Under the quiet night sky, Kaiser walks along the narrow path leading to the hills behind Vesillian Academy

  From a distance, he sees Mary sitting on a large rock, her still form seeming to blend into the endless night. The deep green dress hugs her slender figure, and her flowing pink hair, tied into a ponytail, gently sways with each light gust of wind. Mary's red eyes reflect the stars above, like two hidden gems holding their own unique light

  Hearing his footsteps, Mary turns. Her eyes meet Kaiser’s for a moment, and she smiles

  “You’re early” Kaiser says

  Kaiser walks over, sits beside her, leans back, and tilts his head to look up at the vast sky. Thousands of stars stretch out, like sparkling crystals scattered across the dark canvas. Some stars shine brightly, while others fade as if about to disappear

  “Do you like stargazing?” he asks, his voice calm, as though simply filling the silence between them

  Mary doesn’t answer immediately. She just quietly gazes upward, her eyes distant, as if searching for something among the galaxies

  “Not really…” Her voice softly echoes, like a breath

  “But I like the quiet of it”

  A comfortable silence falls between them. Only the sound of the wind moving through the trees and the occasional chirp of insects in the vast meadow can be heard

  The night sky is beautiful tonight. The constellations intertwine, forming shapes that humans have named since ancient times

  Mary suddenly raises her hand, as if reaching for a faraway star. The movement is light, but it carries an indescribable sense of fragility

  “Do you think those stars are watching over us?” she asks, her voice carrying a hint of contemplation

  Kaiser tilts his head to look at her

  “What do you mean?”

  Mary doesn’t take her eyes off the sky

  “We keep looking up and admiring them, but in reality, most of the stars we see have already burned out a long time ago”

  Mary smiles softly, but it’s not a cheerful smile

  “I think… even if they no longer exist, they still mean something to someone”

  Kaiser looks at her, her eyes reflecting the twinkling stars, but there’s something hard to grasp about it. He’s not sure if she’s talking about the stars or not

  Mary’s voice rises again

  “Kaiser, what do you think about your family?”

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  He flinches slightly at the unexpected question

  “My family?” He pauses for a moment

  “My family is small, so it’s very cozy. Everyone in my family really cares for each other”

  Mary listens, then softly replies

  “My family... isn’t as simple as that.”

  Kaiser turns to look at her, noticing a distant look in her eyes

  “What do you mean?”

  Mary doesn’t answer immediately, instead, she slowly asks

  “Have you ever seen a cherry blossom tree in full bloom?”

  Kaiser is momentarily surprised by the unexpected question, but he nods

  “Yes. Every spring, My places has a few trees that bloom”

  Mary tilts her head slightly, her soft pink hair fluttering gently with the wind

  “Cherry blossoms are very beautiful, aren’t they? But did you ever notice that they only bloom for a very short time?”

  Kaiser thinks for a moment

  “Yeah… they bloom, drawing everyone’s attention, but with just one strong gust of wind, the petals fall”

  Mary chuckles softly, but there’s a hint of something distant in her laugh

  “Yes, just one strong wind…” She says gently, her voice carrying a depth that’s hard to describe

  “And then, when the flowers have withered, no one remembers them anymore”

  Kaiser looks at her for a long time. Her words, the way she speaks them... there’s something about it that makes him feel this isn’t just a simple story about flowers

  But he doesn’t ask

  Mary doesn’t speak directly, and he understands that she probably doesn’t want anyone to ask directly

  The night wind sweeps through, carrying the scent of wild grass through the air. And in the midst of this stillness, Kaiser suddenly realizes something - Mary no longer keeps her distance like before

  Mary still sits quietly beside him, her eyes watching the distant sky. Her fingers gently trace the edge of her dress, a habit when she’s lost in thought. Perhaps she doesn’t even realize it, but Kaiser has always noticed those small actions of hers

  He recalls the times they’ve crossed paths in the academy’s hallways - moments when Mary would silently look at him before walking away, sometimes leaving behind a casual remark he never thought to analyze deeply. Sometimes, they’d meet by chance in the library, where she always chose a quiet corner, yet her eyes would quietly follow him whenever he walked in. He remembers the brief conversations they had, where Mary rarely expressed her feelings openly, but there was always something unsaid in her words

  And now, in this quiet night, under the starry sky, those fragments are slowly coming together in his mind

  The way she looks at him - no longer with the hesitation or distance from before. The way she listens to him speak - more attentively than usual. The way she chooses her words - gentle, yet carrying something deeper than what she actually says

  Mary likes him.

  That realization strikes Kaiser’s mind strongly, making it impossible for him to ignore any longer

  But at the same time, another feeling rises within him - a nameless heaviness.

  Because he... is still drawn to Amelia

  Someone who has been acting strangely recently, occupying his thoughts relentlessly

  The space falls into silence, but this time, it is no longer a comfortable silence. It’s a heavy silence, filled with unspoken thoughts

  Finally, Kaiser decides to speak

  “Mary, I think I understand your feelings about me”

  Mary doesn’t seem surprised. She simply waits for what comes next

  He takes a deep breath, then speaks honestly

  “But I... have someone I’m always drawn to”

  A light breeze sweeps by

  Mary doesn’t turn away, nor does she show any sign of pain or anger. She just gives a faint smile - a smile so soft, but tinged with a quiet sadness

  “You don’t need to say that, Kaiser. I understand”

  He opens his mouth, about to say something, but then he doesn't know what to say

  Mary stands up, brushing off her dress lightly

  “We should head back, it’s starting to get cold”

  Kaiser nods and stands up to follow

  As they prepare to leave, Mary suddenly stops, looking up at the star - filled sky one more time

  “Kaiser”

  “What is it?”

  She pauses for a moment, then gently says

  “Thank you for being with me tonight”

  Kaiser looks at her but doesn’t respond

  Mary turns and walks ahead, her steps slow but steady

  He stands there, watching her silhouette fade into the night

  Under the brilliant starry sky, Kaiser quietly stands there, lost in his own thoughts