Pseudo Shadows
His Birthday

April 16, 2023

Aihara's body immediately froze, the highlight could not be separated from the calendar in front of her. It was Roki's date of birth, just a few hours away from now.

Can't, Aihara can no longer convince herself that she has let go of Roki. For now the remorse is again besieging him, making him tormented with tightness in the chest. Instantly he cried softly, tried to catch his breath properly but failed.

Aihara quickly grabbed her phone and she called a number that no longer had an owner, but she remained persistent to keep calling her.

This is his tradition, wishing him a happy birthday at exactly 00:01, Aihara never forgets that and he will not abandon that tradition. Not not not willing, he just can't.

"Rockey!!"

"....."

"Thank you for calling! Just please"

"Hello?"

Momentary silence. Aihara went back to check the number she was calling, it was Roki's number. The punch behind his chest jolted violently, making it seem as if he had hope even in his little heart he kept saying impossible.

"Ro-Rockey?!!"

"Oh, is my love you, Aihara? Of course Roki doesn't exist. It's me, Karoi."

Indeed, Aihara had gone completely insane expecting the sudden presence of Roki in most of the novels he had read. Until he forgets, he lives in the real world.

Aihara hid her stuffing which remained dimly heard by Karoi, "Ah Karoi, I.. I just wanted to say Happy birthday, can you pretend to be Roki today?" Aihara closed her mouth, tried to quiet her cries and prepared with Karoi's refusal.

"Jeez Aihara, I thought you let it go. But all right, and please stop crying, Roki hates seeing you cry."

The happy mouth started to wail, Aihara smiled, "Thank you, Roki. Ah, am I the first one to congratulate you?"

"You're always the first."

Karoi was really deep into her role, she was really exactly like Roki. Even with a female voice.

"Hm, I'll get ready. Now I want you to sleep, can I? Sleep well."

"of course! Alright, thanks. Hm, Karoi."

Aihara looked at her dead phone, slowly drawing a pity smile onto the phone screen displaying her face. Maybe because it was not long ago to erase the memory of Roki, one month was still fairly fast. Let time erase his memory. And during that time, he would not waste Akihiko. Really am.

"Only now, Akihiko. I want to make this the last time I celebrate Roki's birthday. So, wait a minute, okay? I'll turn away from him soon."

Aihara got up, put her phone on the nightstand before she brought her body to rest on her soft bed. And before long the drowsiness attacked him faster, maybe it was the effect of him crying earlier. But he was grateful, his heart had now improved, his worries were over and he was ready to go to the dream.

"Mor."

Her footsteps stopped, and the girl turned her back. He smiled after seeing the figure he had been looking for.

"You're here?" Said Aihara as she stepped towards the man.

"Stay there." The words automatically stopped Aihara's steps leaving the girl confused, "Your goal, not mine anymore. Come back, someone is waiting for you somewhere else." The man smiled so sweetly. But it makes Aihara look moody.

"I don't want to, why don't you want me to step towards you?" Ask Aihara hastily.

"Because you have to be happy." Again, the man smiled.

"I'm happy with you!!"

"But I'm no longer with you, so be happy with that person. I've never hated you, so don't you ever feel sorry?"

Aihara's tears came back and she immediately ran towards the figure of the man she believed to be Roki, the shadow of the man slowly disappearing when Aihara almost managed to hug her. Until finally only empty air filled his deck.

"RUSTY!!!"

"Calm down, I'll make you happy." Someone hugged his body from behind, and all the tightness in his chest was gone. Like magic.. Wh who? Whoareyou?

Akihiko's?