After the End: Maki's Birthday

01 - My Birthday...Halation

I woke up from an endless darkness. A darkness that for some reason I did not want to let go. I did not know if I was dreaming something...I did not know why I had the feeling like I never wanted to wake up...

I opened my eyes. 5:30 in the morning. April 14. It was strange, I don't usually wake up this early. I feel...empty.

I looked at myself at the mirror. I saw my face, without makeup, looking as if I got really stressed for some reason. Same eyes, same hair, same old Maki Nishikino. I guess....

Looking out the window, the morning was cold. For some reason, I wanted to go outside and see if the world around me has...changed. I wasn't in the mood to play my piano. My mom is still sleeping, so I left her a note beside her bed.

I went outside, wearing red and having a ponytail as my hairstyle, and jogged. Many people walked by and did what they'd usually do. I did not meet anyone who recognized me and said "Oh my God, it's Maki-chan my idol!" or anything like that. As I ran outside, I felt as if everything around me was empty. Like something was missing.

Right. It has been more than two weeks now since u's disbanded after that last concert at Tokyo Dome. It was over at last. Ever since that day, I have never heard anything from my eight friends, though I did see them online and stuff, recently they seem like they did not want to talk much with each other. Honoka...Kotori...Umi...everyone...on what they're doing...what they're feeling. I have not talked nor visited them. The nine of us were just...being silent for the moment.

It was a bit hard to get back to my life not being part of u's. I have to get used to this...this new life.

Then I heard a couple I passed by, saying "Happy Birthday to you!" then one of them gave the other a ring. Hmmm...reminds me of...something. But anyway, that helped me to remember it will be my birthday days from now. It made me think...

Where did I go? To the park. There I will rest, then think again what is my schedule today and what I should be doing. And what to do with my birthday. Sitting on a bench, I wondered how it should happen this time. This time where, besides Rin-chan and Hanayo-chan, I am alone again. This time where I am no longer a school idol. This time where...where...I miss everyone. Thinking that, I felt depressed and just sat there in silence.........and then...

"Fushigi da ne, ima no kimochi...", I heard a very familiar sound...no...my voice.

I sang alone, the sweet melody of that song called "Snow Halation". That song was one I cannot forget. It was made not by me, but by each and everyone of us. That song that many of our fans say was their most favorite among all of our songs. That feeling...that tone...those outfits...that dance...this park......that...that girl...

Strange. Why Nico. Why now? Why did she came into my mind?

I kept singing...my heart told me to...I could not help it...

...Hajimette...de aru toki ni wa!...

Then I heard......."Naze!"...someone else was singing...

"Todokette setsuna sani wa!", I heard the voice of someone behind me singing that song. Before I looked behind to see that person, my hand was grabbed and that person pulled me away...

It was Nico.

She held my arms and swayed me. My body started moving on it's own too. Before I could even say anything, Nico and I were dancing. Without a word, she held my arm and my waist in a manner like dancing in a prom. She made her move first because I was lost in the moment.

"Maki-chan...", she said as she slowly moved her face closer to me...and my heart began to accelerate. I said in confusion: "NICO! What are you..."