When Shooting Stars Fall: Chapter 2
02 | Gravity
The seems to have burned a hole in the sky, revealing a ring of red light. And at this time, Xavier stands beneath the afterglow, practicing his newly learnt swords techniques, more or less giving off an aura like that of a , making others not dare to come close and interrupt.
I hug a wooden sword and sit under the eaves not far away, watching him practice his sword while thinking about how I should extend the invitation later on. Making a mental draft makes it easy to make mistakes, and I’m bored with nothing to do, so I begin using my sword tip to scribble on the sandy ground, making a numbered list.
Once-in-a-century, this term has already turned insignificant to the denizens of Philos.
For normal people like Xavier, how many more centuries will they experience in the future? As long as the artificial core does not extinguish, they will probably be as eternal as this planet.
If he finds out that I am someone who can’t even live up to a hundred years, and promises me anything out of pity, it would be meaningless.
I finally managed to wait until class ends, and I’m about to stand up, but realize that my target . Only after looking all around me for a while, do I find that in the at the Academy’s gates.
I hurriedly chase up to him, only to unexpectedly really witness that legend about Xavier—
Those people are not wearing black unlike normal bodyguards, and also keep a distance from Xavier in a controlled manner, but just somehow cause others to feel a strange sense of oppression.
Xavier has his bag slung over his shoulders as he walks in the center, seeming like he’s already used to sidelong glances from bystanders, but his usually expressionless face seemed to show even less vitality.
It’s completely different from the person he was earlier, training under the sunset.
I don’t know anything about his , nor do I know where those people want to take him. I just know that he’s not happy at the moment.
“Xavier—!”
I use the loudest voice I can muster to call out to him, and only after the sound leaves my mouth do I realize that it seems to have been the first time I even called his name.
The evening breeze passes through the streets. Amidst the crowd, he turns back towards me, his vaguely perplexed gaze softening the moment it meets mine.
I walk up to him, saying that a teacher is looking for him, while grabbing his hand and pulling him along as I run in the opposite direction.
As for where we are running to, I haven’t had the time to plan that far yet. Despite also not having the time to notice Xavier’s expression, it feels like his hand, which I had originally just hastily grabbed, gradually begins to tighten around mine too.
”They’re catching up.” His words scatter in the wind.
While I’m in a daze, Xavier pulls me in a different direction into a round tower, and hides inside an empty auditorium that he discovers.
The lights are out in the auditorium, and the two of us are like little beasts who had just escaped their enclosure, laying low in the dark as we pant roughly. A sliver of light leaks through the lattice windows, and I stare at his shadowy figure, which has one hand resting on the window sill, my heart feeling almost as though it’s about to leap out of my throat.
After a little while, he pulls out a nearby chair, then casually takes a seat on another desk. I stand rooted to the spot for a moment, only then realizing that he’s asking me to go over and take a seat.
“Why’d you want to help me?” The Xavier sitting on the table is significantly taller than me, and in the dusky darkness, a pair of eyes with lights swirling within them look down at me.
“You looked like you were unhappy.”
“How did you know I was unhappy?”
“About that… We’re ultimately classmates, so I do at least have some sort of understanding of you.”
As I’m in the middle of thinking about how to explain myself without exposing my feelings, to my surprise, Xavier lightly says: “By sneaking glances during class?”
“...There’s a reason for that!”
Xavier looks at me, as though he’s waiting for me to continue.
“I wanted to ask you out… Ah no, I mean, invite you to watch the meteor shower together with me at Skymirror Salt Lake next month. I heard the salt lake is very shallow, and really resembles a real mirror. When the time comes and the meteor shower is reflected on the lake’s surface, it’s bound to look dazzling! Plus, the meteor shower next month is a once-in-a-century occurrence… After this one, there won’t be a next time.”
“The next hundred years will arrive quickly.”
“For you all, it certainly will be quick. But for me…”
“Hm?”
“It’s nothing, you’ll understand in the future… Do you want to go or not? It’s really pretty.”
