Fallen

The Rooftop

As the time drew near, I bid my farewell and made my way to the rooftop, my heart racing with anticipation. To my surprise, a familiar face awaited me there. It was Ayame, sitting with a gentle smile that instantly put me at ease. Her comforting eyes met mine as she approached, but confusion clouded my thoughts, causing my head to throb. The world seemed to spin as I found myself teetering on the edge of the roof. In that moment of disorientation, Ayame reached out and pulled me into an embrace.

"Hitori, I can't wait any longer," she confessed, her smile fading into tears. It was clear that she had known all along who I truly was, but the longing had become too much for her to bear. As I watched her cry, my mind filled with conflicting emotions. I had loved Kako, but she had rejected me. What was the point of it all? As Ayame held onto me tightly, I glanced down at the unforgiving ground below. Yet, her tears brought me back to reality.

Pushing Ayame away gently, I mustered the strength to wave goodbye before turning to leave. However, she desperately grasped my wrist, pleading with me to stay. "Let me go!" I pleaded, my voice filled with a mix of frustration and resignation. She looked at me, tears streaming down her face, and cried out, "Why?!"

Shaking my arm, I attempted to loosen her grip. "I'm done with love. I'm done with this fleeting happiness that will only be forgotten," I declared, my voice trembling. Ayame's sobbing intensified as she pleaded for me to stay, but I couldn't bear the pain any longer. With a heavy heart, I whispered, "Hitori died a long time ago, remember?" And with those words, she released her hold, leaving in tears.

As I gazed out at the snowfall, a sense of hopelessness washed over me. "Fate is cruel," I whispered to myself, burdened by the weight of my past mistakes. "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore." Overwhelmed by my emotions, I collapsed to the ground, tears mixing with the falling snow.

Later, in my dorm room, I drifted off into a restless sleep. Dex entered the room and noticed my distressed state. Concern etched on his face, he asked, "Are you alright, man?" I mustered a weak smile and replied, "Yeah."

Sitting beside me, Dex persisted, "Tell me what's wrong, man." I looked at him, grateful for his presence, and admitted, "It's this girl. She fell in love with me, or rather, the person I used to be known as Hitori. But that person died a long time ago. When she got too close, she was hurt by the truth." In frustration, Dex swung his fist at me, his anger palpable. "You idiot! You're still the same person, memories or not. Your personality doesn't change just because you've forgotten who you are. Those feelings are still within you, trying to reach your stubborn head. Don't keep that pain bottled up. Tell me, what do you want?"

Staring at Dex, his words resonated within me. "I... I want Ayame," I confessed. Determination surged through me as I stood up, ready to chase after her. Dex nodded approvingly, urging me to go after her and express my true feelings.

Without hesitation, I sprinted towards Ayame's dorm, urgency fueling my every step. A girl intercepted me, informing me that Ayame was leaving and would be boarding a plane back to Japan the following day. Inquiring about her current whereabouts, she pointed me in the right direction, towards a nearby hotel. Grateful for her assistance, I thanked her and hurriedly made my way through the snow-covered streets, adorned with sparkling Christmas lights.

Finally arriving at the hotel, my breath quickened as I realized the gravity of the situation. The snow fell heavily around me as I stood there, in nothing but shorts and a short-sleeve shirt. What awaited me inside the hotel was both terrifying and unexpected.