The waves whispered to the shore like ancient lullabies, their hush and roar blending into the stillness of the night. Aki stood at the edge of the beach, barefoot in the sand, the moonlight casting a silver glow across the vast ocean stretched before him. His pale hair swayed gently with the wind, and his ghostly silhouette shimmered faintly—almost like he belonged to the sea itself.
From behind, footsteps approached slowly.
Aki didn't turn around.
"…You came."
Akira stood beside him now, dressed in black, the wind pulling his dark hair across his face, making him look more alive than he had in days.
For a moment, neither of them said a word. Just the sound of the sea and the weight of silence between them.
Aki broke it first, softly, with a smile in his voice.
"…The ocean looks so beautiful at night, doesn't it?"
"…Hmm."
Aki turned then, facing Akira. His smile dimmed.
"Akira."
Their eyes met. Wind rushed between them as if carrying the unspoken words that had never made it out in time.
Aki's voice came low, like a murmur laced with dread.
"…It's time for you to let go of me."
"There's no use in this," Akira said, his voice flat—trying, and failing, to sound unaffected.
Aki frowned, eyes heavy with sorrow. "…You need to move on. Akira, think about your future."
Akira didn't even blink. "It's my future. It's none of your business."
Aki took a shaky breath, pleading now. "Please try to understand—"
"No," Akira interrupted, eyes burning. "I won't let you go. You want me to lose again? I already lost you once. I'm not doing this again. I can't."
Aki looked down, lips trembling. Then, with a bittersweet gentleness, he said,
"…Okay… then how about this, Akira?"
He reached forward, voice softer than before.
"I promise… I'll meet you in my next life. We'll live together again… hmm?"
Akira didn't speak.
He couldn't.
His throat locked and something twisted violently in his chest.
Aki's eyes shimmered with emotion. "Hey… Akira… uhm… show me the bullet necklace?"
Wordlessly, Akira reached into his coat and pulled it out.
The small silver bullet dangled from the chain, gleaming under the moonlight.
Aki reached out, fingers brushing it tenderly. "This… this was the one closest to my heart. It's why I'm still connected to you."
"…I know," Akira whispered.
Aki's smile trembled. "Then… please… let it go. Set me free."
Akira's eyes widened. He looked at Aki like the world was being taken from him all over again.
"I… I…"
His hand trembled.
Then, breathing in sharply, he gave a tiny nod.
"…Okay," he whispered. "I won't force you to stay. I'll let you go."
Aki smiled. A warm, glowing smile through the tears.
"Thank you, Akira… I wanted to say a proper goodbye before my time ran out. And now… I can."
He took one last look at him.
"I want to thank you… for choosing me. For showing me how to love deeply, how to be loved… I loved you the most, Akira. And I always will."
Akira's heart screamed silently inside his chest. But he nodded—just once—holding back the storm behind his eyes.
He turned toward the ocean.
Opened his palm.
The bullet necklace glinted in the moonlight.
He pressed it to his chest, eyes shut tightly, as if whispering a prayer.
"I wish… I never meet you again in the next life, Aki. My love…"
Then he raised his hand to throw it—but it trembled violently.
His breath caught. His jaw clenched.
And then—
"Be free, Aki! I let you go!!" he shouted, as the necklace flew into the ocean, vanishing beneath the waves.
Aki's body began to glow.
Tiny golden sparkles lifted from his skin as the wind grew stronger.
He opened his arms, like he always did.
"Akira…"
Akira didn't hesitate.
He ran forward, threw his arms around Aki's fading form.
"I love you too…" he whispered, voice cracking like ice breaking.
And then Aki was gone.
Just sparkles.
And Akira collapsed.
On the wet sand, head pressed to the ground, his body curled into itself.
The tears poured, quietly, endlessly.
The waves touched the shore gently. But they did not comfort him.
---
Hours Later
Akira rose from the sand, soaked and empty.
He picked up his shoes, carrying them in one hand, letting them dangle from his fingers. Barefoot, he climbed the concrete stairs slowly.
At the top, his guards stood by the black car.
"Boss, please—get in," one of them said, opening the door.
Akira simply raised his palm to deny it.
Without a word, he turned away and walked.
Down the street.
Alone.
Rain began to fall—not harsh, but soft. Gentle, like Aki's farewell.
His steps echoed.
His voice was a whisper only the streetlights could hear.
""Why doth they pass,
like fleeting shade 'neath moonlit skies,
whilst I—unchanged—do tarry in sorrow's keep?
Why must I stay,
when all else drifts apart?".
(Translation: why people come and go ,
And I stay where I was....why?)
His tears mixed with the rain.
He leaned against a cold stone wall, head low, breath broken.
And finally—finally—
Akira cried.
Cried until his chest hurt.
Until his soul stopped shaking.
Until all that was left was silence.
END OF SEASON 1....
TO BE CONTINUED WITH NEXT SEASON.....