That was a clear night sky. Stars appear as they shine bright at the darkest  night. That was a good sign for a good one last wish. A wish that will give hope to some people. Some people who almost lost everything. Some people who are shattered by their cruel fate.

Both young teenage boys started to believe that by counting stars at seven days at the night of the last day, your wish will be granted. They grasp for that belief hoping it will come true. Hoping that, that rumor is true. Rumor or not it gave them light that they will escape this cruel fate of life.

“One, two, three, four, five, six and seven.” They both counted until they counted the last star and stated their wish.

“I want to live.” Yuuma said as he watched the night sky.

“I want to die.” Yuuto said as he peered at the night sky.

While closing their eyes and clenching both of their hands.

That was the end of that rumor. They both have their own desires but will the deity permit that kind of wish? That may affect how fate and destiny works?

They both said their wish in unison while closing their eyes. Sincerity and faith is the only thing you’ll see in their hearts. This is the last day of the counting stars.

The only thing they know that they need to believe and put all of their faith in it, because they knew that this is the only hope, the only plan they have left. The only solution they could think of.

They can’t find anyone to help that is why they rely on a wish. Where wish is just a legend and don’t know if it will come true.

How they pray that this certain wish would be granted, like what fairytales do.

That night changed their life. They will witness how fair and unfair life is. How everything started from a certain luck of life.

It's either you control your life or fate will control it for you, but no one knows how fate controls life. Some say that fate’s way is more painful and miserable than what you think it is. Will you be able to remain sane from the cruelty of life?

What do you think? How do you want your life to be?

What will you choose? An easy path where you'll be the one who decides where fate brought you? Or a life where fate has already decided and just go with the flow?

Or is the only answer is accept your fate that they have already written for you?

How will they face everything if this wishing to a star  is  just a diversion of their sadness and frustrations? Will you realize everything before it's too late? Or live in a  life with such an unbearable regret?

The only question remains is will they get a better life or much cruel fate than the ones they already have?

Part 01

Uchiyama Yuuma’s POV

“One, two, three, four, five, six and seven.”I counted and after the seventh star I stated my wish.

“I want to live.” I said while wishing as I watched the night sky.

I know believing this stuff is kinda childish but because of this I somehow hoped that its true and that it will come true.

“Uchiyama-san, time for lights off.” The nurse said as she opened the door of my room to remind me of what the time is.

I was actually staying at the hospital because of my sickness. I have acute myeloid leukemia. It occurs when primitive blood-forming cells called myeloblasts reproduce without developing into normal blood cells. Immature myeloblasts crowd the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. This leads to anemia, a condition in which a person does not have enough red blood cells. It can also lead to bleeding and bruising (due to a lack of blood platelets, which help the blood to clot) and frequent infections (due to a lack of protective white blood cells).

It was discovered during my graduation from lower secondary school. They brought me to the hospital when I suddenly fainted while my nose was bleeding. That time everything started, the pain and suffering. Everything changed because of that day. That day was the start of a horrible and miserable life for me. I know that I am not as miserable as others but what can I do? That's the only thing that I can think of. I’m being a burden to everyone especially to my parents, but I’m still trying to be strong to liven up everything for their sake. Even though everyday I always think of giving up, if there’s a chance that I could still live I’ll grasp on that chance even if it's only .001 %.

They told me that they were so scared, they even cried that time when I was first brought to the hospital, but they didn’t know that I have a severe disease. I just told them that I was fine only my parents knew about my sickness because I told them to keep it a secret. I don’t want them to pity me or even sympathize with me because of what happened to me.

[Flashback]

After the giving of the diploma and giving the awards and honors, the valedictorian of our school year came to the stage. She fixed herself and started her speech, she’s the last part of the program. Even though I’ve got good grades she’s still got the highest between us. She’s Kawaguchi Rei, my best friend and at the same time my rival.

As she descends the stage, she looks at me smiling then all of a sudden her expression changed, her smile disappeared and was replaced by nervousness. She then ran towards me. I felt something flowing down my nose, I thought it was just a cold. I wiped it with my handkerchief and looked at what it was, I was startled when I saw that it was blood.

And suddenly someone screamed.

“Yuu!!” It was Rei.

Then I lost my consciousness and everything went black. And when I woke up I was already at the hospital. Everyone I know was there waiting for me to wake up. I saw them exchanging hugs and smiles when they saw me wake up, but that time I started to feel pain in my body and headaches and I even got tired and weaker. At that moment I just endured everything I didn't want them to see me like this.

They said goodbye to the thought that I’m fine, but after they left I waited a few minutes I started to scream in pain.

“ARRGGGHHH !!!!” I screamed as I crumbled my body in pain. 

My family started to panic and call the nurses and the doctor. I can see their faces pitying me while crying, especially my mom, but there’s nothing I can do but endure everything to not make them worry me.

But why is it too much, too much pain. I sometimes lose consciousness because of the pain. They always give me pain killers just to make my body numb from the pain, but it's still not enough because not only my physical body is affected but also my mentality, everything I think about is getting dark. I am losing my hope.

That’s when my family told me that I have acute myeloid leukemia.

[End of Flashback]

A year has passed since that day, but I’m still at the Hospital. I should have been a second year in my senior secondary school. My youth is kinda wasted in this hospital facility. They said that I need to stay here to monitor me. I’m currently under induction therapy for about a year now I guess. They even suggest that I get a chemotherapy treatment because maybe I’m not getting any better and it's actually the main treatment for my sickness but I refuse, because I know it will only double the pain that I’m feeling right now. I just told them to make a herbal treatment for me, because that’s way more better I think.

