Even after Airi whispered goodnight and softly closed her bedroom door, Toshio remained standing on the balcony, watching the moonlight settle gently over the quiet streets below.
His lips still tingled faintly from her kiss.
It wasn't passionate.
It wasn't desperate.
It was simple. Soft. Ordinary.
And somehow… that made his heartbeat louder than anything else.
A tomorrow with Airi.
Not Mina.
Not a fractured girl lost between identities.
But the real Airi—warm, shy, stubborn, emotional, and finally reaching toward him again.
He let out a slow breath.
"Yeah… I'll protect this."
THE NEXT MORNING – A NEW BEGINNING
A soft knock woke Toshio from sleep.
"Toshio-kun…?"
His heart skipped. Airi's voice. He sat up too quickly, hair a mess.
"Y-Yeah? Come in!"
The door opened a crack—and Airi peeked in, her cheeks already flushing.
"Um… good morning."
"Good morning," Toshio replied, smiling despite being half-asleep.
She stepped in a little, holding two bento boxes wrapped neatly in pastel cloth.
"I… made breakfast."
He blinked. "You cooked? Already?"
She scratched her cheek, embarrassed. "I woke up early and didn't want to burn the kitchen like you did, so…"
"H-Hey, that was an accident—"
"It was charcoal."
"It was slightly charcoal—"
She giggled softly, and just like that, the morning felt light.
Airi walked closer and held out one of the bento boxes with both hands.
"I want to start doing small things again," she said quietly. "You always did everything while I… hid behind Mina."
Toshio shook his head. "You were surviving."
"But now I want to live," she whispered.
"With you."
Toshio felt the words warm him all the way through.
"…Then I'll eat anything you make. Even if it's radioactive."
"Toshio-kun!"
SHARING BREAKFAST
They sat across from each other at the small dining table.
Airi watched nervously as he lifted the first bite to his mouth.
"Well?" she asked.
Toshio chewed slowly.
She leaned in, anxious. "Is it bad? Too salty? Too sweet? Too—"
"It's perfect."
Her shoulders sagged with visible relief.
Then she brightened, eyes sparkling.
"Really?"
"Really."
She smiled—wide, genuine, unguarded.
And Toshio realized how long it had been since he'd seen that smile. Not Mina's composed façade. Not the cautious half-smile Airi used when trying to hide fear.
This one was hers. Entirely hers.
Airi sipped her tea and tried to act normal, but her foot tapped under the table—a sign she was excited and nervous at the same time.
"Toshio-kun?"
"Mm?"
"Would it be weird if I said I'm scared of being happy?"
He paused. "…Why?"
She lowered her gaze.
"Because happiness always felt temporary. Like if I reached for it too hard… it would disappear."
"Airi…"
"But today, right now… I want to try."
She lifted her eyes."
So if I hold onto you too tightly, tell me, okay?"
He reached across the table and took her hand.
"I'd rather you hold too tightly than not at all."
Her breath hitched.
"…Okay."
ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL
Students filled the morning streets, chatting, laughing, running from being late. The usual chaos.
But for Airi, every sound felt sharper. Realer. She walked close to Toshio, clutching her bag with both hands, trying to steady her breathing.
"Toshio-kun… I'm nervous."
"You're trembling."
"…Is it obvious?"
He nodded gently.
Airi's throat bobbed. "What if people only remember Mina's coldness? What if they expect her instead of me? What if they don't like the real me?"
"Then they'll just have to get to know you," Toshio said.
"But what if they don't want to?"
"Then they're blind."
Airi blinked at him.
He continued, "Anyone who can't appreciate the real Airi isn't worth worrying about."
Her cheeks flushed. "You say that so easily."
"Because it's true."
They paused at the school gates.
Students glanced their way—some curious, some whispering, some confused.
Airi tensed.
Toshio slid his hand into hers.
Her eyes widened. "Toshio—there are people—!"
"I know."
"You're holding my hand—"
"I know."
She spluttered. "Toshio-kun!?"
"It's okay," he said softly.
"Let them see the real you."
Her heart thumped wildly, but she didn't pull away.
Instead…
She tightened her grip.
THE CLASSROOM WHISPERS
Class fell into a hush the moment they stepped in.
"Airi-chan…?"
"Wasn't she Mina before?"
"Wait, are they together?"
"Didn't she ignore him for years…?"
Airi froze.
Her fingers tightened painfully around Toshio's.
"It's okay," he whispered.
"But they're staring…"
"They'll stop."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm going to sit us down."
"…That's not helpful—"
He gently guided her to their seats.
Airi lowered her head, letting her hair curtain her face. Her shoulders trembled slightly.
Toshio leaned closer.
"You're doing great."
Her voice was a thin whisper. "I feel like I'm going to melt."
"Then melt. I'll hold the pieces together."
She shot him a mortified glare. "D-Don't say things like that in public—!"
A few nearby classmates giggled.
"See?" Toshio whispered. "They're just curious. Not judging."
Airi peeked around cautiously.
