Part 4: Past Memories of Love
Travis
Over the next few weeks, Hiro and I naturally grew closer. It wasn't something either of us deliberately planned—it just happened. After class, we'd somehow always end up together, whether it was grabbing coffee at our usual spot, wandering aimlessly through the city streets, or simply sitting side by side in a quiet space, saying nothing yet understanding everything.
I found myself looking forward to those moments more than I wanted to admit. One afternoon, as we sat on a bench outside campus, watching students pass by, I decided to finally ask him something that had been on my mind for a while. My fingers fidgeted with the camera strap around my neck as I turned to him.
"Hiro," I called, breaking the comfortable silence. He glanced at me, sipping his iced coffee. "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
Hiro raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. "That depends. What kind of favor?"
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "I'm participating in a photography exhibit next month," I explained. "And I need a subject for my piece. I was wondering if you'd be willing to model for me."
His lips parted slightly in surprise. "Me?"
I chuckled at his reaction. "Yeah, you."
Hiro looked away, as if unsure. "I mean, I've never really done anything like that before..."
"You don't have to do anything crazy," I reassured him quickly. "Just be yourself. I want to capture something real, something with meaning. And honestly..." I hesitated before finishing, "I think you'd be perfect for it."
Hiro turned his gaze back to me, studying my face for a few seconds. There was something unreadable in his expression, like he was searching for something in my words. Then, he exhaled and gave a small, amused smile. "You're really persistent, huh?" I grinned, leaning back against the bench. "Maybe."
He shook his head, the smile still playing on his lips. "Alright, fine. I'll do it."
A rush of excitement surged through me. "Really?" Hiro chuckled softly. "Yeah, but only because it's you asking." His words caught me completely off guard. My heartbeat stuttered in my chest, and for a brief moment, I forgot how to breathe. I looked at him, but he had already turned away, acting like he hadn't just said something that sent my emotions into chaos.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to play it cool. "Great," I said, trying to sound casual. "I promise it'll be worth it."
As the conversation faded into another comfortable silence, I realized that something between us had shifted again—subtle, unspoken, yet impossible to ignore.
That night, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about Hiro. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, but all I could see in my mind was his face—his smile, the way his eyes always seemed to hold a quiet warmth. Every little detail about him lingered in my thoughts, refusing to fade.
I turned onto my side, gripping my pillow. Why am I like this? Every time I thought about his smile, my heart skipped a beat. Every time I replayed his words—"only because it's you asking"—a strange warmth spread in my chest. It was frustrating. Annoying, even. I groaned, burying my face into the pillow. "Shit... this can't be happening."
But it was. It took me way too long to realize it, but now I couldn't deny it anymore—I had feelings for Hiro. Not just admiration. Not just some fleeting crush. It was something deeper. Something that made my chest feel tight, my stomach flip, my thoughts spiral out of control. Something that made me want to see him every day, hear his voice, capture every single moment of him with my camera just so I could hold onto it forever.
I rolled onto my back again, staring at the faint glow of the streetlights filtering through my curtains. My heart pounded against my ribs, a restless, nervous beat. The moment I acknowledged my feelings, a wave of fear crashed down on me. What if I confessed and ruined everything? What if he didn't feel the same way? What if he started avoiding me?
Would I be okay with that? Losing the bond we had now just because I wanted more? I let out a long, heavy sigh, running a frustrated hand through my hair. "This is so damn frustrating," I muttered under my breath.
I wanted to tell him. I wanted to let it all out, to stop bottling up these emotions that were quickly becoming unbearable. But the fear of what would happen next kept my lips sealed.
So, for now, all I could do was pretend nothing had changed—while knowing deep down that, for me, everything had.
That day finally arrived—the day I was going to take pictures of Hiro. I stood in front of my mirror that morning, cycling through outfit after outfit, something I never really cared about before. Usually, I just threw on whatever was comfortable. But today was different. I wanted to look good—no, I wanted Hiro to think I looked good.
