Last

—

Standing almost absent-mindedly at the pavements, she looked up at the faint traces of the moon. It was the daytime, and the mighty sun was out, yet she couldn't help but look at the muted beauty of the pearl from the painted blue and clear sky.

Nene wondered that if it was possible to see the moon in clear daylight, why can't they see the stars at the same time? It was an absurd and random thought, of course, but she wondered how the sky will look if that ever happened. Maybe if that even ever happens, it would finally be the end of the world, the start of dystopia — as the stars would be almost as bright as the sun and moon in each of their times, and then, each of them, one by one, until they all come together as hundreds and thousands, they will fall onto the surface of the earth.

"Oh, that was too dark," Nene giggled to herself as she resumed her walk towards the heart of the town, greeting a lot of people along the way.

It has been two years ever since she woke up from a comatose state. Nene spent the rest of the half year recovering with her body while a year with drafting a novel.

"Good morning, Miss Yashiro," Yokoo greeted her with a lively smile as he opened the door for her. "How have you been?"

"Super fine," she beams at him. "Thanks."

"A big congratulations to you and your first novel debut," Satou waved at her and approached her with an excited expression. "I'm so, so proud of you, Miss Yashiro! I think I'll cry."

"Thank you, too," Nene laughed sheepishly. "Though I doubt it's gonna be a hit novel; I haven't been seeing Mister Tsuchigomori ever since I went back to our manor at the countryside, so I don't know how my novel's been doing."

"Oh, that's right, you did left for seven months right after publishing it," Yokoo grinned and looked at Satou. "Miss Yashiro, I think you should hurry over to Sir Tsuchigomori."

"Huh?" Nene tilted her head and nodded, soon walking towards the back with a hesitant look. "Oh, okay."

"Welcome back," the said curator was back on his seat, flipping through random papers that were seated on his desk. "I suppose you want to know what happened?"

"Well, I do," Nene sighed heavily. "But I'm mostly scared to know."

Soon, Tsuchigomori replied to her by handing her an envelope. Nene just raised an eyebrow at it. He rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Take it, it's yours," he watched her gently take it from him cautiously and open it. Her eyes widened, "It's what you earned from your first debut and hit novel." He took her other hand and gingerly held it with a gentle smile. "Congratulations, Yashiro. You have worked so hard."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she burried her face into her hands, her heart beating faster. She was in a total state of euphoria at that moment as she sobbed and hugged him, "Are you sure this is mine?"

"It's yours," Tsuchigomori tried to pry her away from him as he rolled his eyes. He wasn't successful enough in the end, so he just let her be, occasionally patting her back. "Or do you want me to take it back?"

"No, no!" Nene finally pulled away and shook her head violently. "This is so important and I don't know how I'm feeling right now, I just feel like this is a good day. The best day, even."

"Okay, then go do whatever you want now. Stroll around and look at the bookshelves. Your book is nearly sold out, but," he shrugged. "I think there's still some more there left. Go check it."

"Thank you, Mister Tsuchigomori," Nene gave him finger guns as she exited the room. "You're the best."

He laughed, "Shut up."

Nene soon wandered towards the several bookshelves inside, humming. When she finally caught sight of her book on one shelf, she gasped and took it into her hands, clutching it to her chest, squealing, "Is this reality?!"

The cream-haired almost wanted to tear up again as she just silently and carefully graced her fingers onto the title of her book, holding her breath. Finally.

"Cosmos," a voice suddenly spoke from beside her that made her flinch. "By Yashiro Nene."

Nene felt a bit giddy about how the stranger said her creation aloud and blushed, timidly fiddling with her fingers. "Oh, t-that's my debut novel, I guess?"

"The story was utterly amazing."

When she turned towards the stranger, her eyes darting from the book and towards the person's eyes — Nene felt like the world stopped revolving. Time froze. And everything just. . . kind of fell into place as if it was already the time she was waiting for.

At the right time and at the right place.

And Nene never knew why she felt like that for someone who's a complete stranger.

