Chapter Text
She never expected to see him break down in the storage room.
But there was Noriko, watching Akiba Taku's brains spill onto the floor.
What can you do in that moment?
The moment you realize your best friend is gone?
"Please…" She begged. Her eyesight was foggy with tears, but hey, that was better than seeing his head caved in, right? "Akiba…wake up…"
Noriko shook him by the shoulder. "Awaken…awakeeen…" She sniffed. She put one hand on his cheek and began to cry. "Re…Revive…revive…!" But even as she pleaded with the gods to fix him, her cries for help went unanswered.
It wasn't fair.
Couldn't he have lived?
Couldn't they just wait?
Noriko sobbed.
They couldn't have him yet.
She held him in her embrace. Or, rather, she held his body.
He was hers first.
Chest to chest, but only one beating heart.
He was her best friend first.