Seishun Buta Yarou Series - Volume 6 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Dye the White Snow

1

Only two days remained before the future Shouko spoke of was upon him. Sakuta’s mind spent that whole time making the same wish.

Wishing on the morning sun.

Wishing on the midday sky.

Wishing on the stars at night.

Wishing that little Shouko would be saved.

Sakuta wished upon the waters of Shichirigahama, the river flowing through his neighborhood, the shells on the beach, and the unidentified grass growing through the cracks in the pavement.

Please save little Shouko.

A fervent wish.

Sakuta couldn’t cure her condition himself.

Wishing was all he could do.

Meanwhile, big Shouko showed no signs of worry, fear, or anxiety. She was perfectly calm. She accepted Sakuta’s desire to live and stayed with him, smiling that impish grin the whole time.

If Sakuta wasn’t hit by a car, little Shouko wouldn’t get her heart transplant. That might mean the future that big Shouko came from would never happen. At the very least, the moment it wasn’t Sakuta’s heart being transplanted, her future would change.

That must have been a terrifying thought. But Shouko didn’t show any signs of worry or fear. She was humming to herself as she cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, took a shower…

Twice they said, “Good morning,” and twice they said, “Good night.”

And like that, the two days passed by.

The sun rose, and it was already December 24.

The day of destiny. The stress of it may have helped Sakuta wake up on his own. He sat up and checked the clock. It was seven AM. The twenty-fourth. Christmas Eve.

Yawning, he hit the bathroom. Washed his face and gargled. He heard noises from the living room and poked his head around the corner in time to see Shouko in an apron, putting breakfast on the table.

“Good morning, Sakuta.”

“Morning, Shouko.”

“Come on, sit down.”

She removed the apron and took a seat herself. There were two place mats on the table and food for two as well. Toast, ham, eggs, and sliced tomatoes.

Kaede was out, staying with their grandparents. Their father had stopped by yesterday afternoon to pick her up.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Did you sleep well?” Shouko asked, spreading jam on her toast.

“Sure… You?”

“Like a baby.”

“You would.”

“You can say that again!”

He’d intended it as sarcasm, but she was immune to that. She knew exactly what he meant but persistently spun his words in a positive light.

This was how every morning went since she’d moved in. Nothing changed until they were almost finished eating.

“Today’s the last day we can be shacked up together. The end of all the smiles and blushes.”

He started getting emotional again.

“Shouko…”

“You’ve already thanked me enough.”

Sakuta shook his head. Naturally, he didn’t think he could begin to thank her enough, but that wasn’t what he wanted to say here. He had something else he needed her to hear.

“I wanted to be like you, Shouko.”

“……”

“Two years ago, I was at rock bottom, and you came along and raised me up again. I wanted to be capable of random acts of kindness like that.”

“You will be, Sakuta.”

“No flustered denials?”

“If you admire me for it, then it would be rude not to own it.”

This was a very Shouko way of thinking. Proof of her faith in those around her.

“Soy sauce.”

“Huh?”

“Pass it this way?” She pointed with her fork. Not the best table manners.

Sakuta picked up the soy sauce and passed it to her.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome.”

She dribbled a few drops on the yolk, then took a big bite of ham and egg together. Her mouth full, she chewed for several moments, smiling blissfully.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“You’re laughing.”

“People do that when they’re amused.”

She must have liked that answer, because she laughed, too.

Maybe nobody else would have found this funny. But to the two of them, it was hilarious.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t stay like that forever.

“You’d better go, Sakuta.”

It was Christmas Eve, but he still had school. It was the last day of the second term, so it was just the end-of-term ceremony and a homeroom to get their report cards.

Sakuta changed into his uniform, and Shouko saw him off at the door, just has she had every other morning.

He turned back once his shoes were on.

“Shouko…,” he started haltingly.

“Go on,” she said.

Like she’d seen through that momentary hesitation. Like she was reproaching that moment of weakness. She put her hands on his back and gave him a push.

Her smile unchanged.

An impish grin.

As if even this little interaction was a source of such joy that it radiated from every inch of her body.

Sakuta only knew one way to respond to that.

So he said, “I’m off,” like he was taking the first step into the future.

Just as he always did, so that Shouko wouldn’t be worried about him. He even stifled a yawn as he opened the door.

And once he was outside, he didn’t look back.

2

The people walking to the station all breathed puffs of white.

