Oneshot: We Are About to Die, and We Have Only One Month Left Until the End of Our Lives

Translator: Soafp

TL: A bittersweet one

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In front of the city hall, a taxi door opens.

The man who got out first, Tamaki , took the hand of the woman next to him, Youko.

Hand in hand, the two enter the city hall.

“Happy birthday, Tamaki”

“Thank you, Youko”

Today, Tamaki turns 18, just like Youko.

Both of them have already quit high school.

In Tamaki’s hand was a peach-colored piece of paper.

A completed marriage certificate.

“I never thought we would make it in time”

“Me neither. It’s just barely safe”

“Maybe there really is a god”

They looked at each other and smiled.

Tamaki loved Youko’s smile.

Youko, laughing next to him. Right now, Tamaki was incredibly happy.

Inside their bags were painkillers, medical morphine.

Tamaki and Youko.

The two of them have one month left to live.

After finishing the marriage registration, the two headed to the nearby hotel they had decided on.

It was a promise they made to each other.

To love each other as much as possible before they die.

As many days as possible.

As many times as possible.

On the bed, the two showered each other with naked kisses.

If they could kiss, it didn’t matter where.

Cancer had invaded Tamaki and Youko’s entire bodies.

Now, they couldn’t move strongly anymore.

Often, they would run out of energy halfway and couldn’t finish.

So, they exchanged love gently and at a slow pace.

Their palms met on each other’s left hands. From today on, rings shone on their ring fingers.

“I’ve become Tamaki’s bride~”

“Are you happy?”

“Very happy.”

They hugged and kissed.

Since they met, they had shared countless unimaginable kisses.

They never grew tired of it.

Unlike Tamaki, Youko’s parents were alive.

But they accepted him.

They were kind parents.

Now that there was only one month left, Youko’s parents came to visit them every day.

Tamaki was very happy about that.

Tamaki’s direct parents had passed away in a traffic accident.

Fortunately, there was an inheritance to live on, but there were no friends or lovers.

Tamaki was truly alone.

However, as death approached, to think that such a cute bride could be found.

Tamaki was so happy that it felt like they could die right now.

“Youko.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll cherish you for a lifetime.”

“Fufu. It’s only one more month, you know?”

“Yeah. In this one month, I’ll give you a lifetime’s worth of love.”

“Thank you, Tamaki. But, will you only love me for this lifetime?”

“Of course not. Even if I’m reborn, will you meet me again?”

“Of course. As many times as it takes.”

Youko laughed beside them.

Tamaki loved Youko’s smile.

Tamaki and Youko return to the hospice they reside in.

A hospice is a place where the focus is on providing comfort and peace during one’s final moments, rather than treatment.

It’s remarkable to think that such a kind place exists in this world.

The staff at the hospice are all very kind people.

Kind staff for the adorable bride, as well as the elderly residents who also live there just like Tamaki and Youko.

Tamaki finally felt that as death approached, they were no longer alone.

In the sky with sheep-like clouds, the log cabin-style hospice building is reflected.

The two sit on a bench in the hospice’s courtyard.

Tamaki in gray pajamas and Youko in yellow pajamas.

Matching blue sandals.

Both of them have long handles with IV bags hanging from them.

Tubes from the IV bags are connected to each of their arms.

Tamaki and Youko could hardly eat anymore.

“When I die, I want to die with you.”

“Yeah.”

“But it seems that life expectancies can be quite inaccurate.”

“Seems that way.”

“It’d be funny if only one of us ends up living much longer.”

“Fufu. I’d hate it if we’re not together until the end.”

“You’re quite selfish.”

They bump their foreheads together.

The hanging IV bags sway.

If they can’t die together.

Even if it’s just for one day, Tamaki thought that they should live longer.

To not make Youko sad.

Certainly, a sorrow as intense as tearing apart his chest would overcome him.

But he wants Youko to depart peacefully.

All the sadness for the both of them, he’ll bear it.

Tamaki was alone until meeting Youko.

Upon knowing they had Stage 4 terminal cancer, Tamaki resented everything in this world alone.

Seeing happy couples walking around town made them envious.

He is probably going to disappear from this world all alone.

When Tamaki arrived at this hospice, he had only a few months left to live.

Here, he met Youko.

Youko, also at Stage 4, just like Tamaki.

Wearing the same favorite yellow pajamas as now.

“You know, I’ve always held back because of various things.

I didn’t want to be disliked by others, so I couldn’t express my true feelings to anyone.”

