Consolidation - A Hanako AU

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:46 pm

Author's Introduction
Salve everyone, It's Alex. Some of you might already know me as that guy who pops up everywhere, but I suppose I should leave a proper introduction. Like many of you, reading Katawa Shoujo was an extremely enjoyable experience for me in my younger years. I was immediately captivated by the unforgettable characters, the wonderful story, and the heartbreaking tragedies. I remember that as soon as I finished reading Katawa Shoujo, I turned to the Renai and Fanfiction.net in search of more Katawa content to enjoy. It's here that I discovered incredible stories like Sisterhood, Psu-Psu Suzu, Learning to Fly, and many others. That was back in 2016. 3 years later, I joined the KS Discord server and got to talk to many of you directly, creating fun memories, memes, and sharing in the trauma that was Haniko RP (NOW!! ).

Backstory of the Story
After 8 years of being a passive reader of KS fanfictions, I decided to dive headfirst into writing and created my own little AU story centered around Hanako, my first route and "best girl". The idea came to me one night right as I was about to go to bed and the next morning I cracked open Word and wrote for 5 straight days, only stopping to sleep and eat. What began as just one small scene that I never planned on sharing eventually became a 10K-word, 20 page document with multiple scenes and character perspectives. And now, after a month of fine-tuning it with the help of a few friends and proofreaders, I feel it's ready for publishing.

General info
Why write this?
Other than my being a Hanabro through and through, I always felt that her character deserved better than she got in her route. No disrespect to Cpl_Crud or anyone who worked on her route, and I'm not delusional enough to think I could do better, this is just my crack at an alternate scenario.

What's the meaning of the title?
My version of Hanako in this story is not quite the one we know. I won't give too many details for a number of reasons, but I think you'll understand once you've read enough of it.

Will there be more?
I'm currently writing more chapters than the three I'll be posting here, but if your question is "Are you going to do an entire Hanako AU Route?", the answer is "most likely not".

Well, without further ado, let's get this show on the road.

Consolidation

Table of Contents

Mutual Presents
Painful Histories
You're So Wonderful
Like Family
Coffee Deficiency Disorder
Reassurances
Exposure
Verācium (Chapter is under rework. Apologies for the inconvenience.)
Clarity
House Satou
Evening of the Stars (Sent for proofreading!)
Behind These Purple Eyes (In the abstract phase)
Way Back Home (Whatever is before abstract)
One Last Game (About 5% complete)
We're Here (In the abstract phase)
Future Perfect (In the abstract phase)

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 9:04 pm

Mutual Presents
Hisao comes to an important realization when visiting Hanako in her room.

PoV: Hisao

I begin making my way over to the girls’ dorms, Hanako’s gift in hand. I figured that now’s as good a time as any to give it to her; I can tell that Lilly’s absence has been weighing her down even more than it has me. Lilly and Hanako share a special bond; if they didn’t look so strikingly different, one could easily think Hanako was Lilly’s sister alongside Akira.

While gift hunting in the city with Lilly, a few items caught my attention in the quaint little antique store known as Othello’s Antiques. Although Lilly and I had already found our respective gifts for Hanako, another item in the store caught my attention. It was a beautiful chess set with natural, undyed coral pieces. I feel a bit guilty recalling all the cloak and dagger necessary to obtain this extra gift, but thankfully, Akira and Hideaki were kind enough to be discreet. The only thing that depresses me more is the sizable hole in my funds that it left. Guess I’ll be sustaining myself with water, Lilly’s tea, and Yamaku’s sublime cafeteria food for the next month… or two.

I decided against presenting the chess set to Hanako at her birthday party. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I would somehow be downplaying Lilly’s contribution to the event. I came to find out later that Lilly’s gift was worth nearly twice the amount of both of mine combined. I still can’t decide whether to be flabbergasted at Lilly’s apparent wealth, or somehow dejected at the idea that my gifts are somehow worth less.

That’s just ridiculous. What matters is the thought and intent, not the price. It sounds like something Lilly would say, I think. Or at least, that’s how I’m currently rationalizing it to make myself feel better. Anyway, enough moping. Back to the task at hand.

Making my way down the hall to her room, I arrive at my destination. And now…

…

This is the part where I knock on her door. Any second now, I’ll knock on her door. Knocking; it’s a simple concept, Nakai. Why can’t I knock on this damn door?!

Standing in front of Hanako’s door, the full realization of what I’m doing hits me like a truck at full speed. I’m about to give Hanako a gift, seemingly for no reason. Her birthday party was different; she’s my friend and gifts are to be expected, but this? Guys don’t give presents to girls out of the blue unless…

Suddenly, all of the resolve I had has drained out of me and I’m left standing here, wrapped gift in hand, completely frozen. Why am I doing this? I chose to hold off giving this to her during her birthday party, my excuse being not wanting to upstage Lilly, but how true is that? I know Lilly well enough that she wouldn’t be upset over something so trivial. It just dawned on me that I was using her as an excuse to hide my true intentions…

After collecting my thoughts, it becomes clear to me why I’m really here, as if the maelstrom in my head just vanished and everything made perfect sense. Why did I get Hanako another gift? Because I wanted to make her happy. Why did I wait until now? Because I wanted this moment to be just between us. And why is that? Because I like seeing her happy. I like making her happy. I like her.

…

I move my free hand to my chest, expecting my heart to be two beats from exploding, but I feel nothing. Barring its uncommon pace, it’s functioning entirely as it should be. Looks like my heart is saying yes, but what about the rest of me? Maybe I should start with my hand, just need to move it from my chest to the door…

PoV: Hanako

I can’t seem to focus. Lilly’s sudden departure to Scotland has occupied more of my thoughts than I’m comfortable admitting. Ever since I’ve met her, there has scarcely been a time where we aren’t together. She was always kind to me, never once has she judged my mannerisms or my distaste for social activities.

Naturally, of course, she’s also never judged my appearance. The nagging part of my brain that kept insisting that was only because she physically couldn’t do so was silenced when I met her sister, Akira. For the briefest of moments, I truly felt like an equal among friends for the first time in a decade… but all good things come to an end, they say.

Over time, Lilly’s attitude toward me changed. What was once friendship morphed into something akin to a caretaker-dependent relationship. Her attempts to make me come out of the fortress I had built around myself for all these years became bolder and more frequent. To her, I’m sure it feels like she’s trying to help, yet to me, it feels like my sanctuary is being invaded. With a smile. Always with that damned smile.

I wish I had the courage to tell Lilly how I really feel about it. How infuriating her coddling is, how it makes me feel so worthless. She treats me like a pathetic, broken person in need of constant protection. I hate it, I hate how belittling it is, how powerless it makes me feel. More than anything, I hate myself for my cowardice that prevents me from telling her any of this.

Just as quick as I feel my venom rising, it leaves me. Despite all this, I could never bring myself to hate Lilly. She’s been, until recently, my one and only friend ever since… that night. She cares about me, and I know she’d do anything to help me. That, at least, I know for a fact comes from genuine friendship. I just wish I had a way to show her that I have the strength to do the same, for myself and for her.

I rise from my bed and glance around my room. If Lilly could see, she’d probably describe it as “spartan”. There’s nothing but the simplest of necessities here; no posters of boy bands or pictures of friends and family, just my bed, desk, and a few shelves containing various inconsequential items. However, one shelf in particular catches my attention, with increasing frequency lately.

On it sit three items: a little wooden doll in a blue Victorian-era dress, a light brown teddy bear, and a tattered stuffed rabbit... I close my eyes and take a deep breath to fight off the rising sorrow within me and focus on the former two. Hisao and Lilly, whose idea I’m sure it was, decided to host a small early birthday party for me. Knowing Lilly, I knew she would do something along those lines, but what I never expected were these gifts.

At the time, I tried searching my memory for the last time I received gifts from anyone. Unfortunately, it turned out the answer was sitting on my shelf in the room next door, my Petra¹. How I managed to avoid a breakdown right then and there is a mystery. For a moment, it reminded me of just how… empty my life has been for the past ten years; that the last time I received anything other than pity from anyone was a child's toy from my parents. Enough. Focus on the present, Ikezawa.

Heh. Smooth, Hanako, real smooth.

Despite the bittersweetness of it all, I can’t help but smile at the gesture. Lilly’s bear is about the same size as Petra and addictingly soft, I feel no shame in admitting that despite my age, I cuddled with that bear like a baby. Meanwhile, Hisao’s doll is very beautiful and intricately designed. If it had blonde hair, I’d swear it was a custom-made mini-Lilly.

Hisao. Now there’s an interesting subject. When it was first announced that we’d be getting a new student, I paid no mind. Just another person who would stare, just another person to avoid. I don’t think I’ve ever been so wrong in my life. Ever since meeting him, Hisao has been nothing but kind to me. Even though our introduction was… more than a little awkward, I’m very glad I can call him my friend.

…

How long will it last? How long will it be before he sees me as nothing more than some poor, broken person in need of shielding from the world? How long before he devolves from friend to protector? How long would I be able to take it?

I shake off the idea. I refuse to allow that. Perhaps Lilly’s sojourn to Scotland is exactly what I need to prove to my friends that I can do things on my own. I’ve been considering spending some time in the Newspaper Club, as a matter of fact. Maybe I could-

Knock Knock Knock

The sound of knocking at my door shakes me out of my thoughts. Three gentle knocks, always in rapid succession, yet discreetly quiet. There’s only one person in all of Yamaku who knocks like that and would come see me. I make my way to the door and open it just a bit, and sure enough, the object of my thoughts stands on the other side.

“Hisao?”

“Hey, Hanako. Uh…”

He seems to be… struggling? That’s unexpected. Usually, I’m the one fumbling over my words. It’s very taxing for me to speak calmly to someone, even with Lilly, there are moments where my infernal stuttering rears its head. With Hisao though, I find myself at an ease that I’ve yet to find a proper word to describe. I’m getting off topic…

“Is… something wrong?” I say in a low tone.

“Wrong? Ah, no, things are fine, I guess.”

'Fine.' The word used by teenagers everywhere when things are absolutely not fine. This is very unlike Hisao; he’s always so stubbornly headstrong, even to a fault at times. If there’s something bothering him, I wouldn’t want the nosier of my hallmates to overhear. That just leaves me with one option… one I’m terrified to suggest.

I can do this. It’s Hisao. He’s someone special to me. Very special…

“Would y-you… like to… c-come in?”

It takes an unfathomable amount of mental effort to force that question out of my mouth. The fact I managed it with minimal stuttering is nothing short of a miracle. Hisao’s eyes widen for a moment, then relax again.

“Ah, if you don’t mind…”

I can’t help but smile at this rare display of shyness from Hisao, it’s kind of cute. As I open the door all the way, however, my girlish thoughts subside and are replaced by my usual pessimistic musings. Is he OK? Did something happen? Oh, gods… is Lilly alright?!

Hisao enters my room and closes the door behind him, then turns to face me. Now that he’s inside, I notice the opaque bag in his hands. It takes a few moments for my mind to make the connection to where I’d seen something similar before; it’s the same kind of bag he and Lilly had my birthday presents in. The negative thoughts from before evaporate in an instant, replaced with confusion and curiosity.

“Hanako, I, uh… I have something for you. I hope you like it.”

Hisao quickly presents the gift to me, arms outstretched and all. It takes me a few seconds before I can react, accepting the gift and taking it in my hands. From what I can tell from touch alone, this feels much larger and firmer than the birthday presents I received.
I carefully undo the wrapping, just as I had done with his and Lilly’s other gifts. I nearly come to a full stop as soon as I notice the familiar white-and-black square pattern.

“This is…”

I finish unwrapping what I now know is a chess set, one of high quality, at that. I take a moment to take in every detail; in so doing I accidentally trigger a mechanism that reveals a compartment for storing the pieces. Taking one in my hand, it’s as intricately detailed as the board itself. Though I can’t quite make out whatever material this is, I can tell that they’re hand-carved with an expert level of care and dexterity.
“They’re coral. Natural and undyed, or so I’ve been told.”

Hisao’s words snap me back to reality; I almost forgot he was there! With great care, I place the board and piece on my desk, then turn to face him. He looks less nervous than before, but I think I know exactly what he needs to put him at ease…

“Thank you, Hisao. It’s a very nice gift,” I say with a smile. I mean what I say, but now I find myself with a whole slew of questions. Hisao visibly relaxes at my words, a smile of his own appearing on his face. He has a nice smile…

“I’m glad you like it,” he says while still smiling. Silence looms over us for a few seconds, one that I cannot afford to become awkward. Well, in for a penny…

“Hisao?”

“Yeah?”

…

“Why? Y-You were at my b-birthday…”

DAMN IT! Way to go, Ikezawa! Now he’s going to think I’m ungrateful or that-

“Oh, heh… Well, thing is…”

Hisao’s nerves come back with full force, immediately plucking me out of whatever destination my mind was racing towards. I’ve never seen him like this; Hisao is usually confident, if a bit aloof, or at least that’s what I’ve observed whenever the three of us are together. I don’t know what he’s like when he’s with Lilly. Alone with Lilly…

“Since Lilly had just the one present, I figured… Well, not that it should matter, I think…”

What? I can feel my face contorting into a look of confusion. Hisao is bouncing back and forth as if he’s trying to come up with an excuse for his missing homework and failing spectacularly. Eventually, he runs out of things to say and just sighs heavily.

“Oh, who am I kidding? I barely believed that excuse, myself.”

I have no idea what he’s talking about, and it’s making me anxious. Maybe I should just drop the subject entirely for both our sakes. He was just being a good friend, that’s all. Isn’t that what friends do? What would I know about friendship? Did I really think that I could be more to anyone than just some-

“I just wanted to make you happy,” Hisao finally blurts out. Every thought I had in my head grinds to a screeching halt. I can barely even remember what I was just thinking about. Did I just… did he just… did I hear that right? I think he’s as shocked as I am, because he’s looking off to the side and trying to recompose himself.

“I… like seeing you happy,” his voice has lowered considerably, but I can hear it clear as crystal.

PoV: Hisao

Before I can stop myself, those words escape my mouth as if I were a man possessed.

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!

No more than 5 minutes ago, I was struggling to knock on the door, and now I’ve gone and shot myself in the foot by blurting that out! Hanako looks visibly shaken by my words; she’s staring directly at me, mouth slightly ajar. I can only imagine what she’s thinking, and it’s nothing good.

Before I can make an even greater ass out of myself than I already have, I think it’s best I head back to my dorm. Hopefully this will all blow over and she’ll have forgotten all about it by the time Lilly gets back.

“Anyway, uh… I should get going. Curfew soon.”

I turn away and open Hanako’s door, then step out. Putting on the best smile I can right now, I turn around, but right as I’m about to wish her goodnight, she breaks the silence.

“Hisao?”

“Hm?”

Well, so much for my escape plan. I was hoping this conversation could wait until later so I could think of a response, but it seems Hanako has other ideas. After what feels like an eternity, Hanako begins to make her way towards me, hands held close to her chest.

My legs are frozen in place, but my mind is racing at a speed that could put Emi to shame. After a moment, Hanako is standing a couple of steps in front of me, just beyond the frame of her bedroom door.

I hear a quiet yet sharp intake of breath, and before I can fully comprehend what’s happening, I can feel Hanako’s hand on my right cheek and her lips on my left. All the tension in my body melts away in an instant, at the same time, my head suddenly feels a little fuzzy.

It ends as quickly as it started, with Hanako gently pulling away and putting her hands on her door. Hanako… she just… did that just happen?

“’Night, Hisao…”

She’s avoiding eye contact, but I’m pretty sure she’s smiling. If I had to guess, I’m probably grinning like an idiot myself. Just as the door is about to close completely, I manage to find my voice.

“’Night, Hanako…”

Click

By the time I regain my senses, I realize that I’ve been standing in front of Hanako’s door, hand where her lips used to be, for a solid two minutes. Making my way out of the girls’ dorms and to my own, I feel… lighter? Calmer? Whatever this feeling is, I hope to experience more of it in the future, especially with the girl who’s made me feel this way.

Bonus: Hanako’s PoV Extended

Oh. Oh, gods. Is this really happening?

Nobody, especially not a boy, has ever said something like that to me. As such, I’m completely at a loss for how to proceed. The logical and cautious side of me is saying that he means that in the most platonic way possible. Friends look out for each other, so why wouldn’t he want to make me happy? Yet, the other side of me, the one that dares to hope… I dare not let those thoughts in my head, not yet.

“Anyway, uh… I should get going. Curfew soon.”

Hisao seems to have collected himself, but his smile is gone. He makes his way out of my room and stops outside my doorframe. He’s smiling again, but it’s different than the one from before. I like the one from before. I want the one from before. I need to say something. I need to do something. Wake up, Ikezawa!

“Hisao?”

“Hm?”

He visibly perks up at this, he probably expected to hear a reply from me about as much as I expected to be able to give one.

