Chapter 14 The light upon that hill

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It hadn't been that long since Giyu left for his shift—only a few minutes, really—but already you could feel the creeping loneliness settling in. The quiet of the room felt heavier in his absence. You sighed softly, missing the comforting presence of his steady company beside you.

Lucine, as if sensing your shift in mood, padded over to where you sat and nudged at your leg, offering a soft, reassuring purr. You scooped him up happily, pressing a kiss to his soft head, and smiled down at him. Lucine... The name felt so right, so natural, like it had always belonged to him. There was something about it—something gentle yet strong. It reminded you of the quiet, yet unmistakable warmth of dawn, a soft light breaking through the dark.

"Hey, buddy..." you murmured.

In response, Lucine licked your cheek, showering you with little puppy kisses. You chuckled at the affection, feeling a small bit of warmth in your chest, but then the vibration of your phone broke the moment. You pulled it out, glancing at the screen to see a message from Giyu.

"Don't forget to take your vitamins."

A smile tugged at your lips, and you quickly replied with a thumbs-up emoji before setting the phone on the nightstand. Lucine, content to snuggle close, settled quietly on your chest as you lay back against the pillows. You watched his little tail wag back and forth, amused at how his tiny movements were so full of joy. You let out a contented sigh, your voice barely a whisper.

"Have a good rest, Lucine."

As you picked up your phone again, your fingers instinctively opened your messages with Giyu. Without hesitation, you typed back a teasing message: "Don't overwork, dummy." It was a playful defiance, intentionally disregarding what he said earlier.

Not even a minute later, you saw the message read. You closed your eyes with a soft sigh, half-expecting him to reply immediately—and sure enough, he did.

"Don't overestimate yourself. If you're feeling something, call a nurse. Or call me."

You smiled at his protective tone, feeling a warmth spread through you. You placed the phone back down and gently lifted Lucine off your chest, setting him on the table beside you as you sat up. The bed felt empty without Giyu, but his words still lingered in your mind. You reached for your notebook, flipping to the last page you'd written on.

You read over the words that had been flowing so easily before, still fueled by the desire to finish the story you started. The story you wanted him to read. The story you wanted them to tell.

The one you wished upon yourself.

The words hung in your mind like a quiet mantra as you sat there. It was the kind of story that could make someone smile, make them laugh, make them dream. And somewhere, in the back of your mind, you could see Giyu there—reading these words, understanding them, and perhaps even recognizing a little bit of the quiet desire you had to see that story unfold in your own life.

— They stand along the railing of the balcony, the quiet hum of the night around them, as they gaze upon the endless sea of stars above.

"The moon is quite lovely tonight, Houtarou," she says softly, her voice barely a whisper against the vast stillness of the night. Her eyes catch the reflection of the foreseeing stars, shimmering with a bittersweet joy, as if she can see the future in their distant glow.

The moonlight bathes them both in its cold embrace, casting a silvery glow that makes her seem almost ethereal—like she is the very source of light in the darkness. Her figure stands strong, yet gentle, as if the universe itself had paused to take notice of her presence.

He turns toward her, his gaze steady and calm, his voice low but filled with a quiet reverence. "Indeed it is... Hikari."

The name, like a promise, lingers in the air between them, a delicate thread that connects their souls under the silent witness of the stars. —

You could practically feel the scene unfolding in your head, the words flowing effortlessly onto the page as you continued writing. Hours seemed to slip by unnoticed, lost in the rhythm of your thoughts. The only thing pushing you forward, the only spark of motivation, was the quiet longing that the story would unfold into the one you secretly wished to live—the one where the stars aligned just right, where you and him would stand side by side, together in the light of something beautiful.

You remembered what he'd said to you just the other day:
"I'll wait for it to be ready."

His words were a quiet motivation in the back of your mind as you lost yourself in the pages of your story. But then, a sharp cough suddenly interrupted your train of thought. Your eyes widened as you covered your mouth, the unexpected fit shaking your body.

When the coughing finally subsided, you looked down at your hand, a faint trace of red staining your palm. Your stomach turned at the sight, but you forced a smile, quickly wiping it away before you continued writing with that same hand. You couldn't stop now.

Lucine must have heard you earlier because, not long after, he padded up beside you again, nudging your other arm as if to check on you.

"Sorry, bud... did I wake you?" You murmured, offering him an apologetic smile. "I'll be alright, don't worry."

Lucine didn't seem too bothered. He gave you a gentle nudge before jumping off the table and walking around the room, clearly deciding to explore. You focused back on the notebook, determined not to lose your momentum, but then you were surprised to see him return with something in his mouth.

It was a piece of cloth. You blinked, not immediately recognizing it, until you noticed the familiar dark fabric.

With a soft smile, you carefully lifted Lucine into your arms and took the cloth from his mouth. It was his jacket—the one he'd left with you to borrow.

You chuckled lightly, the warmth of the gesture making your heart ache just a little. Even though he was gone for now, he still managed to leave behind a little piece of himself.

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