I ran my fingers through my hair for what had to be the tenth time, sighing as I finally settled on something casual but nice. Not too obvious, but enough to make me feel confident.
By the time I arrived at our university to wait for him after class, my nerves were all over the place. My hands were clammy, my legs restless, and the butterflies in my stomach wouldn't stop fluttering.
Then Hiro appeared. And suddenly, everything else faded. The moment I saw him, my breath hitched. My heart did this stupid little skip, like it had completely lost its rhythm.
He looked effortlessly good. Too good. His slightly messy hair, the way the afternoon sun cast a golden glow on his skin—it was unfair how someone could look that perfect without even trying.
"Travis," Hiro called out, snapping me out of my trance. His voice was warm, casual, yet something about the way he said my name sent a small shiver down my spine.
He walked up to me with an easy smile. "Did you wait long?" I quickly shook my head, trying to act normal. Act cool, act normal. Don't stare too much.
"N-no, I just got here," I replied, cursing myself for stuttering.
Hiro tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing just a bit as if he was examining me. Then, with a teasing smirk, he asked, "You sure? Your face looks kinda red." Shit.
I cleared my throat, gripping my camera tighter. "It's just hot," I lied, forcing a casual shrug. Hiro chuckled, clearly unconvinced but letting it slide. "Alright then, where are we shooting?"
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. This is about photography. Just photography. "I found a great spot near the park," I said. "It has the perfect lighting for the concept I'm going for."
Hiro nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Sounds good. Lead the way."
As we walked side by side, a comfortable silence settled between us. The late afternoon breeze was cool, carrying the distant chatter of students heading home. I told myself to focus on the shoot ahead. But with Hiro this close, his presence so overwhelming, I knew it was going to be much harder than I thought.
I took a deep breath as I set up his camera, adjusting the settings while glancing at the scene before me. The park was in full bloom, a sea of vibrant colors stretching under the golden afternoon sun. It was perfect—almost surreal, like something straight out of a dream. Like my dream...
The thought sent a chill down my spine, but I quickly brushed it off. I had a job to do. I turned to Hiro, who was standing a few feet away, waiting patiently. "Alright," I said, motioning towards a bench near a bed of blooming flowers. "Let's start here. Just sit down and get comfortable."
Hiro raised an eyebrow as he made his way over. "You sure you don't want me to do any dramatic poses?" he teased, flashing a playful grin.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "No need for anything over the top. I just want something natural—something real." Hiro nodded, settling onto the bench. He ran a hand through his hair before leaning back slightly, tilting his head to take in the scenery around him. The warm sunlight highlighted his features, making him look almost ethereal.
I lifted my camera but hesitated for a moment. My heart was pounding. Through the lens, Hiro looked even more breathtaking. "Just do what feels comfortable," I instructed, keeping my voice steady despite the sudden lump in my throat.
Hiro let out a small hum of acknowledgment before gazing at the flowers beside him. He reached out, gently brushing his fingers against the petals of a soft pink bloom. The expression on his face was calm—almost wistful.
I snapped the shot. Then another. And another.
Each click of the shutter felt like capturing a moment stolen from time—like preserving something delicate and fleeting.
"You're good at this," Hiro said after a while, breaking the silence. He turned his gaze back to Travis, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I thought I'd feel awkward, but you make it easy."
I lowered his camera slightly, meeting Hiro's eyes. My chest tightened. Don't overthink it.
I forced a small smile in return. "Well, you make it easy," I admitted. "You look... natural. Like you belong here." Hiro's expression flickered with something unreadable before he let out a soft laugh. "That's a pretty poetic way of saying I don't look weird."
I rolled my eyes playfully, lifting my camera again. "Shut up and let me work."
Hiro grinned but didn't say anything else, turning his attention back to the flowers.
I took another picture, my fingers steady—but inside, I was anything but shaking.
After a while, we decided to take a short break. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting a soft golden hue over the park. I sat on the bench, scrolling through the shots I had taken. Each one was better than I expected—Hiro looked effortlessly natural in every frame, as if the flowers and sunlight had conspired to make him look even more breathtaking.
