Prologue: The Burned-Out Case

Akane Matsumoto, the greatest person in the world, or at least—that's what I believe. I still remember the day we met like it was yesterday. 

I was eight years old, sitting alone on the swing at the park. The sky was pale blue, and petals drifted through the breeze like confetti from an unseen celebration. 

He had an argument with his mom, because she found out that he was lying about having friends.

A girl walked up to me, hands behind her back, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Hello... why are you sitting here by yourself?" 

I raised my head slowly, since I had been thinking while looking at the ground.

"Huh...?" I asked. "Are... Are you talking to me?."

"Sorry in advance for this but... Do you see anyone else around?"

"No." I said

"Then who else would I be talking to!"

"Uhm... I'm sorry for being rude." I said. "I'm not good at talking to other people."

"It's fine—don't worry about it... Well—what's got you so down?"

"I... I had an argument with my mom about—"

He paused, as if he was afraid or better yet embarrassed about what he was about to say.

"About—what?" She asked with a curious expression on her face.

"About me not... having any friends." I said, my voice lowering. "She was trying to force me to make friends."

"Oh... Do you not have friends?"

"Well... Yeah... I—I just..." 

"It's okay you don't have to explain, I get it." She said her expression turning serious. "I know what it's like to not have friends. I get where you're coming from... Making friends is hard but you've just got to be brave."

"I... I can't... I just can't."

"Hmmm... Well then how about I be your friend?"

"Really...? You wouldn't mind being friends with me...?"

"Of course not, why would I mind?"

"I don't know, maybe because I'm lame."

"I'll be the judge of that... Do you watch anime?"

"I do."

"Then you're cool. You and I are gonna get along just fine... Lonely-kun—hehehe." She said as she giggled.

I blinked at her in confusion, asking myself. Where did this girl even come from, and why is she being so nice to me.

Her smile was so warm... and real, her cheery personality was so nice. My expression softened.

"Uhh… sure, if you really don't mind then I'd definitely like to be friends." 

The corners of her mouth curled up as she said, “Great then from today going forward, you and I are friends… oh I forgot to ask you your name.”

“It's Yahiko—Yahiko Kusanagi... It's nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, Yahiko-kun... I'm Akane—Akane Matsumoto, and you're stuck with me for life."

As she said that the wind blew gently and her hair flowed along with the breeze and I saw just how beautiful she really was, nothing else could describe her—she was truly what you'd call an angel sent from heaven.

From that day on, we were a duo. Wherever you found me, you'd find Akane right beside me. Childhood passed like a dream as we spent our days getting to know each other better. We became better friends with each passing day. 

We hung out so much that I ended up looking forward to each day, just so that I can see her again. We watched anime, played video games, read manga and light novels together.  

I started to value my life way more than I used to, and It was all because of her. We grew up slowly together, going to the same middle school and highschool. life felt amazing as long as Akane was right next to me.

Me, the loner who had no friends ended up getting the greatest friend in the world, it didn't seem real. It felt like a dream. 

But at the end of the day.

"All dreams come to an end, because in this world nothing lasts forever."  I said to myself.

I learned that lesson the painful way. We had just started high school. The day had been ordinary—until we saw it. 

We were coming back from school as we saw smoke. Thick—black smoke, rising over the rooftops. Akane noticed and nudged me to get my attention.

"Yahiko... isn’t that near your house?"

My blood ran cold. We dropped everything and ran. The world blurred as we sprinted through the neighborhood streets. 

Sirens wailed in the distance. My lungs burned. My legs moved on their own. And when we turned the final corner—My house was on fire. 

Firefighters shouted commands as they battled the blaze. The heat hit my face like a wall, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe.

"Excuse me, sir—my parents, there were two people inside the house! Are they okay?!"

A firefighter turned toward me, his eyes shadowed beneath his helmet.

"I’m sorry, kid... They didn’t make it."

“...W-h-a-t?” I said with a disheartened expression. His words crushed me like a hammer. Time froze. The noise around me vanished. All I could hear was the thudding of my own heart.

I dropped to my knees. My body felt hollow, Cold. As a single tear tracked a path down from left eye to my cheek all the way to the ground.

"...Yahiko-kun" said Akane as she knelt beside me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and pulled me close. Her embrace was warm and that warmth was the only thing I had left.

