The Night and the Sky

I hate people.

People are disgusting.

Water poured into the bucket until it overflowed, spilling onto the floor. I heard nothing but my own thoughts. The cold water touched his feet, pulling him back to reality.

What is this feeling? he wondered.

Is it sadness? Sorrow? Loneliness? Or something else entirely?

“I hate this,” he whispered before stepping into the shower.

He entered his room and sat down in his chair, checking his phone.

“Ah... I forgot I have classes tomorrow. Damn, I need to prepare.”

He sighed and started packing his bag for the next day.

“6 a.m. again. I’m so tired. I hate everything. Even after sleeping, I still feel exhausted. Fuck.”

After finishing, he got ready and left the house.

“Good morning, Ryu.”

“Good morning.”

“What a lovely day, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Oh, did you prepare for today’s test?”

“...What test?”

“Oh no... I forgot. Damn it.”

“Just like you.” His friend laughed.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

“Oh, did you know Kyu started dating?”

“Yeah, I did. Have you seen the guy?”

“Yeah. He looks so average. I don’t think he deserves to date her.”

Tick. Tick. Tick.

People are disgusting.

Why can’t they just mind their own business? They judge and gossip about other people’s lives just for a moment of entertainment.

I really can’t stand humans.

The teacher entered the classroom.

“Good morning,” the students said in unison.

The lesson began.

When did this start?

Was it back then... or way before that?

I started seeing people as relationships built on mutual benefit. I stay as long as we both gain something. When that benefit disappears, either I leave... or they do.

In modern society, we call these relationships friendship, family, love... they all have different names.

I’ve never truly felt close to anyone.

I don’t know if it’s because I see people this way

The bell rang.

His friend walked over to him.

“Hey, Ryu. Are you going to join us today?”

“Where?”

“We’re going out. It’ll be fun. Come on, let’s go.”

“Nah, I’ve got some stuff to do. Sorry, I can’t go today.”

“Too bad, man. Leo, Taku, and I are all going to be there.”

“Well, can’t do anything if you’ve got stuff to do.”

“Yeah.”

“Well then, see you later.”

“See you, man.”

Ryu walked down the road toward home.

Sigh... Going out with friends is a waste of time. They’re only together because of mutual benefit.

Still, I have to keep up the act. I have to pretend to be a good friend.

What a drag.

He reached home and headed to the bathroom to take a bath.

Ryu entered his room.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

His phone rang.

“Ryu... Ryu...”

“Yeah?”

“Leo... Leo’s dead.”

“...What?”

“We were out together. A car came out of nowhere at full speed and hit him. We rushed him to the hospital... but the doctors said he was already gone.”

Silence.

There it is.

Should I be sad that I lost a friend?

Our mutual benefit ends here.

What am I supposed to say now?

Should I pretend to be sad...?

“I... I’ll be there.”

Ryu arrived at the hospital.

He looked at his friend’s lifeless body.

He felt nothing.

To him, it was no different from the fallen tree branch he had stepped over on the way there.

But on the outside, he acted as if he cared. He lowered his head, offered quiet condolences, and wore the expression everyone expected to see.

A short while later, Leo’s body was taken away.

Ryu took the train back home.

He got off at the platform.

Walking back to his place, he saw a girl sitting on a bench.

He was amused that someone had the courage to sit alone at 12 a.m.

He somehow felt something similar.

Perhaps it was the solitude he saw in her.

The next day,

He went to school as usual.

He came back home.

“Life is so boring...” Sigh.

What is this boredom?

Ryu was consumed by his thoughts. The voices were too loud.

I hate this. I can’t sleep.

He checked his phone. It was 2 a.m. He couldn’t get even a bit of sleep.

He decided to get some fresh air.

As soon as he stepped outside, the voices stopped.

Something feels really comfortable. There’s no one to bother me.

How could I forget the best feeling? Being alone at night.

Man... I like this.

The midnight, where there’s no one to bother me.

Well... let’s go for a walk.

He saw the same girl again sitting on the bench.

He stared at her for some time before walking away.

Unconsciously, he kept thinking about that girl.

He walked for a while before heading back.

She was still there, sitting on the same bench, watching the sky.

Two boys walked up to her and started talking.

“Hey, why are you sitting here? Let’s go somewhere together.”

She didn’t say anything. It seemed like she was absorbed in the sky.

“Hey, I’m talking to you. Can’t you hear me? Why are you ignoring me?”

Ryu watched everything unfold.

He decided to walk away.

“Why would I go with you? Who are you? Why are you talking to me? Stop bothering me.”

“I don’t even know who you two are. Why would I go with you?”

The two boys started shouting at her.

Ryu spoke up.

“Hey, you two. Can’t you clearly see that she’s not interested?”

“Or do you think that because it’s 3 a.m., there’s no one around, so you two can do anything you want?”

“Why do people always have to bother someone so much? Can’t you just let them be?”

“It doesn’t take much to press this button, and you’ll see the police here in ten minutes.”

The two boys backed off and walked away.

“Thanks for that.”

“No problem. There are always people who bother others. They just can’t let someone be.”

“Well, no worries. You can enjoy your time now. See you around.”

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“My name is Ryu.”

“Nice to meet you, Ryu. Thanks for that.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why were you out walking at night?”

“Was it fun?”

“Yeah, it was. There was no one to bother me. It felt like it was just me. It was really fun.”

“How about you? Was it fun staring at the sky?”

“Yes, it was. Watching the night sky filled with shining stars is really relaxing.”

“But yeah... there are always some people who come and ruin it.”

“But thanks to you.”

Ryu stared at the sky.

“I told you. Wasn’t it fun?”

“Yeah, it is. It feels like it’s just you, the darkness, and the glowing stars.”

“I know, right? No one else. Just you and your thoughts.”

“Well, see you around. Bye.”

Ryu walked away.

He got home, but his mind kept replaying the same scene.

Staring at the sky... hmm? Well, it does seem fun.

The next night,

As always, he couldn’t get a wink of sleep.

He went outside, looked up at the sky, and decided to go for a walk.

“Oh, it’s Ryu again. Out for a walk?”

“Yeah. What about you? Staring at the sky?”

“Yeah. Care to join me for a bit?”

Ryu paused for a moment.

“Yeah... why not.”

He sat beside her.

The two of them simply stared at the sky.

Neither of them said a word.

Yet somehow, they felt a sense of comfort.

Time slipped away before they knew it. Hours had already passed.

It felt like they were in the middle of the sky together, watching the endless space above them.

Ryu spoke.

“By the way, what’s your name? I forgot to ask you yesterday.”

“Fluriel.”

She gave him a small smile.

“My name is Fluriel.”