I recalled every meeting—everything. And how it all ended up like this.

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“I can’t bear…it anymore… If only I could escape everything…. If only I can kill myself.”

Those were the first words I’ve heard from her back then in the park. To my eyes back then, she was just a stranger that had problems with her life. I thought that I had no reason to interact with her, but somehow I couldn’t just leave her alone. I answered unthoughtfully back then. “You shouldn’t do that. I mean you could just find a reason to live.”

She was angry at me—she lashed out at me, actually. In the process, she unconsciously told me how she suffered from being bullied, how she was alone with no friends, how she was acting a tough front from her parents, how she had to take all her problems alone, and how she has no one to rely on but herself.

“…I see I’m sorry.” At that time I could not find the right words to say. “Still, I could not let you die.”

“...Just go away.”

The second time we met was inside the cinema, our seat was coincidentally beside each other. It was also weekend that time and I had just accidentally won a ticket for a movie, which I thought something uninteresting. But since I was alone, without any company, I thought of killing time by watching it. On the other hand, like she had said, she was always alone.

“What are you doing here?”

“…Glad to see again.”

She was surprised to hear my response but I was just honestly glad that time that she didn’t commit suicide. She didn’t continue talking after that and we just we watched the movie side-by-side, it was about romance that I thought really, kind of cliché. Yume, however, had different view to it.

“…Do you think miracles like that happen?” She suddenly asked me a question, referring to scene where the two destined lovers meet after years of separation. Her eyes back then gazing at the screen expressed longing.

“…I’m sure they happen. Especially for those who needs them, I guess.”

I was not lying. That was how I really thought.

“…I see.”

“Hey…” I thought. “Would you mind coming back here with me again next week?”

“…I… I’ll…think about it.”

That was the start of us meeting together. I would invite her in weekends and for some reason she showed up every time. Before long, we had completely became comfortable with each other and it came to the point where one of us could ask the other favors without having any awkwardness. Our relationship deepened without me knowing it and we even exchange our emails. I went with her in different places and spent my time with her. Masayuki and Yuka came with us too sometimes.

In those times, I thought that the girl whom I met with the desire to kill herself was gradually being healed.

“Reiji, why did you invite me today?” Yume asked to me.

“You’ll see.” I pointed to the night sky. And then…

Fireworks flew upward and exploded in beautiful colors.

“…They’re beautiful.”

“Yeah, they are,” I said, standing beside her. “But you’re way more beautiful.”

Now thinking about it, it was a cheap line.

As she was surprised, I held her hand. “I think I could say now, Yume you’re no longer alone. I’ll be always by your side.”

“Eh…!” Even Yume was startled by my sudden declaration.

“Yume, I love you!”

She was blushing from ear to ear back then and then she shyly answered. “I-I think I love you too.”

That was a beautiful memory that I would always treasure from that point onward.

And then the day came where Yume misunderstood what happened. Yuka had kissed me in the cheek and she saw that apparently. Yume came to me, with a face that was hard for me to describe. One thing was sure, at that time, her expression was dark.

When we went to a desolate place where we could be alone, I tried to clear up the misunderstanding but she suddenly did an act I could not fathom—she brought out a knife from her bag.

I realized. I was mistaken all those time. In the beginning, Yume had been always standing on the edge of a cliff. And in from all the time I’ve spent with her, she had just been able to take few steps away from it.

It was no wonder what will happen when the cliff crumbles. She would fall.

She was a girl who was always on verge of breaking.

And I was blind to see that.

“Reiji… Please, please be with me forever.”

She swung her knife at me many times, and I tried my best to convince her as I dodge. But it seemed impossible.

She had cornered me, and I was left with no choice to run away.

I guess I didn’t have to tell what happened next.

She run after me and when she was about to be hit by the truck, I tried to save her.

“Yume…” I weakly gazed at her bloody figure. I managed to squeeze the last of my strength just to mumble few words before my mind blacked out. “Please… wake up.”

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He was my savior. Like the prince in the fairy tales—that is…what is Reiji for me.

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I continued to run forward the dark space. I knew for certainty that I was catching up to her, I could feel it. I had a certain strange feeling in this place and I thought that I had already figured it out.

Taking a heavy step forward, I concentrated my senses and when my feet touched the ground, the dark floor changed into a soil covered with green grasses. I could feel that the path I had traveled to come here had changed into a place that I held a deep importance to my life.

There was a river flowing in my right, a few meters below me, extending forward until it stopped where there was a complete darkness. The promenade on my left was the same, and even the green grasses I spoke of earlier. They all stretch just a few meter in my front before stopping in the darkness.

A bare feet there stood and her white gown had no movements as if this place was devoid of air. The source of darkness, and the one obstructing the scenery from expanding was Yume.