A little cloudy wisp appeared each time Sakuta exhaled as well.

The weather report last night had said there’d be record lows, below freezing even on the coast, and this morning was clearly living up to that. Even in sunlight, the temperature didn’t noticeably improve. At best, it was in single digits. It was gonna be a real cold day.

And a cold front would move in that afternoon, making it snow as evening approached. The weather lady had been confident it would snow all evening. “Be prepared for traffic slowdowns,” she’d added.

He looked up at the December sky, and it was a blue so pale it was almost clear. The light of the sun felt feeble. Shouko had said there would be a ton of snow that evening. There was no doubt in his mind she was right.

After a ten-minute walk, he reached Fujisawa Station and boarded a train for Kamakura. He stared out the window at the same old scenery until he reached Shichirigahama Station, where his school was.

The first minute or two after they pulled out of Fujisawa still felt like a commercial area, but by the time they reached the next station, they were well into the residential district. The farther they went, the calmer the streets, and as they drew near Enoshima Station, the sights took on a coastal feel. More and more walls painted white, aiming for that marine chic.

As the train continued on, the gap between the tracks and the buildings surrounding them narrowed. Near Koshigoe Station, the train was rolling slowly along, threading its way between houses built right up next to it. So close it seemed like the train might hit them. He was pretty sure branches from the trees in the yards did hit the cars sometimes.

And right as you started getting used to that, suddenly the whole view opened up.

The shores of Sagami Bay curved in either direction, the line of the horizon visible in the distance.

He saw this every day. It was no longer a surprise. The enthusiasm he’d felt the first time was long since gone. But it felt special today; if he had not known an accident lay in his future, this would have been his last time seeing it. The Sakuta from the older Shouko’s future had seen this view without knowing any of that. He’d probably just yawned at it.

The thought made him yawn.

When they reached Shichirigahama, the tiny station platform grew packed with Minegahara students. Shuffling forward in unorganized lines, pouring out of the gates. Across a short bridge, over the railroad crossing, and into the school gates.

“Cold enough for you?”

“Too cold.”

“It sucks!”

A group of girls were grumbling nearby. All of them had short skirts and bare legs, though. Cute is justice, anything else is the enemy—the daily battle of the high school girl raged on.

He didn’t think they were being stupid. He just felt cold looking at them.

The whole student body gathered in the gym for the ceremony. Maybe the cold helped, because the principal kept his remarks blessedly short. Sakuta didn’t remember a word he’d said, but he was probably just warning everyone studying for entrance exams to do their best not to get sick.

On the way back to their classrooms, Sakuta saw the third-years lined up in front of him. He searched for Mai but couldn’t find her.

He knew he wouldn’t. She wasn’t at school today. If her schedule hadn’t changed, she’d be at the studios in the city, filming the remaining scenes of her latest movie.

He hadn’t seen her yesterday or the day before. They hadn’t talked. He hadn’t even heard her voice. He’d seen her on TV once or twice, but she’d been away from Fujisawa for work, sleeping in a hotel somewhere.

Sakuta had tried calling her a few times in the evening but only reached her voice mail. Mai never picked up or called back.

He figured she was intentionally avoiding him.

In class, homeroom started, and the teacher passed out their report cards. His teacher gave him a meaningful look, but he pretended not to notice. One glance at his results showed why. Every subject was a whole letter grade higher than the first term, which was guaranteed to get his teacher’s attention.

“See you next year!”

And with that, homeroom was done, and like always, Sakuta left class without talking to anyone.

Most students were hanging around to chat, so the path to the station was still pretty deserted.

He got on the train and rode it back to Fujisawa Station.

Once he got there, he started to head home, but a few steps later, he paused and went in a different direction.

3

Sakuta’s detour took him to the hospital where little Shouko was staying.

Room 301.

A quiet room. The only sounds coming from outside.

Shouko was in the ICU, but her things were still here.

Signs of life, but without the usual warmth he had grown accustomed to. Her presence felt further in the past each time he visited. Was that a trick of the mind?

“……”

He took a seat on the stool. When she’d still been here, he’d sat there every day, watching her earnest smile. He’d thought he could go on seeing that. Somewhere deep down, he’d been convinced she’d be okay.

The reason for that was obvious. He’d simply never had anyone close to him die. The grief he’d felt with Kaede’s situation ought to have taught him what losing someone was like, but he just hadn’t thought of Shouko that way.

