Eighteenth Lie

While walking outside, Kosei noticed that he is still holding Kaori's hand which he immediately let go, his face and ears turned red. Kaori did not look like she mind though.

"Oh, isn't this the Courage Bridge?" Kaori asked, they are indeed in the Courage Bridge.

"Yes, it seems so. This is a pretty famous bridge in our area right?" Kosei leaned on the railing, "Kaori, look. It's the sunset." Their location at this time is almost perfect to look at the sunset.

"Uwaa~! It's pretty! Pretty!" Kaori jumped like a kid. Her eyes reflecting the beautiful sunset and Kosei thinks that she looks perfect.

Both of them enjoyed looking at the sunset. It was cold but somehow, it is also warm. Their shoulders are touching and Kosei can't ask for more. Kaori looks happy and he feels the same way too. Everything looks like crumbling this past few months and he was already frustrated since he can't help the person he loves. He even abandon the thought of confessing to her and just focused on helping her get back on her feet.

"Kaori" he softly called her name.

"What is it, Kosei?" she looked at him, her eyes reflecting how she feels contended at the moment.

"Are you happy right now?"

Kaori look surprise at the question but smiled nonetheless, her smile was soft and sincere, "Yes. I am happy at this moment. I wish this day to never end."

When they are asking Kaori what she feels at the moment, Kaori will answer them without any hesitation and hide what she really feels. It was always like that. But now, he feels that it is not a lie. Kosei knows that it is not a lie.

"I hope this day never ends too." Kosei desperately wish to. Kaori smiled to him again and look back at the sunset.  The sun is already gone and they can now already see the beauty lights from the city. They didn't talk, they just watch the beautiful scenery. It was a comfortable silence until Kaori decided to break it.

"Hey, Arima Kosei. Do you ever feel like flying?" she asked as she looked at him as if reading what is on his mind.

".....no. Instead of that, I want to stay here. With all of you." It took time for him to answer. After all, it was an out of nowhere question. He wasn't able to think a good answer and ended up saying embarrassing things!

"Pft! That's embarrassing to say, Kosei!"

"S-shut up. I am just being honest."

"I know. You are so innocent and honest. But, it is a shame don't you think so?"

"What is?"

"I would like to fly. Higher."

"....why?"

Kaori turned around and faced the beautiful night lights of the city. Kosei looked at the frail girl with confusion.

"I would like my message to reach everyone and the only way to do so is to fly." She answered with a soft voice.

Suddenly, Kosei feel fear for an unknown reason.

"Is that really necessary? I... I can help you. I don't think you need to go that far. We can help you." Kosei does not like the way she sound. It is as if she plans to go away from them, away from him. And he doesn't like that.

But Kaori just answered him with a smile and he grow frustrated as he cannot read what's on her mind. Kaori is a complicated girl and he would like to understand her to support her and help her in everything. She saved him and yet he can't do anything for her.

The wind blew, and he hugged his own body from the cold. But Kaori still did not move. She's staring far away, as her hair dance with the wind.

'I want to stay like this forever. So don't go away without me. Miyazono Kaori, you don't have any plan to leave me right?' that is what he would like to ask but he do not have enough courage to do so.

She gave him her usual sweet smile. He was about to say something when she started to speak with unusual quite voice,

"Will you really help me? Then.." she paused.

He looked at her with longing and as if feeling his gaze, Kaori turned and looked at him.

"Hey, Arima Kosei-kun, will you save me?"

Kosei suddenly felt the unreasonable fear in his heart, rise. He do not know how to respond. What does this fear means? He can literally hear his heart beating so loud.

"E-eh?" Kosei scolded himself internally. 'Eh?! What do you mean by eh?! Kosei, you are such a fool! Get a grip!'

Kaori only laughed and without a further ado, positioned herself on the railing and jumped off the bridge.

"Eh? Eh?!!! Kaori?!!" Kosei leaned on the railing, so much that he can fall in just one mistake. Did Kaori just dived into the river from the bridge?

"Hahaha! Were you surprised?! Were you?!" Kaori shouted from below,

"Are you crazy?! It's cold and you just dived into the river?" Kosei shouted back

"It is not cold! Come! You must try to know how it feels!!" Kaori laughed again. Kosei shake his head in disbelief but smiled. It seems that Kaori wants to escape from their serious talk earlier or maybe she just wants to change the atmosphere. It worked though. The fear was forgotten and courage appear. Kosei grinned and moved five steps backward, once he found the tempo, he run towards the railing and jumped off.

The water was too cold! And where did his glasses go? After his dive, he frantically look for his glasses. Kaori laughed at him and he looked confused, she was pointing her finger to his head and after checking it with his hand, he found out that the glasses was on his head. Realizing how foolish he was, Kosei laughed with Kaori. Later, Tsubaki and Watari found them still in the river and both of them got scolded. Afterwards, they went back to school to change into their PE clothes and they decided to explore the school at night. It was fun, like their days before everything went down and all of them did not want to end the day. It was already night when they parted ways, Kaori is still smiling saying goodbye and see you tomorrow. They all parted ways with a smile on their face. Even though, the day is already ending, they embrace the hope they have for tomorrow that everything will be okay as well. Somehow, that thought excites them for tomorrow.

However, tomorrow came and they learned that their friend, Kaori Miyazono, committed suicide that night.