked softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
Hoshi nodded wordlessly. He didn't have the strength to speak, but he knew exactly what she meant.
He stood and pulled back the curtains. Then he turned off the lights, allowing the natural glow of the night to fill the room. Just like seven years ago, the stars were unusually bright tonight, their brilliance unchallenged even by the city lights. Hoshi sat down beside Aoi, and together they gazed at the beauty of the night sky.
"It's your birthday today, isn't it?" Aoi's voice broke the peaceful silence.
"How did you know?"
"Haha… Of course, I know. Who do you think gave birth to you?" she teased with a gentle laugh.
Hoshi turned to look at his mother. Though she was awake now, her face showed no signs of recovery from her illness. Her pallor and fragility were still painfully evident.
Even after all these years, Hoshi still didn't know what illness his mother had. Despite endless searches online and countless questions to doctors, the answer remained a mystery.
"I'm sorry, Hoshi," Aoi said, her voice trembling. She looked out the window, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry you had to struggle so much. I've been a terrible mother."
Hoshi reached out and took her hand in his. "None of that matters. I would wait however many years it takes if it means seeing you smile again." His gaze was steady, his words resolute.
Aoi's eyes glistened as she heard her son's heartfelt reply. Her chest swelled with emotions she couldn't put into words. She had never expected to be loved so deeply.
Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the sky. Both of them caught sight of it, their breaths hitching in unison as they witnessed the fleeting brilliance.
It was as if time had rewound itself. Everything felt just like it had seven years ago—a perfect replay of a cherished memory.
"Did you see that, Mom? Let's make a wish," Hoshi said, his voice filled with childlike excitement.
"What's your wish, Hoshi?" Aoi asked, her eyes soft as she gazed at him.
Hoshi closed his eyes, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… I wish you'll never leave me again. Not ever. What about you?"
Aoi turned her gaze back to the window, her expression wistful. "Hmm… if I could wish for anything…" Her words trailed off.
Noticing the pause, Hoshi looked over at her. To his surprise, tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.
"Mom…"
Before he could say more, Aoi reached out, pulling his arm into a gentle embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's nothing," she said, wiping her tears away. "I just wish for you to be happy in whatever you do. Always."
Aoi's smile was radiant, and it filled Hoshi's heart with a warmth he hadn't felt in years. Without realizing it, tears streamed down his face. It was an emotion he could barely describe, one he hadn't experienced in what felt like forever—the feeling of being loved by his mother.
"Mom… You always say things like that," Hoshi murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Aoi chuckled softly and leaned into him, folding her legs up on the bed as she wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. The cold night had turned warm, like the warmth of a mother's love.
"Star… is amazing right?"
-Prologue : end-