The Future Conversation (110)

The evening sky stretched infinitely above them, painted in hues of deep blue and streaked with the soft glow of distant stars. The two of them sat on the rooftop of Aiko's house, a place they had often escaped to whenever they wanted to talk about things that felt too big for the world below.

Tonight was one of those nights.

Aiko leaned back on her hands, her gaze fixed on the stars twinkling above them. "It's peaceful up here," she murmured. "Like the whole world has quieted down just for us."

Haruto, sitting beside her, nodded. "Yeah… It makes you feel small, doesn't it? But in a good way."

She turned to him, noticing the thoughtful look in his eyes. "You've been thinking about something, haven't you?"

Haruto hesitated for a moment before exhaling slowly. "Yeah." He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "Aiko… have you thought about what you want to do after high school?"

Aiko blinked at the sudden change in topic. "Well, I want to keep pursuing art. Maybe go to an art university and become an illustrator or a painter. I haven't decided exactly, but… I know that's what makes me happy."

Haruto smiled. "That sounds perfect for you."

She tilted her head. "And you? You've always been good at so many things, but I don't think I've ever heard you say what you really want."

Haruto was silent for a moment before looking up at the sky again. "I want to study astronomy."

Aiko's eyes widened. "Astronomy?"

He nodded. "Ever since I was little, I've always loved looking at the stars. I used to imagine what it would be like to travel through space, to see the universe up close. And the more I learned, the more fascinated I became. I want to understand it all—the stars, the galaxies, the things we can't even see yet."

Aiko watched him closely, seeing the passion flicker in his eyes. She had seen Haruto excel at sports, academics, and just about everything he touched, but this was different. This was something he truly wanted.

"That's amazing," she said softly.

Haruto let out a small chuckle. "The only problem is… the best place to study astronomy is in Tokyo."

Aiko's heart skipped a beat. "Tokyo?"

He turned to face her fully, his expression a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "Yeah. There's a university there with one of the best astronomy programs in the country. I've been looking into it for a while now, and I think I really want to go."

Aiko felt a strange heaviness settle in her chest. She had always known that their futures wouldn't necessarily align perfectly, that they might take different paths. But hearing it aloud made it real.

She forced a smile. "That's a big step, Haruto. Have you told your parents?"

"Not yet," he admitted. "I wanted to talk to you first."

Aiko's breath caught in her throat. "Me?"

Haruto nodded. "Yeah. Because… if I go to Tokyo, we'll be apart."

The words hung between them, unspoken fears filling the silence.

Aiko looked down at her hands, gripping the fabric of her skirt. "It's not like we'd never see each other," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "There's always visits, phone calls…"

Haruto sighed. "Yeah, but it won't be the same."

Aiko bit her lip. She knew he was right. They had spent so much of their lives together—going to school, sharing lunches, walking home side by side. The thought of not seeing him every day felt… wrong.

She forced herself to look up at him. "Haruto… are you scared?"

He looked surprised by the question. "Scared?"

"That things might change between us," she clarified.

Haruto's expression softened. "A little," he admitted. "I don't want to lose what we have, Aiko."

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Me neither."

He reached for her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers. "But I also don't want to hold either of us back. You have your dreams, and I have mine. I think… as long as we don't forget each other, as long as we keep believing in what we have, we can make it work."

Aiko squeezed his hand. "You really believe that?"

Haruto smiled. "Yeah. I do."

Aiko looked at their intertwined fingers and then up at the sky. The stars had always seemed so distant, but tonight, they felt a little closer. Maybe because she wasn't looking at them alone.

She took a deep breath and nodded. "Then… I'll support you. No matter what."

Haruto's grip on her hand tightened. "And I'll support you, Aiko. Always."

They sat there in silence, hands clasped together, as the stars continued to shine above them—guiding them toward a future unknown but full of possibility.