『Entangled Stars』;「運命」┇akane a. x aoi. a au

chapter v: myth & miracles

#5: Myth & Miracles
神話と奇跡

Mindlessly, her dark purple irises followed the race of her feet encased in a pair of black shoes. Aoi froze on her spot when a flash of light suddenly appeared. As she raised her chin, following the source of the light. She was met with dark camera lenses. She continued stepping backward until she caught the bubblegum-pink locks owned by the boy holding the camera shoved to her face earlier. 

"What was that for?" She asked, watching the boy fix his stance and lower the camera he was holding. Finally seeing what he looked like. Pink orbs with a fuzzy scarf hugging his neck.

He shrugged, "Liked the way the landscape reflected on your eyes. Too bad my camera can't capture it though."

"Well, I'd appreciate it if you would still ask for my permission especially if you would invade my personal space like that. Also, who are y–" She couldn't continue what she was saying when she felt people started to look at her.

Well, it does seem quite confusing how she's just standing in front of a fast-food restaurant entrance looking like she's about to fight some boy shining in pink wardrobe. Who kinda reminds her of princess bubblegum. . .

So Aoi decided to pull the pink-haired male to come inside the fast food restaurant with her since she was becoming more conscious of the stares of the people, glinting with intrigue to witness if she really planning to make a scene. . .

Little did she know. . .that wasn't what they find strange at all.

Now that they're both inside the fast food chain, sitting at a table beside the window face-to-face. A sneaky pale finger made its way to the red packaging filled with fried sticks of potatoes. But then it froze the moment its owner met the eyes of the girl in front of him. Welp. 

He wasn't sneaky after all. Trying to make the awkward silence fade away. "You were trying to ask for my name earlier weren't you? I'm Mitsuba Sousuke." He said and ate some fries.

Aoi's purple irises stayed glued to his camera that was placed still on the table. "Uhm, I'm Aoi Akane."

"Hm? Doesn't ring a bell."

"Well, of course, I think this is our very first interaction."

Aoi placed her full attention on the pink-haired male who was taking his sweet time eating the fries she paid for. There was this weird aura around him. But she couldn't pinpoint what it exactly was.

"That reminds me, don't you have classes today?" Mitsuba asked.

"Oh! Classes ended early since there was a meeting for all of the faculty members. But one of my teachers assigned me to give a reflection about this book." Aoi placed a medium-sized book with a grayish covering on the table. A few seconds of silence passed as both the pair of orbs studied the material. Mitsuba then broke the silence.

"Book?" He asked. Aoi just nodded at him as she is now too busy flipping the pages of the book. 

"It's entitled, 'Altered Timeframe' by Nobu Ishimiya." She added.

"What was it about?"

"I've only read a few parts of the book as it was just given earlier. The book tells a love story between a girl from a high-class society and a boy who was a son of an infamous scientist. Basically, Kiseki, the elite young girl's world is against her relationship with Boshi, the son of the rumored insane scientist." Aoi paused a bit and then flipped some pages of the book.

"For some reason, there was also a myth running around the town that catching a shooting star can give one the ability to travel in time. The moment Boshi heard that his beloved, Kiseki's days were counted, he did the predictable. And then uhm. . .well, I'm not really sure what happened next. I've only reached that far. But my reflection paper would probably only be filled with how confused I am about the essence of their love story.

 All of that just.  . .because of love?"

"It's a love story, of course, it will be focused on how the couple would fight against the odds. The intense drive and dedication for each other." Mitsuba said.

"But in reality. . .would you really do all that for the one you love? I get that one will really risk their life to protect and save the one they love. But defying what's bound to happen? Isn't that impossible? Dodging fate would only mean a different direction but what's chasing them would still be the same right? Would you really do that for the one you love?" She questioned.

Mitsuba nodded, "Well. . .I also believe that our fate written in this universe is concrete."

He then quietly put the strap of his camera around his neck. He gulped as he raised the camera to his face. The lens focused on the purple-haired girl sitting in front of him. Aoi's head bowed a little as she remained quietly flipping the pages of the book.

"Just like how no matter the risks you are willing to take. No matter how much you desire it.

You can't have everything you want."

Suddenly, Mitsuba's vision met the image of the Vice President gazing from afar on the screen of his camera. He didn't realize that he pressed a button. From the image, he can see the melancholic expression of the male gazing afar. Akane's crimson locks were disheveled a little, his eyeglasses slightly tilted looking like he just finished a stressful meeting with the school staff. 

Mitsuba remembered that he took his picture as blackmail to the boy because he looked like a mess. But despite his disorganized stature. . .his expression remained relaxed, lips slightly raised up. He looked relieved while still looking at something from afar. 

"But for example you, Aoi." Mitsuba then slowly placed his camera down.

"What if someone actually found a way to. . .you know. To alter the timeframe. To change the fate for you. The only thing left to successfully do all of that is for you to take their hand. 

Would you. . .?"

He saw how her pale fingers stopped meddling with the pages. Aoi raised her head slowly to meet his questioning pink orbs and a heavy sigh left her lips. Then she switched her attention to the view outside the glass window, and unconsciously bit the inside of her cheek. The sky is tinted black and filled with scattered white dots. The end of the day.

Questions filled her head in a flash. Would I really do it? Defy what is bound to happen. Finally, have a say in my own fate? Change everything even meddle with the universe's timeframe?

"No."

Just like in the work of Nobu Ishiyima, all of that is impossible. All of that will only be a myth.