The night air felt heavy as Haru walked home after meeting Aki at the shrine. Every step echoed with confusion. Hana's smile still lingered in his chest, yet Aki's words struck him with undeniable weight: "You once loved me."
Two girls. Two lifetimes. Two bonds.
At school the next day, Hana approached him cheerfully, holding two cans of juice. "Hey, Haru! You looked so serious yesterday. Is everything okay?"
Her eyes were warm, filled with a kindness that made Haru want to protect her. He forced a smile and nodded, but his heart wavered. Before he could reply, a shadow passed through the hallway. Aki walked by, her kimono replaced by the school uniform. She moved with elegance, as if she belonged to a different era entirely.
Students whispered about the "new transfer student," but Aki's gaze didn't wander. It found Haru, sharp and unwavering, like a string tied between them.
Hana noticed. Her cheerful smile faltered just slightly.
At lunch, Haru sat under the old cherry blossom tree. He thought he'd have a moment of peace, but instead found both Hana and Aki approaching from different directions.
His chest tightened.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Hana asked, her voice light but her eyes searching his face.
"I was hoping to speak with you alone," Aki said calmly, her tone carrying an authority Hana didn't dare challenge.
Haru's hands clenched around his bento box. This isn't normal. This isn't coincidence. Fate is weaving something far more complicated than I can handle.
Before he could answer, the wind rustled the blossoms above. For a moment, Haru swore he heard a whisper, ancient and faint:
Choose carefully… for every choice echoes across lifetimes.
Both girls sat, one on his left, one on his right. And for the first time, Haru realized — this wasn't just a reunion of souls. This was the beginning of a conflict between love, memory, and destiny.