The notebook sat between them.
Closed.
But not forgotten.
Velithra stared at it for a moment before finally opening it.
Kai leaned in slightly, already knowing what she was looking for.
The list.
They hadn't checked it in a while.
Not because they didn't care—
But because they hadn't needed to.
Things had just… been happening.
Velithra flipped through the pages until she found it.
The familiar handwriting.
The small, simple ideas that once felt endless.
Now—
they didn't.
"Five left," she said quietly.
Kai nodded.
"Yeah."
It didn't feel like an achievement.
It didn't feel exciting.
It felt…
limited.
Velithra traced her finger lightly down the page.
Each unfinished line suddenly felt heavier than before.
Not because of what they were—
But because of what they meant.
"We're actually going to finish it," Kai said.
There was a strange tone in his voice.
Not proud.
Not relieved.
Just… aware.
Velithra looked at him.
"Yeah."
A small silence followed.
Different from the others.
This one held something underneath it.
"Do you remember when we made this?" Kai asked.
Velithra smiled faintly.
"You thought half of them were pointless."
"I still do."
She nudged him lightly.
"No, you don't."
He smiled a little.
"Okay… maybe not anymore."
They both looked back down at the list.
"What was your favorite?" Kai asked.
Velithra didn't hesitate.
"The sunrise."
He nodded.
"Yeah. That one was good."
"What about you?" she asked.
Kai thought for a moment.
Then—
"Today."
She blinked.
"Today's not even on the list."
"I know," he said. "That's why."
Velithra smiled softly.
"Yeah… I get that."
There was a quiet understanding between them again.
The list had been important.
It had given them something to hold onto.
Something to do.
But now—
it wasn't the center anymore.
"What happens when we finish it?" Velithra asked.
The question came out softer than she expected.
Kai didn't answer right away.
He looked at the page.
At the five remaining lines.
Then back at her.
"We don't stop," he said.
She held his gaze.
"Even if there's nothing left to check off?"
He nodded.
"Yeah."
Velithra closed the notebook gently.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
Just… done for now.
"I don't think it was ever really about the list," she said.
Kai smiled slightly.
"I told you that back at the arcade."
"You say a lot of things."
"Some of them are right."
She laughed quietly.
Then leaned slightly closer.
"Let's finish it anyway," she said.
Kai nodded.
"Yeah."
Not because they needed to.
Not because it would fix anything.
But because it was something they started.
Together.
And that still mattered.
Kai glanced at her.
"Five left isn't a lot."
Velithra met his eyes.
"No," she said.
"It's not."
This time—
they both felt it.
Time wasn't just moving.
It was running out.
But instead of letting that break the moment—
They stayed there.
Side by side.
Because even with only five things left—
They still had time.
And they weren't going to waste it.