Kaede stands with her arms crossed behind her back as she gazes at the desolate landscape before her.
Emiko notices that Kaede's body has returned to normal. She calls out to her, feeling a wave of relief at finally finding her friend. Kaede turns to look at Emiko but says nothing—she simply gives her a warm smile.
Emiko suddenly wakes up, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. She sits up in bed, trying to process what she just experienced. She realizes it was only a dream, but the intensity and realism of it leave her shaken.
She gets up and looks at herself in the mirror. Her reflection shows a worried and tired face. Emiko wonders why she keeps having these strange dreams. Do they represent her fears or hidden desires? Or are they just the result of mental exhaustion?
As she washes her face, she decides to stop dwelling on the dream. She calms herself and takes a shower to relax and refresh her mind. Under the warm cascade of water, Emiko closes her eyes and breathes deeply. She tries to focus on the present and let go of the worries brought on by her dream.
After her shower, she gets dressed in her school uniform and heads down to the kitchen for breakfast with her mother, who has prepared pancakes with honey. As she enters the kitchen, her mother greets her warmly:
"Good morning, Emiko! How did you sleep?"
"Good morning, Mom," Emiko replies with a forced smile.
Her mother notices the unease in her expression and asks, "What's wrong? You look worried."
Trying to hide her anxiety, Emiko quickly thinks of an excuse and responds, "Oh, Mom, it's just that I have an important test today, and I'm a little nervous."
Emiko's mother gives her a reassuring smile. "I understand, sweetheart. Tests can be stressful, but I'm sure you'll do great. You work hard and you've been preparing, right?"
Emiko nods with a smile, relieved by her mother's response. "Yes, Mom, I've been studying a lot."
Her mother strokes her hair and says gently, "I'll always be here to support you in everything you do, sweetheart. I believe in you and your abilities. Just do your best, and remember, no matter the outcome, what matters most is that you gave it your all."
Emiko feels a pang of guilt for lying to her mother and not telling her what's really going on.
"By the way," her mother adds with a big smile, "you only have this year left to finish high school! I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished so far."
Emiko lights up with a smile and replies, "Thanks, Mom. I'm glad to know you're proud of me. I'll do my best to finish this year successfully."
Her mother smiles and invites her to sit down for breakfast.
Emiko sits at the table with her mom, and as they enjoy their pancakes, her eyes wander toward the living room, where her small teddy bear rests on the sofa. Curious, she decides to ask her mother about it.
"Mom, do you remember that teddy bear in my room?" Emiko asks. "If I'm not wrong, you gave it to me when I was little, right?"
Her mother furrows her brow, trying to recall which teddy bear her daughter is referring to. After a few seconds, her face lights up with a smile. "Are you talking about Mr. Grumbles?"
Emiko is surprised to hear the name her mother gave the teddy bear. "Yes, Mom, that's the one! Why is he called that?"
Her mother chuckles. "Well, sweetheart, that's what you used to call him when you were little."
Emiko frowns, a bit confused. "Mr. Grumbles? Did I really name him that? I don't remember very well."
Her mom laughs softly and approaches her. "When you were little, you had such an active and creative imagination. Even if you don't remember all the details, you used to play with Mr. Grumbles and gave him that name. It was so much fun watching you make up stories and games with him."
Emiko smiles, grateful her mother is sharing more about her childhood. "I guess my memories from back then are a little fuzzy. But it's nice to hear these stories and remember how imaginative I used to be."
Her mother nods fondly. "It's normal not to remember everything from when you were a child. But I want you to know that I'll always be here to remind you of those happy moments we shared."
Her mom laughs and exclaims, "Oh, and I remember you were so mischievous!" Emiko blushes slightly at hearing her mother describe her as a troublemaker. Though she can't fully remember, the idea of having caused mischief embarrasses her a little. But her mother reassures her, saying it was all part of being young and enjoying life.
Then, her mom shares another funny memory from her childhood. "Oh yes! I clearly remember how you loved watching those two ballet dancers on TV. It was so funny to see you try to mimic their moves. You were so tiny but so full of enthusiasm and determination!"
Suddenly, a deafening sound invades the space, plunging Emiko into momentary darkness. The memory of the two dancers she saw in her dreams blends with her mother's words. "I remember how much you loved watching those two ballerinas on TV. Your eyes would shine with joy, and your smile was impossible to hide," her mother continues.
Noticing her daughter's unease, Emiko's mother approaches and places a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asks with concern.
Emiko blinks a few times, shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts. "Yes, Mom, it was just a weird moment. I'm fine," she says, trying to shake off the strange feeling that overwhelmed her.
"Are you sure you're okay? I saw you staring off into the distance," her mom says, smiling and nodding.
