A Step Toward Tomorrow

The festival was winding down, but the moment I stepped back into the crowd, it felt suffocating.

The laughter, the music, the flashing lights—all of it clashed against the storm still raging inside me.

I pulled the hood of my jacket up, blending into the shifting bodies. My mind felt raw, as if Komaru's words had scraped away something I had spent years building over.

I didn't know what to do with that feeling.

Then, ahead of me, I caught sight of them.

Kane. Sayoko. The others.

They stood near a food stall, talking, their faces relaxed in the warm glow of the lanterns. It was a scene that should've felt normal, should've made me feel like I belonged.

But instead, I hesitated.

I could still hear Komaru's voice in my head, soft but unyielding.

"You never tried to remember me."

I had thought that my suffering was proof of my atonement. That as long as I carried it, I could never forget what I had done.

But Komaru had reminded me—memories weren't just about pain. They were about the people I had left behind, too.

I had told myself I didn't deserve to have anything more than my guilt.

But standing here, watching Kane and the others, I felt something else creeping in.

A quiet, painful longing.

I clenched my jaw and forced my feet forward.

Sayoko was the first to notice me. Her eyes widened slightly, then softened. "Yuki—"

Kane turned next, her expression unreadable.

I met her gaze, something unspoken passing between us.

And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep walking alone.

The weight of the night pressed against my shoulders as I stepped closer.

Kane's gaze didn't waver. She wasn't the type to let emotions flicker openly across her face, but there was something there—something heavy, something waiting.

Sayoko shifted slightly, glancing between us, as if sensing the quiet tension.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then Kane exhaled. "Took you long enough."

The words were simple, almost casual. But there was something beneath them, something just out of reach.

I hesitated. My instinct was to brush it off, to slip back into the routine of distance, but the echo of Komaru's voice hadn't faded yet.

"You never tried to remember me."

I swallowed, forcing myself to stay present. "Yeah," I muttered. "Guess I did."

Sayoko frowned slightly, studying my face. "Are you okay?"

It was a simple question, but it felt too large, too complicated to answer.

I could lie. I could tell her I was fine, that nothing had changed.

But that would be a mistake, wouldn't it?

The truth clawed at my throat, unfamiliar and raw.

"…I don't know," I admitted.

Sayoko's eyes softened. Kane just kept watching me, silent.

And then—

A hand.

Small, steady fingers wrapped around my wrist.

I froze.

Kane didn't pull me closer, didn't say anything. She just held on. A quiet anchor in the middle of everything I didn't understand.

My breath caught.

I could pull away. I could walk into the night alone like I always did.

Or—

I could stay.

For the first time in years, I could stay.

The festival sounds blurred around me. The cold night air pressed against my skin.

And I made my choice.

I let out a slow breath.

And I stayed.

Kane's grip on my wrist was firm but not forceful. She wasn't holding me back—she was just there, steady in a way I hadn't realized I needed.

Sayoko smiled faintly, relief flickering across her face. "C'mon," she said, nudging me lightly. "We were just about to get some taiyaki. You should eat something."

Eat? The thought felt foreign. My stomach had been a hollow pit all night, but now that she mentioned it, I realized just how drained I was.

I nodded, my voice barely above a murmur. "Yeah… okay."

The three of us walked toward the stall, the scent of freshly grilled taiyaki filling the cool air. The others noticed me then—brief glances, a few murmured greetings—but no one pushed. No one asked where I'd been.

And for once, I was grateful.

Kane let go of my wrist as we reached the counter, but the absence of her touch lingered.

Sayoko stepped forward, placing an order, and I found myself staring at the glow of the lanterns overhead, the way their light blurred in the lingering mist.

For so long, I had clung to the idea that suffering was all I had left. That guilt was the only thing I deserved to carry.

But Komaru had shattered that.

And now… I didn't know what to do with the pieces.

The vendor handed me a taiyaki, the warmth seeping into my fingers. I held it for a moment before taking a bite.

It was sweet. Warm. Comforting in a way I hadn't expected.

Sayoko watched me from the corner of her eye, her lips curving into a small smile. "Good, right?"

I swallowed, nodding. "Yeah."

Kane leaned against the counter beside me, her expression unreadable. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

A bitter chuckle escaped me. "Maybe I have."

She tilted her head slightly, waiting.

And for the first time, I thought… maybe I didn't have to keep everything to myself.

Maybe, just maybe—

I could learn to remember without letting it destroy me.

A voice cut through the quiet hum of the festival.

"There you are."

I turned just as Haru appeared, slipping back into the group like he had never been gone. His jacket was dusted with stray raindrops, and in one hand, he clutched a small paper bag.

"Where the hell did you go?" Sayoko asked, raising an eyebrow.

Haru sighed, shoving the bag into his pocket. "Had to grab something. Long line." He flicked his gaze toward me, his usual smirk faltering just slightly. "Did I miss something?"

