Chapter 19: Heavy Rain, Heavy Heart
"Ei."
Bright’s grip on Eirin’s hand tightened after noticing that the teenage girl wouldn’t budge.
"It’s fine."
Hearing those words brought tears to Eirin’s eyes. "I’m scared," she said with that hoarse voice. For Bright, it felt like an eternity since he last heard the voice of the girl he adores. "I’m afraid that if I look at her now, this will be engraved in my memories. I don’t want to see her lying inside that," Eirin sobbed, as she could not take her eyes off Ava’s portrait.
Bright pulled Eirin into his arms and said, "It’ll be fine. You’ll be fine." He caressed Eirin’s hair while repeating those words. "You can take your time. Ava’s here to wait for you."
Eirin’s anxiousness caused her to move away from Bright, but she continued holding his hand as she moved closer to the casket. ’I want to see her,’ she thought, ’But not like this.’ Fear enveloped her heart as she did not wish to remember Ava as her dead best friend forever, and she still wanted to cherish their memories together.
’I cannot accept this. It feels like every memory will be replaced with a sad one if I saw her here.’
Eirin gulped and peeked inside the casket. Tears immediately fell as she called out her friend’s name. A smile formed on her face after seeing Ava lying there with a seemingly radiant face.
"You look healthy," Eirin’s mouth trembled as she said that. Despite being lifeless, Ava’s skin looked fair and unlike before, she appeared healthier. The one who put her makeup on did a great job of making her look like she was only in a deep slumber. Seeing that caused relief and despair inside Eirin’s heart as she touched the glass.
"Sleep tight, Ava."
Almost all their classmates stared at Eirin while Bright tried to hide her in his arms. It was baffling to see their school idol in a horrible mess.