My invitation is excitedly thrown into the air, but when it’s met with silence, it abruptly crashes to the ground.
Xavier’s eyes turn bleak and dark before I know it, and he only responds to me after quite some time has passed.
“I can’t go there.”
“Can’t? Is it related to those…” I hesitate for a while, deliberating how to address those people. “...Those people?”
Xavier freezes for a second, then nods silently, as if he wants to say something, but stops himself.
However, I don’t continue to pursue the matter either, and simply look at the focused way he’s gazing at me. My pointer finger reaches out subconsciously, , poking at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t be sad anymore. I’ll just go by myself, and then, I’ll bring your wish along with mine to the shooting stars. What kind of wish do you want to make?”
“I don’t really have any wishes.”
“How could a person not have any wishes? Then, how about I share my wishes and give one to you?”
I rise from the chair. Facing Xavier, I clasp both my hands and close my eyes, making a heartfelt wish. “I wish for Xavier to be forever free.”
Xavier is stunned for a second. Then, he asks me, “What about you? What do you want to wish for?”
“, but I just don’t know if it will actually work.”
I silently count to three, waiting for the shooting star in my heart to pass before opening my eyes.
Suddenly, a ray of starlight really does flash by in the darkness.
I look closer, and see a cluster of light in Xavier’s palms glowing in the dark—
“The shooting star says, it’s a promise.”
02 | Gravity
The seems to have burned a hole in the sky, revealing a ring of red light. And at this time, Shen Xinghui stands beneath the afterglow, practicing his newly learnt swords techniques, more or less giving off an aura like that of a , making others not dare to come close and interrupt.
I hug a wooden sword and sit under the eaves not far away, watching him practice his sword while thinking about how I should extend the invitation later on. Making a mental draft makes it easy to make mistakes, and I’m bored with nothing to do, so I begin using my sword tip to scribble on the sandy ground, making a numbered list.
Once-in-a-century, this term has already turned insignificant to the denizens of Philos.
For normal people like Shen Xinghui, how many more centuries will they experience in the future? As long as the artificial core does not extinguish, they will probably be as eternal as this planet.
If he finds out that I am someone who can’t even live up to a hundred years, and promises me anything out of pity, it would be meaningless.
I finally managed to wait until class ends, and I’m about to stand up, but realize that my target . Only after looking all around me for a while, do I find that in the at the Academy’s gates.
I hurriedly chase up to him, only to unexpectedly really witness that legend about Shen Xinghui—
Those people are not wearing black unlike normal bodyguards, and also keep a distance from Shen Xinghui in a controlled manner, but just somehow cause others to feel a strange sense of oppression.
Shen Xinghui has his bag slung over his shoulders as he walks in the center, seeming like he’s already used to sidelong glances from bystanders, but his usually expressionless face seemed to show even less vitality.
It’s completely different from the person he was earlier, training under the sunset.
I don’t know anything about his , nor do I know where those people want to take him. I just know that he’s not happy at the moment.
“Shen Xinghui—!”
I use the loudest voice I can muster to call out to him, and only after the sound leaves my mouth do I realize that it seems to have been the first time I even called his name.
The evening breeze passes through the streets. Amidst the crowd, he turns back towards me, his vaguely perplexed gaze softening the moment it meets mine.
I walk up to him, saying that a teacher is looking for him, while grabbing his hand and pulling him along as I run in the opposite direction.
As for where we are running to, I haven’t had the time to plan that far yet. Despite also not having the time to notice Shen Xinghuis expression, it feels like his hand, which I had originally just hastily grabbed, gradually begins to tighten around mine too.
”They’re catching up.” His words scatter in the wind.
While I’m in a daze, Shen Xinghui pulls me in a different direction into a round tower, and hides inside an empty auditorium that he discovers.
The lights are out in the auditorium, and the two of us are like little beasts who had just escaped their enclosure, laying low in the dark as we pant roughly. A sliver of light leaks through the lattice windows, and I stare at his shadowy figure, which has one hand resting on the window sill, my heart feeling almost as though it’s about to leap out of my throat.
