Location: The Courtyard of the Ancient B-Komachi Tower (Former Secret Studio of Aqua & Ruby), Late Afternoon

  That late afternoon sky was dim, its orange hues tangled in gray clouds like a painting reluctant to be finished, evoking a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. While Tokyo simmered softly far from the noise of the city, Ruby Hoshino stood alone in front of the nearly crumbling old building, gazing intently with sorrowful eyes, as if every second in that place summoned memories of precious moments long gone.

  The building had once been a secret training ground for Aqua and Ruby—a vibrant space filled with promise, laughter, and dreams. Now, it lay shrouded in dust and an unending grief, a poignant reminder of what once was. Memories flooded her mind, casting a hazy picture of laughter echoing off its timeworn walls. Each corner seemed to hold the traces of their footsteps, and every crack whispered softly of a forgotten past that still lingered in the air.

  Ruby wore a white jacket, cream-colored pants, and a red scarf—the colors she donned when she still believed that the stage was a paradise. In her hands, she held a thermos and two small cups, her fingers trembling as she played with the cups, a bitter smile lingering as she recalled the beautiful moments spent on stage with Aqua. For a brief flash, his image appeared in her mind, his gaze filled with confidence and shared dreams—yet now, all of that felt distant.

  Her heart quivered along with the gentle evening breeze, carrying with it all her pain. In the silence, she wished for someone who could turn back time, fix everything, and bring back all that was lost. But like the sun slowly setting, that hope seemed to fade away as well.

  “Fitran will come,” she whispered to the wind.

  And he arrived.

  Silent footsteps followed, revealing a tall figure in a long cloak, his eyes always resembling a night that had just lost its stars. The space around them instantly filled with impatience and a faint hope.

  “Ruby,” he greeted.

  “Thank you for coming,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly, a blend of deep uncertainty and anticipation. “I... want to show you this place.” She hoped Fitran could sense the significance of this moment and its weight in her heart.

  Fitran glanced around. Cracked walls. A shattered mirror. Yet, the essence of the past lingered—like an echo from a world that once was. He contemplated the memories stored in every corner, nostalgia resting on the walls like dust.

  “This place… holds memories,” he said, emphasizing each word as if they were priceless treasures.

  “Many,” Ruby replied. “But what I want to show you... isn’t the place. It’s the feeling.” There was a longing in her voice that made him feel as if she were revealing a long-buried secret.

  They sat on the aged wooden floor. Ruby poured tea from a thermos. The warm aroma of the tea filled the room, creating a more intimate atmosphere, as if they were enveloped in a timeless memory.

  “On afternoons like this… I picture her showing up with some silly script or a new drama idea. But then I realize—”

  “—I don’t miss Aqua.”

  Fitran looked away, the drizzle outside the window enhancing his mood. He could feel the weight of Ruby's words, like the rain trying to seep through a leaky roof.

  “I miss... the person who made me feel that I deserved to dream.”

  Ruby held the cup tightly, her hands trembling slightly, indicating how deeply the longing pierced her. “And when you came... I knew I had betrayed that memory,” she said, her vulnerability exposing the conflict within her heart, caught between loyalty and newfound affection.

  “Why betray?” Fitran asked gently, trying to understand the heavy emotions Ruby expressed.

  “Because I am beginning to... fall in love with someone. And it’s not Aqua.”

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  “And I feel guilty.”

  Fitran didn’t respond immediately, his expression thoughtful. Each word Ruby expressed seemed to touch on new emotional depths within him, revealing that her concerns were intertwined with a much greater uncertainty that bound them both in this shared moment of honesty.

  He simply said, “If love comes as betrayal... then this entire world has been filled with sins since the very first day.”

  Ruby turned quickly, her tears beginning to well up. She tried to hold back, but her eyes were already urging her to release everything she had been holding in her heart.

  “Then... may I love you?”

  “Not as an escape. Not because of losing Aqua. But because you... are you.”

  Fitran gazed deeply at the girl. The eyes that had once lost everything now offered him all that remained. He felt an unspoken bond flowing between them, warm and touching.