I forced my will but the darkness just wouldn’t budge.

And so, I approached her slowly, the scenery extending extended—and then I was stabbed by another knife.

My feet was absorbed by a dark pit beneath me, and it gradually swallowing me inside.

“Don’t come any closer…” She whispered.

However, this time, I took a step forward without even minding those obstacles. I shrugged away the darkness and it was as if the knife didn’t hurt me at all. In fact, it didn’t.

My footsteps resounded in the grass below my feet. The river flowed gently on its path making small sounds.

Yume took another step back. I pointed to the night sky behind her—

And then fireworks flew up in the air, and exploded, releasing rainbow colors into the empty sky. Even for me who was responsible for making it was amazed at the wonderful reenactment of our memory.

“…” Yume looked behind her as she watched it intently.

“Yume.” I spoke when I was just more than a feet away from her.

She turned to me again. Her expression wavering.

I slowly stretched my hand and then held hers.

From the point of contact, her clothes began to change. The white hospital gown was replaced by her clothes in the day I confessed to her. A blue blouse over a white vest, and a short violet skirt.

Her hair shortened to the state before the accident and caused her bangs to reveal her azure eyes, resembling the sky when it was in its utmost beauty.

The world inside our dreams was our own fantasy. It was where we could make and do whatever we want. Yume had rejected me and continuing to do so. However this time, my will would not be broken.

“From now on, and forever, I’ll be always be with you. I won’t break this no matter what.” With my declaration, the sky turned perfect blue removing any darkness in his world.

She looked at me, her eyes moistening.

“I promise to you and to my own self that if you are alone then I will be with you; If you have no one to rely on, then I’ll help you; If you would be swallowed by the darkness, then I will be your light. And if despair clings to you, I will be your hope.”

“…I…” She was hesitant but as the wind blew and swept her bangs, tears also floated into the air.

“You are the most important person in my life. I love you.”

Her voice was wavering as she asked me. “Can…I trust you…one more time?”

“Yes. No matter what happens in the future, I will always come. No matter what challenges appears, I will always save you.”

She smiled weakly. It was the most beautiful smiled I had ever seen. “I’m glad…”

I hugged her tightly. My heart was beating fast with my own happiness. “It’s time Yume, let’s meet again in the real world. Our dream has just begun.”

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Our story might be ending. Yes. But I’m sure, this will be also our new beginning.

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I woke up, bolting upright and immediately noticed that my two childhood friends were holding both of my hands.

“Reiji… Man, you surprised us there.”

“…So how did it go?” Yuka asked me.

“It’s alright now.” I smiled at them before standing up as they let go of my hands. “I’ll be going.”

“Wait,” Masayuki said as he pulled something from his pocket and threw it at me in an arc. “That’s the spare key of my father’s motorcycle.”

“…Thank you, both of you. Thank you very much.”

They gave me a soft smiled then urged me to get going. I changed my clothes in a quickly while both of them temporarily left the room. Soon all of us three quietly left the house and headed to Masayuki’s to get the motorcycle.

It was only a several minutes of trotting and we arrived at the place. We sneaked out the vehicle and when it was far enough to so that Masayuki’s family wouldn’t be able to hear the engine, I started it up.

“Reiji-kun, say hi to Yume for me.”

“Me too.”

With those words as a final push, the engine roared and I sped up towards the hospital. The traffic was low at night and my mind was only focused on one thing: to see Yume.

I wanted to arrive at the hospital fast, and I was hopeful that she was already awake.

My heart raced as I drove past the streets in our neighborhood. The motorcycle seemed slow at this point, as if it was deliberately making me feel anxious. I remembered the things we said to each other, the promise I’ve made once again. And her warmth as I hug her.

But as I recalled them, her words of despair also entered my mind. I tried to remove them from my thoughts as I turned again on another corner. Soon, I would be nearing the hospital. I could see the lights of the buildings near it as the sky was dark. It was around ten now, I even doubt that maybe they wouldn’t let me in anymore.

I shook those negative thoughts as I entered the lobby after leaving the motorcycle in the parking area. Thankfully, the nurse gave me her consent and that she would follow after me soon.

This time, I will uphold to my promises. And I would never break them no matter what.

Smelling the familiar disinfectant, I stood in front of her room and then turned the knob as my breathing stopped in anticipation. The room was dim but I could still see flower vase I’ve just seen earlier today and when I shifted my vision a bit to the left, I saw her bed.

…I let out a deep breath.

From the veil of the night, coloring the place in a gentle, bluish light, I saw her figure sitting on her bed.

“Reiji…kun. I’m glad.” Her tears slowly flowed on her cheeks as she smiled at me.

Akasaki Yume, the girl in white, had finally woken up.

~Fin