𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 | 𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘶𝘺𝘢 𝘵. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

016. | ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ

Kana found herself unable to attend school for a couple of days after Takemichi's revelation about her death. The news weighed heavily on her mind, and the weight of her own mortality left her feeling overwhelmed and shaken. She spent those days inside her house, grappling with her emotions and trying to make sense of the uncertain future that lay ahead of her. The world outside seemed distant and unreal, her mind consumed with thoughts of her own fate.

Her days were filled with a sense of isolation. She rarely left her room, avoiding her friends and anyone who might pry into her darkening mood. She turned inward, her thoughts consumed by the enormity of her own fate. She would watch the sun rise and set, losing track of time as the days blurred together. The once-bright future that lay ahead seemed tarnished, shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty.

The days crawled by slowly, marked only by the rising and setting sun through her bedroom window. Her room, usually tidy and cheerful, now mirrored her tormented thoughts—clothes strewn about and her bed untidied. Her phone lay on the bedside table, unread messages and missed calls piling up like unopened letters.

Mitsuya stood at the front door of the Hanagaki residence, his brow furrowed in worry. He had known Kana for years, their bond deep and enduring. The days of her absence had not gone unnoticed by him. His hand rapped gently on the door, the sound echoing in the silent neighborhood, and he waited patiently, his heart filled with concern.

Mitsuya's mind brimmed with worry as he waited at the door. It was highly uncharacteristic of Kana to go back on her word, let alone disappear for several days. Usually, she faced everything head-on without showing visible signs of distress. Seeing her vanish from everyone's radar was a sharp contrast from her usual strong persona. The uncertainty gnawed at him like a relentless, invisible beast.

He recalled the times she'd tackle challenges with an indomitable spirit, never backing down from a fight and always managing to pull through. He'd always admired her resilience, her unwavering perseverance. But now, her absence was like a specter that hung in the air, casting a shadow over everything he knew of her.

Mitsuya's worry grew deeper as a conversation with Yuzuha replayed in his mind. Yuzuha, usually so assured and confident, had reached out to him earlier, expressing her own worry about Kana. She mentioned how she had tried calling and texting her countless times, only to be met with radio silence.

The fact that even Yuzuha, Kana's best friend, was unable to reach her was alarming. Mitsuya remembered her distressed expression as she voiced her concern. It was a stark contrast to her usual carefree demeanor. He knew that Yuzuha and Kana were practically inseparable, so if even she couldn't reach her, something serious must be amiss.

It didn't sit right with him that his texts and calls went unanswered. The prolonged silence only heightened his anxiety. Kana was not the type to ignore her phone—especially for someone as close to her as they were.

If calling and texting yielded no results, there was only one option left—to visit her in person. He had no idea what he would find or what was going on, but his gut was telling him that something wasn't right.

Now, he was standing in front of their door, waiting almost anxiously for an answer.

Takemichi answered the door, a mixture of surprise and relief crossing his features upon seeing Mitsuya. Almost as if he had been expecting a visit. "Mitsuya," he greeted, a faint smile on his face. "Come in."

He stepped to the side, gesturing for Mitsuya to enter. His nonchalant demeanor betrayed a deeper feeling underneath, but whether it was relief or resignation, Mitsuya couldn't decipher. He followed Takemichi inside, his eyes taking in the familiar surroundings tinged with hints of tension and strain.