"This is turning out really well," I murmured to myself, a small smile forming on my lips.
I glanced up, intending to show Hiro some of the pictures, but my breath caught in my throat. Hiro was a few steps away, crouched near the flower bed, eyes closed as he took in the scent of the blossoms. His expression was serene, his fingers gently brushing the petals. The scene alone was already mesmerizing, but then—out of nowhere—small birds fluttered down, perching delicately on the branches beside him. My heart skipped a beat. It was perfect—too perfect.
Without thinking, I lifted my camera and snapped the shot. Click.
The way the sunlight dappled against Hiro's skin, the peacefulness in his posture, the natural harmony of the moment—it was stunning. Then, suddenly—
A flash. My mind reeled as an image surfaced—vivid, almost too real.
A different place. A different time. There, in the vision, stood a man. He looked so much like Hiro—only with longer, silken hair that cascaded past his shoulders, swaying gently in the breeze. He wore robes of deep blue and silver, embroidered with delicate patterns that shimmered in the light. He stood in a garden, surrounded by the same kind of flowers Hiro was touching now.
The man turned towards me, his expression warm and filled with an indescribable fondness. He smiled—endearingly, intimately. My heart lurched violently on my chest.
The vision faded just as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me breathless and shaken. What the hell was that?
My grip on my camera tightened. I blinked, my gaze snapping back to Hiro, who was still kneeling by the flowers, completely unaware of what had just happened.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. Why... why did that vision feel so real? And why did it make my heart feel like it was about to explode? Hiro must have sensed something was off because he turned to look at me with a slight tilt of his head. His brows furrowed in concern.
"Hey... you, okay?" he asked, his voice gentle but laced with curiosity. "You just kinda froze there."
I blinked, forcing myself to snap out of it. My hands felt oddly clammy against the body of my camera, and my heart was still beating way too fast. But the last thing I wanted was for Hiro to think something was wrong—especially when I didn't even understand what had just happened me.
"Y-Yeah," I said quickly, clearing his throat. I plastered on what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "I just got a little distracted. The lighting shifted for a second, that's all."
Hiro didn't look entirely convinced. He eyed me for a moment longer, as if debating whether to press the issue. But in the end, he kept silent. We continued the photo shoot and ate some snacks at a nearby café afterwards.
I still felt shaken and confused as to how that vision suddenly came to my mind, like a memory that had suddenly resurfaced.
**********
That night, I sat in front of my laptop, editing the photos from earlier. The screen glowed softly in the dimly lit room, casting shadows across my desk. I moved through each shot carefully, adjusting the lighting, enhancing the colors—but every time I came across a photo of Hiro, something inside me twisted painfully.
I didn't know why. His face filled the screen—eyes closed, surrounded by flowers, the sunlight gently kissing his skin. He looked serene, almost unreal. The kind of beauty that felt distant, unreachable. And for some reason, it made my chest tighten.
I swallowed hard and moved to the next picture. But the feeling didn't fade. It only got worse. My fingers hesitated over the keyboard, my breathing uneven.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" I muttered under my breath. The ache in my chest wouldn't go away, and I didn't even understand where it was coming from. It wasn't just longing—it felt deeper, heavier, like I was losing something I didn't even know I had.
Frustrated, I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. Maybe I was just exhausted. Maybe I was overthinking things again. But no matter how hard I tried to push it aside, the sadness lingered—unshakable, as if it had always been there, waiting for me to notice.
The moment I opened my eyes, everything around me was shrouded in darkness. I blinked, my breath hitching as I looked around, but there was nothing—no room, no laptop, no faint glow from my screen. Just an endless void stretching in every direction.
And then, I saw him. A figure stood before me, his face eerily familiar yet completely foreign at the same time. My chest tightened as I stared at him—he looked just like me. Almost identical. But there was something different about him. His posture, the way he carried himself... it felt regal, commanding.
"What the—?" I took a step back, my pulse racing. "Who are you?"
The figure smiled, a melancholic expression in his golden eyes. "I am you."
