Chapter 2: At the Funeral
As the funeral rites at Takachiho Shrine concluded, the procession made its way toward the local cemetery.
In Japan, funerals are typically a complex and solemn process composed of several rituals: first the *Tsuya* (wake), then the funeral service, and finally the burial. After the ceremony, the body is usually cremated, and the ashes are interred in a family plot.
Cemeteries are a common sight in Japanese cities, often built adjacent to shrines or temples. This layout is believed in traditional Feng Shui to bring special protection and luck to the living. The deceased rest here, guarded by the gods while simultaneously watching over their descendants—a curious, enduring bond between the living and the dead.
On the day of Gorou Amamiya's burial, the sky was overcast and somber, as if mourning the premature passing of the young doctor. Thick, heavy clouds hung low, looking as though they might shed tears at any moment. Occasional beams of sunlight pierced through the gloom, striking the stone monuments and reflecting a cold, hallowed light.
The cemetery was modest in size but impeccably clean. Each gravestone was polished and spotless, some adorned with fresh flowers and offerings. The paths between the plots were covered in white pebbles that crunched softly underfoot. Tall pine trees encircled the grounds, swaying gently in the breeze.
The turnout was substantial. Gorou's grandparents stood in the front row, their faces etched with grief and exhaustion. Hospital colleagues in black formal wear stood with solemn expressions; former patients, saved by Dr. Amamiya, came bearing gratitude and sorrow; and neighbors and shopkeepers from around the hospital—those who knew Gorou in his daily life—had come to see him off one last time.
The Hoshino family stood slightly toward the back. Ai wore a black wide-brimmed hat that concealed her signature purple hair; Ruby gripped her hand tightly; Aqua remained expressionless.
After the ceremony ended, the crowd didn't disperse immediately, instead lingering in small groups to speak in hushed tones.
Standing before the headstone of Gorou Amamiya, Aqua felt a swirl of conflicting emotions. Attending one's own funeral was an experience beyond surreal. This was Gorou's funeral; he recognized most of the people here, yet they felt like strangers. They were gathered because of his death, and while he could feel the faint pull of the sorrowful atmosphere, he found it impossible to truly join it.
So many people were weeping for him, yet Aqua felt no sadness at all.
He even had a fleeting, macabre urge to take a commemorative photo with his own remains.
*So, Gorou Amamiya really is dead,* Aqua thought silently.
It was a fact he had known for years, but only now did the reality truly settle in.
From this day forward, everything regarding that man was severed from his current self.
Observing Aqua staring blankly at the grave, Hikaru turned his attention toward Gorou's grandfather. To be honest, he didn't know much about the man named Gorou Amamiya; as Aqua's previous life, his screen time in the original story was minimal—a mere background element in both the anime and manga.
Gorou was Aqua's past; understanding Gorou meant understanding Aqua, which would help Hikaru navigate his relationship with this brilliant but complicated child. Furthermore, knowing more about Gorou could provide valuable context for the path Aqua might take in the future.
With that in mind, Hikaru stepped toward the grandfather.
"Sir, we meet again," Hikaru said with a polite bow.
Gorou's grandfather nodded slightly. "Thank you for coming to the funeral today." His words were brief, his voice a low rumble.
"Dr. Amamiya must have been a remarkable person to earn the respect and remembrance of so many," Hikaru said sincerely. "Would you mind telling me a bit more about him? I'm curious about how he became such a respected physician."
Noticing the conversation, Aqua hesitated for a moment before silently following. Ai and Ruby, who had been offering silent prayers, soon joined them as well.
The grandfather was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts. "Gorou was a quiet child. He rarely caused trouble," he finally began, his voice soft.
"When he was little, he was always reading by himself. He rarely played with other kids. He studied hard; his grades were always excellent."
He paused, then continued, "After high school, he was admitted to a national medical university in Tokyo and chose obstetrics and gynecology. He worked in Tokyo for two years after graduating, then moved back to Miyazaki, saying he wanted to practice medicine in his hometown."
"He... he was a good doctor." At this point, the old man's voice began to tremble, his emotions wavering. "He cured many people, saved many children... But, he inherited his mother's life—why couldn't he cherish his own?"
Aqua remained silent.
His relationship with his grandfather had always been terrible... After all, he was a child born at the cost of his mother's death. It was only natural for the old man to feel that way.
The grandmother stepped forward then, gently taking her husband's arm. "Don't say that. Gorou worked very hard. No one can predict an accident."
The grandfather stared at Gorou's headstone, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, nothing came out. He lapsed into a long silence, appearing lost in the past.
Gorou had rarely seen his grandfather and almost never saw him sad. He had assumed their bond was shallow, but seeing him now, it was clear the old man possessed a hidden depth of affection for him.
Watching his grandfather—someone he had never quite seen eye-to-eye with—and seeing his genuine grief, Aqua felt a sudden surge of complex emotion.
He had felt nothing regarding his own death... but so many people, including his grandparents, were suffering because of it.
Aqua felt a sense of apology toward them.
"What are... your plans for the future?" Aqua finally asked. His voice was small, but clear.
The grandmother looked down at the blonde boy. "We will bury Gorou here in Miyazaki, and then we'll return to our hometown. Don't worry about us two old folks; we've lived on our own for a long time."
A smile touched her aged, wrinkled face. "You're a kind child, just like Gorou was when he was little."
"Gorou was a kind soul. Because his mother passed away during a difficult labor, he chose to become an OB-GYN," the grandmother said softly. "He always wanted to save more mothers like her."
Hearing this, Aqua shook his head inwardly.
*That's not it.*
Gorou Amamiya didn't have a mother. After his mother became pregnant, she hid it from her parents and attempted to give birth alone at home. She lost too much blood; by the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late.
Because of those circumstances, the identity of his father was never known, and he was left to be raised by his maternal grandparents. When he decided to apply for medical school, his grandmother assumed it was because of his mother.
But he had originally wanted to be a surgeon. The doctors in the novels he liked back then were cool, and he had admired them.
*What a failure,* Aqua thought as the stars in his eyes began to dim and darken.
In the end, he was just a man who lived by reading the room, with no other redeeming qualities.
Even as a doctor, he remained powerless.
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