…

Against every instinct I have, every single protective barrier I’ve built around myself for the past decade, I slowly make my way towards Hisao. Despite the nagging-turned-screaming voice in my head that’s telling me to stop, to just say goodnight and hide away, I keep going. Before I know it, I’m opposite to Hisao; him just outside my room, me just inside.

In all my years of reading, I don’t think I’ve ever found a word that could properly describe how much effort what I’m about to do is going to take. Before I can allow myself to second-guess, I put my left hand to Hisao’s cheek, raise myself just a little, and plant a kiss on his other cheek.

Oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods-what-was-I-thinking-what-have-I-done-Lilly-will-never-believe-this-oh-wow

“’Night, Hisao…”

I can’t even bear to look at his face right now I’m so embarrassed and my face is hot I think I’m smiling and I feel like I’m about to pass out I just need to keep calm for a few seconds and close the door to my room very slowly yes just like that OK very good…

“’Night, Hanako…”

No sooner do I close and lock the door than the immensity of what I just did crashes down on me. Holy SHIT! What in the name of every deity known to mankind was I thinking?! How could I do that?! Hisao is one of my closest friends and I feel like I’ve just violated his trust because of my stupid, selfish desires. Yet… I can’t stop repeating Hisao’s words in my head.

“I just wanted to make you happy. I like seeing you happy.”

Could he really think that way about me? Hisao is a good friend, but sometimes he is very hard to understand. Right now, he feels impossible to understand. I hope I haven’t just messed everything up…

I can’t think straight right now, I’m so exhausted. Making my way to my bed, I gingerly grab the teddy bear and Petra, then settle myself into bed with them. I need all the support I can get…

¹ Meet the Nakais by AceLions.

Author's Notes

► Show Spoiler

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 9:30 pm

Painful Histories
Our trio head North to enjoy the Hokkaido countryside for the long weekend.

PoV: Hisao

It’s so peaceful out here. The Satou summer home is a rare sight in Japan these days, an opinion I shared with my companions when we arrived. Currently, I find myself on the front porch of the house, looking outward at the vast wheat field that surrounds us, the setting Sun bathing it all in a stunning orange light. As for my aforementioned company, Lilly is currently in the living room reading the book that she had started on the train ride over. As for Hanako, she’s standing beside me, seemingly mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the scene before us.

Hanako and I haven’t had many opportunities to talk since the… event that took place in her room a few days ago¹, but I’ve noticed a striking change in Hanako in that short time. Ever since that night, she hasn’t stuttered once when speaking to me or Lilly, and I’ve noticed a subtle change in her tone of voice, at least when it’s just the three of us. All of this pales in comparison to the biggest surprise of the day, though. Once we arrived at the house, she wasted no time removing her jacket and hat. Never in a thousand years did I think I’d ever see Hanako have the confidence to do such a thing, especially around anyone other than Lilly. The sight of Hanako so… exposed, for lack of a better word, was enough to chase away the creeping sleepiness that had gripped me as soon as we walked in the door. Thank God I was able to look away before she noticed me staring.

Speaking of staring, I can’t help but continually glance over at the girl standing just to my right. Her eyes are closed, and her head is held high, content to just feel the wind gently caress her face and hair. She looks stunning.

After a few moments of bliss, she opens her eyes and turns toward me, a serious look on her face. Oh… here it comes. This is it, isn’t it? It’s time for the dreaded “so about the other day” conversation…

“Hisao?”

“What’s up?”

She stays silent for a few seconds, her head looking upward. This isn’t like her usual, nervous silences. She’s searching, but for what exactly, I can’t tell.

“What are you like?”

… What? That’s definitely not what I expected to hear from her. I don’t know whether to be relieved at my stay of execution, confused by the strangeness of her question, or disappointed in the further delay of our inevitable talk. Why am I making such a big deal about it?

“I don’t think I understand.”

“I… don’t think we’ve ever actually talked much. I want to…”

She trails off, but I get the message. She wants to know more about me, which makes perfect sense. Despite my interest in Hanako, it occurs to me that I also know relatively little about her, myself. If this is going anywhere, this is as good a place to start as any other.

“Well…”

I proceed to tell Hanako all there is to say: my home life growing up, my old group of friends, how I had to learn to fend for myself due to my parents’ long work hours. Hanako looks and listens wordlessly, the occasional nod signaling that I have her full attention. When I get to the topic of my heart, though…

“… then one day I… I got a note from a girl I liked. She asked me if, well, you know… and that was it. Next thing I know, I’m waking up in the hospital. My classmates made it a point to send their… condolences, I guess. Lots of get-well cards, stuff like that. But, when it was just my three close friends and Iwanako, that’s the girl I mentioned, who would come to visit, I realized it was all for show. Most likely, a class project or something. Then… eventually, my friends stopped coming. Iwanako was the last to see me. We… didn’t say anything to each other, but…”

Hanako’s expression shifts to one of… worry? Pain? Whether it’s out of empathy or because I’ve dug up some long-repressed memory of her own past, I can’t tell. I hope it’s the former. Either way, I should move on.

“The doctor and my parents agreed it would be best if I didn’t return to my old school, so off I went to Yamaku. 24-hour-nursing staff, catered for students with disabilities, it had everything I “needed”, according to them.”

I can feel my mood begin to sour. Despite all my efforts to adjust to this new life, it takes very little for melancholy to catch me in its grasp. Shaking it off, I soldier on.

“But it’s not so bad. I’ll take 34 pills over spending another minute in the hospital any day.”

At this, Hanako’s eyes and mouth widen in shock. Was it something I said?

“Thirty-four?!” she blurts out, and I’m pretty sure Lilly heard her, too. Calming herself, she repeats her question in a lower tone.

“Yeah, 17 in the morning, 17 at night. Which reminds me, gotta be sure to take them before I head to bed. Or futon, rather.”

A small giggle escapes her at the mention of my exile from the bedroom, but her look of concern is quick to return.

“I’m OK, Hanako, I promise. Like I said, it’s better than a hospital stay.”

At this, she visibly relaxes.

“And that’s pretty much the story of Hisao Nakai. Thank you… for listening. I… hadn’t told anyone the whole story, until now.”

“Thank you… for sharing all that with me, Hisao.”

Though she’s smiling, I can tell there’s something… off about her. I can’t place my finger on it, but I can tell there’s something on her mind.

PoV: Hanako

I had no idea. Hisao and I are more alike than I thought; we both lost so much so quickly, forced to adjust in such an impossibly short time, we were discarded by the people we thought were our friends, and we both will carry reminders of it for the rest of our lives. Where do we go from here?

Hisao has borne his soul to me; I feel closer to him than I ever have with anyone else… even Lilly. Can I really do the same? I’ve only ever told Lilly the basics; there was never any need to go beyond that, but after everything Hisao has told me, I feel obligated to return his trust and share my own past. I have to do this. If I want him to truly see me as an equal, I have to tell him everything. Everything. I can do this…

Wordlessly, I move my hand up to the long bangs of hair that cover the right side of my face. No turning back now…

“You’ve told me your past… now I need to show you mine…”

“… Hanako?”

Without hesitation, I move my hair out of the way and tuck it behind my ear.² He’s never seen this much of me, nobody has. Hisao is looking deep into my eyes; if such a thing were possible, I’d swear he was reading my heart.

“The fire happened when I was eight years old…”

PoV: Hisao

I’m completely transfixed. Though Hanako had told me before about the fire that changed her life, she had only given me vague, surface-level details. Now, though, she’s telling me everything. She’s showing me everything. Images flash in my head as she speaks; of her mother sacrificing herself to protect Hanako from the engulfing inferno, of her father carrying her through the flames, of a scared little girl crawling on the snow, reaching out for her father as he is crushed by their collapsing home. I can feel a tear run down my cheek, the first one in a very long time.³

“Now you know me. All of me.”

Hanako’s words sound shaky; the moisture in her eyes tells me that her composure is teetering on the edge of total collapse. I don’t think there’s anything I could say that could reassure her, nor will I try. Nothing I could say can bring her parents back nor undo the ten years of Hell she’s had to endure. There’s only one thing I can think of to do, and I pray it’s the right thing to do.

Steeling my nerves, I move my hand to Hanako’s, which is gripping on the wood of the house’s deck railing and give it a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you, Hanako.”

She lets out a small gasp at my touch but doesn’t recoil. Only now do I realize I’ve grabbed her scarred hand, her left hand currently wiping the tears from her eyes. She says nothing, but the smile on her face says more than words ever could. There’s a new understanding between us, a level of trust that neither I nor her have ever shared with anyone. The orange light of the sky is gone by now, replaced entirely by starlight. Hanako and I share a knowing look and wordlessly agree; it’s probably best to turn in for the night. I let go of her hand and she clasps it with her other, neither of us saying anything as we make our way back inside.

¹ According to ProfAllister’s calendar of events, Mutual Presents will need to take place on Thursday, July 12 for this thing to be chronologically consistent. In other words, exactly two days before this scene. Decided to make this scene take place about a week later, instead.
² Not ashamed to admit that I smiled every time Hanako did this in dewelar’s Developments.
³ Future by Cpl_Crud.

Bonuses/Scraps

► Show Spoiler

Author's Notes

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Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:11 pm

You're So Wonderful
Day two in Hokkaido promises to be one of the most eventful for our trio of friends.

PoV: Hisao

As Hanako and I make our way back inside, Lilly perks up and sets her book aside, a smile on her face.

“Welcome back.”

“Hey, Lilly,” I say, barely managing to cover my mouth as I yawn. It proves to be contagious, since Hanako follows my lead.

“My my, tired already?” Lilly is masking her amused smile with one hand; I think she actually doesn’t have any clue what time it is. This opportunity is too good to pass up…

“Um, it’s actually dark out already…” Hanako interjects before I have a chance to say anything.

Ah, damn! So much for that idea. Still, the look on Lilly’s face as it morphs from humor to genuine shock is priceless. Ah well, different methods, same result.

“Oh dear. I seem to have gotten a little too engrossed in my reading. I hope you weren’t too bored.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I think we all needed to relax and take in the atmosphere after such a long trip.”

“Well said, Hisao. I believe some rest and relaxation did us all some good.”

I make my way to my bag and fish out my medication. Thankfully, I had pre-arranged my doses already, so this shouldn’t take long. Just as I’m about to head to the kitchen for some water, Hanako appears next to me, full glass in hand.

“Here,” she says as she offers it to me, a smile adorning her face. I really, really like her smile. Smiling back, I accept the glass and thank her, downing my pills with a few gulps. She heads to her and Lilly’s room, presumably to prepare for bed. I take the glass back to the kitchen and give it a quick wash, then go about my own bedtime preparations. By the time I’m back to the living room, I feel completely drained. Sweet, glorious futon, here I come. Just as I’m about to settle in, a nightgown-clad Hanako emerges, standing about halfway between the hallway leading to her room and the living room.

“Hey, Hanako. Everything OK?”

She nods, eyes heavy with sleep. Though she’s standing a bit far, I can make out the faint redness in her cheeks.

“I just wanted to say… goodnight, Hisao.” She raises her hand in a small wave, one I return. My hand feels heavy from fatigue, but I can manage this much.

“Goodnight, Hanako. Sleep well.”

“You, too.” And with that, she retreats into the hallway, and I hear the door to the bedroom close. I switch off the lights and make myself comfortable on the futon; it’s actually pretty cozy. Just before sleep grips me, I find myself thinking of Hanako. She really is an amazing girl…

The next morning passes by uneventfully. I wake up, down my cocktail of medications, and have breakfast with Lilly and Hanako. Today we’ve planned to go into the nearby town to do some shopping and have lunch. In the time between breakfast and the afternoon, I heard on the news that today’s going to be a bit of a scorcher. I make a mental note to take some extra water with me, maybe ditch the sweater vest for the time being. Arrhythmia, heat, and long walks don’t mix well. Heh. All that’s missing is a bar and we can reach the punchline; Hisao-

“Hisao, are you ready?”

Lilly’s question cuts my bad comedy routine short; guess it’s time to head into town. Lilly’s dressed in her usual casual attire, cane in hand.

“Ah yeah, just need to grab some water for the road. By the way, where’s Ha…na…”

The wind is completely knocked from my sails as my eyes land on Hanako. Standing just behind Lilly, she’s wearing a dazzling light-yellow dress, adorned with lilac-colored frills at the straps, around her chest, and at the skirt. As odd as it sounds, I can’t help but think it was made just for her; the light-dark contrast between the dress’s yellow and lilac matches perfectly with Hanako’s fair and burnt skin⁵. She’s gorgeous.

“I’m… here.”

Her gaze is cast downward, and her body is turned slightly away from me. It only takes a second to see why; nothing is covering the scar tissue on her right arm. Upon noticing this, a sudden realization dawns on me. I’ve seen Hanako’s hand before, even held it yesterday, but I’ve never seen beyond her cuff. Even yesterday, the sleeves of her blouse obscured my view of her skin. Now, I can see that her scarring extends far beyond that; all the way up her arm and, I assume, even further.

: Consolidation Hanako Dress No Speech Upscaled.jpg (1006.36 KiB) Viewed 9373 times

“Ah, yeah. Hi.”

“Is something wrong, Hisao? You seem distracted,” Lilly says. Only now do I realize I was barely able to piece together that poor excuse of a sentence.

“Yeah sorry, I was just thinking about some-thing.” Nice going, jackass. There’s no way she didn’t notice that slip-up.

“If you insist. We’d best be off, it’s quite a walk.”

The expression on her face tells me that she knows more than she’s letting on, but she thankfully doesn’t press the issue any further. Without further delay, we head off. As we make our way, I notice that Hanako has barely said anything since we left the house, her focus being entirely on the road ahead. I hope nothing’s wrong…

I can honestly say that this was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. Once we arrived in town, Hanako and Lilly were quick to do some clothes shopping, which thankfully didn’t take too long. At the insistence of my female companions, I got myself a change of clothes. Looks like I’ll be having Yamaku’s cafeteria food for three months…

Afterwards, Lilly treated us to a nice lunch and some ice cream to fight off the increasing summer heat. With our business concluded, we began our trek back to the house. At the rate we’re going, we should arrive there well before sunset. There’s just one thing that’s been bothering me…

Hanako has barely uttered a word after this morning. The more time passes, the more I dread I’m the one responsible for her discomfort. I think Lilly’s noticed this, too; around lunchtime I felt a subtle drop in her mood. When we finally arrive back at the house, Lilly speaks up.

“Hanako, would you mind giving Hisao and I some privacy? There’s something important we need to discuss.”

Lilly’s stern tone startles both Hanako and I, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her talk like this. Hanako is the first to respond.

“S-sure. I’ll just… get some f-fresh air…”

My eyes linger on Hanako as she makes her way out of the house and closes the door behind her. When I turn to face Lilly, I notice she’s sitting at the table, her hands clasped in front of her and a serious look on her face. I know that look; it’s the kind my parents would give me just before a stern lecture due to some lackluster performance on a test. With rising trepidation, I take the seat across from her. Sensing my presence, she speaks.

“Hisao. Normally, I wouldn’t pry into the personal business of my friends like this, but under the present circumstances, I feel I must act.”

“Lilly, what’s going on? I’ll be honest, you’re worrying me.”

That’s the understatement of the century. In all the time I’ve known Lilly, I’ve never heard her talk like this. I think the closest she has ever come was that duel of wits that she and Shizune had so long ago. At my words, Lilly relaxes her stern look, but remains resolute.

“I apologize, Hisao. Please, allow me to explain. I’m sure you’ve realized that Hanako has been acting strange today. From what I gather, you and she have grown quite close over the past few days, and I am hoping you can help me understand what is happening.”

This conversation took an unexpected turn. I feel a considerable amount of tension leave my body, but it’s quickly replaced with concern. So, I wasn’t wrong; Lilly noticed it, too. What I still don’t get is why Lilly is bringing this up now. Does Lilly do this often; just intervene whenever Hanako is feeling down? Was her hands-off approach during Hanako’s birthday an exception? How does that make Hanako feel?

“I noticed it myself, actually. I wish I had an answer for you, but I’m at a loss. Things seemed so great yesterday. Even this morning at breakfast, everything seemed fine.”

“Agreed. Had this begun in town, I would have simply dismissed it as Hanako’s usual fear of crowds. However, her unusual silence on the way there gave me the impression that something else was the cause.”

“Something or someone?” That probably came out way more accusatory than I intended, but right now, I need answers. If Lilly also thinks I’ve upset Hanako somehow, she’d be in a great position to tell me.

As much as I believe I’ve grown close to Hanako over the past month, that pales in comparison to Lilly and Hanako’s longstanding friendship.

“I’m sorry, Hisao. When we were in town, I asked Hanako if something was bothering her. All she said was "Hisao looked at me." I could tell from her tone that she was holding back her emotions.”

