Two:

"Koutarou..."

Himiko uttered his name quietly.

The noose around his neck

was loosened before she entered.

It was his parents who found him first.

Himiko walked over to his body

and sat next to it.

He was cold.

"...sorry."

Her expression remained vacant,

but a

|

single

|

tear

|

managed to slip down her cheek.