The stares were softer now—more confused than hostile.
One girl approached timidly.
"A-Airi… right? Um… your hair looks pretty."
Airi blinked. "My… hair?"
The girl nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah! Mina always kept it tied up, but you look cute like this!"
Airi's cheeks flushed pink.
"T-Thank you…"
The girl scurried back to her seat, face burning.
Airi turned slowly toward Toshio, eyes dazed.
"Did I just… get a compliment?"
"Yes."
"I didn't… do anything."
"You existed."
"That doesn't—! You can't just—!"
He smiled. "Get used to it."
She buried her face in her hands.
But her shoulders were no longer trembling.
LUNCH BREAK – CLEARING A SHADOW
They ate under the cherry tree behind the gym—a quiet place where they used to sit as kids.
Airi plucked at a blade of grass.
"Toshio-kun… I need to tell you something."
He looked up from his bento. "What is it?"
She swallowed nervously.
"When I became Mina… it wasn't just fear. It was shame."
Toshio's expression softened.
"I thought Airi was weak. Broken. A burden. Mina was… stronger. Colder. She didn't cry. She didn't freeze when people got close. She didn't shake when someone raised their voice."
"Airi…"
"But Mina also couldn't love," she whispered.
"She couldn't feel warmth. She couldn't reach for you."
A soft breeze rustled the petals around them.
"I thought…" Her voice cracked."…if I stayed as Mina, you'd stop waiting for me. You'd move on. You'd be free from worrying about me."
Toshio inhaled sharply.
"Airi—"
"Let me finish," she whispered.
He nodded.
She clenched her hands.
"But every time you smiled at me… even as Mina… it hurt."
"Hurt?"
"Because Mina didn't deserve your warmth."
"But Airi… Airi wanted it so badly it scared her."
Silence fell.
Toshio closed his bento slowly.
Then he moved, gently lifting Airi's chin so she had to look at him.
"Airi."
Her breath trembled.
"You were never a burden. Not once. Not even as Mina."
She shook her head. "But—"
"Mina wasn't someone I needed to love. She was someone I needed to wait through… until you came back."
Her eyes widened.
"I always knew Airi was still there," he whispered.
"Even when you hid. Even when you pushed me away. Even when you pretended not to remember me."
"Toshio-kun…"
"I didn't wait because I was trapped."
He smiled softly."
I waited because you were worth waiting for."
Tears spilled instantly down Airi's cheeks.
She covered her mouth with her hands.
"Toshio… why are you always like this…?"
"Because you need someone to be like this."
"That's—"She pressed her forehead to his shoulder, voice trembling."—unfair."
"Sorry."
"No you're not."
"Not even a little."
She sniffled—and then laughed through her tears.
"I hate how much you can make me cry…"
"Then cry more."
"That's not how comforting works!"
He chuckled softly and held her as she cried.
Under falling cherry blossoms, Airi's last lingering shadow finally loosened its grip.
WALKING HOME – A NEW TYPE OF CLOSENESS
The sun dipped low as students began leaving.
Airi walked beside Toshio, humming quietly—a tiny habit she had as a child but had forgotten as Mina.
Toshio noticed.
"You're humming."
She blinked. "Am I?"
"It's cute."
She nearly tripped. "Wha—Toshio-kun!"
He caught her arm effortlessly.
"See? Cute."
"Stop saying that!"
"Why? It's true."
Airi tried to hide her burning face.
"Toshio-kun…"
"Yes?"
"Is this what normal feels like?"
He squeezed her hand.
"This is us."
She smiled shyly.
BACK AT THE APARTMENT – A VERY AIRI-LIKE REQUEST
After changing into comfortable clothes, Airi stepped into the living room, hesitating.
"Toshio-kun…? Can I… ask something strange?"
He looked up from the sofa. "Go ahead."
She fidgeted with her sleeves.
"Tonight… could you… stay near me?"
He paused.
"Near?"
She nodded, cheeks bright red.
"Not in the same bed! I mean—um—just… nearby. Like… sitting in the living room until I fall asleep."
He softened instantly.
"…Because you're scared?"
"No," she said honestly.
"Because I feel safe when you're here."
He stood and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Of course."
She exhaled in visible relief. "Thank you."
"Tired?"
"A little."
He walked her to her room.
Airi paused at the door.
"Toshio-kun…?"
"Hm?"
She fiddled with her fingers shyly.
"…Can I have goodnight hug too?"
He smiled. "Come here."
She stepped into his arms, small and warm.
Her hands clutched his shirt softly.
"Goodnight," she whispered.
"Goodnight, Airi."
She pulled back—but paused.
"…Toshio-kun?"
"Yes?"
Her eyes glimmered with vulnerability—and trust.
"If tomorrow ever gets too heavy… promise me you won't disappear from me."
He placed a hand over her heart.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Airi's eyes softened.
"…Okay."
She slipped inside her room, smiling faintly.
And Toshio sat outside her door, keeping watch—quiet, warm, patient.
Just like always.