I “looked at her?” What the Hell does that mean? My first thought is to yesterday evening when Hanako showed me the hidden side of her face, but that can’t be it, she wanted me to see. I rack my brain for any other explanation; it had to have been at some point today between breakfast and-

Oh. Oh no. Realization hits me at full force, as if everything has fallen into place and then crashed down on my head at terminal velocity. This morning, when I first saw her in her dress. While all I could see was radiant beauty, all she could see was her supposed friend gawking at her. And what was it I said? “Uh, yeah, hi”? Fucking brilliant, Nakai…

“Hisao?”

“I… this morning, just before we left. I saw Hanako and… I think I… may have been staring at her…”

Lilly lets out a deep sigh, her expression changing into one of concerned understanding.

“That’s… unfortunate. You know how she feels about that, Hisao.”

My first instinct is to counter, but I manage to restrain myself. As cruel as it sounds, Lilly could never understand. She has her ways, but I don’t think Lilly can comprehend physical beauty. At least, not in the same way I do. I hate myself for admitting this, but what else can I do? If Lilly could see what I see…

“It’s not like I was looking at her scars or anything, I just… I wish you could see her, Lilly. Hanako is so beautiful, stunning, even. She’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, she’s so patient and understanding. Her scars don’t do much to diminish her beauty⁶, and oh God when she smiles… it’s enough to make me forget everything and just…”

Want to be with her, at her side. I stop myself just short of declaring that out loud, realizing how much of my feelings for Hanako I’ve just revealed to her best friend. Lilly’s face has completely transformed; her eyes are wide open and her lips slightly ajar. Quickly though, she recomposes herself, her eyes closing and a half smile on her face.

“Hisao… What do you think of Hanako?”

“I don’t follow.” Yes, I do. I know exactly what she’s asking. I’m just too scared to say it out loud.

“Hisao.”

Her stern tone is back, and her smile has left. Damn, if there was ever any doubt that she could pull off the “stern disciplinarian” look, it’s gone now. If she ever has kids, they will never get away with anything.

“I… I think…” No, I don’t think. In all of this, I realize just how much I care about her. My feelings for Hanako aren’t the same I have for Lilly, they’re not even the same I had for Iwanako. The thought of losing Hanako, especially to something like this, frightens me to my core.

“I love her, Lilly.”

Lilly’s entire body relaxes as soon as the words leave me, her eyes close and her lips form a wide smile. I can’t help but follow her example. Being able to admit my feelings for Hanako makes me feel so good.

“In all honesty, I had suspected it for some time. It’s good to hear you confirm it.”

“You knew? How?”

“Come now, Hisao. Surely, you’ve heard of women’s intuition?”

“Oh, I see. Fine, keep your secrets.”

We both share a brief chuckle at this, but we need to focus. I’ve hurt Hanako, even if by accident. I can’t just leave things the way they are.

“What do I do, Lilly? I have to make this right. I can’t bear the thought of losing Hanako over some stupid misunderstanding.” The thought crosses my mind of how infuriatingly often that cliché occurs in media. Sorry, but I won’t allow my life to become some cheap romance manga.

“I think it’s time for you to be as honest with her as you were with yourself, Hisao. If Hanako is even half the woman you describe her to be, she deserves to know.”

I figured she’d say that. I know it’s what I have to do, it’s what I want to do, but I’m still afraid. Afraid of messing things up, afraid that she doesn’t feel the same way. Afraid of my own damn heart.

“I know you're right, but I'm nervous. What if she says no? I don't want her out of my life.”

“Then you simply remain as friends. I trust you both to have that maturity.”

“Thanks, Lilly.”

“You’re welcome, Hisao. However, if I am correct, you are almost out of time.”

It takes me a second to get what she means; the sky has begun to shift colors, if I don’t get a move on, Hanako will return, and I’ll have missed my chance. With a deep and determined breath, I get up from the table and head for the door.

“Wish me luck!”

PoV: Hanako

Maybe I should head back. The Sun has started setting, I’m sure they’re done talking by now. The only thing stopping me is the idea of facing Hisao. I know he means well, but I’m sure he’ll ask if everything is alright just as soon as I walk in the door. Even Lilly noticed my silence today; it took a great amount of effort to hold back my nerves and give her just the vaguest of answers when she asked if something was amiss. “Hisao looked at me”, not untrue, but not very descriptive, either.

The truth is, I’m not sure how I feel right now. Last night, I showed Hisao more of myself than I ever have to anyone. Despite all my fears and insecurities, he didn’t pity me or look down on me; he accepted me. However, Hisao’s lingering gaze on me just before we left this morning made me question whether I went too far too quickly. Hisao is a hard man to read at times, and his expression this morning was one of those times. His stoic, almost catatonic expression sent my mind into a spiraling mess; was he disgusted at the realization of how badly I’m scarred? Curious about the extent of said scarring? Confused by my choice in attire? Was he pitting me? Does he find me attractive?

Those and many more questions swam in my head for the duration of our trip into town, and I’m no closer to finding the right answer than I was hours ago. Although Hisao and I have grown to trust one another, I don’t even want to imagine having that conversation with him. I don’t think I have a choice.

Just as I’m about to stand and head for home, I hear footsteps approaching from behind.

PoV: Hisao

Making my way out of the house, I scan my surroundings for Hanako. Sure enough, her dark hair is a striking contrast to the yellow of the wheat field, making her easy to spot. She’s sitting just a few meters away from the house, the small hill the house is perched on giving her a great view of the surrounding land. Determined, I get closer until I’m within earshot. Heart, don’t fail me now.

“Hanako?”

She turns around to look at me and brings herself up to her feet, her unobscured eyes making contact with mine. I’m glad she still trusts me enough for that.

“Hi, Hisao. Is everything OK?”

“Hey, yeah, everything’s fine, Lilly just had something important she wanted to talk about.”

“Hm.”

Silence. Alright, then. I close some of the distance between us a little but leave enough room for her to feel comfortable. I’ve got this…

“Hanako, I… What do you think of me?”

“Eh? What… I think? Um…”

Her eyes cast downward for a few seconds, then back up at me. After taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she continues.

“Hisao… when I got to Yamaku, I didn’t have any friends. I was content with being alone, out of sight and mind for everyone. But then, when Lilly moved into the room next to mine, everything changed.”

Hanako is speaking with such clarity and confidence that I can’t help but wonder if this is the same girl I met in the library all that time ago. She tells me about how her and Lilly’s friendship began, how she slowly began to rebuild trust in people… but then, her tone shifts.

“But… It felt like… it feels like she’s just trying to save me from the world. That’s not what I want… I want her to see that I can be strong, that I can do things on my own. I didn’t know how to do that without hurting her…”

Despite the sadness in her voice, I can see just how determined she is to show her strength. My understanding of Hanako as a person has completely changed, yet my feelings for her haven’t diminished. If anything, they’re stronger.

“Then… I met you. You were different. You always treated me like… like I wasn’t different or… broken. You saw me… for who I want to be. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

Her words cause a stirring in my chest that I’ve never felt before. Now more than ever, I want to be by her side, to be her confidant, to stand by her no matter what fate throws at us.

“There was a time when I thought that… if I didn’t do something, you would start to see me different. That if I didn’t prove to you that I was strong, you’d start to see me as someone who needs protection, too.”

Is it possible to be confused and understanding at the same time? Is there a word for such a thing? I get where she’s coming from, and if I’m being honest with myself, there were some moments where I thought and acted more like her shield than her friend. I won’t allow myself to make that mistake again.

“What do you mean, that if you didn’t do something? I’m not sure I understand.”

“When you came to visit me after my birthday and gave me your chess set… I felt different. The fear I had of you eventually looking down on me went away, and I… was so happy that I…”

Her face has turned a noticeable shade of red, and I feel my cheeks burning as I realize what she’s talking about. I bring my fingers up to my cheek where Hanako planted her kiss just a few days ago, recalling the feeling of her soft lips on my skin. The time has come, Nakai…

“I was afraid… that I had crossed a line, I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you about it. I’m… really sorry, Hisao.”

“Don’t be. Truth be told I… really enjoyed it.”

I can’t bear to keep eye contact as I finish that sentence, looking away in embarrassment. Gah, I feel like a giddy middle schooler. Once I’ve regained my composure, I notice that Hanako has completely lost hers; she’s hugging herself and looking slightly downward, her face completely flushed. She looks like a giddy middle schooler. After a moment, her gaze returns to me.

“When Lilly invited us here, I made the decision to prove to you both that I could be strong. Then, when you told me everything yesterday… I knew I could. So, I decided… to wear this…”

And all the pieces finally fall in place. This isn’t how I expected to reach this point of our conversation, but whatever force or deity has led me here, you have my gratitude.⁷ I need to approach this subject very carefully. I know Hanako isn’t happy with my staring at her this morning, I just need to find a way to let her know it’s because I was enthralled, not revolted.

“But… you seemed a bit reserved today.”

“Yes… When I saw that you were… looking at me, a lot of things went through my mind. Some part of me hoped you thought I looked… pretty. But I wasn’t sure, and not knowing scared me. Other parts of me thought that… you’d…”

She runs her left hand along the scarring on her right arm, all the way from her wrist to her shoulder. Lilly and I were completely wrong. She wasn’t retreating into herself, nor was she offended by my looking at her; she was afraid that by showing too much of herself to me, I’d be so repulsed that I’d want to distance myself from her. Alright, Hisao… it’s time.

“I would never do that, Hanako. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your trust, not just in letting me know you, but in letting me see you, too. I’d like to put your mind at ease; I think you look stunning.”

Hanako’s mouth opens in surprise, and I can hear her take a shaky breath as tears begin to form in her eyes. It’s now or never.

“But… I’m so…”⁸

“Hanako… I think you’re a wonderful, beautiful girl. I love you, and I want you to be by my side.”

God, I should have rehearsed this, that was so generic… Hanako’s eyes widen in shock, and she says nothing. The tears haven’t stopped, and for the life of me, I can’t get a read on her expression at all. Just as fear starts gripping my mind, Hanako launches herself into my chest, arms wrapping tightly around me. She’s careful to aim her head away from my heart and land gently, thankfully.

“Hisao… for so long… that’s what I’ve wanted to hear…”

I can hear faint sobs from her and feel my chest getting wet, but I don’t worry; I know her tears aren’t of pain or sorrow. I gently wrap my arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace. This feels so right. For however long or short this moment lasts, everything feels so right. When it passes and we separate, she is the first to speak.

“I’m sorry, Hisao… I’ve messed up everything… I hope you still enjoyed today…”

Despite her words, she says them with a smile between small sniffles. I help Hanako to wipe away some of the stray tears on her cheeks; she doesn’t flinch away or protest.

“Hana… today was one of the best days of my life. I’m glad I was able to spend it with you.”

“Oh, Hisao… you shouldn’t say things like that… you might have to carry me back to the house at this rate.”

“Oh well, then I’d better hold back. I’m not sure I have the upper body strength for that.”

Her expression changes to one of concern, but it quickly disappears as she realizes what I mean and lets out a small giggle.

“You're mean... and terrible at teasing.”

“You started it.”

“Meanie.”

The sky over us has begun shifting from orange to violet. I take it as an indicator that we should get back inside.

“We should head back; it’s getting dark and Lilly’s gonna start worrying if we take too long.”

“Oh right, Lilly! I need to help her make dinner, too.”

Without further delay, I offer my hand to Hanako, who happily accepts, and we begin to make our way back to the house. Just as we’re about to reach it, however, she stops and speaks up.

“Hisao?”

“Yeah?”

“Um… earlier you said… about when I… you said you liked when I kissed you?”

“Heh, yeah, it was really nice. I liked it. I liked it a lot.”

She lets out a giggle and gives me one of the sweetest smiles I’ve ever seen. I love this girl so much.

“Then… maybe you’ll like this, too?”

“Hanako…?”

Just like that day in her room, Hanako places her soft hand on my cheek. This time, however, her lips land on mine. The surprise only lasts an instant, and I return her affection in kind, wrapping my arms around her and bringing her closer. No matter what our future holds in store, I’m comforted by the fact I’ll have this wonderful woman by my side for it.

⁵ Maestro, you brilliant fuck.
⁶ Guest Poster, you are an artist.
⁷ You're welcome, now don't fuck it up.
⁸ Yes, this entire scene was inspired by that one sentence in Raita's sketch.

Bonuses/Scraps

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Author's Notes

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Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:21 pm

Postface

I am so tired but so satisfied. I began writing this on Sunday, August 4th and today is Friday, August 9th. Apart from a few short interruptions, I’ve done nothing except work on this little fanfic for the past week. I’d been thinking for a few days on how an alternate Hanako route that mixed aspects of her character from other versions of her (mostly from some of Crud's work available on Wordpress) and final release of the game would look like, and this is the result of my experimentation. Whether this works or not, I’ll let the reader decide.

Thank you to EurobeatJester, Grayest, Maestro, Iukyou (Xerge), and Tomas Purifying for their encouragement, helping me with proofreading, and even coming up with a few lines. Y’all are amazing.

Shoutouts to dewelar and Guest Poster for their amazing fanfictions; Developments and Sisterhood, whom I have shamelessly referenced. Your work has inspired many, including myself. Thank you.

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to you, the reader, for taking the time to read. I hope you find my little thought experiment enjoyable.

Frankyo · Post by **Frankyo** » Sat Aug 31, 2024 9:39 pm

I read your story and really liked it, I love a strong Hanako that goes for Hisao as well since the feeling is mutual. I liked your Hanako pov more than Hisao's, as a criticism I have to give is that I think Hisao's pov could be better as he felt too exasperated in his thoughts, rather than what I would describe as introspective canonically. I realize that it may be your writing style or a stylistic choice, and hope some others chime in as I'm just a fanfic reader and not a writer, so take my words with a grain of salt.

Maybe not the best example but bad end Hisao's inner thoughts sound like this: I feel numb. Without anything else to do, I begin the walk back to my dormitory room, mechanically placing one foot in front of the other while barely registering a thing around me. My mind keeps ticking, questioning everything that I thought I knew about Hanako. But one thing is not questioned; that shutting that door brought a close to more than that single visit.

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Sat Aug 31, 2024 10:04 pm

Frankyo wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 9:39 pm
I read your story and really liked it, I love a strong Hanako that goes for Hisao as well since the feeling is mutual.

Assertive Hanako is best Hanako.

Frankyo wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 9:39 pm
Critique of Hisao's POVs and how he's written

Yeah, I get what you mean. Hanako wasn't the only character I aimed to change in this project; I wanted to write Hisao to be less... robotic, I guess? I wanted to bring him closer to what an 18-year-old would act like, but not go too far, either. One of the happiest accidents I had while writing this was that a poorly-written Hisao POV made me switch gears to a much better Hanako POV. In fact, I prefer writing from hers than his, but I wanted to strike a balance.

I'm glad you liked the story overall, thanks for giving it a read!

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 7:30 pm

Like Family
Our couple enjoys their last night in the Satou Summer home before returning to Yamaku.

PoV: Lilly

I hear the faint sound of the door opening and closing shortly after, indicating the return of my guests.

“We’re back, Lilly,” Hisao calls. Ah, that means that Hanako is with him, a good sign, I presume.

I can hear the sound of their voices; it seems they’re talking. Though I can’t make out what their saying, nor do I intend to, I can tell they’re speaking in a calm matter to one another. It appears that Hisao has succeeded, and I feel a smile forming on my face.

As their conversation ends, I can hear footsteps approaching the kitchen. There is only one set of them; I doubt most men would wear women’s shoes, so it must be…

“Is that Hanako?”

“Hi, Lilly! I’m so sorry, I’ll start preparing things!”

“It’s quite alright, I just got here, myself.” She seems a bit jittery, but not in her usual manner; her tone of voice lets me know that her nerves are being caused by something else entirely. A certain male friend of ours, perhaps? Speaking of whom, I can hear the sound of the television, meaning that Hanako and I will have some measure of privacy for conversation.

As we go about preparing dinner together, a system in place that we’ve perfected over the past year, I can hear the faintest of humming coming from her. Unable to contain my curiosity, I decide to ask the billion-yen question.

“You’re in quite a good mood, Hanako. Has something happened?”

“Ah, well… um… Hisao and I…”

She’s positively beaming. Any doubt I had about the events that have transpired in the past hour are now quashed entirely. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she finally concludes:

“We’re… together now.”

At this, I turn in her direction, the smile on my face widening into a full grin. Although I already knew this, it feels delightful to hear her confirm it.

“That’s wonderful, Hanako. I’m very happy to hear that you and Hisao have grown so close.” I move my hand up to my cheek, now it’s time for a little friendly teasing.

“You simply must give me all the details!”

“Uegh?! Um… w-well, O-OK… but later!”

I didn’t expect a reaction like that. I feel a small pang of guilt; I must remember that this is all new to her, and Hanako isn’t one for sharing the intimate details of her life. After a mental chastising to myself, I return to my conversation with Hanako.

“Of course. “Private girl talk, no boys allowed”, yes?” I hope that my joke helps to ease any discomfort I may have caused her.

