The Star at the Very Top

"Chiro, let's see it together, okay?" Sou said it in a small voice. Once a year. Only tonight, the stars fall from the sky. If you climb all the way to the top, you can see the whole sky. Sou's heart went thump-thump. Chiro's tail swayed slowly. Come on — let's climb.

Last year, he couldn't see it. From down at the bottom, the trees got in the way, and he saw only a few stars. Sou had cried, he was so frustrated. So all year long, he learned this path. Over and over and over. "This year, I'll see it from the very top. Together with Chiro." That was the promise they made.

But. Chiro is an old dog now. Lately, he walks so slowly. "Are you okay?" Sou asked, and Chiro gave a little nod. Still, his legs looked heavy. Just then, in a corner of the sky — a glint. The first star streaked down. Oh no. It's already starting.

Chiro sat right down on the grass. "Chiro, we're almost there." But Chiro just panted, huff, huff. He couldn't go any faster than this. The top was still far away. At this rate, all the stars would fall and be over before they got there. Sou's chest squeezed tight.

A little way ahead, there was a hollow in the grass. Soft, and warm. Here, Chiro could rest easy. But — ringed by trees, only a sliver of sky showed through. A glint. Another star streaked down. A flash, just between the trees. "Chiro, let's see it together…"

Inside Sou, two feelings crashed together. He wanted to see the whole sky from the top. — But he didn't want to leave Chiro all alone. Chiro looked up at the sky, and then he looked at the dark path ahead. As if to say, "Go on ahead." But his tail had drooped, low and quiet.

The sky truly began to fall. Golden stars, so many of them. If he ran to the top right now, he could see them all. But Chiro is here. The whole sky — or the place beside Chiro. Sou clenched his fists, tight. …What will Sou do?