Chapter Text
December 25, 2012, 8:20 p.m., Shinjuku underground laboratories
The basements smelled like death and blood. Hundreds of bodies littered the floor, surrounding a poor boy on his knees who seemed to have lost everything. Guren felt like he was in a nightmare, a horrible nightmare, and he had to wake up. Among all the people who had died here were four of his friends, Shigure, Sayuri, Mito, and Goshi, cruelly killed by Mahiru just minutes earlier.
Guren didn’t had time to blink before they had all lost their lives. He hadn't been able to do anything; it had all happened too quickly, and his attention had already been diverted at that moment. Mahiru had chosen to attack the other member of the squad before killing the rest, motivated by the jealousy he inspired in her. So she had plunged her hand into Shinya's chest, piercing and ripping out his heart before sending it flying through the air.
Guren, consumed by hatred and grief, was ready to let his demon take over and sink into a murderous rage when Shinya fell pathetically to the ground, moaning in pain, but alive. Guren rushed to his side, falling to his knees. He was now there, holding Shinya's trembling, dying body in his arms. He couldn't stop crying, so much so that he could barely hear the boy's fragile whispers against him.
“Ha... I think it's game over for me... Don't cry, Guren... I'm happy... Meeting you has given meaning to my life...”
The words stuck in Guren's throat. Shinya Hiragi, the boy he had met less than a year ago, who had inspired nothing but hatred at first sight, yet had become the person most dear to his heart. The one he trusted absolutely and who had brought light into his cursed world. There was no way he could let him die; he just couldn't say goodbye to him.
“Stop talking!” cried Guren. “Save your strength, I'll find a way to save you!”
“Guren...” whispered Shinya, caressing the black-haired boy's cheek with a trembling hand. “It's over for me... I have no regrets...”
No, no, no, this couldn't happen. He didn't care about the fate of the world. It could burn he wouldn’t even mind. Because his own world was dying in his arms.
“Do you hate me, Guren?” asked Mahiru's voice behind him.
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.
“Do you want to kill me?”
Guren remained silent, unable to respond. The flood of emotions he was feeling at that moment made him feel nauseous. Shinya was growing paler and paler, staring at him with glassy eyes. He didn't have much time left. Guren's brain was working at full speed. Perhaps Mahiru's powers could save Shinya? He didn't have time to dwell on the question; he had to act.
He gently laid Shinya on the ground, taking care not to aggravate his injuries, and took a deep breath as he drew his cursed sword. Then, in a burst of desperation, he lunged at Mahiru. Mahiru immediately drew her sword and countered Guren's blows without much effort. The difference in their power was far too great. After a few moments, Mahiru disarmed him and the sword flew away... only to plunge straight into Shinya's chest. The snow-haired boy flinched and let out a dying groan. Guren's blood ran cold and his eyes widened in horror.
“NO!!”
He rushed back to Shinya's side and quickly saw that his eyes were closed. Guren felt his pulse quicken with panic. He didn't want to believe it.
“Shinya! SHINYA!! Please stay with me... don't leave me...”
As tears welled up in his eyes, he noticed black marks appearing on Shinya's overly pale skin.
“What the...”
“No!!” Mahiru screamed. “It was supposed to be me, not him!!”
She lunged toward the sword with frightening speed, trying to pull it out of Shinya's body, but suddenly, a violent, blinding flash flooded the entire underground area. Guren felt like he was suffocating and that his heart was going to stop because it was beating so fast.
When he was finally able to open his eyes, he was greeted by a terrifying silence. There was no sign of Mahiru and Shinya; they had disappeared, leaving behind only Guren's cursed sword lying on the ground. Guren looked around frantically, searching for something, someone, but in vain. Silence, corpses, and blood. That was all there was around him.
Guren screamed in despair and remained there, crying over his misfortune. Then, his body acted automatically and walked over to the corpses of Goshi, Mito, Sayuri, and Shigure to place them in coffins. Then, as Mahiru had instructed him a moment ago, he walked to destroy the world, to avenge the one he had lost forever, and to sing the funeral song of his sorrow.