And then—
Haruki stopped.
Right in the middle of the street.
People moved around him without noticing—footsteps passing, faint conversations blending into one another, a distant horn echoing and fading. The town continued as it always did.
Normal.
But something didn't feel normal.
His eyes fixed ahead.
There—
A figure.
Walking.
Nothing clear. Nothing unusual.
And yet—
His chest tightened slightly.
"…Wait."
The word slipped out quietly.
He didn't even realize he said it.
His feet moved.
One step.
Then another.
Then faster.
"Haruki?"
Aoi's voice came from behind, confused.
He didn't answer.
The figure kept walking.
Same pace.
Unchanging.
Not reacting.
Not turning.
Haruki pushed through the crowd, brushing shoulders with strangers. Someone glanced at him, annoyed, but he didn't notice.
His focus didn't break.
It couldn't.
Because something inside him kept pulling forward—
Don't lose it.
"Hey—!"
His voice was louder now.
Still no response.
The distance didn't close.
No matter how fast he moved—
It stayed the same.
Always just ahead.
The street curved.
The figure turned with it.
And for a moment—
It disappeared behind the corner.
Haruki's breath caught.
"No—"
He ran faster.
Ignoring the tightness building in his chest.
Ignoring the way his vision began to blur slightly.
He reached the turn—
And stopped.
Empty.
No figure.
No trace.
Only people passing by like nothing had happened.
"…Where…"
His voice faded.
His breathing didn't slow.
Instead—
It got worse.
A sudden wave hit him.
The ground felt slightly unstable.
"…ah—"
His legs weakened.
His chest tightened painfully, like something was pressing from inside.
Air—
Too little.
Too fast.
"Haruki!"
Aoi reached him, grabbing his arm before he could stumble.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I… I don't…"
His voice came out uneven.
He couldn't focus.
Everything around him felt distant.
"Sit down," Aoi said quickly, guiding him.
A small bench stood nearby, slightly worn from years of use.
She helped him sit.
Haruki leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, trying to steady his breathing.
But it wouldn't come properly.
Like something was blocking it.
"Hey… look at me," Aoi said softly, crouching slightly in front of him.
Her voice was calm.
Steady.
"Slow breaths. In… and out."
Haruki tried.
It was shaky at first.
Uneven.
But he followed her rhythm.
Aoi quickly took out a water bottle from her bag and placed it in his trembling hands.
"Here. Drink slowly."
He took a sip.
The cool water grounded him, even if only a little.
He took another.
And another.
Aoi stayed there, not rushing him.
Just watching, making sure he was okay.
"I'm here," she said quietly.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just enough.
The sounds of the street slowly returned.
Piece by piece.
His breathing eased.
The tightness in his chest loosened slightly.
"…sorry," Haruki whispered.
"For what?"
"…I don't know what happened."
Aoi studied his face carefully.
"You just ran," she said. "Like you saw something important."
Haruki didn't respond immediately.
Because he wasn't sure.
"…did you see someone?" she asked gently.
He hesitated.
"…maybe."
"Maybe?"
"I don't know."
And that answer felt more honest than anything else.
Aoi didn't push further.
She sat beside him instead, leaving just enough space between them.
"…you scared me," she said after a moment.
Haruki looked down at his hands.
"…yeah."
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
After a while, Haruki stood up slowly.
"I think… I'm okay now."
Aoi looked at him, unsure. "…are you sure?"
He nodded.
Not fully convincing.
But enough.
"…let's go home," she said.
He agreed.
And this time—
He didn't look ahead.
---
That night—
Sleep didn't come.
Haruki lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room felt the same.
But not the same.
Every time he closed his eyes—
There it was again.
That feeling.
Someone walking.
Ahead.
Always ahead.
He turned to his side.
Then back again.
"…why…"
The word didn't finish.
The silence in the room felt heavier than usual.
Morning felt far away.
---
Next day.
The classroom felt distant.
Voices blurred together.
Time passed—
But not clearly.
Haruki sat still, staring at nothing in particular.
His body felt off.
Not sick.
Not normal.
Just… wrong.
"…I need air," he muttered.
He stood up and left.
No one stopped him.
---
Rooftop.
Open sky.
Soft wind.
Empty space.
Haruki walked toward the fence and placed his hand on the cold metal.
"…what's happening…"
"Skipping class?"
A voice.
Behind him.
Haruki froze.
Then slowly turned.
A girl stood there.
Close.
Too close for him to not have noticed before.
"…Who are you?"
She didn't answer.
Instead—
"What's your name?"
Haruki hesitated.
"…Haruki."
A pause.
Something changed.
Just slightly.
The air felt heavier.
She stepped a little closer.
"So you are—"
She stopped.
Mid-sentence.
Like the words weren't meant to be said.
Haruki frowned. "…what?"
She looked at him quietly.
Then—
"…nothing."
The wind passed between them.
Soft.
"…do you study here?" Haruki asked.
"Sometimes."
"I've never seen you before."
"Maybe you weren't looking."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Haruki didn't know what to say to that.
The silence stretched again.
Not awkward.
Just… strange.
"I should go," Haruki said finally.
She didn't stop him.
Didn't react.
Just watched.
Haruki turned.
Walked toward the door.
Step by step.
No hesitation.
No looking back.
He opened the door—
And left.
Just before it closed—
A whisper followed him.
"…So you are back."