ECLIPSED REALITY

Saito Kazuhiko, a bright-eyed 8-year-old in Second grade, sat nervously at his desk, tapping his pencil against the paper. Today was exam day, and his mind felt like a blank canvas. Next to him was Aiko, a lively third grader with a warm smile, confidently scribbling down answers.

Kazuhiko glanced at her, a cunning glint in his eye. He leaned closer, feigning innocence. "Psst, Aiko," he whispered, "what's the answer to ? three?"

Aiko glanced at him, her brows furrowing. "Kazuhiko! You should know this!" But as he made a sad face, she couldn't help but relent. "Fine, it's 'C.' Just promise you'll study harder next time!"

Kazuhiko smiled sweetly, but inside, he felt a rush of victory. As the exam ended, he felt a mix of guilt and thrill at having manipulated Aiko into helping him.

After the exam, they walked to the bus stop together. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow over their small village. Kazuhiko felt a flutter in his chest, a feeling he couldn't quite understand yet.

"Let's play at my house after school!" he suggested, eager to distract himself from his earlier actions.

Aiko nodded, her laughter ringing like music. "Okay! But only if you show me your secret fort!"

That afternoon, they raced to Kazuhiko's backyard, where a makeshift fort of blankets and sticks stood proudly. They spent hours inside, sharing snacks and playing games, their laughter echoing into the evening. Kazuhiko enjoyed the time together, but the memory of manipulating Aiko

lingered in his mind.

As vacation approached, Kazuhiko visited Aiko almost every day. They made treasure maps and pretended to be pirates searching for hidden gold. Kazuhiko's feelings for Aiko grew stronger, but she was mostly focused on having fun and didn't notice his deeper emotions.

However, everything changed when Aiko's family announced they were moving out of the village to Akiruno, Tokyo. Kazuhiko hadn't realized it until it was too late.

When vacation ended, Kazuhiko returned to school, his heart heavy with anticipation. He searched every classroom, but the laughter and joy that filled the halls felt muted without Aiko. When he heard that she had left the school, he felt as if the ground had crumbled beneath him. His classmates noticed his gloominess, but no one understood the void she had left.

Finally, he sat in his classroom, staring blankly at the teacher, his mind swirling with memories of their adventures. The realization hit him—she was truly gone.

Just then, Kazuhiko's best friend, Haru, nudged him. "Hey, you okay? You've been really quiet."

Kazuhiko sighed. "Aiko moved away... I don't know where she went, and I don't think I'll ever see her again."

Haru frowned. "You should try to find her! Write her a letter or something."

Kazuhiko's eyes lit up with determination. "You're right! I will try to find her! I need to tell her how I really feel."

With renewed hope, Kazuhiko decided he wouldn't give up. He would do everything he could to track Aiko down and keep their friendship alive, no matter how far apart they were