Chapter 11:
Chapter 11 - The Aftermath
104 Hz
Koji’s scream echoed into the cold rain, slicing through the silence like a blade.
Kenji stood there, soaked in rain, his eyes hollow. His hands were still stained with Hana’s blood.
He looked down at them.
If I’d pedaled faster. If I hadn’t hesitated on the bridge.
She might still be here.
In that moment, beneath the storm, it felt like they had lost everything.
**SCENE SHIFT- THE CEMETERY**
The sky above was gray and unmoving. No wind, no birds. The air sat heavy. Lifeless.
Rows of graves stretched into the distance like forgotten memories.
And there—fresh, raw, and cruel—was Hana’s grave.
Her name carved into stone. Her life reduced to dates.
Koji and Kenji stood behind Hana's grandparents and aunt, with Koji’s mother beside them.
Everyone’s face was drawn, drained, barely holding together.
Koji’s mother gripped her son’s sleeve tightly. Her lips trembled.
“Poor girl,” she whispered.
She looked up at the blank sky. Her voice cracked.
“Is there any god out there?”
Kenji stepped forward first, clutching the bouquet they had brought.
Koji followed, silent, his limbs heavy. As they passed Hana’s aunt, her eyes followed them. She didn’t speak,but her look said enough.
You did this.
She didn’t need to say it. They both felt it.
Kenji placed the flowers gently on the grave, lips pressed tight.
Koji crouched beside him, fingertips brushing the cold dirt. He tried to speak but couldn’t find the words.
Then—
A whisper.
So faint he almost missed it.“You did this.”
Koji froze. His eyes widened.
He looked at the grave.
A hand.
Pale. Broken. Reaching through the dirt.
Another.
Then a face—familiar. Bruised. Her mouth twisted into a jagged smile.“You let me die.”
Koji screamed—
**KOJI'S BEDROOM- PRESENT DAY**
He jolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat, heart pounding so loud it felt like it might tear through his chest.
His breaths came in ragged gasps. The room was dark. Still.
Another nightmare.
The same one.
Every night since Hana died.
Koji sat alone in the darkness.
He popped another sleeping pill, dry-swallowed, and waited. Waited for silence. Waited for sleep that never came.
His eyes drifted to the old wooden box beside his bed—the one that hadn’t moved since he got here.
He walked over and opened it.
Hana’s letter lay inside, untouched.
He stared at it for a long time, his fingers hovering over the edges of the envelope… before closing the box again. He couldn’t read it. Not again.
Instead, he grabbed a worn-out newspaper folded neatly beneath it. The pages crackled in his hands.
The headline read:
“Tragedy in Quiet Town – Teenage Girl Murdered Under Bridge.”Below it, a photo—grainy, old. The frog-masked man, mask removed. Just a guy. Ordinary face. No guilt. No remorse. Just blank eyes staring back at the camera.
Koji stared back.
Then he tore the paper down the middle, shredded it piece by piece, and threw it out.
Lying back on the floor, he stared at the ceiling. The same way he had every night for years.
Now it was clear. Why he was always tired. Why his voice always sounded like it was dragging itself through mud. Why no pill ever worked.
Because it wasn’t insomnia keeping him awake.
It was guilt of not being there when it mattered.
Guilt that never left. Guilt that screamed louder than any nightmare.
He wasn't there when she needed him. And now, she never would be.
The morning sun finally bled through the curtains. Koji hadn’t slept a second. Still, he forced himself to sit up.
His phone rang.
He answered without checking the caller ID.
On the other end, Kenji’s voice came through, breathless. “We’re done over here. Just a bit more cleaning and you can officially move in.”Koji rubbed his eyes, groaning. “Is that why you called?”
Kenji barked, “You still sleeping, you lazy bastard? Get your ass over here and help clean this damn mess.”
Koji let out a tired chuckle. “Alright, alright. I’ll be there. Stop yelling.”
Then he hesitated. His voice softened.
