The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 11~♫

"Star?" A-kun whispered, terrified by his voice.

She gazed at him, but with no spark in her eyes. The boy bit his lip, tears sliding down his cheeks. He shook, his vision blurry, and with great determination, he pushed his eyes toward the endless heavens.

"Fly high. Be happy among the stars." His hand caressed her still body, his throat almost choking on streams of his sorrow.

Then he remembered his last words to Star before they left. "It really was... lights out for her." He sobbed loudly, watching the starry sky, realizing this was his first time seeing the stars as well.

A-kun cried until his shawl was all soaked and yucky. He stared into the sky until his eyes burned and demanded to shut. But not even the closed eyelids could erase the image of Star staring up.

He coughed, sniffing, however, that couldn't convince his running nose. Insects buzzed around him as they settled in his back pocket. He realized a bit later that it was his phone vibrating.

With sticky fingers, he picked up the call.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered, unable to keep his tone steady.

"A-A-kun, what happened?" Mrs. Sato-san's cry came from the other side. "We returned late and found the barn opened, and you and Star were gone." Her voice filled with worry started another wave of cries on his end.

"Star is... Star is..." He couldn't say it. In the silence, Mrs. Sato-san heard her breath. After a long minute, he mustered the strength to continue. "She is at home. Star is home now."

Sobs came from the other side as the fleeting feeling settled inside Mrs. Sato-san's stomach. She expected this to come eventually, but no amount of time could prepare her.

They listened to each silent voice before Mrs. Sato-san asked, "Where are you? We'll pick you up."

"Outside of the city." He looked around, but the shadows didn't allow him to see anything specific. "It's a small hill with a tree. I don't know this place, but I'll send you coordinates."

"Alright. Wait a bit."

They hung up, and with trembling fingers, he searched his position, texting it. His hand collapsed on the ground, devoid of any strength.

With his other hand and a few sobs, he took down his shawl, covering Star's head. Then he waited, staring into the sky, until two light dots accompanied by a bumbling motor stopped nearby.

Mrs. Sato-san jumped out of the car without closing the door, dashing and hugging A-kun. "It's not your fault," she whispered before he could say a word. "We knew this would come." A-kun returned the hug, burrowing his head into her whitening hair.

Mr. Sato-san watched them, leaning against the open door. There was no need for light to look into his teary eyes. He closed the car as quietly as he could, joining the hugging figures.