Faiz Epilogue

Mari Sonoda hated the snow.

Especially the snow that fell on Christmas.  

That was why Mari prayed with all her heart that the weather would hold as she walked through town with Takumi on Christmas day. 

“What’re you just spacing out there for? C’mon, get walking already.” 

Takumi called out to Mari who was standing still, looking up at the sky. 

“Calm down geez. You always love to be such a pain.” 

Mari jogged to catch up with Takumi. 

They were on their way to buy Christmas tree decorations and toys. 

They had already finished decorating the tree a week ago, but today Keitarou and Naoya suddenly insisted that the tree be even more flashy. 

They said that Yuusuke would be even happier if the tree sparkled and glittered more. 

Mari couldn’t say no once she heard Yuusuke’s name get brought up. 

Takumi was the same. 

They were all weak to Yuusuke. 

Two months had passed since Naoya suddenly showed up at Kikuchi Cleaning with a baby in his arms. 

“Look, it’s my kid. He’s pretty damn cute, huh? We’re gonna live here together from now on, so be grateful.” 

And Naoya moved into the house just like that. 

Keitarou was surprised at first, but he soon welcomed the two of them. 

After all, Keitarou’s dream was to make people all over the world happy. 

He likely wouldn’t turn down anyone that came to his door, even if it happened to be the most violent criminal out there. 

Upon being asked for the baby’s name, Naoya responded saying it was Yuusuke. 

No one believed that Yuusuke was really Naoya’s child. 

He was just too cute for that to be true.

At first, Mari found it annoying that Yuusuke always pined for Keitarou. 

She often teased and bullied Keitarou out of jealousy. 

But it didn’t bother him at all. 

Keitarou monopolized Yuusuke’s love without any guilt whatsoever. 

And he showered him with his own love as well.

As if he was his own child. 

  

The town was covered in Christmas decorations. 

The ringing of Christmas bells could be heard everywhere. 

Numerous people in Santa Claus costumes were handing out fliers and telling everyone to visit their shops with loud voices. 

Mari suddenly came to a stop in front of a small musical instrument store. 

A beautiful classic guitar was being advertised in the front window.  

Mari pulled back Takumi who was walking away and flashed him a smile. 

“Hey, hold on.” 

“What?” 

“Here, this’ll be my Christmas present for you.” 

She pointed at the guitar at the front window. 

“I don’t want it.” 

Takumi walked away as if to escape, but Mari forcefully pulled him into the store. 

  

There were Christmas songs playing at Kikuchi Cleaning as well. 

Keitarou was drawing with crayons with Yuusuke on his lap as the music played from the radio. 

Christmas dishes were laid out on the table, showing that preparations were completely taken care of. 

Once Takumi and Mari returned, they would be all set. 

Their fun party with everyone would begin. 

Just earlier, Naoya couldn’t wait any longer to see Yuusuke’s happy face and ended up opening the present he bought for him. 

It was a monster mask made of rubber. 

“Look, Yuusuke! It’s awesome, huh? Try putting it on.” 

But Yuusuke cried in protest and hit Naoya’s face with the monster mask. 

“Hey, that’s no way to act to your father!” 

“You’re still calling yourself the father? No one believes that, you know.” 

Keitarou spoke while embracing Yuusuke. 

In order to appease Yuusuke’s crying, he began drawing a picture with the crayons. 

Yuusuke would always calm down when he did that, no matter how foul of a mood he would be in. 

Keitarou drew cars, planes, and finally a portrait of Yuka’s face. 

He wanted Yuusuke to know about the person he loved more than anyone else. 

Yuusuke made a wide smile as he kept looking at Yuka’s face. 

  

Saya placed a small tree onto the table. 

It was pretty much naked with hardly any decorations on it at all. 

“Merry Christmas, Masato.” 

Saya spoke to the bed that laid in the darkness. 

Masato, who wasn’t even shaped like a human anymore, wriggled from atop the bed. 

