Chapter Text
I have finally fallen in a deep slumber.
Before I did, I could hear Alisa crying on my side. I’m sorry, beautiful. I have to go. My time is up.
How I wish I could spend more time with her. I wish I could get to know her even more.
I can’t believe that I have a child and she’s all grown up now. A beautiful girl.
I know I have always said that she’s Ken’s daughter but deep down, I acknowledged that she is my daughter.
I hope I get to meet her again one day. Whenever it will be and whatever our situation is going to be.
Also, Toichi. I’m sorry you had to witness this and you had to deal with me. You’re a wonderful friend a guy could ever have.
I promise you that I will tell Moichi about you.
He will be so proud of you.
Light shone bright to my eyes as I tried my best to open them.
Is this the light from the other side? Am I finally there?
I can’t wait to meet Moichi, mum… and Rin.
I miss them and I bet they miss me too. Hopefully, haha!
I opened my eyes, expecting to see a field with blue sky but I was greeted with a ceiling of a house that looks so familiar…
I sat up and looked around. So, I’ve been sleeping on a futon? Wait… This house…
Am I in my house back in Ogami? Is this how the afterlife is?
“Sei.” I heard a voice calling out for me. I remember that voice. I know it so well. It’s my mum.
And I was right. She walked into the room I’ve been sleeping in and she smiled at me beautifully. Just like how I remember. She never changed.
“Good morning, sweetie. You better get up and get dressed. Your breakfast is ready.” She said. I smiled at her softly and replied, “Okay, mum.”
Hold on a minute. Why does my voice sound higher than how it should be? Why do I sound like a child?
My mum looked at me and tilted her head, “Is everything okay?” She asked. I was about to ask her if I’m in the afterlife but then I heard a loud voice calling out for me. A boy’s voice.
“SEI, GET UP! WE’RE GONNA BE LATE!”
Toichi?
Wait, why is Toichi here? When did he die? How about Sono and the kids? Oh no, what happened to him!!
I watched as my mum kneeled in front of me as she placed a hand on my forehead. “Hmm… You seemed fine. Your face got a little pale and that made me worried. Are you okay, Sei? Not feeling well?” She asked.
“Mum, what is going on?” I asked.
“School. That is what’s happening right now. Come on, now. You need to wake up.” My mum said as she stood up and walked away.
Wait… What is going on? I should be dead right now! Do I have to attend school while being dead? Also… Why is Toichi here?!
Or is this just my dream while being dead?
Can dead people have dreams? I don’t know but I guess I am experiencing it now.
I got up and got ready for school, picked up a toast and my bento before I left. Before that, I went to my mum and asked, “Mum, where’s Rin?”
I figured, if this is my dream while being dead then Rin should be around because I really want to see him and my last wish was I wanted both of us to be born from the same mother’s womb. He should be here.
My mum turned around and looked at me questionably.
Oh no.
“Sei, who is Rin?”
I knew she was going to say that. Does that mean Rin’s spirit hasn’t arrived here? Or does that mean he’s in…
I shook away that thought and smiled at my mum. “Nothing, mum. I guess I have mistaken my dream with real life. I thought we had a cat named Rin.” I said to my mum. My mum chuckled at me, “Do you want a cat?” She asked.
“Maybe.”
“SEI!! WE’RE GONNA BE LATE!!” Toichi shouted.
“You better get going now. Toichi had been waiting for you for a while now.” My mum said as she kneeled down to kiss me on the cheek.
“I’ll be going now.” I said to my mum. “Have a safe trip.” She answered.
I walked out from my house and I was right. My mum was right too. Toichi had been waiting for me so we could go to school together. This is strange…
“You’re taking so damn long, Sei!” He pouted. Why are you here, Toichi? I really want to ask. Why!! What happened? How are your wife and your children? You can’t just leave them like that!
“Oi, Sei!” Toichi waved a hand in front of me. “Are you daydreaming?” He asked. I looked at him nervously and smiled, “Possibly.”
He scoffed. “Dude, you gotta wake up! We have school!”
“I know and I’m trying right now.”
“Then, try harder!!”
He laughed.
Toichi is really in a good mood right now. I can’t ruin his mood by asking him some weird questions.
School passed so fast on that day and I was shocked to see my former classmates were there. Did they die too? That’s really sad. I wonder what happened to them.
Maybe the explosion that happened years ago? Possible.
When Toichi and I were about to leave, we were stopped by a group of bullies… Their faces seemed familiar. So familiar, as if I’ve seen them before--
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Toichi with Shizuka.”
… No.
Tetsuo?!
Tetsuo appeared in his child form as well… Just like Toichi. What happened here? When did he die? Is it from heart break because his wife was murdered? Please don’t tell me this. Why are my friends dead?!
“Sei!” Toichi shook my whole body. I turned my head slowly to him. “What the hell happened?! You looked so pale! Are you scared of him? I’m here!”
“That’s not it, Toichi… You… You and Tetsu shouldn’t be here.” I said. I thought I said that in my thought but little do I know, that came out verbally.
Tetsuo glared at me, “The fuck are you talking about?! Do you want to have a go?”
“Shut up, giant! Leave us both alone!” Toichi yelled at him.
This situation is hurting my head.
I’m in Ogami, my mum is here. I’m dead and this is the afterlife but why… Why am I a child? Why are Toichi and Tetsuo here? What is going on?
“The two of you shouldn’t be here… I’m the one who died. Not you guys…” I said as my voice quivered.
Toichi, who was glaring at Tetsuo, turned to me. Tetsuo followed as well, “Sei, what are you talking about?” Toichi asked.
“You’re making no sense, Shizuka.”
I turned to them as I looked at them with wide eyes, “No! This world is making no sense!! I died from a horrible injury and you guys were supposed to be alive!!” I pointed my finger at Tetsuo, “You were devastated and depressed because your wife was killed! Why are you here? You took your own life? Were you sick? Why are you in the afterlife!!” I yelled. Tetsuo looked at me like I’m a madman. I maybe am right now. A complete madman thanks to this situation.
“And you!!” I pointed my finger at Toichi. “Last time I saw you, you were in my room with Alisa crying on my side as I slowly died. What the hell happened after that?! Did you straight up leave your wife and kids?! What? Were you killed?!” I yelled at Toichi. Toichi looked at me with a concerned look. “Sei, what are you talking about?” He asked.
“Shut up and neither of you, DON’T TALK TO ME!!” I yelled again and I ran away from them as fast as I could. I don’t know where I’m running towards. Somewhere? Maybe… Kiyatan cape? Kiyatan cape!! Where the explosion happened! It should be here if this is my dream! My dream should consist of my wants and memories. It should be here!! The explosion side should look exactly how it was after the explosion.
It should be there but as I reached the place, there was nothing. Kiyatan cape is all cleared. No destruction, no ashes, no explosion mark. It’s just empty. Just like a normal cape.
What is going on right now?
Am I really in the afterlife or… Did I somehow reborn?
But then… Where is Rin? Why is he not here? Why is this happening?
This is going to take me a while to untangle this mystery… I hope I can.
I’m going insane.