The sound of waves lingered in Aoki's ears long after they had left the sea.
Even as he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he could still hear it—the slow rhythm, the quiet repetition. It was strange how something so simple could stay with him.
But maybe it wasn't the sound.
Maybe it was the memory.
Emi standing by the shore.
Her hair moving with the wind.
That smile—
Not forced.
Not hiding anything.
Just… real.
Aoki turned to his side, closing his eyes.
"…Don't disappear too soon."
The words he had said echoed back to him.
And for the first time—
They felt heavier than he had intended.
—
The next day felt quieter.
Not because anything had changed.
But because now—
He noticed more.
The way Emi held her pen slightly tighter than others.
The way her movements were just a bit slower.
The way her eyes sometimes lost focus, even if only for a second.
Things no one else seemed to see.
Or maybe—
Things no one else wanted to see.
"…Aoki."
He looked up.
Emi stood beside his desk again.
It was becoming a habit.
"Good morning," she said.
"…Morning."
She smiled faintly.
"You look tired."
"…Didn't sleep much."
"That's bad."
"Maybe."
"…Were you thinking about something?"
Aoki hesitated.
"…Yeah."
"Can I guess?"
"You don't have to."
"I will anyway," she said softly.
A small pause.
"…Was it me?"
Aoki sighed.
"…You're not wrong."
Emi laughed lightly.
"That's dangerous."
"How?"
"You're thinking too much about someone who's going to disappear."
The words were gentle.
But they cut deeper than anything else.
Aoki frowned.
"…Stop saying it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like it doesn't matter."
Emi blinked.
Then smiled faintly.
"It's not that it doesn't matter," she said. "It's just… already decided."
Aoki looked away.
He didn't like that answer.
He didn't like how easily she accepted it.
"…Then don't decide it," he said quietly.
Emi tilted her head.
"That's not how it works."
"I know."
"Then why say it?"
"…Because I don't want to accept it."
Silence.
Emi watched him for a moment.
Then—
"…You really are strange."
Aoki didn't reply.
Because maybe—
She was right.
—
Lunch break.
The rooftop again.
The wind was a little stronger today.
Emi sat down, placing her bag beside her.
"Aoki," she said suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"…Do you have a list?"
"A list?"
"Of things you want to do before you die."
Aoki blinked.
"…No."
"I thought so."
"Why?"
Emi looked at the sky.
"…Because I do."
Aoki's heart skipped.
"…You do?"
She nodded.
"Want to see it?"
He hesitated.
Then—
"…Yeah."
Emi reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook.
It was simple.
Worn at the edges.
Like it had been opened many times.
She flipped it open.
"…Don't laugh," she said.
"I won't."
She handed it to him.
Aoki looked down.
And read.
—
**Things I want to do before I die**
1. Go to the sea
2. Eat street food with someone
3. Laugh without pretending
4. Make a real friend
5. Skip school once
6. Watch the sunset with someone
7. Stay out late
8. Talk about the future like I actually have one
9. Hold someone's hand
10. Not feel afraid of sleeping
—
Aoki's grip tightened slightly.
"…You've already done some of these," he said quietly.
Emi smiled.
"Yeah."
"The sea."
"Yesterday."
"Street food."
"Also yesterday."
"Watching the sunset."
She nodded.
"And…" Aoki hesitated, "…making a real friend?"
Emi looked at him.
"…Maybe."
Aoki felt something tighten in his chest.
"…What about the rest?"
"I don't know," she said. "Depends on time."
Time.
That word again.
Always there.
Always reminding.
Aoki closed the notebook gently.
"…Let's finish it."
Emi blinked.
"…Eh?"
"The list," he said. "Let's complete it."
She stared at him.
"…You're serious?"
"Yeah."
"That's… not easy."
"I know."
"…And some of these…" she hesitated, "…are impossible."
"Then we'll do what we can."
Silence.
Emi looked down.
"…Why?" she asked softly.
Aoki didn't hesitate this time.
"Because I want you to."
Her fingers tightened slightly on her skirt.
"…That's unfair."
"You said that before."
"And I still mean it."
She looked at him again.
"…You're making memories that will hurt later."
"Maybe."
"Then why—"
"Because they matter now."
The words were simple.
But heavy.
Emi didn't respond immediately.
She just looked at him.
As if trying to understand something she couldn't quite grasp.
Then—
She smiled.
A small, trembling smile.
"…Okay," she said.
Aoki blinked.
"…Okay?"
"I'll rely on you," she added.
The words felt fragile.
Like something that could break if handled carelessly.
Aoki nodded.
"…Leave it to me."
—
After school—
They stood at the gate.
"…So?" Emi asked. "What's next on the list?"
Aoki thought for a moment.
Then—
"…Skipping school."
Emi blinked.
"…Right now?"
"Yeah."
"That's sudden."
"You don't like it?"
She smiled.
"…I do."
A small pause.
"…Let's go."
—
They didn't go far.
Just a quiet park not too far from school.
It was peaceful.
Almost empty.
The kind of place people overlooked.
Emi sat on a swing, gently moving back and forth.
"…This feels strange," she said.
"How?"
"Skipping school."
Aoki leaned against a nearby pole.
"It's not that special."
"It is to me."
She looked at the sky.
"…I've always tried to be… normal."
Aoki listened quietly.
"Follow rules. Don't stand out. Don't cause trouble."
"…Why?"
"Because it's easier that way."
She smiled faintly.
"…If I disappear quietly, no one gets hurt."
Aoki clenched his fists.
"That's not true."
Emi looked at him.
"…You'd be hurt."
"…Yeah."
She stared at him.
For a long moment.
Then—
"…That's why it's unfair," she whispered.
Aoki didn't respond.
Because he knew—
She was right.
—
The swing slowed.
Emi stopped moving.
"…Aoki."
"Hmm?"
"…What do you think happens after we die?"
The question came suddenly.
"…I don't know," he said honestly.
"Me neither."
She looked down.
"…It's scary."
Aoki walked closer.
"…Yeah."
"But," she added, "it's also… peaceful."
"…Peaceful?"
"No pain. No fear."
A small smile.
"…No more pretending."
Aoki looked at her.
"…Do you want that?"
She hesitated.
Then—
"…Sometimes."
The honesty in her voice made his chest ache.
"…But," she continued, looking up at him, "…right now, I don't."
Aoki's eyes widened slightly.
"…Why?"
She smiled.
A soft, genuine smile.
"…Because I'm having fun."
The words were simple.
But they meant everything.
Aoki felt something shift inside him.
Something warm.
Something fragile.
"…Then let's keep going," he said.
Emi nodded.
"…Yeah."
—
The sun began to set again.
Another day ending.
Another day closer to the inevitable.
But for now—
They sat together.
In a quiet park.
Skipping school.
Talking about things that didn't have answers.
And somehow—
It felt enough.
Not because it fixed anything.
Not because it changed the future.
But because—
For this moment—
They were alive.
Together.
And that—
Was everything.
Aoki looked at Emi.
At her fragile smile.
At the way she held onto each moment.
And he made another quiet decision.
No matter how many days were left—
He would fill them.
With everything she wanted.
Everything she deserved.
Even if it hurt.
Even if it broke him.
Because some promises—
Don't need to be spoken.
They just—
Exist.
And this was one of them.