After a little while, he pulls out a nearby chair, then casually takes a seat on another desk. I stand rooted to the spot for a moment, only then realizing that he’s asking me to go over and take a seat.
“Why’d you want to help me?” The Shen Xinghui sitting on the table is significantly taller than me, and in the dusky darkness, a pair of eyes with lights swirling within them look down at me.
“You looked like you were unhappy.”
“How did you know I was unhappy?”
“About that… We’re ultimately classmates, so I do at least have some sort of understanding of you.”
As I’m in the middle of thinking about how to explain myself without exposing my feelings, to my surprise, Shen Xinghui lightly says: “By sneaking glances during class?”
“...There’s a reason for that!”
Shen Xinghui looks at me, as though he’s waiting for me to continue.
“I wanted to ask you out… Ah no, I mean, invite you to watch the meteor shower together with me at Skymirror Salt Lake next month. I heard the salt lake is very shallow, and really resembles a real mirror. When the time comes and the meteor shower is reflected on the lake’s surface, it’s bound to look dazzling! Plus, the meteor shower next month is a once-in-a-century occurrence… After this one, there won’t be a next time.”
“The next hundred years will arrive quickly.”
“For you all, it certainly will be quick. But for me…”
“Hm?”
“It’s nothing, you’ll understand in the future… Do you want to go or not? It’s really pretty.”
My invitation is excitedly thrown into the air, but when it’s met with silence, it abruptly crashes to the ground.
Shen Xinghui’s eyes turn bleak and dark before I know it, and he only responds to me after quite some time has passed.
“I can’t go there.”
“Can’t? Is it related to those…” I hesitate for a while, deliberating how to address those people. “...Those people?”
Shen Xinghui freezes for a second, then nods silently, as if he wants to say something, but stops himself.
However, I don’t continue to pursue the matter either, and simply look at the focused way he’s gazing at me. My pointer finger reaches out subconsciously, , poking at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t be sad anymore. I’ll just go by myself, and then, I’ll bring your wish along with mine to the shooting stars. What kind of wish do you want to make?”
“I don’t really have any wishes.”
“How could a person not have any wishes? Then, how about I share my wishes and give one to you?”
I rise from the chair. Facing Shen Xinghui, I clasp both my hands and close my eyes, making a heartfelt wish. “I wish for Shen Xinghui to be forever free.”
Shen Xinghui is stunned for a second. Then, he asks me, “What about you? What do you want to wish for?”
“, but I just don’t know if it will actually work.”
I silently count to three, waiting for the shooting star in my heart to pass before opening my eyes.
Suddenly, a ray of starlight really does flash by in the darkness.
I look closer, and see a cluster of light in Shen Xinghui's palms glowing in the dark—
“The shooting star says, it’s a promise.”
02 | Gravity
The sun is like a red-hot iron, burning a hole into the sky. Xavier stands under its crimson glow, practicing his newly learned sword techniques. The whole sequence of events feels otherworldly, deterring people from approaching and thus interrupting him.
Not too far away, I sit under the porch and hold a wooden sword. As I watch him train, I think about how to ask him. Knowing I'll forget half the things I want to say, I start writing words in the dirt with my sword.
Once-in-a-century events aren't significant for Philos's denizens anymore.
People like Xavier, they'll experience many centuries. As long as Philos's core still has energy, their lives shall last forevermore like the planet's.
If he learns I'm a person who can't even live to see 100 years, he'll do anything I say out of pity. That would ruin everything.
At long last, class ends. I stand up and find my target has disappeared. I look around and eventually spot him in the crowd by the Academy's gates.
I hurry over, only to witness the rumor firsthand.
They aren't clad in all black as one would expect, and they keep a respectable distance away from Xavier. Still, these people exude an air of oppression.
