It is late afternoon and I can see the skies and my surroundings plunged into darkness as the rain comes pouring with the sound of raindrops as they kissed the ground.
Fire broke from different areas in Shinjuku. Thick smokes are coming out and up, up to the sky caused by simultaneous explosion attacks. With a spawn of poor luck, my school was also blasted and I was tangled up with this mess. I’m fully aware it was a regrettable choice.
*sigh* *huff*
It’s hard to breathe in my state. It’s getting dark now, huh? I barely see the newly destroyed hallway while I’m leaning beside the demolished wall and its near shattered window. Also, a thick supportive column to sit comfortably that my back can submit onto.
I placed my right hand on my abdomen. I’m trying to relax. I’m here on the 4th floor of the school building. I can see large smokes and red to orange hues of light from afar. *coughs* I almost couldn’t feel my face. It’s getting numb by every minute. I can’t see myself right now but I feel the bruises left on my cheeks. The slashes that marked around my body stings to the bottom of hell and won’t stop bleeding.
*kek-kkwaaak* *spits* *clears throat* *coughs*
I just vomited blood. What a disgusting and crappy feeling. What a terrible pain that leaves me pondering and pondering, and eventually just leaves a blank space in my head. I must have been close to getting killed until I heard a girl speak with a cold voice and interrupted one of her accomplice's constant beating.
“Mantis, stop. That’s not part of our mission. He’s also one of us but it seems he’s not part of Kintsugitori. Leave him be.”
Before they left and leap off, I looked at her from behind. Surprisingly, she turned her head slightly towards my direction to steal a gaze from me. That’s when our eyes met. Her face was half-covered with a black mask but when I look at her, it was a familiar feeling …
Those eyes that I always took a glimpse of growing up. This feeling that they were the same eyes but that girl’s eyes doesn't have a spark of enthusiasm.
Maybe it’s her? I became delusionally hopeful despite this unmeasurable situation. Ugh, “Joji, cut it out! Why would you think such a thing?” I asked myself.
-moment of silence-
As I feel the loneliness of being left in here and as I bite my lips out of the pain, it hits me…the realization that after all these years, I just couldn’t accept it. I’ve been lying to myself.
“Rina”
A precious name I muttered to myself.
I just couldn’t accept what happened to you. After all these occurences that ruined our childhood. If only I woke up earlier than you, maybe…we can be still together.
---
I can’t feel my body now. I suppose I’m going to be in deep sleep or the moment that I can finally see my dear friend again on the other side. I’m tired but at least I’ve tried surviving a normal life up until now.
---
Then, I closed my eyes. It was darker than the hallway. I feel that I’m floating in the middle of an endless void. Those significant events that had happened to me are all coming back in a flash starting the very day that changed the course of my life forever.
[ Flashback ]
[ August 20xx ]
[ Thursday afternoon – 8 years ago ]
It’s 2 pm close to 3 pm. I promised Rina that we’re going out to the neighborhood playground today.
I need to ask permission from Okaasan first before heading out although Rina’s mom already called her last night about our plan. It’s just the way it is.
So, I go from my room to the living room where she is. Just a few steps, I already hear the sound of shamisen that Okaasan plays. I always admire her playing the shamisen. Me and Rina’s families sometimes get invited to the theatre to watch her participating in shamisen performances. Even Kabuki and Noh, she always gets us tickets when everybody is free to go. Honestly, I get sleepy in the middle of some performances but I wouldn’t dare tell that experience to her, heh heh.
Anyway, I think she’s currently teaching shamisen lessons online. To what I’m seeing right now, she is pretty busy. So instead, I’m at the corner of the living room just near the entrance. I waved at her back and forth until she notices me then I place my palms together and mumble the words slowly while emphasizing the movement of my mouth.
“Okaa-san.I’m.heading.out.now.”
“See.you.later.” while pointing my finger towards the entrance.
In response, she nods and blinks twice then I exit the house.
I run as fast as I can to the playground and carefully crossing the road.
I see Rina sitting on the swing holding a purple ball and approach her;
“Rina!” I exclaimed.
“Joji! You made me wait! It’s getting hot, you know!” Rina complained.
“Sorry, I did my best to be here on time and I didn’t expect you to be early,” I responded while noticing there are students wearing their school uniforms walking past the playground.
“Oomph.” Rina pouted.
“You mustn’t make a girl wait!” she complained.
I feel embarrassed and can’t respond to her properly …
“Rina, those high school students there, I think. Isn’t it odd that they’re wearing their school uniforms on summer vacation?” I asked to distract her.
“Oh, I've never seen students wearing school uniforms in the summer before, but Okaasan still goes to school, no matter if it's a vacation. She said there are tasks she's working on. She also mentioned that there are activities for students, like clubs.
Heyy, waaaait … Joji, did you just- just got me distracted? What were we talking about?”
