It was a quiet night. Outside the window, the camphor tree in Donguri Park swayed in the wind. The rustling of leaves only deepened the silence of the room. Kanata lay in his futon, staring at the ceiling. Asuka had been here just a little while ago. After hanging up the phone with Mayuko, she had cried and cried. Exhausted from weeping, she had finally returned to her own room. (All the contacts in my phone… wiped clean.) The shock from when he'd checked earlier still lingered deep in his chest. The names and numbers of his female friends from university, even their message histories—all erased without a trace. Not just Mayuko. His senpai from the club, his classmates from the seminar, all of them. (She went this far…?) Kanata rolled over with a heavy thud. The futon spread over the tatami creaked faintly under his weight. He had to confront Asuka. This was way over the line. But when he remembered her face, sobbing just moments ago, the harsh words just wouldn't come. (Just because we're childhood friends doesn't mean she gets to do whatever she wants.) That's what he thought. Yet, seeing her tears somehow made him feel like he was the one in the wrong. A strange feeling that defied all logic. Kanata rolled over once more. He picked up his smartphone from beside his pillow. When he turned on the screen, the only contacts left were his male friends. Even if he wanted to send Mayuko an apology, her number was nowhere to be found. (I guess I'll have to apologize in person…) He let out a sigh and put the phone down. That's when it happened. From the hallway, a faint presence stirred. Kanata sat up. His heart pounded in his chest. So she's still awake too. Steeling himself, he got out of the futon. Careful not to make a sound, he stepped quietly into the hallway. The corridor was dim. Only the faint glow of a small nightlight illuminated the floor at his feet. Kanata stopped in front of the door to Asuka's room. (I have to say it.) About the phone. That deleting his contacts without permission wasn't okay. He raised his hand to knock—and in that very moment— *Click.* The door slowly opened. "Asu… ka?" Kanata's voice trembled slightly. Asuka stood in the doorway. She was in white pajamas, her long silver hair disheveled over her shoulders. And— Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. "[whispers]…Kanata." Asuka's voice quivered faintly. "You're still awake…" The words he'd started to say wouldn't go any further. Because a single tear spilled from Asuka's violet odd-eyes. It traced down her pale cheek and glistened faintly at the tip of her chin. "[crying]There's something… I've wanted to tell you for a long time." Asuka clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest. So tightly her fingertips turned white. "[whispers]Ever since we were little… all along… you were the only one I loved, Kanata." Her voice trembled faintly. "Even in elementary school, I was so happy just walking home with you." Another tear fell. "[crying]When we grew a little apart in middle school, I cried alone at night. Wondering why I couldn't talk to you anymore…" Asuka's shoulders shook in tiny tremors. "[crying]In high school, and even after we started university… all along… all along, I've only ever looked at you." Kanata was at a loss for words. (All along… this whole time?) Her words spun around and around in his head. He hadn't known. He hadn't noticed at all. "Asuka, you…" He knew he had to say something. But his voice wouldn't come out. The phone he'd meant to confront her about, the other female friends—it all vanished from his mind. Now, only the trembling figure of his childhood friend before him filled his entire field of vision. Asuka took one step forward. The soft sound of her bare feet echoed faintly on the wooden floor. She clung to Kanata, pressing her forehead against his chest. "[crying]It had to be you, Kanata… no one else…" Her tears soaked slowly into the chest of his pajamas. Her soft warmth was right there. The girl he'd known since childhood, the one he should have been so familiar with. But now, she felt like an entirely different creature. Kanata's arms naturally wrapped around her back. There was no way he could reject her. "…It's been like that all along, huh." Kanata's voice was so gentle it surprised even himself. Asuka looked up. Her violet eyes, wet with tears, gazed at him from up close. "[whispers]Yeah. So…" Her hands reached up to Kanata's neck. Her slender fingers intertwined behind his head. And then— Asuka stretched up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. Soft, warm, and trembling just a little. Kanata's mind went completely blank. (This is—) His first kiss with his childhood friend. He thought about pulling away. But Asuka's lips were trembling so much, he felt like she might break if he let go. Before he knew it, Kanata was holding her slender body tight. "Nn…" A small sound escaped Asuka's lips. When the long kiss ended, she smiled through her tear-streaked face. "[whispers]I've been waiting… for this moment, all this time." Asuka took Kanata's hand and began walking toward the futon in the guest room. Kanata couldn't resist. It was the first time her hand had felt this strong. Slender as it was, it held a fierce determination that said she would never let go. They collapsed together onto the futon. Moonlight slipped through a gap in the curtains, faintly illuminating