The next morning, Yui walked into school with her stomach in knots. Everything looked so… normal.
The courtyard was full of kids chatting, the bell rang, teachers scolded students for running in the halls. No destruction, no Watcher, no shadows stalking them.
But then her chest tightened.
when she reached the row, her chest dropped. Ayumi's locker was gone. In its place was some random girl's locker, covered in stickers and scribbles, completely unfamiliar.
Yui's vision blurred. Her knees buckled, and she staggered back, tears springing unbidden to her eyes. The memories of her Ayumi—laughing in class, teasing her, standing by her side through everything—flooded her like a tidal wave.
She collapsed against the wall, sobs spilling uncontrollably. Other students whispered, unsure what to do. A teacher quickly approached and gently led her toward the school counselor's office, murmuring.
"It's okay, Yui. Let's get you somewhere quiet."
Once inside, Yui sank into a chair, shaking, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't explain everything—how her Ayumi had died, how she had seen her in Limbo, how it was all her fault—but she tried anyway.
"She… my best friend, Ayumi… she attended this school," Yui choked out. "She… she passed away… and it's my fault. I miss her so much…"
The adult sitting across from her frowned gently.
"Yui… there's never been an Ayumi who attended our school."
Yui froze, then muffled a sob into her hands, covering her mouth. Her body trembled as the counselor's words hit her like a physical blow.
"I… I need… Haru!" she gasped, reaching out.
The teacher hesitated.
"Yui… is that Haru Tanaka, your friend?"
"Yes!" Yui cried, desperate. "I need him!"
"I'm sorry," the teacher said softly. "But class is in session. He can't come right now. You need to—"
"No! Please!" Yui shouted, grabbing the adult's hand. "I can't… I just can't!"
Seeing her distress, the teacher sighed and gently guided her back to her classroom. Yui's fingers trembled as she entered the room, the empty desks staring back at her.
She sank into her seat, head in her hands, silent sobs shaking her shoulders.
By lunchtime, the group had gathered. Haru, Daichi, Haruka, Kaito, and Airi were all there, chatting and laughing like they always did—but Ayumi was not among them.
Yui's heart tightened again, the absence of her best friend cutting sharper than any laugh or joke could mask.
She picked at her lunch, forcing herself to eat, her mind spinning with grief, longing, and the cruel reminder that this version of reality had no Ayumi at all.
Haruka, sitting across from her, frowned. "Yui… are you okay? You've been really quiet all morning."
Yui forced a small shake of her head, blinking back tears. "I… I'm fine," she whispered, though her voice cracked despite her effort.
Airi, noticing the tension, leaned closer.
"Yui… you don't seem fine. Something's wrong. Talk to us."
Kaito and Daichi exchanged worried glances, their usually playful expressions replaced with concern. Daichi nudged Yui gently.
"Seriously, Yui. You can tell us if something's bothering you. We're here."
Yui's chest tightened. She wanted to tell them everything—about Limbo, The Watcher, Ayumi—but it was impossible. No one here could understand. Instead, her hands gripped her lunch tray, and she let out a shaky breath, trying to steady herself.
Haru noticed the distant look in her eyes and leaned slightly toward the group.
"She's… been dealing with a loss in the family,"
he said gently, keeping his tone casual but careful. He avoided mentioning Ayumi, knowing it would confuse them.
Airi and Haruka exchanged worried glances, both frowning softly.
Kaito spoke up.
"Yui, would you maybe want to… hang out after school?"
Daichi quickly chimed in, nodding.
"Yeah, it could be fun. We could all—together, you know. It might cheer you up."
Yui's eyes met Haru's. There was warmth and understanding in his gaze, a silent reassurance that she didn't have to face everything alone. Without thinking, without processing much else, she nodded.
"Okay," she said softly, a small, tentative smile forming. "I'd like that."
Haru's lips twitched in a faint, comforting smile. The others exchanged subtle looks of relief, glad that Yui had agreed, even if she wasn't fully ready to explain the storm of emotions she was holding inside.
Haru shifted uncomfortably in the cafeteria, his eyes flicking toward Yui every few seconds. The noise of chattering students and clattering trays made his chest tighten. He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice just enough so that no one around could hear.
"Yui… I—I need you to show me something," he said, his words coming out quiet, almost hesitant. His hands fidgeted at his sides before, almost instinctively, he reached out and took hers.
