"Let's pway chase and cwatch, bwother…!"
Yuki wriggled free from Shiharu's arms, tugging insistently at his hand as she darted ahead, small feet pattering across the garden path.
"Easy—Yuki, slow down! You'll hurt yourself!"
"I lwike you, bwother! Hehehe…"
Her delighted giggles echoed as she ran in wide, carefree circles. Shiharu hurried after her, heart in his throat, every instinct screaming that she would trip.
And she did.
She stumbled, knees hitting the ground hard. For one brave second she tried to hold back the tears, lip trembling—then the pain broke through.
"Waaaahhh… Bwother, it huuuurts!"
Shiharu scooped her up at once, cradling her gently against his chest as she sobbed into his shoulder.
Hoshiyuki watched them in silence for a moment before drifting closer. Shiharu forced himself to act normal—eyes fixed on Yuki, voice steady, pretending he hadn't noticed the glowing figure at all. He couldn't let Hoshiyuki know he could see him. Not yet.
"Here. Let me heal you."
Hoshiyuki's voice was soft, fond. He placed a translucent hand over Yuki's scraped knee. A faint golden light bloomed beneath his palm—warm, gentle, alive. In an instant the bruise vanished, the skin smooth and unmarred, the pain gone.
"I don't want the new little dovey sister of my crush getting hurt now, shall we? Hmm…?"
Crush.
The word slammed into Shiharu like a physical blow. He fought to keep his expression neutral, to keep breathing evenly while his mind reeled. Hoshiyuki… had a crush on him? All this time? How had he been so blind?
Hoshiyuki's gaze settled quietly on Shiharu, who busied himself reassuring Yuki.
"See? You're okay now. It only hurt a little—no bruises at all."
Yuki sniffled, then wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, snuggling close, exhaustion finally overtaking her.
"You definitely found yourself a clingy, lovely little sister, my dearest…" Hoshiyuki murmured. "She's cute. Really cute. Pure, innocent soul."
Without warning, he flicked his wrist. A cascade of flower petals rained down over Shiharu—soft pinks, whites, lavenders—drifting like a gentle spring shower, catching in his hair and on his shoulders. The flower petals that shiharu wasn't supposed to see but he saw it anyways.
"Be my lover."
The words were quiet, wistful.
"I wish you could be… but you see… you fell for the wrong person. How sad. One-sided love is one of the most painful things in existence. But it's okay…"
He rose slowly higher, arms spreading wide like a deity addressing the world below, expression serene.
"My entire existence is for you. So rest assured—even if everyone else leaves, I will always stay. I will fill your third life with more happiness than you've ever known. I only hope… this time… you'll fall in love with the right person."
Third life?
Crush? Lover? Third life?
Shiharu's thoughts spun. No wonder everything had felt so strange upon waking—off, displaced, like stepping into someone else's skin. This was his third life?
And Hoshiyuki… he truly was something divine now. The quiet, diligent boy Shiharu once knew had been replaced by this radiant, otherworldly presence—his aura, his scent, the very air around him transformed. All this time he had harbored feelings for Shiharu and never said a word.
The guilt twisted deeper. When Shiharu had confessed to Ren… Hoshiyuki must have withdrawn, heartbroken. And yet—he had been the one who saved Shiharu from the lake. That much was certain now.
So many questions burned on his tongue, but he couldn't speak. Not here. Not yet.
Rei burst out from the house just then, beaming as she lifted the now-sleeping Yuki from Shiharu's arms.
"Thanks for looking after her!"
Shiharu barely registered her words. His attention remained locked on Hoshiyuki, who was now glancing around the garden with quiet urgency.
"Hmm… I need to find a spot I can stay in… but where…?"
He floated gently through the lush greenery, finally settling onto the soft grass. His long golden hair fanned out like liquid sunlight against the emerald blades—a living painting of impossible beauty. A small white bird fluttered down to perch on his shoulder, covering his eyes with tiny wings in an earnest attempt to lull him to sleep. After a long moment, it succeeded. Hoshiyuki's lashes fluttered shut; he slipped into deep, peaceful slumber.
Shiharu drifted closer, pretending casual interest in the flowers.
A single petal detached from a nearby bloom and drifted down, landing softly on Hoshiyuki's chest.
Shiharu reached to brush it away.
His hand passed straight through.
Dread—cold, suffocating—crashed over him.
He tried again.
The petal melted away like mist. His fingers sank harmlessly into Hoshiyuki's ghostly form.
I… can't touch him?
Why?
Why can't I touch him?
The flower had rested perfectly on Hoshiyuki's body. But Shiharu's hand met nothing.
Panic clawed up his throat.
No. No no no. Not Hoshiyuki. Not him. He can't be—
He's not dead. He can't be dead.
I'm overthinking. Yes. That's it. I'm just… losing my mind.
His chest tightened. Breathing became impossible.
Hah… I can't breathe.