Aoi woke up before the alarm even had the chance to ring.
Her eyes took a few seconds to fully open. Her body still felt heavy from an entire week of rehearsals.
Slowly, she sat up and stumbled half-awake toward the bathroom.
She turned on the faucet.
Cold water splashed against her face.
Aoi took a deep breath while staring at herself in the mirror.
Then she quietly whispered to herself:
— Fight...
For a few seconds, she simply stood there, looking at her own reflection before beginning to get ready.
She carefully tied up her hair.
Put on light makeup.
Wore her school uniform and, over it, the official theater club jacket.
Once she finished, she quietly walked downstairs and started preparing her bento.
The sound of the knife cutting ingredients filled the still-silent kitchen of that cold morning.
A few minutes later, Yukiko came downstairs, still sleepy.
— Ah... you're already awake?
Aoi nodded without stopping what she was doing.
— And I'm already heading out too. I need to focus on the performance today.
Yukiko approached the table.
— Of course you do. But at least have breakfast first.
— Yeah, yeah... I will.
Aoi opened her bag to put the bento away.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
— Ah... I forgot my phone upstairs.
She climbed the stairs again.
When she entered her room, she immediately saw her phone lying on top of the bed.
But her eyes stopped on something else.
The game console Hina had lent her.
And the game Takeo had protected for all those years.
Aoi slowly walked toward the bed.
She picked up the game with both hands.
And quietly stared at it.
The memory of the birthday message surfaced in her mind once again.
Her seventh birthday.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the case.
After a few seconds, Aoi went back downstairs still holding the game.
Yukiko noticed it immediately.
— What are you holding there?
Aoi looked down at the game.
— Mom... did you know Dad made this game for my seventh birthday?
Yukiko stopped chewing.
The chopsticks slowly slipped from her fingers onto the table.
For a few seconds, she simply stared into space.
As if she had been dragged into an old memory.
Aoi noticed immediately.
— You knew?
Yukiko slowly came back to herself.
— Honey...
She took a deep breath.
— Your father was preparing something for you during that last year...
Aoi remained silent.
— Then why didn't you ever tell me?
Yukiko lowered her eyes.
— Because back then... you didn't react to anything.
Her voice came out quietly.
— You didn't smile. You didn't cry. You just kept staring into nothing...
Silence settled over the kitchen.
— So I left the game with Takeo's father. Your dad and their family were really close... I thought it was better to keep it safe.
Aoi continued staring at her seriously.
Yukiko let out a tired sigh.
— Don't look at me like that, Aoi... I was grieving too.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the table.
— I didn't know if showing it to you back then would help... or hurt you even more.
Aoi lowered her gaze toward the table.
Then quietly asked:
— Mom... what did he say before leaving the house that day?
Yukiko froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she inhaled deeply.
— He said...
Her voice almost failed.
— "Honey, I'll come back as soon as I finish work. I'll bring something for you and Aoi."
A sad smile appeared on her face.
— "See you later."
Silence filled the kitchen once again.
Yukiko looked down at her cup.
— Even now... I still don't know what he was going to bring us.
— Ah...
Aoi lowered her eyes.
Then Yukiko looked back at the game in her daughter's hands.
— It's strange hearing you ask these things now.
She tilted her head slightly.
— Was it because of this game?
Aoi nodded slowly.
Then she took a deep breath.
— Mom...
She hesitated for a moment.
— Cheer for me today, okay?
Yukiko stared at her face for a few seconds.
Then smiled softly.
— Sometimes you really look like your father.
Aoi blinked.
— That expression you make when you're nervous... it's exactly the same.
Aoi opened her mouth.
— Mom, I—
— I'm proud of you, Aoi.
Yukiko interrupted gently.
Her eyes trembled slightly.
— You stayed strong for me during all those years.
The silence afterward felt unbearably heavy.
Aoi quickly stood up while hiding part of her face.
— I-I'm going now. I need to help with the preparations.
She grabbed her bag in a hurry.
— See you later, Mom.
And left the house before Yukiko could notice her nearly tearful eyes.
The streets were still quiet.
The vapor of Aoi's breath drifted through the cold morning air as she walked toward the station.
When she passed through the ticket gate—
Pi!
The sound felt almost like a signal marking the beginning of something.
