After that day, my spirit smiled.I was happy—truly happy—but it was a strange feeling to describe.
There was nostalgia in it, a quiet serenity, and a faint warmth that lingered in my chest after spending time with Evangeline.
Maybe, for the first time in a while, I felt grateful.
Grateful to have such special friends around me.
Evangeline had just arrived, yet she already seemed perfectly integrated into our small group.I couldn't help but envy her.
My shyness had always held me back.
I'd always felt like a burden to others.
But with Ema beside me, it was different.
She had always been the one who acted for me, who shielded me from the world outside… because my world was her.
Everything revolved around her.
And that blinded me completely... so much that I couldn't even recognize her bad behavior near the end.
Now I know I should be grateful to my friends.
Today, they reminded me how little it takes to feel happy, even after losing what once felt like the reason I lived for: the dream of a happy life together with her.
Or at least… I thought it would make me happy.
I shared so much with Ema—maybe too much.
She stayed by my side when my father disappeared, supported me in everything, lifted me up every time I fell.
But in the end, it wasn't enough.
She changed completely.
She betrayed me—and admitted it.
Now she's with someone else.
A stranger.
My heart is still broken.
I can admit that.
I keep asking myself questions that have no answers, feeling that tightness in my chest that never really fades.
But I'm sure I'll be able to smile again someday.
On my own.
Thanks to them… and to Evangeline.
After walking her home, I stopped by the gate, looked up at the sky, and closed my eyes.
The spring breeze brushed gently against my face, cool and calm.
I took a deep breath and promised myself to stay strong, to keep moving forward.
And then, her voice echoed in my mind. "Little Panda…" she had said.
For some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
My mind kept trying to find some kind of connection between me and that nickname, as if it truly belonged to me.
No… I was certain it did.
I kept walking home, peacefully.
The familiar scent of the city, the rhythm of daily life, the simplicity of it all—it made everything feel strangely magical.
Then my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Surprised, I stopped to check it.It was a message from Evangeline.
"Thank you so much for everything. Tonight you really helped me a lot. You're a wonderful person, Fumi. I'm sure there's a star inside you that wants to shine, and I pray that light will come out so everyone can see how amazing you are. Talk to you tomorrow! Good night! ❤️P.S. Send me a message when you're home! I'll try to stay awake."
I smiled.
My heart warmed with a gentle, pleasant heat.
"Haha…" I chuckled softly to myself.
For some reason, that message made me happy.
"What a wonderful girl… maybe in another life," I thought unconsciously.
She had worried about me, even though we'd only known each other for such a short time.
Not everyone would do that.
It didn't take me long to reply.
"I should be the one thanking you, Eva. I'll text you when I get home. Don't worry, I'm almost there."
I put my phone back in my pocket and picked up my pace; it was getting late, and the streets were almost empty now.
Everything was calm—quiet.
I kept walking.
But as the scenery changed, I began to recognize the streets where I used to walk with Ema.
A strange feeling tangled inside me, as if I could still hear her laugh, her footsteps beside mine.It was such a vivid illusion that I almost turned to look—but I didn't.
Even though it hurt a little, I kept walking straight ahead.
After about ten more minutes, I was nearly home when I noticed someone sitting alone on a bench.
A familiar figure.
It was Kanna.
She was smoking.
I had never seen her do that before.
But what struck me most wasn't the cigarette—it was her presence there, far from home, her posture heavy with sadness.
Her hair was messy, her clothes uncoordinated and wrinkled.
There was something broken in her aura, as if she'd been crying—or fighting.
I didn't want to get involved.
Kanna wasn't to blame for what happened between me and her sister, but still… I didn't want to talk.
I kept walking.
I had no choice but to pass right in front of her.
The smell of smoke reached me, and I coughed quietly.
That sound made her look up.
Our eyes met.
A chill ran down my spine.
Her eyes were wet with tears, and on her collarbone there was a faint red mark—a cut.
My eyes widened.
So did hers.
But then, her expression changed.It was… relief.
"Fu…mihiro…?" she whispered, her voice trembling, fragile.
And in that moment, I knew.
Something had happened.