Pre-Reading Note: If there are inconsistencies… well, blame Aha! Time is messy here—just roll with it.
Pink and blue waves lapped at the shore, fading into a familiar white light.
Anming stood frozen. This isn't how the simulation usually goes. He'd seen that light before—twice, in fact—but he'd always assumed it was just a loading screen stuck at 99%.
At the edge of the beach, a silhouette that had once been indistinct now grew clearer.
She stood at the end of time, in the gaps of memory.
"Who are you?"
Anming shouted, sprinting toward her. But the faster he ran, the quicker the sand receded beneath him, as if the world itself rejected his advance.
"I—"
"Love—"
The voice cut off abruptly, swallowed by silence.
This time, Anming heard the second word. The moment it vanished, the world inverted—sky became sea, ground dissolved into blank whiteness. A flood of pink and blue drained away, leaving only sterile emptiness.
In the final instant, the girl turned. Snow-white hair arced through the air like a brushstroke of moonlight.
Anming fell upward.
The white-haired girl stood above him, just as she had countless times before—
—and reached out her hand.
This time, I'll find you first.
Blinding light consumed everything.
Rebirth
Piano notes floated around him as Anming opened his eyes to a pair of tranquil, lake-blue irises gazing down.
[Age 1]
You were born in the Skyfolk settlement of Kachi-Pei. A golden-haired woman, weak but radiant, cradled you with trembling hands.
"Look… our child."
Her fingers traced his cheek, brimming with adoration.
"What should we name him? It's Wednesday—how about 'Wednesday'?" The man hovering beside her vibrated with barely restrained excitement, arms outstretched but afraid to hold you.
The woman—An—laughed softly. "Darling, you're hopeless."
"Sorry, I'm just—" He took a shaky breath before lifting you into sunlight. A faint halo of energy flickered above your head.
"An angel," An whispered.
"Our angel," the man agreed.
[Age 2]
Your mother, An, was a Skyfolk singer. Your father, Chen, a pianist. Their melodies became the soundtrack of your infancy.
"Do you think he'll love music too?" An cooed, pinching your cheeks as you waved tiny fists like a conductor.
Chen's hands danced across the keys. "If he chooses to."
"Gianna's due soon," An mused, draping herself over Chen's shoulders. "If it's a girl… future in-laws?"
"Let's not force fate." Chen chuckled, then paused as you wailed. "Seems Anming disagrees with your matchmaking."
"Anming…" An tested the name. "A child who embraces tomorrow."
[Age 3]
You memorized every note Chen played. Every song An sang. Once, just once, was enough.
"You… remember all of it?" Chen's voice cracked. Absolute pitch? No—this was perfection. His son might one day stand atop the Harmonious Choir's grandest stage, summoning Xipe's hymns.
"Papa," you asked, tiny hands pressing the piano's edge, "can music fix the world?"
In those notes, you'd glimpsed happiness.
Chen knelt to meet your eyes. "The world may never be happy. But we can gift people moments of joy."
"I'll make everyone happy!"
"I believe you will."
[Age 4]
Chen taught you piano. Within a year, you surpassed professionals. Sheet music was a language you breathed.
"Auntie!" You bowed to Gianna, who welcomed your family with tea. While the adults chatted, you wandered to a dust-covered piano in her study.
Fingers touched keys—
—and the house filled with a melody that drew a small figure to the doorway. A girl with emerald eyes, clinging to the wall, watched as sunlight haloed your golden hair.
An angel, descended to earth.