A small giggle escapes her lips as she answers: “Right.”

PoV: Hisao

I could get used to this. Lilly, Hanako, and I are currently enjoying dinner; the second to last one we’ll have at the summer house. It’s strange; though we’ve only been here for two days, it feels like so much longer. I guess part of that is because of everything that’s happened recently, chief among those being Hanako and mine’s transition from friends to… lovers? Wait, to be considered lovers, don’t we need to… well, I’m not opposed to it, but-

“Well, Hisao. I understand that there has been a recent development between you and Hanako?”

Lilly’s question saves me from my own thoughts. Perfect timing; any longer and standing up would have been a little awkward. Be still my raging hormones… I glance over at Hanako, the guilty look in her eyes contrasting with her blush and smile.

“Aw, I thought we were gonna tell her together?”

“S-sorry, Hisao… I kind of let it slip out.”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Hisao, but I knew the moment you walked in the door together. I suppose you could chalk it up to that ‘female intuition’ you know so little about.”

Lilly lets out a small giggle at my mock indignation. She just loves to tease, doesn’t she?

“Hmph, well, feminine mind-reading powers or not, what matters is that Hanako and I are together.” I reach over and take Hanako’s hand in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. She returns the gesture in kind, interlocking some of our fingers.

“And I am very happy for the both of you, I’m sure you’ll make a lovely couple.”

“A lovely couple who are enjoying a delicious dinner and will stay up late watching movies ‘till we fall asleep in the beautiful Hokkaido countryside. I really outdid myself with this first date, huh?”

We all share a laugh, and I just relish a wonderful idea, one that I’ve come to embrace with open arms. The three of us, we’re more than just high school friends, more than mutual support. We’re a family.

“You… still need to sleep on the futon, though.”

“Ouch. Not even an hour dating, and you’re already putting me in the doghouse?”

Hanako playfully sticks her tongue out at me in response, causing me to let out a small chuckle and Lilly to stifle her laughter. Yeah, I could definitely get used to this.

The quiet hum of the TV and the cicadas outside are the only things making noise at this hour. Lilly turned in for the night a few hours ago while Hanako and I made ourselves comfortable on the futon for our promised movie marathon. Neither of us are movie buffs, but given our limited options, it was all I could come up with. Thankfully, Hanako thought it would be a fun idea, and here we are. Well… maybe it’s more appropriate to say here I am, since my girlfriend is currently halfway to dreamland.

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“Hey, should we turn in?”

Hanako says nothing, just gently nods her head while still maintaining it on my shoulder. I switch off the TV and place the remote on the side table, while Hanako readjusts herself on the futon.

“Have fun?”

Hanako nods again as she lets out a yawn, barely opening her eyes afterward.

“I… think I liked the book better, though,” she says as she gets up and stretches a bit.

“You can tell me all about it in the morning, you should get some sleep.”

“You, too, OK?”

“Don’t worry, there’s just one last thing I gotta do before going to bed,” I say while getting up and turning to face her.

“Hm? What?”

“Kiss my girlfriend goodnight, of course. Can I?”

“Y-yes, please.”

Hanako’s surprise only lasts a second before she lets out a small giggle, a tinge of red on her cheeks. With a tender kiss, we say our goodnights and she heads for the bedroom while I lay down on the futon. It doesn’t take very long for sleep to take me.

The sound of pounding rain is the first thing I hear as I make my way back to the land of the conscious. Slowly pulling myself up, I can immediately feel my body lamenting the lack of enough sleep. Still, given all that occurred yesterday, I’d say it’s more than worth it. Leaning over and grabbing my bag, I take my morning assortment of pills and get to dry-swallowing them one by one. About halfway done, I notice Hanako walking, well, more like stumbling, into the living room. I guess she’s about as sleep deprived as I am.

“Good morning, Hi…” Her greeting is interrupted by a yawn that, try as she might, she’s unable to stifle. It’s actually pretty cute. “…saaaaao. Sorry.”

“Good morning. Let me guess; the rain got you up?”

She just nods in response, eyes closed as she rubs the sleep from them. When she opens them, she notices me taking a few more of my pills.

“Y-you’re not drinking any water?”

“Nah, didn’t have the energy to stand up. Besides, I’ve gotten used to taking them dry.”

She seems unsure at my words, casting her gaze down a little. I appreciate her concern, but there’s really no need for her to worry so much.

“I’m OK, Hanako, really. I can handle this much.”

She looks up at me again, and after a few seconds, a small smile appears on her lips.

“OK. I trust you.”

Returning her smile, I go back to my medication. Just as I finish the last couple of pills, our host makes her way into the living room, clearly having slept a lot better.

“Good morning, Hanako, Hisao. I trust you enjoyed your evening?”

“It was fun, yeah. We, uh… may have stayed up a bit longer than intended, though. I’m still really tired.”

“To be fair, Hisao, I believe it was your idea to stay up so late. ‘’Till we fall asleep’, was it?”

“Um, actually… that part was… my idea…” Hanako interjects before I can reply.

Lilly’s eyes widen for just a moment, then return to normal. Truth be told, I was just as surprised at Hanako’s suggestion last night as Lilly was just now. I still don’t understand Hanako’s reasoning.¹

“Ah, and Hisao, like the gentleman that he is, agreed to his lady’s suggestion. It seems that my worries about you were misplaced, Hisao.”

“And what, exactly, was there to worry about?”

“My my, what indeed,” she says with that teasing smile of hers. Alright, Satou, you’re on.

“You know, Lilly… ahem Those whomst’d’ve like to tease are usually the ones who harbor secret feelings of their own. Who’s the Prince Charming awaiting the return of Princess Lilly to Castle Yamaku?”

“Hisao~!”

My joke earns a hearty laugh from both of them. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Hanako laugh like this, and it’s amazing to see. There’s this indescribable feeling of contentedness I feel whenever she’s happy… so this is what true love feels like. In that case, I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.

Finally standing, I make my way towards my girlfriend who wastes no time in leaning into me. Kissing her gently on the head, I turn in the direction of the kitchen.

“Well, today’s my turn to make breakfast. I’ll get started on that.”

The morning came and went quickly. Thankfully, the rain stopped shortly after we finished breakfast, so the three of us decided to walk about and explore the surprisingly large plot of land that the Satous’ summer home rests on. I can’t help but wonder how extravagant their main home in Inverness must be compared to this one. Midday and the early afternoon were spent lounging about, watching TV, and playing games together. It’s honestly a bit saddening that our little vacation is ending so quickly, more so is the fact that exams are coming up soon and I’ve got next to no clue what it is I want to do after Yamaku.

On top of all that, now I’ve got my relationship with Hanako to think about. She mentioned an interest in joining the Newspaper Club, as an editor, no less. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Hanako loves reading, and a job as editor wouldn’t require much in the form of social interaction from her. I’ve seen Hana come out of her shell more in the past couple of days than in the last month, but I’m not sure if she’s at the point where she can do field reporter work yet. Then again, after everything that’s happened, I shouldn’t underestimate her. I promised myself I’d be her partner, not her caretaker, after all. Whatever the case, I’ll support her no matter what.

Getting up from the bath and drying off, I put on the shirt I bought in town yesterday. It’s a green-and-black polo with a stripe pattern in the middle, adorned with some English lettering I can’t make out. Hanako was the one to point it out and, after describing it to Lilly, I was heavily encouraged to purchase it. I should make it a point to find out whatever this phrase means when I get the chance.

Dressed and ready to go, I turn back to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind. I’d never hear the end of it if halfway through our train ride back to Sendai, I’d have to say “Oh, Madame Lillian, I left my one-of-a-kind sweater vest back at Hokkaido, can we go back for it?”²

Hanako pauses her reading and gives me a quick look-over once I’m back in the living room, a strange look of… satisfaction, I guess, on her face.

“So? Do I wear it well?”

“You look great, Hisao.” She nods confidently as she compliments me; it’s a strange feeling, one I’m not used to quite yet, but definitely enjoy. Hmm… well… she is my girlfriend now, so maybe I should…
“Not half as great as you do. Bath’s free, if you want your turn now.”
Her cheeks turn red at my comment, which she feebly attempts to hide with her book. I am the king of suave.

“I-I’ll go in a s-second.”

As much as I enjoy hearing Hanako speak without a stutter, I can’t help but feel proud of myself whenever I fluster her enough for it to return. Still, I’d best not overdo it. Time to wind things down, and thankfully, I have just the topic in mind to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“By the way, why did you like the book better?”

She looks at me with a look of slight confusion, a couple of seconds of silence pass before she speaks.

“Huh?”

“Last night, you said you liked the book better, remember?” I point at the TV with my thumb, and once she sees this, realization dawns on her.

“Oh, right! Um, I’ll tell you on the train, it’s… a lot.”

“Heh, alright. Looking forward to it.”

She gives me a small smile before returning to her reading, it’s pretty clear she wants to finish up before we head off. In the meantime, I should double-check that I have everything ready. Pills, check, clothes, check…

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¹ It’s because she wants to spend more time with you, idiot.
² Fallout: New Vegas – Honest Hearts

Bonuses/Scraps

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Author's Notes:

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Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Tue Oct 15, 2024 7:49 pm

Coffee Deficiency Disorder
The gang returns to Yamaku to tackle their greatest challenge of all: school responsibilities!

PoV: Hisao

BEEP-BEEP BEEP-BEEP BEEP-BEEP BEEP-BEEP

“Uuuuuugh.”

The infernal sound of my alarm clock drags me kicking and screaming from the wonderous land of subconscious into the realm of sleepless reality. Is it morning already? I need coffee.

I reluctantly pull myself up and rub the sleep from my eyes, them slowly adjusting to the morning light. Yeah, it’s definitely morning. Though, in fairness, it’s been morning since we got back to Sendai. We got back around… 4:00, I think? The only reason I’m even awake at the moment is because we managed to get a little sleep on the train. Apparently, my shoulder makes for a very comfortable pillow, at least, according to Hanako. Once we boarded, she made it a stunning 3 minutes before passing out. I vaguely remember having a conversation about something or another with Lilly while Hana slept. I swear, that girl could sleep through a typhoon. I need coffee.

Well, no use in delaying the inevitable any longer. I’d better get going before I’m late, or worse, I bump into Kenji in the bathroom and have to suffer a lecture on the feminist plot to paint the Moon pink or something as utterly ridiculous. God, I’m so tired… I need coffee.

Looks like all that rush was for nothing. Half of the class isn’t even here yet, and the other half is only here in the physical sense. This is all despite the fact that the bell rang over 5 minutes ago, though that’s pretty inconsequential right now, since Mutou is among those who are absent. Hanako was barely able to muster the energy to wave at me when I entered the room, which unfortunately, did not go unnoticed by the ever-diligent Student Council President and her human bullhorn who is currently grinning at me. Oh, no, of all days, not today… maybe I’ll be lucky and they’ll just-

“Well, well, well! Isn’t this interesting~!”

Uuuuuuuuugh.

“Welcome back, Hicchan~! Fun-filled weekend, I presume?” says Misha with a level of energy that, if I’m being honest, I’m envious of at the moment. Of course, I know the question is coming from Shizune, and that means it’s designed to squeeze as much information out of me as humanly possible.

“Hi, Misha, Shizune. How was your vacation?” I don’t have the energy to sustain a full-frontal assault from the dynamic duo right now, but maybe, I can stall them long enough until Mutou gets here.

“Perfectly a-de-qu-ate, Hicchan, but that’s not what we’re here to discuss~!”

Or not…

“I have it on good authority that you, Satou, and Ikezawa over there arrived pre-pos-ter-ously late this morning! That’s right, a little birdie told us, Hicchan~! Aaaand~! What’s even more interesting is what she saw you doing!”

I can’t catch a glimpse of Hanako from where I’m sitting, but I can imagine she’d rather be anywhere but here after hearing that. I’m so sorry, Hana. Well, the secret’s out then, not even… five hours since we got back, and people know about us. Honestly, I’m more impressed than upset; who’s up at four in the morning, on a school night no less, spying on people kissing goodnight? Not only that, to then have the time and energy to inform the Student Council just, what, three hours later afterward takes… something. I’m not quite sure what word to use right now. Still need that coffee.

“And who, pray tell, is this ‘birdie’ of yours whom has provided you this information?” She said ‘she’ so it must have been a girl, one who knows us well enough at least to recognize us, even in the dark.

“Ah-ah-ah! The Student Council never reveals its sources, Hicchan~! Besides, Rin isn’t really a bird, she- ooop!” Misha’s eyes practically pop out of her head as she covers her mouth in shock, meanwhile, Shizune pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales deeply. Well, that was easy. I doubt Rin is the kind to spread rumors for the sake of it, no doubt that Shizune somehow coerced it out of her (which is a miracle considering Rin is… well, Rin). Well, no sense in denying it. Besides, it’s not like we wanted it to be a secret or anything like that.

“Fascinating. To answer your question, yes; Hanako and I are dating.”

Before Misha or Shizune can respond, our attention is drawn to the surprisingly energetic Miki Miura, who’s just entered the classroom with the not-surprisingly unenergetic Suzu Suzuki.

“Haha, yes! You hear that, Suzu? You owe me five!”

“Superheroes don’t shake their sidekicks down for cash,” responds her teal-haired companion. Huh?

“I’m off duty! Pay up!”

“Later. Too tired.”

“Spoilsport.”¹

Err, OK? So, anyway… What was I talking about? Oh right, Misha and Shizune.

“Whaha~! Well, good for you two, Hicchan! However, I must remind you that such public displays of affection are usually frowned upon. Awww, c’mon, Shicchan! It’s not like anyone saw!”

“OK ALRIGHT! Jeez!” That probably came out a bit louder than I intended, but I had to stop her before the whole damn floor heard her and got the wrong idea. I’m really happy that Naomi and Natsume aren’t here yet, I can’t imagine Hanako would even consider asking to join the Newspaper Club if they heard all of… that.

“Look, we’re not looking to become the center of attention or anything, OK? We’re just a normal couple. Could you just… try to keep it down?”

Shizune gives me an analytical look before adjusting her glasses and nodding, then signing something to Misha, who gives me a thumbs up. That’s a good thing, I think. I hope.

“You know, Hicchan~ I always thought that if things didn’t work out with Lilly, you’d go after Emi! Rumor has it she had a bit of a crush on you, and she’s a great kisser~!”

“That’s… flattering, Misha, but-”

Wait, WHAT?!

“Um… how do you…?”

“Heheee, use your imagination, Hisao~.”

Well, this has been an… interesting morning. First, my relationship gets outed, then I overhear that Miura and Suzuki placed bets on my love life, and now I find out that Emi and Misha… well, it doesn’t matter. They’re my friends, I think, and I’m not the type to break friendships over that. However, I cannot allow her to get away with teasing me without due retribution.

“I’ll take your word for it, Shiina. Anyway, whatever the case, I’m happy with Hanako. Guess- oh.”

My thought is interrupted as Mutou enters the room, looking more disheveled than usual. Damn! I had a really good comeback, too. He somehow appears to be even more exhausted than we are, as impossible as that may seem, yet still manages to engage into full lecture mode as soon as he drops his belongings on the desk.

“Ah… now everyone… exams. Get ready for them. Now, onto today’s lesson…”

How enlightening. My riveting conversation with Misha cut short, I steel myself for what I can just feel is going to be a very long day…

The chimes of the bell are probably the most soothing sound I’ve heard all day. Thank God, it’s over. With classes done for today, I wonder if Hanako would like to go somewhere or perhaps study together for the exams? I’d ask, but she’s currently talking to Naomi and Natsume about, presumably, joining the Newspaper Club. In that case, I’ll-

“HI-SA-O~!”

And there goes that idea.

“That’s unusual. What’s up, Shiina?”

“Aw, c’mon, don’t be like that! Fine, fine, Hicchan. I forgot to ask you earlier, tell me about the trip!”

That’s really unusual. Since when is Misha interested in… oh. I see what’s going on here. I have to admit, that was clever; a true disciple of Shizune, this one.

“Nice try, but you’re not getting a detailed play-by-play of how Hanako and I got together.”

“Awwww~! You’re no fun, Hicchan. Not even a little bit?”

She’s never going to stop, is she? Maybe I’ll throw her a bone just to get her off my back for a while.

“Later, OK? I’ll tell you all about it some other time, but right now, I want to focus on the exams and enjoy the little time I have left before them.”

Misha’s… everything drops considerably at my mention of the exams, I guess she’s not as prepared as she’d like. Then again, who is? Just as quickly as it left, her energy returns.

“Fine, fine! You better keep your promise, Hicchan~!

“Promise? I didn’t-”

“Wahahahaha~!”

I feel an overwhelming sense of dread, as if I’ve just stepped into the mother of all traps. Suddenly, the exams don’t seem so worrisome.

“Hisao?”

The soothing sound of my girlfriend’s voice brings me back to reality. When I turn to look at her, I notice the beaming smile on her face. I don’t need words to confirm it, so I just offer her a hug, which she accepts.

