People often reflect on how different choices could have led to entirely distinct outcomes. If that were true, my life might have ventured down an entirely divergent path.
Since the age of 13, I had observed something utterly exhilarating and unbelievable.
From that time onward, in my dreams, I could foresee my own future, particularly when I faced critical decisions and struggled to make choices. It was during these moments that I could glimpse the various consequences of different decisions. It might have been an illusion or a creation of my own mind, but at the time, I believed it to be a divine mercy. However, I would soon learn that my belief was misplaced. God, it turned out, had merely been toying with me.
On a scorching summer afternoon, I found myself seated on a park bench not too far from my home. It was so muggy that it felt like a stream of water was coursing through my body and I was on the brink of passing out. Suddenly a gentle voice broke trough my daze. I lifted my heavy eyelids and was met with the sight of Yukari Yumi, the girl I had treasured more than anything else. Her presence was a like a refreshing breeze on a sweltering summer.
With a caring smile, she said with a soft voice, "Are you okay? You don't look too well in this heat. Lets go somewhere cooler."
I nodded silently. She led me to a nearby cafe where the air conditioning provided sweet relief from the oppressive heat. We settled into a cozy corner, and as we sipped our cool drinks, she looked at me playfully.
"I was thinking," Yumi said, "We've been dating for a while, but we've never had a proper date. How about this weekend? There's a great Italian place downtown. What do you think?"
I smiled and agreed, "Sounds perfect, Yumi."
However, the weekend never arrived.
I returned home in the late evening. After a refreshing shower, I decided to turn in early.
Upon awakening, I found myself positioned amidst the vast expanse of the cosmos.
"Are you indeed Akaru?" a voice echoed.
"Yes, but who are you? And where are you?"
"I am the deity of death, known as Thanatos. You cannot see me."
"… Thanatos…"
"Indeed, it is time for me to impart knowledge regarding your future, your destiny, perhaps. In three days, if you do not meet your demise, your beloved Yumi shall face an unfortunate fate. She will be killed"
"What? Who would harm her? I'll take care of that individual. Just provide me with the name."
"Ayase Akaru"
"Who is that? Same name as mine…"
"Indeed, you."
"Me!? But why would I harm her? This doesn't make any sense"
"I must not answer to that."
Then I witnessed a disturbing vision: myself laughing manically, holding a blood-soaked knife, and Yumi lying lifeless on the floor.
With a jolt, I woke from the haunting vision, my heart racing and my body drenched in sweat. The room was still, the only sound was the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall.
What was that? A dream? No, it's a premonition. Then it must be true. What do I do now? How could I even harm Yumi?…
I was lost in my thoughts, oblivious to the passing time. Then, I heard my mom calling me to wake up and prepare for school.
With a heavy heart, I pushed the thoughts of Yumi and Thanatos to the back of my mind as best as I could. I took a quick shower and then sat down for breakfast with my family, putting on a facade of normalcy. As I chewed my food, I couldn't help wondering how I would ever fulfill that grim prophecy.
Leaving home, I headed towards school, my footsteps heavy with the weight of despair. The sun, which had once been a beacon of life, felt like a cruel joke, its warmth mocking me. I passed familiar places, faces, and the routines of my everyday life, but they all seemed distant and meaningless. The idea of ending my own life was a constant whisper in the back of my mind.
I saw Yumi waiting for me, and my emotions overwhelmed me. Tears filled my eyes as I embraced her.
Yumi, who had been all smiling, now wore a concerned look. "Akaru, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Amidst my sobs, I managed to say, "Yumi, I love you."
She hugged me tightly. "I love you too, Akaru. You know that, right?"
But as she held me, I couldn't help but think about Thanatos and the grim ultimatum. Three days. That's all the time I had left. Three days to make the most painful decision of my life.
I stuck by Yumi's side throughout the day. When I returned home after school, I couldn't shake off the looming dread. Collapsing onto my bed, I let out a heavy sigh, overwhelmed and exhausted. I drifted into bed without realizing it.
When I opened my eyes, I realized I was again in the midst of the boundless cosmos.
A profound silence enveloped me.
I cried out, "Thanatos? Where are you? Please, answer me."
A new voice resonated in the emptiness, "Cease your shouting, mortal."
"Who are you? And where is Thanatos?"
"I see. Thanatos has already deceived you, mortal."
"Stop talking nonsense. Tell me where Thanatos is. And I have a name, Ayase Akaru, not mortal."
"I embody the divine essence of love, as the deity known by mortals as Eros.I must share something of great importance, a warning. If you were to end your own life, the overwhelming despair would lead your beloved Yumi down a similarly tragic path."
I witnessed a vision in which Yumi took her own life by leaping from a rooftop.
That revelation filled me with a profound sense of dread, my heart gripped by overwhelming fear at the thought of Yumi succumbing to such despair.
…Wow… I'm trapped in a life I can't live, and I can't even end it. Oh, God, what a cruel game have you played with my fate! Are you content now?
"And Ayase Akaru, you shall see Thanatos no more. Thus, speak your thoughts to me. I might be inclined to grant you a wish."
"... Wish…"
"Now, tell me your deepest desire."
The mention of Eros, the deity of love, kindled a glimmer of hope within me.
Perhaps he could help me save Yumi.
With trembling words, I voiced my wish, "I wish to save Yumi. I wish for her to be safe and free from harm."
Eros replied, his voice laced with melancholy, "I understand your desire, Ayase Akaru. However, I can only grant wish that pertain to yourself, not others."
My hope waned, and the harsh reality of the situation washed over me. I couldn't save Yumi through divine intervention. With a heavy heart, I whispered, "I... I don't know what to wish for then. My world feels so empty without her."
"Consider it once more, Ayase Akaru. This could be your last opportunity to rescue her."
In that instant, a notion sprang to life in my mind.
Wait... just hold on... there might be a solution. If I had never met Yumi, she would have been safe. Yes... yes... that's it.
"You possess the capability to grant any wish that pertains to me, right?"
"Yes, as long as it pertains to your existence, I can make nearly anything conceivable."
A sense of determination filled my being as I contemplated this new possibility. The prospect of saving Yumi, even if it meant erasing our shared history, was a glimmer of hope in the bleak situation I found myself in.
With renewed energy, I turned to Eros and spoke, "I've made my decision. I wish to erase all memories of our time together. Make it as though we never knew each other. That is my desire."
"Are you absolutely certain about this? If I grant your wish, you will awaken in a world where you and Yumi are strangers, devoid of the love you once shared. Can you truly accept this?"
"I'm willing to do anything, as long as it's for her sake."
"Very well, then."
It felt as though time itself was rewinding, erasing the moments we had shared. As the memories slipped away, I saw Yumi's smiling face, her laughter, and our time together fading into the ether. It was a bittersweet parting.
And so, the gods had successfully deceived me, leading me to believe that I was entirely safe.
2 days later…
There was a murder in Tokyo.
Yukari Yumi, a third-year student at Shinjuku High, tragically became a victim of the psychopath Ayase Akaru, who was responsible for the deaths of eight individuals, including hers.