Chapter Text
Aihara Kotoko always thought that she and Naoki Irie would be together forever. How she came up with that thought was probably because of her unrequited love for the former, probably because they are housemates, or maybe it is just an instinct—a gut feeling—that foreshadows the future. However, her idea of being together forever with Naoki is shattered when her father told her about his plans of moving out and his concern about the man of her dreams not being into her. Moving out of Irie’s residence only means that the connection she has with Naoki will slowly disappear.
And so, several days passed after finally finding a new home, and here they are now, lifting the bags and boxes that they owned and putting them on the mini-truck her father borrowed.
Kotoko stood in front of the house and reminisced the moments she made with the Irie family. With Irie Naoki. It has been 3 years ever since she and her father moved into the Irie residence. It was great, Kotoko thought. To be in the same house, breathing the same air, with Irie Naoki is sure a memory to be cherished for her.
However, it is time to go.
They will still see each other, right? At the university? No? Probably, no. Naoki doesn't even care about her. So why bother? She tried exhaling these thoughts away. But she just couldn't.
"Kotoko," her father, Shigeo, called her.
She nodded. A gesture that she is ready to go. She took one last glance at the family who are standing by the door. Auntie is bawling her eyes out, silently crying. Her husband, on the other hand, tries his best to console her. Yuuki is peeking from the window. Naoki is leaning on the doorframe wearing his usual cold expression.
Then, she looked at the Irie's residence before finally opening the door in the passenger seat.
Irie-kun, maybe someday?
The vehicle made its way out of the subdivision the Irie’s residence is in. The atmosphere was heavy for Kotoko. For her, it was difficult to accept that they have to do this. But she understands that they need to because it has been more than a year ever since the Iries helped them by giving them shelter in the comfort of their home.
Shigeo glances at her daughter every now and then to see if she is okay. She is not bawling her eyes yet. I see. She’s trying her best to look okay. Do not worry, Kotoko. We’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.
“Papa, eyes on the road.”
“Ah, sorry. Kotoko. I am just–”
“Worried?”
Shigeo fell silent. He focuses his eyes on the road. Kotoko took his silence as a yes.
“You don’t have to be, Papa.”
Shigeo felt the assurance in Kotoko’s voice. He was relieved. But not completely.
Smiling, he glanced at Kotoko again whose eyes are now big. Her hands tapped his shoulder.
It was like slow motion. There was a loud honk coming from the truck whose brakes are malfunctioning. Kotoko is screaming. The truck is fast approaching. The truck finally hit their vehicle on his side. There was an impact. Then there was blood. From him and Kotoko.
Shigeo heard the voice of the people approaching the scene. There are several who are shouting for an ambulance.
Struggling, he looked at Kotoko whose eyes are closed. Shigeo prayed for a miracle. For both of them to be alive. No, for Kotoko to be alive.
Then he closed his eyes.