~12:30 AM~

The clock ticked rhythmically in the living room, singing a soft lull in the ears of those within reach. There was a single pair still present at this hour, awake. Late as it was, it still felt much too early for Nariyuki to head to bed yet. He was committed to this midnight routine, one that he refused to stray away from. Until it was done...until she called him, he would continue with his current task of working on his studies.

Or at least that's what he would be doing...if he wasn't so distracted. For the third time in the past five minutes, his attention shifted to his phone on the table. His thoughts drifted to her, reflecting on the girl's present affairs. It was the night before her big day...or technically...the morning of. Three months had passed since Fumino had first left for her internship at the NAO. In terms of duration, it was far from what he truly felt. To him it had seemed like forever. Everyday away from her had stretched out longer than he could deal with, and the few reprieves in between where she had visited could not have felt shorter. The idea of time only flying in moments of enjoyment had certainly held true on his end.

Yes…he missed her.

But now wasn't the time to focus on himself.

It was her big day. Her moments of nervousness and anticipation.

It was the last day of Fumino's internship.

Which may have been seen by most as a celebratory occurrence, and it was, but Nariyuki was also well informed of the stressful implication. The day marked the final evaluation to determine whether or not the girl would receive a full time offer from the organization...to determine if she would become an official researcher for the NAO. The decision would be made in consideration of her overall performance of the entire internship, but the biggest factor would be her presentation; an oral delivery of a unique research thesis that demonstrated her aptitude for her chosen study; astronomy.

That was to take place in the morning….in less than seven hours.

Which was probably the reason as to why Fumino hadn't called him yet, and he perfectly understood. She was likely making the final preparations for her presentation, rehearsing studiously to get her thesis memorized. There was no doubt just how hard the girl was working right now.

But even still...he wanted to talk to her.

To encourage her.

I could just call her myself...but...I don't want to interrupt her if she's focused on preparing right now…

It would be a different story if he was actually by her side physically. He wouldn't have to worry about interrupting her, and he would also freely be able to help the girl in anyway he could...like making her tea, doing chores, or just simply being a shoulder to lean on.

But since he wasn't…all he could do was confront his worry for her.

I hope she's doing alright…

BZZZT

His phone buzzed suddenly, and without a second to spare, Nariyuki snatched the vibrating device off the table.

His eyes read the name of the dialer, and relief subsequently flooded through his veins. Swiftly and quietly, he stepped outside of the house to the front patio. The living room had been empty, but the walls of the house may as well have been absent when it came to mitigating sound.

With an animated eagerness, Nariyuki answered the call.

"H-Hello?"

"N-Nariyuki?" The sound of her bell-like voice gave him a feeling of warmth that he'd come to cherish so much. "I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to call so late. It's taking a bit longer than I thought to get everything prepared for tomorrow..."

Nariyuki smiled and shook his head in assurance. "It's no problem. I just wanted to check on you is all." His gaze then softened in concern. "You must be really stressed right now..."

Fumino giggled lightly at that.

"Just a bit. I don't think I'll be able to fall asleep tonight given how jittery my stomach feels."

"I guess that means you'll finally be able to hold back on the snacks then, huh?"

"Jeez…somehow I knew you were going to say that."

Nariyuki chuckled brightly, delighted by the playful exchange. It was always comforting...to be able to poke fun at each other like this. It was something that would never get old in his heart, and he really wished he could continue with the direction of humor. But right now, his focus should be on making sure whether or not Fumino was mentally prepared for tomorrow's events.

And so naturally...his expression turned serious.

"Are you sure you're okay, Furuhashi?"

"Hm? Y-yeah, I'm fine! Don't worry, I managed not to get sick this time." The girl said positively, earning him another chuckle. It was comforting to hear, but it wasn't exactly the direction he was going for.

"That's good to hear...but…"

"How are you really feeling?" He elaborated. When the girl offered no immediate reply, he continued with a gentle voice. "You don't have to hold back. If talking about it will help you relax...then I want you to be able to do so."

"I'm here to listen to you...no matter what it is, Furuhashi." He finished softly.

