Our Denouement
Before the Incident - Chapter 3

Kashika awoke to the sound of her phone's alarm thump. His body broke out in cold sweat and both his eyes widened. He patted both his eyes while trying to dispel the nightmare fog that had given him an unforgettable reminder of the events of that time.

The dream felt so real, it made her feel tense and tired. Kashika was flexed on the bed, trying to brace herself. After a long night full of frightening memories, the dream ended.

But, the relief did not last long as he looked towards the window. His eyes were like capturing the shadow of a man that was similar to the cause of all these flavors. The feeling attacked him again. Kashika's stomach felt tightly clenched with anxiety. Soon he pulls and closes the window, hoping whoever he sees out there will disappear. Kashika was breathing slowly, trying to calm herself. Half his soul must still be in the subconscious. His hand reflexively slapped hard on his cheek, trying to wake himself up.

His head was pulsing slowly. He knew he had to forget that past, but how? How could he forget that figure? How could he forget everything that had happened?

I don't know. People say that time will slowly heal.

After the morning scene of the sleeping flower matter, Kashika was busy rushing to morning lecture. On the way to campus, Kashika tries to control herself on things that could make her feelings neutral again. She turns on her favorite music with a volume that can deafen ears. He struggled hard to sweep those memories from his mind.

Upon reaching the campus, Kashika felt something considered an anomaly. He saw some students walking around as usual, but he felt something abnormal happening within him. He felt empty, no interest, no motivation, no reason to do everything today. He thought of going home early, but he was instead glued to the garden chair. Just staring blankly around, as if his soul was in another world.

The fear and pain appeared again, as if it could bring him back to the middle of his nightmare earlier. In his mind he thought, how could the events at that moment repeat themselves exactly many times in his dream. His head felt extremely painful, and his body trembled.

The park is quiet, there is no sign of people passing by around it. He claimed to be comfortable and safe when alone, but faced with a situation like this? Kashika is just a human. Social beings who need the help of other creatures. Who is going to help her when something like this happens? Everyone could, but in his heart there was only one name that even willingly, swapping his soul for just a smile on his face. 'Yatsuki's...' Call it in your heart. He wished the man was next to him now.

Today she can't overcome her fear, and she plans to charge Yatsuki's promise that speaking will always be ready to put her ears and shoulders up to be burdened by it. But, he always felt bad if he had to inculcate the weight of the problem onto Yatsuki. As a result Kashika harbored all the emotions she could not conquer, fighting with the mind.

His hands clenched followed his stomach, before his consciousness disappeared he could feel a pat on the shoulder and the sound of someone calling out to him.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Kashika's eyes slowly opened. Kashika awoke with a faint sense of dizziness from her stupor, she grimaced as she tried to sit up, her head pounding in pain. He tried to recall what happened before.

'What did I do?'

He looked around, trying to understand where he was and how he got here, then panic struck. His eyes caught a sizable inscription on the wall, making him realize that he was in the Campus Health Unit.

Kashika was still confused and absentminded. He held his head while saying softly, 'who brought him here?'

Next came the sound of the door being opened, suddenly making his head look up. A girl appeared, entering the room. Slowly the girl approached Kashika's bed, which was now sitting. The girl looked at him with a worried look.

"Ohh, you're awake," the girl said in an awkward gesture.

"Ah, yes. I'm sorry, did... You bring me here?" Kashika asked the girl.

"Yes right, sorry if it seems presumptuous. I was just about to go home, but I saw someone who almost fell in the park. If I'm not mistaken, are you Kashika?" The girl who seemed to recognize him,.

Kashika did not reply, she tried to remember who the girl was, but her still dizzy head made it difficult to concentrate.

"I.. You know me?" He asked in a voice that was suddenly hoarse. Amidst the confusion Kashika also felt relieved, someone found herself. Otherwise, he would have been covered in wet, dirty soil.

"Yes, I'm Rayla. If you remember, I was your classmate in high school" Rayla said with a smile.

Kashika was a little surprised, she just realized they were on the same campus. She began to remember Rayla, when she noticed her face with moles on her nose and under her lips. He remembered, Rayla also had a somewhat similar attitude to him, namely stiff.

