It's not too late

The chaos was uncontrollable.

Of course, people fear for their life. No one wishes to die or at least to die without trying their best to escape.

What is this game of hide and seek with death? It’s not like you can get rid of it. In the end, you don’t have a choice so why bother to scare yourself?

Kibo once feared as well, but with time, she understood that by dying you get your happy ending. You only fall into eternal sleep when fate decides it’s the right moment. Even if we don’t want to, sometimes is better than struggling uselessly.

“Leave every day like it’s your last.” She says while the crowd ran in her direction.

Seeing them so desperate to fight for another day in that horrible world made her feel touched. If they are willing to find the good in the bad, she will also be willing to find a way of creating a new era.

Even if she is disappointed by Haru’s behavior, they share the same goal.

“I will take the responsibility to make Haru the all-mighty hero that everyone needs!”

As she wanted to leave, Haru’s photo appeared on a little screen. After approaching it, what was written there made the girl stare in shock.

“Strange activity recorded. Haru Chibana has reached a high level of intensity.”

“Is this related to that incident from the fountain?”

Near the screen was a small desk full of records and documents. She searched for something that had the boy’s name on it.

“The only child of the prime minister might become a sacrifice.”

“HE’S THE PRIME MINISTER’S SON?”

Her eyes widen as her mouth drops. He was someone well known in that factory.

“Aiko didn’t play! She has such an important soulmate!”

After some time she decides to return with everything she collected.

*****

“WHAT?”

“My poor ears…” She whispers.

The boy kept walking front and back on the same 5 meters. His face was pale and his eyes were filled with worry.

“I can’t become a sacrifice! It’s impossible! I was the perfect worker…” He says his thoughts out loud. “Do you remember if on my files was a golden stamp?”

“There wasn’t any. I’m sure of it!”

He leans on the sofa with his head resting in his palms.

“What a relief!” His voice almost cracked.

“Haru, mind explaining the actual situation?” Kibo adds with her arms crossed while staring at the half alive half dead boy.

He didn’t bother to answer. His worries were more important. Now he has to do something fast or else death awaits him.

“Come to your senses!”

Nothing.

“Hello? Do you hear me?”

Nothing.

She walks to him and kneels in front of his body.

“Look, I will do my best to help you. Just how I promised! Please tell me about your problems, share them with me. Remember you are not alone anymore!” Kibo says with a calm voice.

Seeing him like this wasn’t the best view. She was mad at him, but her heart was aching.

“I screwed things up because of you!” Haru sighs but still keeps his head resting in the palms.

A lot was going on inside his head at the moment. He didn’t mean to blame her he cherished their friendship. But his dark thoughts got the best of him. Haru’s mind is never clear in moments like this.

“I worked so hard…”

His tears start to roll through his fingers while his words become whispers of despair.

“What did I ever do to deserve this?”

“Tell me, suicide girl! Am I a bad person in your eyes?” He suddenly shows his red face.

His gaze was fixed on her figure, trying to read her intentions.

“I won’t answer your question until you calm down.” She says with a serious tone.

She stands up and turns her back to that crying mess.

“You’re week. I can’t stand the ones like you.”

Her words played on and on inside his head.

“You’re week. I can’t stand the ones like you.”

“N-No I’m not…”

“You’re week. I can’t stand the ones like you.”

“S-Stop!”

“You’re week. I can’t stand the ones like you.”

The image of his parents saying the same thing appears in front of his eyes. Behind them, he saw blood. Is it because he reclaimed some persons because of his work?

“ENOUGH!” He also stands up and grabs Kibo’s hand.

He tightens the grip, making the girl groan in pain. She turns to face him and say a few words, but instead of hearing her voice, Haru hears his mother's voice.

“Haru, may you be able to achieve whatever you believe is good in this life! Mommy loves you so much!”

In the end, she believed in him and disappeared. The woman suffered because of him and his stupid ideas. Why can’t he do what his father wants? It’s not that hard, he has to give up on his own goals. He decided to do so, but he met this strange girl named Aiko.

She was a stranger that chose to believe in him and follow whatever he says. Will she also disappear? Or even worst, will she willingly leave him to live her perfect life that he never experienced?

He closes his eyes and lets go of the girl’s hand.

“How does it feel to enjoy the sunset at the end of the day and not worry about liking it a little too much? How does happiness manifest in its most exaggerated form? How can you bear to avoid a person that gives you that wonderful feeling of being loved?” He asks without breathing.

It sounded robotic, yet expressive. He wished to know. H wanted to know what he’s fighting for.

“Rather than explaining, I can show you.”

Her response makes him even more confused.

“Give the right to enjoy life to everyone. Not every hero wears a cape, Haru. Not every person with good intentions is a hero. Don’t be a hero, for that you must bear a lot of responsibilities. Instead, be the change! Be different, be yourself!”

“I don’t know myself.”

“When you were born did you already know how to read and write?”

“No, I learned in time.”

“Exactly! Learn how your true self is, before aiming for great things. We must know ourselves better than we know the world around us. We create our surroundings, the surroundings do not create us!”

“Isn’t it too late?”

“Are you still breathing?”

“Obviously…”

“It’s still not late even at your last gasp for air.”

“Not even when the sun sets down?”

“Not even then.”