The storm had quieted by morning, but its memory lingered in the heavy clouds and the scent of rain that clung to the air. Toshio couldn't shake the images from last night — the pendant, the battlefield, and Ren's haunting words echoing in his mind.
By the time he reached school, Airi was already there, sitting by the window with that same pendant hanging from her neck.It shimmered faintly, like it was alive.
Their eyes met — and for the first time, neither looked away.
"About yesterday…" Toshio began.
Airi's fingers closed over the pendant protectively. "You saw it, didn't you?"
He nodded. "And I remembered something. That same pendant… I think I've seen it before. Not in this life — but somewhere else."
Her expression softened, pain flickering behind her eyes. "Then it's true. We're not imagining it."
They skipped lunch and found a quiet corner of the library. The world outside continued, unaware that two high school students were trying to piece together fragments of another lifetime.
Airi laid the pendant on the table between them. "It belonged to you," she said softly. "At least, in my dream it did. You gave it to me before the fire."
Toshio's breath caught. "Before I died."
She nodded slowly.
He studied the pendant — the engraving, the faint scratches. "The name 'Rai'… you said it before. In the dream, that was my name."
"And mine was Aria."
The way she said it made something deep inside him ache. It was like hearing a word he'd forgotten how to say.
"Rai and Aria," he whispered. "That's who we were."
Airi took a deep breath. "I've been having these dreams since I was a kid. At first, I thought they were stories my mind made up — a fantasy world with swords, kingdoms, and fire. But lately, they've been clearer. More real."
She hesitated. "Every time I met you again in the dreams, you died. Different worlds, same ending."
Toshio's chest tightened painfully. "And Ren?"
Airi's voice trembled. "He was always there too. Sometimes as a prince, sometimes as a knight… sometimes as the one who killed you."
The air turned cold. Toshio stared at her, unable to breathe for a moment.
"So this isn't just coincidence," he murmured. "It's a cycle."
Airi nodded. "And I think it's starting again."
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, even though the sky was clear. Toshio couldn't tell if it was real or just his heartbeat in his ears.
He reached across the table, gently taking her hand. "Then we'll break it this time. Whatever it takes."
Airi looked up at him, her eyes wide and uncertain. "You can't promise that."
"Maybe not," Toshio said, his grip firm, "but I'll still try."
The pendant between them pulsed faintly — once, twice — as if it recognized the vow.
A soft light wrapped around their hands. For a heartbeat, Toshio saw flashes again — Airi standing before him in white armor, reaching toward him with tears in her eyes.
"No matter the world," she whispered, "I will find you again."
He blinked — and they were back in the library. The light was gone. But Airi's expression told him she'd seen it too.
That night, Toshio walked Airi home. The world seemed quieter now, heavier with meaning.
When they reached her door, she turned to him. "If this is all true… then maybe our meeting wasn't an accident."
"It never was," he said softly.
She smiled — a small, fragile thing that warmed the cold night. "Then let's make this life different, Toshio."
He nodded. "No more tragedy."
But as he walked back to his house, a chill crept down his spine.Because standing at the corner of the street was Ren — his silver eyes glowing faintly beneath the flickering streetlight.
And when their gazes met, Ren smiled — slow, knowing, and cold.
"So you remember now," he said quietly. "Good. That makes this so much more fun."
Then he disappeared into the darkness.