Inside the local train, Aoi sat in her usual seat by the window. The ride to school only lasted ten minutes, but that morning it felt much longer.
As she stared at the passing scenery outside, she suddenly remembered Hiroshi coming home exhausted from work and still playing with her in the living room as if he had endless energy left.
The memory hit so suddenly that Aoi lightly bit her lip and tightened her grip on her bag against her chest.
Her reflection trembled faintly on the train window along with the motion of the tracks.
Aoi slowly closed her eyes.
Inside her mind, she reviewed the stage.
The lines.
The movements.
Her breathing.
The steady rhythm of the train gradually calmed her racing heart.
When she arrived at the station, the cold morning air brushed against her bare legs beneath her skirt. She pulled the theater club jacket closer around herself and continued toward school.
The moment she walked through the gates, she immediately realized how different the school felt that Saturday.
There was none of the usual noise from crowded hallways or loud conversations during break time.
Only distant voices from a few other clubs that had also arrived early for special activities.
When she entered the gymnasium, the strong smell of kerosene from the heaters already filled the air.
Kaito and Takeo had arrived before everyone else to turn them on.
— Ohayou gozaimasu! — Aoi greeted as she entered.
— Ohayou gozaimasu! — everyone answered almost in unison.
The nervousness on everyone's faces was obvious.
But it wasn't a bad kind of nervousness.
It was the kind of tension that only existed before something truly important.
Before rehearsing anything, all fifteen members grabbed damp cloths and began cleaning the stage and audience seats. Under the spotlights, even the smallest speck of dust would become visible.
Nobody wanted to overlook anything.
In the corners of the gymnasium, folding screens acted as makeshift dressing rooms. Aoi helped organize the makeup while also checking if Shinohara's and Takeo's costumes were perfectly aligned.
Soon after, the empty gymnasium began filling with vocal warmups.
Stretched voices.
Repeated syllables.
Strange sounds echoing against the enormous walls.
Little by little, the space began to truly feel like a real theater stage.
It didn't take long before the gym doors opened for the guests.
Parents entered timidly, removing their shoes before putting on the school slippers while receiving pamphlets prepared by the freshmen.
The teachers sat in a reserved row near the center, watching everything with pride—but also with their usual strict eyes.
The alumni, however, were impossible to miss.
The OBs and OGs walked through the gymnasium with a completely different presence, observing the lighting, the stage setup, even the angle of the spotlights with experienced eyes. Some of them stopped backstage to leave boxes of sweets and small gifts for the senior club members.
That was when Shinohara suddenly froze.
Her eyes locked onto a woman entering the gymnasium.
"That way of walking..."
Her eyes widened.
"Yumi-senpai?"
Takeo immediately noticed her reaction.
— What? Don't tell me the theater monster already got here.
Kaito casually raised his hand.
— I'm the one who invited her, okay?
— AAAAH, KAITO! — Takeo and Shinohara shouted at the same time.
— Y-you were the one... — Shinohara muttered, almost pale.
Takeo rubbed his face and sighed.
— Alright... calm down. Yumi-senpai isn't the only one who came today.
Behind the curtain, Aoi watched the gymnasium through a small gap.
The seats slowly filled one by one.
The murmur of conversations gradually grew louder.
Phones were turned off.
The lights dimmed little by little.
Her heart pounded violently.
But this time, it wasn't fear.
It was readiness.
For a brief moment, while looking toward the audience, Aoi imagined Hiroshi sitting beside Yukiko.
Her mother was already there, quietly watching the stage with a nostalgic little smile.
"How nostalgic..."
Yukiko let out a soft sigh.
"Back in my day... I was nervous behind those curtains too."
Only five minutes remained.
Then the school bell rang.
But at that moment, it sounded completely different.
It was the official signal that the performance was about to begin.
Backstage, all fifteen club members gathered in a tight circle behind the black curtain.
Takeo looked at both Aoi and Shinohara, smiling softly.
A silent gesture saying:
"We're in this together."
Shinohara checked the microphone attached to her outfit one last time.
Kaito ran toward the sound and lighting table at the back of the gymnasium.
Then, slowly, the lights began to fade.
The audience fell silent almost instantly.
And for a few seconds, the only sound left in the gymnasium was the metallic clicking of the spotlights heating up before the play began.
