Whisper of the Lake

Haruto couldn't sleep that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Miyuki's face—pale, fragile, vulnerable. He kept hearing her words in his head: "I don't have much time left." He had never felt so helpless in his life, not even after his sister's death. This was different. Miyuki wasn't just someone who needed his support; she was someone he was beginning to love, and the thought of losing her tore at him in ways he couldn't explain.

But he couldn't give up on her. He wouldn't.

The next day, Haruto waited outside her classroom, watching the door nervously. He hadn't seen her all morning. Part of him was worried she wouldn't come—worried that she would retreat again, shut herself off from him. But just as the bell rang, the door opened, and there she was, walking toward him with her usual quiet grace.

"Miyuki," he called, his voice full of hesitation and hope.

She looked at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke, but Haruto could feel the tension building between them.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice soft but determined.

Miyuki hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. But after a long moment, she nodded. "Alright. But not here."

Haruto followed her out to the back of the school, where the trees shaded the small courtyard from the sun. They sat down on the stone bench, and for a long time, neither of them said anything. Haruto just watched her, trying to find the right words to say.

"I've been thinking about what you said," he began, breaking the silence. "About not having much time left." He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the words. "And I just… I don't know what to do with that. I don't know how to fix it, how to make it better. But I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. I want to be here for you."

Miyuki looked at him, her eyes searching his face as if looking for something he hadn't said yet. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself, looking away for a moment.

"You don't understand, Haruto," she said quietly. "You don't know what it's like to know that time is running out. To feel like you're just waiting for the inevitable."

Haruto reached out, placing a hand gently on hers. "Maybe I don't understand completely," he said softly. "But I want to. And I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever."

Miyuki turned her gaze back to him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She squeezed his hand, her voice breaking. "I don't want to lose you, Haruto. But I can't let you get hurt."

Haruto's heart ached as he looked into her eyes. "You won't lose me, Miyuki. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."