*Flashback*
After the funeral of Minako, Akihiko, Ken and Koromaru were searching for Shinjiro. They knew that he felt pain for losing her. Like blaming himself for not saving her.
"Dammit, Shinji! Where are you?!" Akihiko asked irritated.
"Sanada-san, let's split up so that we can find him easily," Ken suggested.
"Arf!" Koromaru barked for agree Ken's idea.
"Alright, if you see him, tell him that I'll punch him," Akihiko agreed as he rushed and continued searching.
Ken is still standing on his position and tried to remember where is Shinjiro always hang out. Now, he remembered. "Come with me, Koromaru! I know where Shinjiro-san is," he said and ran off. Koromaru barked as he followed him.
At the Port Island Station, Shinjiro is lying on the ground. His wrist is bleeding with a cut. Ken and Koromaru arrived as they frightened that Shinjiro tried to commit suicide. They rushed to him.
Ken crouched down and shook Shinjiro's body. "Shinjiro-san! Wake up, Shinjiro-san!" he shouted, tried to wake him up but he didn't respond.
Koromaru whimpered as his head nuzzled Shinjiro's head. He doesn't want to let it happened. Just like his former master. Ken called 911 with his cellphone to call the ambulance and Akihiko.
On the next day at the hospital, Ken came in and brought a basket of fruits. Then, he heard a loud, angry voice from Shinjiro's hospital room. Kids don't like arguing with verbal abuse. For Ken, he used to it and curious about who's talking. He opened the door a little. Akihiko is shouting at Shinjiro angrily. For Shinjiro, he's just sitting on his bed and doing nothing.
"Shinji! Do you know that commit suicide didn't solve anything? You were in a coma last five months! You almost died there! And now, you're doing it again! What the heck is wrong with you?!" Akihiko yelled, scolded him.
"What's wrong with me?! I felt shitting useless! Minako doesn't deserve to take a sacrifice to save us all! It was me because I made many mistakes but hers isn't! I loved her so much that she changed my whole life! Now, she's gone because it's my fault that I wasn't there for her! It's all my fault!" Shinjiro cried loudly as his face covered by his hands.
Akihiko went silent sadly. He didn't notice that his close friend was in love with their leader. "… Shinji…"
"Just get out, Aki," Shinjiro covered himself with the blanket and started to cry.
After their argument, Akihiko left the room and closed the door with a sigh. Noticed Ken was there.
"Ken, I didn't know you were there," Akihiko mumbled.
"I understand that you scolded and care for him... But I didn't know that he's in relationship with Minako-san. She's like a sister to us," Ken frowned.
"Yeah... It's the first time to see him like that... It hurts that losing someone you love... Just like Miki," Akihiko muttered, remembered his sister died by the fire.
"My mom too... Let's leave Shinjiro-san alone for a while. Did you get all the dangerous things?" Ken asked.
"Like razor blades, syringes and poison? Yeah... I confiscated them just to be sure he won't do anything. Also, I won't confiscate the basket of fruits because it isn't a deadly weapon," Akihiko joked.
"Hey! I bought it because he can eat and live healthy. Plus, the bouquet of flowers is a bit girly," Ken pouted.
"Haha! Good one, Ken," Akihiko ruffled Ken's hair.
In three hours, Ken went inside of Shinjiro's room with Akihiko's permission. Shinjiro slept after his emotional breakdown. His depression from losing someone can wear off in weeks or months. Ken placed the basket of fruits on the table and sat on the chair. Understand that he felt the same as him. Remembered about what happened back on October 4th... Feeling regret...
"Arf!"
Suddenly, Koromaru ran towards Ken and greeted him by wagging his tail.
"Koromaru, what are you doing here? You know that no dogs allowed in the hospital," Ken reminded as he stroked Koromaru's fur.
Koromaru whimpered with his ears went down.
"Let me guess. You're worried about Shinjiro-san," Ken got up from his chair and moved it closer to the bed side. "Here you go, Koro-chan," he smiled.
"Woof!" Koromaru replied happily. He went up to the chair, next to the bed that Ken made as a stairs. Sat on the side and nuzzled Shinjiro.
Ken giggled that it was adorable to see them.
As Koromaru is nuzzling, Shinjiro suddenly hugged him. With arms and legs, his hug is like hugging a long pillow.
"Arf! Arf!" Koromaru barked as he tried to wake Shinjiro up. Like he said 'Shinji-senpai, you're too heavy!' with whining.
From the funny scene, Ken covered his mouth to hold his laughter.
"Huh?" Shinjiro woke up finally as he noticed hugging Koromaru. He let the dog go. "Oops! Sorry about that, Koromaru. I thought I was hugging a pillow," he apologised as he ruffled Koromaru's head.
"Arf! Arf!" Koromaru barked as he snuggled Shinjiro happily.
Shinjiro mentioned Ken was there. "Ken, what's up?" he greeted.
"I'm good. I brought a basket of fruits from Fuuka-san, Yukari-san, Junpei-san, Mitsuru-san, Aigis-san, Sanada-san and Koromaru... They were worried about you," Ken replied.
"I know..." Shinjiro sighed sadly. Stroked Koromaru's head.
"I guess we're in the same boat," Ken muttered.
"Both of us lost our loved ones and we felt regret on that day... You're right about that... but it's not right to kill," he added.
Shinjiro went silent as he continued stroking Koromaru's fur. Koromaru barked and looked at him with a sad face.
"Mom doesn't want me to kill myself. Even Minako-san doesn't want you to do that. We have to move on. I know it wasn't easy and hard to forget our past but they still remained in our hearts. They want us to live and find a way for our happiness," Ken remained.
"Thanks, Ken. I will remember it," Shinjiro smiled as he looked at Ken.
"Well... Koromaru told me. He had the same thing as his master," Ken said.
"Woof!" Koromaru barked with wagging his tail.
"Oh! Also with the help of Aigis' dog translation," Ken smiled. He grabbed something from the basket of fruits. A red gift bag with a pink envelope and a heart sticker on the middle. On the envelope, it was written 'Shinjiro' in red lipstick. Additionally, the scent is strawberry. "Here... I saw it on her table yesterday. I think it's yours for Valentines' day," Ken gave it to Shinjiro.
"Huh?" Shinjiro confused as he accepted it. The gift from his former girlfriend is a red scarf. He opened the letter and read it.
*Flashback End*
(Crime and Punishment – Miku Hatsune)
