Epilogue
Back then, we did not understand that in times like these we needed to stick together, and we let go too far of the one who was closest to us.

A terrible disease struck the world. The virus exists in the bodies of all people. The problem is that no one knows exactly when it will awaken in a particular person. A day before death, the victim feels weakness; then a severe headache begins, and the person dies.

Characters

Isami (Bravery) Kiyoshi (Quiet) — 15 years old, brunette, serious, gloomy, 170 cm, dark green eyes

Morio (Forest Boy) Hoshino (star + field) — 15 years old, brown-haired, cheerful, positive, 170 cm, brown eyes

Amaya (Evening Rain) Komatsu (Little Pine) — 15 years old, white hair, grey eyes, 158 cm, kind, sad.

Chapter 1

Let’s always be together

Park

Morio: Tell me honestly, are you really going to school? Why do we even need to go there? It’s booooring! Boring, boring, boring! I don’t want to!

Kiyoshi: If we don’t go, it’ll be total chaos.

Morio: God. The end of the world is about to come anyway, and you’re still the same. Let’s go to the river instead.

Kiyoshi: If you want, go. I’m going to school.

Morio: Why are you so drawn to school? Or maybe… (spreads into a smile) you want to see someone? (puts his elbow on Kiyoshi’s shoulder; Kiyoshi freezes)

Kiyoshi silently walks forward, not paying attention.

Morio crashes into a tree.

Morio (getting up and brushing off his pants): Alright, alright. No need to sulk like that. Let’s go to school.

School

Kiyoshi looks at Amaya’s desk. Morio looks at Kiyoshi. Understanding everything, Morio abruptly jumps up from his desk and approaches Amaya.

Morio: Ami-chan, Ami-chan, how are you?

Ami: Fine. And you?

Morio: I’m good, too! Everything’s great! (smiles) Listen, answer me one question.

Ami (surprised): What?

Morio: Do you have a boyfriend?

Ami: What? (surprised) Nooo… Why?

Morio: Just like that, it’s just that Ki… (his words are cut off as Kiyoshi grabs him by the collar and drags him away)

Rooftop

Kiyoshi: Are you crazy?! What are you doing?!

Morio: You’re my best friend. I’m not going to watch you pine away by the window.

Kiyoshi: It doesn’t matter! She must not know!

Morio: But why?

Kiyoshi: Why should she? What’s the point? And did you even see her? Why would the most beautiful and smartest girl in our class, no, in our whole school, pay attention to me? And there’s this virus too. What can I give her in times like these? I’m just a weak, useless kid. Who knows, maybe I’ll die tomorrow…

Morio: Idiot! If you think every day that you’ll die tomorrow, you won’t even live a week!

Kiyoshi: But I can’t do anything about it! This virus…

Morio: Virus-shmirus. If you really love her, go and confess. Don’t be afraid! If you die tomorrow, at least you won’t regret that you haven’t even tried.

Kiyoshi starts thinking.

End of classes. Classroom

Kiyoshi: Amaya-san, can I talk to you for a minute?

Ami: Oh, Kiyoshi. Yes, of course. Did something happen?

Kiyoshi: I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time… a very long time… You… I… I really like you. And even though the situation in the world is what it is, I…

Ami: Kiyoshi (Amaya pauses). Thank you. Really. But… I’m sorry.

Kiyoshi: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…

Ami: No, no. Don’t misunderstand me (she lowers her head). It’s not about you. It’s just that my family is moving to another city. They say the mortality rate there is lower and… (looks somewhere far away)

Kiyoshi: I’m sorry. I should have found out everything first and not rushed.

Ami: It’s okay. Don’t worry (starts packing her things). I’m sorry, I really need to get home. Goodbye… (her eyes fill with tears and she runs out of the classroom)

Kiyoshi: But we’ll meet again!

Ami doesn’t answer and keeps running without turning around. Her tears can no longer be stopped.

Morio watches everything from afar.

Kiyoshi: I knew it…

Ami’s Home

Ami is sitting on the floor, quietly crying.

Ami: Just think… Kiyoshi… Kiyoshi confessed to me. For so many years, I liked him, and he confessed today of all days.

And I… I couldn’t even tell him the same in return. I couldn’t even answer him properly. What must he think of me now?

And what was I supposed to do? Tell him that I love him too, and then die the next day?.. No, I don’t want him to die! (starts loudly crying)

Why can’t I live just a little longer? Why is the world so cruel? An unknown virus has to kill me without letting me live properly, spend time with friends, start dating. Why is life so unfair! How I hate this world!

༄˖°.🪐.ೃ࿔:･ ༄˖°.🪐.ೃ࿔:･

Kiyoshi spends the whole day at home, gloomy and depressed.

After school, Morio spends the entire day near Ami’s house.

Night. Kiyoshi’s House

Someone throws a stone at Kiyoshi’s window. Barely getting out of bed, blinking his swollen eyes, he looks out the window and sees Morio standing below.

Kiyoshi: Are you crazy? Don’t you have anything better to do?

Morio: Let’s go look at the stars.

Kiyoshi: What? Why? Why so suddenly?

Morio: I don’t know… (laughs) What if this is the last day we can look at them?

Kiyoshi: What nonsense are you talking about now?

Morio: I’m joking, I’m joking. Come on, get out here.

Park

Because of the densely planted trees, the huge park at night looks almost like a forest. There’s no one around. Just two boys lying on the grass, looking at the stars.

Morio: You know, I think, I know how this disease works.

Kiyoshi: Seriously? And how?

Morio: Are you sure you want to know?

Kiyoshi: Of course, I want to. Why wouldn’t I?

Morio: What if, when I tell you, you die because of it?

Kiyoshi: What…

Morio: Kiyoshi, do you think you’re a strong person?

Kiyoshi: Strong? Hah. I don’t even know (snorts ironically).

Morio: If you’re not strong, then I’m a total weakling (laughs).

Kiyoshi: So what is it in the end? How does the disease work?

Morio: (as if he didn’t hear Kiyoshi, asks in a serious and quiet voice) If I died, would you be sad?

Kiyoshi: (very surprised. Then his face turns angry) What kind of nonsense are you talking?!

Morio: Answer!

Kiyoshi: Of course I would, idiot!

Both fall silent.

Kiyoshi: And if I died… would you cry?

Morio: Yeeeah (his eyes begin to fill with tears)

Kiyoshi: (his eyes also fill with tears)

Morio: (wiping away tears) Then how are you supposed to live if you can’t even be sad?

Kiyoshi: Are you saying that sadness is the virus?

Morio: I thought about it for a long time. It seems like a very logical option.

Kiyoshi: Then if we tell everyone about it, then…

Morio: No, no. Think about it. Even if we tell them, then what? Will people stop being sad? And can a person even not be sad?

Grief is so inherent to humans. And even if I tell you, “Kiyoshi, please don’t be sad, your life depends on it,” and then say, “your classmate died 45 minutes ago,” you can’t just stop being sad.

Kiyoshi: My classmate died? Ami-chan…

Morio: (surprised) So, you knew?

Kiyoshi: Her parents died three days ago.

Morio: Yeah… Most likely she…

Both fall silent.

Kiyoshi: (looks at the stars for a long time. At that moment, a star falls. His eyes fill with tears) Hey, Morio…

Morio: (turns to him. His eyes widen in surprise)

Kiyoshi: Don’t die… At least you, don’t die!

Morio: (smiles, his eyes also fill with tears) No way! Let’s always be together.

Morio slowly pulls Kiyoshi’s head to his chest and sinks deep into thought while Kiyoshi cries loudly.