“Congrats, Hana. I knew they’d let you in.”

“W-well, almost. I still have some forms to fill out and some other things… but it’s a start.”

“And that’s worthy of celebration! Wanna head to the Shanghai for a bite?”

“Um, Hisao… aren’t you… broke?”

… Fuck. Hanako picks up at my forlorn side-glance, but rather than the usual stammering apology, she lets out a small giggle.

“I’ll cover it, don’t worry.”

“Hana, I can’t-”

“Shhh…” She silences me with a finger to my lips. After making sure I won’t protest, she removes it. Alright, I guess it’s OK, this time…

“Then… meet me at the gates in 15 minutes? I want to get changed.”

She nods, gives me a quick peck on the cheek, and heads off. That was… new. Hanako is blossoming more and more every day, which I’m very happy to see, but also a bit nervous about. I hope I can keep up.

PoV: Hanako

Phew! I’m glad he took that well. I was afraid I’d been a bit too forward, but thankfully, he accepted my proposition without much protest. Hisao is very kind to offer, and even though we’re celebrating my almost joining of the Newspaper Club, I’d like to treat him to something, for once. True to his word, he arrives just in time and dressed in his new shirt.

I can’t help but wonder how long it’ll take him to find out what it says. I’m fairly decent at English, but having Lilly there to confirm it was all the reassurance I needed. Truth be told, it’s a miracle neither of us burst out laughing at the time. Hehehe.

“What’s so funny?”

“N-nothing! J-just, ah… remembering something.”

“Uh, OK, then? Shall we?”

“Let’s.”

We make our way down the hill and into town, chatting all the way. Most of our conversation is in regard to the Newspaper Club and what my responsibilities will be, at least, preliminarily. Naomi and Natsume were very nice and open to the idea of me joining, which was honestly a surprise. No doubt they must have heard all the rumors and gossip that has been spread about me over the years; the fact they were willing to overlook it all and accept me into their circle is very reassuring. It… feels nice, meeting people. First Lilly, then Hisao, now Naomi and Natsume. I never thought I’d think that way again, but… I’m so glad that, perhaps, I was wrong.

Before I realize it, we’re standing in front of the Shanghai. Hisao makes an exaggerated ‘ladies first’ gesture and beckons me inside. Oh, gods, this man…

As we enter, we spot Yuuko at the front counter, but something isn’t right. She looks terrible. Yuuko has always been a little… scatterbrained, but she always finds a way to brighten up eventually. Right now, though? I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone, other than myself on a few occasions, look this dejected and tired. She hasn’t even noticed that we’re here, despite clearly being in her line of sight.

“Y-Yuuko?”

“Huh?! Oh, hi, Hanako, Hisao. Welcome to the Shanghai. Yes, we’re open. Please do not stand on the tables.”

Um… what? What on Earth was that about? Yuuko seems completely lost, I don’t think even she knows what she just said. How should I approach this? I remember something my therapist once said about-

“Is everything OK, Yuuko? You look… really tired.”

… Never mind, then. Ever the diplomat, Hisao addresses the issue directly. While I prefer him to be direct and honest with me, I have to recognize that not everyone will… appreciate it the same way I do. He does look to be genuinely concerned though, so I can’t fault him too much.

“Oh! Yeah, I’m sorry! I did it again, didn’t I? My boss told me to keep it together but it was just such a sudden rush and so chaotic and they just kept piling on orders and screaming and-”

“Whoa, whoa! OK, how about you start from the beginning. Slowly.”

“Sorry, sorry! It’s just that a couple of days ago, there was a sudden downpour, and a ton of kids showed up out of nowhere. It was such a disaster, they just kept shouting and jumping around and catcalling some poor girls from the school…”

That sounds absolutely horrid. I thank every deity I know that I was on the other side of the country when this transpired; I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened if we had been here.

“This place was a warzone by the time they left. It’s been days and I still haven’t recovered…”

“Damn. Sorry you had to go through all that, Yuuko.”

“It’s OK, I’ve survived worse.² Oh! I’m sorry! Let me get you a table!”

Just like that, Yuuko leads us to an empty booth near the back. Once we’ve settled in, we place our orders and Yuuko heads to the back. Hisao and I make brief small talk before she returns with our meals, which she’s barely managing to balance in her hands before-

SLAM!

… she slams them on the table. By some miracle, nothing breaks. I’m not exactly the prime example of grace and poise, but I find it surprising that Yuuko can hold this job down, what with her… ah… klutziness. Based on the admittedly limited information she’s let slip out, the manager of the Shanghai doesn’t seem like the most patient of individuals. Then again, doesn’t everyone complain about their boss?

“Say, Lilly’s not with you guys today? Or did you come up with an excuse to be alone together?”

Oh, that’s right; Yuuko doesn’t know that Hisao and I have started dating. Well, there’s no need to keep it from her.

“Actually, Hisao and I are… I’m his… h-he’s my b-boyfriend.”

“Oh yeah, I knew that already!”

“Wait, what? How?” asks Hisao. Admittedly, I’m curious, too. Lilly hasn’t been here, and the only other people who know are… oh.

“Guess who~!” says the all-too-familiar voice of Misha, whose head has just popped out from the booth behind ours. I knew it. So much for peace and quiet…

“Hi, Hicchan, Hanachan~!”

‘Hanachan’? Oh, gods… I suppose it could be worse. Hisao turns towards her with an expression that just screams ‘what have I done to deserve this?’

“Say, Hicchan, I like your new… wai… BWHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! AHAHAHAHA~!”

Hisao slowly turns to me, then to Yuuko, but neither of us has any idea what’s got Misha so riled up. This is the loudest I’ve heard her laugh in… ever, actually. What could be so funny that-

Oh. Oh, no. Nonononono. Suddenly, I remember that Misha had mentioned her plans to study in America and that she’d even practiced English with Lilly before her and Shizune had their falling out. She knows. She knows and she’s going to tell Hisao and I’m completely screwed-

“Jeez, Misha, what is up with you?” says Hisao between Misha’s loud bursts of glass-shattering laughter.

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“Yyyyhhhahahahaha, your shshshshahahahahaha!” She can’t get a word out, but gestures at the left side of her chest; the equivalent of where the offending text is located on Hisao’s shirt. Don’t say it don’t say it don’t say it don’t say it don’t say it don’t say it-

“Oookay, then…” Hisao slowly turns his attention away from her and begins to eat his meal. Misha slinks back into her booth as her laughter dies down, presumably to relay what just happened to Shizune, who I’m assuming is there with her and has no idea what just happened.

I can’t bear to look at him right now, not because I’m ashamed or embarrassed… well, maybe a bit of the latter, but because I just know that he’ll read my expression, and the truth will come out. I’m starting to think this was a seriously bad idea. Damn you for convincing me otherwise, Lilly…

We finish our meals, I pay, we get the hell out of the Shanghai before Misha has a chance to corner us. Rather than returning to school, we decide to head to the park in town for a breather. I suddenly feel very tired. We find a vacant bench near some shade, my head immediately landing on Hisao’s shoulder as we sit.

“I’m glad to be out of there.”

“Yeah, sorry, Hana. Didn’t think our dinner would come with a side of punctured eardrums.”

I let out a tired but genuine laugh. Hisao is a pretty funny person when he wants to be. This is quite reassuring, it’s just what I need to decompress after that whirlwind of unpleasant thoughts from earlier.

“It’s… OK. It was still a fun time.” I mean that, I truly do. Spending time with Hisao, just the two of us, is new and refreshing. Of course, there was the occasional chess game or silent reading session in the library, but they’re not the same as this. I wonder, is this what ‘dating’ is like? I like it. Very much.

We stay in the park and enjoy the afternoon air for a while, Hisao eventually checking his watch and gently tapping me on the side.

“Ready to head back up?”

“Mhm.”

Hands clasped together, we make our way back up the hill and past the gates of Yamaku. Along the way, the realization dawned on me that exams are just around the corner. This means that Hisao and I will be preoccupied for a while, so this is probably one of, if not the last social outing we’ll have together until they’re over and done with. It only slightly dampens my mood, though; I know that we’ll have plenty of time for a proper ‘first date’ afterward.

Reaching the entrance to the female dorms, we kiss and part ways for the night, Hisao keeping an eye on me until I’m safely inside. I love that man, more than I’ll ever be able to express with words. In that case, I hope my actions can do my feelings justice.

PoV: Hisao

And there she goes. God, I love that woman. Looking up at the sky, I notice the slightest change in its color. That means I better get a move on if I want to make it on time. Time for some detective work.

If I remember correctly, the Newspaper Club is right around… here! I recall that Hanako had mentioned they had computers here, which is exactly what I need. I’m sure there’s probably a computer lab or something I could have checked, but one, I don’t know where that is, and two, I don’t know anyone who does. I kind of stopped exploring the school after the festival.

Luckily, Naomi is still here, though she looks like she’s just about to wrap up and head to the dorms. I hope I’m not intruding too much. Truth be told, I’m starting to have second thoughts about this. I don’t really know her nor Natsume, but I’m at a loss for options. Right now, this is the only hope for completing my quest: I need to find out what it says on this shirt.

Steeling myself, I make my presence known.

“Oh, hello, Hisao!”

“Ah, hi, Naomi. Good to see you,” I manage… and I’m all out of things to say. Crap.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re planning on joining the Newspaper Club, too? We’re on a roll!”

“Aha, no, sorry. Actually, I was hoping to ask you a favor.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, see, I don’t really know who or where else to ask about this, but… I’m hoping one of your computers has some sort of translation software or something I can use.”

“Heh, ah… you do know there’s a website for that now, right? You didn’t have to come all this way for that.”

“I was hoping for something a bit more… sophisticated.”

“Oooh, listen to you! You sure you don’t wanna join? We could use someone who uses the big words.”

“I appreciate your offer but must humbly decline your proposition.”

“Gods, I hope you don’t talk like that to your girlfriend. Speaking of which…”

Her expression morphs into a mischievous look, one I’m all too familiar with at this point. Oh no, not another one…

“What are your intentions with my prospect editor, Mr. Nakai?”

I am so not in the mood for this… calm down, Hisao, she’s just being friendly. No need to burn bridges needlessly, just play along. Besides, if Hanako is going to ‘work’ here, I should make the effort to get along with her new friends.

“You have my sincerest assurances that my intentions with Ms. Ikezawa are pure of heart and noble in execution. Now, may I please use your computer?”

And just like that, the Shizune-like interrogation persona shatters and she bursts into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Sure man, knock yourself out. There’s a translation software that should get you sorted out in no time. It’s easy enough to figure out, you don’t even need an English keyboard.”

How convenient, and incidentally, exactly what I need. Naomi gestures with her thumb at one of the computers and I get to work. Alright, let’s see here… English to Japanese, and…

<<M… a…>>

…

Seriously?

The text that appears on screen is causing two clashing reactions in my brain. On the one hand, I want to laugh like a madman. On the other, I feel so embarrassed that I want to just disappear for a few days. ‘マスターオブロマンス’.

I utter the words out loud in a mix of resigned admission and genuine enjoyment. Naomi turns to look at me with a raised eyebrow, then comes closer to read the screen. Once she does, she turns to look at me with a mix of amusement and worry.

“That’s all you needed to translate? Three words?”

“Um… yes?”

“But that’s super easy! I thought it was, I dunno, like a big paper or something! Jeez man, the exams are in a couple of days! There’s an English one in there, you know!”

Thanks for that grim reminder… right now, though, I have something far more important I need to deal with.

“Yeeaaah. Listen, I gotta go. Thanks for the help, Naomi. I’ll see you in class.”

I stand up and head out, Naomi barely having the time to react and say goodbye before I’m out the door. Alright, Hanako Ikezawa…

I make my way back out to the courtyard and then to the girls’ dorm building, where I run into Misha.

“Hicchan? What are you-”

I raise my finger and keep walking towards my destination, with Misha now in tow. Surprisingly, though, she’s being uncharacteristically quiet with her speech.

“Hisao, wait, hold on! Don’t be mad at Hanachan, it was just a joke…”

Once I reach the hallway that houses Hanako’s room, Misha stops following me and just watches from behind the corner. Good, this will make things easier.

Knock Knock Knock

After a few seconds, Hanako answers the door, clad in her nightgown and looking a bit worried. It’s taking me every bit of energy to keep my composure, but this’ll be worth it.

“Hisao? What’s wrong?”

Without a word, I gently cup her cheek and kiss her deeply. I can hear a faint cry of surprise from her, but she quickly reciprocates my affections and eases into things. After a small while, we part.

“W-wow… w-what was that for?”

“Can’t I kiss my girlfriend?”

“Of course you can!” She blurts out, her cheeks flashing crimson at the sudden outburst. Once she calms herself, she continues.

“It was just… so sudden and… unexpected.”

“Eh, it suits me. After all, I am the ‘Master of Romance’, right?”

And there it is, the moment I’ve been waiting for. Hanako doesn’t utter a single sound, but her facial expression speaks volumes. Shock, embarrassment, fear, relief; they all flash through her face within seconds, eventually settling on a look similar to the one I felt when I first read those words on the computer screen. Mission accomplished.

“G’night, Hisao…” she says as she slowly closes the door to her room.

Hanako’s face is as red as tomatoes, but she’s smiling from ear to ear. This all-too-familiar scene playing out again brings a smile to my face, as well. All is right with the world.

Click

“Love you, Hana!”

I can hear the muffled and exaggerated groans coming from inside her room. Good, she heard me… and probably so did the rest of the floor. Ooops. Eh, oh, well.

Satisfied, I turn on my heels and head down the same hall I came. Misha is still here, dumbfounded and, amazingly, lost for words at the scene she just witnessed. Before she can say anything, I look at her and utter just a single word:

“Justice.”

¹ Pseud-Pseudo Suzu Route by ScissorLips (Psu-Psu Suzu is best Suzu)
² Like fucking Kenji.

Bonuses/Scraps

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Author’s Notes

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Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:26 pm

Reassurances
The dreaded exams have finally arrived, yet Hisao's thoughts are occupied by something much more personal.

PoV: Hisao

We’re about 15 seconds from the final bell. Despite their normally uplifting tune, I can’t bring myself to consider them anything other than the Devil’s ballad. Why? Because as soon as they ring, we’re in for a world of misery and endless sorrow, the exams.

“So ends this trimester’s lessons. From now until the end of your exams is study time. Myself and the other teachers will be available to help you… But, I suppose if you have made it this far and haven’t absorbed the material, there’s very little we can do for you.”

What a lovely and uplifting thought our homeroom teacher has left us with! The bells ring the instant he finishes that sentence and if I weren’t a man of science, I’d swear the sky turned several shades darker to signal our descent into the pit.

Despite my musings, I really am not that worried about the upcoming exams. I’ve made plenty of time in the afternoons for studying… well, cramming, really, but I have managed to at least retain a good portion of the information we’ll be covering in the upcoming days. The downside is I’ve barely been able to spend any time with Hanako or Lilly, but they understand. After all, they’re in the same boat.

Well, with nothing better to do, I guess I’ll head back to my room for some more torture. I turn to wave at Hana, who’s chatting with Naomi and Natsume about something. She returns my gesture, and as an added bonus, subtly kisses the tips of her fingers. I can feel a flutter in my chest, a good one, and smile earnestly at her before ‘kissing’ her back.

I set my bag down next to my desk before fishing out my study materials for the day. Just as I’m about to open one of the books, something steals all of my attention; Iwanako’s letter. With a deep sigh, I take hold of the paper and… not read it, but rather, stare at it. Deep down, I knew that Iwanako and mine’s relationship ended that day at the hospital. This letter both broke and reinforced that view, as contradictory as that is. I still haven’t fully decided how to interpret it. Is she expecting me to write her back or is this her subtle way of saying she’d rather never see me again?

“Perhaps it's for the best if we don't?”

I no longer have romantic feelings for Iwanako, but to just leave things as they ended seems… wrong, somehow. She was an acquaintance, if nothing else, at one point. Plus, recent events have taught me that expressing certain emotions can be very… taxing. If this letter was her way of granting me closure, then she at least deserves the same.

Setting the letter down, I grab a blank sheet and a nearby pen.

Dear Iwanako…

I spend the next half hour or so drafting, writing, and re-writing my response. I don’t want to come off as too cold nor too friendly, too aloof nor too approachable. Perfectly neutral, as was her letter. Closure for a relationship that never was. In some other reality, perhaps, but not this one. That last part, I keep to myself; there is no need to express it, nor do I wish it to be a possibility. My reality, my future, already has someone else in it.

… Sincerely, Hisao

I read and re-read the letter before folding it and setting it down at my desk. I’ll have to procure an envelope to send it, but that can wait. I let out a heavy sigh and lean back in my desk chair, then look out the window and see the leaves move in the gentle embrace of summer’s breeze. We’re still plenty of hours away from curfew, leaving me with more than enough time for studying later. Right now, I need to think.

