Kurou:
(I really regret what I did yesterday...)
[I'm sorry...]
Mikane pouts as she tries to cover her body.
Kurou:
[Sigh...]
(...I wanna go home)
[A-anyways, uhm are you still playing the piano?]
Mikane was silent for a moment then she nodded.
Kurou:
[O-oh, is that so...]
Kurou smiled
Kurou:
[To be honest, I kinda want to hear you play again. It's been so long since I heard you play.]
Mikane:
[...]
Mikane wrote something on her notebook
"Do you want to hear it? The song I've been practicing?"
Kurou:
[Really!? Is that okay!?]
"Of course"
Kurou:
[Oh man, I'm so excited. Can we go today?]
Mikane:
[!!!]
"Okay..."
Afterwards, Kurou visited Mikane's house.
Kurou:
(This might be the second time I went to her place. I first visited her home when I was all beaten up... It was also the first time I heard her play the piano)
[I'm coming in]
Mikane nodded. She then made Kurou sit beside the table as she prepared him a coffee. Afterwards, she immediately went to the piano that was just beside her window. She slowly opens the lid then she looked at Kurou.
Mikane smiles
Kurou:
[I can't wait]
As she began to play, Kurou was captivated by the beauty of the music. Mikane's fingers moved gracefully across the piano, producing a melody that seemed to resonate with his soul. It was a beautiful piece, filled with emotion and passion.
Kurou closed his eyes, allowing the music to wash over him. He could feel the depth of Mikane's feelings in every note she played. Like how he felt before, it was as if she was pouring her heart and soul into the music.
When the last note faded away, Kurou opened his eyes and again found himself speechless. He was deeply moved by Mikane's performance and couldn't find the words to express his feelings.
Kurou finally managed to find his voice.
Kurou:
[That was incredible, Mikane. You really have an amazing talent. I'm so glad I got to hear you play again.]
Mikane's face lit up with a bright smile as she nodded. She then wrote something on her notebook.
"Thank you"
Mikane:
(...as always, you're smile makes my day...)
Afterwards, the two had a brief conversation
Kurou:
[Thank you for having me... The song, what's it called?]
Mikane:
[...]
"My Secret"
Kurou:
[My Secret? That's quite a unique title for a song. But anyways, it's still amazing. The song made me strangely... warm, protected... and cared for...Really, thank you]
Mikane giggled
"No problem, be careful on your way back"
Kurou:
[Okay]
Kurou smiled as he left.
Mikane:
(My Secret... I'm glad I conveyed it to you... The way you felt when you heard my song... That's how I feel whenever I'm with you...)
Next day
Kurou:
(It's really a bit boring when she's not here. Although the awkwardness subsided, I can't shake the feeling of loneliness. It's times like this where my brain starts thinking of weird stuff.)
DUMMY!!! KUROU, YOU IDIOT!!!
Kurou:
(Thinking back then, I was truly pestering her. It was obvious in her reactions. The question is, why did I do it? The drive that kept me going suddenly disappeared. I still like her but it feels wrong for some reason...)
[... I wonder how she is right now...]
(...forget it...)
Later that night
Kurou:
(I still keep thinking about that event...)
I'm fat and I'm dumb, I mean we don't look good together.
Kurou:
[Well, that's a fact...]
(It's not like my face will change when I train haha...)
*Voices in his head*
So you're giving up? Just like that?
Kurou:
(Just like that)
*Voices in his head*
You just accept the fact that your worthless, is that it?
Kurou:
(Yup, correct)
*Voices in his head*
You're an idiot
Kurou:
(I already knew that)
*Voices in his head*
If you would just see your own body in another perspective, I bet you would feel guilty. All beat up, small, weak, unintellectual, average looking... but you forget about the one thing that you should look out for...
Kurou:
(Ho? What's that then?)
*Voices in his head*
That's for you to find out
Kurou:
[Yeah, right...]
Morning
Kurou:
[She's still not back yet... ]
(Strange, I thought she was coming back today... I'm quite worried...)
[... I'll visit her]
After Kurou finished cleaning the old store. He went straight to Mikane's house. He pushed the doorbell but there was no response.
Kurou:
[Hello?! Is there anyone home!?]
Silence
Kurou looks at his phone
9:32am
Kurou:
(She said her parents usually go home at 6 in the afternoon...)
[Mikane! Are you there!?]
Passing neighbor:
[Oh, hello there young man. Who are you shouting to?]
Kurou bowed then he asks
Kurou:
[Is there any chance you saw a girl with a black long hair who always has a hoodie on around here?]
Passing neighbor:
[Ah, you mean Mikane-chan. Yes, I saw her earlier]
Kurou:
[Is that so? Uhm, can I ask where she was heading?]
Passing neighbor:
[I think she was heading to the place where she was working. She had a big smile on her face when she was heading out. She must be excited, I bet she's seeing someone from that workplace]
Kurou:
(Mikane...)
[Thank you...]
Kurou ran as fast as he can to the police station. There he reported about his friend. They started preparing but Kurou went ahead.
5 minutes later
Kurou:
[MIKANE!!! MIKANE!!! *phant* *phant*]
Kurou kept running around, shouting Mikane's name.
Kurou:
(This is no use! Even if she hears me, I can't hear her voice!)
[What should I do!!!... wait, she said Mikane was going to my grandparents' store...]
(Better search there carefully)
Kurou took the street that he thought Mikane usually walks to. He scanned every single space, looking for something unusual. Then he did.
Kurou noticed that the grasses behind the fences were all bent down.
Kurou:
[Strange... animals usually don't head this way...]
Kurou ran straight towards the woods. He doesn't know why but his instinct told him to keep quiet. Until he finally saw Mikane unconscious all undressed with a man on top of her, all but her underwear were removed. At that moment Kurou leaped off the bushes then he grabbed the man behind his back. The man easily pushed Kurou away and then he pointed a gun.
???:
[THE FUCK!!? Just when I was about to have fun, this fucking kid ruins it. I'll be sending you to hell]
Kurou managed to pick up a rock as he threw it towards the man's face. The man accidentally pulled the trigger hitting Kurou right beside his abdomen.
Kurou screamed in pain. The man still dizzy from being hit with a rock wiped his face as he tried to pick up the gun. Kurou gritted his teeth and managed to get a hold of the gun first. Then he pointed it
???:
[*Spits blood* Right in my FUCKING NOSE! THAT'S IT YOU'RE DEAD!]
At that moment, Kurou's thoughts ran. Everything felt like it was in slow motion.
Pull the trigger then he dies, you'll become a killer.
Not pulling the trigger will get you and Mikane killed.
So what do you choose?
Kurou:
(I-I don't know!)
Heh, that's what I thought. You have a kind heart... you've been so kind that you never even genuinely felt anger towards others. Instead you hated yourself, since you think it's bad to hate others. Kurou, face it... this is the real world. Whether you like it or not, in situations like this... it's killed or be killed
Suddenly, something snapped inside Kurou. His eyes suddenly got darker, dead. Like the eyes of a veteran hunter looking at a prey. At that moment he pulled the trigger.
Blood splattered everywhere