I heard a song recently that made no sense to me until I applied it to William now it won’t get out of my hea d so I used it as inspiration to make a cute ad for Fazbear’s Fright 🤠
Lucas wandered through the medical section in the public library, head racing with thoughts. Ah. It's here. Sliding the book out, he found a spare table in the corner, and pulled out a seat, flipping the pages until he saw what he was looking for.
Hanahaki
an illness that forms from unrequited love, where the victim's throat will fill up with flowers that they will proceed to cough up. One of the only two ways to cure it is for the said person to return the love (it has to be genuine romantic love, not friendship love.) Another is to surgically remove the flowers, however, one severe side effect is for all feelings of love to also disappear. If the patient chooses neither option, their lungs will eventually fill up with flowers and suffocate. While there is no specific flower, it varies from time to time. The illness can take several months to a year to develop. When the victim starts to cough up fully grown flowers, the illness has reached its last stages.
Lucas's hand flew to his throat, immediately expecting petals to come out. Shivering, he tore out the page and tucked it into his pocket. Why was he being so paranoid? It wasn't like he had ever loved someone... Really?
An image of a blonde haired blue eyed young girl drifted into his mind. Taking a deep breath, Lucas shoved Athanasia out of his thoughts. He had work to do today, and pondering over his death that would result from "unrequited love" did not seem like a good idea.
Leaving the library, he took the nearest bus home, and texted Ijekiel.
Kiel
12:46 pm
hey can I come over and
have lunch at ur house
Leaning against the edge of the window, Lucas looked out, wondering if there was a way to get diagnosed for hanahaki. Maybe Ijekiel would know, since he was the next smartest person he knew. His dad also had connections in the medical field, so even if everything else failed he could at least live. ping.
Kiel
12:52 pm
Yea, sure-
Is anything wrong?
Thanks, i'd just like to talk
Ok, i'll see you soon
Getting off the bus, Lucas started walking in the direction of Ijekiel's house. He could have done it with his eyes closed, since he had gone so many times. Ringing the doorbell, he stood outside, waiting. The door swung open.
"Lucas, you don't look too good. Did something happen?"
"Ah, I'll tell you later. Can I come in?"
Ijekiel stood aside, following him into the dining room.
"My parents are out, so you can tell me anything." Lucas looked down. "I know."
Ijekiel sensed that there was something going on, and tried to lighten the mood.
"I have some leftover fried rice, if you'd like?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
Scooping up some rice with his spoon, Lucas couldn't help but let his fingers tremble. Ijekiel noticed, and frowned.
"Lucas. You never get so anxious to the point where you can't hold anything."
Silently, he slid the page onto the table, in front of Ijekiel. As his eyes scanned the text, his golden eyes widened.
"Ok, first of all, you ripped this? From a library book? I cannot believe- Secondly, you have hanahaki?"
Lucas fiddled with his fingers.
"Yeah. I think so. I was hoping you could help me."
Ijekiel leaned forward.
"Who do you think it is?"
"Athy."
"Athy? As in Athanasia, the one that we have math class with?"
"Ijekiel, she's our friend."
Ijekiel slumped forwards.
"Oh, god. I just thought-"
Exhaling, he looked back down at the page.
"So. You like -no- love her?"
"Mhm."
"Have you coughed anything up yet?"
"Nope. It's just, I don't think my parents would appreciate it if I did and ruined their precious carpet. That's why I came here."
A silence filled the room. Neither boy could think of anything to say. Until, of course, Lucas stood up, spoon clattering to the ground. He could feel his airway tighten, and all sources of air be cut off. Ijekiel realised what was happening, and shoved Lucas to the bathroom sink. By now, he was clutching his stomach, already sensing something in his throat.
"Hey. Lucas. I know you can't breathe right now. But the first flowers have already developed in your lungs. If you don't cough right now, they could suffocate you. Okay? Just cough."
Lucas followed his friend's advice, willing himself to throw up. A mix of blood and soft petals dripped down into the sink, a few drifting to the ground.
"Great. Continue doing that, and the worse will be over. Hold on, Lucas."
He could feel Ijekiel's arm around him, supporting him, and he leaned into his friend, still gagging. A few minutes later, he no longer felt the need to fight. He took a long breath of air; and never had he ever been so grateful to be able to breathe.
"I-I can stand on my own now."
Ijekiel withdrew from him and bent down to pick up a petal.
"I'm going to try and figure out what flower this is. In the meantime, you can wash up here. I'll clean up the floor later. Take it easy, Lucas."
---------------
The two boys sat on the couch, with the tv on, but neither of them cared to look at it.
"Ok. I've examined the flower and it's a purple orchid, symbolising grace, elegance and feminine beauty."
"...."
"Yeah, you're definitely, hopelessly, in love with Athy."
Lucas blinked. "What the fuck do I do then, Kiel? My life is basically over from this point."
Ijekiel frowned at that statement. "There are a few things you can do..."
"Like what?" Lucas stood up, pacing around the room. "Face it Ijekiel, she doesn't like me back and I'm screwed."
The boy frowned. "Then, you could at least make the most of your last few weeks." Lucas flinched from the unexpected harshness in Ijekiel's voice. "We have school tomorrow. I'll try and get something to alleviate your symptoms." He stood up, showing Lucas to the door. "Don't overwork and tell your teachers. If you push yourself to your limits, you'll just end up shortening the time you have left."