Xavier, with his bag, is at the center of their group. It seems he's used to being stared at. The only difference is that rather than being his usual expressionless self, he appears slightly upset.
It's completely different from how he was earlier with the sunset behind him.
I know nothing of his past, nor do I know where those people are taking him. All I know is that he's not happy at the moment.
I shout his name as loudly as I can. Only after it leaves my mouth do I realize it's most likely the first time I have ever called out to him.
The evening breeze rushes through the streets. In the sea of people, he turns around. His slightly puzzled expression softens when our eyes meet.
I walk up to him, saying a teacher has requested his presence. Then I grab his hand and start running in the opposite direction.
As for where we're headed, I haven't thought that far yet. And although I don't see Xavier's expression, his grip on my hand gradually tightens.
"They're catching up." His voice scatters in the wind.
While I'm dazed, Xavier pulls me into a round tower and enters an empty auditorium.
The lights are off. He and I are like animals who escaped their cages, breathing in the dark. Through the sliver of light leaking in through the window, I stare at the shadow of his hand on the window sill. My heart is about to leap out of my throat.
Some time passes, and Xavier pulls out a nearby chair and sits on another desk. I stare at him for a moment before realizing he's asking me to sit.
"Why did you help me?" Sitting on the table, he's taller than me by a considerable amount. His eyes, swirling light in their depths, look down at me in the dark.
"You appeared to be upset, so I thought you wanted to be free."
"How did you know I was upset?"
"Well... We're classmates, aren't we? It's normal for me to be able to read your expression!"
As I try to find a way to explain myself, Xavier speaks. "You learned by sneaking glances at me during class?"
"...There's a reason for that!"
Xavier looks at me, as though he's expecting an explanation.
"I wanted to ask... Oh no, I mean, I wanted to invite you to watch the meteor shower at Skymirror Salt Flat with me. I heard the lake is very shallow, so when light reflects on its surface, it's exactly like a mirror. It's going to look stunning with the meteor shower! Besides, a once-in-a-century thing... There won't be a next time!
"It's just another hundred years."
"For you, maybe! But for me..."
"Huh?"
"It's nothing. You'll... Do you want to go or not? It's truly pretty!"
I take my chance to invite him, but when I'm met with silence, I can feel my heart fall to the ground with a heavy thud.
Xavier's gaze becomes distant. He only responds to me after some time has passed.
"I can't."
"Is it because of those..." I hesitate, wondering what to call them. "People?"
Xavier appears shocked, then he nods without saying a word.
I don't force him to elaborate and observe the way he looks at me. I reach out and poke the corner of his mouth. "Don't be sad. I'll just go by myself... I'll bring your wish to the stars when I do. What's your wish?"
"I don't have one."
"How could someone not wish for anything? Oh, do you want me to make a wish for you?"
I stand up from the chair and face him. I close my eyes with my hands clasped in front of me, wishing with all my heart. "I wish Xavier is forever free to do what he wants."
Xavier is stunned. He asks, "What about you? What's your wish?"
"I wish I could be healthy, but I don't even know if wishing on a star actually works."
I stay quiet, waiting for the shooting star in my heart to pass before I open my eyes.
Suddenly, a flash of starlight appears.
I look around, only to see it's actually light from Xavier's hand. It glows in the dark.
"This shooting star has made a promise to you."
