It really was amazing how time flied, and how someone's outlook could change in such a short amount of time. It was a week later and Karaat sighed softly while sitting on his bed. Summer was almost over and while others his age were excited to get back to school or even slightly dreading it, he really didn't care. He was absolutely miserable. And, if he was being entirely honest, he wished that the summer he had never happened. He regretted everything that had happened in the last few weeks. If he could go back in time, he would have never taken that disc. Hell, he probably would have laughed in his so-called friend's face and told him to take a hike!
The last week had been going pretty well until about two days ago. Well, if he was going to be honest, he had already been kind of miserable. But he was trying to keep his head up, especially since this was the last week. And he wanted to make it as special as all the other weeks. The last week was his time with Chiyako, the spirit that he first met when watching the cursed disc. Everything had been going well, if he was going to be honest. He had made sure to take her to all the places she wanted to go to. And he had even made sure to not think about the other girls and how they weren't there until he was in bed, where she wouldn't have to worry about the troubled expression or his troubled thoughts.
They had been in the living room, watching tv when he had decided to kiss her. After all, he had promised a kiss to each girl, and he wasn't going to change that. Even if those kisses reminded him that they were leaving or about to leave. Things soon had gotten heated and they were about to have sex on the living room floor. He was even partially clothed and she was laying on the ground, pulling him close to her when suddenly as she was telling her she loved him, she was pulled into the Blu-ray disc. Her time on the living had apparently ended.
Naturally, he panicked, begging for her to come back, even trying to use his stand to figure out a way to bring her back. But nothing worked! A bit later, he had been explaining everything to Murasaki. He begged her to come over, and thankfully she did. It was about half an hour later and he was pacing in his room with his shirt and pants back on. He heard her say his name and he stopped, sighing. He had been thinking the whole time he waited for her and as much as he didn't want to do it, he had made a decision. After a moment, he finally turned to her, begging for her to have a plan that wasn't the same as his, even though he knew that was impossible. In hindsight, maybe he should have asked her if she had a plan. But it was too late for that thought. Before she could answer, he had sighed and said, "Just take the disc. Get it exorcised and put her to rest."
"What?" She shouted, surprised. "You're going to abandon her like this?! After all you've worked for, after all you've done! You're just going to give up, just like that?" If Murasaki thought she was helping, she really wasn't.
Karaat scowled, slamming his hand down on the desk nearby as tears welled in his eyes. "Damn it, I have spent weeks getting close to these wonderful ladies only for them to disappear. How is that fair? How is that not torture? Not only for them but for me as well! We exposed ourselves to each other, our likes, our dislikes, our fears. We opened our hearts to each other and for what, for them to just move on seven days later? I get close to them for them to only disappear later! How dare you say that I'm abandoning her or any of them! I did everything I could within my power. I sacrificed my whole summer for them! So don't come for me. Just take the disc!"
Murasaki huffed, moving closer. She hesitated before pleading with Karaat. "Please, you can't do this, Karaat. You can't abandon her." She reached out, touching his arm. "Damn it, Karaat, she needs you. She needs you right now. Don't abandon her!"
Scoffing, he brushed her hand away, scowling. Of all things to say, she says this? The nerve of her! Shaking his head, he sighed and shouted, "Take the Blu-ray and get lost! I've had enough! Just take it and go!" He didn't care if his mom could hear them or not. Hell, he didn't even know if she was in the house! At this point he didn't care about anything. He turned to Murasaki just as she used her stand to slap him, which caused his perspective to turn upside down. Stunned, he laid on the ground, staring up at her as she called him a damned idiot among other things. Before he could get his bearings, he heard her cursing at him once more as she grabbed the disc. Before she left, she glanced over at him and muttered, "I hope you're happy, Karaat." Scoffing, she shook her head before storming out.