I hesitated, my fingers curling at my sides.

Kane and Sayoko exchanged a glance, but neither spoke. The weight of Komaru's words still lingered in my mind, making it hard to focus.

Haru clicked his tongue. "Figures. I step away for five minutes, and Yuki looks like he's seen a ghost."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "It's nothing."

Haru didn't look convinced. "Yeah? You look like you just walked out of a bad dream."

I stiffened.

He wasn't wrong.

But I wasn't ready to talk about it.

So I forced a smirk. "You sure took your time. What'd you even buy?"

Haru narrowed his eyes at me, but after a beat, he shrugged, pulling the bag out of his pocket. "Lucky charm from the shrine. Supposed to bring good fortune or whatever."

Sayoko scoffed. "Since when do you care about stuff like that?"

He grinned. "I don't. But figured someone might need it more than me."

His eyes flickered toward me—just for a second.

And for a moment, I couldn't bring myself to look away.

The scent of burning incense and fried food mixed in the cool night air, but my mind was still stuck in the past, in the shrine, in Komaru's voice echoing in my head.

Haru waved the small paper bag slightly. "Well? You want it or not?"

I blinked, realizing too late that I had been staring at him. My lips parted, but I hesitated.

Did I?

I had spent years believing I didn't deserve good fortune. That I had forfeited any right to it the moment I stained my hands with blood.

And yet, here Haru was, holding out something I never thought I'd be offered.

Something small. Something simple.

But maybe that was the point.

I swallowed, reaching out. My fingers brushed against the paper bag as I took it from his hand.

Haru smirked. "Careful, Yuki. If you start believing in luck, next thing you know, you'll be buying charms yourself."

I scoffed, stuffing the bag into my pocket. "Not a chance."

But my fingers tightened around it anyway.

Kane had been quiet this whole time, watching the exchange with an unreadable expression. Sayoko sighed, stretching her arms. "Well, since everyone's back now, should we finally get something to eat?"

Haru groaned dramatically. "I was waiting for someone to say that. I swear, I almost died of starvation on my way back."

I rolled my eyes, but the conversation pulled me away from the weight in my chest, even if just for a moment.

Sayoko turned to Kane. "You in?"

Kane's gaze lingered on me for a beat longer before she gave a small nod. "Yeah."

The group started walking toward a nearby food stall, and without thinking, I followed.

The festival lights flickered around us, casting shifting shadows across the cobbled street. The voices of passing strangers blurred into the background, but for the first time tonight, I wasn't drowning in the noise.

Haru nudged me with his elbow. "So? You gonna tell me what's up with you, or do I have to keep guessing?"

I shot him a look. "Guess all you want. Not my problem."

He huffed. "Cold as ever. But hey, I'll figure it out eventually."

I didn't doubt that.

Sayoko clapped her hands together. "Alright!

First round's on me!"

Haru's eyes lit up. "Now that's what I like to hear."

We reached the food stall, the scent of grilled meat and spices wrapping around us. Lanterns swung gently overhead, their soft glow painting everything in warm hues.

Sayoko ordered first, chatting easily with the vendor. Kane stood beside her, quiet but present. I lingered a little behind, still caught between the moment and the thoughts clawing at the edges of my mind.

Haru leaned against the counter, turning toward me. "You always this broody at festivals, or is today special?"

I scoffed. "Not in the mood for your jokes, Haru."

"That's what makes it so fun." He smirked before pushing a plate into my hands. "Eat. You look like you need it."

I stared at the food for a second, then sighed, taking a bite.

The warmth spread through me, familiar and grounding.

Maybe I did need it.

Kane spoke up suddenly. "Yuki."

I looked up. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes—something quiet, searching.

"Are you staying?" she asked.

I knew she wasn't just talking about the festival.

My fingers curled slightly around the plate.

I had spent years running, drowning in my own ghosts. But now…

I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep walking alone anymore.

The words lingered between us, heavier than they should have been.

I wasn't just answering Kane—I was answering myself.

I swallowed, forcing my voice steady. "…Yeah. I think I am."

Something flickered in her expression, but she didn't push further. Instead, she simply nodded.

Sayoko clapped her hands together. "Good! That means we can finally enjoy the rest of the night properly."

Haru stretched, sighing. "About time. I swear, all this tension was making the food taste worse."

I rolled my eyes but took another bite of my food. The warmth spread through me, familiar and grounding.

For the first time in a while, I felt like I wasn't carrying everything alone.

The festival lights shimmered above us as we walked, conversations flowing easily.

And then—

A voice.

"Yuki?"

I froze.

The others stopped too, their eyes flickering toward the source of the voice.

Slowly, I turned.

And when I saw who it was—

I felt my breath hitch.

Because standing there, under the glow of the lanterns—

Was someone I didn't expected to see.