“Hey, Kenji… thanks. For everything. I don’t think I could ever repay you for what you’ve done.”
There was a pause on the other side. “Huh? The hell’s with the sudden sappy tone? You dying or something?”
Koji smiled faintly. “Nah. Just wanted to say it.”
“Well, too bad. You’re not getting out of work with flattery. Get over here.”Koji hung up.
On his way out, he saw Yumi locking the gate, ready to leave for work.
They nodded at each other like usual… but this time, she spoke first.“So… where are you off to?”
Koji blinked. For a second, he thought he imagined it.
Koji laughed. “Heading to my parents. Kenji is helping me clean up. I'm moving out. Want to join us?”
Yumi paused.
Then her smile faded slightly. “Oh.”
Only now did she realize—he was leaving soon. And with him, the only person she ever really felt anything around.
“Thanks for the offer,” she said quietly. “But I’ve got work.”
She turned, her steps echoing down the narrow street.
Koji watched her for a moment.
Then kept walking.
The sun dipped low as Koji and Kenji slumped down on the front steps of Koji’s house, sweat sticking to their shirts.
The whole town burned orange-red, the vast sea reflecting every hue like molten glass.
“Whew,” Kenji sighed, wiping his forehead. “Easily my least favorite chore. I’d rather do anything than this.”
Koji leaned back, arms resting on his knees. “Yeah, I’m sweaty in places I didn’t know could sweat. Still better than doing laundry.”
“That’s your opinion, not mine,” Kenji shot back, smirking.
A moment passed.
Kenji took a deep breath and asked Koji "That day Hana left... why didn't you visit her?"
Koji lied "She never told me when she was leaving so I didn't know I wish I was there on that day."
Kenji placed his hand on his shoulder and says" Not your fault man. You did nothing wrong."
As he took a long sigh and tries to change the subject.
“Wanna hit the onsen again?” Kenji asked.
Koji nodded. “Sure. But no getting drunk this time. I’m not dealing with that headache again.”
“Fine, fine,” Kenji said, standing up. “No promises though.”
They started walking.
Same walkway. Same sea stretching out beside them. Now the sky had darkened completely, the ocean mirroring the stars. No clouds. Just an open sky and the sound of gentle waves.
As they passed by the convenience store where Yumi worked, Kenji pointed. “Let’s grab something first.”
Koji raised an eyebrow. “Not alcohol.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kenji muttered.
Inside, Yumi was standing behind the counter, organizing a stack of receipts. The automatic doors slid open with a chime.
Koji and Kenji entered.
“Hey Yumi,” they both said in unison.
Yumi glanced up and smiled faintly. “Welcome to our store.”
She stood a bit straighter, almost instinctively preparing herself. “What would you like—”
Kenji cut her off, waving a hand. “No need to go formal on us just ‘cause you’re working. We’re just grabbing a couple things. We’ll disappear in a second.”
He walked off toward the back aisles.
Koji stayed at the counter.“I just wanted to say sorry,” he said, voice low. “If something I said this morning hurt you…”
Yumi shook her head quickly. “No. You didn’t. I just… I’m moving out too, remember? It just hit me, that’s all. I thought I should repay you for… well, everything. While I still had time.”
Koji blinked. “Oh... the money. Right. I almost forgot.”
Yumi chuckled softly. “You need to be more attentive.”
They smiled at each other. For a moment, it felt normal. Easy.
Then—the door opened again.
A man walked in.
His clothes were unremarkable. But something about him felt wrong.
Yumi’s face went pale instantly. Her posture stiffened.
Koji noticed.“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Yumi’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s that guy. The old creep who always gives me extra money for no reason. That’s him.”
Koji frowned. “You want me to talk to him?”
Yumi hesitated. “But… what if it causes trouble?”
“I’m just going to talk. Outside. That’s all,” Koji said firmly. “Don’t worry.”
She gave a small nod.
Koji lowered his head and acted like he was checking something on his phone, watching from the corner of his eye as the man approached the counter and paid for his things.
