A Girl's Turmoil

Chapter 38 - Loss

Since that daring incident at the mall, news has been spreading like wildfire to recount every piece of detail of what happened on that fateful day. Most media are having quite a field trip in coming up with mainstream titles and focusing on what very notorious things from the incident to make a large profit. Whereas the police officers have to deal with damage control and clearing up any mis-and-dis-information the media have been spouting out. With how viral these reports are going, there is one element that has become the talks of both the public and the media.

Sakurako Oomuro.

Even though there were other people who helped fight against the robbers, Sakurako herself is a very sensational figure in their eyes. Her boldness, her tenacity, her fearlessness, and her apparent wish to save her loved ones; all those things have been recounted and confirmed by surviving witnesses, security cameras, and police members involved. This had the mayor of the city paused, recognizing that this junior high school student could fight people as dangerous as those robbers and completely foil their attempt at the biggest robbery in this city's history. The teachers and students from her school were either amazed or terrified hearing Sakurako would be so crazy as to charge in to fight criminals who have more experience than her.

Except for Nishigaki and Rise, of course. They knew that was just her nature.

Not forgetting to mention that Yui, Chitose, and Chizuru also helped Sakurako to win that fight, though they already know how dead-worried their parents are to hear this. George and Riko have to be interrogated for their involvement with stolen police and illegal weapons during the robbery, though they were treated easily by officers for their relations with Sakurako and the detective. Detective Sumida had to be berated for going in there without any permission but was commended for keeping Sakurako and the other civilians safe. There were interviews during this mainstream news, but thankfully, her parents wisely kept Sakurako away from them, considering she has no experience dealing with the constantly inquisitive media.

As the news spread out into other cities, the local government themselves soon took notice of Sakurako's achievement. In the next two days, Sakurako and her friends who were involved in the robbery were awarded a medal with the red ribbon by the mayor himself for risking their lives to save others and stopping one of the most organized criminal groups in history. It was odd that the detective didn't receive the medal, but she figured it had something to do with her occupation. George and Riko, understandably, stayed out of that spotlight due to their... occupation as well.

Receiving such a medal was the most outstanding achievement for the Oomuro Family in that Nadeshiko already envied her recognition. However..., despite the achievement, the recognition, and all the people who thanked her for saving them, there is still an empty hole inside her heart. Sakurako continues to lie on her bed, staring rather emptily into the dark ceiling. She felt her hands turn cold, her legs go numb, and her chest start to get tight as if her ribs are trying to force their way out. She whispers incoherent words in her sobbing and covers her eyes with one arm. An invitation card requesting to attend a funeral lays dormant on the cabinet next to her.

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Although the sky is a dark grey, those who sleep above refuse to pour down the contents they reap from the ocean. They loom over a building where the dead is currently resting before moving to the grave, where a group of people circled around a coffin. Families, friends, teachers, and students who knew her to keep their heads bowed, with some of them still keeping their brooding eyes at the coffin, and some sobbing and whimpering, couldn't hold their emotions for much longer. Incenses have been placed around the casket as a priest chants a mantra/sutra for the deceased in the coffin. Sakurako and her family sit at the very front, with Himawari keeping her company by her side, holding her hand.