Forced Manipulation

Chapter Twenty-One

To Hank's horror, Katsurou was not laying on his bed, as the soccer player usually would.

He was hanging from the ceiling fan, an extension cord wrapped tightly around his neck. His lifeless corpse swayed ever so gently, almost as if he were a fucked up version of a wind ornament. He could feel his jaw go slack, his body seemingly frozen in time. Why couldn't he move?! He had to do something! He could still save Katsurou! The soccer player's head is slumped over, his long bangs covering his lifeless eyes. His cheeks were stained with tears as his arms dangled lifelessly, swaying with his body.

For once, Hank did not know what to do. Should he call an ambulance? Should he run and get Kai and Azami?! But what if Katsurou had a chance at survival? Goddamnit, why could he not move?! What caused Katsurou to do such an act? He didn't seem depressed...right? He scanned his mind with a fine-toothed comb, desperately trying to recover a memory that displayed signs of depression. Then it hit him.

"He's been acting a bit grouchy and moody and keeps himself locked in his room, only coming down to eat dinner! He also wasn't paying attention to the semi-finals, which is surprising, because he loves watching soccer! He always takes notes of his favorite player's style, so that he could use them for his soccer practice!"

That's right... Katsurou had been showing signs all along, indicating that he had been dealing with depression. How long had he been dealing with it? How...How long did he have to fight the cruel monster also known as depression by himself? He wanted to pinch himself and wake up from whatever fucked up nightmare this was!

"Hank?" Azami called from the bottom of the stairs. "You get lost up there?"

Oh no. Don't come up the stairs, please..! Hank pled to himself, trying desperately to break his shock-induced state. "I...Uh..." He stammered, his eyes glued on Katsurou. "D-Don't come up here!" He exclaimed, breaking free from his shock-induced state, rushing out the bedroom door.

Azami cocked her head slightly.

"Why not?" She asked, giggling slightly as she walked up the stairs, much to the medic's dismay. "Is he sleeping or something? I can wake him up if you don't feel comfortable with it!" She made her way up the stairs, only to be stopped by Hank.

"I really don't think it's a good idea." He whispered, desperately trying to get Azami away from her son's room. She didn't deserve the trauma of seeing her youngest child hanging from the ceiling fan.

"Nonsense!" She joyfully exclaimed, slipping under Hank's arm, unaware of the horror she was about to discover. "KATSUROU TAKEDA, I SWEAR YOU BETTER BE UP BY THE TIME I-" She bellowed as she stormed towards her son's room, only to stop in her tracks. Her eyes grew wide as her eyes came across her hanging son. "K-Katsurou..?" Hank could see the tears well in her eyes, as she watched her usually happy and upbeat son hang dead. She let out a quiet sob. Then another. And then another. Until the air was filled with her loud wails as she rushed into the room, trying desperately to get her son down. All Hank could do was stand there, his eyes wide with shock. Why the fuck was he unable to do anything?! It wasn't like he hadn't seen a corpse before, he had seen several throughout the years of being a medic, taking care of others when the villains attacked. So, what was different? He had never seen a suicide victim before, especially one that was close to him.