Saito opened his eyes.
He started to have flashbacks. The kind of flashbacks that the people get while being on verge of death.
It was memories that he made with Haruka, but he didn't remember making those memories with him, at the same time, it all seems too nostalgic and as if he lived through those.
Those were flashbacks of another universe. The memories that the Saito of the universe where Haruka came from experienced.
Saito began thinking to himself as he realized these memories are the memories that never existed, yet it did.
"It's me?... I don't remember anything about these. It doesn't... Look like my memories, or do they?"
"Oh... I noticed Haruka's change... He quit isolating himself and began cherishing the moments. It was so u like of him... So this might be it? How you came here?"
Saito couldn't talk... Neither interfere in the memories, all he did was experience those...
"We went inside of an amusement park in your world didn't we?"
[(Smart isn't he? He realized it too soon)]
"I've always wished to go there with you all... Marcus, Naoki... And everyone. I'm glad I saw the version of you that your Saito got to saw."
"How did you come and replace our Haruka? I don't know but... Something must've happened right? Otherwise it doesn't add up... I can't talk but just experience your Saito's memories... I remember those thoughts even though those aren't mine..."
"My cheeks feel wet... I think I can't feel my mouth. I feel this strange happiness as I witness your happiness with your Saito. You were never the Haruka I knew... I felt it the moment you arrived... I knew it... But I accepted you because it's still you... You replaced our... My Haruka"
"I can't help but wonder if Yume came here the same way you did so. Not much of changes but I did notice them... Did you kill my friend and take over their body? Or did your soul and memories traverse here? I'm so confused... I have so many questions. "
" What about me? Am I your Saito; that is experiencing all these memories now because I'm too late? That doesn't make any sense... I remember looking up to heroes but at the same time I remember heroes being unrealistic... Who am I? I'm so lost..."
"Did we lost our fight with gate? Am I too little bit too late?... Hey... I want to ask you Haruka... Do you view me and your Saito differently? Maybe it doesn't matter now... I'm both of the Saito-s if you ask me... Maybe I am this Saito with your Saito's memories or... Maybe I am your Saito with this Saito's memories... As an extra mod or addon... "
"Tears? Why am I crying? Maybe it's happiness... Or not? I'm glad I went to the 4rth floor to search for the shadow I saw and mistook it as Kafka..."
Saito turns towards Haruka while being in a flashback. He saw Haruka who was now crying like a child as he kept talking.
Saito spoke.
"Haruka? Why are you crying?"
He couldn't talk before but surprisingly he can talk right now.
Haruka replied with shaky tone... Filled with guilt?
"Stop it... Saito... Don't... I don't want this to happen..."
Saito was confused.
"What are you talking about? I am getting— no... I know you! I know who you are! But I don't mind at all... I reay don't. You are... Haruka... This or That..."
Haruka yelled out loudly as tears rolled down his cheeks.
" STOP!... No... Don't... Saito I missed you... I don't know if you hear me but... Don't... Why would Saito... You fucking idiot! You absolute idiot! I will crawl through grave one again if needed!... Just... Don't... Please I'm begging you... Stop. "
Saito's confusion was now mixed with guilt and pain as he saw Haruka crying like that.
"What are you talking about dude?! I had fun experiencing these memories as your Saito... Don't you see me? I am... Maybe... I am your Saito! Look I am happy..."
Saito suddenly felt weird warmth against his cheeks... Tears once again... By now he realized the fact that the Saito the current Haruka saw, or lived with, might have fusioned with him.
" Oh... So that's how it is... Am I asleep or trapped...?"
Saito kept experiencing normal memories again. His mouth shut again. But after a blink he saw Haruka beside him. A large white empty room with infinite space—expanding upwards, forwards, and sidewards.
Haruka stopped walking as he put his fist on Saito's chest.
Haruka spoke.
"You see... I wish to live longer than you do... Call me selfish but I want to stay hours beside your grave rather than die before you knowing that you will do the same for me."
Saito chuckled forgetting the past scenario he saw with Haruka.
" Quite a lame excuse to justify being selfish and attend a funeral..... "
Saito knew it wasn't memory. It was a random scene. A scenario that doesn't exist. Never existed.
Saito felt and immense headache. His mouth bleeds and his eyes too. Saito couldn't understand what was happening bbut there was a strange ye welcoming warmth and sweetness hidden in the pain.
Haruka's eyes were teary as he bit his lips hardly and kept looking forward.
A familiar voice calling Saito...
It was Yume calling out for him.
"It's our time to leave! Wave goodbye to Haruka!..."
Yume yelled.
"WE WILL WAIT RUKA! DON'T MOVE ON YOU IMPATIENT BRAT!"
Saito didn't get any of it but he was smiling as he hit his fist softly on Haruka's chest. On the first blink it was normal, on the second he began bleeding as there was a big oval sized hole between Haruka's chest.
Haruka begged once again.
"Please Saito... Come back..."
Saito replied in a furious and pained tone.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Haruka looks at his with teary eyes as he burst into tears and couldn't hold back anymore.
"I'm so fucking tired Saito... I didn't want any of these... I'm a huge useless pathetic student who wants to live a normal and decent life..."
He gently puts his forehead against Saito's
Saito blinker as Saito felt more pain. He blinked. It's the same.
Another blink.
He was on the ground... Laughing for some reason... Loudly. He didn't feel like himself.
His head was burnt... He could feel it. His skin burning. A dark violet gradient crown was beside his head. He could barely see anything... But he did saw a beautiful sight.
Haruka was floating with a pair of wings. The right side was white and the left was black. His eyes were purple.
Saito never closed his eyes but surely enough, he's dead after seeing tears on Haruka's eyes.