Location: Café Midori no Sora, Aoyama District, Sunday Afternoon

  Ruby arrived early. She wanted to invite Fitran for lunch in a quiet place, away from the paparazzi and the stage—a location where they could laugh freely without the pressure of Aqua's ever-watchful eye.

  In her mind, she envisioned the perfect atmosphere, as if preparing for a performance, even without an audience. Her nervousness mingled with a longing to experience a simple, warm moment, where she prayed to the sky that today would provide a brief escape from the relentless demands of the world.

  She wore casual clothes: a white t-shirt, knee-length cream skirt, and a red beret. Simple. Yet her heart was uneasy.

  In her reflection, she noticed the soft, comfortable texture of her t-shirt, which failed to mask the swirling anxiety in her mind. One part of her hoped her appearance would evoke a smile, while another felt tempted to hide. "Do I look like I'm trying too hard?" she pondered while looking at herself in the mirror. "Or too pathetic?"

  However, when she saw Fitran already sitting at the table by the window, wearing his usual black hoodie and long gray jacket, she felt a slight sense of relief. The man... never changed. And for some reason, that was comforting. She knew this figure, who not only represented stability but also served as an anchor amidst the ocean of uncertainty swirling around her.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting!" Ruby exclaimed with a small smile.

  "You're not late," Fitran replied. His voice was calm, like a tranquil river in autumn. The melody of his voice enveloped Ruby in peace, as if she could temporarily forget the turmoil within her heart.

  Ruby took a seat, and the waiter came to take their orders. Before Fitran began to speak, he took a moment to look around the café, observing the warm atmosphere that surrounded him, like a gentle embrace protecting him from Wu. Their conversation began—about various small things: the hot topic of the B-Komachi project, the trending sweet treats, and Ruby's unique idea of combining an idol concert with a tragic musical.

  Fitran listened intently. The only man who didn’t try to fix Ruby’s sorrow—just accompanying her as she navigated through it.

  However, as they were about to eat, the café doorbell chimed.

  Ruby turned and... froze.

  Akane Kurokawa.

  Entering with sunglasses and an oversized sweater, accompanied by the cold wind from outside, Akane froze the moment she saw Ruby and Fitran. Her eyes narrowed immediately.

  It was as if a storm was brewing within her. Akane gathered her strength, trying to hide the doubts born from uncertainty. "Do they really dare to face me?" she thought, a thin smile masking a whirlwind of emotions. In her mind, this moment was a battle to regain control that had seemingly slipped away for so long.

  “...So this is why you declined brunch with me?”

  “Akane?” Ruby panicked.

  Slowly, Akane approached them, her gaze fixed on Fitran.

  “And you… didn’t even tell me about this?”

  Fitran nodded politely. “It wasn’t planned.”

  The calm demeanor radiating from Fitran did nothing to alleviate the tension enveloping Ruby. In her heart, Ruby felt like a painter who had lost their palette, relying solely on a blurred sketch of her feelings. She knew this was the moment when everything hidden must come to light.

  “Is that so?” Akane’s voice was smooth yet sharp. “Everything with you is always unplanned.”

  Ruby stood up. “Akane, please, don’t misunderstand...”

  “Too late.”

  Before the conflict could escalate further, the café door chimed again.

  Arima Kana.

  The soft sigh signaling the entrance of another figure into this unexpected drama sent a jolt through Ruby's heart. Arima, a friend who was supposed to be a source of strength, now felt like a storm cloud adding to the tension. It was as if a missing piece of a puzzle threatened to alter the entire picture if not placed correctly and swiftly.

  In her heart, Akane felt ensnared in the tension between the pain and the smoldering anger, as the beautiful memories they once shared transformed into dark shadows she could not escape, creating deep contradictions within her soul.

  Ruby rose. “Akane, please, don’t misunderstand...”

  Her heart raced, fear creeping into her words, as though every syllable she uttered was a delicate thread weaving together hope and uncertainty.

  “It’s too late.”

  Akane glanced around, realizing how fragile the friendship she had always taken for granted had become. A bitter smile appeared on her face, yet for some reason, a sense of relief coursed through her heart as she said, “We’re all here.”

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  Before the conflict could escalate further, the café door chimed again.

  Arima Kana.

  “—Of course, I came because of the manager's invitation!” she called out loudly to the waiter. “I want a corner table that's not crowded!”

  With confident strides, Kana entered the room as if she were a star on stage, grasping both hope and uncertainty in one hand.

  Then she saw... them.

  Ruby.

  Akane.

  Fitran.

  Their presence surged within Kana, awakening painful nostalgia and forcing her to recall all the moments etched in her soul.

  “…what is this?” Kana whispered, squinting her eyes.

  There was a hidden longing in her voice, as if she were asking herself why she still felt connected to them, even amidst the chaos.

  “...Honestly gathering?” Fitran said softly.

  Fitran, who always relied on his rationality, now felt as if confronted by a mirror of reflection, assessing honesty not only among them but also within himself.

  “Don't mess around!” Kana sat down uninvited. “You all got here before me, right?!”

  Anger and worry melded into one in Kana's gaze, creating an internal storm that was difficult to articulate, like an unexpected tempest.

  Ruby panicked. “No! I just wanted—”

  ...to convey that my feelings are different from what you think, my hopes and curiosities intertwining in my mind like tangled threads at the end of the day.

