Yue Feather had never been hugged from behind by a girl before.

This was his first time.

The touch felt soft—especially against his chest, so tender it made his heart flutter.

Silver Bell’s heartbeat, her warmth, her laughter…

All wove together, making her seem impossibly gentle.

She held him lightly, like a couple who’d known each other for years—shy yet utterly natural.

The one feeling unnatural, of course, was Yue Feather.

His whole body stiffened like a rusty robot. He twisted his neck with effort to look back at Silver Bell.

He began doubting if this was an illusion. The touch felt so real, as if Silver Bell truly existed.

He strained his eyes wide open. Though fully awake, her figure stayed crystal clear.

Yue Feather reached to touch her—but his hand passed right through her body.

Just an illusion after all.

That "real" sensation had only been his mind filling in the blanks.

Thinking back, it had been hazy and dreamlike, like a half-remembered fantasy.

He could almost smell the faint scent of her shower gel—but he knew it was still just a mirage.

A sudden sadness washed over him.

The illusion of Silver Bell vanished.

The bathroom stood empty before him, tiles bone-dry—nothing like someone had just showered.

Illusion. Illusion. Illusion…

Those two words flashed in his mind, over and over.

Like waking from a beautiful dream doused by cold reality.

That hollow loneliness made him want to sleep forever, lost in dreams…

"Time to shower," he muttered weakly, stepping into the bathroom. He turned on the tap, letting icy water pour over him.

Lying on his bed, he couldn’t sleep. He shook the bell countless times, but the cute girl never appeared. She’d vanished—just as she’d first come—suddenly here, suddenly gone.

He knew it was an illusion, yet he kept treating her like a real person.

Maybe she wasn’t an illusion at all. Maybe she was a ghost.

If she were a ghost… that wouldn’t be so bad.

Another familiar, lonely night.

He switched on the star projector lamp he’d bought online, gazing at the ceiling dotted with "twinkling stars."

It felt like lying in an endless field under the night sky.

Bored, Yue Feather counted each "star"—though they were just tiny dots of light.

He waited until midnight. Even as his mind grew hazy, she didn’t appear.

Exhausted and disappointed, he drifted into a dream where everyone had forgotten him.

He walked alone in a boundless desert—no friends, no family. Step after step, even the will to survive faded.

Thirst was all he felt.

He didn’t know if he’d reach the end, or what waited there.

With the path so unclear, why not just lie down here?

His dream self sank onto the dry sand.

Consciousness blurred, like falling into an abyss.

Suddenly, coolness brushed his lips—a fresh leaf landing there.

Then he realized: it wasn’t a leaf. It was another mouth.

That small mouth opened, pouring cool, slightly warm water into his.

His parched lips, throat, body—all revived like withered wood in spring.

Strength flooded back. Birdsong filled his ears as he slowly opened his eyes. Silver Bell leaned over him, face close, smiling warmly.

"Awake?"

"A-awake…"

"Good morning~" she whispered, kissing his cheek. The softness of her lips left him dazed again.

"Morn… morning…"

"Hm? Fever?" Silver Bell pressed her cheek to his forehead. "So hot—you really are burning up."

Of course not. It was just unbearable shyness from such intimacy with a beautiful girl.

"No…"

"Up you get, silly~ I’m starving~"

"Ah! I’ll—I’ll get up right now!"

Yue Feather scrambled out of bed and rushed to the kitchen.

Their pantry was sparse, almost pitiful.

He opened the fridge: one moldy egg, two sprouted potatoes, one barely fresh tomato.

Rice was scarce too—barely a cup left.

He wondered how long it had been since he last cooked at home.

"Mm… fridge’s empty," he said.

"I’ll buy groceries—"

"Nah, breakfast’s fine as is. Fried potatoes with tomatoes might taste good," Silver Bell said, biting her finger.

"Mm… okay!"

The moldy egg went straight into the trash—inedible.

Breakfast was plain rice with stir-fried tomatoes and potatoes. Simple.

But with Silver Bell eating beside him, it tasted incredible—better than any restaurant.

"Oh—don’t you have class today?"

"Today…? Right, class!" Startled, Yue Feather checked the clock: 7:30 AM. He could still make it if he ran.

He dropped his chopsticks, threw on his uniform, grabbed his backpack, and dashed out.

For a split second, he’d wanted to skip class and stay with her.

But reason said no.

When his mind cleared, Silver Bell would vanish.

Yue Feather sprinted down the street, dodging bikes and scooters, bursting into the subway entrance.

The subway ride would be easy—just ten minutes to school.

"Huff… huff… wait for me…" Silver Bell’s voice came from behind. She placed her small hand on his shoulder, panting.

"Huh… Silver Bell." He was surprised she hadn’t disappeared with his clear mind—but this wasn’t the first time.

Last night, she’d stayed briefly even when he was fully awake.

"Let’s go. We’ll be late." She grabbed his hand, pulling him forward.

Though he gripped only air, it felt like holding a real girl’s hand. He squeezed it twice.

"Ah! Don’t squeeze—it tickles!"

"Ahem…" Yue Feather coughed awkwardly, following her closely.

Past security, they sprinted toward the platform. He heard the train’s "beep-beep" arrival signal.

They surged into the crowded carriage. Relief washed over him—he turned to see Silver Bell’s hand still clasped with his, though she was squeezed between strangers.

"Over here." He guided her to a quieter corner, giving them space to stand.

Others shot him strange looks, stepping aside instinctively.

Clearly, they thought the boy talking to air was unstable.

But Yue Feather didn’t care. If this was an illusion, let it be real. The more real, the better—he’d live in this beautiful dream.

Maybe it was escapism. So what? Spiritual comfort was enough.

The ten-minute ride felt both short and long.

Normally, he’d kill time watching girls’ legs.

Phones were useless in the morning crush.

As the train stopped, he grabbed Silver Bell and sprinted.

The school was near the station, but time was tight. They had to beat the closing gates.

To his surprise, Silver Bell ran faster. She led the way, pulling him, glancing back with a smile.

"Creeeak—" The school gates began closing slowly.

Distant students gave up. Closer ones kept running.

Yue Feather was the nearest.

He sprinted with all his might—driven by Silver Bell’s grip.

At the last second, as the gates nearly shut, he dashed inside.

The first surge of energy fades with each try, gone by the third.

After reaching the destination, Yue Feather suddenly lost all his strength. His pace slowed, shifting from a run to a walk.

But it didn’t matter—he wasn’t late. He could just amble slowly to the classroom.

“Reporting in~!” Silver Bell reached the classroom door before Yue Feather and shouted playfully.

Of course, no one paid her any attention—she was merely a figment of Yue Feather’s imagination.

But Yue Feather shouted along too, his voice booming with unusual confidence—more than his usual self.

“Reporting in!”

The morning reading fell silent. The English teacher, standing at the podium and guiding students, frowned. “Come in.”

“Yes!”

“Has this guy lost his mind again today?” Those who knew Yue Feather well began whispering amongst themselves…