Akemi Miyano, aged 25.
Beloved daughter and sister.
Until we meet again.
The headstone stared back at her, and she made no effort to tuck back her short brown hair being tousled by the chilly breeze. Her blue eyes stared forward, straight at the engraved name. Smoothing out her black dress, she knelt to place down a bouquet of white flowers. With a sad smile, she looked longingly at what had become of the person she so dearly loved.
"Long time no see. How are you?" Her words were met with only the harsh wind, and she bit back a bitter laugh at her own naivety. "I'm doing well, surprisingly. Did you know? The Organization is defeated. Everything's fine now. I'm not living in the shadows anymore, and I don't have to be afraid of anything. So please, do't worry for me anymore.
"Everyday feels like a dream. I've never imagined a future where I didn't have to live in fear anymore. I never was able to even dream about the destruction of the Organization, but he showed me a reality that used to be the impossible. Outside of that cold laboratory lies a world I never knew about; it's strange, isn't it? I know you'd love to be here."
She wiped away a single tear that trickled down her cheek and bit her lip to stop them from multiplying. But nothing could make the suffocating feeling in chest go away, and so the pain materialized as teardrops, and she closed her eyes as they fell.
"Every single day you were gone, I wanted to die. I saw no purpose, no meaning in my existence, and I thought it would be better if I disappeared altogether. I wouldn't cause any more harm to anyone anymore that way — I've done enough, anyways. There wasn't a single day when I didn't miss you dearly. I wish you were here beside me."
She was interrupted by a soft hug, and as she was pulled into an embrace, she buried her face deep into his chest. He caressed her hair slowly, laying his head on top of hers, and she closed her eyes as she let out a shaky breath slowly.
"Sorry," he said. "Even though I promised that I wouldn't let her shed a single tear anymore, it looks like I still failed."
His rueful tone was directed towards her sister, and he placed down another bouquet of flowers. He helped her back up to her feet and lovingly put an arm around her.
"Kudo-kun…" she murmured.
"The first time I saw you cry was also in a similar situation," Shinichi remarked softly, brushing away a falling tear swiftly. "It doesn't suit you."
"How did you…"
"Don't underestimate a detective's instincts," he said, smiling. He let go of her and took her hand instead, their fingers intertwined. Turning back to Akemi, he took a deep breath before speaking. "Greetings, Masami Hirota — no, Akemi Miyano. It's technically the first time we're meeting, isn't it? It's really unfortunate that we have to meet for the first time like this. I want to apologize for not being able to save you. Maybe if I had been a little faster, a little smarter, a little stronger, I would have been able to reach you in time. But I couldn't do so, and for that, I have always been deeply regretful.
"I want to thank you for being the light in Shiho's life. It was your existence that cast away the bleakness in her life. I know I will never replace you and I don't intend to do so, but I hope my existence will comfort her like how you have done so. I promise that I will treat her well her, so you have nothing to worry about. Please trust your precious sister with me."
She wanted to speak, but no words could describe how she felt. Before she even realized it, she had left the darkness in her life behind in the past, and he had shown her more happiness than she could ever imagine. How could she ever repay him for all he had done for her?
"You idiot," she said with a light chuckle. "When did you rehearse all this?"
"Hey, save me some face," he said, laughing as he tousled her hair. "Come on, let's go back."
"You can go first. I'll catch up to you in a second."
"I'll be waiting for you, then." He gave a reassuring squeeze to Shiho's hand before leaving, and Shiho directed her attention back to her sister.
"Do you remember? One day, when we were catching up at a restaurant, you told me to 'just go out and find a boyfriend.'"
She smiled fondly at the memory and looked towards the direction Shinichi left.
"His appearance here today was completely unexpected. Next time, I'll introduce him properly to you."