Taro sat on the edge of his bed, phone slipping in his hand.The screen still glowed with the headline.
A girl found dead in Kitahana District. Authorities suspect suicide.
He didn't move for a long time. His mind was an empty hallway, every thought echoing off the walls.Then suddenly he was standing, pulling the curtains wide.
Outside, flashing red and blue lights painted the snow. A crowd was gathering across the street—her house.An ambulance. Police tape. Neighbors in coats whispering like ghosts.
For a second he couldn't breathe.Chiyo Ikari.
He'd seen her that afternoon, hadn't he? She'd smiled, just a little.He'd looked away. Pretended they were strangers.
Now she was gone.
He turned from the window, voice shaking."Mom? Dad? Kenta?"No answer.Again, louder. "Mom!"
Nothing. Just the hum of the heater and the sound of the siren outside.
He ran downstairs, shoes half-tied, burst into the cold air. The snow stung his face as he crossed the street.The closer he got, the more unreal it looked: Chiyo's mother kneeling in the snow, her father shouting at an officer, and beside them—Taro's own parents.His mother had her arms around Chiyo's mother, whispering something over and over, the way people do when words stop meaning anything.
Taro froze.He wanted to walk up, say I'm sorry or it can't be true, but the words stuck somewhere between his chest and throat. His vision blurred. He turned away before anyone saw.
He took two steps, then stopped. Someone stood under the streetlight ahead.Tall, still, face hidden by shadow.
"Who are you?" Taro shouted. His voice cracked.No answer.He blinked—and the figure was gone. Not walked away. Gone.
He backed up a little, heart hammering, then turned and ran home.
Inside, everything felt wrong.He grabbed his phone, opened the group chat.
Taro:You guys saw the news?Akira:Yeah…Chinatsu:Is it real?Hikari:Bontan Park. Meet now.Taro:On my way.
He shoved the phone in his pocket, threw on a thicker coat, and stepped into the storm again.
The snow came down heavier, swallowing sound.As he passed Chiyo's house a second time, two women stood by the gate, voices low.
"Such a young girl…""Maybe her parents pushed her too hard.""No note, nothing. Just gone."
Taro stopped. Their words felt like needles.He glared at them, fists tightening in his pockets. Then he walked on, faster this time.
Bontan Park was quiet, half buried in white. The swings creaked, empty.A figure sat on the bench near the frozen fountain—Akira.
He looked up when Taro approached, eyes red, snow caught in his hair.Before Taro could say anything, Akira grabbed his sleeve.
"Why?" His voice was raw. "Why did this happen, Taro? Why her?"
Taro opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Akira's grip tightened. "She was fine yesterday! She said she wanted to show me something today and—"He broke off, tears spilling. He pressed both hands to his face, shoulders shaking. "I don't get it… I don't get it…"
Taro just stood there, breath fogging in the air, watching his friend fall apart.Something in his chest felt twisted and hollow at the same time.He wanted to cry too, but his eyes burned dry.
As Akira was crying,snow was falling everything felt weird and unreal at this point
Taro says"what should i do how i am in this fucking situation"