Got to Begin Again

頭を上げてからかなり経ちますが,光が目を痛めること間違いなしです.

Days have passed, and they figured that crying won't get them anywhere.

Sakuta and Mai felt Mizumi's one last hug, as if she's saying her goodbyes to them in a formal manner. They figured that it's time to move forward with their lives, keeping her enshrined in their memories forever.

One day, Sakuta received a voice message from Mai.

Sakuta-kun... I know what you're feeling right now. We have a lot of things to do. We cannot just lie down and mourn our hearts out for the rest of our lives. I think it's time we... let go... and accept the fact that she's gone.

I know that it's painful, but isn't this the thing that she sought to see? To see us happy, and her happy.

I know that it breaks your heart, too. It broke mine...

But we must continue moving forward. We'll always remember her.

We can start over, Sakuta-kun. We can start over, with Mizumi-san...

If you're still listening right now... It's okay...

The voice message ended from there. Sakuta realized that it has been days. To him, it felt like the world stopped moving when she passed away. He opened his curtains for the first time in days, and saw the beautiful skies with the shining sun once more.

That surely hurt his eyes. He took a deep breath and closed it. He smiled, knowing that Mizumi's smiling back at him up at the heavens.

I got to begin again, huh? But how?

I don't know how to do it, but it surely does feel exciting.

Did I miss something these past days? I'm sure...

Koga-san, Futaba-san... I'm sure you're real worried about me.

But I'm fine. I swear...

I'll be fine.

Oh well... mundane days to come! Like something's gonna appear out of the blue.

He left the curtains open, letting the sunlight shine the interior of his apartment. He knew that he had something else to do.

He first listened to each of the recordings that he got that he left hanging by in his telephone.

Sakuta-kun! Where have you been? I haven't seen you in days! Where the heck did you go with Mai-san!? Come back to school, 'cause you missed A LOT of tests!

-Koga

Sakuta-kun. It's odd not seeing you anywhere. Oh well... I guess that is the undying work of the rascal. But you got to return to school. Your friends are waiting...

-Futaba

Ey, Sakuta-kun! It's me. My sister said that she wants you to go outside again. Dunno what happened between the both of you... but I'm sorry about Mizumi-san though. She was the only fan of mine that I actually liked. Talk to ya' later!

-Toyohama

Sakuta, hey. It's been quite a while, man. Where have you been? I've never seen you around the school... well... unless you're playing hide and seek without informing me, then you're one weird person. Anyways, I hope you can come back to school! Later, man!

-Kunimi

It seems to be that he missed a lot of exams and deadlines, but Sakuta brushed them off. He can forge an explanation behind it. He'll come back to school tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mai started working again. She is as stoic as she used to be, which meant that she's let go of the past.

When she was asked by her agents what commercial she should do for today, she told them that a PSA would be her best bet.

After a series of takes that only took half of her morning session, the commercial was done.

ATTENTION.

If you have a relative or a friend that has been through a lot and has thought of letting go of her/himself, then it's time for you to act.

Ask them what their problems are.

Let them know that you're there and will always care for them.

Give them the assistance that they need as soon as possible.

Suicide is preventable by all means, by knowing that their lives matter. It starts with you.

The next day, Sakuta came back to school.

He was just about to step on the corridors, when he was ambushed by Tomoe with a headbutt on the back.

"Ow! Geez, slow down-- Koga-san?"

"Heck yeah, it's me! I've been worried about you, Sakuta-kun! What were you doing??" Tomoe asked.

"Oh you know... personal matters. I just had some family business to take ca--"

Sakuta then saw Tomoe teary-eyed. "Are... you okay?"

"I know what happened to you, idiot! Don't you try and ignore us! I know that she's gone! You could've told us sooner!" Tomoe said, while crying over Sakuta's experience.

"I know.. I'm sorry.. but she's in a better place now. And I'm happy for her..." He explained.

"Don't you ever shun yourself on us ever again, okay!?" Tomoe told him.

"Alright, alright, Koga-san! I'm very aware of it. Especially now that... hey... you gained weight, didn't ya'?" Sakuta jokingly said, which triggered her.

"Idiot! Kill yourself!" Tomoe ran away from him.

As he already knew, it's another ordinary day for him. Nothing else happened to him; just a lot of lectures from his professors.

After school time, he went to Rio's science lab, where he saw her drinking from the beaker like usual.

"S- Sakuta? I didn't expect you to come here after all these days. How are you doing?" She asked.

"Eyo, Futaba-san. Nothing... personal matters happened on me." Sakuta said.

"What? Like, how personal it is?" She asked once more.

"Personal like... a lot personal." He said.

As they were talking, Yuuma joined the conversation through the open window beside them.

"Eyo, Sakuta! How are you?" He asked.

"I'm fine. Still has that passionate feeling for Bunny Girls?" Sakuta said, which made Rio spat her coffee out.

"Dude! Not here! What do you mean by it anyway?" Yuuma became embarrassed in front of Rio.

"Nah.. nevermind." Sakuta produced a little smile.

Yep... everything's back to normal for now.

I'd still think to myself... is this really normal? Because I still miss Mizumi-san being around.

Suddenly, everything feels empty.

But I don't mind it for some reason.

Maybe it's because of the sunny day?

Maybe it's because I have friends?

Or maybe...

Because I love Mai-san?

I can't even answer that question, because every answer seems right.

I'm happy for what's coming at me. Not the bad stuff, but the good stuff only.

You don't want another ogling day...

Welp... off to work at Benny's.

Mizumi-san... thank you for being a part of me.

Everyone... thank you for being there and feeling worried about my wellbeing.

And Mai-san... I was right at the beginning.

I was being cathartic when I said that I wasn't fine with you around.

God, you are truly a beautiful being that cannot be ignored.

Originally created on: May 17, 2021