The days turned into months, and Hiyori's search for Ansh consumed her every waking moment. She had seen him—once, fleetingly—and though the meeting had been brief, it was enough to ignite a fire in her heart.
Her room became a labyrinth of maps, notes, and diary entries. She pinned up sketches of places that felt familiar, descriptions of people from her dreams, and fragments of memories she had pieced together from the diary. The desk was cluttered with notebooks and red string connecting locations on a large map.
Her search was relentless, but fruitless. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find Ansh again.
Life moved forward despite her obsession. Hiyori had entered college, juggling her studies with her secret pursuit. Her foster parents, unaware of the storm raging within her, began hinting at the next phase of her life.
One evening, her mother sat beside her with a gentle smile. "Hiyori, you're doing so well in school, but… it's time to think about your future. We've had some interest from families who would like to meet you for a possible match."
Hiyori froze, her hands tightening around the pen she was holding. "I'm not ready for that," she said quickly, her voice tight.
Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know this is sudden, but we're only asking you to meet someone. He's a kind young man, from a good family. Just think about it, okay?"
Hiyori nodded absently, her thoughts already spiraling. The idea of meeting someone new, of letting go of her search for Ansh, felt like a betrayal.
As time passed, Hiyori's determination began to waver. The nights she spent poring over maps and notes stretched longer, and the weight of her fruitless efforts bore down on her. She started to wonder if she was chasing a ghost.
What if he's moved on? What if he doesn't even remember me?
One evening, as she stared at the map pinned to her wall, tears blurred her vision. The red string connecting her memories felt like a web trapping her, pulling her deeper into despair.
With shaking hands, she tore the map from the wall, letting it fall to the floor. She sank to her knees, sobbing into her hands.
Maybe he's happier without me. Maybe it's time to let him go.
The next morning, her mother approached her with hopeful eyes. "Hiyori, we've arranged for you to meet someone. Just for coffee. You don't have to decide anything right away."
Hiyori hesitated, her heart heavy. Her resolve was crumbling, and the thought of continuing her search felt impossible. Maybe this was a sign to move on, to let go of the impossible.
"Okay," she said softly, her voice barely audible.
Her mother smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you. I think you'll like him. He's a good man."
That night, Hiyori lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her mind raced with thoughts of the meeting, of the future she couldn't picture, and of the past she couldn't let go.
Her heart ached with the memory of Ansh, the boy who had once been her and yet was someone entirely different. She clutched the diary to her chest, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Ansh, where are you?
Her thoughts spiraled until exhaustion finally claimed her, pulling her into a restless sleep filled with fragmented dreams.