The remaining days of October slipped by quietly, and soon, a new month arrived—November.
Separated by tragedy, the two families who had once come to the village together were now divided by loss. Yet, in a different corner of that same village, life unfolded in an entirely different way.
Shiharu, now settled into his new home, watched his days pass in a soft, almost dreamlike blur.
With Hoshiyuki by his side, everything changed.
Shiharu laughed freely—whenever he wanted. He ate without hesitation, spoke without fear, and expressed discomfort without being silenced. Days were filled with warmth he had never known: running through golden grain fields together, visiting the quiet lake, resting on soft heaps of sand as laughter spilled endlessly between them.
Hoshiyuki taught him how to cook and bake, guiding his hands with patience. They spent afternoons learning embroidery, carefully stitching delicate patterns into fabric. Evenings were for quiet movies and gentle companionship—Shiharu swimming in the lake while Hoshiyuki watched from the shore, eyes never straying far from him.
Sometimes, Shiharu wondered…
Was Hoshiyuki a guardian angel sent just for him?
The aloof boy he once knew was gone. In his place was someone carefree—someone who smiled, who spoke, who worried, who sulked. Emotions Shiharu had never imagined Hoshiyuki capable of now unfolded so naturally before him.
And always… he stayed.
---
"Haru… do you know you look like the night?"
Shiharu blinked.
"You don't mean nightmares, do you?"
A soft laugh escaped Hoshiyuki, muffled beneath his breath as the cool night breeze tangled gently in their hair.
Shiharu smiled faintly, his gaze lingering on Hoshiyuki, who had already turned his attention to the sky above—stars scattered endlessly across the dark expanse.
"Then you look like the sun," Shiharu said quietly.
Hoshiyuki's gaze shifted back to him.
"The night is more beautiful than the sun," he replied. "The sun can be blinding… sometimes it burns. But the night—"
He paused, his voice softening.
"—the night is calm. Peaceful. Welcoming."
A faint silence followed.
"I love the night."
The words came out quieter than intended.
And in that moment, something inside him ached.
He couldn't touch him.
Perhaps his mother had been right. This choice… this sacrifice… would hurt far more than he had imagined.
---
"Hoshi… if I'm the night…" Shiharu hesitated, his voice gentle.
"Would you be my day?"
Hoshiyuki stilled, eyes widening slightly as the words settled in.
Then slowly… a smile formed.
"I would be your day," he said softly, "if you become my dear moon."
A soft laugh slipped from Shiharu.
I really like you… but I can't tell you, Hoshiyuki thought, watching him.
"Then I'll be your moon… and your night," Shiharu said. "And you… you'll be my sun. My day."
Hoshiyuki nodded, something tender flickering in his expression.
"I would love that… wholeheartedly," he murmured. "And even if I'm not here someday… I'll still be your sun. Your day."
---
The universe really does bring the right person at the wrong time…
If only time could stop here.
I wanted you to live, Haru… to feel this happiness. To experience everything you were denied.
I wish I had come sooner.
I'm sorry… for arriving too late.
You're beautiful—more than you know. Like the night sky itself… and your heart still shines, even in darkness.
So please… live.
Live like tomorrow doesn't exist.
But don't die… not when I'm still here, holding you—
---
"…Hoshiyuki?"
He snapped out of his thoughts.
Shiharu's head was lowered, his hair veiling his expression. His shoulders trembled faintly.
"You're… talking like you're going to leave," he whispered. "You promised… you said you'd stay. So why… why does it sound like this?"
His voice broke.
"Tell me I'm wrong… please…"
He dropped to his knees, hands shaking uncontrollably.
Hoshiyuki exhaled softly, then let out a quiet chuckle as he knelt before him.
"You're such a fool…"
"If I leave," he said gently, "the world would fall into darkness. Imagine a world with only night—no day at all. It wouldn't feel right… would it?"
Shiharu shook his head.
"So how could I leave my night?" Hoshiyuki continued. "Unless… you want us to run away together. Leave the world behind and wander endlessly."
Shiharu looked up at him, eyes shining faintly.
"That… doesn't sound so bad."
Then, more softly—
"If you ever leave… take me with you."
Hoshiyuki's chest tightened.
I like you, Shiharu. I really do.
I wanted to make your world so safe… that even if I disappeared, you wouldn't feel it.
But that seems impossible now. Let's focus on your happiness first. That's the key to living.
"You can't just say you'll follow me wherever I go," he continued quietly. "I'm not human anymore. We're diff—"
"We're not different," Shiharu said suddenly, his voice firm despite the tremble. He shook his head, desperation lacing every word. "We're not… okay? Being human or a ghost doesn't matter. If it means being with you… even dying wouldn't matter."
He swallowed.
"So please… don't say things like that."
Hoshiyuki stared at him for a moment… then sighed softly.
"I keep my promises. I'll always stay."
"No takebacks," Shiharu replied immediately.
Hoshiyuki smirked faintly.
"Do you want me to sing it like a lullaby? Or write it across my body?"
"I won't leave your side."
Relief washed over Shiharu, and a soft laugh escaped him.
"Don't kneel," Hoshiyuki added gently. "Your knees will hurt."
"Ngh… what do you take me for?"
"Delicate. Fragile. Porcelain," Hoshiyuki said without hesitation. "And beautiful. The most beautiful person I've ever seen."
Shiharu nodded in disapproval.
"No—you are."
"Don't argue with me."
"You're wrong this time."
Hoshiyuki tilted his head slightly.
"Have you ever looked in what you humans call a mirror?"
"…Not really. Maybe when I was little."
"Then you don't get to argue," Hoshiyuki said firmly. "You don't even know how beautiful you are."
"But—"
"No buts."
"This case is adjourned," Shiharu declared lightly, a hint of stubbornness in his tone. "Because I absolutely refuse to accept that you just claimed I'm more beautiful than someone as ethereal and heavenly as you."
"Haha… hahahaha—!"
Hoshiyuki burst into laughter, unable to hold it back, until tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.
"Shiharu…" he said quietly, wiping them away. "I love being with you. So… live longer. Break records if you have to. Let's enjoy everything."
Shiharu watched him in silence.
And for the first time, something selfish bloomed within him.
If Hoshiyuki was a ghost…
Then no one else could see him.
No one else could take him away.
He would always stay.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
That was enough.