Chapter 4: Lost
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The university had become a breeding ground for tears of farewell… a sanctuary for the blood of lovers, a theater for screams of pain and the moans of grief… It had truly become their graveyard!
The pale morning light seeped through the gray clouds to strike that melancholic clock. Beneath it lay that pure soul; Kyouko remained curled up on the frozen tiles, her hair scattering with the gusts of cold wind, while the fog wrapped around her like a besieging shroud. Her body trembled from the cold climbing up her back and from the terror that had seized her mind; a sensation of weakness and helplessness shattered her balance until she appeared like a psychiatric patient!
Loken's expression shifted upon seeing her state; he appeared stunned by this reaction. He approached her slowly, lowering himself to his knees, saying: "What is wrong with you?!… I am sorry if I frightened you."
Silence settled.
He continued to ask her: "Kyouko, do not scare me. I have always known you to be strong!"
She does not respond.
In a tender, gentle voice, trying to reach her: "Come, let us sit aside on our bench. Empty everything in your heart, and we will be alright."
She refused to lift her head, and with a voice weighted by profound sorrow: "I am fine… but… you… you are not fine!!"
Loken was bewildered: "Me?!"
With tears streaming from her eyes: "I saw you with my own eyes… yesterday… you were… dead!"
Fear began to creep into Loken; he realized that Kyouko's expressions and actions were not lying—as if what she said was the truth. He wondered in silence: Is she hallucinating, or was it just a disturbing nightmare?!
He said calmly: "I am fine. Your feelings and your fear for me have reached me. Get up, for I am alive, and do not sadden me with your tears."
She raised her head, her eyes overflowing with tears, merely staring into his eyes as if trying to confirm that the one before her was not an illusion. In her mind, she thought: People are all around us, and Loken is as I have always known him… it seems I have emerged from the wretched loop of time.
Loken noticed blood trickling from her lip: "Wait a moment, I'll be back. I'll bring some water!"
Kyouko wiped her tears with the sleeves of her thick winter coat, and with a warm smile: "I hope you remain well!"
But… but… there was something missing! … Again… Loken could see!!
Her thoughts were interrupted by that ominous sound—the phone lying on the ground was ringing!
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In a crowded square, the innocent laughter of children playing during recess filled the air. Sitting aside was the young girl Kyoury, gazing at the lunchbox in her lap.
A friend called out to her: "Hungry Kyoury, come! I brought extra food for you again!"
Kyoury remained completely silent as her friend ran toward her: "I know you're hungry and they didn't make you any food."
Kyoury tried to hide, but the friend approached with surprise: "Whaaat! You have a new lunchbox too! Did she come back to cook for you?"
She replied with cold features, as if her childish face was fading away: "My sister Kyouko hasn't returned yet. It has been two days!"
The friend laughed: "Did you steal it then?"
Kyoury replied: "No, her close friend, named Lynen, has started taking care of me and helping me!"
Happily: "How kind of her! Then I won't have to steal my brother's meal for you!" She continued: "It looks like your sister is having a fun party—I envy adults for that!"
Kyoury ate greedily and said: "I want to grow up quickly… so I don't need anyone… but…" (her eyes welled up with tears) "…but I miss her!"
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Amidst the crowd at the university, the phone was still ringing. She reached out to pick it up—it was a message. She opened it immediately, her heart pounding harder as her eyes fell on the sender. And for some strange reason… the name seemed sinister… it was Lynen!
She read it quietly:
"Don't be sad! Sometimes life gives us a second chance! I feel like we are living it today more than ever!!; Isn't that beautiful????????????????"
The sound of lightning striking the ground suddenly terrified her. The message deleted itself, and the phone began emitting strange noises, an annoying static, until it went dark.
Kyouko stared at the tear stain she had left on the ground; her eyes had dried, and suspicion crept into her. A strange feeling mixed with utter silence; she felt imprisoned in "solitary confinement." She wondered: "What is this silence?"
She raised her head… the place was completely empty. It was familiar! The crowd she had been in had vanished entirely!