Aoi took a deep breath behind the curtain.
The weight of Mizuki's backpack rested on her shoulders, but at that moment it felt like far more than just part of the costume.
It felt as if she was truly carrying the character's emotions herself.
The stage represented a school rooftop at sunset.
The lights beyond the curtain were still dark, and the muffled sounds of the audience filtered through in nervous little murmurs.
Her heart beat loudly.
But it wasn't fear.
It was anticipation.
Takeo, already fully immersed in Haruto's character, stepped a little closer and spoke quietly, almost like a ritual before the performance.
— Ittekimasu.
Aoi closed her eyes for a brief moment.
And answered only inside her own mind.
— Itterasshai.
Then the first note of the soundtrack softly echoed throughout the gymnasium.
The sound seemed to fill every empty space inside her chest.
The curtain slowly began to open.
Before the stage was fully revealed, one of the club members announced into the microphone:
— Thank you all for coming. And now... we will begin the play, "See You Later."
The lights gradually came on.
The school rooftop appeared before the audience.
Ryo sat on the floor, scrolling through his phone without really paying attention to the screen.
Aya leaned quietly against the railing, staring toward the horizon.
Shino stood with her arms crossed, trying to hide her tension.
And Mizuki remained seated on the bench, hands folded neatly in her lap.
Then Haruto entered the stage with a backpack over his shoulders.
He stopped for a brief moment before moving forward.
A subtle delay.
Small.
But enough to convey hesitation.
Shino was also already dressed to leave.
SCENE 1 — WHAT REMAINS UNSAID
Ryo
(without looking at him)
— So... today's the day?
Haruto
(small smile)
— Yeah.
Aya
(looking at the sky)
— The sky's really clear today.
The silence that followed felt both comforting... and strange.
Shino briefly looked away.
— We didn't really need to come here before leaving... but somehow we still did.
Haruto let out a small nasal laugh.
— You wanted to see this place one more time too, right?
He looked around the rooftop.
Lingering just a little longer than he should have.
Like someone trying to preserve the moment forever.
Mizuki lowered her eyes.
And in that instant, a memory suddenly pierced through Aoi's mind.
She was six years old.
Standing by the entrance of her house while holding her mother's hand as Hiroshi Sakamoto put on his shoes before leaving.
— See you later, dear! — Yukiko said with a smile.
— See you later, Dad! — little Aoi answered happily.
Hiroshi chuckled softly and waved before walking through the gate.
Then Yukiko crouched beside her.
— Since today's Saturday... and it's your father's birthday, let's prepare a surprise for him.
— Dad's birthday? — Aoi asked with sparkling eyes.
— Yep. We'll prepare something special for him when he comes home.
— Yayyy!
The memory felt so vivid that her chest tightened painfully.
For one second, the stage disappeared.
But Aoi took a deep breath.
"Focus..."
And immediately returned to Mizuki.
SCENE 2 — PROMISES TOO LIGHT TO TRUST
Ryo
(overly relaxed)
— You guys are coming back during vacation, right?
Haruto
(chuckling softly)
— Of course. At least I am.
Shino slightly lifted her chin.
— Include me too. I'm coming back as well, hmph.
At that moment, Shinohara quickly glanced toward the audience.
And found Yumi.
Seated among the alumni.
Even from afar, her presence felt overwhelming.
That silent pressure of someone overwhelmingly talented.
Shinohara nearly lost the timing of her next line.
— I-I can't promise that so confidently...
Haruto turned toward her.
This time, completely serious.
Without even a small smile.
Haruto
— I... will try to come back.
A small pause overtook the stage.
And there, the very first crack appeared.
The first true feeling of farewell.
SCENE 3 — THE WEIGHT OF WHAT STAYS BEHIND
Aya looked toward Mizuki.
— Mizuki... you've been quiet.
Mizuki slowly raised her face.
Mizuki
— I was thinking...
Her fingers tightened softly together.
— About how everything still looks the same...
Her eyes wandered across the rooftop.
— Even though it's already starting to change.
The silence after her words felt unbearably heavy.
And then Aoi heard her father's voice inside her head once again.
"I'll always come back home, Aoi."
Her body froze for a moment.
Her fingers slowly curled shut.