--------------------
Lucas stepped inside the classroom, greeting his classmates and sliding into his chair next to Ijekiel. He kept looking at the door, expecting Athy to walk in any second. And she did, with her school bag slung over one shoulder, blonde hair tied back into a loose braid. Catching sight of her friends, she waved and sat next to Lucas. Ijekiel stiffened and slid a note wrapped around a bunch of small flowers onto Lucas's desk
It will only get harder if you come into physical contact with her. This flower can delay attacks for around six hours, so you'll be safe at school.
Lucas scanned the note and nodded in appreciation.
after school bc the author is too lazy
The three students walked through the school courtyard in silence. Athy turned around and smiled. "Whose house are we staying at today? Or we could go and visit the bubble tea store?" Lucas opened his mouth to reply but felt the same ache in his chest as he had yesterday. Running out, he didn't even say anything as he dashed to the nearby bathroom. Ijekiel rushed to apologise.
"Sorry, Athanasia. I think Lucas forgot his wallet back at school."
"....But he ran in the direction of the bathrooms?"
Ijekiel kept his face neutral.
"It's a shortcut :)"
Athy shrugged. "If you say so."
Adjusting the shoulder straps on her bag, she walked out of the gates, saying, "I'll see you two tomorrow." As soon as she was gone, Ijekiel hurried over to where Lucas was.
"Dude, are you okay?"
Lucas coughed into his hand, catching small drops of blood. Wiping his mouth, he turned on the tap, letting the stream of water clean the bloodstained sink. "Yeah. Thanks for the medicine."
"It's alright." Ijekiel paused. "Come to my house?"
"Yes."
Three weeks later
Lucas woke up, feeling nauseous. Turning over, he picked up his phone, seeing several missed calls from Ijekiel. Sighing, he slumped down, rubbing his eyes. He knew his time was running out, but he hadn't even gotten a chance to tell Athy. Pressing Ijekiel's contact, he waited for his friend.
"Lucas. You called me back."
"Yeah. What did you need me for?"
"There's a spare time slot today for the removal of hanahaki. Do you want it?"
"...."
Lucas hesitated.
"What time?"
"5-8pm."
"....I'll think about it."
"Please give me an answer at school."
Lucas rolled over, and switched on his alarm clock.
6:42AM.
He had one hour. Sighing, he picked up a photo beside his bedside table that was taken a few months ago. It showed Ijekiel, Athy and him on the beach during the summer holidays. Ijekiel was sitting on one of the beach chairs reading a book, and Athy flinging water onto Lucas. They were all laughing happily, and now look at him, in such a pitiful place. He slumped forwards, thinking. Sure, it was nice to live. He had good friends, and good grades, and his family treated him better than most. And he liked being there. But what would life be without feelings for anyone? Lucas thought back to how his heart would beat so loudly, threatening to burst out of the rib cages trapping it, whenever he saw Athy smile at him. He remembered when Ijekiel had been sick, and he had skipped school to stay with him. How he had learned how to play chess simply for the sake of Athy. What would it mean to have those reasons taken away from him? Would he never care for anyone after this day?
--------------
Ijekiel ran up to his friend, taking hold of his shoulders and shaking him. "Lucas-please- take the offer-"
Lucas brushed him off. "I can't. I won't." Ijekiel stared at him. "Why?"
He was silent. "I coughed up full flowers last night. It's useless. Besides," he added, "I'd rather die loving Athy than never love anyone for the rest of my life."
Ijekiel screamed. "Fuck, Lucas, you're such a romantic." Lucas shrugged, biting into an apple.
"I'm fully prepared. Stop worrying."
But as soon as he had swallowed his piece of apple, he gasped, feeling a crowd of flowers blocking his airway. He dropped his food, and shuddered, falling onto his knees. Athy, who had just returned from buying some food, screamed, and dropped down to the ground, holding Lucas.
"Lucas! What are you doing? Why didn't you tell me you had hanahaki?"
Lucas didn't reply, but instead, coughed up flowers, dumping them into Athy's outstretched hands.
"I didn't tell you, because you're the reason I'm here. For you have made flowers grow in my lungs, and although they are beautiful, I cannot breathe." Crimson blood dripped out at the side of his mouth, making small dark patches on the ground. Athy shook him.
"Lucas, don't die on me- please- I'm begging you, DON'T!" The last word came out as a muffled scream, as she cried into her arm.
"It's no use; you know how it works. You'll never repay my love back to me."
"Don't say that, Lucas-"
Lucas pulled her down, whispering.
"I love you, Athy. You're the one I've always wanted, ever loved. I can't imagine not loving you. That's why I'll let the disease win. I hope- that if we're ever reincarnated into another life- there'll be nothing to stop us-"
Ijekiel stood far away from them, not making a move to stop Athanasia. He watched as Lucas gave out, lying on the floor, a pile of petals scattered near him. Athy leaned over him, a stream of fresh tears smudged away the blood. She leaned forward and smashed her lips against his, still crying.
for real though this panel from chainsaw man fucks me up REAL HARD i absolutely need to talk about how the figure in the distance is the devil embodying the primal fear of the dark and it manifests amidst a row of astronaut corpses praying for salvation. astronauts are meant to explore and shed light on creation’s greatest unknown: space. but it’s the unknowable and infinite quality of space that makes it so overwhelmingly terrifying. space is the ultimate darkness and therefore one of mankind’s greatest conceptual enemies as no amount of progress has ever, or could ever, vanquish the fear of the dark or the dark itself and therefore humanity’s pioneers are strewn in an altar of gore to illustrate that futility and limited, fragile existence in the cosmos in one of the most terrifying panels ever put into manga.
yousharknotpass
dailybridgerton
kianamaiart
annaxmalina
germansingergirl
andulkaphoto
jbbartram-illu