There stood a boy with dark choppy hair and a well-built body, holding her book in his hands as he grinned at it. He had these clear amber orbs that shone, just like the moon when it was night — big and alluring.

"I found this when I first came in here. I never knew it would be some romantical fantasy about destiny," he said as he let out a soft chuckle and finally looks at her — maybe it was just her imagination, but the way he looked at her was different. It was gentle and kind, as if they have met before and were close. "I was trying to find some science-related books and came across this by chance. Brought it home and thought it was something I was looking for. Ended up reading and actually liking it," he grinned. "You're a great writer."

Nene gasped and felt thrilled inside, "R-Really? Y-You're a reader of my work? What do you think?"

He laughed. "For starters, I didn't really mean to buy it. I just realized that I got wrong when I got home because the title was purely related with space and the universe. But I had no choice but to read it," he gave her a thumbs-up, his goofy grin never ceasing. "I loved it. I kinda actually relate to the story in some kind of peculiar way. I mean, how did you even come up with that idea?"

"Oh," she looked away timidly, her cheeks tinted with pink. "W-Well, it's just a story based on missing feelings, I guess."

"Missing feelings?" The boy cocked an eyebrow at her. "How interesting — I've felt the same."

"Y-Yeah," she finally looks up and suddenly holds out her hand, her cheeks, now burning red. "And, uh, this is random and you might think I'm crazy, but," she narrowed her eyes and shrugs. "I feel like. . . you're familiar."

The boy stared at her, a bit stunned at what she said. Of course, Nene mentally sighed and cursed at herself. I'm such a weirdo; he must think I'm such a—

"Nice to meet you," he took her hand and shook it well. "I'm just a random person who loves astronomy. Oh, and I'm an astronaut in the making!" He laughed. "My name is Amane Yugi."

"Ah—!" Nene pointed at him with wide eyes. "That's your name?"

"Ah, y-yeah," Amane nodded slowly.

It took her a lot of seconds before she withdrew her body back. And then, her tears suddenly started dripping from her eyes. "You have such a nice name."

"Ah, please don't cry!" Amane panicked as he flailed his arms around, worried. "I didn't mean to have such a nice name — w-well, no, it's not like it's really nice but, uh, thanks?"

He handed her a handkerchief hesitantly, to which she grabbed whole-heartedly, blowing on it hardly. Nene wiped her tears and laughed awkwardly, "I'm sorry I'm so dramatic but," she smiled gently, they reached her eyes and ears. "I feel like I'm so relieved just meeting you."

Amane beamed at her, "Me too."

This time, it was him who held out his hand. Nene looked at it and back at him, as if asking non-verbally.

"This is so awkward because we just met but," Amane blushes as he averts his gaze. "Do you want to spend some time with me this afternoon? There's a café here nearby."

"A-Ah," Nene turned deep red as she nodded eagerly. She placed her hand in his gently. "Sure."

As they walked together out of that place, Nene could feel her heart beating rapidly in her heart — she couldn't help but feel like home and just so comfortable with someone she never even knew.

Or maybe she actually did.

Just maybe from her past life, maybe. Or even in a dream, based on her familiarity.

But whatever the reason was, she loved the way how they were walking at the pavements, hand-in-hand, and basked in the heat of the warm sun, like a dream come true.

Nene glanced at their hands, turning red as she continued to feel the beating of her heart — she felt it through her veins, pounding and vibrating. And then, when she felt them towards their hands, it felt so electrifying, she couldn't help but think if it happened before.

And yeah, this was the best thing ever.

— finding the missing puzzle after years of venting it towards her work, that is.

He was the last missing piece — and Nene knew, even if he doesn't say — that she was also his last missing piece, in their own puzzles.

Cosmos.

Yeah, this feels entirely like the the title of her book.

A place, universe, where it is a complex and orderly system or entity — the complete opposite of chaos.

Because the chaos part in their lives are finally long gone.

It was finally their time to be happy.

—END.