NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: CHAPTER 26
Kazu slumped on the couch, his eyes dull and lifeless, a hollow look that mirrored the emptiness in his heart. He stared blankly at his parents' lifeless bodies, the scene feeling too unreal, too cruel. His tears had dried up long ago, leaving only a numb ache behind.
First, he had barely escaped the monsters' grasp; then, he had fought with everything he had to survive. He'd nearly lost his friends in the process, and now...now he was truly alone in this shit world.
He muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper, "Haah...maybe it's better to just...end it. Mom and Dad are gone...why should I bother struggling anymore?"
Niikaz stood with her arms folded, a serious look on her face. Internally, she was scrambling, trying to come up with a way to comfort him. A dozen strategies ran through her mind, each one sounding either too cliché or too weak to actually lift Kazu's spirits.
("Maybe I should say something like, 'It's okay, I'm here for you. You're not alone.' But would that really help? His parents just died-telling him they'd want him to be strong seems so...selfish. Or maybe... 'Live for those who will stay with you until the end. If you give up now, you'll never find them.' Ugh...still too cheesy.")
Niikaz ruffled her hair in frustration, clearly struggling. This wasn't her strong suit-especially when it came to comforting someone who had lost everything right in front of them.
Just as she was about to speak, she caught Kazu mumbling to himself, his words laced with despair. "Should I died?"
Kazu startle by his words. Slowly, he turned to face her, realizing with a pang of guilt that she'd overheard his darkest thoughts.
He looked up and saw Niikaz nearby, watching him with a steady, understanding gaze. She didn't say anything-she just stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Slowly hugging him.Her presence was warm, grounding, and unexpectedly comforting.
Kazu took a shaky breath, surprised at how just her being there somehow eased his burden. He turned his face away, struggling to hold back tears, but Niikaz remained hugging him, a quiet reassurance that he wasn't alone.
He swallowed, finding a faint glimmer of strength in her silence. "Thanks, Niikaz," he whispered, barely able to look at her.
"Hmm" She gave him a small nod, her hug offering a brief, encouraging squeeze before she let go.
Kazu took a deep breath, the weight of her silent support settling within him, and stood a little taller, ready to keep going.
As they stepped outside, they noticed Takuzo firing shots from a vantage point below the apartment. The gunfire sounded oddly distant. Kazu frowned, glancing at Niikaz in confusion.
"What's going on?" Niikaz asked, noticing Naomi's tense expression as she looked in the same direction as Takuzo's aim.
Naomi turned to them, her face pale. "It's...Hisashi-senpai's group. They're being surrounded!"