In an instant, a reel of memories passed before her eyes; this was how it had started the first time!
Cold sweat ran down her face as she thought deeply: This hellish vortex—I am still trapped in it!
She felt her heart as if it would explode. With deep, weary breaths, she screamed in fear while helpless on the ground: "Loken!!… Loken, where are you?!"
She gathered her strength, rose, and ran in terror, calling him: "Loken, please… can you hear me…"
She whispered from her heart: "…Y…you… you will die… again!"
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Fog descended and rain began to fall. Her breath rose as she ran, leaving trails of warm vapor in the cold. She kept calling him; no answer. Nothing could be heard except the sound of rain striking the rough pavement.
Bewildered, she thought: Did he disappear with everyone else? There is no way I am alone! Only one place remains.
Her eyes fell on the college building—the same place where they had been buried! She continued running until she reached it and took shelter from the rain, calling him with all her might. The echo of her voice traveled through the corridors and resonated throughout the building.
Amidst the silence that carried the meaning of nothingness, the sound of life emerged; she heard a deep commotion—a sound that sent joy into her heart.
Someone was running, calling out: "Coming, Kyouko!"
When he appeared before her, she found herself smiling, thinking: At least… he exists.
Loken said: "Sorry for the delay. It seems there is no need for water—the rain has washed you completely."
Kyouko replied shyly: "I do not mind the rain; it is my favorite."
Loken laughed: "That is obvious from your soaked clothes. You will get sick like this. Let's go down to the basement; I have some spare clothes in my locker!"
… The mention of it… that place… it was terrifying in every form.
Terror seized Kyouko's soul; her face flushed! She panted heavily. Loken did not understand what was happening, but with a single look from her, he understood. He saw something in her eyes greater than fear. He did not know what was so frightening about it, so he said: "It is alright, stay here. I will go down and come right back."
The sound of thunder intensified; her body jolted in fear. She grabbed his hand and ran, pulling him! She said: "We are leaving the university right now!"
He asked, surprised: "Why?! Let's at least wait for the rain to stop."
But the answer was in her urgency and desperation, so he decided to listen to what she wanted.
Kyouko muttered: "We will live to see tomorrow… I will save him… I will escape this loop!" All she wanted was for them to stay alive for just one more day!
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They had left the building. Kyouko was still running under the rain, Loken following behind, saying: "Let us calm down a bit; let us at least look for an umbrella."
Kyouko quickened her pace, panting: "I will not risk staying here!! Let us just run! Time is passing, I have to—"
And before she could finish… Kyouko stumbled, losing her balance. Instantly, Loken caught her clothes before she could fall flat on her face. She only landed on her knees.
Loken looked with pity, saddened for her: "You are not the Kyouko I knew; you were always the calm, intelligent one!"
Kyouko, sorrowfully: "I tried calmness and it did not work. Maybe running is the answer."
Kyouko tried to stand; she had twisted her ankle. She choked back a sob, struggling to walk alone. She was swaying, barely keeping her balance.
Loken: "Come, let me support you and we will walk faster."
She placed her hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly as she walked.
The early morning seemed like sunset due to the thick fog and rain. Loken felt Kyouko's anguish through the tight grip of her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her face, hidden beneath her wet hair, and whispered: "How fierce her fear for me is! I feel guilty for making her like this when I have done nothing!"
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They approached the university gate, noticing things beneath their feet. They walked on ground littered with rubble, gazing at the distorted horizon shrouded in fog. It was strange. They paused for a moment, contemplating what lay before them: the university gate was destroyed. They approached quietly until they froze at the sight—those massive buildings outside the university… they were demolished, and the ground before them was nothing but craters and debris!
She asked: "Tell me, Loken, when were the towers destroyed?"
Loken: "I came from here just a short while ago; the place was not like this!"
A thick, grating whistling sound rose—a roar from the sky that shook the ground. They looked up instantly; something gleamed above them, approaching as its terrifying sound grew louder. They were paralyzed in place from fear and shock: a black plane, burning in the air, fell from the clouds with insane speed until it crashed into the buildings before them. The place lit up as if the sun itself had appeared in a fiery blaze, followed by an explosion so powerful it shook the ground beneath them, scattering rubble and burning shards everywhere.
