A Garden of Regret /Oumasai/Saiouma Hanahaki AU

From Kokichi To Rantaro

Rantaro’s POV
I was washing dishes from lunch when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen.

New message from Kokichi
Thank you.
I’m sorry for everything.

WAIT, WHAT?!
What’s going on?!
Is he pranking me? Or is he just having some sort of epiphany? Or.. is he…

Either way, I have to check on him!

“Hey, girls, I need to check on my friend to make sure he’s okay, Be good while I’m gone!”

“Okay big brother!”

I rushed out the door. Thank goodness his house is just down the street!

“Kokichi, are you okay?!”

…

“Kokichi, open the door!”

…

“Don’t make me lockpick your door!”

…

I pulled out a Bobby pin and inserted it into the lock as Kokichi had once shown me. Slamming the door shut behind me, I ran upstairs into his room.

“Kokichi, are you oka-”

I saw him.

Laying on the floor peacefully, curled up into a ball, with a slight smile on his face, in a puddle of blood and honeysuckle blossoms. Honeysuckle plants were growing out of his skin.

“Oh my god, Kokichi!”

He’s not breathing..

Kneeling down beside him, I checked for a pulse.

Nothing.

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..”

Then I felt it.

A small thump.

He still has a pulse! It’s so slow, is it too late?!

“God dammit Kokichi! Why didn’t you tell me you were so sick!?”

I felt tears rolling down my face.

“Don’t fucking leave me!”

I called 911, and after being told that they would arrive very soon, I dropped my phone and laid him on his back, putting my hands on his chest.

Okay, okay, I can do this!

I quickly began doing chest compressions. I practice CPR every month in case of an emergency, but I never thought that I would actually have to use it..

With every compression I did, he coughed out flowers and vines and roots.

After thirty, I lifted his chin up and pinched his nose shut, then I placed my mouth on his. I did a rescue breath. His chest rised a tiny bit.

Again.

I went back to chest compressions.

After I had gotten at least a pound of the bloody flowers and roots, I felt his pulse strengthen just a bit.

Rescue breaths. Compressions. Rescue breaths. Compressions.

I heard sirens.

“Oh my god!”

The paramedics had arrived. They quickly placed him on a stretcher and carried him out.

“Would you like to ride in the ambulance?”

“Yes please!”

As we sat down in the vehicle, I dialed the phone my sisters shared.

“Big brother, why aren’t you home yet?”

“I’m on my way to the hospital, he was.. Very sick..”

“Oh my gosh!”

“Is it contagious?” One of my sisters chimed in. “I don’t want you getting sick too!”

“No, it’s not.”

“Good!”

“When will you be home?” Another sister asked.

“I’m not sure, but I’m leaving Mei in charge until I get back. Please listen to her.”

“Okay big brother!”

As we drove off to the hospital, I could hardly stop myself from completely breaking down.

How could I have let this happen?! I’m so stupid!! How could I have been so blind!? I’m supposed to be the one protecting everyone, and I didn’t even notice how sick he was! I’m a horrible friend, He must have been in so much pain… I won’t be able to live with myself if he dies! It will be all my fault, because I was too ignorant, too blissfully ignorant to see that he was dying!

…

“How is he!?! Is he okay!?!”

“He’s alive.. For now.”