Fumino was silent, and even without being able to see her, Nariyuki could imagine the wide eyed stare currently plastered on her face. The seconds ticked by...slowly, and when it stretched out longer than an entire minute, he worried that the girl might have hung up on him by accident.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case.

"Honestly...I'm scared, Nariyuki..." She spoke up suddenly, surprising him. "I've been rehearsing nonstop, and..I definitely feel like I'm ready but…what if I completely mess it up tomorrow..?"

He felt himself still at her words, and at the same time, an immense weight relieved from his chest from the admission.

"You've been preparing so hard for this." He said encouragingly. "I know it as much as you do. You're going to do wonderful tomorrow. I'm sure of it."

Silence once again filled the speaker.

"F-Furuhashi..?"

"S-sorry...I mean...thank you Nariyuki...It makes me really happy to hear that...I just..."

He waited patiently, letting the girl take her time in opening herself up.

"The truth is...I can't seem to bring it all together," she continued with a meek voice. "I have my entire thesis planned out clearly in my mind...and I've been able to recall it consistently in my practice runs...but...as soon as I think about actually being there...when I visualize myself speaking in front of my evaluators…"

"My mind can't stop going blank..."

...

"I can't stop shaking..."

Nariyuki took in her words with an open heart.. It had caught him off guard, to the point where he was bound speechless, but in spite of that, he couldn't help but feel an immediate sense of understanding as well.

It was natural...what Fumino was going through. No matter how much she practiced, the overlying sense of pressure was still there. The evaluators she was going to present to were professionals. The best of the best. And her performance would solely determine her chances at working at one of the top institutions of space research in the world.

This was her biggest chance at fulfilling her dream.

Anyone would be overwhelmed if put in her position.

But…telling her that wouldn't help her.

At the end of the day, this was her goal, and Fumino had to see it through. As her boyfriend…As the support that he had promised to be for her...it was his job to be there to uplift her.

He needed to tell her the words she needed to hear the most.

"Furuhashi…I-"

RIIIIING

The sound of a ringtone startled him from his thought process. It had come from the other side of the speaker, and it didn't take him long to put one and two together, realizing that the girl was receiving another incoming call from her phone.

"Oh my god...I-I'm so sorry, Nariyuki! I completely forgot that Alice was supposed to call me to go over our research data! C-can you hold for just a second? I'll tell her that I'll call her back after we finish."

He blinked twice, taken aback by the swing of events, but his expression quickly softened as he remembered just how little time there was left for Fumino to prepare.

He should really let the girl get back to her work.

"It's okay. You don't have to do that." He assured her. "Go have your talk with Alice. She's much more suited to help you finish with your preparation than I am."

Fumino immediately spoke out in disagreement.

"T-that's not true! Talking to you is more important to me than anything!" She argued firmly. "I'm sure Alice wouldn't mind waiting!"

"That may be true...but you only have six hours left before your presentation. I can't exactly help you with your research data like her now can I?"

"T-that's…"

He smiled at her persistence, practically feeling the girl's guilt emanating through the phone. He could never understand it...just how selfless Fumino was...even in the most unreasonable situations.

She truly was kindness personified.

"It's okay, Furuhashi. For tomorrow...at least for the next six hours...just focus on yourself. I'll be more than happy knowing that you were able to get some extra preparation with Alice, so don't worry about me, okay?" He said assuredly.

"Nariyuki…"

"And...about what I wanted to say earlier…I..."

He hesitated. He had been fully intent on speaking his heart earlier, but with wind having been taken out of his sails from the interruption, Nariyuki struggled to find the right words to say now.

He sighed internally, deciding to let go of the fleeting feeling. He couldn't keep Fumino waiting much longer.

"Try to still get some sleep, okay?" He offered instead. "I know it'll be hard...but some rest will definitely help clear your mind before the presentation."

It was far from his original train of thought, but at least it was something.

"R-right..." Fumino uttered softly. "Thank you, Nariyuki...I'll call you as soon as I can tomorrow after I get the results."

He nodded with a smile.

"I'll be waiting."