The next day, he was planning to go to check on Murasaki when he went to the veranda for a moment to get some fresh air. All night he had stayed in his room, thinking about all of his memories with the girls, regretting a good amount of them. He hoped that Murasaki was able to exorcise her and she could now rest peacefully, if that was how it worked. He was about to head back inside when he swore he heard someone calling his name. He looked around and after a moment, he found the source. In the air, in the clouds, as if he didn't feel enough regret, was the form of Chiyako, hovering over him. Cursing, he had rushed out, begging for her to forgive him. He remembered shouting, "Please, please, Chiyako, I never meant to abandon you! I'm so sorry! I don't know what I was thinking!" He was pretty sure more was said but that was what he mostly remembered repeating over and over to the form in the clouds.
Chiyako was getting ready to move on, but wanted to talk to him one last time. So she had used the last of her energy to come to him. And luckily, he had noticed. Though, she was a bit surprised to see him crying. Smiling softly, she said, "Silly Karaat, I could never hate you. I love you too much, far more than I ever should have! The time between us has shown how you are and I love every part of you. But I also could see how your heart was breaking after Nene left. I appreciate that you tried to hide it from us as you went through these past weeks but you really didn't have to. We were all sad to go and we could tell that all of this was taking a toll on you. And I'm sure my own departure didn't help with that. I'm sorry it had to end this way. I was hoping it ended in a better way, but that's what happens sometimes. That isn't the important point though. What is important, is who you should apologizing to. Because you should not be apologizing to me. I do not need your apology, nor do I want it. There is someone else you should be apologizing to. Murasaki, Karaat. You need to apologize to her, and quickly! If you don't, you'll live to regret it. I must go, but thank you for all you've done for me." As she started to fade, she smiled sadly. "I love you, Karaat, always remember that!"
"Please, I need you, wait Chiyako wait! Don't go, please I'll do anything!" He had been trying to say something, possibly that he loved her. But as she started to disappeared, his wailing only got worse and he tried to reach for her, even though he knew that was impossible. By now, his words were even difficult for him to understand. Hell, he probably wasn't even saying words at this point, with how worked up he was.
"Please, do not worry yourself," Chiyako smiled softly even as she had disappeared in front of him. "I will be fine where I'm going. The deadlies are there and we will all remember you. But you need to worry about your time on this plane with Murasaki. Resolve your issues with her and live happily with her. I hope to see you in the next life, Karaat! And remember, I love you! I will always love you, Karaat. Good bye, Karaat!"
"No, no, gods, no. Come back, please!" Karaat had summoned Night Boat to Cairo, desperately trying to grab onto her and hold on. The stand rushed through the air, looking almost as desperate as he was. "You can't leave me, not like this, Chiyako!" And he watched as his stand reached her, but when it went to grab her, the hand moved through her as she disappeared. He was too late, she was gone. As he hit the ground, his wails echoing through the air, he screamed over and over, screaming the names of the girls he gave part of his heart and his time to, regretting the entire summer.
That's what had happened and it was why he was in his room, numb and his voice raw from screaming and crying. He wasn't sure if his mom had found him or he had finally lost his voice and his tears before shuffling back inside. He knew a part of him should be going to find Murasaki but he didn't care. It was over, it was all over. The last almost two months had been pure hell. And soon enough, he would have to act like none of it happened and move on with his life. Sighing, he laid back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, memories of the girls plaguing him as time passed.
Eight kilometers above Mars, a man was drifting in the atmosphere. He was half naked, his hair was long and he was watching the planet. His name was Kars and he was a Pillar Man. Pillar Men were a race of ancient humanoid super beings. They used to flourish the world, though by now, there weren't many left. Kars was probably the only one left, which he didn't mind. In fact, he preferred it that way.
Now, above Mars, he smiled to himself, holding what looked like a balloon. The balloon was definitely not what humans would consider to be a normal balloon though, as it was in the shape of an eye. Not only was the man odd looking, especially with the horns on his head, but the balloon was five kilometers long. "Now," He muttered to himself, looking around. "Now, I should be ready!"