Before we start, I just want to let you know that the concept of this story is the same with Crystal Time. the male lead died and Haruka got a chance to return to the past and save him. Yet, the rest of the plot will be completely different since most of it relies on the male lead's storyline in anime + game version. 

CHAPTER 1

A pair of twitched eyebrows was not merely the description to convey what Ittoki Haruka experienced right now. She looked around; big trees everywhere, the mild sunshine which cascaded her adorable face and the benches in random spots. She knew this park and its address.

Yet, it still did not soothe her nervousness even for a crumb.

Instead, this peaceful place was unnerving because if her memory served her right, the last activity that she did before she was 'teleported' here was shopping with her husband, Ittoki Otoya.

"Where is Otoya-kun?" She muttered, nervously. She never thought that it would be hard for her to search for the man given his hair color was very striking.

Did I get lost? But, this park is too far from the mall so how did I end up here? She thought. Haruka reached her side, attempting to fish her smartphone out of her handbag but much to her terror, she lost the object. All of her belongings including an identity card, a purse, a car key, and Otoya's wallet were all placed in the handbag so what was she supposed to do now?

As she walked her way, her eyes settled on a small boy with red hair, sitting alone on a bench. He wore a baby blue sweater, a pair of dark blue jeans, and dark brown shoes.

What is this boy doing alone here? Is he lost like me too? But, he seems familiar...

She looked around again and that was when she realized that apart from the boy and her, there was no one else. Unlike a typical park which was one of the general public spaces, despite the beauty and peace, no one seemed motivated enough to breathe a fresh air here neither taking their kids along.

This place is weird but the boy is beyond strange. Why did he cover his face like...

Her golden eyes sized up as the image of the boy became crystal clear in her eyes. She knew the red hair. She recognized the endearing red eyes. She knew it was impossible for her, the 26 years-old Ittoki Haruka to meet the boy but she was layered with excitement to see him. Convinced that this was a dream and decided to greet him, she moved slowly, did not want to scare nor surprise him. Yet, she was the one who got surprised to see that he was shedding tears. His shoulders shook as he let out his sobs and that alone broke her heart as a woman who loved him dearly.

Why... Why did this child version of Otoya-kun cry? Did he miss his aunt? 

The sorrow immediately tugged her heart as the fact that she married an orphan hit her mind. She never encountered a very sad Otoya face-to-face before so for a few seconds, she did not know what to do. Her legs kept dragging her to him but as clumsy as she got, she tripped over a twig and toppled onto the ground. The mortifying mishap took place right in front of the small boy that it startled him. Ignoring a few drops of tears which still clung to his cheeks, Otoya ran towards Haruka who was mentally cursing herself for being pathetic, holding her shoulder softly.

"Oneechan, are you alright? Does it hurt?" His red eyes felt so close to her own and as ludicrous as it looked like for the others who did not have any idea what their relationship was, her face went red. Haruka had a lot of weakness and one of them was Otoya's beautiful crimson eyes. It was not the beauty that mesmerized her but it was the sincere love that concealed behind them.

"No, I... I am fine," she stuttered, struggling to stand up with a pride but wincing afterward, pulling her to the original position.

"You are hurt, oneechan," Otoya said, looking more panicky than Haruka herself. As he blinked, the tears dropped down to his chin but he did not even bother to wipe them first. "Let's sit over there and check up the injury, oneechan," he pulled her arm softly, waiting for Haruka to be ready to get up again.

"Okay, Oto... I mean, thank you," Haruka replied. Otoya was still holding her arm, attempting to help her walking when in fact, it did not help much. Still, he looked cute with his eyes followed every Haruka's pace so that she could walk properly.

"Sit here, oneechan," Otoya slowly made her sit on the bench before nervously observed her from head to toe. "Oneechan, your knee and hands..."

"Oh, it's okay. It's not that hurt," she recoiled when she realized that she was staring at an elementary school boy with such an interest.

Everything about Ittoki Otoya was so lovely. The way his big eyes expressed his worry about a stranger (if she was a kidnapper, she would not hesitate to kidnap and bring up this boy for good. He was an orphan anyway.), the way he talked, the way his messy hair suited the shape of his face... All of them were just fascinating. It was beyond wonderful when she could see the child version of the person who she loved in the midst of this illogicality.

"Really? But it looked hurt," Otoya pulled her hands close to his eyesight, observed the bruises in pity. "If I were you, I would cry, oneechan."

"But, you already cried right?" She asked, much to Otoya's shock. "You still had tears on your cheeks."

He lowered his gaze which made his body hunched forward.

"What's your name? Why did you cry?" Haruka asked. It would be weird for her to know his name in this situation but she needed one to address him.

"My... My name is Otoya," his small shoulders shook while the way his eyes gazed at the grass was saddled with melancholy that it took all for Haruka not to break into tears as well. "I miss my aunt."