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"I am Travis," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But not the Travis you are now."
A chill ran down my spine. "That doesn't make sense."
The man—no, the other version of me—let out a soft chuckle. "To put it simply... I am you from another time, another dimension. A different person, yet still the same." My head spun. "So, you're saying... I'm your reincarnation?"
He nodded. "Exactly." I swallowed hard, trying to process his words. "Then who... who were you?"
The other me—Haru—smiled wistfully. "I was once a prince. A royalty from another world."
The weight of his words sank into my chest, and suddenly, everything—the dreams, the strange familiarity I felt around Hiro, the aching sadness I couldn't explain—started to make a terrifying kind of sense.
"The other things... they're difficult to explain with just words," Haru said, his voice steady yet gentle. "It would be easier if I just unshackled the memories hidden deep within your mind. Then, you'll finally understand."
Before I could respond, a flicker of light suddenly sparked between us. My body froze. And then—
A torrent of emotions and images crashed into me like a tidal wave. Memories that weren't mine—yet somehow were—rushed through my mind all at once. A grand palace bathed in golden sunlight. A garden filled with flowers that swayed in the wind. Laughter, whispers, stolen glances. A pair of warm eyes, gazing at me with so much love that my chest ached. A promise—one that was never fulfilled. A tragic farewell, a desperate reach for someone I couldn't hold onto.
I clutched my head as the overwhelming wave of emotions nearly brought me to my knees. My breath came out in sharp gasps. And then, in the last few moments, I felt something wet slide down my cheek. Tears.
My voice trembled as I whispered, "These... memories..." Haru smiled, his expression tender, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.
"Thank you," he said softly, "for bringing us together again." And just like that—he was gone.
The darkness shattered. I gasped, jolting upright, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
I was back. My hands were trembling as I grabbed my phone, my fingers fumbling over the screen as I quickly dialed Hiro's number. My heart pounded in my chest, still reeling from everything I had just seen—everything I had just remembered.
The call connected after three rings. "Hello?" Hiro's voice came through, steady but slightly groggy.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Hiro..." There was a pause on the other end, then his voice turned alert. "Travis? Are you okay?"
I opened my mouth, but the only words that escaped were, "I want to see you." Silence.
For a moment, I thought he might refuse. That he might ask what was going on, why I was calling him so suddenly in the middle of the night. But instead, after a few seconds, he spoke again, his voice softer this time.
"Where are you?" I let out a shaky breath. "At my place."
"Tell me the address and I'll be there." he said without hesitation. "I'll send it to you." I said still shaking. The call ended. I let my phone fall onto my lap, staring blankly at the screen before exhaling a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
I didn't know what I was going to say to him. I didn't even know if he'd believe me. But right now, none of that mattered. Right now, all I knew was that I needed to see him.
The moment I heard the knock on my apartment door, I didn't hesitate. I rushed to open it, my heart racing. And there he was. Hiro stood in the doorway, slightly out of breath, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. But before he could say anything, I grabbed him—pulling him into a tight embrace, burying my face into his shoulder.
I felt my whole-body tremble. The weight of emotions I couldn't fully understand crashed over me like a tidal wave, and before I knew it, tears spilled from my eyes.
I clung to him like a lifeline, my fingers digging into the fabric of his jacket. "I finally found you, Hiroshi," I choked out between sobs. Hiro stiffened in my arms. His breath hitched.
Slowly, I pulled away just enough to look at him, my hands instinctively reaching up to cup his face. His warm skin beneath my palms felt so familiar—like I had done this before, countless times, in another life.
I swallowed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Hiroshi..."
His eyes widened, shimmering with unspoken emotions. Then, before I could say anything more, a single tear slipped down his cheek.
"That took you longer than I thought... Haru," he murmured.
And then, before I could even react, he pulled me in—his lips pressing against mine in a kiss that sent shockwaves through my entire being.
It was warm. It was desperate. It was something we had both been waiting for without even knowing it.
At that moment, everything finally made sense.
The End