Lost in Choices
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That night felt longer than usual for Kaito. The cold wind sweeping through Tokyo couldn't dispel the turmoil in his heart. Sitting at his desk, he gazed out the window into the dark night sky. The stars twinkled in the distance, yet his heart felt darker than the sky before him. In his mind, only two figures filled his thoughts—Hina and Misaki. Two different worlds, two conflicting emotions, and one decision that only trapped him further in confusion.
Kaito let out a long sigh and lowered his gaze. In his hands, he held an old, worn-out book. A book he used to carry whenever he was with Misaki at the school park, when they talked about dreams and the future. The memories resurfaced so vividly, as if he could relive them—the warmth of the afternoon sun, Misaki's laughter, and how everything had once felt so simple. But now, everything felt so complicated. The world that had once been beautiful now felt like an inescapable maze.
He bit his lower lip, trying to calm himself. "What should I do?" he muttered softly, as if the world would answer him. But all that greeted him was the eerie silence of the night. Hina, his younger sister, was a part of his life he could never abandon. She was someone who always needed his attention and care. But on the other hand, there was Misaki—the girl who had once been so close to him, now returning to his life with emotions he found difficult to resist.
Kaito felt trapped between two completely different worlds. A world filled with responsibilities and obligations to his family, and a world filled with beautiful memories with Misaki. Hina had always been by his side, relying on him, expecting him to always be there. But Misaki—Misaki rekindled a part of him that had long been buried. When they met again, it felt as if time had never moved. His heart raced, childhood memories replaying in every word, in every glance they shared.
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Elsewhere in Tokyo, Misaki remained awake in the darkness of the night. Sitting by her window, she gazed at the city's twinkling lights, which seemed so distant from her. Her heart felt empty, yet full. The emotions swirled within her, incomprehensible and uncontrollable. She had tried to forget Kaito, to shut out the memories of him that had resurfaced after all this time. But every time she closed her eyes, his face appeared so vividly before her. So close, yet so far.
She couldn't forget their childhood memories together. They had talked about the future, about dreams that had never come true. They had shared stories, laughed, and promised to always be together. But reality was different now. Kaito was no longer the boy she once knew. He was now trapped in a world far larger and more complex than she had ever imagined. A world filled with expectations and pressures from his family. A world that demanded him to become someone he might not want to be.
Misaki took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "What should I do?" she wondered. "Can I really forget Kaito? Or will these feelings continue to haunt me?" She looked up at the dark sky, hoping for an answer from the stars above. But there was none. Only the silence of the night remained.
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The next day, Kaito walked to school with heavier steps than usual. His eyes looked tired, and his thoughts wandered far away. With every step he took, his heart felt more trapped in confusion. On one side, there was Hina, his sister who always wanted to be by his side. But on the other, there was Misaki—the girl who reignited their childhood memories. Every passing second seemed to place a greater burden on his shoulders. He knew he had to make a decision, but the choice before him felt like a dead end.
As he entered the school gate, his eyes immediately caught sight of Hina waiting in front of his classroom. She smiled brightly, as always, but something felt different about her smile. Kaito sensed there was something hidden behind it, but he couldn't figure out what. Hina approached him with her usual light steps—playful, cheerful, yet still showing the fragile side only he could see.
"Hina," Kaito called softly, trying to smile despite the heaviness in his heart. "Have you been waiting for me?"
Hina nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Kaito! I always wait for you. Today, we can be together, right?" she asked with her sweet smile that always touched Kaito's heart. But beneath that smile, Kaito sensed something—a longing to always be with him, a desire that sometimes made him feel trapped.
Kaito looked at Hina, trying to give the best smile he could. "Of course, Hina. Let's go together," he said, even though deep inside, he knew the emotions were getting harder to suppress.
---
In class, Kaito tried to focus on the lesson, but his mind kept drifting elsewhere. Misaki. The emotions he could no longer ignore. Every time he saw Hina, he felt a responsibility to always be there for his sister. But every time he saw Misaki, his heart pounded harder, as if something unfinished lingered between them—something he had yet to say.
As the lesson ended, Kaito quickly packed his things, planning to leave and find a quiet place to think. But before he could take another step, he stopped. Standing at the classroom door was someone he knew all too well—Misaki.
She stood there with a small smile, but the uncertainty in her eyes was clear. "Kaito..." Misaki called softly. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Kaito hesitated, feeling a deep anxiety well up inside him. "Of course," he replied quietly, even though he knew this conversation would only stir his emotions further.
They walked out of the classroom, heading toward the school garden—the place where they once shared countless conversations. This time, the atmosphere felt different. An invisible distance separated them, yet Kaito could feel it. They sat on the same bench where they once shared stories, but now, their emotions were no longer the same.
Misaki broke the silence with a soft, almost whispered voice. "Kaito, I... I don't know how to go on from here. I know you're caught up in so many things, and I don't want to make things harder for you. But I also can't keep ignoring these feelings. The feelings I've been holding onto for so long."
Kaito looked at her intently. The same feelings they once shared in their childhood were now resurfacing. "Misaki, I... I feel the same way. But there are so many things standing in our way. I don't know how to face them."
Misaki lowered her gaze, her heart heavy. "I know, Kaito. I just want to know... can we ever be like we used to? I don't want to lose those memories."
Kaito fell silent, his heart in turmoil. There were so many things he wanted to say, but the words were stuck in his throat. He knew that whatever choice he made would shape his future, yet at the same time, he had no idea how to move forward. Hina, Misaki—two different worlds, two emotions he couldn't simply choose between. How could he make a decision without hurting one of them?
With a growing weight in his heart, Kaito could only nod, trying to give an answer even when he didn't know what would happen next.