  “Ruby...” he said softly, his voice like a whisper in the evening breeze. “I am not a star. I am merely a lost fragment of the night.”

  Ruby shook her head, her confidence beginning to overshadow the sadness on her face.

  “You are my star.”

  In that moment, she stood up and took Fitran's hand, placing it over her heart. It raced faster, as if signaling that hope was still alive.

  “Here... it feels like it's beating again when you are near.”

  Fitran sensed the gentle yet strong heartbeat. He felt as if he were soaring, as though something was liberating them from the chains of past sorrow.

  Ruby moved closer, so close that she could feel the warmth of Fitran's breath brushing against her skin. In that moment, all doubt and guilt seemed to vanish, swept away effortlessly by the undeniable connection between them.

  “I don't want to have all of your heart,” she whispered. “I just want a small place... where I can reside. I don't need to be the priority. But please, don’t let me become a shadow again.”

  Fitran fell silent, feeling the weight of Ruby's words filling the space between them. There was a sincerity in her tone that broke down the walls he had built for so long. It was as if she were dusting off the dark memories that haunted him.

  In his old world, there was no love like this. No tenderness that humbly pleaded yet touched his very soul. All he had known were will, curses, destruction, and promises bound in blood. Those memories burned in his mind, but Ruby made him yearn for a new light.

  But Ruby...

  Ruby made him feel human.

  And that was why he was afraid. This fear intertwined with a deep desire. He didn’t want to add any burden to Ruby's heart, even though, at that moment, their hearts seemed to call out to one another.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he finally said, his voice filled with honesty and a gentle tone. There was doubt in his eyes, but also a trembling hope.

  Ruby moved closer, and for the first time, she kissed him on the cheek—softly yet profoundly. In that moment, it felt as if time stood still, and warmth enveloped them both in an unspoken comfort, bridging the gap between doubt and hope.

  “The pain of loving you is better than being empty forever.”

  The night descended slowly, enveloping them in darkness illuminated by countless stars. The evening breeze softened, as if blessing the sincerity of the feelings blossoming between them.

  Ruby and Fitran sat together, gazing at the sky now filled with stars. There was peace in the silence, yet deep within their hearts, the tumult of fear and hope seemed to be at war.

  “I once thought no one could ever fill Aqua’s place,” Ruby confessed, her voice trembling slightly as she recalled the love that had been lost. “But you’re not a replacement; you... are a new chapter in my life.” Despite the sadness, her words carried a newfound strength—a recognition that new love can emerge even from the deepest wounds, illustrating the resilience of the human heart.

  Fitran took her hand in his, holding it tightly, conveying through this simple gesture that he would not allow Ruby to feel alone again. He still couldn’t bring himself to say “yes” to her unspoken question, but his soul responded with a calm understanding, acknowledging that this was indeed the first step toward something profoundly better.

  And that was enough for Ruby. For today. A small smile appeared on her lips, even though doubts still lingered between them; the joy of this heartfelt intention was more than sufficient to ignite a brighter future.

  Meanwhile, in the distance...

  Across the street, someone stood behind a lamppost, observing them. His heart trembled as he witnessed the small, meaningful moments unfolding before his eyes.

  Akane.

  She watched their hands intertwined, fingers laced together as if expressing unspoken feelings, creating a pain in her chest as she took it all in.

  Her expression held no anger. No jealousy. But...

  Fear.

  For the first time, Akane felt... she could lose.

  A tension gripped her chest, as if a stone were pressing down, making her breath feel heavy. With every heartbeat, she was reminded of everything at risk of slipping away, all the little moments she had gathered with hope.

  She bit her lower lip, restraining herself from voicing what lay in her heart. Too much was at stake, and the pain of potential loss made her tremble.

  As her eyes drifted to their clasped hands, she felt a warm surge of jealousy and love swirling within her, creating an emotional storm. She longed to share in their happiness, but simultaneously battled the shadows of uncertainty that always followed her, intimidating every choice she had to make, a haunting reminder of her own fears.