Then—
Koji looked up.
And froze.
That face.
It was him.
The man from the newspaper.
The man behind the frog mask.
The one who murdered Hana.
Now older. But still unmistakable.
He was free. And Hana never would be."
Koji’s blood turned cold. His fists clenched at his sides.
He didn’t say a word to Yumi. He just turned and walked out, eyes locked on the man as he exited the store.
He followed.
The old man turned the corner and slipped into a narrow alley, flipping open his wallet as he walked. His steps were weak. Worried. He had no idea he was being followed.
Koji’s footsteps were silent.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t yell.
He just grabbed the man by the collar and slammed his head into the wall.The crack of bone against concrete echoed through the alley. The man collapsed with a grunt, bleeding from his forehead—but Koji didn’t stop.
Years.
Years of guilt. Of silence. Of watching Hana’s face haunt every dream.
All of it broke loose.
Koji’s foot came down hard.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He didn’t care about the blood. He didn’t care about the pain in his own leg. He wanted this man to feel something. Anything even close to what Hana felt.
Back at the store, Yumi stood frozen at the counter, staring into the darkness beyond the window. Koji had vanished into the night.
“Hey,” Kenji said as he walked in, holding a bag of snacks. “ Great... now where'd that idiot go? He needs to pay for this stuff.”
He noticed Yumi wasn’t responding. Her face was pale. Eyes wide.
“…What's wrong?” Kenji asked, suddenly alert.
She raised a trembling finger and pointed outside.
Kenji’s smile dropped.
His gut twisted.“Oh no... it can't be him!”
In the alley, Koji finally stopped.
His breaths came in sharp, ragged bursts. His knuckles were raw, his shoe stained red. The man lay crumpled at his feet, groaning weakly.
Koji turned away, trying to catch his breath—then his eyes fell on the man’s wallet, still lying open.
He bent down.
A few bills. An ID.
And then—
a photograph.
Koji froze.
It was Yumi.
Tucked neatly inside, like a keepsake. Like a plan. She was next.
Kenji stood there, soaked in rain, his eyes hollow. His hands were still stained with Hana’s blood.
He looked down at them.
If I’d pedaled faster. If I hadn’t hesitated on the bridge.
She might still be here.
In that moment, beneath the storm, it felt like they had lost everything.
**SCENE SHIFT- THE CEMETERY**
The sky above was gray and unmoving. No wind, no birds. The air sat heavy. Lifeless.
Rows of graves stretched into the distance like forgotten memories.
And there—fresh, raw, and cruel—was Hana’s grave.
Her name carved into stone. Her life reduced to dates.
Koji and Kenji stood behind Hana's grandparents and aunt, with Koji’s mother beside them.
Everyone’s face was drawn, drained, barely holding together.
Koji’s mother gripped her son’s sleeve tightly. Her lips trembled.
“Poor girl,” she whispered.
She looked up at the blank sky. Her voice cracked.
“Is there any god out there?”
Kenji stepped forward first, clutching the bouquet they had brought.
Koji followed, silent, his limbs heavy. As they passed Hana’s aunt, her eyes followed them. She didn’t speak,but her look said enough.
You did this.
She didn’t need to say it. They both felt it.
Kenji placed the flowers gently on the grave, lips pressed tight.
Koji crouched beside him, fingertips brushing the cold dirt. He tried to speak but couldn’t find the words.
Then—
A whisper.
So faint he almost missed it.“You did this.”
Koji froze. His eyes widened.
He looked at the grave.
A hand.
Pale. Broken. Reaching through the dirt.
Another.
Then a face—familiar. Bruised. Her mouth twisted into a jagged smile.“You let me die.”
Koji screamed—
**KOJI'S BEDROOM- PRESENT DAY**
He jolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat, heart pounding so loud it felt like it might tear through his chest.
His breaths came in ragged gasps. The room was dark. Still.
Another nightmare.
The same one.
Every night since Hana died.
