The morning sun filtered through the pale blue curtains, casting long, delicate shadows across the wooden floor. Hikaru Kagawa sat at the edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes. The coldness of winter had seeped into every corner of his apartment, but it wasn't the chill that made him shiver. It was the silence.
He understood it now. Yuki, his little sister was real. Two years ago, she disappeared and her existence was erased. Everyone forgot about her except Hikaru. Hikaru couldn't accept it so he started hallucinating. He imagined that Yuki was with him all this time. But he understood now that he couldn't do anything to bring someone who disappeared from everyone's memories back. He should just accept it and move forward.
He moved slowly, his motions mechanical. In the living room, a plate rested on the table. Two cups beside it. He picked them up. "I really was making tea for two this whole time," he whispered, a hollow chuckle escaping his throat.
That night, after everything had unraveled, Hikaru had said goodbye.
Yuki had stood in the middle of the room, her smile bright and warm. She looked just like he remembered.
"Goodbye," he said, offering a bittersweet smile.
And then, she was gone.
Dinner tasted bland that night. Maybe because he was only cooking for one now, or maybe because reality had finally settled in. He stared at his plate longer than he ate. The noise of the refrigerator and the ticking clock were the only companions.
The next morning, Hikaru stood in front of the mirror in his uniform. His face looked older somehow, weighed down by the invisible burden he'd been carrying for years. He left the apartment, locking the door behind him.
---
Momiji High was covered in a thin frost, the morning sun melting bits of it from the railings and windows. As Hikaru stepped onto the school grounds, the buzz of students greeted him—laughter, shouts, complaints about homework. The usual chaos.
"HIKARUUUUU!" came a shout like a war cry.
Renji Kanzaki tackled him into a half-hug, half-wrestling hold. "You're late! Were you dreaming of confessing to Arisu again?"
Arisu Yoruichi was considered as the cutest girl in the school.
"Tch, that joke's older than your haircut," Hikaru replied with a smirk.
Yume Amagiri appeared behind them, holding a bento box. "Don't let him get to you, Hikaru-kun. Renji's been extra annoying today. He poured hot sauce in the teacher's coffee."
"It was Mr. Sakamoto's coffee," Renji added proudly. "It's practically a community service."
"Oh for heaven's sake, do none of you have decency?!" barked Mr. Sakamoto himself, storming down the hallway holding his mug, face red. "I nearly had a spiritual awakening from this abomination."
"Or an exorcism," Souta chimed in, joining the group.
Moments later, Sakura Ayazawa, her long brown hair swaying gently, arrived beside Haruki, who looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"Exams in two months. I might die," Haruki mumbled.
"If you die, I'll kill you," Sakura snapped.
"That doesn't make sense," Minato Yoshi commented dryly, walking over with Rina Tamura and Mizuki Sasaki, the trio from Class 3-C. Rina looked energetic as ever.
"Minato, don't pretend like you aren't panicking too. You literally tried to solve a calculus problem by using a recipe book," Mizuki said with a sigh.
"Numbers are numbers," Minato defended.
Rina clapped her hands. "Guys! We should all study together this weekend! It can be, like, a study party."
"With snacks?" Renji asked.
"With snacks," Rina confirmed.
"I'm in," said Haruki instantly.
Mr. Sakamoto groaned. "You lot better pass, or I swear I'll have you all cleaning the PE storage shed until graduation."
"Is that a promise or a threat?" Yume asked, sipping from her thermos.
As the group made their way to class, the mood was lighter than it had been in weeks. Hikaru walked at the back, watching them banter, argue, joke, and laugh.
At lunch, they all gathered in the courtyard despite the cold, bundled up and sharing food. Mizuki read notes aloud while Rina corrected Haruki's kanji. Minato zoned out halfway through, only for Souta to hit him lightly with a book.
"Focus."
"I was visualizing success," Minato replied dramatically.
Renji held up a practice test. "Anyone who scores above 90 gets free ramen from me. Anyone below 50 has to carry my bags for a week."
"Unfair!" Yume protested. "Some of us are emotionally fragile."
"Then study harder," Mizuki said bluntly.
They all turned to Hikaru. "How about you, genius? Gonna ace all of them without opening a book?"
He looked up, eyes calm. "Probably."
Everyone groaned.