"Yes, Mom, I just got a bit distracted. Don't worry," she replies. Though her mind is still filled with questions about what she just experienced, she decides to keep them to herself.
After finishing breakfast, Emiko gets up from the table and adjusts her bag on her shoulder. "I have to go, Mom. See you later," she says as she heads for the door.
Her mother walks over and gives her a hug. "Have a great day at school, sweetheart. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me," she says with a smile.
Emiko nods and says goodbye to her mom, stepping outside and beginning her walk to school. The sun shines in the sky, and a light breeze brushes her face as she walks through the familiar streets of her neighborhood.
Enjoying the morning walk, Emiko gets lost in thought as she watches people pass by. In the distance, she spots some classmates also walking toward school.
After a long day of classes, Emiko finds herself sitting on the rooftop of the first floor, gazing at the scenery.
While sitting there and looking out at the empty landscape, Emiko begins to wonder where Kaede is. She hasn't seen her friend all day and wonders if something might have happened.
Just as she's deep in thought, Emiko hears faint sobs coming from somewhere nearby. Her heart races with worry, and instinct tells her she should go investigate.
She quickly gets up and starts searching for the source of the crying. She walks with determination through the rooftop corridors, trying to pinpoint exactly where the sobs are coming from.
Finally, her ears lead her to a small corner of the rooftop, behind a column. As she gets closer, Emiko sees Azami sitting on the ground, her eyes distant and tears streaming down her cheeks.
Emiko's heart fills with surprise and concern at seeing Azami in such a vulnerable state.
Instead of approaching immediately, she decides to hide and watch from a distance.
From her hiding spot, Emiko observes Azami for a while, thinking about how she might help her. She can feel Azami's distress through her sobs and even remembers that Azami had been angry with her the day before.
Emiko feels frustrated that she can't approach and ask what's wrong, but she understands it's more important to respect Azami's feelings and not force a conversation if she's not ready.
Unable to take it any longer, Emiko approaches Azami with concern and gently asks, "Azami, are you okay?"
Azami frowns and, feeling a mix of anger and frustration, snaps, "I'm fine! Leave me alone!"
However, Emiko isn't discouraged by her response. She knows something is wrong, and her concern for her friend pushes her to keep trying. "Azami, I know something's bothering you. Please, let me help. You don't have to deal with this alone."
Emiko maintains a gentle yet persistent tone, but her insistence only irritates Azami further. Overcome with emotion, Azami lashes out and pushes Emiko, who hadn't expected such a reaction, causing her to fall to the ground.
From the floor, Emiko looks up at Azami, her face filled with sadness and concern. "Azami, I'm really sorry if I made you angry," she says, her voice trembling. "I wasn't trying to upset you—I just want to help."
Azami looks at Emiko silently for a moment before exclaiming, "Stay away from me. I don't want you involved in this."
Time passes, and the school day finally ends. The sky darkens, and the sound of thunder and approaching rain echoes as Emiko walks home, lost in thoughts of Azami. The worry for his friend and the desire to understand what's going on weigh heavily on him.
Finally, Emiko arrives home, temporarily setting his worries aside. But just as he's about to rest, the ringing phone breaks the silence. Emiko jumps and rushes to answer it. On the other end of the line, he hears Azami's trembling voice.
As she answered, Azami's trembling voice echoed on the other end of the line.
"Emiko, I deeply regret how I reacted earlier. I was wrong to push you and act that way," Azami said through sobs.
Emiko did her best to calm her down. She didn't want Azami to feel guilty.
"Don't worry, Azami. Really, it's nothing. It was just a little push, not a big deal. Besides, my butt softened the fall," Emiko replied, trying to make her smile.
Azami let out a faint laugh through her tears. "Emiko, I want to sincerely thank you for being so kind to me, even though I was rude to you. You were the only one who cared about me. Thank you so much for being there."
Before Emiko could answer, Azami hung up. Emiko called her again, but there was no answer. A dark memory wrapped around Emiko's mind.
Without hesitation, Emiko ran toward the high school in the rain. When she arrived, Azami was nowhere to be found. Emiko pulled out her phone and called again. This time, she heard the sound of Azami's phone coming from the rooftop.
Without wasting a second, Emiko rushed to the rooftop, a knot forming in her stomach. And then, to her horror, she found Azami at the edge of the rooftop, about to throw herself into the void.
"Azami!" Emiko screamed, running toward her, desperate to stop her before it was too late. Emiko's heart pounded wildly as she stretched her hand toward Azami, shouting her name again and again, her voice echoing through the air. Every second felt like an eternity, and Emiko clung to the hope that she could save her friend.
