The girl's choked words pierced through the screen, reaching the ears of every viewer in the live stream.
Her powerlessness and her desperate hope for the boy to keep living also seeped deep into their hearts.
At that moment, the audience couldn't help but feel their own expressions darken with sorrow.
They understood all too well—accepting the loss of someone precious, feeling so utterly helpless… it was something no one could easily endure.
No matter how much you thought you'd made peace with it, no matter how ready you believed you were—when that moment truly arrives, the unconscious longing you hold for that person becomes like a contagious plague, infecting every bit of resignation and preparedness you'd gathered.
And then, in that bottomless ocean of attachment, you'll find yourself screaming just four words to them with everything you have:
"Don't leave me."
--+--
Lumine: 「Firefly's words… make my chest feel tight and heavy.」
Yae Miko: 「Mr. Bai Heng, as one touched by the Aeon, has already left the deepest imprint on Miss Firefly's life. Even though she knew this day would come, she still chose to stay by his side. But that doesn't mean she's accepted this ending.」
Yae Miko: 「Perhaps in ways we cannot see, this silver-haired girl has searched through countless records, or even sought guidance from that magical cat who can see the future. Yet here she is, crying out with such powerlessness—it seems she never found the answer she was looking for.」
Black Swan: 「Yes… No matter how beautiful this past month has been, no matter how many memories were made, when this moment truly arrives, those joys and memories still can't fill the void left by losing someone so important.」
Sparkle: 「Isn't that just how humans are?~ Driven by emotion, toyed with by emotion~ That's why you should join us, the Masked Fools!~ We ride emotions, we play with them~」
Kiana: 「Is there really no perfect way to fix this…?」
Kafka: 「Not every story in this world can have a perfect ending. No matter how hard people try to change things, there will always be parts that leave you unsatisfied. So there's no need to dwell too deeply. The only thing we can do now is see this story between two people through to the end… and carry it in our hearts.」
Elysia: 「That's right. Whatever the ending may be—joy or sorrow—let's see this tale through… to the very last moment.」
--+--
Though sadness still lingered in the hearts of everyone in the stream, just as Kafka had said—
As the audience, the only thing they could do was watch this story of starlight and firefly to its end, and engrave it in their memories.
After quietly gathering their emotions, everyone turned their attention back to the screen.
[It was the first time you had ever seen the girl cry. Glimmering tears welled up in those mesmerizing eyes, and as each drop fell to the ground, sorrow rippled out like ink spreading in water.]
[Normally, learning anything new about her would bring you joy—but seeing her like this now only made your heart ache intensely.]
[You walked up to Firefly, wearing a gentle smile warmer than ever, as if trying to soften the sadness in her heart.]
"Crying and making a fuss… that really doesn't seem like you."
Bai Heng stepped closer, gently wiping her tears with his thumb, his voice soft.
"Don't look like that."
"I once heard someone say that everything we experience in life is just so we have something to look back on when we're about to die."
"I used to wonder—if it were me, what would I think about when my time came?"
"I never found an answer. For 14 years and 10 months, I lived a numb, meaningless life… and numbly accepted my fate when I was 'traded' to Penacony."
"But luckily, in these last two months, I found my answer."
Bai Heng's voice was calm and soothing, his gaze tender as he looked at the girl.
"And that's you."
"I'll probably be thinking about you until my very last second. Wait—" He paused, pinching his chin thoughtfully before correcting himself with utmost seriousness:
"Given how obsessed I am with you, I'd probably keep thinking about you even after I'm gone."
He nodded, satisfied with his own words.
Even though he was speaking about something as heavy as death, his tone remained light, as if discussing the most ordinary thing.
But then he frowned again:
"Still, it is a bit frustrating… After all, once I'm gone, I won't be able to see you anymore, Firefly."
"Ah… I was really looking forward to it—how you'd look when you're more mature. Will your legs be even longer? Will your waist still be as slim? Or… would you be so heartbroken after I leave that you start overeating and turn into a round, chubby girl?"
"Hiss… Now that I think about it, that actually sounds possible! Especially since when it comes to food, you have zero self-control."
"That would never happen!"
Firefly blurted out instinctively, swinging her fists in flustered protest.
Somehow, Bai Heng's words had worked—the shimmering tears had already vanished from those beautiful eyes.
Watching her, Bai Heng smiled. "Really? Then I'm relieved."
"Now, let's make a promise."
He held up one finger.
"A promise?" Firefly blinked in confusion.
"Mm. After I'm gone… don't be sad."
"Don't stop moving forward."
"And don't ever let shadows cloud your smile."
"Oh, and absolutely no trying to cheat on this promise, because—" He took a step back, spreading his arms wide as he flashed her a warning smile.
Behind him, the night sky had enveloped the dreamscape, and meteors streaked across like blades slicing through the curtains of heaven, tails of light trailing behind.
"I'll always be watching you."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.