Together..
Haruto slowly repeated this line while sitting in an empty corner of the garden. Cold air was shaking the sleeves of his hoodie. Somewhere in the distant area of the campus, a sports club was practising, but here in the backside garden, there was almost complete silence. Haruto never had a problem with silence, but today this silence had an uneasy heaviness. A heaviness that had stuck to his heart ever since Rin's words.
What if tomorrow I cannot remember you?
Haruto stared at the black screen of his phone. In the reflection, he could clearly see the same uncertainty in his eyes. This was not a normal sentence. No one says something like that randomly. It is said only when there is a strong fear in the mind, an invisible struggle going on, or when a person is fighting with themselves.
Rin's footsteps while walking, the way she stopped on the path, her fragile smile, everything was repeating in Haruto's mind like a loop. He felt that if he wanted to continue in this delicate connection with Rin, he needed to be mentally prepared. Because Rin was not a normal girl. Inside her calmness, there was a raw pain. A feeling like a slowly dissolving memory. Like a page getting blurred again and again.
Haruto was lost in his thoughts when his phone vibrated. A message. Unknown number.
Haruto?
He almost jumped. He did not reply immediately. He confirmed that the number could be Rin's. After a second's pause, he replied.
Yes. It is me.
The reply came instantly.
Did you reach home?
Haruto's heartbeat warmed slightly. Rin's message was unexpected. Today her body language was heavy. She had said she was going to walk. But this simple concern in the message brought a softness inside Haruto.
Yes. You?
Yes. Me too. I am just resting.
Haruto thought the topic would end there, but a few seconds later another message came.
If you had not stopped today, maybe I would not have been able to walk.
Haruto was a little confused. What was my role in your walk?
The reply came.
Presence. The steps felt easy because you were standing there.
Haruto gripped the phone tightly. This line was simple but deeply emotional. Presence never feels this heavy until someone expresses their need for it.
Haruto typed.
If presence helps, then I will be there tomorrow too.
Rin replied with just one word.
Alright.
The phone became silent but Haruto's mind did not. He placed the phone on the bed and opened the window of his room. A cold breeze came in, and he felt a little fresh. But even in the fresh air there was a hidden anxiety.
He thought. Something is wrong. That hollow tiredness in Rin's eyes, her sudden confusion, and the appetite issue she mentioned. And the most intense line was what if tomorrow I cannot remember you.
This did not feel like casual forgetfulness. But Haruto did not want to guess. Nor did he want to ask Rin uncomfortable questions. Their connection was still in a fragile stage. Haruto did not want to put risky pressure.
That night Haruto tried to sketch. Maybe sketching would lighten his mind. The table lamp was on. He opened the drawing pad. Picked the pencil. But as he looked at the blank page his hand did not move. Normally sketches flowed easily. Expressions formed clearly in his mind. But today there was only one face in his mind. Rin's. Its softness. It's confusion. It's fading calmness.
For the first time, Haruto felt sketching might be difficult. But he tried. He softly touched the pencil to the page and began drawing Rin's eyes. But halfway his hand froze. The eyes remained incomplete. As if they were not taking proper shape. Haruto placed the pencil aside in irritation. He closed the page.
He thought. What is happening? An incomplete portrait. An incomplete feeling. An incomplete truth. What is going on inside Rin?
The clock sounded two at night. Haruto finally turned off the light and lay on the bed. But sleep was not ready to come to him. Only Rin's fragile voice echoed in his mind.
What if tomorrow I cannot remember you?
Haruto could not tell if that was fear or a warning. But one thing was clear. This connection was not going to be like a normal couple. This was an emotional journey with unpredictable turns.
When the soft morning light came through the window, Haruto was not in a sleeping position. He was half sitting. His eyes half open. He picked up his phone. No new message. No missed call. Nothing. He took a deep inhale. Today was tomorrow. And his first thought was. Will she remember me when she sees me again?
Haruto quickly got ready. Simple outfit. The same hoodie. Neutral colours. Minimal presence. But inside, full anxiety.
The campus was brighter today. Sunlight was reflecting on the wet ground. Students were actively moving. Voices. Footsteps. Haruto filtered out none of it. His focus was on only one place. The garden.
The same bench.
The same spot.
The same fragile point where memories could connect or disconnect.
Walking toward the garden, Haruto felt his pace nervous. One part of him hoped she would be there. Another part feared she might be there but might not recognise him.
There were not many students in the garden today. The cold weather was pulling people indoors. Haruto looked toward the bench. Empty.
His heart dropped for a second.