Kyouko found herself on the ground, wrapping her arms around her head, while Loken was frozen, his body numb from the horror.
Before they could utter a word, red dots gleamed in the sky, growing larger and brighter, approaching with terrifying speed. They pierced through the clouds, turning the darkness of the place into a bloody red. They passed overhead in the blink of an eye, flickering in and out of sight—like massive, phantom missiles.
Their sound tore through their ears. Loken felt immense pressure, as if the air itself was compressing to crush him into the ground. Kyouko screamed incomprehensible words. Loken grabbed Kyouko's shoulders and shouted: "Let us go back and hide in the basement! It is the only place we can survive!"
Flaming lights flashed, followed by thunderous explosions.
He continued: "Can you not see the university is the safest place?!"
Another plane broke through the clouds and fell, demolishing other buildings before them, and by its light, Kyouko's tear-drenched face was revealed.
He shouted: "Be strong! Tears will not save us! Let us go back!"
He pulled her to her feet, but she refused. With heartbreaking despair, Kyouko screamed: "I told you I tried!"
Loken, frantic, lifted her onto his shoulder and ran, while Kyouko continued screaming: "No… no!! … Stop, Loken!!"
She bit his hand; he lost his balance, and they both fell to the ground. The clouds blurred, and a plane fell from nowhere directly onto the university building in the blink of an eye!
Loken collapsed beside Kyouko, muttering: "No escape!"
He fully grasped the situation. He turned his head toward her, and with a look at her face and the sound of her voice, a thought crossed his mind: There is a way—I will end this quickly.
She stared into his eyes: "Understand me, Loken, I am trapped, I am lost, I am ruined, I cannot bear this!"
The flashes of explosions revealed her devastated face as she spoke: "Trapped… lost! Death is everywhere, and you are going to die!! How do you expect me to bear seeing you like this again?! I do not mind dying before you!! But your death shatters my heart!"
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The sky flared with an explosion that revealed his handsome face. A tear trickled down as he smiled his characteristic calm smile, lifting his head toward the sky as rain struck his face:
"The earth has rejected us and the sky has narrowed—we are besieged with no escape… I am sorry, Kyouko, but… if it is my fate to die… I will not run… I would be happy if my fate came while you were with me… But I will not find peace if you are sad after my death… So I beg you… bury me with your own hands, and place a flower on my grave with a smile. I will be happy."
Kyouko moaned: "N-n-no… no, no, no !!!… you have to survive, just until tomorrow… why do all of you want to leave me alone?!"
Loken interrupted: "I am overwhelmed with a sense of peace at the thought of death. All I want is to leave a good memory and for you to keep smiling."
The bloody sky illuminated the ground around them, its reflection gleaming in his eyes. His hand moved slowly, picking up a sharp shard of glass. Kyouko noticed him—he raised it immediately and brought it toward his neck.
Instantly, Kyouko leaped on him, pinning him down with all her strength, screaming from her heart: "Drop that piece of glass!… Are you trying to kill yourself?!"
He shouted, his eyes tearing and his hand bleeding: "You are not the only one suffering! Leave me—this is my fate! We are surrounded—I am going to die anyway, so why do I have to see you crying and broken?! … I too … cannot bear this!!!"
She gripped the glass shard in Loken's hand, so her hand bled too, and their blood mingled. Loken released it immediately, and Kyouko threw it away, sobbing.
Her tears fell on Loken's eyes as she wiped his face, smearing it with blood, her tender voice emerging: "Do not cry. I will find a way… so please, do not cry!!"
She lifted her head to the sky, the rain washing over her face. She opened her eyes to the heavens; all she could see were pillars of smoke and the lights of explosions rising and overpowering the lightning.
She whispered:
"My Lord… I am lost—so guide me, my Lord… guide me… what am I to do!!!"
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To be continued...