Atrocities

Chapter 11

"Maki, I have some bad news... No! That's too obvious! Maki, I need to tell you something. No, that's not it..."

Kaito was in the bathroom reciting how he'd break the news to Maki.

He sighed and stared at his reflection.

Who knew that someone like Kaito Momota, the ultimate astronaut, an absolute legend and icon to the old and young would die?

Kaito couldn't bear to tell Maki he was going to die. He couldn't let his Starfire know he'd be up there in the sky, twinkling and shining. The only issue would be that he wouldn't be on Earth with Maki.

"I have to tell her."

Kaito walked out of the bathroom to see Maki with a tear-stained face. His hands shook as he sighed. "Maki, I have some bad news."

"I know."

Kaito tilted his head.

"I know. You're dying." Maki said.

Kaito sighed and sat down on his bed. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to fight this illness. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you when you were worried about me. I'm sorry for the way I acted every time I tried to ignore your help. I'm sorry for everything. I'm going to die, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Tears poured down Kaito's face as he held his face in his hands. Maki cuddled up against him and wiped her eyes. "And I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough for you to live."

Kaito sighed. "Well, might as well make the most of the time I have left."

Maki smiled and kissed his cheek. "Yeah. How about we go to your favorite cafe?" Kaito smiled. "Of course."

***

Maki, Shuichi, Kaito, and Kaede took their seats at the cafe. After hearing the news, Shuichi could hardly keep himself together. Kaede figured that telling him that Kaito could always take chemotherapy would make him feel better, but it didn't. Nothing could. Kaito was Shuichi's best friend.

"It's fucking bullshit," Shuichi muttered. "Not only do you have cancer, but you're also dying." Kaito sighed and rubbed his temple. "Look, I'm gonna ask the doctor if I can take chemotherapy, and then we'll see where it takes-"

"No!" Shuichi yelped pounding his fists on the table. "Shuichi!" Kaede yelled with disappointment.

"What? What do you want me to do? Go on with my life? My best friend is dying, and there's nothing I can do! Chemotherapy is gonna take like, a zillion years to work. I want Kaito to feel better now!"

Maki sighed and shook her head. "Shuichi, save the tantrums for later. I'm just as upset as you are"

"Tantrums? Since when was expressing my anger considered throwing a tantrum? Don't blame me for this. Blame that lousy doctor who can't do his job."

Maki's eyes bulged and her brows furrowed in anger. "The doctor is the one who did the scans and warned me about this mess! He's the one who sent me medicine for Kaito! Don't blame the doctor. Blame your stupid anger issues."

"Stop!" Kaito screeched.

Kaito took a breath. "Everyone just calm down. Yes, I'm dying. Yes, I don't have much time left to live. But arguing and acting like spoiled brats isn't gonna help me. I'm going to take chemotherapy, and I'm going to fight this illness. And if you guys won't behave, then I will do nothing to make myself better."

Maki smiled as Kaito took a stand. "He's right. We should just calm down and see where this takes us."

Shuichi grinned. "Yeah."

The waitress came over to their table and her eyes darted to Kaito. "Kaito Momota?" She asked excitedly. Kaito smiled. "Yep, that's me."

She squealed. "I'm your biggest fan! What would you like to order?"

"I'll take a large iced macchiato with 2 sugars and milk." The waitress wrote down the order as her hands shook with excitement. Maki on the other hand didn't enjoy the attention. Not only was another girl fawning over him, but she was getting flashbacks of how she was being ignored when Kaito came back from space.

As the rest took their orders, Maki just stared at pictures of Kaito on her phone, thinking of the times when he wasn't sick and could do things without limitations.

When the drinks arrived, Maki couldn't even touch her cup of tea. She was too busy thinking of the double dates she had with her, Kaito, Shuichi, and Kaede. She was too busy worrying about whether Kaito was dying or overthinking.

"Are you okay?" Kaede asked.

"I'm alright. At least I think I am." Maki muttered.

Kaede sighed. "It's gonna be okay, I swear." Maki sighed and sipped her tea. "I hope so."

Kaede's words were like a soothing lullaby.

Kaito sipped his macchiato and turned to Maki. The sight of her sad eyes which were like dull rubies made his heart shatter into a million pieces. That's when he knew he couldn't continue the fight. He couldn't bear to see his fighter be beaten.

Maki felt her strength being weeded away like an eroding statue. All of her pain was banding together and there was nothing she could do about it.

Maki leaned on Kaito's shoulder.

"Please don't go."

"I won't."

Oh, but he would.

Kaede took a sip of her matcha and just stared at Shuichi. "I don't think she's gonna get over it." Shuichi's brows raised. "Well, she's gonna have to somehow."

Maki heard Kaede and Shuichi's whispering but ignored them. She couldn't continue the fight. She was weaker than Kaito at this point. And she'd stop at nothing to make him realize that.