Youko, a resident of the same age group, was unusually excited as she spoke to Tamaki.

“But now, I’ve decided not to hold back anymore.

For the time I have left, I want to do things to the fullest.

Eat whatever I like until I’m full, go shopping and dress up.

And, you know, I…”

–I want to experience love.–

Tamaki was captivated by Youko, who blushed pink.

Before they knew it, Tamaki’s hand had unintentionally touched Youko’s hand.

(Oh no)

Without even being in a relationship, touching a girl’s body was exactly what a delusional guy would do.

In an instant, Tamaki tried to pull his hand back.

But Youko held onto Tamaki’s hand.

“Hey, could we become lovers?”

Youko gazes straight into Tamaki’s eyes.

Tamaki and Youko. Their eyes reflect each other like mirrors.

“I’ve decided not to hold back anymore.

I don’t know if I can fall in love with you yet…

But I can’t hesitate anymore”

“I’m sure you won’t be able to love someone like me”

“It’s okay. If that time comes, I’ll reject you firmly.”

Youko chuckles softly.

Tamaki has come to love Youko’s smile.

And so, Tamaki also decided not to hold back anymore.

“You look good in those pajamas, Youko.”

“Your hair looks really beautiful, Youko.”

“I found a four-leaf clover, Youko.”

“The outfit you’re wearing for today’s outing is really cute, Youko.”

“I love you, Youko.”

–I love you, Youko —

Every day, Tamaki showered Youko with all the words of love he could muster.

Though the remaining time was diminishing.

Conversely, the feeling of love piled up to great heights.

“Thank you, Tamaki. I’m really happy.”

Youko’s smiling face with faintly glistening tears.

Loving someone is… this intense.

A single tear also rolled down from Tamaki’s eyes.

Without facing death, he would have never met Youko.

Without facing death, he might have never formed such a deep connection.

For the first time, Tamaki felt grateful for the illness that had invaded his body.

Though the remaining time was running out.

Using that time, he exchanged a lifetime’s worth of words of love.

One day, Tamaki and Youko decided to express their love for each other in a love hotel.

There was no doubt about their feelings anymore.

If it was about money, Tamaki’s parents’ inheritance remained.

A slight feeling of guilt. But please forgive them, they prayed in repentance.

The first time connecting with someone felt a bit awkward.

When their first time ended, both were too embarrassed to face each other.

Tamaki and Youko made a promise.

To exchange as much love as possible from now on.

If they both managed to live until 18, they would get married.

No matter how little time was left.

They also conveyed this to Youko’s parents.

Youko’s parents cried while laughing and forgave everything.

“Youko. If I’m with you, I’m not afraid of dying.”

“Tamaki. Me too.

Even if I manage to survive, make sure to take me with you.”

Soon it would be one month since Tamaki and Youko became a married couple.

Both Tamaki and Youko sometimes experienced moments of haziness.

Due to the worsening of their condition and the effects of morphine.

For some, even if morphine is administered, the pain might not subside.

But luckily, they were never tormented by pain.

One day.

In their weakened states, Tamaki and Youko walked down the hospice’s wooden corridor, supporting each other.

Yoko suddenly collapsed next to Tamaki.

With the hand connected to an IV, Tamaki held Youko.

The staff rushed over and placed Youko on a stretcher.

Despite their frail bodies, Tamaki managed to follow them.

Youko was placed in the furthest room’s bed.

The furthest room.

Here, only those about to face their final moments could stay.

Surprisingly, there wasn’t even an electrocardiogram in this simple room.

Tamaki sat beside the sleeping Youko, gently stroking her hair.

Youko’s parents had also arrived.

And after a while, Youko woke up.

“…Tamaki. It seems like I’m going first.”

“Yeah.”

“For loving me all this time, thank you.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be waiting. Come for me.”

“I’ll come right away too.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, promise.”

They linked their little fingers.

“Mom, Dad, I have a request.

I want to spend my last moments alone with Tamaki.”

For Tamaki, they had become parents-in-law.

Both were already in tears.

Youko buried her face in her father’s chest, her mother doing the same.

But both silently left the room.

Even the doctor and the staff left.

Now, it was just Tamaki and Youko alone.

With their weakened bodies, Tamaki managed to get closer to Youko.

Tamaki kissed Youko.

With her arms already unresponsive, Youko merely received the kiss.

They repeated it over and over again.

Tamaki’s tears fell onto Youko’s cheeks.