Haruka bit her lips. Her hand reacted upon seeing the pain that the boy was shouldering, caressing his back.

"My aunt... She just died because of an illness and I miss her already," Otoya answered, wiping the tears that continued streaming his tan face. Even when he bit his lips to stop his sobs from escaping, it did not help much. "I don't know my parents. I only have my aunt but she also left me. Everybody said that I provided the cause..."

Otoya gasped as his small frame was trapped into Haruka's embrace. That was when Haruka realized that the boy just wanted comfort because it did not take long for him to snuggle up to her even he did not even know her. He was lonely and in pain. He tried to be strong because that was what he promised to his late aunt, but what a boy could bear it all the time? There was always a moment for him to reach his breaking point.

"It's okay... If you need a shoulder to cry on, oneechan is here for you. You can cry all you want," she stroked the silky hair before pecking his head. She could feel his hand grabbed a small piece of her yellow dress to keep her close.

"I wonder if my parents left me to my aunt because they didn't love me. Maybe I made them feel sad..."

"What are you saying? Of course you're not! No parents in this world will leave their children because they don't love them. The parents always love the children," Haruka said even she knew his future well. Up until now, Otoya never knew who his parents were nor the reason why they left him.

Yet, as for now, she did not have the heart to tell the boy the truth. He was feeble. The adult Otoya did not deserve the pain of being abandoned, not to mention this child.

"Is that true, oneechan?"

"Yes, I am sure they have their reasons. Now, where do you live?"

"In an orphanage, not far from here."

"Do they treat you well?" She asked.

"Yes, oneechan. They are so kind," he pulled away so that they could meet eyes. "I have someone to play every day. The food is delicious. I sleep with a lot of friends in the same room so most of the time, I don't feel lonely anymore."

"That's good to hear," she exclaimed. "A nice boy like you... I am sure people will love and like you a lot."

Including me, Haruka curved a smile.

"Is that true, oneechan?"

"Yes. Just now, even you cried, once you saw me tripped, you immediately came for my rescue. I thought, 'ah, this boy is so nice'. I bet people will easily love you for your kindness."

"Well, I just worried about you. You were hurt," he said, honestly.

"Now, I don't feel hurt anymore so shall we take a walk? It may soothe you a bit. I think this place is so nice even I still can't understand why there are only two of us."

"But, it'll be much more fun, right, oneechan!?" Otoya exclaimed out of the blue as he jumped off the bench. Haruka had her hand on her chest, almost believed that she had a mini heart attack upon hearing the excited voice. "We can have the park all by ourselves so come on, oneechan! Let's play everything!"

Wow, he doesn't even get nervous about that. As expected from Otoya-kun, Haruka thought.

The next moment felt like a date with Otoya even he was way shorter and smaller than her. She could not help but convinced that if they had a son, he would look so much like him. Every time he was excited, Haruka felt the urge to pinch his soft cheeks grew in her. But, there were several occasions when she could not control her urge so she ended up...

"Why are you so cute, Otoya? Your wife must be lucky to have you," now, she literally massaged his cheeks as if she was giving him a beauty treatment in a spa.

"My... Wife? I don't... get married yet, oneechan! I am just... Nine-years-old," his words were incoherent since Haruka 'abused' his cheeks but he did not show any sign of typical embarrassment that the boys felt when the adults treated them like kids when in fact, they were one.

"I mean, when you get married later," she pulled away, smiling brightly.

"Is there anyone who'll want to marry me, oneechan?"

'Of course, my dear. Your wife is me' was what she wanted to say but she did not want to scare him.

They said that the truly nice people would never see themselves as one so she guessed that Otoya was one of the said people.

"Of course. You are a nice person after all."

"Then, I want to be nicer so that my parents will like me," unlike his playful tone, Haruka could tell that he was serious. "I really want to know why they left me if they really loved me. If they are in trouble, I want to help them!"

"Eh?"

The last thing she saw was the surrounding turned hazy. Otoya's adorable face gradually turned blurry that she had to blink several times to clear her vision but instead, he was swallowed into a haze.

"Otoya? Otoya?" She looked around.

No! If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up yet. There are so many things I want to do with him...

"Haruka..."

A soft voice lingered around, followed by a pair of lean arms around her waist, much to her shock. The moment she recognized it, she turned to the direction. Mixed feelings were about to explode in her veins when she saw Otoya; the 26 years-old Otoya was hugging her from her back. He was wearing his favorite red-cream sweater with brown jeans.

Huh, where did Otoya-kun come from? Did I really get lost? How about the mini Otoya-kun?

There were so many questions that she wanted to ask but Otoya's smile froze her because...

His smile was not like how he was known for. Now, all she could see was the painful and apologetic expression.

"Otoya-kun?"

"Here you are! I am so worried about you," he pulled her closer while his nose brushed her hair.

"Really?" She turned to meet his eyes. "Did I get lost for real? Who's the boy?"

