One spring day,

Rui was heading home carrying a cake he had personally reserved for Tsukasa's birthday.

In his hands was a small cake box along with a carefully chosen gift, and his mind was filled only with the image of Tsukasa's face smiling brightly the moment he opened the door.

But that day never came.

The moment he was crossing the crosswalk, the world flipped upside down along with the screech of brakes, and the cake tumbled to the ground.

The white whipped cream spread miserably over the cold asphalt, and the gift box was torn by the impact, scattering the small ornaments inside across the roadside.

That evening, Tsukasa, who had set the birthday table and was waiting for Rui with an excited heart, received a call from the hospital. The news that Rui had passed away in an accident. Those few words shattered Tsukasa's world into pieces.

. . .

Tsukasa couldn't eat anything for weeks, and for months, he even forgot how to smile. The person who used to smile brighter than anyone else on stage had vanished, and the house remained silent as if time had stopped, with the curtains drawn tight.

A photo taken with Rui sat by the bed, and no one could bring up the story of the gift that was never received on that birthday.

---

Time flowed indifferently.

No matter how much it hurt, the world didn't stop. Tsukasa slowly began to go outside, stood on stage again, talked to people, and forced himself to learn how to smile again.

He wasn't completely okay, but at the very least, he learned how to struggle through life.

---

Then one day.

After a day that was much more grueling than usual, Tsukasa let out a deep sigh as soon as he opened the front door. He had no strength left to change, nor the energy to wash up. He dropped his bag carelessly and threw himself onto the bed.

He only closed his eyes for a moment.

His consciousness slowly sank, and then, as if someone were pulling his hand, he was sucked in somewhere.

...

A warm breeze brushed against his cheek.

The sound of birds chirping tickled his ears, and the fragrant scent of grass drifted past his nose. Opening his eyes, Tsukasa slowly pushed himself up.

An endless green field stretched out before him. The sunlight was shining down softly, and colorful flowers were swaying gently in the wind. It was a peaceful landscape he had never felt in reality.

As he blankly looked around, Tsukasa's gaze stopped at a single bench in the distance. Someone was sitting there quietly with their back turned.

It was familiar. So familiar that he had never forgotten it for a single moment, and it took his breath away. He rubbed his eyes repeatedly as if he couldn't believe it, but the figure did not disappear.

His heart began to race like crazy.

Tsukasa bolted upright and ran across the field frantically. His feet tangled and he almost tripped several times, but he didn't even think of stopping.

In case the person might disappear again if he was late, in case he might lose them this time too.

Tears had already welled up, blurring his vision, but the person in front of him remained clear.

...Rui!!!