PoV: Hanako

Knock Knock Knock

“Come in, Hisao,” I call out from my desk. I’m glad he’s here, I could use his company. Tomorrow is the start of what can best be described as Hell Week; the period of our exams. However, ‘Week’ is disingenuous, considering that it’s actually two weeks. Couple this with my recent joining of the Newspaper Club, I’ve been left with little time to unwind. Knowing this, it’s likely that tonight is the last time Hisao and I will get to do anything together before we have to focus all our time and energy on the exams. Even if it’s just for a little while, having Hisao here with me is a more-than-welcome distraction. A very good-looking distraction…

“How’d you know it was me?” The look on his face is priceless; it’s a mix of shock and amusement, as if I’d never be able to guess it was him at my door. Time to take a page out of Lilly’s book…

“I have my ways,” I say, trying my best at an impression of Lilly’s poised way of speech. Oh, this is so dumb…

“Oh no, not you, too…” Hisao makes an exaggerated gesture as he speaks, and I can’t help but giggle at his faux melodrama. He then turns towards my shelf with an accusatory look and points directly at… my toys? That reminds me, I still need to come up with a name for that Victorian doll.

“I blame you for this! You have infected my fair lady with the snares of feminine intuition!” He proclaims that in the most exaggerated way possible, complete with the most ridiculous pose I’ve ever seen. I have to bring my hand up to my mouth to stifle my laughter. “Return her to her former state at once, foul agent of Lillian!”

“Hahahahaha!” I can’t resist any longer and lose all my composure, the laugh that escapes me is one of the sincerest (and loudest!) bouts I’ve had in a long, long time. How does he do this to me? What else could he do to me?

“Heh, it’s good to hear you laugh, Hana. Honestly, seeing you happy helps.” My boyfriend’s mood dips considerably at this, and I can’t help but feel a bit worried. This is more than just test stress; something’s going on. I get up from my desk and close the distance between us. Whatever it is, I’m here for you, Hisao.

“Is everything OK?”

“I guess. I’ve just been thinking about some stuff. Exams, break, university, and…” He takes a moment before continuing, I can detect a bit of apprehension from him.

“You remember that letter I got some time ago?”

I search my memory, and sure enough, I recall that after my birthday party, Misha and Shizune had given him a letter from…

“Iwanako’s?”

“Huh? How did you…?” Did he forget? To be fair, we were both still a bit… hungover.

“You… mentioned her name when they handed it to you.”

“Oh, yeah, right,” he says, clearly trying to keep his composure. It only now dawns on me that this must be the same Iwanako Hisao was talking about in Hokkaido. That means…

“She… wrote to you? Oh…” It takes an indescribable amount of restraint to stop myself from asking what she wrote to him about. Hisao is my boyfriend; I trust he’d never do anything to hurt me, but I can’t help but wonder what his sort-of ex-girlfriend would want after all this time.

“Yeah, she… hey, are you alright?” His tone shifts to one of concern as he glances toward me. Only now do I realize that my hands are fidgeting… hard. I quickly separate them, ball them into fists, and place them on my sides, an old trick I learned to help control stress. It doesn’t reassure Hisao, though.

“I’m… I…”

“Hana… whatever there was between Iwanako and me ended a long time ago.” He puts a hand on my shoulder and looks deep into my eyes before continuing. “Even if she wanted to reconnect, which she doesn’t, I don’t want to. You’re the one I want to be with, her letter doesn’t change that. I love you, Hanako Ikezawa.”

Oh, Hisao… Oh, Hisao… My previously rigid hands relax as the stress drains out of my body, replaced with an overwhelming sense of security and trust that I’ve never felt for anyone before. I love him so much…

“I… I know, Hisao. I trust you. I know you’d never… you know. I… I love you, too.”

He seems a bit relieved at my words, but I can read from his facial expression that he’s not entirely convinced. On top of this, it appears he’s in deep contemplation; as if he’s having an argument with himself and one side has yet to claim victory. What could he be thinking?

“Hana… I want to show you something. Let me just make sure the door’s locked, though.”

“Eeh?!” Hisao doesn’t respond to… whatever that was. He just heads to my door and makes sure that it’s closed entirely and then turns the lock. It’s locked. I’m locked in my room. With my boyfriend.

Oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods-oh-gods

This isn’t where I thought this was going is this really happening I knew this would happen eventually and it’s not like I didn’t want it to I mean I was thinking about it but this is so sudden but that’s OK he’s my boyfriend but I’m not sure if I’m ready and we only started dating a little while ago and he says he wants to show me something and his hand is moving to his collar is he really about to-

“I’m not going to strip naked or anything weird, I'm just going to take off my shirt.”

OH-GODS-OH-GODS-OH-GODS-OH-GODS-OH-GODS-OH-GODS-OH-GODS-OH-GODS

Just focus on his hands just focus on his chest just focus… on… his… … oh… oh.

Hisao finishes undoing his shirt and tie; all of those thoughts in my head are pushed to the side as my eyes land on the large scar on his chest. I look up at Hisao’s eyes and he nods; he’s given me permission, but dare I continue? If I do this, would he expect me to do the same? Could I do the same? His past and mine were one thing, but this is a much, much larger step, and I think he knows it. Hisao has taken the lead again, just like before. For me to catch up and be on equal ground with him…

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“This is…” I say as my fingers make contact with his skin. I can immediately feel it in my palm; the texture of his scar isn’t quite the same as mine, but it contrasts heavily with his undamaged skin much in the same way mine does.

“The scar from the surgery that followed my heart attack. The surgeons had to cut open my chest to operate on my heart."

I very carefully trace along his scar with my fingertips and palm. I can’t deny that there’s a strange feeling of comfort in being able to touch him, one I hope that he feels when he touches me. This, however, goes far beyond comfort and into the territory of something else, something much greater. I’m one step away from the precipice.

“I never knew…” Of course, I knew he had surgery and underwent an agonizing period of recovery. What I mean is that, until this moment, I could never imagine how horrid his heart attack really must have been. The fear, the pain, the unbearable reminder that you are forever changed and can never go back; this scar that he’ll be forced to see every day for the rest of his life will always bring him back to that moment. I know exactly what that’s like; I wouldn’t wish that hell on my worst enemy. The fact that the man I love has to go through it is heartbreaking.

“You’re the first person to see this since I left the hospital.”

I can’t begin to describe how comforting that is to know; that of all the people in his life, Hisao chose me to be vulnerable with, to share in his pain, to seek my comfort and offer his in return. I understand, Hisao, I know what you’re trying to tell me.

He puts his hand to my cheek, my ruined cheek, and gently strokes my skin with his thumb. I can feel a small tear leave my eye, which he carefully wipes away. Was I crying? It’s still such an alien concept to me; how someone could not only look past my scars but also feel comfortable enough to touch them. I never thought the touch of another person could feel so good, especially when it’s someone I love. I want him to touch me more… but not now. I’m not ready for that, not yet.

“Thank you, Hisao. I understand.” Slowly, and a bit reluctantly, I pull my hand away from his chest and he begins to redo the buttons on his shirt. When he finishes, he looks me in the eyes and offers me a smile. Sincere and earnest, but slightly tired. That’s all he can do, but that’s OK. We’ve done more than words could ever say. He turns his gaze towards my desk and notices my collection of notes, a tired sigh leaving him.

“Well, I better let you get back to it. I should get some last-minute cramming in, too.”

I giggle a bit, the expression of faux misery on his face is priceless.

“OK, but don’t stay up too late.”

“Hehe, yes, dear.” He leans in and kisses me tenderly, which I reciprocate in kind. ‘Dear’, eh? I think I could get used to that.

As he walks out of my room and places his hand on the door, he stops and turns back to me.

“Hey, Hana?”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Very much.”

The smile he gives me is enough to melt my heart. With a wave, he closes the door to my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and… something else. I’m not ready to take that step with him just yet, but in the meantime…

Studying can wait, I’ve… got to go do something.¹

¹ I got this idea from Hanako's Story by Trivun.

Bonuses/Scraps

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Author’s Notes

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Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Thu Nov 07, 2024 8:00 pm

Exposure
The final boundaries are vanquished as a major victory is celebrated.

PoV: Hisao

40 seconds. That’s all that stands between us and freedom. After a long and arduous battle, we’ve emerged at the end of the crucible. After so many long nights, study sessions, and more than a few overindulgences on coffee, it’s over. Despite how difficult it was, I feel pretty good about our chances. I say ‘our’ because Hanako, Lilly, and I had a few study sessions together over the past week. Lilly was able to get us up to speed on English, while Hanako helped us with language arts and, surprisingly, history. Who knew? As for me, I was the designated mini-Mutou of the group and helped with science. Hanako commented that all I was missing was a brown trench coat and I’d be able to perfectly pull off the ‘teacher’ look. She also mentioned something about time travel, but I didn’t get it.

“Aaaaand… time. Drop your pens and wait in your seats whilst I collect your papers,” says Mutou as he traverses the classroom doing just that. 18 collected tests later, the moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrives:

“That’s it. I’ll see you all after the summer break.”

Amidst the cheers and hurried evacuations of the classroom, I lean back in my seat, relishing the feeling of accomplishment that washes over me. Turning my head towards Hanako, I give her a thumbs up, which she returns. Once the chaos has died down, I stand up and make my way towards her.

“Well? How’d it go?”

“Alright, I think. What about you?”

“Thanks to you and Lilly, I’m pretty sure I nailed it.”

“That’s good.”

I offer my hand to her, which she accepts. We make our way out of the classroom towards Class 3-2, running into Lilly on the way.

“Hey, Lilly!”

She turns to face us, but just for the slightest of moments, I catch a glimpse of a frown on her face. It disappeared nearly the instant she heard my voice. Wait… there’s no way Lilly failed… did she?

“Hello, Hisao. I take it your final exam went well?”

I quickly recover, but it seems I’m not the only one who noticed, since Hanako is giving me a look of concern.

“Yeah, your help really paid off. How about you?”

Lilly’s face changes again, but this time, her smile is genuine. Not only that, she also seems quite proud of herself.

“I believe it went phenomenally well, and I must thank you and Hanako for being such wonderful tutors.”

OK, she definitely didn’t fail. I wonder what she’s thinking about, then? Before I can ponder any further, she adopts her signature ‘teasing time’ pose. Oh no, here we go…

“The two of you should consider a career in teaching together. You would be quite the pedagogical power couple!”

Alright, that one was pretty good. I manage to stifle a chuckle at her comment, but Hanako’s worries are only slightly reassured.

“Um, Lilly?”

“Yes, Hanako?”

“U-um… ah… s-sorry, I forgot.”

Oh, Hanako… I love you, but you are a terrible liar. She is mentally chastising herself; I can see it written on her expression, helped by the very colorful word that she just mouthed. Thankfully, Lilly doesn’t pry and moves on to another subject.

: Consolidation Hanako Chastize Upscaled.jpg (661.99 KiB) Viewed 9101 times

“Oh? Well, alright, then…”

Somebody please say something… no? Alright, Hisao to the rescue, then.

“Say, since we’ve all conquered our exams, how about we go out into the city to celebrate?”

Nice save, Hisao, nice save. Thankfully, my parents sent me a neat bonus to my allowance recently, so I can actually afford this social outing. Plus, I do owe Hana for the last one. Hanako seems open to the idea, while Lilly looks like she’s thinking about something.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Hisao. As a matter of fact, I think I know exactly where we should go.”

“You do?” asks my girlfriend, a look of surprise and curiosity on her face.

“Indeed! I think it’s time for Hisao to witness your amazing vocal talents, Hanako.”

“Wait, you mean…?”

“That’s right! Karaoke!”

And now, Hanako’s face has turned red and she’s shuffling a little. Honestly, it’s pretty adorable. Hold on…

“You sing, Hana?”

“S-sometimes… Lilly, Akira and I went to a karaoke ba-aah, establishment, once. It was… really fun.”

Hanako relaxes as she recalls the memory, a smile creeping its way onto her face.

“Alright, then I will cast my vote for karaoke, too.”

“OK… but you have to sing me something, too.”

Lilly’s eyes widen and so does her grin. Her expression is eerily similar to one that Shizune made when she roped me into ‘official Student Council business’; her codename for ‘destroying Hisao at Risk again’. Uh oh… Still, I don’t mind singing for her. It is fair, after all.

“Deal.”

PoV: Hanako

“I wonder what’s keeping her,” says Hisao while crossing his arms. I have to admit, I’m also curious as to where Lilly is. In all the time I’ve known her, Lilly has never once been late for anything without telling me beforehand. Yet, we’ve been standing at the gates of Yamaku for well over 10 minutes. I wonder if maybe we should-

Riiiiiiing

The sound of Hisao’s phone almost makes me jump. Is it safe for him to have such a jarring ringtone? Either way, I’m hoping that’s Lilly.

“Lilly? Hey, everything OK? Yeah, we’re at the school’s gates… oh.”

Hisao’s tone dips as he continues talking to Lilly. Almost as if to counterbalance this, my anxiety begins to rise. Is everything OK?

“Wait, you sure? We could always… but… well, that’s true. Aw, c’mon, you know we don’t think that. Alright, alright, jeez, we’ll go. You know, you really are Shizune’s cousin. What can I say, I’m the Master of Romance AND Comebacks.”

Uuugh…

“I will. Tell Akira I said ‘hi’. You, too. Bye.” Hisao closes the lid on his phone, ending the call. Then, he turns to me.

“So… a development. Apparently, Lilly forgot that she had a pre-planned thing with Akira today, so… she can’t make it.”

“Oh…” That’s disheartening… and here I was hoping-

“Buuuut… maybe you and I could go anyway? We can still have plenty of fun, just the two of us.”

-this-is-even-better-never-mind! Now that I think about it, this would technically be our first proper date. I refuse to count our dinner in the Shanghai after that thing with Misha happened.

“Plus, it’d be nice to go out before we head to my parents’ next week.”

Oh, that’s right; I’d almost forgotten that Hisao had invited me to his home in Tokyo. He was originally supposed to go immediately after exams, but as soon as his parents heard that he’d like to bring his girlfriend, they insisted we give them a week to make the necessary preparations. Well, then…

“OK,” I answer him with a smile. I hope it’s enough to hide my nervousness. My first date…

Without further delay, we head to the bus stop in town and arrive in the city by nightfall. Once we arrive at the karaoke, ahem, establishment, we’re fortunate enough to not have to wait too long to enter. Mondays have their benefits, I guess. Unfortunately, there are some rather unsavory characters at the bar, but they’re keeping to themselves. There is one who seems familiar, though I can’t quite point out why. Well, I’m not here to make conversations with bikers, I’m here to spend the evening with my boyfriend.

Hisao and I make our way to the front desk to reserve a booth. Despite being a good distance from the bar, I can just make out the conversation between two of the men sitting there. I really shouldn’t eavesdrop, but I can’t shake the feeling I know one of them from somewhere…

“… what do you think, man? Check it out.”

“Dude, that’s sick, she’s just a kid.”

“So what? She looks old enough. Besides, what’s the point of a night on the town if we’re not gonna get some action?”

“I’m not in the mood for your bullshit tonight, Tenshi. You wanna go for it? Fine. Don’t expect me to bail you out of jail once they arrest your sorry ass. Again.”

“Fuck off, that bitch was lying! Don’t take your shit out on me, it’s not my fault Akira dumped you. Never liked that annoying cunt anyway, she was always-”

Things are getting out of hand… My curiosity gets the better of me and I turn my head towards the increasingly loud scene. The familiar man gets on his feet at an almost inhuman speed, his hands balled into fists. Oh no… hurry up, Hisao…

“You better shut the FUCK UP BEFORE I-”

Suddenly, a huge, burly man steps in between and separates them. His presence alone seems to be enough to scare them both into submission.

Thank the gods…

The voice of the cashier brings me back to what we came here for. Good, finally, can we go inside now, please?

“You’re all set. Thank you for your patronage and enjoy your evening!”

“Thank you,” I say quickly and all but drag Hisao down the hall and to our booth. I’m not having this date be ruined by a bar fight of all things. Once inside, Hisao wastes no time in asking the obvious.

“Hey, you alright? You seem a bit… antsy.”

He really should be more aware of his surroundings, I swear… but I’m not going to sour the mood, so I’ll just come up with something. How do you make a lie believable? Sprinkle in some truth.

“Y-you’ve never heard me s-sing. I’m just n-nervous.”

He puts his hand on my back and gives me a reassuring rub.

“I’m sure your singing voice is as soothing as your speaking voice, Hana.”

Ohhh… I am going to rock your world, Hisao…

PoV: Hisao

Hanako is looking at me with the sweetest expression I’ve ever seen adorning her face. She leans in and gives me a quick kiss before making her way to the karaoke machine. She’s moving with a renowned pep in her step; it looks like I was able to reassure her. Truth be told, I’m probably more nervous about this than she is. At least she has some experience; karaoke was never something my friends and I would do, so this is all a first for me. On top of that, I’m singing for my girlfriend. No pressure.