  “Wait,” Akane interjected. “Do you also like him?”

  “M-maybe... maybe it's not 'like'...” Kana huffed. “But he... makes me feel like a human, okay?!”

  Beneath Kana's words lies a yearning, as if she longs for something more than just a simple feeling. An unspoken desire to be seen and accepted, not merely as a shadow following her. In her heart, there remains a flicker of hope, even if it appears faint on her face.

  Ruby looked at Kana. “You too?”

  “Just like you,” Kana replied sharply. “And you too, Kurokawa.”

  In her tone of reproach, there is honesty and fear, uncertainty about what will happen next. Their lives revolve around a web of feelings and hopes, like delicate threads that are both fragile and enchanting. The multitude of emotions seems to be a treasure that needs to be safeguarded, even as challenges lurk at every corner.

  A silence hung in the air. Then…

  “Sorry I’m late~”

  The light, melodious voice made everyone turn.

  Mecho Cho entered, wearing a jacket with the sticker “I Kissed the Future” and peculiar sandals adorned with hourglass designs.

  “Oh! You’re all here too? This must be fate, right?” she exclaimed as she sat down next to Fitran without hesitation and grabbed Ruby’s spoon.

  It seems Mecho disregarded the unwritten laws about boundaries, as if he considered himself an eternal part of this group. With a bright smile, he brought a new vibe; a rushing energy, providing a breath of fresh air amid the settled tension. Last night, he might have felt lonely and isolated, but now he shook up the atmosphere like a refreshing little storm.

  “M-mecho?!” Ruby half-shouted.

  “I invited him,” Fitran said calmly.

  Behind Fitran's calm demeanor lay an awareness of his own transformation beginning to surface. He understood that Mecho's presence could dismantle the walls that had long obstructed them, creating space for honesty and deeper conversations. Although such intentions were fraught with risk, they were clearly conveyed in the look in his eyes.

  “Without permission?” Akane asked.

  “Without a plan,” he replied.

  All eyes were now on that man. At the center of the table, like a small sun unwittingly starting to heat up. He... was the reason everything was changing.

  Akane felt the tension in the air, like an electric current creeping up her neck. Ruby bowed her head, trying to hide the doubts that haunted her. Kana gripped the arms of her chair, sensing how the world around her seemed to manifest everything she desired.

  Several minutes of silence.

  Then Mecho smiled and spoke softly:

  “It's funny, isn’t it? We all... feel so alone in this world. Then he appears.”

  “And now we feel... like we are not the only ones.”

  Akane looked down. Ruby bit her lip. Kana awkwardly hugged her arms.

  In her heart, Akane held onto her fears—the fear of her helplessness, as the feeling of loneliness enveloped her. Ruby, on the other hand, struggled to hold back tears, longing for the times when her life wasn’t this complicated. Meanwhile, Kana, despite her awkwardness, remained determined to bridge the connection among them; she was the link in a world that felt divided.

  Yes.

  That was the problem.

  Fitran did not love just one person. But the only reason they lived was because of him.

  And they knew, there would only be one ending to this story:

  Someone would break.

  After the meal, the atmosphere lightened... slightly.

  Mecho busily guessed their birthdays.

  Ruby tried to pay quietly.

  Kana wanted to go home earlier but waited for the others to come out.

  Akane? She stood next to Fitran and whispered:

  “If you touch my heart... don’t run away when I ask about your feelings later.”

  Fitran turned to her.

  “If I answer honestly, and it hurts, are you ready?”

  Akane smiled faintly.

  “Better than lying and embracing everyone.”

  Like a mirror, Akane began to realize how much she depended on uncertain hopes, as if every passing second added weight to her heart. She tried to remember how beautiful love was, even with the fear that cloaked every complaint she felt. Yet, her faint smile remained a shelter for all the feelings that fluttered in the noise of her heart.

  In her silence, Ruby felt a warm sensation tattooed in her soul, as if the light was not merely words, but a flicker of hope that floated around her. With each passing second, she felt stronger, yet loneliness gently wrapped around her, filled with questions. She wanted to send that message, but fear kept her awake, waiting for the right moment to be honest.

  Kana buried her face in the pillow and muttered, “Why have I become like this...?”

  In the darkness, her mind wandered, recalling how her life had diverged, making happiness feel hollow. It was as if she were trapped in a labyrinth, trying to find an escape from her own doubts. Frustration mixed with longing filled the empty space between laughter and tears.

  Akane sat in front of the mirror, writing a small script: “If I were your script, could you read me again from the beginning?”

  With her fingers dancing over the paper, Akane felt a deep yearning for genuine connection, a hope to be read and understood. Each sentence was a piece of herself she longed to express, yet feared rejection. She wished that if everyone’s instincts could be captured, the world would be more vibrant with clearer reminders of meaning.

  Mecho gazes at the sky and murmurs:

  In a hopeful wait, Mecho continually questions the sincerity of love grounded in hope and light. In the stillness of the night, the stars he refers to symbolize the dreams that must be realized, even though they sometimes appear faint. He prays that this same love will not fade, and that they all have the chance to shine together in the sky of life.

  As he waits, Mecho persists in questioning the sincerity of love based on hope and light. In silence, the stars he envisions serve as symbols of dreams to be achieved, even if they occasionally seem dim. He prays that this love does not extinguish, and that everyone has the opportunity to shine together.