However, Kashika is a flat and firm type. Rayla, this girl had been bullied because of her rigid behavior, as well as appearance that was considered "lush".

What a cliche and a moron, to oppress innocent people.

"Thank you very much, Rayla. How are you?" Kashika asked kindly.

"It's okay, don't thank me. Good news! I'm glad to see you again, Kashika." Rayla replied in a cheerful tone.

Kashika rushed to Yatsuki. She checks her phone, to ask where Yatsuki is. When his phone opened, many messages popped up on his screen. And the message was sent by Yatsuki, who asked where she was, repeatedly in the message. Kashika decides to call him, who is instantly picked up by Yatsuki.

"Hey, I've been looking everywhere for you!! Where are you???" Yatsuki protested in a loud voice. Kashika pitied her ears, she kept her phone away a little.

"Where are you? I was at college, there was a little problem. I'm sorry, I almost forgot" Kashika said, asking.

"I'm at the mansion right now, can you wait at the airport close to your apartment? I'll be there soon," Kashika felt bad, but she couldn't resist either.

"All right, I'll wait there. Be careful Yaya."

"Okay, wait a minute. See you at the airport!!!"

Kashika comes to the airport near her apartment, she sees a watch and realizes that there is still about 15 minutes before Yatsuki arrives. He sat in a waiting chair, observing the movements of the busy people around him.

Shortly after, Kashika sees a shadow of Yatsuki's figure emerging from the airport entrance. A warm smile was engraved on his face when Yatsuki arrived. He ran towards Kashika and hugged her without warning, making Kashika almost topple over.

"Be careful, you careless base" Kashika scolded as she tried to push Yatsuki's body slowly. In addition to falling over, he also almost asphyxiated.

"Hey, Sisi! Thank you for coming to take me," Yatsuki said with a big smile.

Kashika also tried to smile thinly in response. He tried to hold back his loss. Although she could not avoid it in any other way, she hoped that Yatsuki also felt an equally great sense of loss.

Today, Kashika feels nothing pleasant in their last moments together. He wanted to talk for longer, trying to fill the void that would occur when Yatsuki actually left.

The two of them looked at each other with meaningful gazes, then Yatsuki said.

"You'll always be my best friend, you know? Even if I have to go, there will also be a time when I can come back. So don't forget to always remember me, huh?" Yatsuki said as if understanding the meaning of the gray face on Kashika's face. Yatsuki did not realize, that her face was flooded with water.

"I told you not to miss me. But I haven't left yet, you've looked desperate, haha." Yatsuki made a crisp joke as usual. And laughs because of his own words.

"Stop that narcissistic behavior, I know. We can still communicate with each other via phone or short messages?

"Of course!! I'll send you a message 20 times a day!"

•

Kashika is overwhelmed when she stands at the airport door and sees Yatsuki, preparing to return to her hometown.

Today, their bond will be temporarily severed. The two of them tried hard to resist the feeling of sadness, but sometimes tears fell down their petals. They entertained and spent the last time before Yatsuki was going home, telling him about the memories of their togetherness. Like singing, or playing games late into the night.

Yatsuki tells Kashika that he will be back soon, and they will definitely meet again. They parted ways by staring at each other with hope. As Yatsuki went on, sadness and sorrow mixed in Kashika's heart.

Kashika looked at the increasingly distant plane, leaving her alone in the airport courtyard. Feeling that crying could no longer be maintained, he smiled faintly.

•

Yatsuki sat on the plane with a thumping feeling. Staring out the window of the plane with a tense expression that could not be hidden. The normally fiery face of spirit as well as the earthy laughter now disappeared completely along with the rest of the tears, which were wiped roughly by him.

His hand pulled the phone out of his pocket, reading a pop-up screen that contained a message containing a threat from someone. And another mock message.

"Once your ludicrous drama. If you want everything to be safe, right away. Come hither. Don't let it slip."

He stroked his stomach, his pair of neutrals watching the clouds outside the window with a blank look.