Program: Kokoro

Chapter 7
Kokoro X Kiseki

"Rin, I wonder if you're all right, being alone by yourself?" Len asked. His head lifted up to the clear skies. His eyes felt tired and droopy. "Are you doing well, Rin? I'm worried about you. You're all alone..."

For days, he spent his time reliving in his memories and thinking of Rin. Teaching her how to sing, having her join him in planting the tree, taking her to the city, and so on. Sometimes, he cried for several hours. Each memory, no matter how joyous they were, made him feel even more depressed and lonely. In his chest, he couldn't help but feel a deep emptiness that could never be filled. This kind of pain and torture, he couldn't help but wonder if this was his punishment for telling Rin not to use the program. He couldn't let her die out like he did, though. She deserved a chance to live, even if her emotions weren't in use. Up to the day until her power gave out should she keep on living.

Len buried his face in his hands, trying hard not to sob again. Partly because of his sadness for leaving Rin, and partly because he was glad she was given a chance to live. To be honest, though, he wished that he could have one more chance to spent time with her. To hear her song in person with his own ears and eyes.

And that's when the ground started to shake.

"I thought there weren't any earthquakes in heaven!" Len shrieked, holding onto the tree for dear life. Several minutes passed before the earthquake soon stopped. In its place, a singing voice echoed, sounding all too familiar to the professor.

"I-is that...?"

Len started walking towards the source of the voice, leading to the other side of the tree. And yet, instead of the tree that he saw, it was of one thing that gave his life meaning. The one he always wanted to see again...

"LEN!"

"WAAAH-!"

The First Miracle was that you were born...

She was here. With him.

But that meant...

"RIN!" he shrieked. He picked her up and hugged her with all of his might.

"L-Len..." she coughed. "Too...tight..."

But he couldn't help it. He was crying and laughing and hiccuping all the same time. All of his emotions exploding from his heart, and filling that emptiness with a warm feeling.

"I'm just t-too happy to see you!" Len exclaimed. He sobbed into her shoulders, finally allowing himself to cry. "You obtained Kokoro, did you?"

"I'm sorry, Professor," Rin replied, a tone of melancholy in her voice. "I couldn't help myself..."

"It's all right, it's all right! I'm just so glad to see you again! Waaah..."

"Please don't cry, Professor."

"But I can't help it..."

So, Rin patted his back while she waited for him to stop bawling like a baby. In between sobs, he kept telling her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Why are you apologizing?" Rin asked. "I disobeyed your orders..."

"I left you all alone, I'm so sorry..."

"Professor, please don't cry."

He sighed, wiping his eyes with his sleeves. "Then, you must call me 'Len.' That is my name, and that's what you can call me."

"I see. Then I'll start calling you right now. Len, I have a request."

"Yes?"

"Let's climb the tree."

"E-eh?"

"Ah, I've forgotten, Len. You've had an affliction to heights for some time."

"N-no! I can climb the tree! I can climb!"

"Let's go!"

To be honest, Len would have been happy with just talking to Rin. But since she insisted on climbing the tree...he couldn't say no. Plus, she was searching through her new-found emotions. How could he reject her happiness like that?

"HOLY-!"

"Len, careful!" Rin shrieked, catching Len by his arm. The doctor would have fallen, had Rin not catch him in time.

THIS IS WHY HEIGHTS ARE SCARY, Len screeched in his mind. YOU CAN FALL!

"I WANNA GO BACK DOWN!" he cried. Rin nodded solemnly.

"All right, Len," Rin replied. She climbed down first. If Len were to fall again, she could catch him again.

Len gulped, looking at the ground with great fear. From where he was, the ground looked like a mile down. How could he climb at such a dangerous height? What if he fell? What if he died again and left Rin AGAIN? Len's body froze at the thought of it. Again...

That's it. He was going to join her back down, and he would always be with her. Question was...how was he supposed to get down?

"I CAN'T DO THIS!" he yelled. Rin held out her arms.

"Jump!" she yelled back.

Oh heck no. Len looked at the ground, then at Rin. He compared his chances of getting down by climbing or jumping.

"NEVER MIND! I CAN CLIMB!" Len shrieked. To prove it, he crawled towards the trunk and held onto it. Come on, Len. You can do this. He tentatively started climbing down, careful not to slip and fall.

One foot at a time. Right, left, right, left... he repeated in his head. When he felt his foot touch the ground, he gave a whoop and jumped for joy. Immediately, he fell flat on his face.

"Ow..." he whined as Rin made him sit upright.

"Congratulations, Len!" Rin cheered, clapping his hands. "You've conquered your fear!"

"Ha ha...maybe?" Len replied. His legs felt shaky, and his head was reeling from seeing how far he was. Even his vision was spinning, making it look like there was two of everything. "I think I'll take a break from tree climbing for a while."

"All right, Len," Rin said. She sat next to Len, resting her head on his shoulder. Len smiled as he took her hand into his.

The Second Miracle was the time we spent together.

If I could freeze time, Len thought. I would stay in this moment forever...

"I'll make a present for you," Rin suddenly decided, breaking the silence. She stood and ran behind the tree. Len quickly followed her, but was stopped by the sight he saw.

Red flowers filled his vision. A sea of beautiful red flowers, and right in the middle of the sea was Rin, collecting several of them. When she turned around, she waved to Len and rushed towards him. In her hands was a rather small bouquet of the red beauties.

"Len, do you like them?" she asked, holding them out. Len stroked the petals, noticing how velvet-like they were. He smiled.

"Yes, yes I do."

Rin nodded and started fashioning the flowers. It wasn't until she completed it that Len realized it was a red crown. Len ducked his head and felt the soft flowers being adjusted accordingly. When Rin finished, Len lifted his head back up.

"Thank you, Rin," he said, reaching to touch the petals. Tears started to prick at the edges of his eyes. "Truly, I mean it. Thank you."

The Third Miracle...is a truly sincere heart from you in the future...

Rin smiled, shedding a fear tears of her own. She wrapped her arms around Len, giving him a gentle hug. Len didn't hesitate to do the same.

The Fourth Miracle isn't needed...

The fourth I don't need...

"Thank you for being here with me," they said.

Because, I have you with me.