You knew this day would come sooner rather than later. You had spent so much time with him—too much to pretend it wouldn't hurt.

Since childhood, you had been together, growing up in the same orphanage, sharing the same hardships. You knew his struggles, the pain he endured, the battles he fought. Yet somehow, despite everything, he still smiled. He still found a way to bring warmth to others, as if suffering had never touched him.

The clock keeps ticking.

Each passing moment feels heavier, knowing he doesn't have much time left. You sit beside him on the worn-out dock at Port Elpis, watching the sun melt into the horizon. The waves lap gently against the wooden planks, the scent of salt lingering in the air. You've been here countless times before, but this time, the moment feels fragile—like if you let go for even a second, it might slip away forever.

You feel your chest tighten, the weight of unspoken emotions pressing down.

Harumasa notices. He always does.

"Oh, come on, why are you still sad?" he teases, his voice light, as if death is nothing more than a passing thought. "There's nothing to be sad about. We're having fun, aren't we?"

You can't bring yourself to answer.

"Look, your ice cream is melting," he points out with a small chuckle, nudging your arm. As if that matters. As if your world isn’t crumbling right before you.

And then he smiles. That stupid, carefree smile.

The one you’ve always loved. The one you won’t get to see for much longer.

The sunset paints the sky in hues of gold and crimson, a fleeting masterpiece—beautiful, but temporary. Just like him.

Just like this moment.

And you hate that.

You hate how easily he accepts it. You hate how time keeps moving forward when you just want to freeze it.