I never thought I would return to thank you...

Chapter 23

Kuroko's P.O.V

I let the doctor, a relative of Midorima-kun's if I'm correct judging from the appearance, check if I was alright. I barely listened to him since it didn't matter anymore.
I failed.
So there was nothing ok with me, I already knew.

It didn't matter anymore. It didn't...

"Your injury is healing nicely, however we need to keep you here for today just to be sure it won't cause you problems ok?"
I didn't answer, there was nothing I could say anyway. I was too busy thinking just how much it cost to have me fixed and how I'd get out of this one.

Oh.
Right.

It was an easy way out...

My mind made up, I changed in my clothes that were still bloody from when this whole thing started and snuck out of the room, then the hospital and it wasn't long before I was on the streets, making my way downtown.
The streets were quiet, with few people chatting away on their phones and talking to friends under the starry sky.
Quite a nice evening if i were to say, but there was nothing nice enough to make me stop and gaze at it, to distract me from what I was about to do.
I didn't allow myself the luxury of rest because I knew I'd probably be found out and talked out of it. I knew I was going to cause trouble to a lot of people when I did what I was about to, however I'd be even more trouble if I stayed.

Finally reaching my destination, I let a sigh of relief, my bangs falling on my eyes as I silently apologized to everyone.
But I wouldn't back out now.

Standing just over the edge of the bridge, my body trembled. Whether from the cold or something else I don't know. All I know is that I was crushed with the weight of what I was going to do.
Flashes and images filled my blurry eyes, blinding me with their warmness and love as my mother smiled down on me, my friends reached their hands to me... like they used to... and my father... well, he stared at me with soft eyes.
If only, I wished, if only those images could be real! If only none of them left me...
If only...

Who was I kidding...?

They were right to leave.
Who would want to stay with a useless person like me? I can't even take care of myself! I can't even pay rent and I can't deal with bullying!

Useless is even an understatement compared to what I am!

I bit my lip, choking on screams that threatened to slip and salty tears.
Why me?
I shivered, bringing my hands up to wipe my eyes in a fast manner, letting few reside there. For a moment it was quiet. So quiet that my heart felt like exploding from the pain of it. It hurt how the world kept spinning while I was about to take my life away.
Taking deep breaths, my body inched a bit forward; I was curious to see: just how high my fall would be, and regretted it instantly. I felt like vomiting at the height I'd close, but what made me tremble even more was the speed that the water was moving.
Would I even have a chance of avoiding the rocks under there?
.
Course not... perfect.

My sight turned all grey, a melody surrounding me, humming softly in my ear, just barely mufling the whispering voices in the air.
"Tetsuya..." I heard. "My child."

"Don't do it."

"Don't..."

"Tetsuya..."

It all sickened me, made me want to finish it faster, as I should have. But something held me back, made me stay glued over the edge with wavering confidence. I soon realised, I was just afraid.
I couldn't bring my feet to move, not on my own at least.
I needed a slight push and the loving voice of my dear mother just seemed to fuel my determination.

Anything to see her.

But lady Luck was against me.
Just as my foot managed to move, I felt vibrations comming from my pocket, soon understanding that it had been my phone breaking the intense atmosphere.
Taking it out rather lazily, I saw the caller's ID, wondering if I should answer or just throw it away and finish everything.

Seeing as I had caused so much trouble, I decided I owed him this last conversation.
I answered.
"Akashi-kun."
"Tetsuya!" The emperior talked in a rush, distant noises in the background. "Where are you?" A door slamed shut and the call settled into a quiet but tense atmosphere.
I thought about it. I couldn't just tell him I was standing over the edge of the bridge.
Fortunately, I didn't have to answer as he continued. "You're going home right?"
.
.
.
Home...?
I was. I was going home, to mother.
"Hai," I answered. "I'm coming home." I reassured both myself and my mother.
A sigh of relief was heard on the other line and for a moment I almost felt bad. Akashi-kun said something I couldn't quite decipher, before stating.
"I'm going there right now. Where are you?"
I knew my answer this time. "I'm going down the bridge." Another mutter.
"You're not that far away from your house then, I'll wait there. And Tetsuya?"
"Hai..."

"...Forgive me..." He said, for once suprising me.
"Whatever for?" Silence met my ears, disappointing me. "Well I-"
"...I'll tell you in person." He interrupted. "I'll tell you once we meet."
I didn't answer. Instead, I brought the phone down to glare at it before ending the call. It angered me how he got my full attention, I was even curious on what he wanted to apologize now.

Enough!
I've let myself get distracted for so long. I can't afford to lose anymore time!

But... I just couldn't bring myself to either walk away or jump to my death.
I stood there, angry tears falling down my face as I clutched the phone for dear life.
I don't know how much time passed while I emptied my heart out.
All I know is that I was finally ready.
Finally ready...

Somewhere at my last moments, my phone vibrated again. Mindlessly, without knowing it, I opened the call but never brought it up to my ear. I just listened to the almost nonexistent screams of my friends, telling me to stop.
I had made my decision.
The phone slipped from my hand, disappearing from my view in the chaos below.

Looking back on it now, I think I lost my heart while trying to fix it.

I turned slowly, letting a smile form on my lips as I let my body go limp and fall on it's own.

It slipped from my fingers so I had to fall to catch it.
.
.
.
In the end, I did get a hold of it.

Only...

"TETSU!!!"

It was too late.

A SHOUT OUT TO YOU GUYS, GO CHECK OUT #ProjectReadersReact!
IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE FOR READING NEW INTERESTING STORIES AS WELL AS GETTING READS! I RECCOMEND IT, GO CHECK IT OUT!