“What’s wrong, Masato? There’s nothing to worry about.” 

Saya embraced Masato’s body that was continuing to struggle about. 

“I’ll protect you, forever and ever…” 

The faint light from the single decoration on the tree illuminated its branches. 

  

“You don’t have to get that mad over it.” 

Mari called out to Takumi from behind with a guitar in her arms. 

“I said I didn’t want it, so why’d you have to go buy it anyway?” 

His displeasure was written plainly on his face as Takumi continued to walk at a brisk pace. 

“It’s a present! Plus, today’s Christmas, so I thought it’d be nice if you played it for everyone. I’m sure Yuusuke would love it.” 

“I don’t want to.” 

He’s as stubborn as always. 

Mari then suddenly came to a stop and spoke out. 

“You don’t have to put up that act anymore, you know.”

“What are you talking about?” 

“Everyone already knows what kind of person you are, so you don’t have to put up that act anymore.” 

Takumi stopped walking and looked at the guitar. 

“Oh wait, are you just not confident since it’s been a while? Then you can just play for me for now, then.” 

At first, she wanted to tell him she wanted him to only play for her, but she couldn’t bring herself to say something so embarrassing. 

But despite that, Takumi still wouldn’t say yes. 

“Let’s settle this with rock paper scissors, then.” 

That was her final plan. 

“I don’t want to.” 

“Oh, so you’re running away.” 

“Who the hell’s running?!” 

But it was Takumi who won. 

Mari had a shocked expression on her face as she looked at the fist she threw out. 

Takumi smirked with pride. 

He then looked up at the sky, as if someone was calling for him, and began listening to his surroundings. 

For just a moment, a lonely shadow passed across his face. 

Mari looked at Takumi with a curious look. 

“Fine.” 

Takumi spoke as Mari looked at him. 

“I’ll play it.” 

Takumi’s face had returned to normal. 

  

Takumi and Mari sat on a bench in the park together. 

Takumi set the guitar case on his lap and opened the lid. 

He then took out the guitar and started tuning it. 

He strummed the six strings and rotated the pegs.  

He then strummed the strings again. 

His fingers slid up the neck as a melody began to play out. 

It was a strong yet kind melody. 

Mari closed her eyes and listened to the sound that seeped into her. 

It was like the melody was carrying her and bringing her to some faraway place. 

Somewhere calm and warm, somewhere beautiful with clean air. 

Suddenly the sound was disturbed and the playing stopped. 

Mari was brought back to the bench in the park and opened her eyes. 

Ash trickled down from Takumi’s fingers that had stopped touching the strings. 

Takumi’s eyes were closed and unmoving. 

Mari remembered what Saya said. 

Orphnochs don’t live for very long… 

“Takumi!” 

Mari shouted while strongly gripping onto his fingers. 

Her strength just barely kept the ash from flowing out. 

Takumi’s limp head fell against Mari’s shoulder. 

Mari put his arms around her and stood up. 

You can’t do this to me, Takumi! You can’t die! 

Mari began walking while supporting Takumi’s body. 

When they were children, Takumi had saved Mari by carrying her on his back. 

So this time I’ll support you, Takumi. 

But Mari didn’t know where she should go. 

She just told herself that she had to start walking. 

She felt that she had to move forward no matter what. 

Mari remembered the promise she made with that young boy, with Takumi. 

To live strongly. 

To live justly. 

That’s right, Takumi, you can’t die. I still haven’t kept my promise to you yet. 

But how am I even supposed to keep that promise? 

Mari still didn’t know what it meant to live strongly and to live justly. 

But she was determined that she’d find the answer to that eventually. 

Because that was the promise she made with Takumi. 

At some point, the snow had begun falling. 

The snowflakes fell onto Takumi’s eyelids. 

His eyelids then slowly opened up. 

The falling snow filled his vision. 

For the first time in her life, Mari found the snow to be beautiful. 

 

<- Previous Chapter | Next Chapter ->