“So… ladies first?” Smooth, Hisao, real smooth. Thankfully, Hanako lets out a giggle and nods, putting me a bit more at ease. Good; this way I can watch and learn instead of going in totally blind. I’ve seen videos of people who get really… enthusiastic about their performance, and I can’t tell if that’s normal or something that only happens when you get plastered.

I’m able to get how the whole thing works after watching Hanako fiddle with the machine for a few moments. Once the song is selected, she grabs a microphone and the music starts. And then… I’m enraptured.

“♪ If I can fly away with you higher and higher, I wanna take you to the satellite~ ♪”

I can’t look away. I don’t want to look away. Hanako is moving, singing, living, without a care in the world. As the song progresses, she becomes more expressive, moving to and fro on ‘stage’¹ and rhythmically pumping her free arm along to the instruments and specific vocals. As it happened back in Hokkaido, my vision of Hanako has been completely rebuilt, and just like back then, it only makes me want her more.

Hanako continues to sing and immerse herself in the performance, occasionally making eye contact with me as she makes her way through the song. Not once do I look away, my eyes following her every move in an effort to capture her incredible… everything. I want to memorize every detail, to engrain this moment into my memory forever. As the song ends, Hanako extends her arms out and pours every fiber of herself into the outro.

“♪ Someday I will take you to the shining moon, <<Out of the Gravity>> ♪”

She takes a few seconds to catch her breath, all the while I give her a round of applause.

“That was spectacular, Hana. You’re… you’re amazing! It’s gonna be tough for me to top that.”

Hanako blushes then lets out a soft laugh. She doesn’t realize that wasn’t a joke, now I’m definitely feeling the pressure. Still, I promised her a song, and if she’s going to pour her heart into one for me, I’m going to do the same for her. Though, the sudden kiss she just planted on my cheek is sweetly reassuring.

“Just have fun, OK?”

I nod, then make my way to the machine to pick out a song. Hmm, let’s see here… Scrolling through the options, one song in particular catches my eye. It’s an old American song that I first heard back in my old school, sung by Iwanako, ironically enough. I had asked Mai to tell me the name of the song and enjoyed it quite a bit, myself. I remember the meaning behind the lyrics well, and the more I think about it, the more I feel this is the song I should sing for Hanako. Our English has gotten considerably better (thanks, Lilly!), so I hope she can understand what I’m telling her. Alright… showtime.

I make the selection and grab the microphone. Unlike Hanako, who seems to have known her song entirely from memory, I’ll need a little help from the prompter. As the piano starts, I take a quiet, deep breath and begin.

“♪ <<Highway run into the midnight Sun, wheels go ‘round and ‘round, you’re on my mind>> ♪”

It seems that my previous worries about the language barrier were unfounded. Not only is Hanako gently swaying to the music, but she also even mouths along the lyrics of the chorus as I reach it. Our roles have been reversed; now Hanako is the one fixated on me. The only time she takes her eyes off me is when I make her giggle by winking at her, after reciting a phrase I’ve had to repeat ad nauseum during our study sessions.

“♪ <<Through space and time, always another show>> ♪”

After recomposing herself, she continues her silent appraisal. At this point, it’s pretty obvious that Hanako knows this song by heart, as well. There’s something oddly soothing about being able to enjoy a song we both know. Maybe ‘soothing’ is the wrong word. Bonding.

“<<Two strangers learn to fall in love again>>”, she mouths along quietly, the smile on her face melting my heart. The next part of the song, I know well enough that I can keep my eyes entirely on Hanako as I sing.

“♪ <<Oh, girl, you stand by me. I’m forever yours… Faithfully>> ♪”

“♪ <<Faithfully>> ♪”

: Consolidation Faithfully.jpg (526.67 KiB) Viewed 9101 times

Without warning, I wrap my arm around her back and manage to pull her up from her seat. After the initial shock wears off, she joins me in my performance, just as enthusiastic as she was during hers.

“♪ <<’Ever yours~, Faithfully>> ♪”

The outro plays as Hanako and I just stare into each other’s eyes after our impromptu duet, content to just live this moment. As the music ends, Hana and I share a deep kiss that feels just as magical as the one we shared in Hokkaido all that time ago. I am forever hers.

PoV: Hanako

The rest of our date went without incident. Hisao and I finished our allotted time in the karaoke bar singing a few more songs, we even found one that was a duet and did it together. Damn, now I wish someone would have been able to record us. Ah, well. It’ll remain between us, then. Right now, it’s pretty late; we’re about two hours from Tuesday, according to my watch. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long at the bus stop to hitch a ride back to Yamaku. Despite the hour, we’re both awake enough to carry a conversation on our way back.

“Did you have fun?”

I nod, my head still resting on Hisao’s shoulder. I wonder if his chest or his lap are as comfortable? Or both!

“Lots. We’ll have to do this again, sometime.”

“Is that an invitation to a second date, miss Ikezawa?”

“If you so wish to interpret it that way, mister Nakai.”

We both let out a soft laugh at our little exchange. I enjoy being able to make him smile; each time I manage it, it feels like a small victory. Hmm… well… in for a pound, in for a hundred…

“I’m glad things turned out like this. I think a lot was riding on tonight without us realizing it.”

“How so?” Hisao asks, confusion evident in his voice.

“Meeting your parents would have been… awkward. ‘Hello, my name is Hanako Ikezawa, it’s a great pleasure to meet you. I’ve been dating your son for almost a month, but we have not gone on any dates. However, I’ve fallen asleep on him twice.’ It’s… not exactly the best first impression.”

I can feel that Hisao is shaking lightly, as if he’s holding back a torrent of Misha-like laughter, which is making it very hard for me to hold back my own.

“W-heh, well… when you say it like th-hat…” He’s snickering… chuckling… and there we go. He’s laughing. Success! I think this is the first time I’ve ever made him laugh with a joke… as well as the first time I’ve ever told him a joke. I’m enjoying this. I’m enjoying it a lot.

We arrive in town some time later and make our way up the hill to Yamaku. It’s quite dark at this hour, but luckily, the sky is clear enough that the moonlight provides us with a clear path. Much obliged, Tsukuyomi. Once we pass the school gates, I notice that there are no night guards in the immediate vicinity. Good.

Hisao and I walk hand-in-hand until we reach the entrance of the girls’ dormitory, but I don’t let go of his hand. We make eye contact for just a second before I begin to move again, ever-so gently pulling him with me. Hisao only hesitates for the slightest of moments before following suit. Great.

Quietly, we make our way down the halls toward my room. There’s not a single person in sight, not that I expected any considering the lateness of the hour, but one can’t be too careful. A quick glance at Lilly’s door shows that the lights in her room are off, meaning she’s either asleep or still out with Akira. Perfect.

Once we’re in my room, I finally let go of his hand. He hasn’t said anything or offered any protest in all this time, which I’m grateful for. I can’t say for certain I’d be able to take this leap if he’d done otherwise. Wordlessly, he moves to flip the switch on my wall.

“Don’t.”

He turns to me, a look of confusion and worry in his eyes. Truth be told, were I in his shoes, I’d probably be reacting in the same way. Please, trust me, Hisao…

“H-Hanako…”

“Please… don’t say anything.”

I slowly move away from him, turning toward the window on the opposite end of my room, currently the only source of light we have. Along the way, I remove my jacket and drape it over my desk chair. All the while, Hisao stays wordless and motionless. Just a little longer…

Finally reaching my destination, I can feel just the slightest bit of hesitation in myself. Standing here, illuminated by the light of the moon, is my final chance to turn away; to come up with some ridiculous excuse, back away from the precipice and crawl back to the sanctuary of familiarity. But I can’t. I won’t. Not after everything. Without a word, I undo the ribbon of my blouse, then the buttons just below it. Dive, girl, dive.²

I pull my blouse over my head, the fabric rustling against my skin and hair sounding very amplified. Whether it’s all in my head or it’s because of how quiet this room is, I don’t know. Finally, I reach behind my back and undo my bra, letting gravity take care of the rest. Despite how frightening this is, I can’t help but smile as I turn my head back towards Hisao.

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“So… what do you think?”

“Hanako…”

I can hear his footsteps get louder as he approaches. My breathing is becoming a bit labored, and the more time passes, the more my anxiety rises. Suddenly, I feel one of his hands on my undamaged skin gently caressing me. Then, his arms wrap around me, his head nestling on my neck and planting soft kisses all over. There’s only one word I can use to describe how his love feels. Marvelous.

“Hanako… You look fantastic.”³

When he stops, I turn to face him, wasting no time in kissing him with all the love my heart and soul have to give. He returns the kiss in kind, his hands caressing my shoulders and all the way down my arms and up again. I leaped into the void and found myself at the Gates of Heaven.

After what feels like a glorious eternity, we part and just stare into each other’s eyes for a moment. I can feel a warmth on my cheeks and… elsewhere, not helped by the fact that I’m standing quasi-naked in front of the man I love so dearly.

“I love you, Hanako.”

Our foreheads meet gently, his hands still on my shoulders, his fingertips moving along my skin in very pleasant motions. Meanwhile, mine make their way to his face then down to the collar of his shirt. The next words out of my mouth, I say with all the sincerity and certainty that I have.

“I love you, Hisao… I… want you.” I’m ready… Show me Heaven, Hisao…

¹ From my admittedly limited research, Japanese karaoke booths are just square rooms with sofas along the walls, so there’s not really a stage per se.
² Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
³ Romance in Andante goes here. I'll add actual music cues a-la Sisterhood later. This footnote exists to force me to do so.

Author’s Notes

► Show Spoiler

I don’t care if it’s a trope; Hanako rocking at karaoke is awesome and I love it. So yeah, I decided to throw in a certain nearly universally despised character from the fandom in here from Brogurt’s Mendācium. The other guy, as you can probably tell, is Akira’s boyfriend. I couldn’t decide which name I liked more between the Akira Pseudo-Route or Sisterhood, so I left him nameless. Nobody wins!

I struggled a lot more than I’m comfortable admitting with the song choice. Although I was encouraged by other authors, I decided against including any actual songs in the text because one, the song I chose didn’t exist yet, and two, I wanted to have Hisao react to Hana’s singing but including a microscopic Hisao PoV just for that would have been too sequence breaking. Well, this is awkward. As you can see, these notes are completely wrong because I decided to say “fuck it” and add the song in, anyway! I have broken the timeline, but I shall allow myself to timelord, just this once! For those wondering, the song Hana is singing is "1/6 -out of the gravity-" by VocaloidP. Hatsune Miku would not be released until August 31, 32 days after this scene takes place. Timelord! You know what? Maybe I can add a Hisao PoV in… and so I am! I love writing notes before I finish writing the chapter.

As you can tell, I went back and decided to extend the scene by adding a Hisao PoV during the singing sections. I decided to maintain his PoV while he was singing, too, in order to not make is seem like I was shoehorning in a PoV for a PoV’s sake. As for the song Hisao sang, it’s Journey’s "Faithfully". The song has a deep and personal meaning for my wife and I, and once the idea struck me, I couldn’t let it go. I was actually tearing up while writing the scene. I also inadvertently referenced hdkv’s Don't Leave Me Behind with my 80s music-aware Iwanako, so shoutout to the server maintainer!

Lastly, I thought about making another Photoshop of the Hanasao train edit with Hana leaning on Hisao but it’s nighttime and her eye is open while Hisao is smiling, but nah, I’ll save the one edit I already have for their trip to Tokyo. Speaking of Photoshop, the alternate image of Hanako's scars reveal was a Photoshop² (a 'shop of a 'shop) inspired by one of Sharp-O's HanAkio pieces. Go pay tribute to the sentient typewriter! Well, here we go. Into the void we have fallen, and now… for my greatest challenge. Pray for my soul. Sit verācium incipiunt.

Thanks to Tomas (as usual) for his spectacular proofreading (at this point, editing, really) and Sharp-O for the idea of Hanako being a history bookworm, too.

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Tue Dec 24, 2024 9:04 am

Verācium
Sit Verācium Incipiunt

Chapter is under rework. Apologies for the inconvenience.

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Author’s Notes

► Show Spoiler

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Tue Dec 24, 2024 1:01 pm

Clarity
The events of the previous night are interpreted and different conclusions are reached.

PoV: Hanako

“Goodnight, Hanako. Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

I make my way down the hall towards the bedroom, smiling all the way. Once I close the door, I let out a small sigh. What a day it’s been…

“Tired, Hanako?” asks my blonde companion, already settled in bed. ‘Tired’ is an understatement, between the long trip here and baring my past to Hisao, I feel completely drained. I can only imagine he’s just as tired, especially considering how grumpy he was about having to wake up so early. I guess he’s not a morning person, but I can’t really blame him. It also makes me feel a bit guilty that he’s stuck sleeping on that futon and not ‘in the same bedroom as us.’ Damn that boy’s teasing…

“Very…” I say while shuffling towards the bed, settling in on my side and feeling the stress practically evaporate from my body. Ohhh yeaaah… the Satous sure know how to pick quality material.

“It has been a rather long day, hasn’t it? I can’t say I blame Hisao much for his attitude this morning, though he seems to have rather enjoyed his first day here. What say you, Hanako?”

“O-oh, well… he’s really n-nice most of the time. W-we did have to wake up pretty early…”

“Ah, I was referring to your thoughts on the day as a whole, but it’s good to know you’re getting along well with him!”

Oh. Oops.

“S-sorry…”

“Don’t apologize! Truth be told, I was curious about your thoughts on our friend, as well.”

My thoughts? What’s there to say? Hisao’s a boy and a good friend, he has nice hair and wears funny clothes, is very kind and likes to read, plays games with me and likes to make me happy and oh-gods-I-have-a-crush-on-him-don’t-I?

If I wasn’t blushing before, I definitely am now… If I’m being honest with myself, I think I’ve felt this way about him since even before he came to my room the other day, but now there’s no denying it; I like Hisao. However, I must consider the possibility that I’m not the only one interested in him, especially considering some of the comments Lilly has made about him in some of our ‘private girl talks’ over the past month.

“W-well, like I said, he’s… really n-nice and… L-Lilly?”

“Yes, Hanako?” She turns in my direction with a smile. There’s no malice in her tone or expression, but I can’t shake the feeling as if I’m facing the greatest challenge of my adult life. Couldn’t even make it a week, eh? Summoning every bit of willpower I have, I ask the question I dread knowing the answer to. All or nothing, Ikezawa.

“Lilly… do you like Hisao? I mean… like him?” Her smile falters, now looking more serious, but by no means hostile.

“Hanako, I won’t lie to you. Yes, there was a time when I was interested in Hisao beyond just friendship. However, it’s become quite obvious that he doesn’t share those feelings.”

I feel so relieved and so awful at the same time. Lilly is my best friend; how can I be so cruel as to find even an inkling of happiness at her loss of a potential partner? Simple; because, as I’ve come to realize, the one who’s rejected her through inaction is the same person whom I’ve found myself increasingly interested in. Does that make me a bad person?

“Not towards me, at least.” Lilly’s expression changes again to one of… I have no idea what, actually. She seems sad but happy at the same time; there’s just something unnatural about the way she’s smiling, yet it doesn’t appear forced. Wait, does she mean…?

“W-what do you mean?”

“Hanako, you can’t possibly expect me to believe that you haven’t noticed Hisao’s interest in you. I’m blind and I can see it!”¹

“L-Lilly!” I’m so flabbergasted by her crass ‘joke’ that I barely registered the first thing she said. Yes, Hisao has been acting a bit different around me after that night in my room, but I simply chalked it up to discomfort for my… forceful show of affection back then. Dare I hope that he feels the same way about me?

“I… I d-don’t know…”

“Hanako, dear, he’s practically been fawning over you all day. With whom did he spend the entire ride over playing games with? You. With whom did he spend the afternoon? You. And who does he trust enough to let help with his heart medication? Score three for Hanako Ikezawa!”

“Oh, gods…” I practically throw my face into the pillow, squirming like a lovestruck schoolgirl. For her part, Lilly giggles, both at my display and her (very good) impression of Akira. Recomposing myself, I sit back up and contemplate what Lilly’s told me.

All the moments we’ve shared are given new meaning in my mind, and suddenly, this realization I’ve had doesn’t seem so surprising. Still, there’s enough doubt, and a more than significant amount of fear, that things could go wrong should I… confess. That word seems so intimidating now…

“But, still… I don’t know… and… you’re not upset? You l-liked him, too, right?”

“I did, but Hisao has made his intentions, or rather, lack of them, clear. Hanako, if you’re worried this will come between us, you have my sincere assurances that it won’t.” She’s smiling again, sincere as can be. It helps me feel a bit better, but I’ve still got Hisao to deal with.

“I…” Before I can stop myself, I lunge towards Lilly and hold her in a tight embrace. I don’t know if this is to comfort her or myself, or maybe both, but what I do know is that we both need this right now. She offers no resistance, just surprise.

