"I'm already dead."

"What the fuck?" I spat out the first thing that came on my mind. "That's not funny!"

"I'm serious." He said, adjusting his eyeglasses.

How can one be dead and talk at the same time? Am I insane? What the fuck?

I didn't reply and just gave him the most dafuq face I can muster.

"... Want some crêpe? My treat."

Crêpe!?

Oh man.

Did he just bribe me to believing him?

"Crêpe!" I cheered.

~~~~~~~~

I took bites from my food while being gently pushed by Rei on a swing.

We stopped on a playground after buying crêpe and I forced him to play with me on the swing. The sky was showing a tint of orange as the sun started to descend down.

"... Can you explain why you just said you're 'dead'?" I asked after a long silence.

I was curious and eager to know.

He stopped pushing me for a second.

"It's true." He said, pushing me again. "... Do you remember about the hypothesis we made?"

I don't remember?

"Uh?"

He softly sighed.

"That we came from a different dimension?"

"Ohhh! Yes, I do remember! Continue."

"My daily life in my dimension is pretty much a lively one. I have three seniors; a water obsessed one, a mother, and a crybaby. There's also a childish one which is the same grade as me."

"Oh my gosh, Nagisa! I ship it!" I literally screamed.

"What?"

Holy crêpe. He'll discover the doujinshis I read about Reigisa if our conversation continue in this direction.

"... Nothing! Go on, go on!" I stuffed the crêpe on my mouth to stop myself from interrupting him.

"I was pretty content. Until one day..." He completely stopped pushing the swing, getting a proper grip on its chain. "I was injured on my right shoulder blade a week before my club's competition. I didn't have the will to tell my seniors about it. Instead of resting, I pushed myself to practice whenever I'm alone. Day and night. One time, the injury was hurting a lot. I didn't have the strength for any warm ups so I skipped such important step. After all, I only planned to do one lap..." He trailed off.

I hate where this is going.

"While in the middle of finishing my lap, my shoulder blade started to hurt. I didn't stop. I thought to myself, 'I'm almost finished. Just a bit more.' ... But due to lack of warm up, my leg had a cramp. A painful one. " He let out a dry laugh. "Two different spots hurt at the same time and so, I panicked.

"With panic comes the part where I can't move any of my muscles. I was immobilized. The water was consuming me. My lungs begged for air but instead of air, it got water. Lots and lots of water.

"My consciousness was fading. But before completely losing it, the first thing that flashed through my mind was them."

His voice started to shake. He was crying. For some reason, I felt a soft pinch in my chest. As a reflex, I decided to stand up. However, Rei held me down, his arms wrapped around my waist as his head rested on the crook of my neck.

"I look not so perfect. Don't look." He said as I felt warm droplets falling on my skin.

"You don't know how much worried I was when I see you not emerging from the pool. I can feel the suffocation I felt back then. I don't want you to feel the hopelessness I felt. I don't want you to die.

"... I don't want to lose you, a person who made me see the other side of things. The things I haven't experienced within my 16 years of existence. To search which place is good for dating. To pick clothes for someone. To cook for someone. To tell someone 'Welcome home.'

"... There are so many things I have done for the past five months and I cherish each one of them.

"Sometimes I think 'What if I remained dead?' Then does that mean that I won't be able to do these source of happiness?"

Hearing these words brought tears to my eyes, stung my heart, stopped my brain from functioning, and rendered my mouth speechless.

I gently put my hand on top of Rei's that was resting on my waist.

"Is my hand warm?" I asked, my voice close to a whisper.

"Very warm." He whispered, grasping on it.

"You can feel my warmth, right?" I continued. "Then it means that you're alive.

"What happened in your world won't happen ever again. I'll stay by your side. Shintaro and me, okay?"

"... Alright."

We stayed like that for a long time, watching the sun set peacefully.

~~~~~~~

"What took you two for so long!?" Shintaro asked, horns growing on his head.

He was waiting for us outside the house, a look of distaste plastered on his face.

"We went to go and take a walk around the park." I answered, waving my hands around with a sheepish smile and head tilt.

Shintaro eyed me for a minute before completely looking away. "W-whatever."

"Midorima, should we tell her?" Rei asked out of the blue.

"Tell who what?" I asked, seeing Shintaro frown than his usual frown.

Is this some sort of secret code I need to decipher?

"That's stupid." Shintaro said. "There's no way we are telling her."

He turned around, entered the house, and locked the door forcefully.

Is he in his man period? I don't get what just happened.

"Hey, Shintarot card!" I called out, following him.

I felt a soft tug on my wrist. I looked back and saw Rei with a small smile.

"He's cranky. Let us let him be, shall we?" Rei offered.

"... Alright."

~~~~~~

"Ah. A person that asks for a second chance, huh?" A female's voice asked the blue haired male.

They were in a darkly lit room. Amidst the darkness are some visible plushies and merchandise loitered.

In the middle of the room was a throne in which sat a lady that had her facial features hidden well with a black mask labeled "2" on its forehead. She has raven hair and wears a black dress that reaches her knees. She doesn't wear any foot clothing, exposing her pale pair of feet. Her aura was ominous that even the tall male in front of her was nervous.

"Rei Ryugazaki." She casually said. "What is it that you desire?"

"Wh-who are you?" Rei asked, trying to keep himself composed.

"Oh, nothing. Just a fan." The lady released a cold laugh. "Too bad you died though."

"... A stupid reason to top that."

Rei visibly flinched.

"So it's not a dream...?" He asked himself out loud. "... Why am I still moving then? Is this afterlife?"

The lady giggled. "Silly! This place is too friendly for it to be the afterlife!"

"Welcome to the realm in between worlds and afterlife!" She enthusiastically threw her arms up. "You have one strong wish that  has called for my intention, a magician of the intersecting dimensions!"

She glanced at Rei with a challenging look. "I wonder what would that wish be?"

"Isn't it obvious!? I want to continue living!" Rei's voice increased its volume.

Everything appears ridiculous but he doesn't even care anymore. He just wants to live again.

The lady laughed again. "I love your enthusiasm! You're amusing. Fine! I'll accept your wish." There was a short pause. "However, you should fulfill my task!"

"Task?"

"Equivalent exchange, my dear butterfly."

Rei gulped. "... What is it?"

"Oh come on! Don't rush things!" Another giggle came from the girl. "You're making me more and more excited with that attitude!

"Fine! I'll give you a hint!"

A sinister grin appeared on the lady's face. "You'll entertain me. "

=======

(Bakamono: The ending is near!

What do you guys think will happen?)