Unseen devotion: A Love lost on shadows

The days passed like soft rain..quiet, cleansing, but heavy. After everything, the world felt slower. Softer. But also heavier in some corners, like it was still settling back into place after being shattered.

In the gentle afternoon light, Daiki and Aria sat together in the garden just behind Aria's house. She had brought out a tray of iced tea and cookies..though Daiki was more focused on poking a stick into the dirt like some mischievous little kid. Aria gave him a side glance, smiling.

"You're going to ruin the garden like that."

Daiki grinned.

"You act like it wasn't already ruined the moment I stepped in."

Before she could scold him again, they both heard footsteps on the path nearby. Ayumi and Noir appeared, walking side by side..casual, comfortable.

Noir had his hands in his pockets, head slightly down as usual, while Ayumi was holding an umbrella just in case the clouds broke again. When she spotted Daiki and Aria, she smiled and waved.

"Hey! Look who's out being domestic."

Daiki laughed.

"If domestic means making Aria mad, then yeah, guilty."

Aria shook her head, rolling her eyes, then stood.

"Hi, Ayumi."

She hesitated briefly, then glanced at Noir, but instead of greeting him, she simply looked away.

Noir caught the hesitation and gave a faint tightening around his eyes..a subtle moment hanging between them. He said nothing, his quiet nod barely masking the small tension before he looked back down.

"Hey," Noir said softly, continuing on.

Ayumi stepped forward.

"You both look… good."

Daiki raised an eyebrow playfully.

"You say that like we were half-dead yesterday."

Ayumi blinked.

"Well... I mean..fair."

They all shared a small, knowing laugh. The air between them was easy, but underneath it, a current of something unspoken hummed..like they were still dancing around the edges of something bigger than any of them could say.

Then Aria asked, "Where are you two headed?"

Ayumi softened. She exchanged a glance with Noir before replying, her voice a little gentler:

"We're going to check on Yona."

Daiki blinked. "Yona?"

Ayumi nodded.

"We just… wanted to be with him today."

Daiki tilted his head.

"Why today?"

Noir finally spoke, his voice low but clear.

"Because of his grandfather."

He paused.

"He passed… during the shift. Yona's been carrying it alone."

A stillness settled over the garden. Aria's hand moved instinctively to her chest.

"Oh… I didn't know."

Ayumi nodded softly.

"He hasn't really said much. But you can see it… in his eyes."

Daiki leaned back a bit, his expression clouding.

"Man… and we were all so caught up with surviving, we forgot to check on him."

Noir's gaze drifted.

"We all lost something. Some more than others."

Ayumi turned to them with a faint smile.

"You should come too. Even if we just sit with him for a while."

Aria hesitated for a second, then nodded.

"We will."

Daiki stood, brushing off his jeans.

"Yeah. Let's be there for him. It's the least we can do."

Noir gave a small nod of approval. Ayumi smiled with quiet warmth. Just then, Aria's mother stepped out onto the porch, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Aria, can you go pick up Sami from the nursery? It's almost time."

Aria nodded.

"Sure, Mom. I'm going with my friends to offer condolences to one of my friends, and when I come back, I'll bring Sami with me."

Her mother smiled gently.

"Alright, dear. Be safe."

Ayumi smiled softly.

"That sounds meaningful."

Daiki grinned.

"Sounds like a little mission."

Aria glanced at the group, then back at her mother.

"I'll be right back."

The four of them lingered a moment before Aria stepped inside to prepare, and after a short while, she rejoined Daiki, Ayumi, and Noir. Ayumi stepped forward.

"You both look… good."

Daiki smirked and nudged Aria gently.

"Well, what can I say? I clean up pretty well when I want to impress my princess."

Aria's cheeks flared pink. She looked down, voice barely above a whisper.

"Daiki… shut up."

Grinning wider, Daiki teased,

"Oh? My shy girl just asked me to shut my mouth."

Aria swatted his arm lightly, then glanced quickly at Ayumi and Noir, who were both watching with amused smiles. Her blush deepened as she lowered her gaze again.

Ayumi chuckled softly.

"It's nice to see you two like this..comfortable, playful. It makes the hard days feel a little lighter."

Noir nodded quietly in agreement. Aria smiled shyly but warmly, the weight in the air feeling just a little less heavy.

They walked quietly through the winding path until Yona's wooden house came into view..small, a little weathered, but always peaceful.

