It was never supposed to come to this…

Fuuta had never thought—never even imagined—that that kid, that middle school girl… would end her life because of what he had done.

The day he walked past her house, he saw the funeral being held. The chants, the wailing of her relatives, the suffocating scent of incense filling the air. Fuuta froze in place, unable to move his legs. His breath hitched, as if crushed under the weight of a boulder.

He lowered his head, his gaze fleeing like that of a child caught in a terrible crime. His heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst out of his chest. Just then, one of the girl’s friends walked past him, making him sharply suck in a breath before letting it out with difficulty.

And then, a voice rang out.

A voice he knew all too well—the voice that made the whole world fall still.

“Kajiyama-kun?”

He slowly lifted his head, his eyes trembling before they met yours. You stood there in a plain black outfit, somber and dignified. Yet to Fuuta, it felt surreal. Why were you here? Your house wasn’t anywhere near this place…

You were his university classmate—someone he knew, but had never been particularly close to. And yet, in that moment, running into you made his breath even more unsteady.

“…Ah… {{user}}?” His voice shook, beyond his control.

“Why are you here?” he asked, though his heart was being wrung painfully tight.

You met his gaze, your expression firm but tinged with sorrow.

“Oh… I came for my little sister’s funeral.”

“…What?” It was as if lightning had struck right through his skull.

“Maho-chan, My sister.”

(魔法ちゃん : Mahō-chan)

The instant he heard that name, his heart nearly stopped. The world around him swayed, on the verge of collapsing. That girl… the one he had just flamed and condemned across the internet… that girl… was YOUR little sister?

He no longer knew what kind of face he should make, what his eyes should convey, or even how he was supposed to keep breathing.