I'm sorry! I can't count, you guys. This whole time I thought I had one more chapter left but I was mistaken. This is the second to last chapter. I'm thinking of sparing you guys some misery and putting chapter 14 up tomorrow. Eh... I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

"Sweetheart, I have some news for you." Yoko enters his room after he's woken from his short nap. "Yuya, I had to pull you from school." She admits.

No response.

"Several of your classmates and teachers have tried to keep you caught up with extra help and tutoring. But since you never…" she doesn't want to sound like anyone blames him. "It's been 7 weeks, and you've just fallen too far behind, Yuya."

No response.

Yoko wishes now more than ever that his father were here. Yusho would have been able to get him to talk. He would have been able to help Yuya in a way that she simply can't.

"I'm so sorry, Yuya." She promised herself she'd never cry in front of her son. Up until today she's kept that promise.

"I'm sorry that I can't help you. I'm really trying… But I know I've failed you. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I hate seeing you in so much pain" She hugs him tighter. "Please, Yuya. You don't have to tell me what's wrong. If you can't talk about it then don't. But, I'm begging you, I need to know that you're going to be alright." She tries to stop crying but simply can't. This is years worth of tears all coming out at this moment.

"Am I ever going to see your smile again?"

Kaasan. Why do you cry for me? I am nothing. I am only capable of hurting people. I've done nothing but hurt you- I've known since the beginning. I hear your sighs heavy with the burden of my care. I've seen the tears you've tried to keep hidden until now. You're always tired, but you never rest. I've felt you shrink as I've wrapped my arms around you night after tireless night. You remain so strong while I can do nothing but crumble before your eyes.

You don't know what I've done. You don't know how cruel I've been to those I hold most dear.

I can only hurt you more, Kaasan.

How can you still love me?

How can you love someone… Something that can't even love itself.

He wasn't expecting himself to shut down like this. It just ended up happening, and Yuya let it. He allowed himself to spiral into this silent depression. Even if he wanted to somehow wake up from this, Yuya knows he no longer can. He started off refusing to speak- now he can't even if he tries.

He doesn't remember how to speak.

He can't recall what it feels like to smile.

He's forgotten his friends.

He only remembers fear. Anger. Pain. Waking up might rekindle those feelings.

He's better off feeling nothing.

The memory of that day has haunted him since his first night in the hospital. It's replayed itself over and over and over. It's the only thing he thinks about during the day. And it's all he dreams about when his eyes finally close at night.

He raped his best friend.

He doesn't deserve to be happy.

He doesn't deserve to ever smile again.

His mother doesn't deserve this either. She's been by his side throughout this whole thing. She's been strong and loving and supportive. He deserves none of her help, but regardless of what he thinks, Yuya knows Yoko will give her soul just to make sure he's okay. He's not worth that much. If anything, he should try to stop for her sake. Yoko hasn't done anything wrong. She should still be happy. She shouldn't have to suffer like this. She won't. Not for much longer. His mind is made up.

This ends today.

Yuya fights the dizziness as he stands. He turns to face his mother.

"Yuya?"

He has so much to tell her, but knows he can't say it. He just leans forward and hugs her.

Thank you, Kaasan. I'm sorry for putting you through this. He wishes his thoughts could reach her.

"Yuya, what's wrong?"

Nothing, Kaasan. Not any longer. He knows she can't hear him. Knows that she can't hear the rusted gears in his mind starting to move again.

"Sweetheart, talk to Kaasan." Yoko pulls away and places her hands on his cheeks. He just shakes his head.

Yuya turns around and searches for his backpack. When he finds it he looks inside for a notebook and a pen. He opens the notebook to a blank page and starts writing.

Can't talk. He shows it to Yoko.

He scribbles something else.

I need to see Yuzu.

"Why, Yuya. Tell me what's going on." Yoko can't even process all the emotions she's feeling right now. This is the first reaction she's gotten out of him in nearly two months. The first sign of affection he's shown.

But his words are still missing.

This ends today. He shows his note to Yoko. It makes her heart sink all the way to her feet

"Yuya? What ends today? Tell me now, what do you mean?" She grabs his shoulders.

Yuya writes another notes.

I'll explain it all when I get back. But I have to go talk to Yuzu.

It only brings Yoko some peace of mind. She was fearing the worst when he said that it all ended today. She swears her very soul left her body.

"Yuya, you have to understand, I can't let you go out. I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself." Yoko admits.

It'll be okay. He writes.

"No, Yuya! Stop talking like that!" Yoko screams and grabs the notebook from him. "Don't you get it! You sound like you're saying goodbye. Like you're not coming back. Do you know how scared I am right now?!" She shakes him.

"I can't let you go with you saying things like this! I can't lose you too!" Her strength disappears completely as she breaks down in tears a second time. She just pulls her little boy close. "You're all I have left, Yuya. I can't lose you too. Especially not like this." She says quietly.

"Not like this."

Yuya didn't understand that he was coming across like that. She thought he was going to commit suicide. In hindsight Yuya realizes he probably should have been more careful with his wording. Despite the depression, Yuya is still scared stiff of even the mere thought of harming himself. He calls it cowardice. Others would call it a blessing.

I'm sorry for scaring you. Yuya writes.

"Yuya don't apologize. Just promise me that you're not going anywhere. Don't leave us." Yoko looks into her sons eyes. They still look sad. The light is still dim. "We need you."

Trust me, I'm too big of a coward to do something like that. I'm staying right here with you, I promise. I'll explain it all when I get back.

"I'll take you, sweetheart."

Yuya knows that protesting is useless. It doesn't matter. So long as he is able to talk to Yuzu.

Can you take me somewhere else? I'm going to ask her to meet me.

"Sure, my love." She kisses his forehead.

He sends Yuzu a text.

Yuya: Hey, are you busy?

Yuzu: No, why?

Yuzu: Is everything okay?

Yuya: No.

Yuzu: Yuya what's wrong?

Yuzu: Yuya!

Yuya: I need to talk to you. Can you meet me?

Yuzu: Where are you?

He gets a call from her but ignores it and is quick to let her know,

Yuya: Don't call, I can't talk.

Yuzu: You're scaring me. What's wrong?

Yuya: Just meet with me, please.

Yuzu: Sure, where?

Not much of a cliffhanger but, meh. I decided to leave it. I think I might just go ahead and add the next chapter on tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has tuned in and made it this far. Oh, and as a reply to the Guest review: Hot dog! That was some guess. I'll tell you now that your guess was one of my endings but I ultimately decided against it because I'm a chicken and I like closure lol so I chose a different ending but I was like 1 centimeter away from giving Yuya... another way out of this mess. Thank you for your review and enthusiasm!