ENGLISH VERSION - Second Star to the Right (Mikey Bonten)

Chapter 1: End of Innocence

POV AYANA

Tokyo, November 2, 2005

Tomorrow, we were supposed to go for a ride his bike.

Saturday, we were supposed to go to the movies.

Sunday, we were supposed to have a family meal.

But tomorrow will never come. Neither will Saturday. Nor Sunday. Never.

When you're 15, you don't think tomorrow might never come. You don't think that life can vanish in an instant, as easily as a star disappears from the sky at dawn. And yet. The only certainty in this world is death.

Standing at the edge of the void, I watch as the first rays of sunlight timidly brush the sky still scattered with stars. The wind, freezing, slips through my clothes, biting my skin, but I barely feel it. Beside me, a crumpled newspaper I've read over and over again, as if staring at the words long enough would somehow change them.

"Tragedy in Tokyo: 15-year-old boy loses his life in a gang fight. A suspect of the same age has been arrested and faces up to 10 years in prison."

The metallic creak of the door pulls me from my thoughts. I don't turn around. I know it's him. He's the only one who comes here, to the rooftop of this old building. Our hideout, our Neverland.

He walks up beside me without a word. I know he's watching me. His eyes must see the tears staining my cheeks.

"How did this happen?" My voice is weak, barely audible. He doesn't respond.

"You promised to protect all of us." My voice cracks. "How could you let this happen, Mikey?"

I turn to face him. His red, exhausted eyes meet mine. Without a word, he pulls me into his arms, holding me tight, as if I were the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

"Answer me! How could you let Baji die?" My voice shakes, my body trembling with sobs. I try to push him away, but he only holds me tighter, burying his face in my neck.

"I... I don't know." His answer is a broken whisper, a confession torn apart by pain.

"I hate gangs. I hate them." My tears flow harder. How could he not know? He was there. He could have stopped it. He's strong. He's invincible.

Minutes pass. We stay like this, suspended in a world that is no longer ours. Maybe five minutes. Maybe an hour. I don't know anymore.

"I'm leaving," I finally say. He nods, without truly understanding.

"I'll walk you home," he murmurs, his voice almost gone.

"No, Mikey." I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the words I'm about to say. "I meant... I'm leaving. I'm leaving Japan. I'm going to live with my dad in Europe. I can't stay here... not after this."

"No." He holds me tighter, shaking his head frantically. "I'll get lost without you."

His hands tremble, and his voice is pleading. He clings to me, to that promise.

"I'm sorry..." My voice breaks.

"You promised, Ayana." His words are a plea.

"You promised too, Mikey," I reply, my throat tight.

He pulls back slightly, searching my eyes. "And our world...?"

I shake my head, tears blurring my vision. "Neverland doesn't exist. It never did."

Our escape was just an illusion.

I gently push him away, and this time, he lets me go. In his eyes, I see the pain, as if I had just taken away the only thing he still believed in. Silently, I place a thimble in his hand. A symbol that meant everything to us. Then, without a word, I turn toward the door.

"Goodbye, Mikey."

The words slip from my lips, carried away by the wind, along with our innocence.

I lift my eyes to the brightening sky. Second star to the right and straight on till morning... Our promise. But the morning has come, cruel and relentless, and the stars are fading one by one. Peter can't fly anymore, and Wendy has no more stories to tell.

And for the first time, I feel like we no longer know how to find our way back to each other.