The days stretched lazily into the final weeks of summer. Hana spent her afternoons at the library, the warm air outside contrasting with the cool, quiet atmosphere within. She often found herself glancing at the door, hoping to see Akari walk through it again. But each time, only the familiar faces of regular visitors appeared. Akari hadn't returned since the afternoon they had spent talking about books and life.
Hana's heart ached at the thought. It wasn't like she was desperately waiting for Akari's return, but the bond they had formed in such a short time felt significant—something rare that she had never quite experienced before. She had always been the quiet observer, content in her solitude, but now... now there was something missing.
The days passed, and the anticipation slowly faded, replaced by the heaviness of knowing the summer was coming to an end. Her sister, Mei, had already returned to her university in another city, and her parents were caught up in their work. Hana was left to her own thoughts, watching as the world outside the library window continued to change with the seasons. The trees began to lose their green luster, and the air took on a crisp edge that hinted at the coming fall.
She often thought of Akari. The way they had talked so freely, their shared love of books, and the way she had listened so intently to Hana's thoughts about the novels she read. But now it seemed like Akari had become nothing more than a fleeting memory, like a character in a book whose story had been abruptly cut short. Hana wished she had asked more questions, wished she had said more in those brief moments they had shared.
As the final days of summer slipped away, Hana found herself revisiting the library with less enthusiasm, sitting in the same corner, but the space around her felt emptier without Akari's presence. She thought she might run into her one day, but the thought was always followed by the stark reality that perhaps she would never see her again.
One afternoon, Hana sat in the library, reading a new novel she had found buried in the shelves. It was a quiet day, with few visitors. The sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting soft patterns on the floor. Hana turned the page, but the words blurred in front of her eyes. She couldn't concentrate.
What happened to Akari?
She closed the book, not feeling like reading anymore. Instead, she picked up the envelope she had been holding onto since the last time they spoke. Inside was the letter Akari had left for her—one that had never been delivered. Hana opened it, her hands trembling slightly as she read Akari's neat handwriting.
"I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly, Hana. I wish we had more time to talk. Maybe in the future, when I come back, we'll meet again."
Hana folded the letter and placed it back inside the envelope, her fingers brushing over the paper one last time. A small part of her wondered if she would ever see Akari again. But the growing realization that Akari might be gone for good started to settle in her chest. She sighed, staring out the window at the empty streets of Tokyo, the city she had always known, now feeling a little emptier.
Her life continued in the same quiet rhythm it always had—going to school, taking care of her family, and reading at the library—but something was missing now. Hana had always believed in the power of books to connect people, but the loss of Akari had proven to her how fragile those connections were.
Still, Hana held on to the memory of their summer together. It was a brief chapter, but it was one she would cherish. As the seasons changed and the world moved forward, she wondered if, one day, their paths might cross again. But for now, the library was her refuge, and the books—her only true companions.