"…no…"
The word barely left Kai's lips.
It didn't feel real.
It couldn't be real.
He caught Lina as her body gave out, her weight collapsing into his arms like something fragile that had finally broken.
Too light.
She felt too light.
"No, no, no—stay with me—Lina, stay with me!"
His voice cracked, shaking violently as he lowered her to the ground. The rain hadn't started yet, but it felt like he was already drowning.
Blood spread quickly beneath her.
Too fast.
Too much.
His hands pressed against the wound, desperate, useless.
"I'll stop it—I'll stop it, okay? Just—just hold on—"
His hands slipped.
Warm.
Wet.
Red.
"…Kai…"
Her voice was faint.
Barely there.
But it hit him harder than anything else.
"I'm here!" he choked. "I'm right here—I'm not going anywhere!"
Her fingers weakly clutched at his jacket.
Not tightly.
Not strong.
Just… enough to feel him.
"I… can't feel… anything…"
"Don't say that!" His voice rose, breaking apart. "You're fine! You're fine, okay?! Just stay awake—look at me!"
Her eyes struggled to focus.
But when they did—
They softened.
"…you're crying…"
Kai froze.
Only then did he realize—
Tears were falling freely down his face.
He hadn't even noticed.
"…no, I'm not…" he whispered weakly.
She smiled.
Even now.
Even like this.
"…liar…"
His chest tightened so hard it hurt to breathe.
"I'll fix it," he said desperately. "I swear—I'll fix it this time—I just need to—"
"…you always say that…"
The words hit him like a blade.
Because she was right.
Even if she didn't remember—
He did.
"…but you never give up…" she whispered.
His hands trembled.
"…of course I won't… I'm not letting you die…"
Her grip loosened slightly.
"…Kai…"
"Yeah? I'm here!"
"…it's okay…"
His world stopped.
"…what?"
"…you don't have to try so hard… all the time…"
"No," he shook his head quickly, panic rising. "No—don't say that—I'm saving you, okay? That's what I do—"
"…you always try to save everyone…"
Her voice faded.
Fainter.
Weaker.
"…but who saves you…?"
Kai's breath caught.
"…Lina…?"
Her hand slipped from his jacket.
And just like that—
She was gone.
Silence.
No scream.
No sound.
Just emptiness.
"…no…"
The word came out hollow.
Broken.
"I said I'd save you…"
His voice shook uncontrollably.
"…so why… why can't I…?"
The world shattered.