------------

[Five days later.]

Time heals all wounds, and sooner or later, mine would too. That's what I believed, but it couldn’t be more untrue, because even if those wounds heal, it doesn't change the fact that the scars are still there. I thought to myself as I sat on the verandah at Akane's house.

It was half past noon, and the sky was clear. The breeze was gentle, and it slowly made the trees move or rather it made the leaves move. I sat there watching those trees as Akane came up to me and asked. 

"What's on your mind?"

"It's nothing."

"Oh... Okay, but... Yahiko, just know that you're not alone." She said. "I'm here for you... Whenever you need a shoulder to cry on, than just tell me. I'll always be here for you."

"Thanks—Akane I'll do that."

"You better or else, I'm kidding. Now come inside, I'll make lunch for you." She said as she smiled.

"Hehehe... Yeah, thanks again Akane." I giggled but my expression was clearly showing that I was disheartened. I was sad, no I was devastated.

"No prob, anything for you lonely-kun."

Lonely-kun... that sure brings back memories, it's been awhile since she last called me that. I thought as we entered the house.

Akane’s family took me in, but even so, I still felt like I had no family. To me, they were just kind people who pitied the boy who had lost everything.

Weeks passed. I stayed in my room, not attending school unless absolutely necessary. Akane was worried but respected my wishes, she didn't force or nag me about going to school instead she told me that I should focus on healing so that I'd get better.

----------

[A few days later.]

It was finally time for my parents funeral. 

They say rain at a funeral means that the heavens are weeping. If that’s true... then the gods must be sobbing right now, in a way I guess there also mourning my parents. I thought as I stood there.

The world was gray. The only color was the umbrella Akane held over both of us. My fingers were numb—not from the cold, but from the weight of reality. Two black coffins were in front of me.

I stood motionless as the priest spoke. I couldn’t hear the words. They were just... noise. Then came the final moment. Two shovels of dirt struck the coffins. One, two, the sound shattered something inside me.

"They’re... really gone..."

I whispered as my knees buckled. I collapsed, fists clenched in the mud. My shoulders shook uncontrollably as I broke down.

"Why...?! Why did it have to be them...?! Why…?!!! This—is all my fault!"

The tears wouldn’t stop. I felt arms wrap around me. Tight—Protective—Warm.

"I’m here, Yahiko. I'll always be here for you—So please... Don't blame yourself."

Her whisper was a melody in the storm. She held me in silence, her own tears falling into my hair. The rain washed over us, but it couldn’t wash away the pain.

Akane’s parents gave me space. But she... she never left my side. I sat in silence, staring at the ceiling as I whispered. 

"Fifteen years old. And already... I've lost everything... But I'm glad that I... I still have her."

 Everyone avoided me at school. I was a ghost in the hallway. A shadow. Everyone called me "orphan boy" and "the burned-out case." But Akane... never once looked away.

 She defended me, again and again, even when her own friends stopped hanging out with her.

She didn’t care. I was her first friend. She told me she'd never leave my side—And she meant it, but still... I felt guilty.

She really was the best friend I’d ever had. The only friend I’d ever had. She smiled when I couldn’t. She carried my pain without asking for anything in return. 

At school, people avoided me, but Akane stayed, her presence was my anchor. Her smile, my light. We bonded over late-night anime binges, shared manga collections, and midnight walks under the stars.

Five years passed, and I was finally a college student. College was hard, but with Akane by my side, I endured.

------------

[March 9th—08:00pm.]

On that evening We had just finished dinner at our favorite ramen shop and decided to take a shortcut home. The air was crisp, the moon hanging low above the rooftops. It was just a few weeks until my birthday.

 "That miso ramen hit the spot," Akane said cheerfully.

"You say that every time." 

We laughed. It felt good to laugh again, like maybe, just maybe, I was healing. But fate... wasn’t done with me yet.

 A shadow stepped out of an alleyway. A man in a torn jacket, wild eyes, and a blade in his hand.

"Evenin’, kiddos," he said, grinning. "Let’s keep this simple—wallets, phones, and no screamin'."

I instinctively moved in front of Akane. "We don’t want any trouble" I said. "Just take what you want and leave us alone."

