After seeing that Ken’s expression now didn’t look so good, Daichi quickly backtracked. “I mean, it was just a dream right? There’s no need to look so worried big bro.”
“It wasn’t just a dream…” Ken admitted.
“Huh? What are you talking about? You’re alive, right in front of me.” Daichi replied, wearing an incredulous expression.
Ken let out a sigh, inwardly cursing at Mika for doing what she did. He wasn’t sure what her intentions were, but Ken decided that it was time to tell his brother a little story.
“The truth is… What you saw really happened in the past.” Ken said, his expression serious. “I truly died that night after accidentally overdosing when I mixed up my medication.”
“W—Wait big bro, what are you talking about? Can you hear yourself right now?” Daichi didn’t seem to believe him, at least not yet.
“I know it might sound ridiculous, but just listen to me Daichi. The life that I lived is not something that I am proud of. Back then I was selfish and pushed everyone away after I was injured, but I wanted to change all of that in this life.” Ken stated.
Before his brother could ask anymore questions, Ken continued. “After I overdosed, I woke up at home in my bed in Yokohama at the age of 14 with all my memories intact.”
Daichi frowned, clearly still not believing his words.
“I was given another chance… A chance to make things right once and for all.” He said, speaking from the heart.
“Do you remember the day you transfered to Seiko? How I spoke to you as if we’d known each other for years?”
Daichi’s eyes widened briefly, but it only seemed to make him more confused. “But that doesn’t prove anything. Weren’t you like that with everyone?”
Ken shook his head vigorously.
“I don’t know why, but you were the only person in my previous life that still cared for me after I pushed everyone away. If you hadn’t have come to my apartment that night, I probably wouldn’t have been discovered for weeks.” Ken admitted.
“Which was why I knew I had to make it up to you in this life. I felt guilty that I never got to know the real you, despite you being my best friend in the world… When I found out your mom was abusing you, I knew that I needed to save you. It was the least that I could do.” He continued.
“Wait… So if what you’re saying is true, why didn’t you help me in your previous life? If I was your best friend in the world, wouldn’t you have done something?” Daichi said wearing a frown.
Ken’s expression faltered, his guilt creeping up. “I never knew… I didn’t deserve you back then.”
“So everything you did for me in this life, was because you felt guilty?”
Now Ken frowned in response. This was not the direction he expected the conversation to go. It was one thing for Daichi to believe his words, but another to take it in such a way.
“Little bro… All I wanted to do was be someone who was worthy of being your best friend. As for any hidden motives, I promise you there were none.” Ken replied, his words sincere.
The words seemed to calm Daichi a little, but he still seemed out of sorts.
“This is too much… I need some time to process what you’ve told me.” Daichi said, rubbing the side of his head.
“I understand.” Ken said, placing a hand upon his shoulder. “Take all the time you need, if you have anything that you want me to clear up, just ask me.”
Daichi moved back, removing the hand on his shoulder. He was silent for a while before speaking, “Have you told anyone else? Mom, Dad? Ai?”
Ken felt his heart ache slightly at Daichi’s aversion, but he shook his head slowly in response. “You’re the first. It seems as if you were forced to see that vision after taking the medicine I gave you…”
Daichi nodded, “So I think its safe to assume that if I didn’t see that vision, you would never have told me?”
Ken hesitated, realizing that he needed to choose his next words carefully. If he answered dishonestly now, it could adversely affect their relationship.
“Daichi… That past is painful and something that I would rather forget. I told you because you are my brother and I didn’t want to lie to you, despite how bizarre it might sounds.” He admitted.
“I see.”
Daichi spoke those two words before turning on his heel and heading back towards the house. Ken could only watch his figure leave. He wanted to say more, but there was nothing else that he could say in this situation that would make things right.
‘Mika… We need to chat.’ Ken said in his mind, his anger rising.
Meanwhile, Daichi was struggling to come to terms with Ken’s words. Quite frankly, the vision had scared him considerably. The desolation he felt after seeing his mother, Tetsuhiro and Ken’s lifeless body was something that would stick with him.
To hear that these events actually happened somehow left him questioning everything.
But on the other hand, comparing his current life to back then was the difference between Heaven and Earth. Not only was he adopted by the Takagi family, he also had a fiance and had reached the Majors.
This life was truly something to be proud of.
But was it all real?
[If you found out that the world as you knew it was going to disappear and you could stop it, what would you do?]
Daichi remembered these words that Ken had told him back then after he’d filmed those videos for social media. He was able to gloss over these irrational words back then as mere hypothetical dialog, yet after this last conversation… It seemed there was more to it.
‘Just what else is he hiding?’