Chapter Text
Sendoh didnt believe what his friends had told him at first. The news was too shocking and terrible to be true.
"It was a bad accident""
"His car crashed last night"
"Sendoh, please accept the truth"
"Maki is no longer with us"
Much to Sendoh's sorrow, the news were confirmed to be true when it became the headline of the news that day.
"This morning, rescuers discovered the body of Maki Shinichi, a 29-year-old man, in the wreckage of a car crash. Tragically, he was found to be beyond medical recovery. Investigators believe that Maki had been on his way home from a visit to his hometown of Kyonan-shi when the accident occurred"
The last time Sendoh had spoken to Maki had been just the day prior. He had received a call from Maki while driving to work, and the two had engaged in their normally casual conversation.
Now, looking back, Sendoh wondered if he had known that it would be their final conversation, would he have stopped Maki from driving home that night? Would things have been different had he been more insistent? All that was left to Sendoh now was to wonder.
By the time Sakuragi arrived at Sendoh's apartment, he was already clad in head-to-toe black garments. This wasn't his first funeral; he attended one before when he was only 7 years old. The funeral was for the brother of his mom, and he witnessed his mom struggle to contain her emotions throughout the entire event. At the time, he didn't understand. It's not like his uncle often visited his mom, as they lived in different regions.
The final question Sakuragi asked Sendoh caused him to break down. It was a simple inquiry of, "Are you okay?" However, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Sendoh had shed no tears when he saw the news report. He didn't cry during his shower. He didn't cry when he called Sakuragi for a ride. He didn't even let a single tear drop when he rummaged through his closet, frantically searching for appropriate attire.
But the moment Sendoh allowed himself to succumb to his emotions, everything came pouring out. Years of bottled up emotions were unleashed in one violent display of grief. His tears flowed so freely that even the neighbours were concerned by his weeping. The next thing Sendoh knew, he was in the backseat of a car, his eyes swollen and a stack of tissue resting in his lap. Sakuragi was seated in the passenger seat beside Akagi, who was driving the vehicle.
Despite being aware of the voices of Sakuragi and Akagi, Sendoh had grown increasingly deaf to their words. Everything became more and more obscured, as if he were slowly drifting down into the depths of a bottomless ocean. His thoughts were consumed by Maki, his lover. The mere thought of him made his chest ache with a deep anguish.
As they arrive at Maki's funeral home, Sendoh faces a heartbreaking reunion with familiar faces. It wasn't the reunion he had hoped for; everyone had been brought together due to the unfortunate death of one dear to their hearts.
The first person to hug Sendoh is Kiyota, who is well known to be a close friend of both Sendoh and Maki. Kiyota looked up to Maki as a loving older brother figure, even after graduating from high school. Their shared embrace showcased the depths of Kiyota's grief, and Sendoh could feel every single ounce of it.
Sendoh allowed himself to view Maki's peaceful face one last time before he was laid to rest. His expression was serene, as if he was merely sleeping in the casket. As Maki's casket was lowered into the earth, Sendoh tried to come to grips with his loss. He tried to convince himself that it was time to let him go, but he couldn't.
Maki had once asked Sendoh the odd question, "Who would stay the longest at my grave?". Sendoh had dismissed it as one of media's inane social trends, but the question now weighed heavy on his thoughts.
The question of who would stay the longest at Maki's grave was finally answered. It was Sendoh and Kiyota, who stayed after everyone had left the graveyard. They sat in silence, gazing at Maki's final resting place.
After a moment, Sendoh looked away, repeatedly trying to convince himself to 'let him go' in his heart. He glanced around the graveyard in search of peace but instead found his eyes drawn to a lady standing at the entrance of the graveyard. She quickly bowed down to Sendoh before dashing away in a hurry. Sendoh just presumed she was a colleague of Maki's and didn't think much about it.
Kiyota and Sendoh decided to make a stop at Maki's family house, where they were warmly welcomed given their close friendship. Maki's mom is aware of the romantic relationship between the two.
Their relationship is not one they make public, nor is it one they keep a secret. Only those who are close to Maki would know that Sendoh was the one who captured Maki's heart, as other people only knew Maki as a straight man that was 'well-equipped.'
In a gesture of respect, Sendoh and Kiyota greet Maki's mother and express their condolences. Despite the sadness of the situation, Maki's mom remains polite. The news of the passing of her only son is undoubtedly a challenging one, especially considering that she had already experienced the loss of her husband several years prior.
