Side Story:
Saori’s Feelings
I CAN’T BELIEVE KAZUYA DIDN’T COME WITH US, EVEN after I went out of my way to invite him. Sure, he’d be joining a group of three girls, but I was planning to split off from the group and go on a date with just the two of us.
Kazuya and I grew up together. We’ve known each other since elementary school. We played together often, but recently he stopped hanging out with me. I just wanted things to return to how they were in the past.
I always had a crush on him, but I never confessed. Since I had no choice, I went to the fireworks show with my friends, just the three of us. It would’ve been better if Kazuya was here. I took a picture of the three of us in our yukatas and sent it to Kazuya along with the message, “We look cute in our yukatas, right? Too bad you won’t get to see it!”
I’ll definitely find a way to drag him with us next year!
The fireworks show ended, and the group split up and headed home. When I arrived back at my house, there was a police car parked out front for some reason.
Did something happen?!
Still in my yukata, I rushed over and opened the front door. Right at the entrance, I found Manami crying on the floor in her yukata. Police officers were there as well, explaining something to my parents.
“Manami! What happened?” I asked.
Hearing my voice, Manami turned to face me. “Kazuya…” She said, before she started crying again.
In her place, a police officer began to explain. “Well, there was a knife attack at the convenience store on Second Street. When the assailant was about to attack Miss Manabe Manami and her friend, a man stood in front of them and protected them. The man was injured, and he seems to be an acquaintance…”
“Acquaintance? Don’t tell me you’re talking about…”
Mom answered my question, “Saori. Listen carefully. It was Kazuya. Kazuya protected Manami and her friend from the assailant.” Her face was also wet with tears.
“I-Is he okay? Is Shiina Kazuya okay?!”
After taking a deep breath, the police officer, clearly uncomfortable, explained, “Unfortunately, by the time he arrived at the hospital, his heart had already stopped beating.”
I suddenly felt dizzy. I had messaged him just a bit earlier.
Manami apologized through tears. “Big sis…I’m sorry. Kazuya told me to run away, but I was too scared to move. In order to protect us, he faced the man by himself…”
I instinctively hugged Manami. “Kazuya saved you, right? Manami, I’m glad you’re okay.”
I don’t remember what happened after the police officers left. I must’ve collapsed into bed and fallen asleep amidst tears.
It was summer break so we normally wouldn’t have to go to school, but the school announced an emergency assembly and gathered the students together to explain the situation. The incident was also covered extensively on the news, how Shiina Kazuya had faced off with the assailant by himself in order to protect a girl in junior high.
The dean stood at the podium and wiped away tears with a handkerchief as they explained. In the classroom, Kazuya’s desk was covered with flower vases. It finally hit me that Kazuya was gone for real, and my friends and I burst into tears inside the classroom.
A few days passed, and a funeral was held for Kazuya after his body was returned by the hospital.
Kazuya’s face, resting inside the coffin, was well maintained. It was as if he was still alive. I hugged the coffin and burst into tears. I cried on Mom’s shoulder. During the funeral, Manami was right there next to me, her cheeks just as tear stained as mine. I’m not sure how I got home.
I tossed restlessly in bed and stared at the ceiling. I then took out my phone and looked at the picture I had secretly taken of him in the classroom. I mumbled to myself, “Kazuya, thank you for saving Manami. If you came with us to the fireworks, then maybe Manami would’ve gotten hurt. I wasn’t able to confess, but I’ll always love you, Kazuya.”