もののけ | monster | soshiro hoshina (Kaiju No. 8) (COMPLETE)

じゅういち | eleven

もののけ | kaiju | monster

11

THE TOKYO MALL CRISIS
(PART 4)

Soshiro

I HAD ALREADY TOLD MYSELF BEFORE, whether alive or dead, I was going to see her. I was going to take her home. The promise echoed in my mind as I gently lifted Kiyomi's lifeless body onto my back as I stagger forward. Her weight was both a burden and a comfort, a reminder of the love we had shared and the promise I had to keep.

Kenji followed me silently as we walk out from the mall. His small hand clutching at my shirt, seeking reassurance in this nightmare. The air thick with dust and the stench of death. Each step I took was a struggle, my legs heavy with exhaustion and grief.

Kiyomi's body was cold, an icy chill that seeped into my bones. She no longer breathed, no longer shared the same warmth of life.

The realization hit me again and again, a relentless hammer of pain.

Silent tears rolled down, each one a testament to the agonizing sorrow that consumed me. I couldn't even cry out loud anymore; my throat was raw from screaming her name. The quiet tears were all I had left, a silent mourning for the woman I had failed to protect.

This is my punishment, the guilt I will carry to my grave. I can't forgive myself for what happened. My mind is clouded, unable to focus on anything but the weight of her body against my back. Kiyomi used to be so full of energy whenever I carried her. She would laugh and playfully wriggle, her joy infectious.

But now, she's still. Not a single movement, not a breath, not a heartbeat. I can't process what has happened. Just this morning, she smiled at me, her eyes full of life and love. Now, all I see is her lifeless form, the white summer dress she wore now stained with her blood and dirt.

She's dead. My Kiyomi is dead.

The words echoed in my mind, a cruel mantra that tore at my heart. Every step felt like a punishment, a penance for the guilt that would haunt me to my grave. I should have protected her. I should have found her sooner. I should have been with her. The weight of my failure was crushing, each step a reminder of the life we had lost.

If only I hadn't let this happen. If only we were celebrating my birthday instead. My birthday... I almost forgot that today is my birthday. If I could make a wish now, would the gods above hear my plea? I stop and look up at the shattered ceiling of the mall. Not a single star or moonlight penetrates the darkness above. It feels as if even the heavens are mourning with me, acknowledging the impossibility of my wish. The broken glass and twisted metal frame the night sky, a stark reminder of the chaos and destruction that have taken her from me.

As we moved through the ruins, the sounds of distant gunfire and explosions were a constant reminder of the chaos outside. The Defense Force was still fighting, still struggling to protect what was left of our world. But here... it felt like the end of everything.

Each step was a battle against the overwhelming grief. The memories of Kiyomi's laughter, her bright smile, haunted me. She had been so full of life, so full of hope. And now she was gone, taken from me by the cruel reality of our world. The guilt gnawed at me, a relentless beast that wouldn't be silenced.