Chapter 16: Best Friends
Translator: Soafp
Tap—-tap—– tap.
The echoes of my footsteps reverberated through the abandoned building, a haunting rhythm that seemed to fill the empty space around me.
As I walked through the desolate corridors, the air hung heavy with dust and decay, a silent witness to the passage of time. Each step I took stirred up clouds of debris, swirling in the dim light filtering through broken windows.
The building stood as a relic of the past, its walls marked with the scars of neglect and its windows shattered, like eyes that had long since lost their gaze.
But now, it was slated for demolition—a final chapter in its storied history, soon to be erased from existence.
…Just like me.
I ascended the stairs, each step a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. With every stride, I felt the weight of my pain, agony, happiness, hatred, and love dissipate into the ether.
It was as though I was shedding layers of my past, casting aside the emotions that had bound me for so long.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I realized that I no longer needed these burdens. They were no longer chains tethering me to a life of despair and sorrow. Instead, they were stepping stones on the path to my liberation.
The wind whispered through the shattered windows, its gentle caress sending shivers down my spine as it brushed against my face.
[With each gust, you could be like them, free—free from the burdens that weighed you down, free from the pain that consumed you. You can finally be free]
Free…I will finally be freed from the chain.
Upon reaching the top of the building, I paused, drawn to the edge where the city skyline stretched out before me. It was a mesmerizing sight, a labyrinth of towering buildings and distant lights that seemed to stretch on endlessly into the horizon.
“…”
As I slowly made my way towards the edge, the wind whipped at my clothes, tugging at me as if urging me to let go, to succumb to the void that beckoned below.
“There is nothing left for me… Everything that I had is taken away from me. What have I done to deserve this?”
As I stood on the edge, the city skyline stretched out before me like a dark abyss, its jagged edges cutting into the horizon.
The wind howled, carrying with it the whispers of forgotten souls, urging me to surrender to the abyss that beckoned below.
With a heavy heart and a weary soul, I —-
jumped.
The moment I jumped off, I found a strange sense of peace. It was as if I had finally shed the burdens that had weighed me down for so long, releasing them into the oblivion below.
In that moment of surrender, I felt a profound sense of relief wash over me, cleansing away the pain and anguish that had consumed me.
As I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift, releasing all that had held me back, I felt a peculiar sense of liberation wash over me. Finally, I had found peace.
But as I descended into the darkness, a sudden jolt shook me from my reverie. Opening my eyes, I was startled to see Kenji, tears streaming down his face, holding desperately to my right hand with his own trembling grip.
Why are you crying, Kenji? You should also be free. You don’t have to associate with me.
So, I don’t understand it.
“Ryota, I believe you…I always have.”
“…”
“You are my best friend and I don’t know what I will do if you are gone.”
He continued.
“I have gathered evidence that and send it to the police. It should be soon that your name will be cleared.”
He tried to clear my name? Why would he go so far for me?
“So…don’t leave me behind….Please.”
As tears streamed down my cheeks, I struggled to make sense of the overwhelming surge of emotion that threatened to consume me.
Why was I crying? Was it the sheer relief of finally being believed? Or perhaps it was the realization that despite everything, Kenji had never wavered in his trust towards me.
In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude wash over me—a profound appreciation for the unwavering support and friendship that Kenji had offered me, even in the darkest of times.
“Thank you, Kenji. For everything you have done for me.”
For believing in me, supporting me when my mom died, clearing my name, but most of all…
For being my best friend.
But as our hands remained clasped, I felt a tremor pass through Kenji’s fingers, a subtle indication of the strain he was under. Despite his valiant efforts to hold me, I could sense his strength waning, his grip gradually slipping away.
Finally, he could no longer support me and had to let go.
“RYOTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
In my final moments, all I could see was Kenji’s tear-streaked face, his anguish palpable in the tremble of his lips and the desperation in his eyes as he reached out his hand towards me.
I didn’t want his last memory of me to be one filled with sorrow, so I summoned every ounce of strength I had left and offered him a faint smile.
“Thank you, Kenji. For being in my life.”
I whispered softly, the words carrying with them a profound sense of gratitude and warmth.
“I could not have asked for more.”
With those words lingering in the air, I embraced my fall, finding solace in the serenity of my final moments.
A sense of calm washed over me, soothing the turmoil that had plagued my soul for so long.
For in that final descent, I found freedom.
[Kenji PoV]
My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched my friend plummeting to his death, my screams of anguish echoing in the empty void around us.
“DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT!!!!!!!”
The words tore from my throat in a desperate plea, but they were swallowed by the deafening roar of the wind as it whipped around us.
I reached out with trembling hands, grasping at the air as if I could somehow pull him back from the brink, but I knew deep down that it was futile. I wasn’t strong enough to save him.
As he fell further and further away, his eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw something that I would never forget—his smile.