Yui blinked at him, surprised. The warmth of his hand enveloped hers, and their fingers intertwined naturally. Haru gave her hand a small, reassuring squeeze—just firm enough that she could feel it—but not too tight. It was subtle, but it carried everything he felt: concern, support, and the unspoken promise that she wasn't alone.
The group around them—Haru's classmates, their friends—noticed the interaction immediately. Airi's eyes narrowed slightly, and she nudged Haruka, whispering,
"What are they hiding?"
Kaito fidgeted with his fingers, glancing nervously between them, while Daichi leaned back in his seat, a half-smile forming on his lips, curiosity and amusement mingling in his expression.
Haru ignored them all, focusing solely on Yui. He started walking, gently tugging her hand as they weaved through the crowded cafeteria toward the empty hallway under the staircase.
The bustle of the students faded behind them, replaced by the quiet echo of their footsteps on the tiled floor.
Once they stopped under the staircase, Haru gave her hand another small squeeze, just to anchor her. He looked her in the eyes, his own filled with concern, and asked softly, "Are you okay?"
Yui shook her head, but her tears stayed buried. She didn't let them fall, didn't allow herself to break down completely—not yet.
Haru let out a deep, slow sigh—not of annoyance, but of worry. "Why did you say yes to hanging out with them? Our main focus should be getting out of this universe."
Yui's gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. "I… I don't know. I was nervous, I guess. I said yes without thinking,"
she murmured. Then she looked up, her eyes meeting his. "But… maybe they can help us. Maybe if we try, we can figure something out."
Haru frowned slightly, confusion mingling with concern. "I noticed something… none of them are wearing their emeralds. None of you have them. That makes me think… in this universe, The Watcher and Limbo… maybe they never existed."
Yui's eyes widened a little, but she shook her head. "We don't have to tell them. Maybe they can still help, even if they don't know the truth."
Haru exhaled slowly.
"Yeah… I guess. For now, we just have to be careful. We can't mess anything up here. We don't know what would happen if we did."
By the end of the school day, the group decided to hang out together, heading to a quiet park nearby. Tall trees stretched overhead, sunlight filtering through the leaves, and the soft hum of the city in the distance gave a peaceful feeling.
Kaito and Daichi were tossing a small frisbee back and forth, while Airi and Haruka were sitting on the grass, chatting and teasing each other about something silly from class.
Yui and Haru slipped away from the group and found an empty bench near the edge of the park.
They sat side by side, close enough that their shoulders brushed lightly.
Across the path, a couple walked hand in hand, exchanging small, quiet gestures—a shared snack, a soft laugh leaning on one another. Yui watched them in awe.
"Someday… I hope I have something as adorable as that," she murmured, glancing at Haru.
Haru looked at her, eyebrows raised slightly. "You mean… like a boyfriend and girlfriend thing?"
Yui nodded, cheeks tinged pink. Then, almost shyly, she asked, "Have you… ever had your first kiss?"
Haru hesitated, a faint, embarrassed flush spreading across his face. "No… never. Not even a girlfriend," he admitted quietly, looking slightly away as if hiding his awkwardness.
Yui tilted her head, studying him for a moment, and decided to do something small but sweet. She leaned over and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
Haru froze, eyes widening, and his face flamed a deep pink.
Yui's own cheeks mirrored his flush, and she quickly looked away, fiddling nervously with her fingers to hide her blush.
The sound of the frisbee hitting Daichi's hand, Airi's laughter, and Haruka's teasing felt distant now, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them on that bench. The warmth of the moment lingered, a quiet thread connecting them both.
Yui's cheeks burned brighter than ever as she quickly pulled her hands to her lap. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean—"
she stammered, eyes darting everywhere except at Haru. "I just… I thought maybe it would make you feel better… because, you know… about never having your first kiss."
She trailed off, embarrassed, twisting her fingers nervously.
Haru's face was still flushed, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"I'm… I'm not embarrassed," he said quickly, but the faint pink on his
cheeks betrayed him. He took a deep breath, trying to regain composure, though he stayed looking down, too flustered to meet her gaze.
Yui let out a quiet, almost exasperated sigh, muttering another, "I-I'm sorry…" under her breath.
Just then, the frisbee Daichi had been tossing carelessly slipped from his hand and smacked Haru right in the face. Haru yelped in surprise, quickly leaping to his feet.
