The Echoes of Saki Fujikawa

 Saki Fujikawa was dead.

In the leading hours before her friend, Minoru Araki, was going to pick her up, a notorious serial killer had unfortunately greeted Saki and her family first. Within seconds, Saki had fallen upon her bed, lifeless.

She was lucky it was painless compared to the murderer’s other victims. She had only a single fatal wound on her body, allowing the funeral session to show her resting body. Saki looked ever so peaceful laying in her brown casket surrounded by white lilies and her favorite stuffed teddy bear held between her hands.

Minoru had tried his best to contain his tears throughout the funeral. Dressed in a black suit, he solemnly stared at the green grass, unwilling to accept the death of his friend.

No… Saki Fujiwaka wasn’t just his friend.

Throughout the years the two of them have spent together, as classmates and as nearby neighbors, Minoru had fallen deeply in love with her.

The day of her death was when he was going to tell her. The hangout he had planned was not a normal hangout like watching a movie or playing games together. Minoru had worked at his cafe job for well over a month to purchase tickets to an amusement park.

Saki’s favorite amusement park.

Filled with balloons and rides and all her favorite snacks, it was going to be the perfect day. Minoru had finally promised himself that it was going to be the day.

The day he was going to say those special three words to her.

But that day never came to pass.

✤✻✽✻✽✻✤

A few months after the funeral, Minoru’s family came to accept their son’s new behavior after losing his friend. The young brown-haired boy had dedicated himself to gardening, raising the same lilies Saki loved.

He still attended classes but his lively demeanor had left him as if it had died along with Saki. Where once he shared her dreams and aspirations to become an engineer, it seemed like a pointless endeavor now.

As Minoru gently strolled down the empty sidewalk, he glanced around at the familiar sights the two of them had always gone to.

He remembered when Saki first found out Minoru was working at the cafe and became a regular customer there. They would chat as much as possible during Minoru’s break and even talk when he was working.

He remembered the bookstore across the street where Saki would drag Minoru unwillingly inside to enjoy new books and the soothing atmosphere.

But most importantly, he remembered the park Minoru was walking by right now with its lake glistening as children frolicked at a playground and young adults fished. It was there where he had fallen in love with Saki that one morning during their walk to school.

After all that time spent together, Minoru realized his emotions as he saw her long white hair flow in the breeze matching their light-brown school uniforms. Saki teased him, wondering why Minoru was staring at her as if he had seen a ghost.

Now, she really was one.

✤✻✽✻✽✻✤

“I’m home,” Minoru announced as she closed the door behind him.

“Welcome back,” his older sister greeted him from the couch, her eyes skimming through a thick book. “Any requests for dinner tonight?”

“Anything’s fine,” Minoru replied as he placed his shoes to the side and made his way to the living room. He sat down in the empty seat next to his sister before turning on the television.

“I’ll prepare curry then,” she replied, kicking her feet up and resting them on Minoru’s lap.

“Please don’t,” Minoru complained as he tried to push her legs off.

“Don’t make curry or what?” She joked, her attention still focused on her book. “This is my apartment. I can do what I want.”

“You sure are nice, Yuko,” Minoru sarcastically replied.

“I’m letting my stupid little brother stay here for free. Of course I’m nice.” She declared but finally placed her feet on the ground before standing up.

“Do you want me to pay you?” Minoru asked, trying to get Yuko to shut up.

“No,” his sister headed towards the kitchen area in their studio apartment. “I just want you to move on.”

Minoru took a deep breath. “You know I can’t do that.”

“I know you don’t want to hear it so I’ll just say this,” Yuko wrapped a green apron around her. “We all lost Saki.”

The brother didn’t reply as he pretended to pay attention to the game show occurring on the screen; a synonym game where contestants had to find a similar word but with certain letters.

“I’ll help make dinner,” Minoru stood up.

“Are you sure you can handle it?” Yuko gave him a concerned glance as she pulled out the ingredients. Her brother remained silent until he walked behind the counter.

“Do you want me to move on or what?” Minoru said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. His sister let out a sigh but gave a small nod.

