SHARPER || Chishiya Alice in Boarderland

-18- River

As I sit in the car behind Chishiya, Mariko's lifeless body cradled gently in my arms, a storm of bitter anger brews within me. My tears, once a testament to grief, now carry a new weight – an anger so raw it consumes me.

With a heavy heart and clenched fists, I breathe angrily, my breaths coming in sharp, jagged gasps. Mariko's head rests on my legs, her acid-burned face a cruel reminder of the merciless game that stole her from me.

Throughout the ride, I caress her face, tracing the scars left by the game's brutality, my touch gentle yet fueled by a rage that burns deep within. The silent tears that fall are no longer solely borne of sorrow but of a fierce determination to make those responsible for her death pay.

Chishiya watches me through the rearview mirror, his gaze a mix of sadness and understanding. I feel his silent support, a comforting presence in the midst of my turbulent emotions.

As we arrive at the river where I laid Takeru to rest, the gravity of the moment weighs heavy upon us. I step out of the car, my movements slow and deliberate, Mariko's body still cradled in my arms.

The river flows peacefully before us, a stark contrast to the turmoil within my soul. With trembling hands, I guide Chishiya to the water's edge, the gentle lapping of the waves a solemn symphony.

Together, we wade into the water, the cool embrace offering a fleeting respite from the heat of anger that courses through me. With each step, the weight of loss presses down upon me, but beneath it all lies a simmering fury, a determination to seek justice for those we've lost.

We release Mariko's body into the river, the water swallowing her form with a gentle embrace. The face cards may have taken everything from me, but they will not break me. "I will make them pay," I vow, my voice a fierce whisper carried away by the wind. "I will ensure that no one else suffers as we have."

Chishiya's hand finds mine, his grip firm and unwavering. I sigh heavily, the weight of the past bearing down on my shoulders like a leaden cloak.

"When Takeru died, I tried to kill myself in this river," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper, the words heavy with the weight of memories too painful to bear.

Chishiya's grip on my hand tightens, his eyes widening in shock. "What?" he breathes, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, my gaze fixed on a distant bridge that looms on the horizon. "I jumped," I continue, my voice trembling with the weight of memory, "and I tried to drown myself. It almost worked. But then I remembered Mari, and I pushed through."

A pained silence falls between us as Chishiya absorbs my words, his eyes filled with a deep sorrow that mirrors my own. Silent tears trickle down my face, the anguish of the past crashing over me once more.

"I played every night after that, until Niragi brought me to the beach." I confess, my voice barely a whisper against the backdrop of the rushing river. "Trying to punish myself. But also trying to better myself for Mari."

Chishiya turns to me, his gaze filled with a profound sadness that cuts to the core of my being. In his eyes, I see reflected the weight of our shared burden, the pain of loss etched into every line of his face.

And then, unable to contain the flood of emotions that threatens to consume me, I begin to cry once more. "It was all for nothing!" I sob, my voice raw with despair. "She still died!"

Chishiya holds me tight, his embrace offering solace in the midst of the storm. "Yuki," he murmurs, his voice a soothing balm to my shattered heart. "It wasn't for nothing. Your love for her, your strength – it meant everything. And it will continue to mean everything, as you carry her memory with you, always."