Are you giving up on your wish?

"Is this because of... Akira?" Kaito asked and Akira's eyes immediately widened in shock.

"What... About him?" Akira asked in disbelief and confusion.

For a second there, he wondered if Kaito also had something to do with his death.

Kaito sighed as he spoke, "Don't pretend. I already know how much you hate him. It annoys you that I look out for him, doesn't it?"

Akira almost heaved a sigh of relief as he heard this.

He didn't know why but the thought of Kaito Takahashi having something to do with his murder made Akira feel betrayed. Although they were rivals, Kaito had always treated Akira warmly, and without even having to say, there was a good understanding between them.

If they were not rivals, perhaps they could have become great friends.

"Yuzu, I have already said this before but the one I like is you. Akira is a good friend of mine and I care about him but the two of you cannot be compared and there is no need for you to feel threatened by him."

Akira gulped as he heard this and felt a little surprised.

Kaito had just called him a friend...

Since when did they become friends?!

And Since when did Kaito care about Akira?!

Weren't they rivals?!

"And I know that you don't like it when I talk to him. That's why I have been keeping my distance. But about his fiance... I feel like I really should tell him."

Akira's heart stopped in fear as he heard the word 'Fiance'.

"I don't want him to marry somebody like that. I don't want him to ruin his life by marrying her."

Akira frowned slightly as he asked, "Why? Why can't he marry her?"

"You already know the answer to that," Kaito sighed as he spoke, "It's because she doesn't love him. The one she wants to marry is Asahi Sato. To marry a woman who is in love with somebody else... It's too cruel for Akira, is it not?"

Akira didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry as he heard this.

Akira already knew that Ayami used to like Asahi. However, Ayami had already promised him that she had overcome her feelings for the man and was no longer interested in him.

Akira and Ayami were certainly not getting married because they loved one another, however, there was a clear understanding between them: They respected one another and would never cheat.

"Yuzu, are you okay?" Kaito worriedly asked, looking at Yuzu's face which had turned pale.

Akira gulped as he shook his head and spoke, "It's nothing. I just don't feel so well."

"Then get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow."

Akira nodded his head and closed the door without saying anything more.

Feeling exhausted, Akira lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling as he thought about his life which seemed as if it were filled with lies.

"Mr. Grim Reaper, are you there?" Akira calmly questioned but there was no response.

"I have a question. It's your job to answer my questions, is it not?"

There was still no response from Zaelek.

With a sigh, Akira spoke, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you. I was being ungrateful."

Zaelek finally showed up with his scythe in hand and looked at Akira as he taunted, "I thought you didn't need me anymore."

"I never said that."

"You did."

Akira pursed his lips into a thin smile as he spoke, "I didn't mean it."

"You also called me an untrustworthy bastard," Zaelek raised an eyebrow as he added.

"See! I knew you were listening!" Akira angrily exclaimed as he jolted up.

Zaelek shrugged his shoulders, not bothering to say anything in response to that.

"Was it fun to see me struggle?!"

"It wasn't fun. It was satisfying."

"..."

"But you should be thankful to me."

"Why in the hell would I be thankful to you? You abandoned me with my rival!"

"Because of me, you got to know something important, didn't you?"

Akira frowned but did not deny it.

"I feel like I should give up."

"Huh?"

"I feel like the more I get to know, the more I realize how much of a lie I had been living in," Akira spoke with a sigh as he revealed his worries, "I can't help but wonder... What if the truth is something I don't want to hear?"

"Then give up. I'll take you to the afterlife," Zaelek replied casually.

"..." Akira looked to be unimpressed and slightly offended by this response.

"Trust me, the truth isn't something you want to hear. It's going to be cruel and it's going to make you suffer. If you simply say the word, I can take you to the afterlife. You can give up on your wish and pass away in peace. It sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?"