Without thinking, he threw it back at Daichi with precision, the two of them erupting into a half-serious, half-silly fight across the grass.
Kaito sat cross-legged nearby, watching silently with wide eyes, utterly unamused but too shy to intervene.
Haruka, still sitting on the ground, shook her head with an amused grin.
Airi, on the other hand, got up and sauntered over to sit beside Yui, watching Haru and Daichi with a slight smirk playing on her lips.
Yui let out a soft giggle, her shoulders shaking as she watched the boys bicker like little kids.
Airi leaned closer, a teasing glint in her eyes. "So…" she drawled, giving Yui a pointed look. "…do you have a crush on Haru?"
Yui's eyes went wide, and she practically choked on her own words. "N-no! I mean—what? No, of course not!"
she blurted, as if denying it could somehow make it untrue.
Airi just giggled, leaning back casually.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone,"
she said, a smug little smile tugging at her lips.
Yui let out a defeated little sigh, finally slumping back slightly. There was no convincing Airi
——-AFTER SCHOOL———
Haru and Daichi circled each other across the grassy field, both holding the frisbee like it was a weapon. Haru's face was still pink from earlier, his focus entirely on Daichi, who wore a mischievous grin that only made Haru's frustration worse.
"You threw it too hard!"
Haru snapped, tossing the frisbee back with exaggerated force, which only caused Daichi to stumble slightly.
"Oh, please," Daichi shot back, catching it mid-air.
"You're just mad because you got hit in the face! Admit it, Tanaka, you're a little embarrassed."
Haru's jaw tightened, finding this other Daichi a bit annoying, but he refused to look at Daichi directly. "I am not embarrassed! I'm just careful now!"
"Careful? That's a terrible excuse for missing a throw!" Daichi laughed, spinning to face him.
"Honestly, you've always been this bad at catching. Remember last week in PE?"
Haru's eyes narrowed, and with a quick, playful growl, he lunged toward Daichi, swinging the frisbee at him like a sword.
Daichi ducked, grabbed it mid-swoop, and threw it back with perfect aim, grazing Haru's shoulder.
Haruka sighed, hands on her hips, and stomped her foot lightly. "You two are acting like children," she said, exasperated. "It's getting late. Haru, we should head home."
Haru shot Daichi a look—half warning, half exasperation—before nodding reluctantly. "Yeah… you're right," he said, voice quiet but firm. He waved goodbye to Airi and Daichi. "See you all tomorrow," he added, glancing at Haruka. "Wait a minute."
He walked over to Yui, gently squeezing her hand. He gave her a reassuring smile. "You and me meet up tomorrow, and you shouldn't walk home alone, okay? Walk with us."
Yui nodded, trying to match his smile, and the three of them started walking together. They chatted quietly as they moved, but when they reached the street near Yui's house, Haru slowed. "Alright, this is your stop," he said, voice soft.
Yui watched him walk away, her chest tightening as he disappeared down the street. She lingered a moment longer, eyes following his retreating figure, before finally turning and walking inside.
Once inside, Yui slipped off her shoes and placed them neatly where they belonged. She walked across the floor and headed upstairs, but her mother's voice called out from the dining room.
"Yui, dinner's ready!"
"I'll be down in a minute," Yui replied, "just need to change first."
She went upstairs, changed into her pajamas, and let her hair fall freely around her shoulders.
Standing in front of the mirror, her eyes wandered, and for a moment she remembered a childhood memory of her and Ayumi—laughing in the park, chasing each other around the swings.
Her chest tightened, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked rapidly, forcing herself to compose.
She made her way downstairs and sat at the table, quietly picking at her food. "Mom…" she began, voice trembling.
"Do you remember when me and Ayumi… used to… play together in the park? We… we'd pretend we were princesse's, and she always beat me at races…"
Her mother and father exchanged a confused glance.
"Yui…" her mom said gently. "Who's Ayumi?"
Yui's hands clenched slightly, her throat tightening. She took a few quick bites, forcing herself to swallow. "I… I can't… I'm sorry," she said softly, voice cracking. "I can't finish it."
Her parents' worried murmurs followed her as she rushed back upstairs to her room.
She shut the door quietly, curling up in her bed. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of her memories and guilt pressed down on her.
She cried until exhaustion finally took over, and eventually, her sobs softened into quiet whimpers as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.