The Heart of Zero

Riyugi sat on a bench at the schoolyard, staring at the distant sunset. A lingering unease churned within her, refusing to dissipate. She glanced down at the necklace hanging around her neck, feeling a faint warmth as though her grandmother's gentle touch had returned to comfort her.

Unbidden, Shingin's face surfaced in her mind. Reserved and quiet as he always was, he still managed to be there at the most critical moments—whether during school events or mundane routines. His presence had become a subtle yet undeniable part of her world, something she had come to rely on.

Suddenly, her chest tightened. She gently touched the necklace and murmured to herself, "Shingin… where are you?"

Little did she know, Yahageshii and Ryuosho were risking their lives to deliver vital information. This fleeting calm might well be the last serenity before the impending storm.

Riyugi lingered on the bench for a long time. The sun dipped below the horizon, and nightfall crept in. A cool breeze tousled her hair, carrying with it the quiet hush of a campus settling down for the evening. The once-bustling schoolyard emptied, leaving only the flickering lights in the farthest corner. She gazed into the emptiness, unable to shake Shingin's image from her thoughts.

Her vision blurred momentarily, whether from the moisture in the night air or the emotions churning within her. She had always been used to solitude, to facing everything on her own, even believing she needed no one else. But Shingin had changed that. He had shown her what it was like to have someone trustworthy, someone who cared. And now, he was gone—like a breeze that left no trace.

Lowering her head, Riyugi clasped the necklace tightly, as if trying to send her thoughts and worries through the faintly glowing crystal. She whispered, "Shingin… where are you? Are you okay?"

Unbeknownst to her, Shingin's life had spiraled far beyond the realm of peace she envisioned, into a complexity and danger she could scarcely fathom. The unease tugging at her heartstrings was like an invisible thread, pulling her thoughts back to him, compelling her to worry.

Since that day, Shingin's seat had remained empty. Each time Riyugi walked into the classroom, her eyes instinctively darted toward that vacant chair. The clamor of the classroom faded into silence as she stared, unable to look away. A silent prayer echoed in her heart, hoping Shingin would appear in the doorway like always, quietly take his seat, and greet her with that subtle, reassuring smile. But reality felt like a script torn to shreds—Shingin had vanished, his shadow swept away by the wind.

Then came the announcement. The homeroom teacher stood at the front of the class, somber and subdued. "Shingin has decided to withdraw due to personal reasons."

Riyugi froze. Her body felt as though it had turned to stone, and her blood ran cold. Withdraw? Shingin… withdraw? The words hit her like a hammer, shattering her composure and leaving her thoughts scattered. The classroom noise faded into a haze as those two syllables—"withdraw"—echoed relentlessly in her mind.

Questions surged like a flood: Why? Why hadn't he told her? Why was there no sign, no farewell—just a sudden disappearance? Riyugi refused to accept it. She needed answers. She needed to see Shingin, to ask him why.

After school, Riyugi stood quietly by the school gate, her eyes darting nervously. She had made up her mind. Glancing at the waiting chauffeur in the distance, her heart began to race. She couldn't let him notice her plan. Taking a deep breath, she slowly moved toward a flowerbed on the opposite side, pretending to adjust her bag. Squatting down, she waited for the chauffeur to look away before slipping into the shadows behind the flowerbed.

Hidden, she held her breath, her pulse pounding loudly in her ears. The wind seemed louder, the stillness more intense. After ensuring she hadn't been seen, she darted into a narrow alley, heading toward Shingin's home.

The streets grew quieter as night fell. Streetlamps flickered to life, casting long shadows. The cobbled roads, still slick from an earlier rain, made her footsteps echo softly in the stillness. The cool autumn breeze caressed her flushed cheeks as she ran, her breath quickening. Her thoughts and emotions tangled as her pace quickened, a desperate urgency propelling her forward.

By the time she reached Shingin's house, her legs felt like lead. She stood before the gate, panting heavily, leaning against the cold iron bars. Ignoring her exhaustion, she pressed the doorbell repeatedly, the shrill sound piercing the quiet night. Her heart thudded in sync with the ringing, her hands trembling with anxiety and anticipation.

At last, the gate creaked open. Riyugi's breath caught in her throat as sweat beaded on her brow, the chilly night air mixing with the warmth of exertion. In the dim light spilling through the doorway, a familiar silhouette stood—blurred but unmistakable. Her voice trembled with emotion, her eyes brimming with unshed tears: "Shingin… are you there?"

At that moment, every emotion she had suppressed rushed to her throat. Hope and fear intertwined as she waited, desperate to understand why the boy who had shared so many moments with her had vanished so completely.