"Why am I remembering this now...?"
Haruto swallowed hard.
Shino turned toward the scenery, pretending to stay calm.
Haruto opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.
But the words never came out.
SCENE 4 — MIZUKI'S WORDS
Mizuki slowly stood up from the bench.
The stage lights dimmed around her until only a soft spotlight remained focused on her figure.
The entire gymnasium felt silent.
Aoi felt the weight of Mizuki's backpack on her shoulders.
But at that moment...
She no longer knew where Mizuki ended.
And where she herself began.
She lifted her eyes toward the audience for only a second.
And saw Yukiko sitting among the seats.
Her hands resting quietly on her lap.
Watching her in silence.
Then, for one brief moment...
Aoi imagined Hiroshi sitting beside her again.
Smiling the same gentle, goofy smile he used to have years ago.
As if he had truly come to watch her performance.
Her heart faltered.
Her concentration broke for a second.
She almost lost her breath.
Aoi quickly returned to the character.
But her lips trembled now.
She looked toward Shinohara on stage.
Shinohara immediately realized something was wrong.
Even while maintaining her character's composure.
Then, almost unconsciously, Aoi whispered softly:
— ...why?
Shinohara frowned.
That definitely wasn't in the script.
But before she could react, Aoi continued.
And this time...
Her voice no longer sounded like acting.
Mizuki
— I know... that someday we were going to drift apart.
She took a deep breath.
Her voice nearly failed.
But she kept going anyway.
— Maybe it won't even be by choice.
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
— Maybe... I won't even get to say goodbye properly.
The silence inside the gymnasium became unbearably heavy.
Haruto remained frozen.
Aya lowered her eyes slightly.
Even Ryo stopped moving the prop phone in his hands.
Shinohara opened her mouth to continue the next line.
But froze.
Because Aoi kept speaking.
Even though it wasn't the next part of the script.
And now her body was visibly trembling.
As if the words were escaping from somewhere deep inside her without control.
Aoi tried to smile.
But two tears slowly slid down her face before she could even finish speaking.
Mizuki
— So... don't worry about me...
Her voice came out broken and shaky.
But so painfully sincere it hurt to hear.
— I'll be okay...
More tears fell.
Quietly dropping from her chin onto the stage floor.
— We made so many memories together...
She lightly clenched her own hands.
Trying to stay strong.
Trying not to collapse in front of everyone.
— And you... will always keep living inside my heart.
The entire gymnasium became completely still.
Nobody coughed.
Nobody moved.
The only things that existed in that moment...
Were Aoi's trembling voice, a faint sob escaping her throat—
And the quiet sound of her tears falling onto the stage.
She didn't wipe a single one away.
She remained standing there.
Still holding Mizuki's posture.
Waiting for someone to continue the scene.
Backstage, the teacher clutched the crumpled script so tightly her hands trembled.
Her face had gone completely pale.
— T-this... this wasn't in the script, Aoi...
Small whispers began spreading throughout the audience.
Quiet.
Disbelieving.
— Is she... actually crying?
— Is this really acting...?
— My God...
— I thought this was just a school play...
— Is this part of the scene?
Shinohara continued staring at Aoi without moving.
She could clearly tell this was no longer just performance.
For a brief instant, she noticed Aoi's eyes looked bluer than usual.
Then her gaze quickly shifted toward the audience.
And met Yumi's eyes.
The former club president.
The legendary "theater monster."
Yumi was completely motionless.
Her eyes wide open.
Her lips slightly parted.
Like someone who had just been struck by something unexpected.
And at that moment, Shinohara remembered the words Yumi once told her during her first year:
"When you truly feel a scene with your heart... your entire body will overflow with emotion."
Shinohara looked back at Aoi.
The tears still marking her cheeks.
Her shoulders trembling faintly.
And then...
Shinohara herself began tearing up too.
She took a deep breath before continuing the scene.
But her voice no longer came out steady like before.
Shino
— We grow up thinking... that farewells are grand moments.
She swallowed hard.
— Beautiful speeches.
— Eternal promises.
A small pause.
Her eyes lowered.
Shino
— But... most of the time...
She lifted her face again.
— They happen like this.
— In the middle of the afternoon.
— Without any warning at all.
The gymnasium remained in absolute silence.