Unremitting, almost naggingly, an urge to say more still gnawed at his heart as his grip tightened around his phone.

"And you're going to do just fine, Furuhashi. I promise." He said to finish. It almost sounded desperate, as if he was trying to convince himself of the fact.

And to a certain extent...he was.

"Thank you...for staying up for me too. It means the world to me."

"Of course..."

He imagined the girl smiling sadly as she forced herself to say her next words.

"Goodnight Nariyuki."

And for him...his chest tightened all the same.

"Goodnight...Fumino."

The call ended, and Nariyuki was left in his silence.

It seemed like an eternity as he stood outside with his back against the door. His eyes stared up at the night sky, and the subtle luminescence of the moon stared back, threatening to be enveloped by the profuse darkness surrounding it. It was late. Much like his family, everyone in the neighborhood was likely already asleep.

He returned back inside, and headed for the washroom. Having already taken a bath prior, the only task left for him to do was to brush his teeth. He eventually did so, and made his way to their room of futons where the rest of his family was already resting.

Minutes ticked by as he lied there, and those minutes easily transitioned to an hour. Snippets of their conversations earlier floated around in his head like flies drawn to a glow, occupying his conscience fully.

He couldn't sleep.

He wasn't tired.

And even if he was...Nariyuki wasn't sure he'd be able to bring himself to rest.

...

He still had something he needed to say to her.

~6:45 AM~

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, and the train bustled with workers signifying the start of the day. Fumino fidgeted on her seat, trying her best to calm her nerves. She had been like this pretty much the entire ride so far, and she was beginning to regret not bringing stomach medication with her.

There was likely only a minute left till her stop, and after that it was a five minute walk to the NAO facility. So in total, she had approximately six minutes to get her composure together.

"We have arrived at: Misumi prefecture"

Five minutes to get her composure together...

It was no use. No matter how much she tried telling herself that things would be alright, she couldn't seem to stop doubting herself. She had been doing just fine in the weeks leading up to this moment, but now that reality was beginning to settle in, she couldn't stop her insecurities from taking over.

The only thing that was keeping her remotely in check was her thoughts of Nariyuki. His voice. His smile.

'You're going to do just fine, Furuhashi. I promise.'

If only she could hear his voice again once more. It would be more than enough to set her straight.

But she couldn't call him.

She couldn't be selfish.

Nariyuki believed in her, and right now...she needed to step up and believe in herself. He already provided more than enough support for her to be able to be brave, and calling him now...waking him up at this hour, when he had already stayed up so late to hear her out last night…

There was no way that she could do such a-

RIIIIING

The sound of her phone should have been familiar to her ears, but in that moment it was jarring, and Fumino nearly tripped over herself from the incoming call. She reached into her bag clumsily, and pulled out the ringing device. She was expecting it to be Alice, probably calling her to make sure that she was on the way, so when an entirely different name displayed itself on the screen, Fumino felt her entire body freeze.

And soon after, she answered the call with a fluster.

"N-Nariyuki?"

"Furuhashi...T-thank goodness I wasn't too late…" The boy's gentle voice made its way to her ears with overlying familiarity, causing her to go silent for several seconds.

"W-what are you doing awake, Nariyuki..? It's still six in the morning. I thought your first class doesn't start until nine..."

"S-sorry...I know I told you that it was important to get some rest, but honestly...I wasn't able to fall asleep myself…"

The admission did very little to clear up her confusion.

"T-then…"

"I wanted to talk to you...one last time before your presentation. I know I should've told you this last night...but...I couldn't think of the right words to say at that time. I'm sorry it took so long for me to call you again..."

Her question was answered with his explanation, but even so, her shock persisted. Just a few moments earlier, she had yearned to hear his voice, but she truly hadn't expected her wish to be granted. Now that it had...she was left in quite the dumbstruck state.

Before she could recover, Nariyuki was speaking again with a soft voice.

"Furuhashi...I know I've asked you this before...but...do you remember...the first time we went to the field together?"

The field. For most, the term would've been too broad to make any sort of association, but for Fumino, it could not be any more indicative.

"Of course…." She replied almost immediately.

