My Sanity | Tokyo Revengers [Sano Manjiro x OC]

Chapter 43

What did she want? Sakiko didn't know. She felt conflicted. She didn't know what to do. Should she go back? Or should she cross the light? It was still shimmering before her, a few feet away. It was there as if taunting her, teasing her. It was welcoming and warm, yet scary and dreadful. These were so contradictory feelings. She was lost.

"Say, Baji-kun-"

But Sakiko stopped dead in her tracks. She froze, staring at the person beside her. He was talking than her and slender. His face was pale, clashing with the blackness of his silk hair. His eyes were looking back at her, so gentle and caring, as a tender smile garnished his lips. This gentle smile, she hadn't seen him for so long. She had even forgotten how warm and reassuring it was. She had forgotten how pleasant and comforting it was to sit beside him. It reminded her of so many things. Of the time she would lay on his bike, watching him work, or of the time she would sit on his lap as he talked with her brother and the other founders.

Sakiko didn't expect him to appear. She didn't expect to see him. She thought that only Baji would be there. But here he was, her first savior. The man she owed her life to.

"Shin-san...," Sakiko breathed, utterly shocked.

Shinichiro slightly laughed at the face she was making. He then curled his lips into a broad grin, eyes closed.

"It's been a while, Saki," Shinichiro smiled.

His voice was still the same. It was soft, like a warm fluffy blanket. It was gentle and full of kindness. She remembered how much she loved hearing him talking or the moment she would fall asleep in his arms. His voice was so pleasant to hear. She never thought she would hear it ever again. It had been such a long time.

"Oi, oi, don't cry, Saki," Shinichiro chuckled, patting her head. She didn't even notice tears were falling from her eyes.

"Sorry," she chuckled as well, drying her tears. "I was just not expecting to see you. Where's Baji?"

"Hm? Dunno," Shinichiro shrugged. "You've grown a lot, you know. You were so small last time I saw you," he added with a laugh.

It brought a smile to her face. It reminded her of the good old days when everything was going so well.

"I wasn't that small," Sakiko pouted.

"Ah, really?" Shinichiro tilted his head to the side. "I remembered you being this tall,"

He held his hand to his knee level. Sakiko blushed in embarrassment before telling him he was lying and that his memory was playing him tricks. But Shinichiro only burst into laughter. Sakiko glared at him, though a smile quickly reached her lips. It reminded her of the time he would always tease her about her height, saying he wanted to put her in his pocket.

Shinichiro had always been kind and caring toward Sakiko. Even more after the accident. She knew he, just like Satohiko, was feeling guilty for what had happened. But she blamed none of them. It was not their fault. None of them could have foreseen what would happen that night. And how could she even blame him when he had saved her life. Without Shinichiro, Sakiko would have died that night as well.

"I tried, you know," Sakiko suddenly said. Shinichiro had already calmed down when he looked at her. "To do what you told me. To live. But I think it's the end now,"

Shinichiro stared at the girl next to him before sitting on the floor.

"Nope," he said. Sakiko looked at him. He patted the space beside him, inviting her to sit beside him, which she did. "If it was the end, we wouldn't be talking here,"