Asuka's pale skin. "[whispers]Kanata…" She began unbuttoning her pajamas. Her white chest was gradually exposed. Kanata swallowed hard. "Are you really sure about this?" "[gentle]I'm sure. This is what I want." Saying that, Asuka reached for Kanata's T-shirt this time. They undressed each other. One piece after another, and with each piece of clothing that fell, the area of skin touching skin grew larger. Asuka's body gleamed white as ivory under the moonlight. Slender shoulders, a narrow waist, full, soft breasts, and the pale nipples at their tips. Kanata's hand hesitantly touched her breast. "Ah…" A sweet sigh escaped Asuka's lips. So soft. Her skin felt like it was clinging to his palm. When he gently toyed with her nipple with his fingers, Asuka's back gave a small jolt. "[whispers]Does it feel good?" "[gentle]…Yeah, really good. When you touch me, my heart races." Asuka closed her eyes and accepted his caresses. She too reached out to Kanata's chest. Her fingertips traced his abs, then moved lower and lower. "[whispers]Yours… is already so big." Her hand touched Kanata's penis. Already fully erect, it throbbed hotly within her slender fingers. "Ah, yeah…" Kanata held his breath. Asuka gently grasped his penis and began to stroke it slowly, up and down. "[whispers]You got this hard… thinking about me?" "You're saying stuff like…" "[gentle]I'm happy. I'm already soaking wet too." Asuka shifted her pajama bottoms aside and guided Kanata's hand there. The moment his fingers touched, a slick sensation spread. Her pussy was drenched with love juices. When he gently stroked her clitoris with the pad of his finger, Asuka trembled more than ever. "Ahh, right there…!" Her voice rose sweetly. "Right here?" "[crying]Don't make me say it… it's embarrassing…" Even as her face turned bright red, Asuka made no move to push his hand away. If anything, she writhed her hips as if asking for more. Kanata slowly slipped a finger inside her. "Nnn…!" Inside, her vagina was hot and meltingly soft. Each time he slid his finger in and out, a lewd, squelching sound filled the air. "[whispers]Does my finger feel good?" "[crying]Yeah, really… but I want more…" Asuka gazed at Kanata with tear-glistening eyes. "[whispers]I want yours. Not your fingers… put it in properly…" At those words, Kanata's reason crumbled with an audible crack. He positioned himself over Asuka's body and pressed the tip of his penis against her entrance. "You're okay with this?" "[gentle]Yeah. If it's yours, anything." Kanata slowly pushed his hips forward. *Squelch…* The glans spread her vaginal lips apart, sinking inside little by little. "Ah, aaaah…" Asuka's back arched like a bow. Inside, she was tight, clenching down on him hard. And yet, deeper in, she was unbelievably hot. "Is it all the way in…?" "[crying]Yeah, all the way… it feels like you're inside my stomach…" Tears spilled from Asuka's eyes. But these were different from the tears of sadness from before. These were tears of joy, of relief at being fulfilled. Kanata began to move his hips. Slowly at first, as if being mindful of her. "Nn, nnn…!" Asuka wrapped her arms around Kanata's back and clung to him. The piston-like motion gradually grew more intense. "Ahh, haah, it's amazing…!" Her vagina squeezed Kanata's penis tight. Love juices overflowed with wet, squelching sounds, frothing white at their joined bodies. "Asuka…!" "[crying]Kanata, be mine and mine alone… please, don't look at anyone else…!" Asuka begged through her sobs. "[crying]Only look at me, only love me… if you do, I'll do anything for you…!" Kanata answered those words with his entire body. His hips moved even faster. "Ah, ah, ah, I'm coming, I'm going to come…!!" Asuka's body convulsed violently. Her vagina contracted, clamping down on Kanata's penis. "Ngh…" Kanata too had reached his limit. "I'm going to cum inside…!" "[crying]Yeah, do it…! Give me all of your cum…!!" One final thrust. *Splurt… spurttt…!!* Kanata came hard deep inside Asuka's vagina. Hot semen filled her up. "Aaaaaahh…!!" Asuka climaxed again, and the two of them reached the peak together. — Even after the act was over, Asuka wouldn't let go of Kanata. In his arms, her slender body still trembled faintly. Her breathing, finally steady, tickled the nape of his neck. "[whispers]…Now we'll be together forever." Asuka whispered in a voice full of contentment. "Yeah…" Kanata answered, staring at the ceiling. Even as he felt her warmth, a small knot remained deep in his chest. (Forever together… huh.) It sounded like such a happy phrase. But somehow—it also sounded like something he could never escape from. Asuka's sleeping face beside him was peaceful and beautiful. Her cheeks still bore the traces of tears. The corners of her mouth were slightly lifted in contentment. This girl had always, always been looking only at me. The weight of those feelings now pressed down on him heavily. "Kanata…" Asuka murmured his name in her sleep and snuggled closer. Her hand gripped Kanata's arm tightly. As if to say she would never, ever let go. Kanata closed his eyes. They had crossed the line. They could never go back to being just childhood friends. Whether that was the right thing or not, he still didn't know. But—he didn't have the courage to let go of this warmth either. Outside the window, the camphor tree in Donguri Park rustled in the pre-dawn wind. Tonight, the stars were strangely few.