Yuna circled the date in red.
August 28.
She stared at it for a long time, pen hovering like she might erase it just by looking hard enough.
She didn't.
She told us that evening.
No buildup. No dramatic speech.
"My family leaves in ten days."
Mio dropped her spoon.
Ren didn't move at all.
I felt the room shrink.
"Ten days?" Mio repeated. "That's… nothing."
"It's enough," Yuna said softly. "It has to be."
Ren finally spoke. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
She met his eyes. "Because I wanted us to stay like this."
No one argued.
They decided to make a list.
Not officially. Not written.
Just things said out loud, like promises to the air.
"Fireworks," Mio said immediately.
"Night swimming," I added.
"Festival food," Yuna smiled.
Ren hesitated.
Then said, "One normal day. No goodbyes."
Yuna nodded. "Deal."
The next morning, the air felt different.
Lighter.
Heavier.
Every laugh sounded louder. Every silence deeper.
At lunch, Ren sat beside Yuna for the first time in days.
They didn't touch.
They didn't need to.
After school, Mio pulled me aside.
"I don't want this summer to end," she whispered.
"It will," I replied.
"I know," she said. "That's why I'm scared."
That night, Yuna texted the group chat:
Yuna: Thank you for staying.
Ren typed.
Stopped.
Typed again.
Ren: I'm not going anywhere.
Yuna didn't reply.
But I knew she was smiling.
Some endings announce themselves quietly.
With a date.
With a circle in red ink.
With ten days that suddenly matter more than all the years before them.