Nagisa's body hung from the ceiling, a thick rope wrapped tightly around his neck. His eyes were open-but empty.

  His face had turned a deep purple from the lack of oxygen.

  The lifeless corpse of a father… dangling in front of a child who hadn't yet reached the age of five.

  The feeling was too vast, too crushing, for any child to endure.

  Those open eyes, though vacant, seemed to pierce straight through his chest-as if they could still see him.

  As if he were being watched… without truly being seen.

  Haruki's lips trembled, and tears streamed down his cheeks.

  He drew in a shaky breath, then spoke to the body, as if his father were still there… still listening.

  "Stop looking at me like that…"

  He hugged his knees tightly to his chest, burying his face against them, whispering to no one but himself.

  "I know… I know this is all my fault."

  He pulled his legs closer to his body, as guilt and regret gnawed at his mind, blaming himself for the death of both his parents ,as if he had committed some unknown sin.

  What crime had this small child committed to carry such a heavy burden on his shoulders?

  Such darkness in a heart so young?

  Is our mere existence enough to ruin the lives of those around us?

  Or is life simply cruel by nature, testing us with hardship to see how long we can endure?

  And when we fail to carry the weight of the sorrow clouding our hearts, do we throw ourselves off the nearest cliff… just to say we couldn't take it anymore?

  ***

  It wasn't long before a loud knock echoed through the house, cutting through the heavy silence like a blade.

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  A commanding voice followed from behind the door.

  "Open up! This is the police!"

  Haruki wiped his face with both hands, then pushed himself up onto his trembling feet.

  He began to walk toward the door, but before leaving the room, he cast one last glance at his father's hanging body.

  His eyes held a mix of sorrow… and something else, something much deeper, beyond what his young mind could comprehend.

  He shifted his focus back to the door. His small feet padded across the wooden floor as he made his way toward it.

  Standing before the tall wooden door, he reached up with both hands, gripping the cold metal handle and slowly pulling it open.

  Behind the door stood two policemen and a paramedic, and just beside them, Himari.

  The moment the door opened, she rushed forward, wrapping Haruki in open arms, pulling him tightly to her chest as if he were her own son, Fuji.

  "Oh, sweetheart…"

  Her voice trembled with worry and warmth. She gently pulled his head back to look into his face, carefully inspecting him.

  "Are you okay?"

  Those words stirred something deep within Haruki.

  And before he even realized it, tears began streaming down his cheeks again.

  His bottom lip quivered, his whole frame trembling, as if the weight of the world had finally shattered whatever was left of him.

  Himari's heart softened at the sight of the little boy sobbing uncontrollably, as if the weight of the world had collapsed onto his tiny shoulders.

  She pulled him tightly into her arms, letting him pour all his sorrow into her embrace.

  His tears soaked through the fabric of her shirt, but she didn't mind.

  She leaned down, whispering gentle, soothing words into his ear, hoping, somehow, to mend the deep wound that grief had carved into his heart.

  "Shhh… shhh… I'm here. It's okay… I'm here."

  One of the officers pushed the door open with his hand, the creaking sound echoing through the quiet house as he stepped inside, followed closely by his partner and the paramedic.

  They could immediately tell that the child was in no condition , mentally or emotionally, to answer any questions.

  One glance at the boy was enough, they understood. No questions would be asked today.

  The officers began to spread out through the house, searching for the father who had committed a crime against himself.

  Eventually, they found him in Haruki's room.

  The room the boy had once called his safe haven.

  The lead officer let out a long, heavy sigh, his eyes fixed on the lifeless body hanging above.

  Then he lowered his head slightly, turned to his partner, and spoke in a firm, solemn tone.

  "Help me get him down… so the medic can take a look."

  The assistant nodded, obediently following the order.

  The two officers carefully lowered Nagisa's body, gently placing it on the floor, lying flat on his back.

  The paramedic began checking his temperature and blood pressure, trying to estimate the time of death.

  As for Himari, she was immediately overcome with nausea at the sight of the corpse.

  Without hesitation, she took Haruki with her and moved to the living room, choosing to wait there until the investigation was finished, ready to follow any instructions.

  The two officers stood near the body, quietly speaking to one another.

  It was the assistant who spoke first.

  "Sir, did you see the report we received a few days ago?"