For The Sake Of Your Smile - Chapter 9

Overcome by a sense of emptiness and helplessness.

Drinking to excess, as though to drown himself.

Shouting at the top of his lungs.

Destroying anything that caught his eye.

But he couldn’t shake the weight in his heart.

A few months had passed since then.

Koji and Suzuka, in search of greater excitement, kidnapped women and violently tore them apart.

Pleas. Despair. Screams.

To Koji, who had opened a new door, everything became a source of pleasure.

And more than anything, Suzuka’s smile was dazzling.

He’s the only one who can bring happiness to Suzuka.

He is the only one who understands Suzuka. Her comrade.

That belief propelled Koji forward.

It was a time of happiness.

However.

Ripping off the insect’s head, tearing off its limbs.

It was the same as when they butchered the dog.

Gradually, they became numb to the stimulation.

Even when a body is torn apart and their organs are gouged out.

Even when they hears their screams of despair.

Their hearts began to feel less and less fulfilled.

They started to get bored.

Suzuka’s smile disappeared.

She spent her days alone, standing by the window, just gazing at the scenery outside.

The only sound that filled the room was the occasional sigh, hollow and empty.

And then.

Before long, Koji stopped smiling too.

However, Koji still hadn’t given up.

In the deepest part of his heart, the vow from that day remained.

――He would die for the sake of Suzuka’s smile.

He had made up his mind.

In a room scattered with corpses, Koji drowned himself in alcohol and pondered deeply.

He would stop at nothing. He would make her happy.

He was brought into this world to meet Suzuka and to make her smile.

He kept reminding himself of that.

And then, one day.

At last, his stress reached its breaking point.

“Aaaaahhh!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Holding a hunting rifle, he shoots at the decapitated heads.

Suzuka, startled by the gunshots, rushed into the room.

“Koji-san, what’s going on?”

“Shut up! Don’t look at me with that emotionless face, don’t talk back! If you have time to argue, think! Think about what would make you happy!”

Suzuka’s face grew tense at Koji’s behavior. However, after a quiet sigh, she made an effort to speak calmly.

“I’m happy as things are right now, just being with you, Koji-san.”

“It’s no good! Noooooo!”

He fired the hunting rifle at the ceiling.

“How could you… That’s so cruel, Koji-san. You promised to make me happy. Was that just a lie?”

“What did you say? Look at this! This pile of corpses! I did all of this for you!

…I’ve tried so hard. I didn’t back down from any danger, I wasn’t afraid of getting caught, all just to make you happy! But it’s all in vain, it was all for nothing!

Looking at you now, I don’t even know why I committed murder! Now, quickly tell me what’s next! What should I do to make you happy? Tell me!”

“Koji-san…”

Suzuka’s eyes were filled with tears.

“Stop with the crying face! Who told you to cry! I told you to smile!”

He glared at Suzuka with bloodshot eyes.

Confused by the fury she was seeing for the first time from Koji, Suzuka tore at her hair and screamed.

“I hate itttttttt! I can’t stand this anymoreeeeeeee!”

“Don’t cry! Smileeeeeeeee!”

The sound of their screams filled the living room.

Eventually. After a while.

He regained his composure and, seeing Suzuka collapse into tears, slumped weakly onto the floor.

Koji whispered, “I’m sorry…”

Suzuka nodded quietly and sat in front of Koji, her shoulders trembling.

“I’m sorry for shouting at you, I hope you can forgive me. But… I can’t live without your smile anymore…

Just being near you made me happy. But… You’re like a doll now… empty, just waiting for time to pass… I can’t stand seeing you like this… Because I love you, it hurts so much… it’s heartbreaking…

I once told you, remember? I’m like a stone thrown into a pond… which can only sink. But now, I can’t even reach the bottom…

Just once. At least one more time, I want to spend a happy moment with you… because I love you…”

“Koji-san…”

Suzuka hugged Koji tightly.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… for making you suffer like this…”

“I haven’t given up yet. I haven’t forgotten my vow to make you happy. So… will you tell me? What can make you happy? Is there really nothing left?”

At those words, Suzuka lowered her gaze.

“Suzuka, there’s nothing left for me to fear. I’ve already committed murder, and I’ll probably be sentenced to the death penalty multiple times.

But I have no regrets. For you, I’ll be sentenced to death as many times as necessary. I’m prepared to face the consequences. So…

I beg you, tell me. What can I do to make you happy? To make you smile?”

“I can’t!”

She closed his eyes and screamed with a trembling voice.

“Suzuka…”

“If I say that, I’ll have to say goodbye to you, Koji-san… I can’t bear that…”

“Suzuka!”

He grabbed Suzuka’s shoulders and shook her violently.

“We are one, we will never be separated. Our love will never waver, no matter what happens. Didn’t we say that? Didn’t we make a vow?

So please, tell me, Suzuka. From the way you said it, it seems like there’s still a way. Trust me and let me know what it is.”

“…”

“Please, Suzuka!”

At Koji’s heated cry. At his desperate plea.

Eventually, Suzuka hung her head and nodded weakly.

“Thank you, Suzuka…”

When Koji hugged her, Suzuka sobbed into his chest.

He smiled at Suzuka, gently stroking her head.

He whispered in her ear, “It’s okay, it’s okay,” again and again.

Eventually, Suzuka raised her head, wiped away her tears, and let out a small sigh.

“You… won’t regret this… right….?”

“…I won’t.”

“Do you remember the promise you made… that you wouldn’t leave me?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“That promise… you’ll have to break it…”

“…”

“There’s only one thing…. left that I desire…”

Koji understood what Suzuka was about to say. But he had already prepared himself.

Tears streamed down Suzuka’s face as she gazed at Koji.

“I… I want to cut Koji-san into pieces…”

He accepted it surprisingly calmly, even to himself.

He was accepting Suzuka’s last wish.

I see… I’ve always wanted to hear these words. He thought.

Koji smiled and gently stroked Suzuka’s head.

“Thank you, Suzuka. You finally said it.”

“Koji-san…”

“You don’t need to cry. Your wish is my wish… I would give my life for your smile.”

Chapter length 3006 characters.