Hiyori woke with a start, the morning light streaming through her window. Her heart raced as she sat up, her breath uneven. The vivid dream from the night before lingered at the edges of her mind, slipping away like smoke through her fingers.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to grasp the emotions that felt so real—love, regret, longing—but the details eluded her. All she remembered was a faint warmth, a sense of having been deeply connected to someone, though she couldn't place who.
Across the city, Ansh stirred awake in his small apartment. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts clouded by a similar sensation. He rubbed his temples, as though trying to piece together fragments of a puzzle he couldn't see.
As the days passed, life resumed for both of them. Hiyori continued her studies, her focus sharpening as she immersed herself in her college life. Ansh balanced his work and newfound responsibilities, the faint memory of a promise guiding him forward.
Neither could explain why, but they both felt a quiet pull toward each other, as if an invisible thread still tied their lives together.
One evening, Hiyori and Ansh crossed paths again by chance. They were both at a café near their college, a shared favorite spot they didn't realize they both loved.
Their conversation was casual at first, full of laughter and the ease of two people who felt comfortable in each other's presence.
"You know," Ansh said, leaning back in his chair, "there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"What's that?" Hiyori replied, sipping her tea.
"Do you remember Shoko?" he asked.
Hiyori's smile faltered. "Of course. She was my friend."
Ansh nodded, his expression bittersweet. "apparently a senior named Shrey liked her, But… you know"
Hiyori's heart sank. "But what?"
Ansh sighed. "Shoko died in a train accident after giving her final year paper. Shrey took it hard. He disappeared not long after, and none of us have been able to contact him since."
The air between them grew heavy, both lost in thought.
"I didn't know," Hiyori said softly.
Hiyori nodded, sadness settling over her. "Do you know where Shrey is now?"
Ansh shook his head. "No one does. But I found his old Instagram account recently." He pulled out his phone and opened the app, scrolling to a profile he had bookmarked.
He handed the phone to Hiyori. The profile picture was simple—a blurry sunset over a quiet hill. The username read: what_am_I.
Hiyori stared at the screen, a chill running down her spine. "What does that mean?"
Ansh shrugged, his tone thoughtful. "Maybe it's his way of trying to figure himself out. Or maybe… it's his way of asking for help."
Hiyori handed the phone back, her gaze distant. "I hope he finds peace," she said quietly.
As they left the café, the city lights twinkling around them, neither noticed the faint shimmer of Yuto watching from afar, a satisfied smile on his face.
Back at their respective homes, Hiyori and Ansh each found a small notebook tucked away in their belongings. The covers were plain, the pages filled with blank spaces, but the first word written inside was the same: Remember.
As they traced the letters with their fingers, a strange warmth filled their hearts, and though they couldn't explain why, they smiled.