The rain had not stopped for three days.Each droplet struck Toshio's window like a heartbeat he could not silence. The city beyond was a blur of gray and silver, drowning beneath the endless curtain of water. Lights shimmered in puddles, distorted reflections of lives still moving forward while his felt trapped, frozen in that single moment when Hana walked away.
He hadn't slept. Every time he closed his eyes, her voice echoed — that quiet, trembling "I can't do this anymore, Toshio."
The words haunted him, looping endlessly, like the rain.
On his desk, half-scribbled notes for their shared college project lay forgotten. His once-neat handwriting had turned jagged. Empty instant-coffee cups crowded the corner, their bitter scent clinging to the air. Somewhere deep inside, Toshio knew he had to pull himself together, but every time he tried, the image of Hana standing beneath that broken umbrella came back — the way she looked up at him one last time before disappearing into the storm.
He pressed his forehead against the cold glass, watching droplets slide down like tears. "Hana…" he whispered. "Where are you now?"
A faint knock broke the silence.
Toshio froze. For a heartbeat, he thought it might be her. He stumbled to the door and opened it. But it wasn't Hana. It was Yumi, her best friend — drenched from the rain, clutching something in her hand.
"Toshio," she said softly. "You look awful."
He stepped aside without a word. Yumi walked in, dripping onto the wooden floor, her expression a strange mix of sympathy and worry. She set a small envelope on the table. His eyes fell on the handwriting — neat, careful strokes that he knew better than his own.
It was Hana's.
"She asked me to give this to you," Yumi said, her tone heavy. "But she didn't say when. I thought… maybe now's the time."
His hands trembled as he picked up the envelope. His heart hammered, anticipation and fear clashing inside his chest. He tore it open.
Inside was a single folded page, faintly scented with lavender — her favorite. He recognized the perfume instantly.
Toshio,
By the time you read this, I'll be far away. Not because I want to be, but because I need to be.
You once told me that love should be fearless — that when two hearts meet, nothing should separate them.But what if the world itself becomes the enemy?
There are things I never told you. About my family. About why I moved here. About why I can't stay.
I wish I could tell you everything face-to-face, but if I do, you'll follow me… and I can't let you.
Please, forget me — or at least, try to.
— Hana
The ink at the bottom had bled slightly, as though touched by a tear before it dried.
Toshio read the letter again. And again. Each word carved deeper, a knife twisting slowly. He wanted to scream, to chase after her, to demand an explanation — but all he could do was clutch the letter to his chest and sink to the floor.
Yumi knelt beside him. "Toshio… there's more you don't know."
He looked up, eyes bloodshot. "What do you mean?"
Yumi hesitated. "Her family— they weren't who she said they were. They're connected to something dangerous. I don't know all the details, but she's been watched for months. The night she left… someone came for her."
"What?" His heart nearly stopped. "Watched? By who?"
"I don't know," Yumi whispered. "But she told me if anything happened, I should make sure you got that letter."
The room felt colder suddenly. The sound of rain grew louder, pressing against the windows like a warning.
Toshio's mind raced. Hana… what have you gotten yourself into?
He rose abruptly. "I'm going to find her."
Yumi grabbed his arm. "Toshio, wait! You don't even know where she went!"
"I'll find out." His tone was sharp, determined — the same tone he used when he set his mind on something impossible. "She wouldn't just vanish without leaving a clue."
"She said you shouldn't follow—"
"And when has that ever stopped me?"
Yumi's eyes softened. "You really love her that much?"
He looked toward the rain-soaked window again. "It's not about love anymore. It's about truth."
Hours later, Toshio stood at the old park where they first met — the same park where she once laughed under cherry blossoms, now drowned in gray. The swings creaked in the wind. He sat on one, letting the rain soak through his clothes. Every drop stung his skin, but he didn't move. He could still see her smile in the dim light of his memory.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed.
An unknown number.Message: "If you love her, stop looking."
His breath caught.
Another message followed, seconds later:"The rain never ends for those who seek what's meant to be forgotten."
He stared at the screen, heart pounding so hard it hurt. His fingers trembled as he typed a reply.Who are you? What do you want with Hana?
No answer.
The rain intensified, thunder echoing in the distance. Toshio felt a chill crawl down his spine. He stood, scanning the park, the shadows between the trees shifting like phantoms. A sudden flash of lightning illuminated something — a small charm hanging from a nearby branch.
He approached slowly. It was Hana's hair clip — the silver one shaped like a crescent moon. He had given it to her on her birthday.
His breath hitched. "Hana…"
A faint sound came from behind — footsteps splashing in puddles. He turned sharply, but no one was there.
The wind howled, carrying with it a whisper — soft, distant, and unmistakably hers.
"Toshio…"
He froze. "Hana?"
Lightning again. The world lit up for an instant — and in that flash, he saw a figure standing at the far end of the path. A slender silhouette, long hair fluttering in the storm. Then darkness returned, and she was gone.
Toshio ran. "HANA!"
But when he reached the spot, there was nothing — only her umbrella, folded neatly on the bench.
He knelt, gripping it tightly. The handle was warm, as if someone had just been there.
He looked up at the sky, rain running down his face like tears. "You can run, Hana," he whispered, voice breaking, "but I'll find you… even if it means walking through this endless storm."