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Head in one hand, his fingers tugging on blue tufts so harshly that he might rip them out of his scalp—but it was keeping him grounded, at least. It was something to stop him from diving in deeper into this heavy-hearted torment.
His widened eyes stared at the ground whilst his shoulders heaved with each breath he took; chest tightening and his heart pounding. Makoto has never felt like this before, dealing with so many grievances in a quick span of time—all within the duration of a month. Was destiny playing some kind of sick joke on him? Why now, when he finally felt like himself around others that he grew to love and cherish was the time when he saw everyone die in front of his very eyes?
One by one.
Makoto saw them turn into nothing more than fragments of the past, from a “is” to a “was”.
His sister, Kotone? Gone, just nothing but ashes in an urn, her own tomb situated in front of him with freshly lit candles and a bouquet of flowers. He remembered their argument the night before. How she stormed off and by dawn, all he had left of her was the remains of a hairclip.
His friend, Aigis? Those claims of her wanting to follow his sister into the next life didn’t help at all, maybe it was some form of foreshadowing; a prediction even. Not even a week later after Kotone’s sudden death, she died, too.
But what about you, his beloved best friend?
You were by his side, facing the two graves that had both Kotone and Aigis’s names etched onto the stone. At this point, you had no words left to say to Makoto. Even simple reassurances like ‘It’ll be okay’ wasn’t going to help—because honestly, could you even call this an ‘okay’ situation? Having to deal with the deaths of two people you held close to your heart?
No.
None of this was okay.
You reached out, a trembling hand placed on his shoulder before you kneeled down to his crouched state and looked at him with glassy eyes, ones that were about to produce more and more tears that’ll eventually fall again. Makoto couldn’t bring himself to look at you, but feeling your touch, sensing your presence…
It was enough for him to pull you into a tight embrace, arms wrapped around you like you were going to vanish like the others he lost. Reciprocating, you hugged him back and felt him bury his head onto your shoulder. He didn’t want to lose you either.
You were the only one he had left.
…
But of course, fate casts its gaze upon the unlucky one and decides to roll the dice once more.
Once again, he stood in front of the graveyard, all by himself this time. Watched as the dying candlelight fizzled out and all that remained was the afterglow of a sunset that was slowly disappearing off the horizon. As soon as Makoto heard that promise, that stupid promise of how you were never going to leave his side, was the moment your fate was sealed. Now all he could do is stare and feel his heart pound with the grief of another loved one that he lost.
Because you too, had slipped away from his grasp.