"Hm? What boy?" He muffled, still kissing her forehead.

"The boy..." Haruka paused. She just made her husband worried so she decided to not tell him how she just spent time with the child version of him.

Maybe I am tired. I should go home now, she thought.

"Nothing. Should we go back home now, Otoya-kun? But, wait! My handbag is missing..." She reached his hand but he refused to pull away. Instead, she was pulled closer to the lean body.

"Otoya-kun, what happened?" She could not see his face since he bent his head which made his long fringe covered half of his face.

"You should go back now, Haruka. Not only me but everyone is worried about you."

"Huh, me? How about you, Otoya-kun?" She asked but Otoya just turned her body to face him and...

His face. The pain.

But what was it? What caused it?

"I cannot go back home with you, Haruka. I really can't."

"Huh?"

"You saw him, right?"

"Him?"

"The boy," his voice cracked and that was when the wife noticed that her husband was crying. His lips were shaking, attempting to stop his sobs from fleeing.

Why did I end up seeing both of them cry like this? What on earth is happening? She thought. Her heart ached but she was persistent to find the answer.

"Otoya-kun," she leaned closer, wiping the tears away with the hope that it would fade his sadness. "Why are you crying? Who's that boy?"

"Thank you, Haruka," he said, suddenly. "Thank you for everything that you did for me, for him. Thank you for marrying me and accepting me in your life but now, I am sorry. I am so sorry."

"Sorry? For what, Otoya-kun? Please, don't do this to me..."

"I wanted to stay here with you, only with you for a while but I guess, I can't... This is the end..." His answers which did not meet her questions scared her because it seemed that he did not have much time left. He needed to tell her what he needed to tell her as soon as possible.

"Otoya-kun, what..." She was surprised when he stepped back, leaving more and more distance between them. What he did was confusing but it was enough to call the tears from her eyes. "Otoya-kun, wait! Where are you going? Don't leave me."

"I love you, Haruka. I love you so much."

Everything turned pitch-black. Haruka wanted to ask more. She wanted to reach him but her whole body felt slowly paralyzed that it was hard for her to move.

She just could not do anything.

"Otoya-kun!" The moment she finally could use her voice again, she only saw herself in a very white room. She was sitting up on a bed, also in the same color. She had been put on a drip while her petite body felt so heavy.

That was a dream? What a relief, she thought.

Yet, her body seemed to deny her mind. Instead, it felt heavy with emotions. The bad feeling she had in her heart was about to burst that she needed Otoya now. She did not know why but she needed to see him in order to soothe her.

She lost herself in her trail of mind to the point of when her grandmother, Yachiyo and Tomochika turned up and bombarded her questions about how she was feeling, she just could not register them in her mind. All she thought was her husband, Ittoki Otoya.

"Otoya-kun! Where's Otoya-kun?" As soon as she voiced her curiosity, Yachiyo hugged her shoulders. Unlike her smiling nature, Yachiyo looked like she was just crying.

"Haruka, calm down. You're still weak. You shouldn't leave the bed," Tomochika said. Like Yachiyo, the idol's eyes were also bloodshot while her cheeks were wet, ruining her make-up.

"But, where is Otoya-kun? How did I get here?" She grabbed Tomochika's purple blouse. She averted her sun-kissed eyes towards Yachiyo when her best friend did not show any intention to answer her.

It should be Otoya who took care of her. She knew him. He never left her alone.

Unless there was something that restraining him from being beside her.

Unless there was something happened to him.

"Haru-chan," Yachiyo initiated, her wrinkled hand still stroked Haruka's shoulder. As much as she did not have the heart to say what Haruka wanted to know, her granddaughter had every right to be informed of her husband's condition.

Her late husband's condition.

"Haru-chan, Otoya-kun... Somebody shot him when you were shopping with him. He lost much blood so he was dead before they could hospitalize him," Yachiyo said, in synch with her sobs. She quickly pulled Haruka into her embrace. She kissed the small forehead, channeling comfort even she knew it was pointless.

Haruka froze. The news made her feel like she was the one who got shot.

No, it can't be.

Why did her husband get shot? What did he do to deserve this? Otoya did not have an enemy. Otoya never made someone hurt so why would they hurt him?

As tears streamed her cheeks, her mind was flashed with the dream.

The mini Otoya said that he wanted to find his parents first.

The adult Otoya said that he was sorry and he loved her.

Now, she knew why she was connected with the strange dream.

It was because she no longer could see him. Otoya just wanted to say what he had to say before leaving her forever.

Soon after that, a terrifying sound of gun shooting and a sight of a pool of blood became crystal clear in her mind.

Now, she remembered what separated her from Otoya.

Now, she noticed what was the circumstance that took her Otoya away from her.

Seriously, I should stop torturing Utapri characters but I can't help it lol. The idea just came to me and I even finished designing the cover so why don't I give it a try? If you have something to say about this chapter, feel free to let me know, okay? ^^