Then he looked to the other side. A familiar figure is standing near the small tree. Pale scarf. Light coat. Hair slightly messy in the wind. Rin.
Haruto walked toward her slowly. He did not call her name. He wanted to see her natural reaction.
When Rin heard footsteps she turned slightly. A flash of fear lit inside Haruto. Will she remember?
Rin looked into his eyes. A pause of one second. Then she said softly.
You came.
Haruto felt deep relief. Yes. Are you okay?
Rin gave a slight nod. Yes. Just a bit of a headache in the morning. But manageable.
Haruto casually asked. Would you like to walk today?
Rin, after a short silence, said. Yes. But at a slow pace today.
They walked side by side. Cold air and sunlight created a mixed contrast. Haruto noticed that Rin seemed a little more distant today. As if she were present, but her mind was not fully here.
After a long silence, Rin asked. Haruto. What did you think last night?
Haruto was slightly confused. About what?
My words. If tomorrow I cannot remember you.
Haruto slowed slightly. I thought that even if it ever happens, I will meet you again. Every week. Every month. As many times as needed. I will introduce myself again.
Rin stopped walking. Haruto stopped too. Rin turned toward him.
How are you so calm? Are you not afraid?
Haruto told the truth. I am. Very much. But if you are afraid I need to stay stable.
That same fragile pain appeared again in Rin's eyes. She quietly said. Stability is rare.
Haruto gave a small smile. You deserve it.
Rin brushed her hair aside. But these rare answers confuse me.
Haruto asked gently. How do they confuse you?
Rin took a slow breath. I feel like you understand everything and still ask nothing. Why?
Haruto answered. Because if you ever want to tell me yourself then I will listen. Until you are ready, I will not force you.
Rin's eyes softened a little. You are strange.
Haruto smiled lightly. I know.
Rin took another step but suddenly stopped. Her body tilted slightly as if she were losing balance. Haruto instantly caught her arm. Rin closed her eyes and took a light inhale.
Are you okay?
Rin spoke in a slow voice. Yes. Just a momentary blackout.
Haruto said in a firm tone. Let's sit on the bench.
Rin gave a weak nod and they both sat on the bench. Haruto carefully observed that Rin's breaths were becoming normal. But her eyes held that scary uncertainty.
Rin said softly. Sometimes it feels like there is an empty room inside my mind. As if I lost its key.
Haruto wanted to hold her hand gently but stopped. He only said. You are not alone.
Rin gave a faint smile. Your presence feels warm.
Haruto quietly asked. What is your plan today?
Rin looked at the sky. Just here. A little while. Then maybe the library. Or maybe nothing.
Haruto said softly. Alright. I am here. As long as you want.
Rin looked at him. People like you do not exist much.
Haruto felt warmth in his heart. People like you do not either.
Rin closed her eyes slightly and said quietly. Haruto. If I ever stop in the middle of talking. Or if I delay in recognising you. Please do not panic.
Haruto replied calmly. I will not.
Rin took a deep breath. Good. I need a stable presence. Otherwise, the mind blurs even more.
Haruto felt that the situation was far beyond normal. This was not ordinary forgetfulness. But for now, he could only be a support. Truth reveals itself slowly. And Haruto was ready.
Rin finally said softly. Will you meet me tomorrow?
Without pausing Haruto said. Yes. Wherever you say.
Rin gave a faint smile. Tomorrow then.
Haruto said slowly. Tomorrow.
After that Rin walked slowly toward the exit. Haruto watched her fading figure, the pale scarf fluttering lightly in the air, her steps slow as if she was placing each one after thinking.
The garden breeze was cold, but something else was moving inside Haruto: a warmth, an anxiety, a strange pull.
He looked again at the bench the same bench where their awkward beginnings had happened. Now it had become a silent witness to the unspoken battles between two people.
Haruto placed his hands in his pockets and took a deep slow breath.
Something was clearly wrong.
There was a crack in Rin's smile, hesitation in her steps, small empty gaps between her sentences that Haruto could not fill.
But one thing he was sure of, whatever was behind all this, Rin would not be alone.
Haruto looked at the sky. The clouds were low, the light dull. But today he felt a strange determination as if a quiet promise was forming inside him.
Maybe he did not understand everything, but however blurred things became, he would walk beside her until Rin could hold her own story again.
Haruto whispered softly.
Tomorrow, whatever it is, I will come.
And for the first time, he felt that tomorrow was not just a day, it was a test.
A continuation of a fragile moment.
A silent fight in which Haruto was now officially standing beside Rin.