"I'm tired," Miku said.
Jay looked up immediately. "Did I do something?"
She shook her head. "Not today."
"Then what?"
"Today," she said calmly, "I did."
They were standing outside, the air quiet, the space between them familiar but strained.
"I realized something," Miku continued."I've been arranging my days around the possibility of you."
Jay frowned. "I never asked you to."
"I know," she replied. "That doesn't mean I didn't do it."
Jay crossed his arms. "Are you saying you're leaving?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
"I'm saying I'm stopping."
"Stopping what?"
"Waiting," she said. "For you to be ready. For you to say things you're not ready to say."
Jay's jaw tightened. "That sounds like leaving."
"It's not," she said gently. "It's standing still instead of leaning forward all the time."
He was quiet for a long moment.
"So what changes?" he asked.
Miku met his eyes. "I won't chase clarity from silence anymore."
"That feels… final."
"It's actually fair," she replied. "To both of us."
Jay swallowed. "And what am I supposed to do with that?"
"Whatever you want," she said. "Not what you're afraid of."
He laughed once, bitterly. "You make it sound simple."
"I'm not asking for simple," she said."I'm asking for mutual."
Jay's voice dropped. "What if I lose you?"
Miku didn't soften her tone.
"Then you'll lose me knowing I stayed honestly as long as I could."
"That's terrifying."
"Yes," she said. "For me too."
Another pause.
"You're not giving me an ultimatum," Jay said slowly.
"No," she replied. "I'm giving myself boundaries."
He nodded, understanding settling in painfully.
"So if I pull away now?"
"I won't follow," she said. "But I won't disappear either."
"And if I finally step forward?"
"Then I'll meet you," she answered. "Not halfway. Fully."
Jay exhaled shakily. "I don't know if I'm strong enough yet."
Miku stepped closer—not touching him.
"Then don't ask me to be weak for you."
His eyes burned.
"I never wanted that."
"I know," she said. "That's why this hurts."
Jay looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
"You're not staying because you're afraid to leave," he said.
She smiled sadly. "No. I'm staying because I know when to stop waiting."
He nodded once.
"I don't want to lose you," he said quietly.
"Then don't treat me like something you'll find again later."
They stood there, neither reaching out.
Finally, Jay said, "This is the first time you've scared me."
Miku replied softly, "This is the first time I chose myself out loud."
She turned to leave.
Jay didn't stop her.
But he said, just before she was gone—
"Miku."
She turned.
"I'm not asking you to stay," he said."I'm asking you not to disappear."
She nodded. "Then don't disappear either."
And she walked away—not angry, not broken—
Just steady.