Here's the English translation:
"In the midst of endless emptiness, I found true freedom. Without meaning, without purpose, only pure void."
- Kamishiro Zen
***
The summer sky stretched wide above the city, enveloping the world in an almost endless blue. On the school rooftop, a young man lay with his hands behind his head, gazing at the sky as if searching for something among the slowly drifting clouds.
Kamishiro Zen, a second-year high school student, let out a long sigh before whispering to himself,
"When you're bored, there's really nothing better than staring at the clear summer sky."
Kamishiro Zen was a young man with black hair and blue irises like the sky he was gazing at.
The summer breeze blew, carrying with it the sound of leaves rustling in the distance.
Silence enveloped the school rooftop. There was no sound except for the small whisper of wind playing with Zen's clothes.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his thoughts drift without purpose.
"I'm really bored."
BANG!
Suddenly, the sound of a kicked door echoed across the entire rooftop, disturbing the peace he had just been enjoying.
Zen didn't need to see who the culprit was.
"Zen! Why are you skipping class again?!"
That sharp voice cut through the air, full of unquestionable anger.
Zen sighed before finally getting up slowly and looking at the figure standing in front of him.
A girl with short brown hair, eyes blazing with anger, and hands on her hips.
Aya Kasumi.
The only person who could possibly be called his friend.
Zen looked at her lazily.
"Useless, completely useless."
Kasumi frowned. "What did you say?"
Zen just shook his head slowly, not intending to explain.
The girl hadn't heard him. Of course not, because Zen had said it in a low volume that could only be heard by someone standing close to him.
The girl walked toward Zen and shouted again.
"Anyway, hurry back to class!"
Zen covered one ear with his hand. "Noisy, BaKasumi. My ear hurts because you're shouting. I think I need to go to the infirmary."
"Don't make excuses! Go back quickly! And what's BaKasumi?"
Zen shrugged. "Just what it sounds like."
Kasumi grumbled, but still didn't ease up on her determination to drag Zen back to class.
"Anyway, hurry back! The third period is about to start. If you don't, you'll get scolded by Mr. Nakamura again."
Zen let out a long sigh. "I hate that old man."
"Don't make excuses!"
Without giving Zen a chance to argue further, Kasumi immediately grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the school rooftop door.
***
The evening sky slowly changed color, orange rays blending with the darkening blue. The summer air still felt warm, but Zen didn't pay much attention to it.
He walked leisurely on the sidewalk that was beginning to empty, his bag slung over his back.
Beside him, Aya Kasumi walked at the same pace, carrying her bag in one hand.
There was no conversation between them.
Only the sound of footsteps echoing on the increasingly empty street.
Zen wasn't someone who was good at starting conversations. He was quiet, lazy to talk, and preferred to let silence continue rather than having to bring up topics of conversation.
Kasumi was used to his attitude, but still, there was something that felt strange every time they walked without talking.
Finally, Kasumi let out a small sigh and tried to break the silence.
"Hey, Zen. Don't you feel awkward walking without talking like this?"
Zen kept looking straight ahead, his expression unchanged. "No."
Kasumi clicked her tongue. "Of course, I'm the one who feels awkward. I feel like I'm walking with a stranger."
Zen glanced slightly, but only gave a lazy answer. "Then just think of me as a stranger."
Kasumi furrowed her brow. "You're really annoying."
Zen smiled faintly. "I know."
Silence enveloped them again.
Zen glanced slightly toward Kasumi, but didn't say anything.
He knew that the only reason they went home together wasn't just because they were friends, but also because their houses were next to each other.
Kasumi was the only friend who stayed by his side.
Without Kasumi, he would probably walk alone every day as usual.
But Zen wasn't someone who was good at expressing things like that.
He wasn't the type of person who easily talked about himself, even about the simplest things.
However, there was one fact that he always hid from everyone, including Kasumi.
Zen was a severe otaku.
He loved anime and manga more than anything, but for him, it was something embarrassing.
He never talked about it to anyone. In fact, it never crossed his mind to reveal it to Kasumi.
In his opinion, liking things like that was a disgrace.
Zen lived in fear that someday someone would find out that secret, and because of that, he never talked about it with anyone.
He also never hoped to find someone who shared his hobby.
Kasumi was the only exception in his life—someone who stayed by his side even though he never really tried to build relationships with anyone.
But still, Zen wasn't someone who was open.
He never knew how to talk about himself without feeling strange.
Because of that, he chose to remain silent.
Zen's parents often traveled abroad for business, leaving him alone at home with two servants as supervisors.
Without someone who truly cared about him, he never felt the need to do anything seriously.
He didn't like school, but still came just for pocket money.
This routine had become a habit for him.
Kasumi would invite him to talk, Zen would respond halfheartedly, and they would arrive home without meaningful conversation.
The warm evening atmosphere gradually turned into something much colder.
Zen and Kasumi walked along the sidewalk toward home, their shadows stretching over the asphalt, following their steps.
Kasumi occasionally glanced toward Zen, wanting to say something but hesitating.
She knew that Zen wasn't someone who was easy to talk to, but staying silent too long made the atmosphere increasingly awkward.
After a while, she decided to try again.
"Zen, you know..."
But before she could finish her sentence—something happened.
A ball rolled into the middle of the road, followed by a small child who chased after it without thinking.
And at that moment—
The sound of a truck horn split the air, loud and panicked.
But the truck didn't slow down.
Kasumi saw it.
Everything happened in an instant.
Without hesitation, she ran to save the child.
"Stop, Kasumi!"
Zen shouted, but Kasumi was already moving.
As her hand reached the child, the truck carrying heavy cargo drove faster—too fast.
Zen knew Kasumi wouldn't be fast enough to get out of the collision path.
Without thinking, without considering the consequences, Zen ran after Kasumi and pushed her away.
Kasumi fell onto the sidewalk, her head hitting hard, blood beginning to flow from her temple.
However, she was safe.
On the other hand...
Zen was hit.
There was no time to think. No chance to avoid it.
Only the sound of a hard impact—and Zen's body being thrown before finally falling onto the street.
Hysterical screams were heard from pedestrians and drivers who witnessed the accident.
Kasumi, who had fallen, immediately got up, even though her head was still throbbing severely.
Her eyes searched for Zen.
When she saw him—his body was covered in blood.
"Zen? Zen!"
Kasumi ran toward him, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
People began to gather, trying to help.
"Call an ambulance... please call an ambulance," shouted one of the people who saw Zen's condition.
Someone crouched down and checked his pulse.
For a moment, everything felt so quiet—as if the world was holding its breath.
Then, that voice was heard.
"He's... already dead."
Kasumi froze.
She couldn't accept that reality.
"Zen, wake up! I promise I won't nag you anymore, so please open your eyes!"
But there was no answer.
Zen was gone.
In the midst of the crowd of people trying to help him, Kasumi could only hug Zen's lifeless body.
Her tears fell on his face, mixing with the blood flowing from his wounds.
"Why did you save me, Zen? This isn't like you. Why does it have to be like this? I can't live without you. There are still so many things I wanted to tell you."
But it was too late.
Zen had died, saving Kasumi and that little child.
Kasumi cried hard, regretting everything.
Someone patted her shoulder.
"We have to move him, the ambulance is on its way."
Kasumi still didn't move.
She just stared at Zen with an empty gaze, as if hoping he would breathe again.
But that hope was just a lie.
Zen was gone.
As the sound of the ambulance siren grew closer, the world that had once felt so quiet to Zen now became something much colder.
Kasumi tightened her grip on Zen's hand.
Wanting, wanting something impossible.
Because no matter how many times she asked...
Zen would not come back.