The moon hung like a silent sentinel outside Akiko's window, casting long, mournful shadows across her room. The air, still warm from the day, felt heavy with unspoken desires and the bittersweet tang of an impending farewell.
She clung to Haruto, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, her face pressed against the comforting warmth of his chest. His heart beat a steady rhythm beneath her ear, a counterpoint to the frantic pounding of her own.
"Please, Haruto," she whispered, her voice a fragile plea, thick with unshed tears. "Take me with you. Don't leave me here. Please, let me come."
Haruto's arms tightened around her for a moment, a gesture of profound regret. He inhaled deeply, the sweet scent of her hair filling his senses, a scent he knew would haunt him in the lonely nights to come.
