(Why…)
Himegami Aisa was lying on the icy floor as she silently thought.
(Why…did it…end up like this?)
In the afternoon of this cruel September heat, only this alley was so cold that it penetrated the skin. Maybe it was because the sun was unable to shine in here all year long. The walls and what was on the ground, everything looked black.
She knew that her pulse was still beating.
The top of her chest to the bottom of her abdomen exploded.
The pain was at the point of saturation, such that she started to get numb. Thus, she looked around, and on seeing the blood that flew out and the scraps of skin and flesh, her thoughts were about to cause her head to explode.
But,
The even painful truth was in front of her.
The two boys were beside her. In this blurred vision of hers, they seemed to be arguing.
"—STOP GETTING ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY, YOU AMATEUR!!"
A voice that saddened people.
Even so, there was a sense of resilience in this voice.
"In front of this injured girl, what can an amateur like you do?"
You can, Himegami wanted to say.
But her lips were dry, and her voice couldn't come out.
"Even a specialist like me can't do anything, NOTHING!"
These words hurt the other boy.
Every time she heard this, she knew how twisted the young man's face was.
"Will staying with her heal her up? Will grabbing her arm cause her pain to go away?"
It's alright, she wanted to say.
Her wounds may not be healed, her pain may not subside. But, she could say this, that this didn't mean that there wasn't any effect, not so.
"During this time, this cold and hard reality will only rob her of her strength!"
Why? Himegami thought.
Why must this world be so cruel?
She just needed to deny it. The boy didn't need to give such a hurt expression.
Her lips couldn't open.
Her tongue couldn't move.
Her throat couldn't even make a sound.
The two boys seemed to be arguing over something, or more accurately, one side was attacking the other. This was a form of verbal violence. Every word that was said, the boy's face looked hurt, like his feelings were skinned off him.
She didn't want to see that expression.
To be honest, she wanted to be with him. It didn't necessarily need to be only two people. She wanted to take part in the matches together with everyone, to cheer for her friends together, to shop together, to go for the night tour together, to create happy memories together, to laugh happily together.
This was just what she wanted.
"…let me repeat this again, if you want to settle all these, hurry up and get out of here."
No, Himegami wanted to say.
"…Got it."
No, don't, she wanted to say, but she couldn't let her voice out.
"I will, if this will solve everything."
After this, the boy stepped over her body and ran into the alley. She was unable to convey her words, as the other person, back facing her, was running further and further away from her.
Why must this world be so cruel?
No matter how hard she prayed for it earnestly, her request wouldn't be granted. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make any voice. From the beginning till the end, all her hopes were taken away by the world—
"I'm sorry, Himegami."
Even so, she heard something.
"Before the night tour begins, I'll visit your room, so just wait for me there."
At this moment, she felt that she was smiling now.