Sakura didn't stay in her room.
Sitting still felt dangerous now.
Like if she stopped moving for too long—
something would quietly decide she wasn't there anymore.
---
She stepped outside.
The air felt the same.
Cool. Normal.
But it didn't *recognize* her the same way.
---
People passed by.
Not ignoring her on purpose.
Just… not noticing her at all.
---
A boy walked straight toward her.
Sakura slowed.
"…hey—"
He didn't react.
At all.
---
She stepped aside quickly.
He passed through the space she had just occupied.
No hesitation.
No awareness.
---
Sakura looked back.
"…okay…" she muttered under her breath.
"…that's worse than before."
---
Her phone vibrated.
---
> **"SOCIAL RECOGNITION: 11%"**
> **"COLLISION AVOIDANCE RESPONSE: DISABLED"**
---
"…wow," she said quietly.
"…so I'm officially background noise now."
---
She kept walking.
Not rushing.
But not stopping either.
---
"…Haruto," she said softly.
Still nothing.
---
She exhaled slowly.
"…you better not disappear before I find you again."
---
A small park came into view.
Empty.
Or at least—empty enough.
---
Sakura stepped inside and sat on a bench.
For a moment, everything felt still again.
Not peaceful.
Just paused.
---
"…six hours…" she whispered.
Her eyes drifted downward.
"…now it's probably less."
---
She checked her phone again.
---
> **"SEPARATION EVENT: 4 HOURS 12 MINUTES"**
---
"…yeah," she said quietly.
"…figured."
---
Her grip tightened slightly around the ring.
Still warm.
Still there.
---
"…you're the only thing not disappearing," she muttered.
---
A faint breeze passed through the park.
The swings moved slightly.
Slow.
Even.
Almost too even.
---
Sakura frowned.
"…why does everything feel staged now…"
---
She leaned back slightly.
Closed her eyes.
And tried something different.
---
Not calling out loud.
Not forcing it.
Just thinking his name.
---
*Haruto.*
---
The world didn't react immediately.
No flicker.
No distortion.
---
Then—
very faintly—
something answered.
---
Not a voice.
Not words.
Just… presence.
---
Sakura's eyes opened slowly.
"…you're there," she said quietly.
---
A pause.
Then—
faint.
Broken.
---
"…barely…"
---
Her chest tightened instantly.
"…Haruto?"
---
The air shifted slightly in front of her.
Not enough to see.
But enough to feel.
---
"…they're… cutting connections faster now…"
---
Sakura leaned forward.
"…then stop letting them," she said.
---
A weak sound came through.
Almost like a quiet laugh.
---
"…I'm not the one deciding that…"
---
Her expression tightened.
"…then I will."
---
A pause.
Long.
Then—
softer.
---
"…you really don't listen, do you…"
---
Sakura let out a small breath.
"…not when it comes to you."
---
Silence followed.
But it felt different now.
Warmer.
Even if it was weak.
---
"…Sakura…"
---
"…yeah?"
---
Another pause.
Like he was choosing his words carefully.
---
"…if the separation happens…"
"…don't fight it halfway."
---
Her brows furrowed.
"…what does that even mean?"
---
The presence flickered.
Weakening again.
---
"…if you hesitate…"
"…you'll lose both sides…"
---
Her chest tightened.
"…both sides…?"
---
But the connection started breaking again.
---
"…so if it comes down to it…"
"…choose—"
---
Silence.
---
Sakura leaned forward.
"…choose what?"
---
Nothing answered.
---
The park returned to normal.
Empty. Quiet.
---
Her phone vibrated again.
---
> **"SEPARATION EVENT: 2 HOURS 03 MINUTES"**
---
Sakura stared at it.
Then looked at her hand.
At the ring.
---
"…so that's what you meant…" she whispered.
---
She stood up slowly.
Her decision wasn't fully formed yet.
But something inside her had already started leaning one way.
---
"…I'm not losing you halfway," she said quietly.
---
And somewhere beyond what she could see—
the system adjusted.
Not stopping her.
Not correcting her.
Just preparing for the outcome she was getting closer to choosing.