“Well I-I’m suddenly curious so I asked. What’s wrong with that?”
“Fine! By the way, I brought my bouncy purple ball for us to play kick, catch, and throw.”
“Okay then! I’ll kick first then you catch.”
When I first kicked the ball, Rina catches it then I kicked the ball again, this time, I kicked it hard that it begins flying right above her head.
She tried to reached it but failed. The ball bounces until it landed on the field of daisies and smashed some flowers.
“Joji! That’s no fair! Don’t kick the ball too hard. I can’t reach that high!” she exclaimed.
“Hahaha, this is why I will always be better out of the two of us cause’ I’m taller and stronger than you.” I teased her.
Just imagine the disbelief on Rina’s face haha.
“bleeeeh!” I gave an expression.
“That’s it! I’m gonna tell mommy that you’re being mean again.”
I’m a little scared of what she said. Please, just not her mom. {{ (>_<) }}
“Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! … I promise I won’t kick the ball high again. Just please, don’t tell your mom.” I quickly responded out of flustering. It sounded like I almost beg.
“… and for being mean… I’m sorry too.” I added.
Ugggh! I’m blushing like crazy. The embarrassment. I’m being sincere like a grown-up. This is the right way to do it, right? Still, I feel too embarrassed right now …
I stared at Rina’s face. She seems to have a hard time answering me. Now, she’s looking away avoiding eye contact.
Did her face just turned red?! Oh no … ∑(O_O;)
“Hmmph.” Rina pouted again and turned her head facing the side while crossing her arms.
Now, I’m confused and scratched my head. Okay, I need something for her not to get upset.
Think Joji, think! I demanded myself and then I've got an idea…
“Hmmm okay, how about I’ll treat you with strawberry sando? That’s your favorite, isn’t it? How about that? I’ll give you three.”
“Ah, really?!” Rina shouted with delight.
“Yes, I promise.”
“Okay, it’s a promise then! (☆ω☆)” Rina’s eyes sparkled and smiled with glee.
“Hehe~ alright, let’s go get that ball and head back home before it gets dark.”
"Okay then!”
We raced towards the field of daisies where Rina’s purple ball rests. I arrived at the spot first but I let Rina pick up the ball since she failed to catch it earlier. She holds the ball then extends her arms facing me.
“Joji, here you go. Can you please keep my ball for me, for a while?”
“Sure no problem, I’ll take good care of it. Now, let’s go!” I replied enthusiastically.
We start moving and we immediately noticed the sudden change in our environment from light to dark.
“Uhmm, Joji? Why is it evening all of a sudden?” Rina asked out of confusion as we look up from the far mountains. A faint blue beam of glowing light quickly pierced high above the sky.
After that, it’s a rain of both black and glowing blue ashes. I’m trying to catch some using my palm while my other hand is holding the ball. Suddenly, I feel my body wobbling. My vision doubled as the ground shake rapidly.
I look further to the mountains again and I saw the beam sprouting more small beams bit by bit. It’s as if it’s a firecracker coming from the ground in slow motion. It expands slowly then I see smoke surrounding it just now?! I’m not sure. I can’t see clearly, it’s getting foggy and it’s still shaking.
“Let’s squat, quick!” I shouted.
While we’re squatting, we heard a sound of a loud bang coming from our side as an object swiftly touched the ground. We turned our heads and glanced. To our horror, it isn’t an object but an arm... a single arm from a person! I can see the flesh and some part of the bones sticking out.
When it starts to bleed blood, Rina and I trembled in fear. We froze in our spot and I wasn’t able to speak while Rina is holding back her tears. I’m in extreme shock but the ground is still shaking. We can’t just stay in the open seeing that arm just fell from the sky.
“Hurry! Let’s hide under there! As I point my finger towards a spot underneath the playset.
We charged to the spot and hide then we hear a very sharp sound following some sort of force that pushing us away. We covered our ears while resisting the force.
“I think this really isn’t a safe place to hide under. *coughs*“ Rina doubted.
“At least it’s better than getting hit by falling body parts from the sky!” I reasoned out.
“It’s getting so hot in here!! *coughs*” She added.
“Joji, I-I *huff* I c-can’t *coughs* breath ...”
Then she passed out and then I panicked. I’m trying to wake her up.
“Rina! Wake up! *coughs*” As I rub my hand over her shoulder. Tears started to flow from my eyes.
“*coughs* Please wake up, please!” I’m starting to feel weak and eventually caved in and close my eyes.
[[ a black empty space ]]
|
|
|
-- [ Present Joji narration ] --
Rina and I fell victims to that disaster...nobody expected their day to end with such catastrophe...houses were destroyed and buildings were crushed with incredible force.
A tragedy of epic proportions.
As for the both of us, that’s the last time we’re together.
- End of Chapter -
Comments (0)
See all