In the midst of her anguish, Emiko's mind filled with memories. A vivid image of Kaede smiling and joking surfaced in her thoughts.
Tears mixed with the rain on Emiko's cheeks, but her determination didn't waver. She saw in Azami a reflection of Kaede—those same bright eyes and that unchanged smile that used to light up rooms. She couldn't let another important person slip through her fingers.
Finally, Emiko reached the edge, arms outstretched, barely grasping Azami, who was on the verge of falling. Emiko grabbed hold of anything she could and held onto Azami with all her strength. She felt the rain soak her to the bone, but refused to let go.
"Please don't go!" Emiko pleaded, her words lost in the howling wind. Using all her strength, she pulled Azami upward, fighting against gravity's pull. Her muscles tensed, and her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Time seemed to freeze as Emiko battled against the fall. Every muscle in her body was pushed to its limit, every fiber focused on keeping Azami safe. Life and death embraced them both, and Emiko knew every second mattered.
Finally, with one last effort, Emiko managed to lift Azami over the edge. Both girls collapsed to the ground, exhausted but safe. Relief filled Emiko's eyes as she held Azami tightly.
Azami, sobbing and overflowing with tears, gently pounded on Emiko's chest. "You idiot! Why did you do that? You're such a fool, fool, fool!" she cried between choked sobs, stopping her blows only to break down crying on Emiko's shoulder.
Emiko, also in tears, hugged Azami tightly. As she did, her gaze drifted into the emotional abyss she was going through, and a devastating image played in her mind: Kaede lying on the ground, in a pool of blood.
Years ago, in a small park, a lonely Emiko sat on a swing, watching from a distance as other children played and laughed. Emiko felt deep sadness and discouragement—no one wanted to join her. She was naturally shy, and her shyness kept her from approaching others and enjoying their company.
Her mother, concerned, had noticed Emiko's timid expression and how she avoided eye contact with others. She realized her daughter wanted to interact with the other kids, but something was holding her back.
One day, watching from afar, her mother noticed that shy look again and decided to gently bring up the subject. That afternoon, the two sat together on the cozy living room couch, and her mother softly asked Emiko how she felt when trying to talk to other kids.
Emiko looked down and sighed. "Mom, I get really nervous when I try to talk to other kids. It's like the words get stuck in my throat and I can't express myself properly."
Emiko's mother listened closely, her voice warm and comforting. "I understand how you feel, sweetheart. Many people experience that anxiety when interacting with others. But I want you to know there's nothing wrong with you. I'll always support you."
Emiko looked at her mother with hopeful eyes, seeking comfort in her soothing words. "Do you think I'll ever have a friend, Mom?"
Her mother felt a lump in her throat hearing her daughter's question, but replied with a loving smile. "Of course you will, my love. You have a wonderful heart, and I'm sure someday you'll find a special friend. Just be yourself and let others see how amazing you are."
Emiko nodded, a spark of hope shining in her eyes. "I want a friend I can play with and share things with. And I want to be a good friend to them too!"
Her mother gently stroked Emiko's cheek. "That's beautiful, sweetheart. I'm sure you'll find someone who appreciates your kindness and shares your interests. But remember, friendships take time and effort to grow strong. Don't get discouraged if it takes a little while."
Emiko smiled, comforted and full of determination. "I understand, Mom. No matter how long it takes, I'll be ready to make friends when the time comes."
Her mother felt proud of her daughter's positive attitude. "That's the spirit, my brave Emiko. You never know when or where you'll meet that special friend, but I believe destiny will bring them to you when you least expect it."
Emiko hugged her mother lovingly, feeling her unconditional love and support. She knew that with her mother by her side, she had the courage and confidence to face any challenge and eventually find the friendship she longed for.
The next morning, Emiko was at the park, sitting on the swing, watching the other children play and laugh. Although she felt a strong desire to join them, her shyness remained a barrier.
With her heart racing, Emiko decided to approach the group of children. However, her legs felt as heavy as lead, and her voice was trapped in her throat. Unable to overcome her timidity, Emiko returned to the swing and let herself slump, feeling sad and discouraged.
As she swayed gently on the swing, she saw a small girl with glasses slowly approaching. The little girl greeted her with a bright smile.
Emiko, surprised by her kindness, shyly returned the greeting.
"H-hi," little Emiko stammered, nervous.
The girl with glasses sat on the swing next to her and began swinging too. Emiko, still unsure, decided to ask for her name.
"My name is Kaede Hirayama, what's yours?" the girl replied kindly.
"I'm Emiko Yoshida," the little one answered shyly.
Kaede noticed the sadness in Emiko's eyes and decided to cheer her up. "Emiko, do you want to play with me?" Kaede exclaimed with a big smile, extending her hand toward her.