It was a smile filled with warmth and acceptance, a silent reassurance that everything would be okay.
But as his form disappeared into the darkness below, the weight of his absence settled over me like a suffocating blanket, leaving me gasping for air in its wake.
I could only watch helplessly as my friend slipped beyond my reach, his smile haunting me even as he vanished from sight.
In the deafening silence that followed, I sank to my knees, my body trembling with grief and guilt. Tears streamed down my face unchecked as I grappled with the enormity of what had just happened.
“I’m sorry, Ryota… I’m so sorry…”
The words escaped my lips in a choked whisper, but they felt inadequate to express the depth of my remorse.
The weight of his smile lingered in my mind, haunting me with its bittersweet warmth. It was a reminder of the bond we shared, of the moments we had laughed together and the trials we had faced as friends.
But now, all that remained was a void—a gaping chasm of loss and regret that threatened to consume me whole.
My only glimmer of hope was the possibility that he might have somehow survived the fall, though the odds seemed overwhelmingly slim.
With a heavy heart and a sense of dread weighing on my shoulders, I descended the stairs, my mind swirling with a mix of anguish and uncertainty.
After a few minutes, the wail of sirens pierced the stillness, signaling the arrival of the ambulance and police.
Their flashing lights cast an eerie glow over the desolate scene, illuminating the shattered windows and debris-strewn floor.
As the emergency responders rushed to Ryota, I watched from a distance, my heart heavy with sorrow. They worked quickly and efficiently, their movements a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded moments before.
I couldn’t bring myself to look as they lifted his lifeless body onto a stretcher, his form shrouded in the harsh glare of the ambulance lights. It was a sight too painful to bear, a grim reminder of the fragility of life and the irreversible nature of death.
As they carried him away, I felt a wave of numbness wash over me, enveloping me in its cold embrace. The reality of what had just occurred seemed surreal, like a nightmare from which I couldn’t awaken.
Determined not to let our farewell end in such uncertainty, I approached one of the paramedics, my voice trembling with emotion.
“Can I come with you….”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes, he is my friend…”
With a nod of understanding, the paramedic motioned for me to follow as they loaded Ryota into the ambulance. I climbed in beside him, clinging to the hope that he would pull through this ordeal.
As we raced towards the hospital, I sat by Ryota’s side, silently praying for his survival. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, filled with a sense of impending dread and uncertainty.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital, and Ryota was rushed into the emergency room. I watched anxiously from the waiting area, my heart heavy with worry and fear.
Hours passed in agonizing silence, the minutes ticking by like hours as I waited for news of Ryota’s condition. When a doctor finally emerged from the emergency room, I held my breath, bracing myself for the worst.
“Is he going to be okay?”
My voice trembled as I spoke, the weight of uncertainty bearing down on me like a heavy burden.
“I need to see him. Please…”
The doctor hesitated for a moment, his gaze filled with empathy as he regarded me.
“…Follow me.”
With a sense of urgency, I trailed behind the doctor as he led me down the sterile corridors of the hospital. Each step felt like an eternity, the anticipation building with every passing moment.
Finally, we arrived at the intensive care unit, where Ryota lay motionless on a hospital bed, surrounded by a tangle of wires and monitors.
My heart lurched at the sight of him, his face pale and drawn, his breathing shallow and labored. He looked so fragile, so vulnerable in that moment, and a wave of despair washed over me.
Approaching his bedside, I could only watch him, my heart heavy with worry and uncertainty.
“I’m here. You’re not alone. You will survive this, I believe in you.”
As minutes passed, my emotions began to overwhelm me. Every time I glanced at Ryota lying there, it served as a painful reminder of the moment he jumped off the building.
His smile…
Unable to bear the weight of my thoughts any longer, I excused myself from the room, feeling a heavy ache in my chest with each step I took away from his bedside.
I was escorted out of the hospital, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at my insides. Each step I took felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of the world rested upon my shoulders.
Returning home, I hoped against fate that everything I had just experienced was nothing more than a terrible nightmare.
But as I stepped through the familiar doorway, the harsh reality of the situation came crashing down upon me like a tidal wave.
The empty silence of the house greeted me, amplifying the sense of loneliness and despair that had taken root within me.
Collapsing onto the couch, I buried my face in my hands, unable to contain the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me.
Witler
April 13, 2024 at 12:07 am….
Soafp
April 13, 2024 at 12:16 am:)
Koukiri
April 13, 2024 at 12:08 amI guess now we the trash family’s downfall huh
CJ Lou, the Otaku
April 15, 2024 at 5:18 amAt least his half-sister only believes him.
Xson
April 13, 2024 at 12:33 amDAMN
MangHose
April 13, 2024 at 4:55 amA true friend to the bitter end. Sigh.
Sabishi
April 13, 2024 at 5:49 pmThank you for the chapter