The sound of wind whispered through the trees. The air was cold, and it felt like snow was falling. Daitan opened his eyes… he was in the forest. The same place. The place where Fuyuki had died.
His breath caught. Panic crawled up his chest as he looked around, searching—no, hoping—to see someone. To see Fuyuki.
His feet moved on their own, carrying him toward the exact spot burned into his memory, the moment of Fuyuki's death.
He stopped.
Fuyuki was standing there, back turned, completely still.
Daitan's voice shook as he called out:
"Fuyu… ki?"
Fuyuki turned.
He was smiling—
but his face…
it was exactly the same as when they'd found his body: pale, lifeless, dried blood staining the side of his cheek.
With a cold, sharp voice he said,
"You were late… was I really that worthless to you?"
---
The window was open, warm air filling the room.
Daitan woke up gasping, tears in his eyes. He wiped them away and sat up, still shaken.
"…It was a dream?"
Before he could think, Fuyuki's voice came from beside him:
"You had another nightmare?"
Daitan frowned at him.
"Another one?"
Fuyuki stepped closer, suspicious and a little worried.
"Yeah, again! Something's wrong and you're not telling me."
Daitan opened his mouth to answer—
but his mom's voice echoed from downstairs:
"Daitan! Come down, I need to talk to you!"
He quickly got up, washed his face, got dressed, and went downstairs.
His mom was sitting on a chair, staring at him seriously.
"I want to talk to you."
Fuyuki appeared beside him, whispering,
"Ohh… this sounds bad."
"Go away," Daitan muttered, then sat down.
"So… what's wrong?"
His mom sighed deeply.
"Nothing… except that… do you have a girlfriend?!"
Daitan's eyes went wide.
Fuyuki burst into silent laughter behind him.
"W–what?!"
His mom continued,
"Well, you've been going out a lot lately, acting different… and last night you came home late. So I thought… you might have a girlfriend."
After a few seconds of silence, Daitan answered quietly,
"Well… yeah, but… it's not a girl…"
His mom froze.
"W–WHAT?!"
Daitan suddenly realized what he just said.
"N–no! I mean— I don't have a girlfriend at all! I just… made a friend!"
Her face instantly brightened.
"You made a friend?! That's wonderful!"
Daitan glanced at the clock, quickly stood up, and forced a smile.
"Right—okay, I'm heading out. See you later!"
He hurried out the door.
Fuyuki was still stuck on the line "But… it's not a girl…"
He blinked, then rushed after Daitan:
"Hey! Wait—what did you mean by that?!"