He hadn’t wanted to.

And perhaps the decisive factor was that Shouko had hidden her own fears until she was really in bad shape. She’d allowed him to avoid the truth.

At her age, going that far…maybe that was why Sakuta had been able to visit every day. Because she made it easier for him.

The older Shouko had talked like this was Sakuta’s accomplishment, but he didn’t think that was true at all. It all started with little Shouko’s courage. Sakuta had just followed along.

“……”

He slowly got to his feet.

“I’ll come again,” he said, addressing the empty bed.

And then he left the room.

He took the elevator to the first floor.

As he passed the shop, his stomach growled.

Taking this as a sign, he stopped to buy a yakisoba roll and sat down on a couch in an unoccupied meeting room.

He peeled off the wrapper and took a bite. A fluffy roll packed with yakisoba. Double the starch, maybe a questionable aesthetic choice, but it tasted good at least.

This might well have been his last meal. That thought made him eat slower, trying to savor the flavor. But he was used to wolfing down meals like this, and it was hard to pace himself. He ended up inhaling it as usual.

As he popped the last bite into his mouth, a white coat passed by the door, then turned around and came back in.

“Thought that was you! Kaede’s brother, right?”

It was the nurse who’d looked after Kaede.

“Were you looking for me?” he asked, confused.

The nurse’s smile faded. “Shouko’s mom said she wanted you to see her,” she explained.

“……”

“She knows you’ve been visiting her empty room.”

“Oh.”

“Since her family’s approved it, we can let you in. Are you up for it?”

“Does Makinohara want to see me?”

He thought little Shouko would probably rather not let him see her in the ICU.

“She’s asleep, so you don’t need to worry there.”

That meant he was probably right.

“Well?” she asked again.

But Sakuta had already made up his mind. He had the moment she suggested it.

“I’ll see her.”

He felt like he should know. Felt like it was his responsibility to bear witness to what she was going through.

“Then come this way.”

She led Sakuta down to the end of a long hospital corridor. Through two clinical white automatic doors was a plain room. It said PREP ROOM on the doors, and he was asked to leave everything but valuables in a locker here. He took off both his coat and his uniform blazer and was given some sort of apron. Wearing a mask and a lunch-lady hat was also mandatory.

Then he washed his hands thoroughly. They applied disinfectant afterward, with the nurse checking him over carefully, and he was finally allowed to set foot in the ICU.

Even then, the rule was that only her family were actually allowed in the room. The most he could do was look through the glass.

“Shouko’s in here.”

At first, Sakuta wasn’t sure where she was. All he could see through the glass was a stack of medical machines.

It took several seconds of searching before he found Shouko. Her bed was surrounded by medical apparatuses, but that was definitely little Shouko lying there.

“……”

He gulped.

A jolt of pain shot through his chest.

He could hear some sort of pump working. A beep marking her pulse. A hiss of air escaping. It struck him that all these machines were sustaining Shouko’s life.

It made him want to look away. If not seeing this was an option, he’d gladly take it. But Sakuta didn’t look away, didn’t let himself.

Shouko was doing her best to stay alive at that very moment, and he had to burn that into his retina.

“She’s really something,” he said at last. “Makinohara’s still hanging in there.”

She’d been fighting this whole time. All along. Against her condition, against an unfair world, against fate itself. She was still fighting now. For her future, for her parents’ smiles, for everyone who’d supported her.

“She’s really…”

And that was why, when it was all over, he had to tell her.

You did good.

He wanted to lavish praise upon her.

The words she deserved to hear.

He was shaking. His heart was quivering. And he was fighting that, gritting his teeth, clenching his fists, biting back the tears.

He wasn’t sure what those tears were for. But he was on the verge of losing control.

Sakuta did everything he could to maintain his composure. He couldn’t start crying in front of Shouko.

The five minutes he was allowed to see her was over in no time.

“I know it’s not long, but it is the rules.”

“Of course.”

The nurse escorted him back out of the ICU.

He turned back once at the last second, but Shouko’s eyes never opened.

In the prep room, he took off the apron, threw the hat and mask away, and collected his things from the locker. He thanked the nurse and was sent back into the main hospital.

Sakuta didn’t really remember what he did for a while after that.

He felt like he’d been thinking about something but had no memories of what.

When the lights in the hospital hall turned on, he snapped out of it.

He was sitting on a bench by the vending machines.

He looked up at the window; it was dark out.

