115 Rain (2/2)

”Seeing... those... that care... about me... in pain... pains me... So that’s why... I don’t need... anyone... to care about me... It’s fine... if... I’m alone...”

Seiji chest throbbed with pain.

What was this...? He was naïve enough to believe being isolated could still bring her happiness...

What was all this about isolation not equaling misfortune, and thinking that having a hobby which you enjoyed was all that was needed!?

Such thoughts were ridiculous!

‘I... I’m such an idiot!!’

”Being by yourself... isn’t good at all!” he said forcefully.”When you’re sad, nobody will console you; when you’re happy, you can’t share it with anyone; when you’re angry, nobody will coax you; when you’re scared, there’s nobody to rely on...”

”Humans... need family and friends... So... don’t say that it’s fine to be by yourself. Don’t... leave this world all by your lonesome...” Seiji paused mid-speech.”Live! Live!! Find friends!!!”

He was basically roaring at this point.

Shika widened her eyes ever so slightly.

”Friends... Impossible...”

”There will be! Right now... right in front of you, there’s one right now!”

Seiji put down his cell phone as he grabbed her tiny hands.

They were icy cold and startlingly soft...

”I’ll be your friend! I am your friend!! That’s why you must live! We... still need to do so many things together!!”

”We can chat together, read books together, browse manga together, go shopping together, watch movies together, play games together... There are so many fun things we can do together!!”

His shouting seemed to echo in the cold rain.

The girl whose body was turning ice cold felt a sliver of warmth.

Shika slowly began to smile.

”Friends... are so nice...” she rasped.”Can I... really... have one?”

”Of course! I’m right here, aren’t I!?” Seiji looked directly at her wan yet still beautiful and moving smile.”So don’t be in a rush to die; tell me how to save you! I’ll absolutely do it!!”

”...Sorry... It’s impossible...”

Shika’s voice became almost imperceptible.

”My older brother’s... coming for me...”

Older brother?

”I’m... going to leave together with him...”

Seiji felt a chill over his entire body.

The girl in his arms was rapidly losing all warmth from her body.

”Don’t go! You can do it!! You can live!!!”

”...Thank you...”

Shika’s smile seemed to become even softer and more brilliant.

It was almost as if she were showing off her pure untainted soul in her final moments.

”Farewell... My only...”

”...Friend...”

Her body turned into nothing but pure iciness.

Seiji’s expression froze over.

The rain pounded down with increased intensity.

However, he could barely hear the sound of raindrops right now.

He closed his eyes and lifted his face up towards the sky.

”DAMN IT ALL!!!”

He couldn’t do anything but vent the indescribable emotions bursting from his chest.

He didn’t know what just happened, or what he should do.

He could load, but how was he supposed to save this girl in front of him?

‘Someone... tell me!!’

*Boom!!!*

Almost as if in answer to his shouting, another loud sound resounded from a place nearly adjacent to Seiji.

He turned around to look at the new arrival.

He saw a red-haired girl who was wearing clothing similar to Shika Kagura’s.

But her appearance... something seemed unsettling about it.

Seiji recognized her.