Bits of Love, Lines of Code
Chapter 26 - 23.1: The First Farewell Bell

Chapter 26 - 23.1: The First Farewell Bell

It began like any other spring morning, but something in the air had changed.

Cherry blossoms drifted across Meiyo University's central plaza, catching the breeze and scattering memories through the air. Students bustled with resumes and nervous laughter, buzzing about the company arriving on campus for recruitment. Among them, Ren stood by the window of their shared lab room, staring blankly out at the procession of black suits and polished shoes entering the main building.

"Today's the day," Aoi whispered beside him. She leaned on the table, arms crossed, lips painted with a soft pink gloss that shimmered in the sunlight. "The big company's here."

Ren nodded. "Yeah. And we're... about to be adults, huh?"

Aoi glanced at him, brushing her hand against his. "You're already more adult than half the people here."

He smiled faintly but said nothing.

The visiting company—Tensei Futureworks, known for its cutting-edge AI-integrated infrastructure and smart living systems—was not just any name in the tech world. Getting hired here meant you were among the elite.

But for Ren and Aoi, who had grown from awkward partners in high school to near-lovers hiding behind their ambitions, it also meant this: change was inevitable.

The Interview Rounds

By mid-afternoon, the auditorium buzzed with tension. Dozens of candidates waited in line, portfolios clutched like lifelines.

Aoi, radiant even in a formal blazer, had her hair tied in a neat ponytail, strands framing her face with perfection. She nudged Ren as their turn approached.

"Let's crush this," she whispered, offering her fist for a bump.

He bumped it softly. "Together."

The interview was intense—testing not only technical skill but creative thinking and real-time collaboration. To no surprise, both Ren and Aoi passed the first round. Then the second. Then came the final selection list, to be released the next morning.

Graduation Whispers

Outside, in the shadow of the sakura trees, the student council had already begun hanging up banners for the upcoming graduation.

"Final Year Farewell — Towards New Horizons," one read in a golden serif font.

Aoi stared at it. "Feels unreal, doesn't it?"

Ren nodded slowly. "We met... just a few years ago. And now it's ending."

"Not ending." Aoi took his hand gently, shielding it between hers so no one would see. "Just changing."

But as they walked back to their shared house that evening, neither of them could shake the feeling that something else was about to shift — and not necessarily in their control.

The Storm Before the Goodbye

That night, Ren worked late in his room. The house was quiet. Too quiet. Aoi had gone to sleep early after a long day. But something else felt off.

He rubbed his eyes and yawned, stretching across his desk. The wind outside whistled. Rain tapped against the windows gently.

And then—

A faint creak.

Footsteps. Light. Bare.

Before he could turn fully, he felt someone lean in. Soft lips grazed his forehead, then his cheek. He flinched.

"Saki?!"

Her breath hitched. She was there—standing in the moonlight. Pale, determined.

"I just wanted to say goodbye," she said softly, her voice trembling. "You were... the first person who saw me. Not as an idol, not as a rich girl. Just... me."

He stood up, confused and alarmed. "Saki, what are you—?"

But before he could move back, she pressed her lips quickly to his—just a second, just a ghost of a kiss.

"I'll be back for you," she whispered, voice dropping to something cold, something eerie.

Then she was gone.

The Next Morning

Saki's dorm room: empty.

Her clothes: packed.

Her number: disconnected.

And her name? Erased from the Meiyo University portal.

As if she had never existed.

Ren stared at his phone screen, stunned. Aoi, beside him, said nothing—but her grip on his arm was tense. Too tight.

"A transfer?" he asked.

"She's gone abroad," Yuna confirmed later. "Private arrangement. Her family's got connections everywhere. I heard it was overnight."

But no one else said anything about the kiss.

And no one knew about her final words.

Only Ren.