Koji sat alone in the darkness.
He popped another sleeping pill, dry-swallowed, and waited. Waited for silence. Waited for sleep that never came.
His eyes drifted to the old wooden box beside his bed—the one that hadn’t moved since he got here.
He walked over and opened it.
Hana’s letter lay inside, untouched.
He stared at it for a long time, his fingers hovering over the edges of the envelope… before closing the box again. He couldn’t read it. Not again.
Instead, he grabbed a worn-out newspaper folded neatly beneath it. The pages crackled in his hands.
The headline read:
“Tragedy in Quiet Town – Teenage Girl Murdered Under Bridge.”Below it, a photo—grainy, old. The frog-masked man, mask removed. Just a guy. Ordinary face. No guilt. No remorse. Just blank eyes staring back at the camera.
Koji stared back.
Then he tore the paper down the middle, shredded it piece by piece, and threw it out.
Lying back on the floor, he stared at the ceiling. The same way he had every night for years.
Now it was clear. Why he was always tired. Why his voice always sounded like it was dragging itself through mud. Why no pill ever worked.
Because it wasn’t insomnia keeping him awake.
It was guilt of not being there when it mattered.
Guilt that never left. Guilt that screamed louder than any nightmare.
He wasn't there when she needed him. And now, she never would be.
The morning sun finally bled through the curtains. Koji hadn’t slept a second. Still, he forced himself to sit up.
His phone rang.
He answered without checking the caller ID.
On the other end, Kenji’s voice came through, breathless. “We’re done over here. Just a bit more cleaning and you can officially move in.”Koji rubbed his eyes, groaning. “Is that why you called?”
Kenji barked, “You still sleeping, you lazy bastard? Get your ass over here and help clean this damn mess.”
Koji let out a tired chuckle. “Alright, alright. I’ll be there. Stop yelling.”
Then he hesitated. His voice softened.
“Hey, Kenji… thanks. For everything. I don’t think I could ever repay you for what you’ve done.”
There was a pause on the other side. “Huh? The hell’s with the sudden sappy tone? You dying or something?”
Koji smiled faintly. “Nah. Just wanted to say it.”
“Well, too bad. You’re not getting out of work with flattery. Get over here.”Koji hung up.
On his way out, he saw Yumi locking the gate, ready to leave for work.
They nodded at each other like usual… but this time, she spoke first.“So… where are you off to?”
Koji blinked. For a second, he thought he imagined it.
Koji laughed. “Heading to my parents. Kenji is helping me clean up. I'm moving out. Want to join us?”
Yumi paused.
Then her smile faded slightly. “Oh.”
Only now did she realize—he was leaving soon. And with him, the only person she ever really felt anything around.
“Thanks for the offer,” she said quietly. “But I’ve got work.”
She turned, her steps echoing down the narrow street.
Koji watched her for a moment.
Then kept walking.
The sun dipped low as Koji and Kenji slumped down on the front steps of Koji’s house, sweat sticking to their shirts.
The whole town burned orange-red, the vast sea reflecting every hue like molten glass.
“Whew,” Kenji sighed, wiping his forehead. “Easily my least favorite chore. I’d rather do anything than this.”
Koji leaned back, arms resting on his knees. “Yeah, I’m sweaty in places I didn’t know could sweat. Still better than doing laundry.”
“That’s your opinion, not mine,” Kenji shot back, smirking.
A moment passed.
Kenji took a deep breath and asked Koji "That day Hana left... why didn't you visit her?"
Koji lied "She never told me when she was leaving so I didn't know I wish I was there on that day."
Kenji placed his hand on his shoulder and says" Not your fault man. You did nothing wrong."
As he took a long sigh and tries to change the subject.
“Wanna hit the onsen again?” Kenji asked.
Koji nodded. “Sure. But no getting drunk this time. I’m not dealing with that headache again.”
“Fine, fine,” Kenji said, standing up. “No promises though.”
They started walking.