His eyes turned, searching for the time, and found a large clock on a pillar.

It was past five. He looked again, and it wasn’t that dark outside. It just looked darker because of the clouds, but there was still some light in the sky.

Still, while he’d been lost in thought, over three hours had passed.

He couldn’t hesitate any longer. Sakuta quietly stood up.

His feet took him to the public phones next to the vending machines. He found some coins in his wallet and picked up the receiver. He dropped a few coins in and reached for the number pad.

Normally, he punched these eleven digits in happily, but today his finger was trembling, and he had to take it one button at a time.

When he finally finished, he put the receiver to his ear.

Counting the rings. One ring, two, three…

On the fifth ring, the call picked up. Based on his attempts the last two days, Sakuta was sure it had gone to her answering machine.

A moment later, the usual message played. Standard “At the sound of the tone, leave a message.”

“It’s me. Sakuta.”

The hospital corridor was so quiet, his voice echoed slightly.

“……”

He couldn’t think of anything else to say. He must have had something in mind when he decided to call, but nothing was coming out.

Maybe he’d never had anything to say. Perhaps he’d just wanted to hear her voice. Sakuta felt that was something he would do.

“I really do love you, Mai,” he whispered, laughing at himself for it.

But as he said it, there was a click on the line. Someone picking up. He soon knew who.

“Sakuta?” Mai’s voice said.

“Mai.”

“……”

“……”

“Yesterday…”

“Mm?”

“I had a dream.”

“…You did?”

Sakuta didn’t know where this was going. Mai was talking like she was addressing someone very far away, and he couldn’t get a read on her emotions.

“Yes. A dream.”

“What kind?”

“The two of us were visiting a shrine for New Year’s.”

“……”

“In the dream, we went on the last day of winter vacation, trying to avoid the crowds.”

“What a scrupulous dream.”

“I know.”

“What did you wish for?”

“You bragged out loud that you’d wished for my happiness.”

“Sounds like me.”

“Yeah, even in my dreams, you’re still a liar.”

She laughed softly.

“But…Sakuta.”

“Mm?”

“I love you anyway.”

“……”

He couldn’t speak. He just stood there, phone pressed to his ear. So focused he could hear every breath she took.

“So I’m not going to forget you, Sakuta.”

“……”

“I’m going to live with you.”

“Mai, I…”

He wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. And before he could say it, the call cut off. Not because Mai had lost her signal, but because Sakuta hadn’t put enough coins in.

“……”

He didn’t have any more coins. He could probably break a larger bill if he bought a drink, but…he didn’t.

He didn’t have time to talk to her anymore. The longer he listened to her voice, the more the scales would tip toward her. And that would feel like he was making it her fault.

It had to be his choice.

He had two wishes, and he wanted both of them to come true more than anything.

He wanted Shouko to be saved.

And he didn’t want Mai to cry.

If standing here thinking wouldn’t get him an answer, he had to start walking.

He could head toward the spot he and Mai had agreed to meet for a date.

The aquarium near Enoshima.

He felt sure that as the moment neared, everything else would fall away, and only his true desire would remain.

He had faith in that. This choice was too important.

So he faced forward and started walking.

4

Near Fujisawa Station, the department stores and station buildings were all covered in Christmas lights. Very much in the holiday spirit.

It was already snowing when he left the hospital, and it was coming down even harder now. Really bringing that silent night, holy night vibe. There were lots of couples standing still, gazing up at the lights, and this made the area around the station feel much more crowded.

Squinting his eyes at these sights, Sakuta found himself oddly at peace.

He passed through the crowd of couples and headed for the Odakyu Line. He ran his train pass through the gate, brushed the snow off his shoulders, and stepped onto a local train bound for Katase-Enoshima.

Given the time they’d agreed to meet, Sakuta probably would have been on this train, riding it in blissful ignorance.

After a few minutes, the departure time arrived. The bell rang, the doors closed, and the train slowly pulled out of the station.

There were empty seats, but he stayed standing.

From his spot by the doors, he glanced around the car interior. Lots of couples. It was a major date holiday. They were likely headed to the same place Sakuta was. To Enoshima to look at the Sea Candle or the jellyfish light show at the aquarium—maybe both.

The train stopped at two stations on the way, Hon-Kugenuma and Kugenuma Beach. The snow didn’t slow the train down at all; it carried Sakuta to Katase-Enoshima Station in less than ten minutes.

