〖JJBA - EN〗- Last Judgement

Chapter 39: 1990 - Formaggio - part 1.

Naples, Italy. January 16th, 1990.

It had been a year. To this day. And (Y/N) had preferred to use the pretext of having paperwork to do in order to be able to lock herself in her room. In fact, she knew very well that like almost every day, he was going to show up. It was his death's anniversary. But to be honest, his daily presence prevented the young woman from mourning.

As she was checking her emails, concentrating on her computer screen, she felt an icy caress on the back of her neck that made her shiver. But she didn't take her eyes off her work. Kakyoin put his arms around her neck and leaned down to examine what she was doing. They had installed this little routine, like the most banal couple. They weren't.

"What are you doing?" he whispered, placing a kiss on her temple.

"I'm checking Risotto's latest mission report.

- Wouldn't you like to take a break? You've been working for at least three hours...

- I know. But I don't have time to stop."

The young man sighed to move away near the window and admire the sea which stretched as far as the eye could see. (Y/N) glanced sideways at him, noticing the sad look on his face. And that was enough to make her feel guilty. She turned in her chair to face him, her throat tight.

"Noriaki...

-...mmh?

- Don't make that face... You know very well that I'm very busy...

- ... that's not the problem."

She raised an eyebrow and got up slowly to join him at the edge of the window. The sun was shining high in Naples that day. And the sea was shining too. Oh they would have given anything to admire this view together. In other circumstances.

"... what's the problem then, caro?"

- ... do you still love me?

- Of course I still love you!"

She seemed offended by his question. He looked down at her with a sad smile. She gulped . She gulped, because he understood the problem very well. For a long time even. And she dreaded this moment. The moment he would realize that she couldn't live forever with a ghost.

"... you know, I would have given anything to live here. I would have given anything to go to art school and admire the sea every night by your side. I would have given anything for Jotaro to be here, too."

The mere mention of Jotaro made the young woman nauseous and she clenched her fists.

"... but that's over, isn't it?

- ... Noriaki...

- ... say it... ask me. We both know that, that's what you need."

Realization hit (Y/N) head on and tears welled up in her eyes. Had the time really come? Did she really feel ready? The idea had been in her head for months, but was it really the time?

"... I'm sorry, caro."

Noriaki Kakyoin's heart was no longer beating, yet he felt like it was falling to pieces in his chest. If he could have cried, he would have. Because he couldn't imagine his life without her. Because he was far from wanting to move on. As a silent tear ran down her cheek, (Y/N) put her hands on the boy's delicate face who no longer dared to look at her.

"... I'm sorry, but you're dead. And I can't...I mustn't hang on to you like this... I need... I need to grieve...

- ... I'm scared.