What Is Death?
What does it truly mean to die?
There's a saying that goes: A person doesn't truly die when their heart stops beating. True death comes only when no one remembers them—when all traces of their existence vanish from the world.
In that sense, existence itself becomes the measure of life and death.
Nakano Nino watched Sakurai Saki's retreating back, his cold gaze from just moments earlier still lingering in her mind.
The way he looked at her…
It was as if he were staring at a ghost.
Down on the ground floor, at the shoe lockers by the entrance of the school building, Sakurai Saki was changing into his outdoor shoes. Beside him, Shirogane Miyuki glanced over.
"By the way, Sakurai," he asked casually, "about yesterday—when Nakano misunderstood you—have you decided whether to forgive her? She did apologize to you at lunch, but you barely even looked at her..."
Apology?
Barely even looked at her?
Sakurai Saki frowned, pulling out his phone as he switched shoes. He scrolled through his messages with Miyuki.
The summary: Nakano Itsuki had misunderstood him. Nakano Miku and Yotsuba had tried to mediate. The resulting tutoring session had been unpleasant, to say the least.
So unpleasant, in fact, that he had decided not to continue tutoring today.
Was I really that petty? he asked himself.
Sakurai was the type to reflect often. Every day, he questioned whether he had done something wrong.
More than anything, he worried about misusing his power.
Today's ability in particular—it was dangerous. Not something to use casually on people.
And yesterday… had he been too irritable?
"Nakano might be waiting for you at the library," Miyuki said, finishing with his shoes. "Are you going?"
Sakurai shook his head. "We agreed to go home and eat together, remember? I'll pass."
He trusted himself. Every choice he made came from careful thought. He had no intention of showing up at the library—not now, not later. He'd already made that decision yesterday.
And again, today at noon.
Superpower Anchor: Rule #7 – Don't dwell on the past. Move forward.
What's done is done. If he had chosen that course of action in the moment, then it had been the right one at the time.
I just hope the four Nakano sisters aren't too upset about being stood up, he thought. They were the ones who misunderstood, after all.
Miyuki understood his friend well. Sakurai wasn't someone who gave up easily—unless someone crossed his bottom line.
Something must've happened that he didn't know about. But whatever it was, it wasn't his business. Sakurai would handle it himself.
The two of them grabbed their bikes, heading off toward the Shirogane household in Setagaya Ward. If they hurried, they could even cook something fancy before Kei got home.
"Oh, and dinner's on me tonight," Miyuki added. "Can't let Kei-chan eat nothing but veggies with you every day."
He grinned while pushing his bike. Being the older brother felt oddly competitive lately.
No, not really. He and Kei were family—nothing would change that. Sakurai had only known her for less than a year. There was no way their bond could outmatch real siblings.
That's what he told himself, anyway.
Second Floor, Outside the Classroom
Nakano Nino stood by the window, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.
Her four sisters had already gone to the library—to apologize.
Even Ichika had skipped her part-time job.
"So in the end, I'm the only idiot left behind," she muttered.
She sighed and stood up. Her legs were numb—she'd been sitting there for nearly an hour.
Staying here won't solve anything.
Nino adjusted the hair ornament on her head and began walking downstairs.
Miku's probably forgiven me by now. We're sisters, after all.
Even if she'd been angry, she'd have cooled off by now.
What I did yesterday was impulsive... but still, I don't want to apologize.
I'll just avoid him from now on. He doesn't want to see me anyway, so I won't see him either.
She slipped on her shoes and stepped out of the building.
On her way to the library, she spotted a girl from last year—someone she used to laugh with all the time.
"Hido-san!!!" Nino called out with a bright wave.
She hoped they could chat a bit—anything to distract herself, to let go of the mess in her head.
If it were Hido-san, she would understand. They had been friends, hadn't they?
But...
Nothing.
Hido-san didn't turn around. Didn't even slow down.
She just kept walking.
As if she hadn't heard.
She left.
Nino stood there, stunned.
...Were we really that close?
Guess not. We're not even in the same class anymore. It's natural to grow distant.
Just another stranger now.
Just like a stranger.
Nakano Nino lowered her gaze, a quiet emptiness settling in her chest.
The past two days… had been nothing but misfortune.
Dragging her feet toward the library, Nakano Nino passed the front desk without a word to the librarian on duty. She had no energy for small talk—not when her heart felt this heavy.
All she wanted now was to see her sisters.
As she stepped into the study room, their voices reached her ears.
"...Sakurai-kun didn't come," Yotsuba said softly. "I guess I really was too thoughtless yesterday… I must've upset him."
Nino's brow furrowed.
No, Yotsuba. You didn't do anything wrong. Why are you blaming yourself?
"Well, we did misunderstand him first," Itsuki said solemnly. "It's only natural he'd dislike us. I'll come again tomorrow."
Itsuki... you too? You're not at fault either!
"I'm skipping tomorrow," Ichika chimed in. "I moved today's shift to tomorrow, so if 'Teacher-chan' shows up, explain it for me."
Ichika just fell asleep—why act like you're guilty?
"Let's go home," Miku said, closing the book on Sengoku warlords she'd been reading.
The more Nino listened, the more her frustration boiled.
What is this? Why are they treating this like their mistake? Why are they making up for my failure?
Unacceptable.
She couldn't stand it any longer.
"You! Why did you wait for him this long!?" she suddenly shouted. "He had no intention of coming! Who are you even apologizing to!? He's not coming, so why are you still waiting!? Why don't you just go home!?"
But her outburst barely stirred the room.
Her four sisters, as if on cue, silently returned their books to the shelf.
"What should we eat tonight?" Ichika asked, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"Grilled meat!" Yotsuba said brightly, raising a hand.
"I'm fine with anything," Itsuki answered calmly.
Miku didn't say a word.
Nino stood there, frozen in disbelief.
Why are you ignoring me? Aren't we sisters...?
She watched as they turned away—each one of them acting as if she weren't even there.
We're not strangers... Are we not family anymore?
"Don't ignore me, okay?" Nino pleaded, stepping toward Ichika.
She turned to Miku, shouting, "Miku!"
Yotsuba suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Excuse me, classmate," she said gently, "you're in our way."
The words hit her like a slap.
Nino's eyes welled up. She instinctively covered her nose, but the tears slipped through her fingers anyway.
She looked at the four of them—desperate, like a traveler dying of thirst who's just spotted an oasis in the distance.
Itsuki... If it's her, she wouldn't do this to me.
She stepped forward—one last try.
"Classmate," Itsuki said politely, bowing slightly, "this is a public space. Please step aside."
"...Ha... haha~"
Nino tilted her head up, caught in that surreal space between laughter and sobs.
Her tears wouldn't stop. She could only cry—ugly, snot-nosed, desperate crying.
"Do you have to be like this?" she whispered, voice trembling. "Ignoring me over something so small? I was wrong, okay? I'll apologize to him. I will. I promise."
She broke down, sobbing harder.
"So please... please don't stop talking to me. Don't treat me like I don't exist. I'm begging you... Please..."
She reached out toward Miku—but Miku pushed her back.
Then she turned, and said coldly:
"Who are you? Are we close?"
In that moment, it was as if Nino had fallen into a frozen void.
So cold.