02 | 引力
要落不落的太阳像把天烫了个洞，正漏出一圈红光，而沈星回此时正站在那片余晖之下，练习着新学的剑法，多少有几分世外高人的意蕴，让人不敢走近叨扰。
我抱着木剑坐在不远处的廊檐底下，一边看他练剑，一边想着待会儿该如何发出邀请。打腹稿容易出差错，闲来无事，我便用剑尖在沙地上写写划划，罗列出一二三。
百年难遇，这个词对于菲罗斯星上的人来说已经不算什么了。
像沈星回那样的正常人，以后会经历多少个百年呢？只要人造星核不熄灭，他们就会和这颗星球一样永恒吧。
要是让他知道我是个连一百年都活不到的人，出于怜悯而答应我什么，那就没意思了。
好不容易等到下课，我正要站起身，却发现目标人物已经消失无踪了，四处张望了一阵，才在学院门口的人潮里找到那个背影。
我赶紧追上去，却没想到真的目睹了那条关于沈星回的传说——
那些人并没有像寻常的保镖一样身穿黑色，也克制地和沈星回保持着距离，但就是让人感觉到一种莫名的压抑。
沈星回挎着书包走在中间，看起来已经习惯了旁人的侧目，只是本来就没什么表情的脸上更少了几分生气。
跟刚才在落日下练剑的他，截然不同。
我不知道他到底是什么背景，也不知道那群人到底想带他去哪里。我只知道，他现在并不开心。
“沈星回——！”
我用尽可能大的声音远远把他叫住，话音落下才意识到这似乎是我第一次喊他的名字。
晚风穿过街道，他在人群中向我回身，略带迷茫的目光在与我的视线相遇时变得温和起来。
我走上前去，一边说有老师找他回去，一边抓住他的手，拉着他往反方向跑。
至于要跑去哪里，我还没来得及打算。虽然也来不及看沈星回的表情，却觉得他原本被我草草牵着的手，逐渐也用力地将我反握住了。
“他们追上来了。”他的话散在风里。
我愣怔之间，他拉着我一个变道拐进了一座圆形塔楼，找了间空礼堂就躲进去。
礼堂里关着灯，我和他像两只刚出笼的小兽，伏在黑暗里喘着粗气。花窗外细微的光漏进来，我盯着他一只手撑在窗沿上的影子，感觉心快要跳出喉咙口。
隔了一会儿，他就近拉开了一张椅子，然后随意地坐到了另一张桌子上。我站了片刻，才反应过来他是让我过去坐。
“为什么要帮我？”坐在桌上的他更比我高出一大截，昏暗中一双流转着光的眼睛正俯视着我。
“看你好像不开心。”
“你怎么知道我不开心？”
“这个么……大家同学一场，我对你好歹也是有点了解的。”
我正想着该怎么解释，才能不将自己的小心思暴露，却没想到沈星回淡淡地开口：“靠上课偷看吗？”
“……这是有原因的！”
沈星回看着我，像是在等待我继续说下去。
“我想约你……啊不，是邀请你，下个月和我一起去天镜盐湖看流星雨——听说盐湖很浅，真的像镜子一样，到时候流星反射在上面一定很好看！而且下个月的流星雨可是百年一遇的……过了这次就没下次了。”
“下一个百年很快就到了。”
“对你们当然很快，可对我来说……”
“嗯？”
“没什么，你以后就知道了……去不去？真的很漂亮。”
我的邀请被激动地抛在空中，却因为沉默，陡然坠地。
沈星回的眼睛不知道在什么时候突然黯淡了，过了好一会儿，他才回应我。
“我去不了那里。”
“去不了？是跟你刚才的那些……”我犹豫了一会儿，想ing到底该怎么称呼那些人，“……那些人，有关吗？”
沈星回愣了一下，点了点头，欲言又止。
不过我也没有追问下去，只是看着他注视我的眼睛，鬼使神差地伸出食指，戳了戳他的嘴角：“别不开心了。那我就自己一个人去好了，到时候把你的愿望一并带给流星。你想许什么愿望？”
“我没有什么愿望。”
“人怎么会没有愿望呢？那要不要，把我的愿望分给你一个？”
我从椅子上起身，面对着沈星回，双手交捧闭起眼睛，诚心许愿：“祝沈星回，永远自由。”
沈星回像是愣了一下，然后问我：“那你呢，想许什么愿望。”
“身体健康，就是不知道能不能灵验。”
我默念了三秒，等着心里的流星划过，才睁开眼。
突然，黑暗里真的划过一束星光。
我再仔细一看，沈星回的掌心里捧着一簇光团，正在黑暗中荧荧——
“流星说，答应了。”
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