The doors opened slowly but noisily, and Sakuta stepped out onto the platform, snowflakes swirling all around.

He joined the throngs filing out of the gates. As he scanned his train pass, the display showed only sixty-two yen remaining. Not enough to get back home.

Sakuta turned toward the ticket booths and inserted his pass card. Then he took a one-thousand-yen note out of his wallet and charged that amount to the pass.

Maybe he didn’t need to worry about getting home, but if he hadn’t known what the future held, Sakuta would definitely have added funds here. Since he still wasn’t sure which way his emotions would lead him, he had to be ready for anything.

With the funds loaded onto the card, it popped back out of the machine. He put it back in his wallet and headed south. Toward the water. He’d agreed to meet Mai outside the aquarium, which was on the coast.

There was a faint dusting of snow on the sidewalk. Free of any unnecessary thoughts but watching his step, he headed toward the aquarium.

One step after another, moving at the same speed he always did. He soon reached Route 134, which ran along the coast. To his right, he could see the aquarium. All he had to do now was cross the street.

The light had been green, but it started flashing. When he saw that, a pain shot through Sakuta’s heart. A jolt that pulsed through his entire body.

Sakuta’s brain was urging him to beat the light.

Route 134 was a major expressway. Once the light turned red, it would be a long wait. Years of experience had taught him it was best to cross while you had a chance, even if you had to run for it.

“……”

But despite his best efforts, his feet wouldn’t budge. It was like they were sewn to the pavement. A couple raced past him, and all he could do was watch them go.

The light stopped flashing and turned red. The last couple made it safely across. They were out of breath from that short run and laughing about it. He watched them head toward the aquarium, clearly enjoying themselves.

The line of cars waiting for the light started pulling out, and he lost sight of the happy couple. Sakuta watched the taillights of the cars headed toward Shichirigahama. Scanning for any signs of a car skidding on the snow. None seemed to be having any trouble.

His back felt clammy. He’d assumed this was where he was most likely to get run over. The sidewalks here were smoothly paved and quite wide, so he’d imagined if he made it to the coastal side, there’d be little risk of a car sliding into him.

He kept watching the cars racing past, but no matter how long he observed, none of them were slipping.

Maybe it would happen when the light changed again.

“……Whew.”

He hadn’t realized how relieved he was until the sound escaped him. But he wasn’t sure what he was relieved about. Because he was still alive? Because the accident still hadn’t taken place? Maybe both…or maybe neither.

Still uncertain, Sakuta turned his eyes to the walk light. If he failed to cross this time, he’d be late—he’d never make it to the aquarium by six. That was how long the lights here kept you waiting.

He glanced toward the aquarium. Normally, he’d already be there. It was so close he could reach it in less than ten seconds if he ran for it. But if he headed there, Sakuta would never reach his destination. A car would skid in the snow and hit him.

He let out another long sigh. He still hadn’t made a clear choice, and trying to stifle his fear, he took a deep breath.

Then he looked at the light again.

It turned green.

He saw it change through the cloud of his breath.

The crowd waiting under the frigid skies started moving. Passing on either side of Sakuta as he stood rooted to the spot.

The crowd moving in the other direction reached him, and the two flows merged, mingling.

Sakuta still didn’t budge.

It wasn’t fear making him hesitate. It wasn’t because his body had chosen to live. He’d seen a light to his left, out of the corner of his eye, that was far brighter than the traffic signal.

Enoshima. Floating out there on the water.

The Sea Candle rose like a lighthouse, all lit up for Christmas. The sight of it had distracted him so much he forgot to cross.

There must have been a ton of couples gathered at the base of it, whispering “It’s so pretty,” spending a special day together.

Sakuta remembered that he might have been among them.

 “Take me to see the Enoshima Illumination on Christmas Eve.”

The older Shouko’s request.

“……”

And that recollection had made him consciously stay put.

There was a doubt in his mind.

He wasn’t sure how long it had been there, but now that he was aware of it, it was growing rapidly.

Back then, the day they toured the wedding venue. If Shouko hadn’t asked him to join her for a Christmas Eve date—what would have happened?

Where would Sakuta and Mai have planned their date?

 “How about the illumination show on Enoshima?”

That had been Mai’s initial suggestion.

But because it was the same place Shouko had proposed, Sakuta had suggested the aquarium instead. Insisting he would like jellyfish if he was seeing them with Mai.