Same walkway. Same sea stretching out beside them. Now the sky had darkened completely, the ocean mirroring the stars. No clouds. Just an open sky and the sound of gentle waves.
As they passed by the convenience store where Yumi worked, Kenji pointed. “Let’s grab something first.”
Koji raised an eyebrow. “Not alcohol.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kenji muttered.
Inside, Yumi was standing behind the counter, organizing a stack of receipts. The automatic doors slid open with a chime.
Koji and Kenji entered.
“Hey Yumi,” they both said in unison.
Yumi glanced up and smiled faintly. “Welcome to our store.”
She stood a bit straighter, almost instinctively preparing herself. “What would you like—”
Kenji cut her off, waving a hand. “No need to go formal on us just ‘cause you’re working. We’re just grabbing a couple things. We’ll disappear in a second.”
He walked off toward the back aisles.
Koji stayed at the counter.“I just wanted to say sorry,” he said, voice low. “If something I said this morning hurt you…”
Yumi shook her head quickly. “No. You didn’t. I just… I’m moving out too, remember? It just hit me, that’s all. I thought I should repay you for… well, everything. While I still had time.”
Koji blinked. “Oh... the money. Right. I almost forgot.”
Yumi chuckled softly. “You need to be more attentive.”
They smiled at each other. For a moment, it felt normal. Easy.
Then—the door opened again.
A man walked in.
His clothes were unremarkable. But something about him felt wrong.
Yumi’s face went pale instantly. Her posture stiffened.
Koji noticed.“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Yumi’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s that guy. The old creep who always gives me extra money for no reason. That’s him.”
Koji frowned. “You want me to talk to him?”
Yumi hesitated. “But… what if it causes trouble?”
“I’m just going to talk. Outside. That’s all,” Koji said firmly. “Don’t worry.”
She gave a small nod.
Koji lowered his head and acted like he was checking something on his phone, watching from the corner of his eye as the man approached the counter and paid for his things.
Then—
Koji looked up.
And froze.
That face.
It was him.
The man from the newspaper.
The man behind the frog mask.
The one who murdered Hana.
Now older. But still unmistakable.
He was free. And Hana never would be."
Koji’s blood turned cold. His fists clenched at his sides.
He didn’t say a word to Yumi. He just turned and walked out, eyes locked on the man as he exited the store.
He followed.
The old man turned the corner and slipped into a narrow alley, flipping open his wallet as he walked. His steps were weak. Worried. He had no idea he was being followed.
Koji’s footsteps were silent.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t yell.
He just grabbed the man by the collar and slammed his head into the wall.The crack of bone against concrete echoed through the alley. The man collapsed with a grunt, bleeding from his forehead—but Koji didn’t stop.
Years.
Years of guilt. Of silence. Of watching Hana’s face haunt every dream.
All of it broke loose.
Koji’s foot came down hard.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He didn’t care about the blood. He didn’t care about the pain in his own leg. He wanted this man to feel something. Anything even close to what Hana felt.
Back at the store, Yumi stood frozen at the counter, staring into the darkness beyond the window. Koji had vanished into the night.
“Hey,” Kenji said as he walked in, holding a bag of snacks. “ Great... now where'd that idiot go? He needs to pay for this stuff.”
He noticed Yumi wasn’t responding. Her face was pale. Eyes wide.
“…What's wrong?” Kenji asked, suddenly alert.
She raised a trembling finger and pointed outside.
Kenji’s smile dropped.
His gut twisted.“Oh no... it can't be him!”
In the alley, Koji finally stopped.
His breaths came in sharp, ragged bursts. His knuckles were raw, his shoe stained red. The man lay crumpled at his feet, groaning weakly.
Koji turned away, trying to catch his breath—then his eyes fell on the man’s wallet, still lying open.
He bent down.
A few bills. An ID.
And then—
a photograph.
Koji froze.
It was Yumi.
Tucked neatly inside, like a keepsake. Like a plan. She was next.
Please sign in to leave a comment.