Follow the Script

Chapter 19

Y/N: However, I'm still surprised that you opened your eye, you never did that before.

Koishi: Well... I don't really have an explanation.

She couldn't remember why she closed it in the first place. Accepting that, she didn't insist and that topic was cut short. That odd feeling was also replaced by a newfound energy that she didn't have before, something deep in her body, something that comforted her. It was a faint voice that would put her worries and questions away.

Koishi: Wait, did you watch me cry in my sleep?

Y/N: ...

His body froze but he did not look back to face her. Taking note of that reaction, she went ahead of him and flashed a quick smile in his direction to calm him down. Seeing her smile, he pushed his worries aside and forced himself to smile as well.

Y/N: I... not like I could do much about it.

Koishi: It's fine, I don't even remember.

Scratching the side of her head, a bead of sweat comically fell down her face, following after her words.

Y/N: Moving on, now that you recovered your thoughts, it would be a good time to end everything.

'To end this struggle to revive the deceased ones.'

Koishi: But why end everything? We don't have to go our own ways.

She understood that he meant to end their journey but couldn't help herself to raise the question, feeling like that wasn't the direction he took it. With the return of her capabilities, she fully used them to question the man standing near her, for her and his sake.

Y/N: Well... you helped so far for only a single reason.

Leaning against a nearby bookshelf, he turned to look in the girl's eyes. Unlike her, who faced her own fears before overcoming them, he was trapped within his regrets and sorrow, only wanting to end everything once and for all, to pull the curtain on his life and move on. Once his goal completed, the flames of persistence would finally die.

Y/N: Now that I think about it, I did wish to complete the ritual without your presence, to end it all as soon as possible.

Koishi: Why did you stop then?

Not angry to know that he wished to go through the ritual without her, she instead asked him about the reason why he didn't do so. Just like he said, he had plenty of time to do it, why would he waste it?

Y/N: I...

'I wanted to say goodbye to you.'

Koishi: I understand, thank you mister Y/N.

Nodding slightly, a shard of happiness that was deep inside herself dug itself free, warming her face up. He could have tossed her aside but he didn't, instead wishing to see her one last time before the finish line. The ritual would be completed, the deceased would rise up and the journey would finally reach its end, the partners now having no reason to remain side by side.

At the end, the duo that became friends would go with their days, forever thanking the other for their assistance.

Koishi: We should prepare the ritual then-

'You can't let him do that.'

Koishi: ?

Y/N: Is something wrong?

She abruptly cut herself in her words and went silent, leaving the man hanging. Her words were clear, he understood what she was trying to say but stopping herself for no reason felt odd to him. Raising an eyebrow, his hollow eyes pierced into her skull with the precision of a drill.