I turned off the lights and started to think. I’ve waited until the clock strikes to 12:00 midnight. To witness if my wish will come true or not or will it crush the hope that I only have right now. Well everything makes sense since from the very start there’s no hope for me.

*sigh I guess I wouldn’t be with Rei anymore. I’m considering myself having only a few days? Few months? Or a few years left for me to live. I just wanted myself to be prepared to die, since from the start my sickness doesn’t have any cure. It will just gradually kill me.

I look at the clock in my room. There are only five clicks of the clock’s hand left until it's 12:00 midnight.

“Five, four, three, t-two and o-on-ne. ARGHHHHH !!!” I counted and shouted as my count turned to one. I felt a huge shock of pain. Then next thing I know is I suddenly shaking while clenching my teeth, sh*t I can’t move.

I’m having a seizure.

Is this the end? Am I going to die now??

Kawaguchi Rei’s POV

That was our graduation day, when Yuu suddenly fainted. I was so nervous that day, because I don’t know what to do. I was just there panicking while holding him in my arms.

[Flashback]

Before Yuu fainted I saw his nose bleeding. I know Yuu is weak and prone to sickness but this is the first that his nose bleed, because in all the years we’ve been together his common sickness is cough, cold and fever. I ran towards him and shouted his name.

“Yuu!!” I shouted as loud as I can then Yuu suddenly fainted.

He fell down on the ground and everyone was shocked by what happened while some students screamed and panicked because of the blood that they saw. All the teachers immediately went to him, because of the loud sound falling from the ground and  the ruckus the other students made.

When I got to where he was I immediately lifted his body and placed it on my lap. While calling his name. I’m scared.

“Y-yuu please wake up, Yuu.” I repeatedly whispered to him while I was trembling, tears suddenly falling down my eyes.

“Call an ambulance immediately.” Our adviser shouted to the other teachers.

“Yuu.” I said as I tapped his cheeks to wake him up.

I checked his pulse and breathing. He’s not responding, but you can hear his difficulty in breathing. What happened to him? He’s okay right? The questions that suddenly pop up to my head. Some dark thoughts keep on entering my head. My heart was beating so fast, I’m scared that he might not wake up while telling me he’s ok like he used to whenever he’s sick.

“Calm down Rei, the ambulance on its way.” Our adviser said while holding my shoulder to make me calm down*.

“Y-yuu ..” I keep on mumbling while crying.

[End of Flashback]

I’m really worried but it's already late. I can’t go to the hospital at this hour. It's probably lights off. Hmm .. maybe I could sneak in. I secretly left the house to go to the hospital to see Yuu, because I got a bad feeling about it.

It's already 11:45 pm when I arrived at the hospital. I walk silently at the side where Yuu’s window is located. While I was thinking of a way to go up to his room. I checked my watch it was already 11:57 pm. I looked up and thought of a plan. I started to climb when I was about to reach Yuu’s window. I heard a loud voice. It startled me and lost my balance.

“Five, four, three, t-two and o-on-ne. ARGHHHHH !!!” That’s Yuu. As I fall down while trying to reach his window.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” I whispered and tears fell down my face. Then I lost my consciousness when I hit the ground because of the fall from the second floor.

I lift my hand reaching the sky like I was dreaming.

"Yuu." I called desperately.

-------

I woke up gasping for air while holding my chest. Was that a dream? I look around and realize that I'm at the hospital?? So that wasn't a dream. My head hurt a little causing me to touch it. I stood up and looked in the mirror to see what was in it. There was a bandage around it, probably because of the fall last night.

I remember what happened last night. I heard Yuu's voice in pain. As I opened the door there stood my worried mom.

"Why did you snuck out last night? Look what happened to you, good thing your brother followed you." Mom said.

Then my big brother entered the conversation.

"Mom, she just misses her boyfriend, let her be."He said in a sarcastic tone while putting his arm on my shoulder.“You owe me one.” He jokingly said then he fist bumped me. Well he’s always my lifesaver, good thing he’s there or I’d be dead by now, I think.

“So, How are you feeling now?” Mom asked.

“I’m fine, it just stings a bit.” I said while holding my head.

“By the way where’s dad?” I asked.

“Busy as always.” My big brother said.

“I see.” I responded kinda got a bit sad even though I got into an accident he seems not to care.

“Mom, I'm gonna go. I need to check Yuu first.” I said and ran outside my hospital room.

“Be careful not to trip.” Mom shouted.

I stopped in front of Yuu’s room, panting as I hurriedly ran to him. As I opened the door I saw Yuu’s mom crying while hugging his dad. And his dad was just there seriously looking dumbfounded.

I followed his father’s gaze and there was Yuu sitting in the bed while staring at his parents clueless as his doctor passed by me at the door.

“Auntie, what’s wrong?” I asked worriedly. And she didn’t respond, she’s just there crying non-stop.

“Hey, Yuu. How are you feeling?” I asked worriedly because of what I heard last night.

He just looked at me clueless like figuring out what to respond to my question.

“Sorry but who are you?” He seriously asked. You can see in his face that he’s really serious, but I thought he’s just pranking me.

“Stop joking around Yuu. It's me Rei, your best friend.” I answered while forcing a smile.

“I’m sorry but I don’t really know you.” He answered. It broke my heart and tears started to fall from my eyes.

Why did it hurt so much? What’s wrong with him? What happened last night?

“Huh?” The only word that I utter because of the emotions and tears that I felt simultaneously.