【Online casualty】

“Oh, you remembered that,” she said, a subtle, chilling smile curling across her lips.

Akira froze. His feet moved on instinct, moving a step back.

“Akira,” she continued softly, “my dear Kyroxfun. I can make you feel great. Better than your girlfriend.”

A breathy, nervous chuckle slipped from him. “So… you were the one sending the flowers?”

She stepped closer. “I thought you knew. You really don’t remember me?”

He shook his head.

Her hand shot out, gripping his arm, pulling him towards her. “You tried to kiss me,” she hissed. “Was I just a game to you?”

His eyes widened. “I—I never dated you. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Pain exploded through his side.

Something sharp pressed beneath his ribs and then pushed deeper.

Akira gasped. The sound tore out of him as if his breath had been cut in half. A metallic taste filled his mouth, and warm liquid spilt from the corner of his lips.

His knees buckled. The room tilted violently as he stumbled backward, his shoulder hitting the wall before he collapsed to the floor.

He gasped for air as the pain filled his body. His hand brushed against the protrusion stuck in his upper abdomen.

Tsumi stood over him, breathing hard.

“I helped you get home that night,” she said, her voice shaking. “You made me feel special.”

His vision blurred. He blinked slowly. He recalled the convenience store trip when he was lost.

“But it was all a lie.” Her voice cracked. “YOU DO THAT FOR EVERYONE EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND.”

She dropped beside him, her fingers brushing his face, almost tender.

“Your girlfriend is here too, isn’t she?” Her eyes flicked toward the hallway. “Right?”

She wrapped her hand around the knife.

Akira flinched, his breath breaking into a wet gasp. His fingers shot out, moving around her wrist with what little strength he had left.

“D-don’t—” His voice trembled. “I didn’t… play with you. I was just… r-repaying you. For being kind to me.”

His chest heaved shallowly. Tears streamed down his face as pain burnt through his side. His gaze flicked, unfocused, toward Jitsuko’s room. Just stay in there.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Tsumi stared at him, eyes wide. “Are you trying to use your charm again?”

“No,” he breathed. “Please… stay. Just… stay with me. Until I die.”

Her grip loosened. The knife stilled.

She leaned closer, wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes fluttered shut.

“A-Akira?”

Jitsuko’s voice rang through the apartment.

His eyes snapped open. No

Tsumi turned slowly, staring at Jitsuko. A hollow laugh escaped her. “A liar till the end. Were you trying to keep me here so I wouldn’t find her?”

Suddenly, she yanked the knife free.

Akira screamed.

Heat flooded his body all at once. His breath felt ripped out of his lungs. Blood poured freely now, soaking his clothes, pooling beneath him. His grip slackened immediately.

Tsumi raised the knife again, aiming for his face.

“DON’T!”

Jitsuko lunged forward, grabbing Tsumi’s wrist.

“Let go of me,” Tsumi shrieked. “YOU HOME WRECKER!”

They struggled. Jitsuko shoved her back, sending her crashing into the wall.

Akira’s vision dimmed, the world dissolving into noise and shadow. Voices blurred together, distant and distorted.

Then a voice.

“H-hello?” Jitsuko’s voice. shaking. “There are two injured people here. Their condition is  c-critical. Please—please come quickly.”

Silence.

“A-Akira?” she whispered. “Are you still there?”

A warm hand closed around his.

He forced his eyes open. Jitsuko hovered over him, her face pale, eyes brimming with fear. The expression he hated seeing most.

“I-I’m… sorry,” he murmured.

She squeezed his hand and pressed her lips to his forehead.

“I love you,” she said, her voice breaking as she pressed hard against his wound. “You deserve to know that. At least now. So—hey—what are we doing after this, huh?”

A weak smile tugged at his lips. “Dying is o-okay… if… I am not alone.”

“Don’t say that,” she choked. “You’ll come to my university. It’ll be fun.”

“I like… that,” he whispered, swallowing painfully. “It hurts… I didn’t want this. I thought I could live… happy. Loved. Complete.”

His breath stuttered. “I-I don’t want..... it to end… n-not..... when y-you.... love me....”

[At the XXX apartment complex, apartment number 202. The resident, a famous streamer named Kyroxfun, was stabbed by his fan. The streamer is in critical condition. The assailant was injured by the victim’s girlfriend in an act of self-defence.]

Aunt Fuyuko stood outside the ICU, dark circles stretched beneath her eyes. She pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose.

I told you there was no point in trying…

Her legs gave out. She slid down the wall, covering her face.

Please survive. Please.

Online, discussions spiralled endlessly.

Some said it was inevitable.

Some said he deserved it.

Others argued about the girlfriend, the flowers, and the stalker.

[Why hadn’t he spoken up?]

[Why did he open the door?]

[I am not an expert, but I believe he was groomed to accept exploitation as a form of love. The type of person who would comply even if it meant harm. The type to open the door to their own end.]

[Well, who cares now? he might not even survive.]