“……”

The pieces fell into place in hindsight.

And this fact was making his heart race.

He’d been wondering for a while.

Why was it Shouko could smile like that?

Even when she’d told him the truth.

Even when he’d told her he wanted to live.

Even this morning, he’d wondered how she could be so at peace.

It all made sense now.

Shouko had already done what she had to do.

To save Sakuta.

For that simple purpose, Shouko had done everything she set out to do.

 “I’ll be waiting at the dragon lantern by the entrance to Benten Bridge at six PM on December twenty-fourth.”

That was it.

She’d said she’d wanted one last memory, but that was an excuse to hide her real motivation. Maybe it was also how she really felt, but she’d used that for her ultimate goal.

To keep Sakuta away from the scene of the accident.

That was why Shouko had asked him on a date. And even specified where they should meet. Specified the time.

If she did that, she knew Sakuta would stay well away from there. She had faith that he’d choose Mai. Trusted that he’d turn her down.

Even if Sakuta chose a future where he’d die, it wouldn’t actually matter. Even if he went to his date with Mai at the aquarium, nothing would happen. Because the accident took place somewhere else.

“But that means…”

A shiver ran up his legs. Like a wave washing over him. It reached his head and left his eardrums humming.

It was all for this moment.

When she’d said…

 “It’ll all be over by Christmas.”

Or…

 “If I’d played my cards right, you’d never have had to suffer like this.”

Or even when she’d smiled and said…

 “Go on.”

He knew now what she’d been hiding.

“How…?” he gasped.

It boggled the mind.

How could she go that far for someone? For Sakuta?

“What are you doing, Shouko?”

His feet left the ground. His body moving before he knew it.

His feet slipped on the snow, but he didn’t care. He ran as fast as he could.

Maybe it was too late.

Maybe he could still make it if he ran.

He didn’t know, so he ran as fast as he could.

His breath was white.

The freezing air made his nose and lungs burn.

But he kept running. He could see Enoshima. Still quite a distance away.

Shouko was probably waiting for him in front of Benten Bridge.

It was almost six, the time they’d agreed to meet.

He had maybe a minute or two left.

 “Sakuta promises to meet you for a date, and on his way there…a car skids on some ice.”

If what Shouko had said was true, his fate would be decided in the next couple of minutes.

“Haaah…haaah…”

He threw himself through the snow swirling across Katase Bridge. He could see Benten Bridge on the other side. But the Sakai River was rather wide, and it still felt like a long way.

He was panting hard. Almost ran straight into someone. “Sorry!” he yelled but kept on running. No time for anything else.

He couldn’t let it end like this.

This wasn’t how it should end.

He was done being the only one saved.

So he threw every last ounce of strength into this mad dash.

Across the Sakai River.

Benten Bridge was on the other side of the road.

During the day, he would already have been able to see the dragon lantern she’d mentioned.

But Route 134 was in the way. There wasn’t a signal here. He couldn’t cross.

There was a pedestrian underpass burrowing beneath the road.

He realized he’d just run right past it.

He tried to stop and turn back.

And a horn sounded behind him. Coming his way.

“!”

He turned in time to see a car skidding sideways.

A black minivan.

Skidding in the snow.

Barreling right toward him.

“Sakuta!”

Someone screamed.

His head snapped toward the voice, and he saw Shouko across the street. Her eyes asking, “Why?”

When their gazes met, Sakuta smiled, almost in resignation.

Something black blocked his view. The sliding minivan came between them.

This was it.

But even as the thought crossed his mind…

“Sakuta!”

He recognized that voice.

Something soft hit him, shoving him to one side.

Then he heard a dull thud behind him.

Sakuta found himself lying facedown on the asphalt. His hands cold from the snow. Bleeding from the scrapes on his palms. The pain and cold forced his mind into motion again. He was still alive. Alive, but sore and chilled to the bone.

What had happened?

How was he not dead?

His mind reeled.

He picked himself up.

He heard gasps going up from the people around him. People crowding close.

Around Sakuta, the minivan…and someone else.

The black minivan had hit a street sign, knocking it over. His ears finally registered the sound of the blaring horn.

Someone was on the ground next to him. Bathed in the glow from above, like a spotlight shining down on her stage.

“……”

Sakuta’s mouth moved. But no sounds came out.

There, on the faint dusting of snow…

…that cold, wet carpet, dyed red with blood.

With Mai’s blood.