Marine ran into the park, panting. It was pitch black. Fast moving gray clouds covered the sky. There was a chill to the air, like snow was on its way.
The park was deserted. There was not a single person in sight. Marine stopped to catch her breath and looked up. The sky was so dark, and she could see stars in the sky, just a few of them. There was a full moon that cast a light over the park, but Marine couldn't see where she had come from.
"Rushia! Rushia! Where are you?! Where are you?!" Marine shouted into the dark.
"Rushia!" she shouted. "Rushia! I'm here!"
Marine was panting, tears streaming down her face.
"Rushia, please..." she sobbed.
Her heart was aching.
"Marine?" a voice called from a distance from behind her.
"Ah... R-Rushia!?"
Marine turned around to see only darkness. She was crying. She couldn't see. She couldn't tell what was real.
"Rushia, where are you?" she sobbed.
She was shaking with fear.
"Rushia, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being there for you. I'm so sorry..."
She reached out into the darkness.
Suddenly, in the distance, a street lamp flickered on. Marine could see a figure with green hair sitting on a park bench. It looked like...
"Rushia... Is that you?"
Marine started to walk towards the figure.
"Rushia... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for not being there... I'm so sorry..."
She started running towards her. The closer she got, the more the person looked like Rushia. She looked just like she always did, just a little paler.
The light from the street lamps faded, and everything turned dark. She could hear Rushia's voice as if it were just right next to her.
"It's okay, Marine. You're here now. I love you," she said. "I'm so happy."
Marine wanted to cry. She could feel Rushia's lips against her skin. She wanted to hug her.
The light from the street lamps began to flicker, and Marine was alone again in the park.
***
Marine woke up, breathing hard. Her face was sticky with tears. She was in her own bed. She was alone.
She wasn't sure what time it was. The room was dark, and the clock said it was 3 AM.
"Rushia... I..." Marine sobbed into her pillow.
She didn't know what she would do without Rushia. She couldn't live without her.
She felt the pain in her chest. It hurt more than anything in the world. The pain of loss, of not being able to see her again. The pain of knowing that Rushia was gone forever.
The pain of Rushia's last words.
Marine kept crying into her pillow until her eyes hurt, and her face was soaked in tears. She could hardly breathe. It hurt too much. It hurt her so much.
"R-Rushia..."
"I love you."
***
Marine came into the office the next day, her heart heavy. She didn't want to go, but she knew that if she didn't show up, she would just have to worry about them all thinking she graduated too.
She dragged her feet through the doors, looking down at the ground. She looked up and saw a Pekora in front of her.
"What's wrong, Marine?" she asked, tilting her head. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, um... Yes..." Marine answered, rubbing the tears out of her eyes.
"I am concerned for you. You've been acting strange all day," Pekora said, her large eyes staring into Marine's.
"I... I'm just tired," Marine answered, turning around.
"I'm sorry," Pekora said, her little puff tail wiggling back and forth behind her. "If there's anything I can do, please tell me. I want to help you."
Marine smiled. "Thank you, Pekora," she said, holding back a sob.
She walked past Pekora. Pekora looked like she was about to follow her, but she just stayed there, looking at Marine. Marine was sobbing.
Pekora stood there, watching her. She felt a little uncomfortable, but she didn't know how to help.
Marine kept walking. Her vision was blurred from the tears in her eyes.
Her desk was messy. It was filled with boxes and wrappers of the snacks that Rushia always used to buy her. Marine saw the red scarf on her chair. She took it into her hands and started crying again.
Marine couldn't handle it. She just couldn't.
"You look depressed," someone said.
It was Suisei.
"Huh?"
Marine wiped away her tears, but it wasn't going to make it better.
"Marine, are you okay?"
Suisei was so gentle, like she was talking to a child.
"I... I'm fine."
"Is it about Rushia?"
Marine had expected everyone to forget about Rushia now that she graduated.
"Have you heard anything?"
"No. Have you?"
"She disappeared. It's all over the internet," Suisei explained, placing a hand on Marine's back. "It's weird."
Marine nodded. "It is."
Marine was looking at the floor when suddenly, Suisei picked her face up by her chin, lifting her head up to look her in the eyes.
"Marine. You can tell me what's wrong. You don't have to be strong for everyone else," she said, and then she hugged Marine. "I'm here for you."
"Uh... I'm..." Marine started to cry again. She was too emotional.
Suisei hugged her tight. "I know you're crying. It's okay. I'm here for you. Don't try to hold it in anymore."
Marine cried into her arms. She couldn't stop herself. She needed to cry. It hurt so much.
