Somewhere in some other world, time kept going without him. Just moments before that, inside a plain white hospital room, they fought hard to save Aelric's life. The air hung heavy with tension, full of quick orders and the steady hum from machines.
"His vitals are dropping fast."
"Charge it to two hundred. Clear."
Electricity shot through his still body. His chest jerked up, fingers moved a little on his pale hands, but the monitor line stayed flat.
"No change. Do it again."
One more shock hit him. The surgeon's face showed real worry now. Nurses worked fast and careful, hands firm even if their voices shook a bit.
Still, way down inside, they all sensed it.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Then nothing.
The doctor paused there, holding tight to the table edge like he could grab onto some last bit of hope. It did not work though. He let out a slow breath, feeling the crush of so many past losses, and said the words that broke it all.
"Time of death, 6:47 PM."
Everyone froze in that room.
A boy with so much life left ahead.
A son. A brother. A friend.
All gone now.
Out in the world beyond, things went on like normal, not knowing about the empty space he left.
The waiting room felt stuffy with quiet talks, those clean walls closing in on whatever hope lingered. Akito and Shiko just sat there without words, hands shaking still, marked with Aelric's blood.
Then the doors flew open.
Aelric's mother hurried inside, face white as paper, breathing all uneven. She held a tiny hand in hers, that of his little sister, only four years old, eyes big and lost.
Minato came right after her, his calm face now shadowed by something he would not say. He closed his shop the second he got the news. He stood quiet now, like he waited for the worst to hit.
Akito's throat burned dry like rough sand. He struggled to even look up, but when he managed, his voice broke apart.
"Auntie."
His fingers balled up tight, nails cutting into his skin.
"Aelric, he."
He stopped, breath stuck in his chest. The rest would not come out.
Shiko gripped his own hands hard, holding in the pain, though his quiet said plenty.
Aelric's mother moved closer a step. Her whole frame shook.
"Where is he," she said soft.
It came out more like a beg than anything.
Akito's eyes went blurry.
"He saved us."
Those words tasted strange in his mouth.
"The truck came right at us. He shoved us clear."
The doors opened again before she could answer.
The doctor walked out, peeling off gloves, eyes weighed down by what waited to be said. He did not even have to talk. His look told the story.
Aelric's mother wobbled, breath snagging.
"Doctor, how is my son."
The reply showed in a small sad nod of his head.
"I am sorry. We tried all we could."
For that instant, everything stopped cold.
Then it all fell apart.
Her legs gave way, though Minato grabbed her quick. She kept staring ahead, eyes empty and fixed, like her thoughts pushed back against the truth out loud.
"No."
It escaped like an unmeant thought.
She drew another breath.
Shook her head once more.
"No, that is not how it goes."
One shaky hand went to her lips, eyes jumping around for any sign of error, some proof it all went wrong.
"He was supposed to come home," she said low, voice frail and splitting. "This morning he told me he would make it back for dinner. He."
Her words tripped, then stopped.
"He always shows up."
No yells came from her. No big cries.
Only soft bits of not wanting to believe, like quiet wishes.
"My boy, he, he cannot be."
That thought trailed off unfinished.
Her form curled in on itself, a still shaking fall, grief too much for noise.
"Mom, I will be home soon. Do not worry."
He smiled when those words left him.
And right now.
Minato set his jaw hard, fists closing up.
"I saw him just hours back."
His tone rasped rough.
"He stopped by the shop, full of laughs, chatting on his next video. And this is it."
Aelric's small sister pulled at her mom's sleeve, her young voice cutting the heavy air.
"Where is big brother. Why does everyone cry."
Those simple lines hit like sharp edges. Akito jerked a bit, Shiko looked off, body shaking all over.
The mother caught her breath sharp, drawing the girl in close, one hand stroking her soft hair unsteady.
"Aelric will not come back," she said low.
The child just scrunched her face.
"That does not make sense. He said he would play with me this weekend. He keeps every promise."
Quiet took over again.
Akito's sight blurred more, chest hurting deep like it closed off his air. He closed his eyes tight, but all that filled his head was Aelric's hand reaching out, shoving them safe.
He made that promise.
Now he left them all.