Sunday, the 27th.

The day started with nothing particularly happening. August is about to end and it will probably end with a low note seeing that today is a very plain day.

I guess this is what I get after hanging out the whole day yesterday.

I think this is the first time in a while that the day felt so boring with this kind of dull surroundings. I guess I really am quite an unhappy person with "fun" out of my vocabulary. If I were to apply what I see in colors, I would say anything my eyes caught is lacking vibrance.

But now, I haven’t felt like this in the whole fifteen years of my life. Even though I’m very used to such monotony, why do I now feel that it is boring?

▪ ▪ ▪

I should probably clean my room today.

I also forgot to return the books I borrowed from the school library. I hope the school is open today even if it’s Sunday. I have no club assignments to accomplish. I’m running out of things to do.

I just want to end the day right now but I hate Mondays.

I haven’t been to Queen Street after a handful of months now. I guess I’ll take a stroll there after I drop a visit at school. I used to play on that street when I was a kid, although it’s just for a very short time when I was roughly four or five years old.

I however can’t seem to remember the entirety of my time when I was five. I really have a bad memory.

I sometimes take a walk to remind me that I was here and I was there. I wonder how the house of Kuroda's had changed. I used to always take a peek because they had the biggest house and the biggest lawn in the street. They weren’t acquaintances but that family is rich.

…

“I didn’t know this was still here.”

While I’m scavenging my cabinet, I saw an old metallic bracelet with my name on it. I felt really infuriated after seeing that bracelet.

I walked out of my room to look for a box I can put things on.

Cleaning is really necessary.

“Dad, is there any boxes lying around? I’m sorting out my stuff in my room right now.”

“There’s a medium one under the sink, I think.

Also, bring me the screwdriver while you’re at it.”

“Got it, thanks.”

I returned to my room carrying a folded cardboard box and a tape to patch up the underside of the box. Don’t want my things falling every time.

Now that I think of it, I have a lot of things lying around that I don’t even use. The bottom drawer of my cabinet is packed with bits and pieces I don’t even remember anymore.

▪ ▪ ▪

I finished cleaning my room and am about to carry the box full of rubbish to the bin outside along with the books I borrowed.

“Dad… Hm? He went out huh.

Mom! I’ll head out for a bit! I’m sending the trash to the bin and I’ll get some fresh air.”

“Right. Be back by lunch.”

Even though today is a ‘nothing day’, I didn’t even notice that the weather is great. The sun isn’t that exposed so it’s not that hot. A good weather to take a walk but the day contradicts to it, I suppose.

Yeah, the box was really heavy. Good thing the bin is very close to our house. I guess I should head to the school then.

~ ~ ~

Sweet, the school is open today.

“Ah, Kiiro-sen. Good morning.”

“Oh? Morning, Sakato. It’s rare to see you here at such a time.”

“I’m just returning books I borrowed from the library. It's almost overdue. It's not going to take long though.”

“I see.”

“Today’s weather forecast:

We will be having a pleasant weather this morning but expect scattered thunderstorms in the area of the Capital, Cotona and the rest of the central region.

Please bring your umbrellas if ever you’re going out after lunch.”

(!)

“I guess I should get going then, Kiiro-sen. Catch you tomorrow.”

“Then go home before it rains.”

“Ha~i.”

I was enjoying the great weather today, but it seems that it will rain soon. Great. I should go to Queen Street quickly.

“Gin! Going somewhere?”

“Oh, Rin! Uhh… just taking a stroll.”

“…Then see you probably later or tomorrow.”

“See you probably later or tomorrow too.”

For a few days, we have been talking like that since we’re technically neighbors. The two of us sometimes stumble upon each other here and there so we’re just used to seeing each other popping out of nowhere. Our families are good friends that we even eat dinner at each other’s houses sometimes, and then we take turns. Something like a tradition, if I may.

(!)

Huh?

I’m roughly 70 meters away from Queen Street but I can already see trucks passing by there. I wondered if it was a thing already in the past.

I asked a man around the middle age with a grown beard sitting in the waiting station.

“Um… Excuse me, I haven’t been in the area for a while, but are trucks now allowed to use Queen Street and the others?”

“Yeah, kid. It’s been a month like this already.

If I can remember, you’re from White Street. Good for you, trucks doesn’t use that road and it’s very quiet and peaceful. Haha!”

“Yes, I’m from that street.

I’ll be going then.”

I still can’t get enough of the lovely weather today. Too bad it won’t last longer than I expected.

One turn on the right and it will be Queen Street. It sure has changed and did not change at the same time. I remembered that this place is quite a lively place at times before the time of the lunch. It’s still the same as how I thought it would be.

The usual crowds, the best candy store out there, the old but still alive and kicking apple tree and the small piano learning school just around the corner where I loved to stay and listen to the person playing.

Those places sure has not changed one bit.

The quantity of cars has gone higher by a few notches than the last time I went here. This place is close to my house. Why didn’t I even bother taking a visit after the four months of my vacation?

On the right side of the road, the sixth lamppost from the sign of the street was dead and the glass protecting it had cracks the last time I’ve been here. I hope they would have fixed it already.

I guess I’ll go and take a look at it. I better get home earlier even though the sky is still clear. Why is it that this beautiful weather is just very ephemeral-

“Ephemeral, huh…”

Gin stopped at the sidewalk and took a glimpse of the sky. The storm clouds are not yet seen but the clouds right at that time is just as beautiful as it looks.