A brief silence followed in between.

"There were a lot of things that made that time so memorable for me." Nariyuki continued reminiscently. "So many things happened that day...especially for you. But for me...I felt especially lucky because I got to see how beautiful you were when you talked about the stars. The joy in your eyes whenever you look at them, the excitement in your voice when you speak of them...I know I've said it before but...I can't ever stop expressing just how much I love that sight of you. It's like the whole world fades away...and all that's left is the pure happiness emanating from your heart."

"I treasure that time the most…"

"Because it's the time where I get to see you having the most fun."

Fumino simply stood there, her golden eyes open wide, processing his words tentatively. She knew he wasn't finished yet, and even though they were miles apart from each other, even though they were unable to see each other physically, in that moment, she could feel Nariyuki reaching for her hands and bringing them close to his chest. She could feel his soft brown eyes boring into hers with warmth as he continued with his encouragement resolutely.

"Furuhashi...today is no different. No matter what the stakes are...no matter who it is that you'll be speaking to...this is your time to talk about the stars. The beautiful celestial lights that you know and love so much...this is just another time for you to share about them."

...

"Whether it's the director of the organization or just another one of your coworkers listening...you don't have to be like anyone else but yourself. So just go have fun...and enjoy doing what you love most."

His hands around hers tightened, almost fatefully, and her breath held in anticipation.

"Go show them just how much you love the stars, Fumino."

It was there. In an uplifting manner, it made itself apparent.

The words she needed to hear the most.

Like a light in the darkened sky, offering itself to her in a gentle caress, her anxiety and fears were dispelled at full force by the overwhelming trust and affirmation that the boy had just blessed her with.

She was grateful. So very grateful. But words of thanks just didn't seem to equate to the raw emotion brimming from inside her.

Words that could only ever be expressed to him.

Those were the ones that left her lips seamlessly.

"I love you, Nariyuki..."

And like a steady star in the northern sky, persistent and unwavering.

They found its way back to her promisingly.

"I love you too, Fumino..."

"Let's do our best today."

~7:00 AM~

There were five evaluators. Two of which were official committee members. They were all dressed professionally, and the stoic expressions presented on their faces went well in suggesting their established pedigrees.

The room where the evaluation was being held was isolated from the rest of the facility. The only sounds that could be heard were the slight rustling of paperwork and the scribbling of pens, in addition to her beating heart.

There was no doubt about it.

The tension was palpable.

"Fumino Furuhashi, whenever you're ready you may begin."

She took a deep breath, and brought both of her hands to her chest. She reached into the collar of her uniform, and brought out the necklace she was wearing for her eyes to see. It was the Polaris pendant that Nariyuki had given her for her birthday.

At this exact moment, he was wearing it too.

And the very thought allowed her to picture his face in her mind in all its gentleness.

'Go show them just how much you love the stars, Fumino.'

A smile formed on her lips and she nodded resolutely.

Her eyes met the evaluators'...and she began.

"Whenever we look at a pair of neighboring galaxies, a correlation between the alignment of the two bodies and their physical separation can be made. In studying this we can better understand the ways in which early and late type stars align themselves in our universe. This is where my thesis begins..."

~8:45 AM~

Waiting was not one of Nariyuki's strong suits, especially when it came to news regarding Fumino.

He was antsy. The fact that he had not gotten a single wink of sleep wasn't helping his cause. Ever since he had called the girl very early in the morning, all he could think about was her. Not that it differed from his typical mental state. On most days, he was almost always thinking of Fumino in some form or fashion.

But still...today was different.

At the very least...his thoughts of her usually didn't involve this much anxiety. By now, the girl's evaluation should have been completed already, but it wouldn't be until the end of the day that Fumino would receive her results from the committee. And even if he wanted to call her, the NAO didn't allow the usage of personal cell phones within the workplace. He likely wouldn't be able to hear from her until she left the facility, which was still many hours away.

Whatever the circumstances were...he still wished he could be there with her physically. The fact that he couldn't was terribly frustrating.

"Nariyuki, are you not going to eat? The food is getting cold."

