Part 5 — Fear of Being Left Behind
Kaito remained standing there for several seconds after Daigo answered.
"…He passed away last night."
The hallway suddenly felt quieter afterward.
Not silent—
just distant.
Like the sounds around him no longer reached properly.
Daigo noticed Kaito's expression carefully.
But before he could say anything—
Kaito quietly lowered his gaze.
"…I see…"
His voice sounded strangely normal.
Too normal.
Then he slowly turned away.
Daigo watched him for a moment.
"…Kaito."
Kaito stopped walking briefly.
But didn't turn around.
Daigo's voice remained calm.
"…Go back before lunch ends."
A small pause.
"…Yes, sir."
Then Kaito quietly continued walking down the hallway alone.
His face showed almost no expression now.
No panic.
No tears.
Nothing obvious.
But inside his head—
thoughts had already started spiraling.
Yesterday her father was still in the hospital.
Today he isn't there anymore.
His footsteps echoed softly through the corridor.
And suddenly—
older memories began resurfacing too.
Four years ago…
Aunty was in the hospital because of Mimi's birth.
Uncle and Kazuki were there too.
Then the next morning…
Only Aunty and Mimi were left.
Kaito's breathing slowly became shallower.
Another memory followed immediately after.
Mom was there.
Dad too.
Haruto.
Ayame.
Enruto.
Me.
We were all there.
His steps slowed slightly.
Then the next day…
It became only me and Ayame.
Kaito lowered his gaze further.
And now—
another realization slowly formed inside his head.
Now it's only me…
Haruto…
and Ayame.
For the first time—
the number itself scared him.
Because it kept becoming smaller.
People kept disappearing.
Sometimes suddenly.
Sometimes overnight.
Sometimes after saying:
"Everything will be okay."
Kaito's fingers slowly tightened around his sleeves while walking.
And the more he thought—
the more terrifying the future started feeling.
What if one morning…
someone else wasn't there anymore?
That thought finally made him stop walking briefly in the middle of the hallway.
His chest tightened painfully.
Not from crying.
From fear.
Real fear.
The kind that quietly settles inside someone and never fully leaves afterward.
Then after several seconds—
Kaito slowly forced himself to keep walking back toward the classroom.