Youko’s breathing gradually grew weaker.

With a hoarse voice, Youko spoke just one word.

“…Tamaki. I love you.”

And thus, Youko was called to heaven.

The next day.

When Tamaki woke up in the morning, his body wouldn’t move properly.

Strangely, he realized that today was his final moment too.

With legs that could barely hold them, Tamaki somehow managed to leave the room.

He called out to a passing staff member.

“I think today might be my last.”

The staff member understood.

Apparently, this was a common occurrence.

Now, Tamaki understood too.

Knowing when your time to die has come is something you can know.

No more IVs were needed.

He was only given medical morphine to relieve pain.

Thank you, God.

Tamaki didn’t know if God truly existed, but if he did, he wanted to thank Him with all his heart.

Thank you for delaying his death by one day.

Thanks to that, Tamaki could bear all of Youko’s sadness.

And thanks to that, only one day was left between them.

Thanks to that, Tamaki could depart with Youko.

Tamaki was placed on the bed in the furthest room.

There was just one request Tamaki had made to the staff.

Tamaki wanted to be with Youko in his final moments.

Beside Tamaki, Youko’s lifeless body lay on a mobile bed.

Wearing her favorite yellow pajamas.

On Youko’s left hand, the matching wedding ring.

With his right hand, Tamaki gently touched Youko’s left hand.

That hand had grown cold, as if frozen.

Then, the door opened, and in came Youko’s parents, now Tamaki’s father and mother-in-law.

“father-in-law, mother-in-law.”

“Tamaki-kun.”

Tamaki’s father-in-law addressed them.

His mother-in-law seemed to be crying just like the day before.

“…Did you come here for me, even at this moment?”

“Of course. It’s only natural. Tamaki-kun, you’re already our son.”

Tamaki’s father-in-law and mother-in-law gently touched him.

Their touch was so kind.

Tamaki had been lonely for so long.

Meeting Youko alone was already a happiness.

And now, even his parents-in-law held him so dearly.

Thanks to death, life had turned out unexpectedly warm.

The affliction that had consumed Tamaki’s body might have been an angel to them.

Tamaki and his parents-in-law spent a brief moment together, crying, laughing, and talking.

And when Tamaki’s breath began to falter.

Tamaki made a request.

“Father-in-law, mother-in-law. Thank you.

If it’s not too selfish of me, I’d like to spend my final moments alone with Youko.”

His father-in-law stood up straight.

He turned to mother-in-law and she spoke over his shoulder.

“Tamaki-kun. Thank you so much.

Without a doubt, Youko was happy to have met you.”

His parents-in-law left the room, leaving Tamaki alone with Youko.

Tamaki could no longer move.

He couldn’t even kiss.

So, he gave all the love he could muster.

“That pajama suits you, Youko.”

“Your hair looks really beautiful, Youko.”

“The four-leaf clover we found back then.

I pressed and preserved it, Youko.”

“I like you, Youko.”

“I love you, Youko.”

He couldn’t have imagined such a fulfilled death when he was alone.

Tamaki didn’t expect his life to end in such a wonderful way.

He had only lived for 18 years.

Even if he had lived for several more decades without the terminal illness, could he have been this happy?

Thank you, Youko.

For becoming my lover.

For becoming my spouse.

For meeting me.

He loved Youko so much.

Kissing Youko was wonderful.

Every part of Youko’s body was precious.

He loved Youko’s heart too.

He would love Youko forever.

“Forever, together…”

“You…..ko…”

And when the presence of the living disappeared from that room.

Tamaki’s father-in-law and mother-in-law peeked in from the door, looking at the two.

Holding hands.

In their favorite pajamas.

With matching wedding rings.

Both of them, peacefully asleep.

Afterward, Tamaki’s father-in-law and mother-in-law built a small, tiny grave.

It was so small that it could only fit two, a grave just for the two of them.

In it, there was a pressed four-leaf clover.

Whether there’s such a thing as a soul, no one knows.

But at the very least, their bodies were together forever.

And it seemed as if a whisper reached the father-in-law’s ears.

“Rest in peace, Tamaki.”

“Rest in peace, Youko.”

Gazing up at the sky, there were just ordinary fluffy clouds.

Perhaps it was just their imagination.

The father-in-law offered prayers for his daughter and son.

Wishing for their eternal happiness.

Then the father-in-law, hand in hand with the mother-in-law, left.

Leaving behind a small grave for the two of them.

End