Shinohara looked directly at Haruto.
Eyes filled with tears.
Shino
— So... let's go.
Her voice faltered slightly.
— Before you ask us to stay.
Silence.
A silence so heavy that even the audience's breathing sounded loud.
Then Hotaru slowly approached Mizuki.
She pulled a handkerchief from her uniform pocket.
And offered it to her with a small, sad smile.
Hotaru
— Here, Mizuki.
She spoke softly.
Gently.
— You don't need to cry because of us.
— We'll always be with you.
Mizuki stared at the handkerchief for a few seconds.
As if even responding was difficult.
Then she gave a tiny smile.
Still crying.
— ...thank you.
She carefully accepted the handkerchief.
And gently wiped away her tears.
SCENE 5 — HESITATION
Ryo forced a smile.
Even though his eyes looked tired now.
Ryo
— Don't forget about us, okay?
Aya slightly lowered her head.
Aya
— Take care... Shino... Haruto...
Haruto placed the backpack over his shoulders.
Shino did the same beside him.
Then Haruto started walking.
One step.
Two.
And stopped.
Unable to look back.
Haruto
— I'm scared of leaving...
His voice sounded quieter now.
More human.
More vulnerable.
Shino closed her eyes for a moment.
— Me too.
She opened them again.
— But we already chose our path, Haruto.
She smiled sadly.
— Even if we walk it separately.
Haruto lowered his head.
And let out a weak little laugh.
Like someone trying to hide their nervousness.
Haruto
— But I think...
Small pause.
— I'm even more scared of never trying at all.
Silence returned for a few seconds.
Then he slightly turned his face.
Haruto
— Thank you...
— For staying beside me.
— Ryo.
— Mizuki.
— Aya.
He slowly began walking off the stage.
FINAL SCENE — THE ECHO
Mizuki took a small step forward.
The lights slowly dimmed around her.
The stage felt much larger now.
Much emptier.
Mizuki
— See you later...
Small pause.
Her eyes trembled again.
But this time...
She managed to smile.
Even though it hurt.
Even though she was breaking apart.
— Don't take too long.
Haruto exited the stage.
Shino walked after him.
Without crying.
Without looking back.
Only raising her hand in one final silent wave.
Mizuki remained standing alone on the rooftop.
Her posture steady.
Even with tears still visible on her face.
The lights slowly faded.
More slowly than during rehearsals.
Until the entire stage disappeared into darkness.
Absolute silence.
One second.
Two.
...
Backstage, the teacher gripped the crumpled script so tightly her fingers shook.
She stared at the stage in shock.
— You all... just did whatever you wanted...
Her voice came out quietly.
Almost unbelieving.
— Then what were all those rehearsals even for...?
Nobody answered.
Then—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The sound of applause echoed alone through the gymnasium.
Everyone immediately turned toward it.
Yumi was standing.
Slowly clapping.
Her usual neutral expression remained on her face.
But her eyes shined intensely.
She kept clapping.
— Excellent...
Another clap.
— Excellent.
Takeo's eyes widened.
— I-I can't believe it...
Shinohara covered her mouth.
Already crying again.
— Y-Yumi-senpai...
Kaito stood there completely speechless.
— Were we... really that good...?
Then someone else stood up.
Yukiko.
She started clapping too.
Silently.
Tears continuously streamed down her face.
But even so...
She never stopped applauding.
Aoi became speechless when she saw that.
Her chest tightened painfully.
The stage lights slowly turned back on.
Revealing the entire cast standing there.
Frozen.
Unable to believe what was happening.
Then another person started clapping.
Then another.
Two more.
Ten more.
Forty more.
Until, before anyone realized it...
The entire gymnasium was standing.
Applauding.
Silently.
No shouting.
No noise.
Only sincere applause.
Strong.
Endless.
As if nobody there could properly express what they had just felt.
The club members remained standing on stage.
Unable to speak.
Unable to move.
The teacher watched everything in complete shock.
While the applause echoed throughout the entire gymnasium.
And in the very last row...
Souma silently watched Aoi.
His fingers clenched tightly against his own clothes.
His chest hurt.
His eyes trembled as he stared at her on stage.
Then he lowered his head slightly.
And thought:
— Aoi...
His throat tightened painfully.
— I... don't want to lose you.