Chapter 1 — The Day the World Went Silent
A young man stood in silence.
Dressed in a black suit, his posture straight… yet empty.
In front of him was a funeral.
Not just anyone's.
The girl he loved.
Flochien stared at the coffin, his eyes dull, as if something inside him had already broken.
"...No illness. No injuries…" he muttered quietly.
"Her death… was unnatural."
The sky above was covered in grey clouds.
The wind moved slowly, almost gently… like the world was trying not to disturb the moment.
People began to leave one by one.
Soft whispers filled the air.
"Such a sudden death…"
"No cause at all…"
Footsteps faded.
But as one person walked away…
they stopped for a brief second—
—and looked at Flochien.
Then left.
Flochien didn't notice.
Or maybe… he did, but didn't care.
His lips trembled slightly.
"Hina…" he whispered.
"Please… come back."
One week earlier…
Laughter echoed across the school court.
A basketball flew through the air—
Swish.
"YESS!" Flochien shouted, raising his hand in excitement.
He grinned, breathing heavily, sweat running down his face.
"Too easy."
He looked around.
"Where's my towel…"
Before he could react—
Tap.
"Ah—?!"
Someone poked him from behind.
He turned quickly—
—and froze.
Long pink hair.
Blue eyes.
Slightly flushed cheeks.
"Hina…"
Flochien's expression softened instantly.
He puffed his cheeks slightly.
"Ohhh, Hina…"
She smirked.
"My, my… Flochien pouting like a baby?"
She gently grabbed his cheeks and handed him a towel.
"So," she said casually, "how was your day?"
Flochien paused.
He noticed it.
Her cheeks were a little red.
"Why are you blushing?" he asked.
"I'm not blushing, dummy!"
She lightly punched his arm.
Flochien laughed.
For a brief moment… his eyes shifted.
Like he noticed something from the corner of his vision.
Something… off.
But—
He ignored it.
Himari crossed her arms.
"Don't be like that. I'm hungry."
She leaned slightly closer.
"Let's eat together… Floch-kun."
Flochien froze.
His face turned bright red instantly.
"W-Where did that come from?!"
She giggled.
"Floch-kun~"
She started poking his arm repeatedly.
"Stop poking me!" he said, trying not to smile.
They began walking together.
Side by side.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Real.
Then—
She spoke.
"Will you miss me… if I disappear one day?"
Silence.
Their steps stopped.
Flochien turned to her, his expression shifting.
Concern.
Confusion.
"What kind of question is that?" he said.
"You're not going anywhere… right?"
Himari smiled.
But…
It didn't reach her eyes.
"Just joking!"
She walked ahead again.
Flochien followed.
But something in his chest felt… strange.
They sat together for lunch.
Closer than usual.
Almost like he didn't want any distance between them.
"Hina…" Flochien said quietly.
"Why are you acting weird today?"
"I'm not weird!"
She lightly punched his arm again.
They continued eating.
Talking.
Laughing.
Like always.
But—
Flochien's eyes slowly shifted toward the classroom clock.
And then—
He frowned.
The second hand…
Was moving backwards.
"…Huh."
He blinked.
"I think someone forgot to fix that," he muttered.
Himari glanced at it briefly.
Then nodded.
"Yeah… probably."
They continued eating.
As if nothing was wrong.
But something…
Was already beginning to break.