“Here,” she placed a kitchen knife she was holding on the black marble countertop. Minoru stared at the sharp blade, his hand hesitating to reach out and pick it up. His mind became lost in feeling as he recalled the report on Saki’s murder.

“As I’d thought, you can’t do it.” Yuko picked the knife back up causing Minoru to break out of his daze. She began to chop some carrots while Minoru stared idly. “If you want to be helpful, why don’t you prepare the rice?”

✤✻✽✻✽✻✤

“Are you going to the Obon festival with your boyfriend?” Minoru asked as they sat on the couch enjoying the show.

“I don’t know, maybe,” Yuko replied nonchalantly as she took another spoonful of her meal.

“Maybe? Why maybe? Did he piss you off or something?”

“No. You’re the one pissing me off,” she replied. “In fact, I told him that I’m only going if you’re going.”

“What kind of stupid excuse is that?” Minoru asked.

“One that both he and I agreed with,” his sister began to explain, “Yoshiro really wants to meet you, Minoru. He hasn’t seen you for a while now.”

“Tell him I say hi,” Minoru said.

“Why do you not like him?”

“I don’t not like him,” he countered.

“Don’t be so confusing,” Yuko didn’t want to decipher the double negative.

“I have absolutely nothing against your boyfriend and nothing against your relationship. Is that clear enough?” Minoru finally clarified.

“Yes. Yes, it is.” Yuko replied as silence washed over them as they finished their meal.

“I’m going to bed,” he dropped his dish in the sink before heading toward his room.

“Minoru,” his sister called out after him. The young boy paused and turned around. “I love you, you know. You’ll always be my baby brother and I’m always here for you.”

Minoru didn’t reply as he stared at Yuko before turning back around to enter his room.

✤✻✽✻✽✻✤

“Stupid sis,” Minoru let out a sigh as he closed the door behind him. In the early night, his room was dimly lit by the dark blue sky as the young boy refused to turn on the lights in his room.

Slowly, he leaned against the door and slid to the ground. Minoru brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.

“As if she knows anything,” he thought to himself about going to the Obon festival.

It was true that Minoru had nothing against Yuko’s boyfriend. Yoshiro was a really nice man who had met his sister at a restaurant three years ago. He was a waiter who was serving Yuko and her friends.

His sister had a bit too much to drink and as a result of a dare, she had been taken home by Yoshiro. When the doorbell rang and a young Minoru opened the door to see the stranger with his sister, suspicions of the man had already grown within him.

However, unbeknownst to Yuko, Minoru had spied on the couple to ensure his sister’s protection. And while he had had doubts about Yoshiro ever since that first encounter, from all he could gather about the boyfriend, he was a genuinely kind man who sincerely loved Yuko.

But that’s where the problem was. Ever since Saki’s death, seeing Yoshiro around his sister reminded him of something Minoru’s future could have been: a happy relationship between Minoru and Saki. Even just thinking about it was paining his heart right now.

As Minoru closed his eyes, burying his head in his arms, he could still hear Saki’s bright voice calling him. It was such a lively memory.

“Minoru, Minoru!” She would say, trying to catch his attention whether it was baby ducks or a new sweet at their local pastry shop.

“Minoru! Hey Minoru!” Even now, he could hear Saki’s voice as clear as day.

“Minoru! Open your eyes! Hey! Earth to Minoru?! That’s not your bed, silly!” Minoru paused as he found himself unable to follow the memory. He couldn’t remember her saying that to him. Yet, the voice felt so vivid, so real.

“You’re purposely ignoring me, aren’t you?” Saki pouted. “Fine! Be that way.”

Wait… it didn’t sound like a memory. Why did it sound like Saki was actually in front of him?

“I wonder where you hide your pornos…” She mumbled to herself. The strange statement caused Minoru to lift his head up immediately.

“Ah! So do you have them!” Saki giggled as Minoru’s eyes widened.

Standing just inches before him was a girl wearing a dark gray jacket and a navy-blue skirt. Her long white hair flowed down her back but had a translucent appearance to it due to the moon’s lighting. Her brown blouse seemed to ripple as if there was a slight breeze that also stirred her hair. The girl’s vibrant red eyes stared at Minoru while she gave him a gentle and warm smile while holding her hands behind her.

“Hello, Minoru.”