He perked up at Mizuki's voice, realizing that his chopsticks still remained untouched. He must've been lost in his thoughts for at least a solid few minutes.

"S-sorry, I was just...distracted."

"Well, you better hurry up and eat, otherwise you'll be late for your first class." His sister reminded him admonishingly.

"R-right…"

~1:00 PM~

"For application of curriculum assessment, student learning can be monitored by creating appropriate tests, using oral exams, designing projects, and other techniques. For those pursuing a career in highschool teaching, it's especially important for you to hone in on these practices. We'll start by applying these..."

It was no use. He couldn't focus after all. Assessment development was one of his favorite classes this year, and even still his mind was far too distracted to focus on the lecture. His attention was drawn away from his professor, and his thoughts occupied itself on a completely different person, doubt and assurance swinging interchangeably.

'It's okay...she's worked so hard to get here...there's no way they would turn her down after seeing how passionate she is…'

'Right..?'

"Mr. Yuiga." At his name being called out, Nariyuki whipped his head back towards his professor in a startle. "Since you seem to be so focused on my lecture, would you perhaps like to teach the class instead?"

His face burned in hot embarrassment, and as quickly as he could, he bowed his head in apology. "I'm so sorry, sir. It won't happen again, I promise..."

The professor grunted in acknowledgement before turning his attention back to the blackboard.

"As I was saying…"

~4:30 PM~

"What's the matter, Nariyuki? You're usually a lot faster at getting this kind of paperwork done."

One of his fellow interns had apparently noticed his lack of efficiency. Administration paperwork was one of the few tasks at his internship that didn't require too much critical thinking, so Nariyuki was usually very quick to finish his quota.

Obviously that wasn't the case today.

"Sorry Oda...I have a lot on my mind today. I'll get this done right away." He said apologetically.

The boy waved his hand dismissively "It's fine. I'm not your boss or anything….I was just curious is all. You get in a fight with your girlfriend or something?"

Nariyuki chuckled lightly at the inquiry.

"Quite the opposite actually. She just had her final assessment for her internship this morning, so I'm a bit nervous on how it went." He answered honestly.

"Ah, so that's why you look so anxious. You really do care about her, huh?"

Nariyuki smiled softly.

"I do."

Oda nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer.

"Well...I'm about to clock out for the day. I'll see you tomorrow then. Hope everything goes well for your girlfriend."

Nariyuki smiled appreciatively and waved him goodbye. Once Oda closed the office door behind him, it was quiet again.

His gaze shifted to the window...wistfully.

"I hope so too, Oda…"

~6:30 PM~

The promise of dusk peaked into the windows of the moving train, mingling with the sounds of evening chatter. It was the busiest time of the day, as workers and students alike were all trying to find their way home at the same time. It was no surprise that there weren't any open seats amongst the mass of passengers.

Holding on to the handle of the train, Nariyuki peaked at his phone, examining the time. It wouldn't be long now until Fumino called him to inform him of her results. Thankfully, he still had enough time to get home before she did. The last thing he wanted was to talk to the girl in a fully packed train.

In fact...he would've preferred to be completely alone.

It was honestly silly when he thought about it. This morning when he had first called the girl, he had been brimming with encouragement and positivity, but now that the news was finally about to arrive, he could barely get a hold of himself.

He was nervous...frightened even.

It was exactly like the night all those years ago at the field. When he and Fumino had first confessed to each other. The nervousness he had felt in the moments before was the same one he felt now.

Suffocating.

He sighed, trying his best to calm himself. This wasn't the time for him to panic.

He needed to be strong and ready to support the girl for whatever the result would be.

He had to be there for her.

Another heavy exhale escaped his lips, and this time he was able to find a small amount of composure.

"We have arrived at: Toyama Prefecture."

Toyama. Two more stops until his destination. Ten minutes more on the train, and then a five minute walk back home afterwards.

More than enough time to clear his mind…

Unless-

BZZZZTT

His phone vibrated in his hand.

He looked down at the screen and his heart seemed to stop entirely.

It was early. Much too early.

He wasn't nearly prepared yet.

"The doors of the train are now closing."

