@anof2n
a/n: it was so long i had to separate it
today, thursday, it has been a week since the tragedy regarding kyoani has happened. i hope those who have departed are in a better place and are happy. this is a tribute dedicated to them.
the characters and plot is made up. we dont know the actual names.
-anof2n
3.
Maybe if Kinishi had eaten a full meal before heading to work, or had slept instead of pulling an all nighter, maybe they, at least, would have lived.
The migraine that was present before faded, and all that was left was the guilt and sadness and the cold harsh reality the world imprinted on him. He buried his head in his freezing hands, and despite the Sun shining down on him, it had never been so dark and cold.
Then a hand rested on his shoulder, jolting him from his depression. He was greeted by smiles from his colleagues, all at him, and he could tell that they were feeling the same way, but if they could do it, why couldn't he? So he plastered a smile on his face and tried to brighten the mood, telling lame jokes that didn't make any sense. But it worked, because all of them were laughing with no care in the world.
He knew he would never get over the fact that he hadn't even got to say goodbye to his loved ones, but these people were part of them and they filled the hole in his heart, although one piece would always be missing.
The end.
///
"Kinishi-san," a voice called out, breaking his train of thoughts. "Eh?" he spun to face a young girl, one of his colleague's daughter that she had brought with her to work. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. "I...saw who did it." her voice was trembling, and her lips quivered. "Who? Don't cry!" he panicked, knowing his friend would kill him if she cried. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "...Him? Really? Why would he do that?" his said, his eyes full of betrayal and disbelief. She nodded reluctantly. "I saw him." Kinishi just stared at the endless grass plain behind her, at the Sun which still shone brightly.
-anof2n
2.
He jogged up the stairs at a steady pace, a few steps at a time, but the fire was just a few inches behind. He didn't speed up for fear that he would lose his balance and tumble down the steps, straight into the fire's gaping mouth. Halfway up, he noticed that there were moving figures where the stairs ended, and they were shouting, no, trying to shout, but it was either his hearing was no good from the music he blasted before or they weren't shouting. He strained to listen as he bounded up the stairs, the fire literally at his heels. Once he saw his colleagues gathered and in his line of sight, he sprinted to them, like a runner at the last lap of a marathon.
As he neared his friends, their faces became clearer, as clear as it could get with the smoke hanging over their heads. They had on looks of defeat and acceptance, some sitting on the steps with blank looks and others panicking. He stopped a distance away, and a voice answered his silent question, barely carrying across to him.
"You're too late...we're gonna die here..." Yoshida said, his usually swept back hair now in an untamed mess, beads of sweat running down his face. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced with a desperate one. Kinishi said nothing, instead stepping back, moving closer to the fire. He readied himself, taking in a deep breath before running as fast as he could towards the locked exit, ramming into the glass door.
-anof2n
1.
A man in his mid thirties stirred, peeled his eyes open and sat up. He looked around, a vast field that seemed to go on forever, the sky a perfect shade of light blue. A gentle breeze made his hair sway here and there, and he saw the many people lying on the ground, just like how he was. He counted them, thirty three, including himself. He recognised all of them as his colleagues. They were untouched, not a single mark on their bodies. He lifted up his hand, curious as to what he smelled like. It was a soothing smell, like the delightful scent of flowers carried by the wind. He noticed they all wore white clothes that reached their ankles, and even though their heights all varied, it was like the clothes were tailored to fit them according to their sizes. He was also wearing the same thing. Just then, pain erupted behind his eyes and his vision went dark.
Kinishi had been listening to music, his master hand making sketchy lines and his other drumming against the keyboard. He was working on a new project, and had stayed up all night trying to complete it. In front of him there were multiple empty cups that were once full to the brim with coffee. His eyes drooped, and he nodded to sleep. All of a sudden, the room felt so suffocating, and fog draped over the room. Smoke had filled his nostrils, and only then did he realise it wasn't the stove, which really was normal in the studio, because of the numerous people who didn't know how to cook. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the raging inferno at the doorway, crackling and making the hairs on his neck stand. Kinishi recalled he didn't quite understand what was happening, and albeit feeling disgruntled from the lack of sleep and watching the rapidly spreading fire for a while, he threw down his pen and ran for the spiral staircase leading to the roof.
-anof2n