Being totally absorbed by the scene, as if his senses were turned off, he did not hear what the person behind him shouted.

“H-hey! Watch out!”

…

Hm?

Am I seeing things?

Did the time seriously slowed down?

…

Well, one thing is for sure. I can look at the clouds while it’s like this.

But the feeling of me floating in thin air is so very realistic. It’s as if I’m floating on the clouds. No, to be more earthly, I would say that what I’m seeing right now is very immersive. I say that but I can’t rotate my head to see what is on my east and west. My peripheral vision will do then.

I don’t remember reaching this point on the street.

As much as I could see, that lamppost is fixed finally.

And why are the cars sounding their horns?

The kids from the other side of the road didn’t see me walking huh. Their movements are in a slow motion so I can only see their smiling faces while running and playing. Be careful, children. Trucks drive in this street.

Oh, look at what I see. The gates of Kuroda household are open. I can see their lawn. Perhaps the grass is just freshly mowed. No need to take a peek from outside then.

The only thing I’m bothered is there are eight people looking at me with a frightened face. I know I’m not good looking, but why to that extent?

There are more people with the same expression actually.

A truck?

Why would they be scared of a normal teenager and a truck? Think Gin, think.

*throb*

I can’t describe what I’m physically feeling right now. It’s kind of hazy when I think of it.

Wait, the time is slowed down, but why are the gray clouds already here? It’s about to rain then. I better go home now.

*throb*

Urk… It hurts.

What the… My whole body hurts. What did the apples do to make me feel such pain? It’s getting worse second after second. I got numb just a while ago and now the pain is extreme.

Now, I’m not floating anymore. It’s obvious that you’ll know it quickly while feeling your back hitting the wall.

Wait… wall?

Why am I here?

The time is slowly going back to normal and my vision is getting a little blurry and reddish.

“…re you okay?”

“He…y kid! Hang in there, I’m calling the… ance!”

What?

Look, I’m okay right now. I just need things to sink in to me. I don’t know what’s happening.

…

Hey… Can’t you hear me?

Hey.

Hey, everyone…

Hey!

Hey! I’m replying to you! Can’t you hear? I’m shouting from the top of my throat.

…

Why.

Why?

Why…

Why can’t you all hear me…

…

I am such an idiot. I cannot speak nor shout right now. I don’t know why, but even my throat is in pain. Can I ever speak again? I don’t know what is actually happening. If anyone can just tell what is happening right now.

*throb*

Now I can clearly tell. Aside from the rain clouds forming, as clear as a crystal, I can feel that my whole body is throbbing from extreme pain. I’m also slowly losing my consciousness.

I can’t move. My arms, my feet, my head and my fingers—I can’t move an inch using any of them. I’m paralyzed.

(!)

I see now…

My legs are immovable perhaps because of a handful of fractures. I can feel that I broke almost all of my ribs, or rather, I can't feel them at all. My toes are probably destroyed too. My skull might be cracked. But my right arm is probably a goner. I guess the only safe part is my left arm with minimal wounds.

But… why?

*Beeeeeeeep!*

…

Now I get it. Queen Street is passable for trucks, and there is a truck touching the post like folded tin can at the back of the people making a fuss.

I’m probably hit by that over-speeding truck and made me flew roughly twenty meters away from it. I probably took a ton of pressure from that and led me to countless fractures all over my body. That’s quite the distance.

What in the world, how am I still able to think of these things this much…

…

Finally. I can feel that water is dropping on my hands. The pitters and patters are getting louder and louder. Then there is the crisp lightning and the loud clapping thunder after it.

Rain, I see. Despair, huh…

Hahaha…

I guess this is where… whatever "it" maybe, ends. The destination is just there.

I can see the death’s door. Is this where I close my eyes now? Probably.

I can hardly see and hear.

Mom…

Dad…

Kei…

Anna…

Nagi…

Jean…

Akira…

Shiro…

Rin…

…

Grandpa…

All of you, thank you very much and I am very sorry. I guess this is where I meet my end. It hasn’t been a long journey yet. But at least I knew what the purpose of my life is before I go.

All of the memories are worth a while, and I’m happy that at least for a very short time, I started to regain the once vanished happiness I had. I also had regrets that I can’t probably fix anymore. I also know that all of you will forget me when the time comes. I can’t afford to look at your faces if you all see me lying down already. It pains me to be aware that I am leaving now.

Nagi, Jean, Akira…

Sorry.

I haven’t treated you yet at Giotto’s.

Shiro…

I can’t help you anymore at inking.

Rin…

I am very sorry.

You’ll be alone again when you walk to school and you can’t have a ride on my bike anymore.

Grandpa…

Thank you… Thank you for everything that you've done for me. But I'm sorry… you taught me so much about myself, but I don't even know if I should smile or cry at this point…

It hurts and it’s really sad.

But there’s no other choice if this is what it is. I can never turn back time. The world has no powers. It’s all just fiction. I’m also just normal.

Yeah. Normal.

“To me, the word ‘normal’ is normal.”

No one will ever hear that again I guess.

I think it’s time to go…

…

Oi.

Where do you think you’re going?

▪ ▪ ▪

*beep… beep… beep… beep… beep… beep… beep…*

Huh…?