His feet were moving before he even had a chance to think. Slipping through the crowd, Nariyuki vaulted out of the door right before it closed shut.

This wasn't his stop.

But that didn't matter right now.

He ran through the station, bumping into people left and right, yelling apologies as he did so. He wasn't familiar with the place, but thankfully all of Japan's train stations were generally the same layout. His eyes found the exit, and he quickly made his way outside the terminal.

Much to his luck, it wasn't anything like a bustling shopping complex that awaited him. A peaceful park was the first thing outside, and he promptly found a spot beneath a tree with no one else around.

He was breathless.

His heart was racing.

The phone was still ringing, and it was soon about to reach the last dial.

With all the courage he could muster…

Nariyuki accepted the call.

"F-Furuhashi?"

"N-Nariyuki? I'm sorry! You must still be on the train right? I just left the facility, so I wanted to call you right away..."

The surprise in her voice told him quite clearly that she hadn't expected him to pick up on the last dial, but hearing the relief held there as well made Nariyuki glad that he did.

"I-It's okay. I just got off the train, so it's perfectly fine..." He assured the girl.

A pause, and his expression tensed.

"D-did you...did they…"

He couldn't finish the question but he was sure that Fumino knew what he was asking. It was odd, perhaps, but in that moment, time itself seemed to pause. Waiting for her answer, with his breath in his throat, Nariyuki was once again reminded of their first time at the field together. Or that night they had stayed at the hotel together after the festival, the way her eyes sparkled at the display of the starry sky. He was reminded of her tears, her loneliness from relying on herself for so long. He was reminded of her determination, and all their tedious study sessions together.

The hope inside him surged, more powerful than ever.

If there was ever a moment where he wished his prayers to be answered, it was now.

And with a steady voice...Fumino answered him.

"They accepted me...I got the offer."

"I'm going to work at the NAO, Nariyuki..."

...

The nearby leaves whistled under his feet as they left a silent song in their wake. His eyes felt watery, but he wasn't sure why. He didn't even notice the teardrops that slowly found its way down his face to the ground.

But the moment the realization came...the overwhelming emotions flooded through him like an open dam.

Tears spilled from his eyes, running down his cheeks one after another, and a quiet sob escaped his lips.

"N-Nariyuki?! W-what's the matter? D-did something happen..?" Fumino asked in a panic.

Her concern only seemed to make him cry harder.

'"I-I'm sorry…" He said through another sob, his words tumbling out almost incoherently. "I just...I still remember the first night you told me about your dream. I-I wanted to see you make it come true...so much...a-and...and after all this time...after how hard you worked to get here...you finally made it happen…"

Elation. Joy. All at once, his heart bloomed with sincerity and relief.

"I-I'm just so happy for you, Fumino..."

The girl's reaction was immediate, and in an almost identical manner, Fumino whimpered and began tearing up as well.

"W-what do you mean, you dummy…" She said with a watery voice. "Y-you were always there with me...you're the reason...that I was able to continue to be strong. W-without you to encourage me...without you there with me...I would never have been able to reach this far..."

She hiccuped through her tears, trying her best to control them, but the raw emotion seeped through her voice despite her efforts.

"I-it's all because of your support, Nariyuki…" She whispered gratefully.

Nariyuki's tears continued to flow, but through all of it, he found himself smiling brightly.

He was happy...so happy.

From the very first moment they had met…

No matter when or where…

Fumino never failed to make him feel this way.

Belonging. Purpose.

She was that person to him.

The one who could make him feel this whole.

He felt serenity imbue him from head to toe. There was no doubt remaining in his voice now, only joy.

With nothing to hold him back anymore...the words from the bottom of his heart left his lips earnestly.

"Congratulations...Fumino."

And as imaginable as it was…in all its warmth and affection…

Her beautiful smile presented itself to him clearly.

"Thank you...Sensei."

A/N: Hello! Thanks for reading this chapter! A little bit of short one this time.

Finals are coming up for in a couple of weeks, so I'll try to get a chapter out before that hits. As always, feel free to leave a review. Always happy to hear feedback.

Until Next Time!