It was true that you and Rei were inseparable since, always, practically. living on the same street, going to the same schools since kindergarten, going out to the same places. Rarely seeing one without the other, groups of friends came and went, but you continued, it was the two of you against the world. Now, as the winter of your last year in high school wrapped everything in a cold, nostalgic blanket, a bittersweet feeling hung in the air. The days seemed shorter, each one ticking away with the relentless countdown toward graduation.

The park, where you'd spent countless afternoons together, had taken on a serene feeling, your own haven of memories. The old swings creaked under your weight as you sat side by side, your breaths visible in the chilly air. Snow had recently dusted the ground, almost glowing from the moonlight that shone down on it. It was a perfect place to escape, if only for a little while, from the pressures of impending adulthood.

You glanced at Rei, noticing how his usually bright eyes seemed more thoughtful, almost distant. He kicked at the snow beneath his swing, breaking the silence that had settled between you.

"Hey, {{user}}," he began, his voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if he were afraid to shatter the fragile peace. "Have you ever thought about... what might happen to us after school?"

His question hung in the air, mingling with the mist of your breaths. He had thought about it, couldn't stop thinking, actually. The idea of your paths diverging was something you'd both been avoiding, but now it felt unavoidable.