“How did I fall in love with such a guy?” Nino thought as he watched Ohno prepare for yet another fishing spree.
“You sure you’re not coming?” Ohno asked with a smirk on his face.
“Yeah, sure! Just let me vomit on your face when I get seasick. I’m gonna be fine here. Don’t worry about me coz I’m gonna be fine sitting all alone in this apartment, patiently waiting for my very lovely partner to come home.” Nino said with a hint of sarcasm.
Ohno smiled and smoothed Nino’s hair. “I’d be home early. I promise.”
“You’d better be home early. Or else…” Nino paused for a while and thought about the possible punishments he could give. But no matter how hard he tried, he just didn’t want to pressure his dearest Oh-chan into quitting what he truly loves. “You take care…” he just said in submission.
“I will.” Ohno said as he laid a gentle and loving kiss on Nino’s forehead.
Ohno reeled in a “rainbow runner” or in Japanese, a “buri”, which he thought would be great to bring home to his Kazu-chan. “I’m in trouble!” he said as he looked at his watch and realized that it was almost midnight. The “early” he promised wasn’t as early as he thought it would be.
When Ohno reached home, he was greeted by an unwelcoming sight. A sight that he never thought he’d arrive to and a sight that he never wanted to arrive to. Two police cars are parked in front of their house, yellow tape around their front yard, people beyond the yellow tape. Ohno dropped his rod and the icebox that he was holding and ran into the house.
First person he sees is Sho with puffy eyes.
“What’s wrong?!” Ohno asked immediately. Sho’s silence gave him goosebumps. He tried to run towards the living room but Sho caught him and held him strongly in place. He could feel Sho shivering.
“What the hell is wrong?! Tell me! NINO!” he shouted. He wanted Nino to walk out of the living room and tell him that there was nothing wrong. But instead of Nino walking out, it was Jun.
“Oh-chan…” he said trying to be strong. “Nino’s… Nino’s gone.”
With those words, Ohno pushed Sho aside and ran into the living room. Tears fall from his eyes as he sees Nino lying on the floor, lying in his own blood.
He wanted to run towards his Kazu-chan but the police asked Sho and Jun not to let him near the body.
It broke his heart as he watched them go around Nino's body like he wasn’t once human.
Aiba was the nearest one to the body. He was crying non-stop.
"Where were you?!" he asked.
Ohno didn't answer.
"Are you deaf?! Where were you?!" Aiba was now standing.
"I.... fishing..." Ohno replied in disgust. He felt disgusted with himself and at that moment, he just hated himself so much.
“You said you’ll take care of him!” Aiba shouted. “You bastard! You promised you’ll take care of him!”
Sho and Jun both looked surprised as Aiba suddenly exploded.
“Fishing?! You went fishing?! Nino told you someone was calling him giving him those threats! But what?! You leave him for those fucking fishes?!”
Jun ran to Aiba’s side and tried to comfort the guy. “No Jun! He was my friend. He was my friend even before all of you became his friends! Even before he and that moron started living together! If I had known that that fucking moron can’t take care of him then I shouldn’t have trusted him!”
“I… I deserve it.” Ohno said in a defeated tone. “I should’ve been here.”
“Sssssh.” Jun ran a hand along Aiba’s back. “Let’s not do this.”
Aiba realized that he already said his piece so he sat down again.
The police carried Nino’s body out in a cadaver bag, a scene that Ohno can’t bear to watch.
Sho talked to the police while Jun made some tea for the other guys. Ohno was slumped on the dining table, now unable to cry due to disbelief. It just won’t sink into him.
“What happened?” Ohno asked when all 4 of them were sitting in the dining area.
“10 stab wounds, one on the chest, which…”
Now, Ohno started to cry again. “I’m sorry Kazu-chan. I’m really sorry.”
“Someone called the police and told them that a man covered in blood came running out of your house.” Sho said.
“But it seems that the man has been inside the house long enough. The police came immediately after the call but when they saw Nino, he was already 2 hours gone.” Jun added.
Ohno just couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He closed his eyes tight wishing that he could turn back the time. But he knew he couldn’t . He just couldn’t.
“You guys go home. I’ll stay with Ohno for tonight.” Jun said.
“Okay. I’ll drop by the police station first.” Sho said.
Aiba didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to talk. He just wanted to cry.
Ohno reached out and held Aiba firmly on the arm. “Aiba, I didn’t want this to happen. I love him.”
“I know.” Aiba said but left without looking at Ohno.
When the two left, Ohno let lose. He let everything out.
“Jun, I shouldn’t have left him alone. It’s all my fault. He was telling me that someone was giving him threats. I knew…. I heard him…. But I wasn’t listening to him…. Jun! What should I do?! I can’t…. without Nino….”
“Sssssh. Ohno, it’s not your fault. If it hadn’t happened here, it would’ve happened somewhere else, some other time. The police said that the guy was mentally unstable so there’s no stopping him. The way he ki…” Jun stopped and tried to think of another word. He didn’t want to think about Nino being killed. “The way the guy did it to Nino it was just…”
“Unfair. Jun I’d do anything just to have him back…” Ohno said in between sobs. “I’d give up everything just to have him here with us now.”
“I know Ohno, I know.”
Ohno sat down on the bed while wishing that Nino was still there, playing with his DS, just like the old times. But no matter how hard he wished, Nino just didn’t pop up in front of him.
This ain’t like their usual fights where he’d only say the magic word “sorry” and everything will be okay again.
“Nino… I’d do everything. Just come back to me.” Ohno said closing his eyes, tears keep on falling until he falls asleep.
“Oh-chan…” butterfly kisses on the jaw wake Ohno up.
“Wha… huh?!” Ohno exclaimed in disbelief. He reached his hands out and gave Nino a tight hug.
“Umppph… Oh-chan! I can’t breathe you know!” Nino said struggling to let go but enjoying the feeling of Ohno’s warm body against him.
“Nino… I love you!” he said.
“Huh? Ohno, are you okay? Is something wrong? Are you sick?” Nino asked.
“No. I’m just happy to see you.”
It was weird for Nino because since the day they started living together, he's never heard those words from Ohno before.
“You’ll be late for your trip to Okinawa. Get up. I made you some breakfast.”
Ohno didn’t move. He just sat there.
“You’re going fishing aren’t you?” Nino asked.
Ohno held Nino’s hand tight. “No, never again. I’m staying here, with you.”
Nino’s jaw dropped. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Let’s just say fishing gives me nightmares.” He said and pulled Nino in for a morning kiss.