A Collage of Worlds Collided

The night sky lit up with a million stars as a son and his father laid down on the hilllside, looking up. The son was awestruck and filled with wonder; the father tenderly encouraging the emotions that the child conveyed.

"Daddy, one day I want to see everything."

"Is that so?" the man replied with a chuckle.

"Yes. Every star and every planet; I want to see it all!" the child's hand, now outstretched, looked as if it were trying to grab at the air.

The father pulled his son close, and lovingly gave him a hug. "Well, I think you're going to make an amazing astronaut. Just dont fly too close to the sun, okay?" He poked the kid teasingly, who in turn squealed.

"Okay, okay! I promise. I promise."

They both sighed and looked back up at the sky, letting time pass by.

Drip, drip, drip, drip. Silence. Drip, drip, drip, drip. Silence. Kukyo Akamine woke to the sound of droplets hitting his kitchen sink. He slowly sat up and stretched, letting the blanket fall messily onto the floor next to his futon. Picking up his phone, he turned off the alarm that was set to go off in a few minutes. Kukyo looked around tiredly as the sunbeams from his window danced around the dimly lit apartment. The man stood up and groggily began his morning routine. Splashing some water on his face, he looked into the bathroom mirror and an unrecognizeable humanoid met his gaze. He was much different than who he used to be; a "side effect of living" was his go to excuse.

Kukyo Akamine lived, for a lack of better terms, an ordinary life. A bit too ordinary, actually. An average student with average friends, he spent most of his time studying and working, never taking the time to expand any interests. Not that he found anything remotely interesting, for that matter. Once his own mother commmented on how little he owned when he packed his things so he could attend the local university. However back then, he found comfort in the simplicity; always having a cheerful and warm smile everywhere he went.

But as of late, times were hard and he found himself slowly going with the motions, barely reacting to anything that happened. To make ends meet he worked at a cafe a short train ride away from the college, and with the day to day interactions he found it was much easier to feign a smile and just go along with life, secretly letting apathy and meloncholy creep into and take over his life. There was no reason to be happy, or sad, or angry for that matter. Everything was a routine, everything had to be done. There was no end goal in his mind; just death. And even then the thought of death neither repelled him nor attracted him; he simply couldn't care what happened.

His thoughts were interrupted as his phone buzzed on the coffe table. Meandering his way over to it, he picked it up.

'Where the hell are you?

I've been waiting here for 30 minutes

and everyone's on their way to class.

Don't tell me you slept in again.

Geeze you sure are hopeless, lol.

Anyway, I'm heading over tonight.

Don't even try to stop me >-<'

Kukyo sighed. If there was one thing that could bring out what little emotion he had, it could only be her.

Aiko Sumisshingu was essentially Kukyo's childhood friend. At least that's what she thought. From Kukyo's perspective it was more like she force herself onto him, always over the top and eager to get him to "truly smile". Not to mention that more often than not, she would get him involved in...compromising situations. It wasn't until their third year in high school that she confessed to him. Even then he couldn't reciprocate the feelings, but of course it was impossible to say no; and they had been with each other ever since. They went to the same college, and even had a few classes together.

Another text derailed Kukyo's train of thought

'Also, check out this link for me will ya?

I need your opinion on it. Thxxx ;p'

Curious, he clicked on it, only to find himself rolling his eyes. It was picture of a beautifully gold plated sapphire ring. Normally he wouldn't have cared enough to give it a second thought, but when it came to Aiko, he knew better. Lately she had been dropping hints about them getting married. It started off subtle; a few questions here and there about where they wanted to live, what her ring size was ("just in case"), and what kind of animal they should buy when they moved in together. But recently its been as if she'd started planning the wedding without him. In fact, this was the third time this week she had sent him a ring to consider.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

All of this just made him sigh even harder as he slipped on his jeans and t-shirt. She did have a point, though: he was going to be late for class. Quickly packing his bag, he put on his shoes on and quietly made his way outside; ready for another, boring, mundane Monday.

Part 2

Golden sunlight spilled through the train's windows, illuminating the car and its passengers as Kukyo waited for it to stop near his work. It didn't take long before he filed out along with everyone else. After a short walk to the plaza where he worked, the man wandered down the alleyway that separated the cafe from the other establishments.

"Soo, how's Aiko-kun? HmmmMMMM? Dont tell me she's left you already, heh heh." An annoying voice crept up behind him.

"Oh no, she couldn't leave me even if I tried." Kukyo feigned a nervous smile as he held off Emily's overbearing energy.The young woman crossed her arms

"Honestly I dont know what she sees in you" she huffed.

"If it's all the same to you, I don't get it either" Kukyo chuckled.

"Honestly she'd be much better in my ha-" Emily mumbled before a sturn voice cut her off.

"MISS FUKUMOTO! STOP PESTERING YOUR COWORKER AND GET BACK TO WASHING THE DISHES!"

"EEP!" Emily ran off. Kukyo sighed and went to the employee's room to change into his work uniform.

The afternoon passed by slowly, with customers occasionally popping in for a coffee every once in a while. This is always how it was here, and no one really complained. It sure beat working at a fast-food chain, or a retail store. Even eccentric Emily would remark how nice and peaceful things were, but then wonder why the hell her paychecks were so small.

Suddenly the door to the shop swung open, and a very angry man made his way up to the cash register. Not even registering Kukyo, he looked towards the kitchen.

"Can I help yo-"

"WHERE ARE YOU, BITCH! I KNOW YOU'RE THERE! Dont even THINK about leaving here until you've given me your part of the rent!"

Lovely, just what I needed today.

"Sir, what can we do to help you today?" Kukyo smiled half hazardly, noticing the stench of booze on the stranger.

Finally noticing the cashier, the man pointed towards the back of the cafe.

"Go tell that whore of a coworker Emily to meet me out back."

"I dont think-"

"DO IT GODDAMMIT!" Kukyo could feel the spittle flying out of the drunkards mouth.

Sighing he went to the kitchen, and started looking for Emily. Eventually he found her huddled underneath one of the counters. Noticing the tears in her eyes he squatted down next to her, and placed his hand on her head.

"This is your call. What do you want me to do?"

"SHH! He might hear you." she warned in a hushed tone

"Sorry, but we have to do something. Having him here is bad for business."

Strangely Emily giggled a little. "You're alway too matter-of-fact, Kukyo-kun. One of these days we're going to have to change that."

Ouch

"Okay, but, again, we have to do something about..."Kukyo motioned towards the cash register.

Emily rubbed her eyes and started to get up "I guess I'll just try and convince him to wait a bit longer." a worn out look glazed over her eyes.

Are you really going to leave her to the likes of him?

Kukyo grabbed Emily's wrist, who looked just as bewildered as him. Shaking his head he said something he never thought he would.

"Just leave it to me okay?"

"A-are you sure?"

Kukyo just nodded his head in agreement. Motioning for her to wait there, he walked back out.

Bump-bump

"Did you-"

"Sorry, my 'whore of a coworker' doesnt seem to be in today. Perhaps come back some other time?" malicious intent dripped from his voice, catching him off guard.

Bump-bump bump-bump

"You lying prick! I overheard you guys talking! Dont you dare fucking make a fool out of me!" the drunk grabbed the collar of Kukyo's uniform.

Bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump

"What the hell is going on here!?" Kukyo's boss walked in from his smoke break. "Akamine-san do you know this man?!"

Bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump

Kukyo could only hear the racing of his heartbeat and the sound of his fist against the drunk's face as he succumbed to the blackness that encroached his vision.

Bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump bump-bump

Silence.