Chapter 961

Finally

"Seiji!"

"Oh my god!"

Airu came up beside me,

gingerly, carefully, tenderly,

crying, tears pouring down her face,

an odd fearful expression

etched with pain and dread.

"What?"

Her mouth, sweet lips,

was open in shock.

"Someone help!"

"Someone help us!"

She screamed hysterically.

The world tilted around me.

Then I noticed,

the dampness,

wet on my chest,

spreading slowly

through my clothes,

running down my skin,

warm and silent.

Mockery of death.

Chapter 962

Finally

Surprisingly, it was painless.

Painless and cruel.

Killing me slowly.

Killing me silently.

I didn't expect death to come like this.

Did not a brilliant valiant fight

end with painful honourable wounds?

Chapter 963

Finally

The knife was still in my chest,

protruding from the gash

beneath my drenched shirt;

light blue became deep purple.

I stared at it sullenly,

fascinated with the oddness of it.

The surreal qualities.

Perhaps it was because my world was spinning,

around and around,

poisoned by lightheadedness and nausea.

Nothing seemed real.

This couldn't possibly be happening.

I would wake up the next moment.

And find that nothing had happened.

My birthday just passed.

And Aoi was waking me up again.

Chapter 964

Finally

Aoi...

How I long for those times.

When everything was simpler.

When I was still just a child,

an innocent boy,

you were an innocent girl.

We would hold hands every day,

kiss under a tree,

listen to music,

and sing to the sky.

No one else would matter.

We would meet no one else.

Nothing between us would change.

I would never forget you.

Chapter 965

Finally

"Help!"

"Someone! Please! Save him!"

Voices shouting around.

A crowd gathering.

The stiff cement underneath

was no comfort.

The red stain would never be washed away.

Airu's tears,

falling, falling, falling

on my cheek.

"Don't leave me!"

"Please don't leave me!"

"Seiji..."

My eyes opened.

"I'm still here, Airu."

I tried to smile.

But I was too tired.

I was too weary.

It had been too long of a fight.

Chapter 966

Finally

Her head pressed

against my chest,

deep red blood

staining her hair,

her soft cheek.

"Airu..." I breathed.

"Your hair..."

My fingers traced the edge of her cheek,

her skin cool and smooth under my touch.

I smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll be alright."

Only more tears soaked my shirt.

"Don't leave me."

"I'll be alright, Airu."

Chapter 967

Finally

She looked down at me and tried to smile too.

Her fingers slipped in my hands and she squeezed.

Once, twice, three times.

"You'll be alright. We'll get you to the hospital soon."

Her voice faltered, whimpering.

She wiped away the tears with her wrist.

"It's my fault...everything was my fault."

"I should've stayed away from you."

Her words broke through,

pain streaking through my chest.

It wasn't from the wound.

Chapter 968

Finally

"It's not your fault, Airu."

"If anything, it's mine."

"I got what I deserved."

I tried to breathe.

But even that seemed hard.

Chapter 969

Finally

"Airu, thank you."

"You picked me back up and put me on my feet."

"I'll never forget that."

"Just remember, I'm happy to have known you."

I mustered everything I could,

struggling to focus on her face.

Everything was becoming blurry.

All the sounds echoing around,

like they were far far away.

"I'm happy to have loved you."

Chapter 970

Finally

She shook her head.

"No."

"No. Don't leave."

She disappeared from view.

But I still heard her crying.

I heard Takashi's voice.

I heard Miko's screams.

I heard Soshi cursing.

I heard Juria sobbing.

Then everything faded to black.

"Goodbye."

Chapter 971

Finally

Aoi...

How I long for those times.

When everything was simpler.

When I was still just a child,

an innocent boy,

you were an innocent girl.

We would hold hands every day,

kiss under a tree,

listen to music,

and sing to the sky.

No one else would matter.

We would meet no one else.

Nothing between us would change.

I would never forget you.

Those days... are impossible.