Chapter Text
"Even now we stay like this, I wish we stay like this forever. - Mirai"
It all started when Akito confessed his love to Toya. That day, the sky was such a beautiful fade of pink and orange, with the sun setting. Such a romantic scenery.
Toya obviously accepted Akito's confession, and they ended up being more than just friends. They were partners, in singing and in romance.
That day, Toya felt so warm inside. But now...
Why does Toya feel so empty?
"No! Something isn't right! - ECHO"
Toya and Akito were both walking out of school. The day's been tiring enough.
"School's such a waste of time..."
Akito remarks, dragging his bag.
"It's not like we have a choice though. School's not that bad, or maybe it's just me."
Toya says, looking at Akito with a confused face. Was Akito being overdramatic or was he genuinely that tired?
"Easy for you to say! You're practically smarter than I am!"
Akito rolls his eyes then turns back to Toya.
"Hey uhm...you alright partner? You seem...off."
Akito looks at Toya's face with a hint of concern and worry. He noticed something. Those grey eyes that Akito would get lost in from staring too long... there was no light in his eyes. Those eyes that used to hold even the slightest bit of emotions were now dull.
"I'm fine... though I appreciate the concern, I'm fine, Akito."
That tone did not sound like something Toya would say if he was alright.
"Oh, we're already in front of your house, huh?"
Akito looks up at the house. Right, Toya's family is rich. The house looks so big...
"I'll rest now, I'll see you, Akito."
With that, Toya opened the door to his house and waved his hand at Akito, then closed the door.
"Something's not right..."
Is it okay to go on like this, all adrift? - Garando"
"You're saying that Toya was acting strange?"
An questions, sipping a cup of tea.
"Seems that way. I don't know how to help him."
Akito sighs, messing his hair a bit.
"Maybe you should talk to him, Shinonome-kun..if you sense something is wrong with Toya, wouldn't it help you both if you approach him?"
Kohane suggests, fixing her jacket a bit.
Suddenly, the three of them get a message, almost all at the same time.
"Did you guys get a message as well?"
An looks at her phone and sees a private message from Toya.
"Yeah, I also got one..."
Kohane also looked at her phone. Sure enough, there was a notification of a message from Toya.
'Why'd Toya have to message us privately...? Does he not know we're all together? I could've sworn I told him...'
Akito thought to himself as he opened the message.
"My anxiety spikes, my anxiety spikes, my anxiety spikes and I'm unsteady. - Traffic Jam"
⚠ (SKIP IF UNCOMFORTABLE)
'I sent all of them the message. Now I think it's time."
Toya thought to himself as he looks at the bottle in his hands. Painkillers. Will this really stop the pain he felt?
Everything's too much for him. Even with VIVID BAD SQUAD to support him, he can't seem to understand why they were willing to help. Especially Akito.
'I don’t believe it when he says I love you. It’s all a lie...How could someone like him, perfect in every way, love someone like me, a fragile, imperfect person? What does he see in me that makes him love me?!'
Toya grips the bottle in his hands. Why can't he do it...? Why...?
'I want to...but I can't...I'd leave everyone I love; everyone I care for...'
Toya starts to cry.
'I need to make up my mind...either way, I already caused them pain. I sent the message, it's too late to turn back.'
With that, Toya slowly opened the bottle of painkillers...
⚠(DONE)
"No, it can't be this, not this. - Cinema"
As they open the message that Toya had sent, they all realize what's happening. Akito starts to run out of WEEKEND GARAGE. Kohane and An follow, running as fast as they can.
'Toya...please...please be alright.'
An had thought to herself while running.
After running for at least 10 minutes, they made it in front of Toya's house.
"It's rude to just enter a house that isn't ours...but we have no choice."
Kohane approached the door and to their surprise, it was unlocked.
"Let's go. I don't care if Toya's hell of a father is here, but we need to go."
Akito said, signaling the other two to go up the stairs.
"Oh-oh, kill me indirectly! - Garando"
⚠
Toya took the painkillers.
One....two...three...four...five...He could feel himself getting weaker as time passed by after taking at least 5 painkillers.
'I'll probably die here, leaving everyone...'
Toya's consciousness was starting to fade slowly.
'Huh...? Who opened the door...? It can't be father, he's out of town.'
Toya was starting to cry. He didn't know who would just show up unannounced. That was...until he heard the voices of his fellow bandmates.
He wanted to call out to them, he really did. But he eventually loses consciousness.
⚠
"Those fuzzy memories were there." - Moonlight"
"His room is right there."
Akito points out, and the three of them rush over.
"Damnit! It's locked..."
Akito frustratedly said, trying his best to open the door."
"Aoyagi-kun...please open the door...if not, we're going to force this door open.."
Kohane desperately voiced out. No response came from the room.
Kohane then takes a pin from her hair and tries to use the said pin to unlock the door. To their luck, the door unlocks.
"Toya! Why did you- Toya...?!"
An was the first to enter the room, therefore she was the first to see the state Toya was in.
"An-chan... is something- Aoyagi-kun..!?"
Kohane caught a glimpse of what had happened to Toya.
"Toya...TOYA?!"
Akito ran towards Toya's limp body.
"No... no....this can't be real. Toya... please... "
Akito starts tearing up as he desperately tried to feel any signs of breathing and pulse from Toya. A rare sight for Akito to show this emotion but instead of thinking about that, you'd probably think on how worried Akito was.
Kohane and An find the bottle of painkillers on the ground. The bottle was open, with some of the painkillers scattered on the ground.
"An-chan... call an ambulance..."
Kohane whispered to An, to which, An nodded and took out her phone to call emergency services.
"Did I get lost? - RAD DOGS"
The sounds of the sirens rang all throughout the town before reaching the hospital. The three went with the ambulance and are now waiting in the hospital.
Kohane and An were both hugging each other, scared for their life. Akito was standing, leaning against the wall. All three of them were so worried, especially Akito.
What if he was too late? What if Toya was dead? What if Toya IS dead now? What if-
"Shinonome-kun..? Are you alright?"
Kohane looks at Akito with a hint of worry and concern. She's never seen Akito so... emotional.
"Yeah."
Akito responds, voice shaky. There were tears falling from his eyes.
An managed to fall asleep on Kohane's shoulder, visible tears in her eyes. This whole situation has clearly stressed VIVID BAD SQUAD to the core. Kohane used her jacket to wrap both of them to keep each other warm.
A doctor then walks out of the room Toya was in. She had short grey hair, seemingly in a wolf-cut. Her name was Doctor Stelle.
"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"
Stelle asked the three.
"You decide, Shinonome-kun. An-chan, wake up.."
Kohane gently tapped An's shoulder, waking her up.
"Good news, please."
Akito answered, wiping his tears.
"Your friend made it. He's alive and will survive."
Stelle held her clipboard to her chest.
"And... the bad news?"
Kohane looked at Stelle, worriedly.
"He'll need to stay here for further observation. He will wake up, but we're not sure when."
Stelle responded, putting her glasses up slightly.
"Can we check on him?"
An asked, still feeling a bit groggy.
"Of course."