Way Back Home (HiruHoshi) Hirugami X Hoshiumi

Epilogue

 Hoshiumi didn't want to stumble on his feet as he ran to the familiar cliffside road he recalled earlier. It made him feel a lot of emotions throughout his whole body, but he wanted to stay calm at least. He convinced himself it was only a part of Naomi's clown tricks for him. She usually does that after all. Maybe Hirugami did come back, and they were just pulling a prank on Hoshiumi. Hirugami promised to come back, and Hoshiumi waited. It will be fine.

But then his heart sank, shattered into pieces when he looked at the ambulance, police officers, and many residents surrounding the cliffside road. Hoshiumi didn't even take a step forward. He saw the metal barrier completely damaged, and it was wide open. The air became prickly for Hoshiumi, and he couldn't even breathe. It was too much to take.

Many thoughts fought in his mind—it wanted to overflow, and yet, one thought won. He hated the fact that his nightmares involved the cliffside. It wasn't only the memories from earlier, but all of them. Hoshiumi didn't want to believe that, because he was the one in there—and he was the one who was hit—there wasn't an accident! Or was there?

Still, it couldn't be Hirugami. He was the least expected to be caught in such a scene.

"Kourai! Oh my god." Hoshiumi's mom went for his son who was still stunned in his place. Even if she hugged him, Hoshiumi just stared at her, couldn't speak, couldn't move. Naomi was right behind her, tears running down her cheeks.

"This is a joke, right, Naomi?" Hoshiumi coldly asked, his expression was nothing but blank. "Please tell me you're messing with me."

Naomi shook her head slowly, blinking her tears back. "I'm sorry Kourai."

Hoshiumi let go from his mother's arms and went to Naomi, shaking her shoulders. "You don't know that! We don't know a damn thing about Sachirou since he left!" Hoshiumi snapped, gathering the attention of the residents there. "I'm not playing with your tricks right now, Naomi. I'm serious!"

Naomi sniffled and tried to look directly at Hoshiumi's eyes. "If this is a joke I would've laughed by now. Kourai, I'm serious too." She glanced at the rescuers who were going up from the cliffside. "See for yourself." She said, her voice was strained.

Hoshiumi took a step back. He didn't want to believe Naomi. Even if she sounded serious, even if she was one step into convincing Hoshiumi. But to make sure it was really Hirugami, he had to look at it by himself.

The rescuers carried a stretcher with a black cover in it. Hamada and Fukuzawa were on their side, their heads downturned, and Hoshiumi could feel the gloomy atmosphere from them.

Hoshiumi hesitated to go further, and Hamada was the one who came to him first, wrapping his arms around Hoshiumi. "I'm sorry, Kourai. He was declared dead when we found him here."

Hoshiumi clenched his fists and jerked away. "Don't say that!" He rushed to the stretcher that was put down on the road. His heart was beating so fast, and he wasn't even sure if he could handle the situation now. Hoshiumi was clinging on to the last, tiny, ray of hope that was far away from him now.

"Please don't be him. It can't be him." Hoshiumi mumbled to himself as he opened the cover, revealing a familiar figure with bloodstains all over his face and body, and his chocolate brown hair that was already gray. Hoshiumi didn't realize his tears were falling and he felt his soul leave his body as he tried to remember what Hirugami looked like—that good-looking, gentle guy that always made Hoshiumi happy. The one he really loves. The one Hoshiumi treated like home.

But he was no longer recognizable. His face was ruined, and it was all damaged. There was even a metal stabbed on his stomach.

"N..No.." Hoshiumi stumbled on his feet, brushing his hair tightly. He left a broken cackle. And he almost lost himself. Lost his cool. Lost everything. "This can't be him! Look at him! This isn't what Sachirou looks like! You just had the wrong person!" He told them, his voice cracked while yelling. Hoshiumi's mom covered her mouth, and Naomi held her shoulders.