Nurse Saya lowered her head, sorrow filling her eyes as she struggled to find a way to deliver the heartbreaking news without shattering the older woman's heart, without risking a breakdown that might be too much to bear.

Her voice came out soft and cautious.

"Ma'am… Mr. Nagisa is fine, but… Mrs. Nyoko didn't make it."

The moment those words reached Nagisa's mother, her heart trembled.

Her legs weakened beneath her, the shock hitting her like a wave.

Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall at any moment.

She fought to steady herself, forcing the words out through a trembling voice.

"And where is Nagisa now…? How is he holding up?"

A long sigh escaped Saaya's chest, more than enough to show that what she was about to say wasn't easy,

In fact, it would be far heavier on Nagisa's mother's heart.

She drew in a deep breath, then looked directly into the woman's eyes, her voice quiet and heavy with the weight of everything she had witnessed in the past few hours.

Then she spoke.

"Mr. Nagisa collapsed the moment he arrived at the hospital. He stayed by his wife's side until she drew her final breath. Now… he's still with her, in the body preparation room. I'm so sorry you have to face all of this."

Nagisa's mother lowered her head, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

Her daughter-in-law was gone, and her son had fallen apart.

A cold shiver ran through her body as a sudden, chilling thought struck her , her grandson.

She lifted her head again, her voice trembling, unable to conceal the sheer panic eating away at her.

"Where is Haruki?!"

Saya gently placed both hands on Nagisa's mother's shoulders, hoping to offer her a small measure of comfort before responding.

She spoke in a soft, calming voice.

"He's asleep now, in the pediatric care unit. A police officer brought him here, he was carrying Haruki in his arms."

Nagisa's mother felt a wave of confusion, her thoughts racing.

Without waiting, she asked the question that was consuming her mind.

Sensing the older woman's confusion, Saya continued, gently explaining the situation.

"The officer said Haruki approached him and told him he was lost, and that his parents were in the hospital. So he brought him here, and I've been taking care of him until you arrived."

Her words brought a fragile sense of relief, just a seed of peace in the middle of an overwhelming storm.

Nagisa's mother wiped away her tears, forcing a faint, grateful smile to her lips.

"Thank you, dear. I truly appreciate everything you've done… for me and for my family."

But even as she expressed her gratitude, another question pushed its way to the surface.

She asked without giving Saya a chance to respond.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost too afraid to hear the answer.

"Does Haruki… know that his mother has passed away?"

Saya shook her head gently, her voice carrying a hint of sorrow as she spoke.

"When he arrived, he was crying uncontrollably, overwhelmed with fear. He fell asleep shortly after, so I couldn't even prepare him for the news. Let me take you to him, ma'am."

Nagisa's mother nodded, and the sorrow in the room deepened once again.

Together, they moved toward the children's area, where Haruki lay peacefully asleep.

His cheeks still carried a faint red glow from the tears.

***

Silence blanketed the space, despite the large crowd of family, relatives, and friends.

Everyone was dressed in black and had gathered to witness the burial of Nyoko's body, to cover her with soil, and to offer their condolences to Nagisa.

But all of this was happening around Nagisa, not with him.

He stood near her grave, void of emotion or feeling, staring at the earth that now fully covered his wife's body, as the story of their life together played out like a film reel in his mind.

He remembered the first moment he laid eyes on her….The joy that filled his heart when he found out he'd be working at the same company as her.

The moment he confessed his feelings.

Every date they went on. Every laugh that echoed from her lips. 

Every time she called his name, every joke she made, every teasing remark she threw his way.

He remembered their wedding, the day that marked a complete turning point in his life.

He remembered the love they shared, the hardships they overcame.

No argument ever tore them apart.

No hardship ever broke them.

And then Haruki entered their lives, turning their world upside down.

That woman had built his life…And her death shattered him.

On the other side, Haruki stood beside his grandmother, dressed in a small black suit that fit his tiny frame.

But his young mind couldn't fully grasp what was happening around him.

All he could see were countless eyes staring at him-