The bell rang in the distance.
School time.
Reality tugged at Airi's sleeve.
She blinked—
And he was gone.
Only petals.
Only tree.
Only wind.
Airi stumbled back to class in silence.
All day her chest felt strange.
Like remembering a dream she had never dreamed.
That evening, she returned.
The hill glowed pink in sunset.
She waited beneath the tree.
Nothing.
Stars appeared.
Still nothing.
Airi sighed and turned—
"…you came again."
She spun.
He stood there.
Exactly as before.
Soft silver hair glowing in moonlight.
"You're real," she breathed.
The boy tilted his head.
"I was going to say the same."
She swallowed.
"Who are you?"
He hesitated — as if the answer hurt.
"…Ren."
The name felt warm in her chest.
"I'm Airi," she said automatically.
His smile deepened.
"I know."
She stepped closer.
"Why do you appear here?"
Ren looked up at the blossoms.
"I can only exist where the sakura remembers."
She frowned.
"That makes no sense."
"Memories rarely do."
He reached toward a falling petal.
It passed through his fingers.
Like mist.
Airi's breath caught.
"You're… not alive."
Ren looked at her gently.
"No."