But his gaze wasn’t on me. He grinned. "Nah... I want a little more, how about this fine specimen." He lunged, reaching for Akane. 

"Don’t you dare touch her!" I said angrily.

He sneered, knife flashing. He struck me across the face with a left hook. I fell on the ground. In the next instant, he grabbed Akane by the wrist.

"Come on, sweetheart. Don’t make this difficult."

"Let me go! Yahiko!"

I don't know if it was rage or murderous intent, but something inside me snapped. I stood up and slammed a right cross into his cheek. His head jerked sideways. He stumbled. I advanced.

Jab. Left hook. Right straight. Step-in elbow. Each strike landed clean and sharp. My fists moved on their own—driven by pain, fear, and something deeper.

"I won’t let anyone hurt her. Never." I thought as the final blow connected—it was a strong uppercut. It sent him flying. He hit the pavement hard, spitting blood.

Clearly showing that she was worried akane said. "Yahiko...!" 

"Are you okay?" I asked, panting.

"Y-Yeah... but—look out!!"

The knife flashed again. I turned too slow. The blade sliced across my chest. Blood burst from the wound gushing out as it splashed in the air, it was as if I was a fountain spewing out chocolate. 

I gasped as I stumbled back. My vision blurred, then—something clicked. A strange heat bloomed in my chest. My eyes began to glow pale blue, like embers reigniting in the dark.

"What... is this…?" I asked as strength surged through my limbs. The pain dulled. I clenched my jaw, stepped forward, and launched a spinning roundhouse kick.

CRACK!!!

My foot connected with his jaw. The impact echoed through the alley. He flew backwards, crashing into a wall, and slumped to the ground like a ragdoll, unconscious. 

I stood there, chest heaving, blood staining my shirt. Then—the strength faded. In just few seconds I collapsed.

"Yahiko-kun!!!"

Akane caught me. She cradled my head on her lap, hands trembling as she dialed for an ambulance.

Her tears fell onto my face. I raised my hand and tried to wipe a tear from one of her eyes, but she heald that hand.

"Akane… I’m—sorry…" I whispered weakly.

"For being a burden to you—for so many years—for being so useless... I couldn’t even protect yo—"

"No! You’re wrong!" she shouted, interrupting me, holding my hand tightly. "You did protect me—you saved me! You’ve always saved me, just by being—a live!" 

She sobbed. "You’re not a burden—You’re my strength—my hero—my reason for living... because... I—I love you, Yahiko. I’ve always loved you and I always will!"

I stared up at her, my pain fading. Her voice was the only thing I could still hear. I smiled gently trying to put her at ease.

"Akane... don’t cry… I—hate… seeing you like this… Please… live… and... smile... for... me… I... love... you... Akane… my… beautiful… kind… angel…"

The world dimmed. My consciousness slipped away. Darkness filled my vision. Her face... Her voice... Her warmth… They were the last things I remember seeing, hearing, and feeling.

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[March 26: The day of my funeral.]

The funeral was held under a cloudless sky. Strange—The heavens had cried for my parents. But for me... nothing.

The world moved on, indifferent. Akane stood alone, black dress clinging to her small frame as the breeze swept through the cemetery. Her hands trembled as she placed a white lily atop the closed casket.

She didn’t speak. Her eyes said enough. Red—Dull—Empty.

"Idiot..." she finally whispered. "You said you’d stay with me."

The others left, one by one. But she didn’t move. She remained there long after the ceremony ended, long after the sun dipped below the horizon. Until the stars came out.

"I meant it, you know," she said to the grave. "I really did love you... Yahiko."

Her voice cracked. Tears slid down her cheek, glistening like starlight, no doubt about it—she was truly hearting.

"I would’ve traded everything… Just to hear you say it one more time."

The night wind blew gently, rustling the grass. She closed her eyes and hugged herself tightly as she wailed. In that moment—she felt it.

Warmth.

A faint presence, like arms wrapping softly around her. Like the echo of a heartbeat that hadn’t quite stopped. Her eyes snapped open.

And above the grave, just for a moment—a flicker. A pale blue glow, like fire beneath water. It shimmered. Then vanished. Akane gasped. She stumbled back, hand over her mouth.

"...Yahiko...kun?!"