"Hey..."
"I hate myself."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. I'm tired."
"Is this the right thing?"
"I shouldn't have been born."
She whispered softly. Her long hair danced in the wind.
"Hey, is that really true?"
"It is true. I will never be worthy."
"Sniff... Sniff..."
"I'm so pathetic."
"Sniff... Sniff... Do you want to go back?"
"Going back to the same point? I'm sick of it!"
Her hands clenched tightly.
"Is this the right decision? What if it's wrong?"
"I don't care. Right or wrong doesn't matter anymore. Haven't I always messed things up?"
"Go back. There's still a chance."
"It seems... I can't."
"What if you could?"
"What if this is what I really want?"
"Are you sure? You won't change your mind?"
"No. I've made my decision."
"I see..."
"Tell me what I've wanted to say all this time."
"Hmmm..."
"... Gomen ne."
She stopped.
A faint smile appeared on her face. It felt relieving.
"CRASH!!!"
Too late.
***
"Huff... Huff... Huff..." His breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled into the house, ignoring the usual politeness of knocking and greeting.
"Kotaro-Kun? What happened?" asked a middle-aged woman, her voice trembling with concern.
He barely registered her worry; his mind was a whirlwind of guilt and dread.
"Baa-San, S-Sora-Chan..." The young man's breath caught in his throat. His tongue felt too heavy to continue.
"Why?!" Her anxiety escalated sharply. She grabbed his shoulders. "Where is she?!"
"S-She..." Stuttering, he recounted everything.
The woman's body went limp. Her eyes burned. Tears streamed down her face.
"No! This can't be happening!!!" she screamed hysterically, still unable to believe the news she had just heard.
"I'm sorry, Baa-San. It's our fault. We were late." He bowed deeply.
The woman collapsed onto the floor, her eyes staring blankly with tears that wouldn't stop.
"NO!!!"
***
"Today's news: A girl was found dead in a ravine. It is still unclear whether she was a victim of murder or suicide. Local police are conducting further investigations—"
The television was turned off. Someone stared blankly.
"She really did it."
He let out a long sigh and then smirked. "So foolish."
His laughter broke out, sounding heart-wrenching. Tears streamed down his face as he cried and laughed like a madman.
"Hahaha... Sniff... Hahaha... Sniff... Sniff... Sniff...."
He clutched at his hair in anguish. "This is my fault! Sniff... Sniff..."
"I hate you. Huhh... I hate myself."
The young man fell to his knees.
"This is outrageous... You... You...."
The haunting image lingered—sweet smiles and warm laughter, hand-holding and goodnight hugs.
Those voices sounded so painful, so hurtful.
This was a crazy decision, but he chose to do it.
Amidst his tears, the young man smiled wide.
"Wait for me. I'll be with you soon."
"DOORRR!!!"
The smell of gunpowder spread through the room. Someone lay motionless.
His head was blown apart.
Nearby lay a voice recording, intentionally played on repeat.
"I'm tired and you keep running, Ryuu-Kun. You should have taken responsibility for getting me pregnant. Gomen ne."
A discordant laugh echoed.
The voice recording stopped.
Then it played again—broadcasting the messages whispered by a girl to the wind, carrying her pain into eternity.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
