~Hachiman's POV~
Youth is both a lie and a form of evil. Those who glorify their youth are merely deceiving themselves and those around them day in and day out. They look at everything around them through rose-tinted glasses, seeing the world as a wonderful, beautiful place… right?
If it were in the past, I probably would have spoken along those lines. But... after having joined the Service Club for a period of time—due to an essay written from a pessimistic worldview, a certain teacher forced me into the club—you cannot deny that a part of it, or perhaps even more than that, really is as I said. Since then, things have changed. It seems I myself have become more open-minded. Even so, that does not mean I have lowered my guard, because I know full well that if it happens again, I might never be able to stand back up.
….
At the main road, today is the opening day of the new semester. I, Hikigaya Hachiman, am on my way to school. Lately, it has been spring, which is more suitable for traveling on foot than using a vehicle.
The blooming cherry blossoms are like the opening of a new world. The faint scent of the cherry blossoms provides a sense of relaxation. A good time like this is hard to come by.
Just as I thought... being alone with nature really is the best. Come to think of it, this situation is just like when the school semester first opened.
At that time, I went to school earlier than usual because the weather was nice and I wanted it to be a fresh start for my youth. But about halfway there, an unexpected event occurred. A dog was about to be hit by a car while crossing the road. It looked like the leash on the dog's neck had come undone. At that moment, my brain didn't process anything at all. The body always moves before the brain. But because of that recklessness, my leg ended up broken. I had to stay in the hospital for up to 3 months... Of course, we cleared that matter up completely. It turned out to be the dog of my fellow club member…
"Sigh… I hope an event like that won't happen again. No... even if it happens again, it's not like I have to rush in without thinking like before—"
Before the words could fully leave my mouth, at that very moment...
"Kid, get out of the way!!"
"Erin!!!"
"Huh?"
On the crosswalk, a middle school girl was about to cross the road. And it seemed the car rushing that way couldn't brake in time. In that split second, my body moved before my brain just like before. It could be said that there was never a time where I threw myself in completely as much as this. Before the car hit the girl, I pushed her far enough out of the car's trajectory. After that....
"Screeeeeech—! THUD!!"
A sensation akin to being struck squarely in the ribs by a giant iron mallet. The whole world spun wildly until the horizon and the road merged into one. Pain surged through my body for a mere split second before being replaced by a chilling numbness. The faint, sweet scent of cherry blossoms vanished, replaced by the burning smell of tires and the raw, metallic stench of blood. The final image I saw was that the girl was safe...
"Cough—! cough—ugh…!"
"Big brother! Are you okay! Big brother!!"
"Kid! Hey! Kid, stay conscious! Someone call an ambulance, quick!!"
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts so damn much! It suffocates, I can't breathe!..
Heh, how laughable. Even though I warned myself, in the end, I'm still the same fool who never learns, aren't I? This time, it probably isn't just a broken leg….. But even so, seeing that the girl is safe, instead of feeling regret for my own foolish action, I feel relieved instead— My consciousness faded away, along with the darkness that gradually crept in to envelop everything. Ah, Komachi will definitely cry her eyes out after finding out about my death..
Even though I didn't expect my own ending to be good, when it actually happened, it was still disappointing after all.
...…..