"Atleast I wont have to worry about him anymore"
Mrs Maki's cold response may appear odd, but Sendoh considers it a coping mechanism. He had already witnessed Maki use similar logic to deal with a tragedy in his life. Once, when Maki's hamster pet died of old age, Maki told himself, "He was old so I saw it coming."
However, Maki did cry over his hamster that night and Sendoh was there to provide comfort.
After having a tea together, Mrs Maki welcomed the pair into Maki's bedroom and permitted them to select items from his possession. Kiyota only took a few pieces of clothing and some pictures while giving the rest to Sendoh.
He initially refused, but Mrs Maki explained that Sendoh deserved to possess Maki's belongings. However, the unexpected inclusion of Maki's mermaid pendant took Sendoh by surprise. It was a necklace he would always wear on his person. To top it all off, it was personally and deliberately given to Sendoh.
Mrs Maki held up the necklace, then handed it to Sendoh. "Here, I want you to have it," she declared as she passed the necklace to Sendoh.
"It was supposed to be buried along with him, but I couldn't bear to let it go. I believe it is better that you should keep it," she elaborated, providing an explanation.
Along with the necklace was a pair of engagement rings, which Sendoh also received. He shed tears for the second time upon receiving these rings, and fortunately Kiyota was by his side providing comfort.
Before Sendoh and Kiyota depart from Maki's home, one of Mrs Maki's servants calls out to him.
"There shall be a reading of the last will and testament in two weeks' time. Mrs Maki wishes you to be present for it," the servant informs. Sendoh simply responds with a respectful nod and a heartfelt thanks before bowing down and departing the residence. It was not surprising that Maki already had final wishes written down, as he often thought ahead and planned for contingencies.
Sendoh found himself reunited with Sakuragi and Akagi. The former one was fast asleep in the backseat, leaving the passenger seat empty. Sendoh opted to sit next to Akagi for the trip home to avoid being rude.
As they travelled in silence, Akagi suddenly broke the quietness, asking, "You alright?"
"Yeah, a bit better," Sendoh responded, sounding slightly despondent.
"Whats the result of the autopsy?" Akagi asked, his eyes still stuck on the road, "Is it really cause by the impact?"
Sendoh didn't reply anything, as he himself didn't even know about the autopsy.
"My buddies at work told me that the family of the deceased usually permits an autopsy to be performed. The fact that Maki's family denied such permission seems suspicious." He added.
The news that Maki's family didn't give permission for an autopsy to be performed was strange to Sendoh, though he didn't say anything at that moment. Akagi, being a policeman, may know more about the situation than himself.
"There's something fishy," Akagi suddenly stated.
Sendoh and Akagi's conversation ended after the exchange about the autopsy, and they both remained silent for the rest of the journey. After a few hours, Akagi dropped Sendoh off at his home before leaving.
Upon his return, Sendoh was greeted by an empty, silent apartment. It wasn't as if he lived with Maki, but he could sense a palpable emptiness, perhaps as a result of his own grief. Perhaps its his own heart that felt empty.
As Sendoh stepped into his apartment and felt the loneliness of a now empty home, he caressed the mermaid pendant on his neck, kissing it. While it wasn't as satisfying as kissing Maki, he found a degree of comfort in kissing something that used to be part of his beloved.
The soft alarm sounded its tune, urging Sendoh to awaken from his slumber. Overwhelmed by sorrow and longing, he wanted nothing more than to burrow his head under the covers, possibly disappearing into them.
But instead, Sendoh forced himself to rise from bed, removing the pendant and Maki's shirt that he had been wearing throughout the night. Determined to return to his normal routine, he promised himself he would strive to live life normally. Ultimately, he knew Maki would want him to move forward despite his grief.
Sendoh diligently performed his job and supervised the kitchen until the last customer departed. Despite his best efforts, he was overcome with the haunting sensation of being watched. It didn't feel like a person was watching him but rather a spirit.
When Sendoh drove home from his workplace, he couldn't help but repeatedly check his rearview mirror as if waiting to see someone occupying the backseat. From a glimpse of eye contact, it looked as though there was a person seated there.
The strange sense remained even after Sendoh finished work and walked to his home. However, all of his lingering questions were resolved when the spirit revealed itself the moment Sendoh unlocked the door to his apartment.
"Sh..Shinichi...,"