A Kind of Sorrow (Volume 2)

"!"

Kaito's eyes widened as the sky flickered again, this time with a violent, jagged distortion that ripped through the serene scene before him.

It was as though reality itself was glitching.

Am I having a seizure? 

Kaito wondered in a panicked haze. He lowered his gaze to the concrete beneath his feet, hoping to ground himself.

Nothing.

Nothing unusual. 

Raising his eyes again, the flickering was still there, unmistakable. The vibrant sky bled crimson hues as dark clouds gathered, devouring the once-warm sunlight.

The air grew colder, heavier laden with an inexplicable sense of dread. Then came the signs, a flock of birds began to scatter north in frantic flight, dogs howled and cowered, and distant car alarms blared in eerie discord. 

Kaito's left eye throbbed incessantly, his left arm trembled uncontrollably, and his heart raced as though trying to escape his chest. Dazed and disoriented, he felt himself slipping into a void.

"..."

A small, soft hand gripped his shoulder, pulling him back.

"!"

"Ah!" Kaito spun around, startled, letting out a sharp scream.

"Ahhhh!" came a high-pitched, equally startled scream in response.

"Oh, Natasha! You scared me," Kaito exhaled in relief, recognizing the familiar face. But then, remembering his earlier focus, he froze. "Wait... Natasha?"

Natasha stood with her arms crossed, glaring at him in irritation. Narrowing her eyes, she huffed, "You scared me first, Kaito! Hmph."

"Whe-when did you get here?" he stammered.

"Not long ago. I was calling your name, but you were completely out of it. So I gave you a little tap, and then you... Well, you screamed," she said, pouting.

"Sorry, sorry," Kaito apologized hastily. "But wait—please tell me you see the sky flickering too?"

"The sky flickering? Are you sure you’re not confusing it with the thunderstorm, Kaito? The weather forecast did say there would be one around 5 PM."

"No, not the thunderstorm!" Kaito insisted, pointing towards the spot where he had last seen the distortion. ""There! Don't you see, the sky is flickering there? And those red clouds are covering the sun?"

Natasha raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Red clouds? What are you talking about, Kaito? Fufufu."

"..."

Kaito turned back to the sky. The flickering had vanished. The crimson hues were gone, replaced by the black storm clouds Natasha had described. There was no distortion, only the occasional flash of lightning and the distant rumble of thunder.

Am I hallucinating? 

Kaito wondered, pressing his hands against his temples.

"Sometimes, you really can be funny, you know," Natasha giggled. Then, her voice softened, and she fidgeted shyly. "But... I guess there’s a reason you’re so distracted."

Kaito’s heart skipped a beat as he watched her speak. Her gentle words, and her soft expression, pierced him deeply, filling his chest with an intoxicating warmth. The strange events from earlier faded into insignificance. He took a deep breath, summoning his courage, ready to express his feelings.

"Natasha." 

"No..."

"Natasha!"

"Y-yes!?" She replied, startled, her heart racing to match his

"I love you, Natasha," Kaito confessed earnestly, the words spilling out like a flood he could no longer contain. "I always have!"

"Please go out with me!"

"..."

Natasha froze, her mind reeling as the words sank in. Then, tears began to flow from her eyes, soft and delicate as petals falling from a flower. A long-hidden weight lifted from her heart, and the burden of unspoken love was finally released.

Love was ready to bloom.

Hiccuping through her sobs, Natasha whispered, "Me too, Kaito, I love you too. I've loved you all this time."

"I'm so happy." She added, her voice quivering with emotion.

Overwhelmed with joy, Kaito opened his arms, inviting her into the embrace he had dreamed of for so long. Natasha, her heart soaring, ran toward him, eager to be held by the person she cherished most, onto her new abode.

"Natasha!"

"Kaito!

"Natasha!"

"Kai-"

"..."

A sharp, wet sound sliced through the air.

Red.

A crimson spray erupted, staining Kaito’s face, arms, and the pristine white of his shirt. His body froze in place, unable to process what had happened.

From his hand, a pale pink garland slipped and fell to the ground, landing beside the lifeless figure that lay motionless before him.

"..."

Kaito’s scream tore through the silence, raw and primal, filled with anguish beyond words.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"