Tomorrow. Tomorrow will be another new fragile moment.
Haruto repeated this sentence so many times that night slowly turned into a faint exhaustion. When his alarm rang in the morning there was a cold silence in the room. Tiny droplets of condensation were sitting on the window glass. Haruto sat on the bed for a moment as if convincing his mind that today would be normal. But he already nothing was normal. Rin's words were echoing in his head. If tomorrow I cannot remember you. This was not a simple question. It was a warning. Or a shadow. Or maybe the first sign.
Haruto wore his hoodie, lifted his backpack, and walked toward campus. Today the cold breeze was sharper. Students were walking fast wearing sweaters and holding hot coffee cups. Haruto's steps were slow and steady. As if he were cautious from the heart. As if a fear was settling inside him that he could not accept.
It took him hardly five minutes to reach the garden bench. But his heart rate was double the normal speed. He looked at the bench from a distance. Rin was not there. The wooden planks of the bench were wet. Leaves were scattered. Haruto took a deep breath. Maybe Rin was late. Maybe she was in the library today. Maybe she was unwell. Maybe she did not want to meet anyone today.
Haruto turned away from the garden and walked toward the library. Inside the building, the usual morning silence was there. A warm light was on, making the room feel cosy. He scanned the area. Poetry section. Window corner. Side aisle corner. Table number four. Nothing. No Rin.
Haruto paused for a second. Something uneasy pressed inside him. Today Rin might be somewhere else. Or maybe she had not come to campus at all. Haruto could not even think that she might be unwell. Instinctively his steps went toward the cafeteria. The cafeteria was loud. This noise usually irritated him. But today he kept scanning the crowd. No Rin.
He took out his phone. Then he put it back in his pocket. He did not have Rin's number. He had never asked for it. Their building was fragile. Simple. Slow. Soft. Numbers were not part of their bond. Only presence was.
Haruto started wandering again along the side pathway of the garden. Like someone walking inside a loop. But his anxiety kept rising. He remembered that on the far edge of campus, there was a small gallery area where students sometimes practised painting. Maybe Rin was there. Just hope.
He reached the glass door of the gallery area and looked inside. And finally. There. Near the window a familiar figure. Rin. Knees slightly folded. Hands on her lap. There was no painting activity going on. The room was almost empty. Only her.
Haruto quietly walked in. Rin must have noticed his movement in the reflection on the screen. But she did not turn her face immediately. She only took a heavy inhale and stayed seated.
Haruto walked up to her and stood beside her. You are here.
Rin slowly turned her face. The calm sadness in her eyes looked even more layered today. Yes. I came here today. She looked tired. More than yesterday. As if the night had not given her any rest.
Are you okay? Haruto asked softly.
Rin took a second to pause. Then said. Yes. Just a little confusion happened.
What kind of confusion?
Rin looked down. I thought that I… I could not remember anything this morning. Not anything at all. There was a strange blankness. Like I was standing in a space where nothing felt familiar.
Haruto's breath held for a second. You could not remember anything? You mean even the campus felt unfamiliar?
Yes. But only for a few seconds. Then slowly everything became normal again. But that blank moment… it was strange. It scared me a little.
Haruto sat down on the bench beside her without asking for permission. Rin calmly accepted his presence.
Did you tell anyone?
Rin shook her head. No. I do not want to create unnecessary worry. Maybe it was just exhaustion.
Haruto felt every word. Exhaustion. Anxiety. Blankness. These were not casual signs. But he did not want to press Rin. He knew Rin became uncomfortable under pressure.
Do you want coffee? Haruto asked softly.
Rin refused at first. Then said. Okay. A little.
Haruto went to the cafeteria, brought two coffee cups, and quietly sat beside her. Rin took a sip and wrapped her palms around the cup. The heat was giving her comfort.
Rin said in a tone that had already admitted defeat. Haruto. You are sometimes too calm.
Haruto did not chuckle. He only gave a soft smile. Maybe.
Rin asked. Why do you never force anything?
Haruto took her question seriously. I do not like to press people. When someone already feels heavy I do not want to add more weight.
Rin's eyes softened. Hearing this gave her comfort. She whispered. Being with you feels easy.
Haruto's throat felt tight. This line was simple but emotional too. Being with you feels easy too.
Rin stirred her coffee for a moment. Then quietly said. Yesterday when I was walking… You were sitting on the bench. Your presence… weirdly made me feel safe.
Safe. The word settled directly inside Haruto's heart.
He asked softly. What is your plan for today?
Rin thought. Today I want to go somewhere. It might be a long walk.
I am here. Wherever you want to go. Haruto answered without hesitation.
Rin slowly stood up. Let us go.
They walked out of the gallery room and moved toward the north exit of the campus. This area usually remained empty. There was a long street here that connected to the residential side. On both sides of the street were cherry trees whose leaves were almost gone in winter. Dry branches created a natural pattern against the sky.
Rin took a deep breath. Today the air was a little bitter. This place gives me a break. There is no noise here. No one notices me here.
Haruto asked softly. You do not like being noticed?
Rin answered directly. No. Because when people notice they ask questions. And I cannot answer them. Then I feel heavy.
Haruto felt that her sentences had a hidden layer. As if she were hiding something. Some unknown fear.
They walked in silence for a while. But this silence was not awkward. It was soft.
Haruto asked. After the morning confusion, how do you feel now?
Rin answered. Better. A little stable.
Haruto asked cautiously. If tomorrow another blank moment comes then?
Rin tightened her fingers in the cold breeze. Then you can meet me again. Just like you said yesterday. Every time.
Haruto's steps continued without halting. But he felt a soft ache inside his chest. Rin remembered that the line itself was symbolic.
Rin gave a small smile. You are weird anyway. Your presence feels like a reset.
Haruto said quietly. So today, I am also here.
Rin lifted her face toward the sky and let out a slow sigh. She looked lost but safe.
Their walk grew longer. They reached a small riverside point slightly outside campus. The water was flowing slowly. Birds were barely visible. This place was almost deserted.
Rin sat on a rock edge. Haruto sat beside her on a lower stone. Both stared at the water in a long silence.
Suddenly Rin asked. Haruto. If I ever forget something important. Will you still meet me?
Haruto answered without losing even a second. Yes. The more you forget the more I will remind you again. But I will not press you. I will just be present.
Rin tilted her head slightly. Do you do this for everyone?
Haruto answered in a calm tone. No. Only for those for whom I feel something in my heart.
Rin gave a micro expression. As if she understood both meanings. But she did not take the topic further. She simply took a small breath.
Thin clouds parted and sunlight created a soft glow on the two of them. Rin quietly said.
Tomorrow. Yes. Tomorrow, maybe it will be easier.
Haruto did not repeat her line. He only felt it. Inside tomorrow there was hope. And fear.
Rin stood up and said. Let us go back. I am feeling a little tired.
Haruto nodded slowly and they walked back in the opposite direction. The campus gate was near when Rin spoke one last sentence.
Will you meet me tomorrow?
Haruto answered without blinking. Always.
Rin gave a weak but warm smile. Okay. Tomorrow.
Haruto watched her slowly fade away. With the cold breeze, her figure blended into the distance.
His steps shifted into a slight trembling.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow will be another fragile moment.
And Haruto knew that between these fragile moments, their story was silently moving toward an entirely different turn.