When they reached the front step, Aria knocked lightly. There was no answer. She tried again, a little louder. Still nothing. Daiki stepped up and peered through the side window.

"Looks empty."

"Where is he?" Aria asked, glancing toward the quiet path behind them.

Noir pulled out his phone, tapping the screen.

"Let me call him."

They all stood in silence as Noir held the phone to his ear. After a few seconds, he lowered it.

"He's not picking up."

"Let me try," Daiki said, already thumbing through his contacts. He called, waited, and frowned. "Still nothing."

Ayumi bit her lip, then said, "Let me try calling Lira. Maybe she knows."

She stepped aside and dialed. The phone rang… and rang… but no answer. Ayumi exhaled.

"Let's go to her house. Maybe we can ask her in person."

The group nodded, and soon they were walking again..this time toward Lira's place. When they arrived, the small gate creaked as they entered the front yard. Ayumi stepped forward and knocked politely.

After a moment, the door opened. A kind but slightly confused-looking man..Lira's father..stood in the doorway. They all stood respectfully.

"Hello, sir," Daiki began. "Is Lena home by any chance?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "Lena? You mean… Lira?"

Ayumi's eyes widened suddenly. "Ah..yes! Sorry! Lira, we meant Lira. We're just…" She gave an awkward little smile. "We're friends of hers."

The man's expression softened.

"She left with Yona. He wanted to return to his hometown for his grandfather's funeral."

They exchanged glances. Aria stepped forward.

"Do you know where that is, sir? Which city?"

He shook his head.

"No, I'm afraid not. Lira just told me they were going, but didn't say where exactly."

Ayumi whispered under her breath, almost to herself, "Lira…" Then quickly added, "Thank you, sir."

He nodded once and gently closed the door. Daiki turned to Noir.

"You know his city, right?"

Noir gave a short nod.

"Yeah."

Ayumi looked between them.

"Then let's go."

Aria paused, raising a hand.

"Wait..just give me a few minutes. I need to take my brother home first."

Ayumi and Noir exchanged a glance and nodded.

"We'll wait at the train station," Ayumi said.

"I'll come with you," Daiki offered immediately, stepping beside Aria.

She smiled faintly, thankful, and the two of them headed back through the neighborhood. A few minutes later, Aria brought her little brother, Sami, back home. She knelt to give him a kiss on the forehead before turning to her mother at the doorway.

"I'm going with my friends," she said gently. "To visit Yona. He went back to his city for his grandfather's funeral."

Her mother looked at her for a moment, then nodded.

"Be careful. And let me know when you get there."

"I will."

With that, Aria and Daiki hurried toward the train station where Ayumi and Noir were waiting. The light was already changing..shadows stretching longer, the sun beginning to dip. But together, the four of them pressed forward through the quiet, steady dusk.

They arrived at the train station just as the sun began to slip behind the rooftops. Ayumi and Noir were waiting near the ticket counter, a quiet sense of urgency hanging in the air.

"There you are," Ayumi said as Aria and Daiki approached. "We just got the tickets."

"Perfect timing," Daiki said, catching his breath.

They made their way through the station, the soft hum of evening travelers all around them. Soon, they boarded the train, found a pair of facing seats, and settled in. The train gave a low rumble beneath them as it prepared to depart.

The motion of the train had just started when Ayumi suddenly broke the silence.

"Guys… something's confusing me."

Aria looked up. "What?"

Ayumi furrowed her brows, her fingers lightly fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.

"Lira's father. I mean..she was Lena, right? That's how we all knew her. But when I asked for 'Lena,' he seemed genuinely confused. Like… the name didn't exist."

Aria nodded slowly, eyes narrowed. "Yes. I noticed that too."

There was a brief silence between them, the clattering of the train wheels the only sound. Then Ayumi turned to Noir.

"You don't have any explanation for this?"

Noir looked out the window for a moment, his reflection flickering in the glass.

"No," he replied plainly. "None."

Daiki leaned back in his seat and let out a low whistle.

"Things have been getting strange lately. Too strange."

Ayumi crossed her arms, unsettled.

"It's not just strange. It's like… parts of the world are shifting without warning. People changing. Names. Memories."

Aria looked down, her voice quieter.

"It's like something's rewriting itself."

The train continued down the tracks into the growing night, the countryside rolling past outside the windows like a dream they couldn't quite wake from. Whatever was happening..it wasn't over.

And deep down, they all felt it.

Daiki stared out the window, the blur of passing trees matching the heaviness in his chest. Quietly, almost to himself, he murmured,

"Yona… I'm sorry for what happened. With your grandfather. I wish I could be there for you soon."

His eyelids grew heavy. The steady rhythm of the train, the soft murmur of voices around him..it all wove a gentle lullaby. Before long, Daiki's head dipped, and he drifted off to sleep.

Nearby, Ayumi leaned against Noir's shoulder, her eyes fluttering closed. Noir's arm came up instinctively, resting protectively around her. She sighed softly, sinking into the warmth and quiet comfort, asleep within moments.

Aria stayed awake, staring out the window into the darkening landscape. The world outside looked endless..like all their worries and mysteries were swallowed up by the night.

Noir shifted in his seat, quietly watching Aria. She hadn't noticed at first, but then their eyes met in a sudden glance. Her breath caught; she quickly looked away, cheeks faintly flushed.

After a moment, she stood up softly, voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

She slipped away down the narrow aisle. Noir remained seated for a moment, gathering himself, then rose quietly followed Aria down the train car, but when he reached the bathroom, it was empty. Instead, Aria was standing near the exit door, alone in the dimly lit space.

He stepped forward and faced her, leaving a respectful distance between them. She glanced at him nervously, then quickly looked away. Noir's voice was low but steady.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier, but I'd like to settle this with you."

Aria stayed quiet, biting her lip, clearly nervous.

"I… I know things happened before, and it wasn't good," he continued. "I know you blocked my number because of the messages I sent that you never saw. Those were tense times, and a lot happened. I was going through things I couldn't handle… I'm sorry for all that."

Aria met his eyes, then gave a small, hesitant smile.

"It's okay."

"You're Ayumi's friend, so I should really be a good friend too. Can we?"

Noir held out his hand to shake. She looked at his hand, then at his face, and slowly reached out. She shook his hand and nodded.

"Yeah, we can."

A moment of silence hung between them.

"Is everything okay?" Noir asked gently.

She nodded, though her voice was soft.

"Just… still feel the heaviness of everything."

He nodded knowingly.

"I understand. We all do."

At that moment, Daiki appeared at the far end of the car. Aria withdrew her hand from Noir's. Daiki's eyes flicked between her and Noir, then Noir stepped back quietly. Daiki's gaze stayed on Aria as he approached.

"Everything okay?"

She nodded again. Daiki glanced back briefly toward Noir, who was walking away, then looked back at her.

"I woke up and didn't find you beside me, so I came to check on you."

She smiled faintlspan

"I'm okay, Daiki. Let's go back."

He nodded, and together they walked back to the seats where Ayumi and Noir were waiting. As Daiki sat down, he kept his eyes on Noir, who was staring out the window. Their gazes met for a brief moment, and Noir smiled slightly. But Daiki didn't smile back. Instead, he looked away.

Back in her seat, Aria reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. The rhythmic sound of the train tracks filled the silence between the four of them.

She hesitated for a moment, then opened her contacts. Noir's name was still there..faded, blocked. Her thumb hovered over it before she tapped Unblock Contact. A small click sounded, soft but final.

Daiki, seated beside her, caught the motion from the corner of his eye. His gaze drifted from her phone to her expression, unreadable. He didn't say a word, just stared.

Aria, unaware of his eyes on her, opened WhatsApp. Noir's chat sat where she had left it..quiet since that day, sealed off from the past. She tapped it open and scrolled briefly, as if remembering something. Then she unblocked the chat.

After a breath of hesitation, she sent a single message.

🙂

Across from her, Noir's phone buzzed. He looked down, lifted it, and tapped the screen. His eyes softened just slightly when he saw the message: the simple, wordless smile.

A beat passed. Then, with the faintest upturn of his lips, he replied:

🙂

Aria's eyes lit up for a second as she saw his response. Daiki, watching it all, felt his jaw tighten. His hands gripped his knees. His face shifted—not with anger, but with something else. Jealousy. Deep and quiet. Still, he said nothing.

The train continued on, its wheels humming like a low heartbeat beneath them. Outside, the skies darkened as they neared their destination. None of them spoke, but everything was shifting in the silence.

Until they reached.

To be continue ...