“Oh! Oh, Hanako, dear…” She returns my hug in kind, even stroking my hair a bit. I offer my apologies probably a dozen times, each time getting reassurances from her. After a few moments, I break off and wipe a few tears from my eyes. Whether they’re of joy or sympathy, I’m not sure.

“Now, then. What is your plan for our grumpy but well-meaning companion?”

I let out a small laugh at her characterization of Hisao, which helps me relax further. Truth be told, I have no clue. Despite growing closer to him, Hisao is still a bit of an enigma when it comes to emotions. Whatever I decide to do, it has to be bold enough to capture his attention and clear enough to get my point across. In other words, it’s going to take every last drop of courage I have. The concept is both exciting and terrifying, but if I want to get anywhere with him, I have to do it.

“I’ll think of something. Actually… could I borrow something from the closet tomorrow?”

“Oh? Saw something you like?”

“Yes… and I hope Hisao does, too…”

“My, my! By all means, then, take whatever you need!”

That ‘something’ is quite a bold statement, indeed. Completely antithetical to what I would normally wear, but there’s something about it that just draws my attention. I hope it has the same effect on Hisao… It’s decided, then.

I can’t take baby steps forever…

PoV: Hisao

The world slowly comes into focus as my eyes open, then half-close due to an assault by the morning light coming from… that’s not my window. Where am I? Oh… yeah, now I remember.

Last night’s events slowly reshape in my head; my mind must still be waking up because it takes more than a few seconds for things to become clear. Last night, Hanako and I grew as close as any couple can. We sang, we laughed, we… loved, a deed confirmed by the fact that I’m as naked as the day I was born… and I’m not alone.

Hana’s head is resting on my shoulder, her left hand resting over the scar on my chest. Almost as soon as I turn my head to get a better view of her, she stirs and looks up at me, her eyes barely open. After the smallest of moments though, her face morphs into the sweetest expression I’ve ever seen. I can’t think of a word to describe it, but it’s so beautiful that a feeling of pure joy washes over me, as if for one small moment in time, everything in the world is just perfect.

“Good morning…” she says, her eyes slowly opening wider.

“Hey, you. Sleep well?” I move my hand to her head, gently rubbing on her scalp. The movement elicits a satisfied coo from her.

“Mmhmmmm_”

“Good.” I wish I could say the same… because ‘sleep’ wasn’t what I did last night. The fog has lifted entirely from my mind now, and it’s clear; I didn’t fall asleep after making love with her, I passed out from overexertion. I think the only thing keeping from being utterly miserable right now is the fact that Hanako seems none the wiser to what happened.

“And you?” She looks up at me, her warm smile enough to deter my current thoughts, at least for the time being.

“Pretty good, but I do feel a bit sore.” That part is true, there’s a certain unfamiliar ache in my muscles that I haven’t felt since I tried exercising in the mornings. Hmm… I wonder if…

“Too much exercise?”

Three conflicting reactions in my head; shock at her boldness, enjoyment of her joke, and a small tinge of fear that she might see what’s really going on. Thankfully, the last is discarded as soon as I notice her smile is still there. Enjoyment it is.

“Heh, yeah, guess so,” I say as I keep rubbing the recently discovered sweet spot on her scalp. Logged for future reference. Lots of future references. I finish by giving her a few pats on the head and slowly shift a bit.²

“Well, I think it’s time to start the day, yeah?”

I get dressed while Hanako opts to take a quick shower. Afterwards, she chose to get dressed in front of me because she wanted to ‘give me a show’. I had no idea she was this… active. It both excites and terrifies me. I just barely made it last night; what if I can’t keep up with her? I can’t dwell on this right now, not in front of her.

There’re three things I need to do: One, a shower. Two, somehow get the nurse’s advice on… things… without making it obvious. Three, my pills. I forgot them last night, and if I go see him before at least taking my morning dose, I’ll get annihilated. Actually… on the subject of things I forgot…

“Hey… did we ever eat anything last night?”

“I… no? No, we didn’t!”

“No wonder, I’m starving. Heavy breakfast after I wash up?”

“Yes, please.”

“You got it. Before that, I want to check something with the nurse, if you don’t mind.”

Hana perks up at this, but not in a good way. She’s visibly nervous, and I can’t say I blame her. I need to come up with something to reassure her…

“I’m OK, I just want to ask him about some… very weird side effects my meds have been giving me.”

Oh, that’s just wonderful, Nakai! Brilliant! You know the next words out of her mouth are gonna be…

“Side effects? Like what?”

God. Damn. It. Well, if nothing else, some of the worry appears to have been quashed. Now, I just need to play my cards right and say something completely harmless…

“Ah… hallucinations, I think. I could have sworn I saw a pair of floating sunglasses the other day.”

Oh, my fucking God… what is with me today?! Why not just say ‘precognition’ while I’m at it?!

She stands there, bewildered at my response, but thankfully she appears more confused than worried.

“Um… yeah, you should have that checked out.”

Thank God. We make our way to the male dorms, making sure to avoid anyone. Thankfully, it’s either too early for most people, or everyone was out celebrating last night, too. Whatever the case, we arrive without incident to my room. After downing my pills, Hanako sits on my bed and looks around. Now that I think about it, this is the first time she’s been here.

“So… yeah, this is my humble abode.” ‘Humble’ is one word for it. Hanako’s room isn’t exactly big on decorations, either, but mine looks like a concrete bunker. Even Kenji’s sounds like it has more personality, that is, assuming his charts and graphs actually exist.

“It’s… cozy?”

“You can be honest.”

“S-sorry…”

“Nah, it’s OK. I never got around to decorating, but I’ll see about something once summer break is done. Maybe a few pictures of my pretty girlfriend?”

A cute groan escapes her as she lays down sideways on my bed, her cheeks a little flushed. Never fails.

“Well, I’m gonna shower, I’ll be back in a jiffy.” I give her a quick kiss on the forehead before heading to the bathroom. Part of me is disappointed she didn’t come in to ‘enjoy the show’, though…

After all is said and done, we make our way from my dorm to the head nurse’s office.

“I’ll wait out here,” says Hana as she leans back against the wall. I nod and enter the office without knocking. It proves to be a catastrophic mistake.

“Who-at the fuck?!”

Sitting shirtless on a stool is a girl I’ve never seen before. She looks a bit younger, probably a second year, with snow-white hair tied in a long ponytail and crimson eyes not unlike Akira’s. Very angry crimson eyes.

“Gah! S-s-sorry!” I stutter out that haphazard apology and quickly duck back into the hallway, inertia taking care of the door. Man, today is just not my day…

“What just happened?!” Hanako is visibly suprised and confused by my sudden… whatever that was. I scratch the back of my head in an attempt to calm my nerves and appear nonchalant about the whole incident.

“Uhh… I just walked in on some girl getting a check-up.” My skills at discretion are top-notch today…

Hanako’s face turns as red as I imagine mine is right now. At the same time, she appears to be holding back a bit of laughter. Oh, haha!

“It’s not funny!”

“I’m s-sorryhehe… ahem. Who, eghm, who was it?”

“I don’t know, actually. Some girl with white hair, I’ve never seen her before. Maybe she’s new, or a second year?”

Hanako just shrugs, it seems her guess is as good as mine. After some time, the door opens and out steps the girl in question, looking just slightly annoyed. I waste no time in bowing deeply.

“I’d like to sincerely apologize for… that. I should have knocked.” As I rise, she smirks in amusement. Is that good or bad?

“Don’t worry about it, Hisao.”

“Huh? How do you know my name? We’ve never-”

“Rika Katayama, second year, been here since the start of high school. Hisao Nakai, third year, transferred in two months ago. We’re the same, you and I.”

‘The same’? What is she talking about? All of the things she mentioned are antonymous. She correctly guesses that my silence means I’m completely lost and changes the subject.

“If you’re clever enough to walk in on a girl half-naked, you’re smart enough to figure it out. You can’t fool me, senpai!

‘Senpai’? That’s a first… Anyway, I can’t make heads or tails of the game she’s playing; other than our apparent need to see the nurse at this moment, I can’t fathom any similarities between us. Regardless, there is one thing that needs clarification immediately.

“That was an accident!”

“I know, and I forgive you. Relax, Hisao, I’m just having fun. You can rest easy that no rumors will be spread about you being a Peeping Tom.”

“Gee, thanks…” What an enigma this strange girl is. I thought she’d be furious for my embarrassing faux pas and demand an apology, but instead, she seems almost entirely unfazed by the whole thing. Maybe it’s that the initial shock wore off, or that the nurse made her see reason? Either way, it helps to reassure me.

“Hisao…”

Hana’s voice brings me back to the real world. She’d been so quiet all this time that I almost forgot why I’m even here in the first place. She’s gone back to being cautious, having hidden the right side of her face behind her hair and turning slightly away. Rika’s expression softens considerably once she notices Hanako, which is odd. She seems… I don’t know, happy for her, in a way. I thought they didn’t know each other?

“Anyways, I should get going, I have a friend waiting for me. It was nice meeting you, even if it was awkward. Catch you later!”

And with that, she strides off down the hallway without a care in the world. Hanako relaxes once more, returning to her new state of normalcy. After a few steps, though, Rika turns around, a huge grin on her face.

“Be sure to lock your door at night, Hanako. Mr. Romantic here might just try to sneak a peek!”

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At this point, my reserve of surprise reactions has been drained for the day, so I just guffaw loudly. Insanity laughs under the pressure we crack, it seems. Hanako, for her part, is completely shocked, but eventually recomposes herself and smiles, quietly muttering something I can’t make out.

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“Alright, so what’s happening?”

I grab my shirt and put it back on while the good nurse sits at his desk and dots down some info on his clipboard, waiting for me to continue. With the physical out of the way, the hard part is now snaking my way around last night’s… performance without raising his suspicions.

“Well, we went into the city late in the afternoon and were out almost all night. We came back around midnight and I… kinda passed out. In bed, not, not on the floor or anything.” Oh yeah, completely inconspicuous…

At the mention of passing out, his eyes narrow almost to a close, analyzing me with suspicion. Crap.

“So, on this… date, was there any strenuous activity?”

“Other than the long walk back up the hill, not really.”

“Did you eat much yesterday?”

“We forgot to eat dinner.”

“Foul play, Hisao. What kind of date doesn’t include dinner? What about water?” His tone softens a bit, and he gives me a wink. OK, good, I think I’m on the right track.

“I drank a bit after karaoke; my throat was a bit dry. Other than that, I don’t remember drinking much, to be honest.”

“Hm…” He looks over his notes again, then back up at me, before fishing a small plastic cup out of his desk and handing it to me. Oh, gross…

“There’s a bathroom in the back. Fill this up to the line, mid-stream, please.”

“Sure thing…”

I do as instructed, holding back my disgust all the way. He takes the sample and after a few minutes, turns back to me.

“Low blood sugar and dehydration are a bad combination, Hisao. If you plan to make ‘dating’ a hobby, you should take better care of your body. For your sake, as well as miss Ikezawa’s.”

Huh, so even he knows about our relationship. Then again, between Emi and that Rika girl, I doubt anything happens in this school without him knowing about it. Speaking of which…

“Got it. Oh, unrelated, but… that Katayama girl? Do you see any resemblance between us?”

He cocks an eyebrow, probably about as confused as I was no less than 15 minutes ago. OK good, at least I’m safe in the knowledge that I’m not the only one. After a few seconds of reflection, he speaks up.

“I can’t think of a single thing. Why do you ask?”

“Because she said that ‘we’re the same, her and I’, but I have no clue what she meant.”

He leans back in his chair, but then his eyes open entirely, confusion replaced with shock… then something else. This is an expression I’ve never seen before. Even when he scolded me for slacking off on my exercises, his serious look carried an undertone of compassion and understanding. This? This is anger. Genuine, boiling anger.

“Damn it, Rika…”

“Um…”

As if he’d momentarily forgotten I was here, he recomposes himself and lets out a deep exhale, setting the clipboard down on his desk. At the same time, he opens another of the drawers on his desk and grabs something I can’t quite make out from my angle.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll deal with that later. Here, catch.” He flicks the contents of his hand at me, and I manage to catch it on instinct. Guess those soccer senses haven’t gone away just yet. After the jolt of adrenaline subsides, though, I manage to comprehend what the small, colorless foil packet in my hand is. Well… shit.

“One last thing; be sure to wash the scratches on your back thoroughly, you wouldn’t want to get an infection. You know, on your ‘dates’.

What’s redder than boiling magma? My face right now. He’s grinning. I’m completely and thoroughly embarrassed and he’s grinning. I just nod a few times and walk out of his office, failing to realize I’m still holding the packet in my hands.

“So? What’s the… what is that?”

“Eh?! Um, er… nothing…” I haphazardly try to hide the condom somewhere, anywhere, fumbling with my pocket until the damn thing finally slides in, but I’m too late to prevent what happens next.

“CONDOMS?!”³

There isn’t a word in the entire Japanese language that can describe the feeling of relief I feel knowing that there’s nobody in the hallway right now. Likewise, there isn’t one that describes the feeling of pure horror I felt just prior to it. All I can do right now is stare at her, dumbstruck. After initial shock wears off, her face turns as red as humanly possible. Finally, she finds her voice again.

“I-I… suppose it’s a good idea.”

“Yeeeaaaah… you wanna get something to eat now?”

“Mhm.” She nods vigorously at this, clearly wanting to move on from this little episode as quickly as possible. I pet her head just a little to reassure her, then offer my hand, which she gingerly accepts.

Breakfast went by uneventfully, thank God. The awkwardness of the event, nix that, multiple events, of the day seems to have subsided at last. Hanako and I then went for a walk around town, no real destination in mind, content to just enjoy 0each other’s company. There’s a lot more to see in this little town than I initially thought, and I enjoy the atmosphere a lot more than I thought I would. Having lived in the city all my life, the idea of a quiet life in the country seemed like such an alien concept, but it’s not so bad. Of note, we discovered another tea house a few blocks away from the Shanghai with a similar concept; Hana and I made it a point to drop by one day to see what the ‘competition’ looks like.⁴

After our little exploration session, we head back up to Yamaku with nothing else to do. We still have about a week left until we leave for Tokyo, and before that, there’s Tanabata. Hana mentioned that she’d procured a yukata for the event, and I’ve got to admit, I’m eager to see her in one. I don’t have one for myself but given the whole ‘shirt situation’ in Hokkaido, I’ll probably be pressured into getting something. Hopefully, a cheap rental. Distracted by my thoughts, I don’t even realize that we’ve made it back. As if guided by pure instinct, we’re back in Hanako’s room.

“So… I guess you’d like to wind down after a long day?”

By the time I turn to face her, she’s already locked her door and is doing her best at a seductive pose. She’s still new at this, we both are, but she’s putting in the effort, and I have to admit, it’s working. So, that’s what she means by ‘wind down’. I would like, I would love, to take her in my arms right now, to kiss her and love her just like last night… but I’m not sure if I can.

As indirect as he was, it’s clear the nurse knows what really happened. I followed his advice; drank plenty of water and had a good breakfast, but is that really all there is to it? Just before passing out, I could feel a change in my heartbeat, but everything happened so fast that I can’t tell for certain if our intercourse was to blame. I don’t know what to do…

Before I can think of something to say, Hanako makes her way towards me. I don’t know if it’s my mind playing tricks on me or if she’s putting in the effort, but her movements seem all the more seductive, making it really hard for me to resist. Every fiber of my body wants this, I can’t deny that, but I can’t shake the fear that if we do this, I won’t make it. And then what? Where would we go from there? How could we, as a couple, recover from that?

When she reaches me, her hands rest on my shoulders and she leans in, planting a tender kiss on my lips. If there was ever a doubt about her intentions, they’re quashed when she ever-so-gently bites my lower lip and stretches it just a bit before letting go. I have to tell her.

“Hana… I need to tell you something…”

“Hm? Is… is everything OK?” Her expression is playful at first, but when she notices my lack of enthusiasm, her tone dips.

Exhaling deeply, I sit on her bed, Hanako following my lead. Despite the growing look of concern on her face, she gives me the time I need to collect my thoughts before speaking again.

“Last night, I… I had an episode with…” I wave my hand around my chest; certain she’ll catch my meaning.

A jolt of panic crosses her face as she shifts her gaze to my chest, her hand moving toward it. Her touch is as gentle as it always is, something I find reassuring.

“A-are you…?”

“I am, I am. I promise, it was only for a second, but…”

Nothing else is said, either because we’re both at a loss for words, or because she’s waiting for me to continue. What can I even say in this situation? What could I offer that wouldn’t come off as an empty platitude? After an increasingly uncomfortable silence, she looks back up at me.

“That’s… why you went to see the nurse, isn’t it?”

I lower my head, too ashamed to hold eye contact. I’ve lied to her, and no matter what justification I can come up with, no matter how ‘noble’ my intentions, it won’t change that fact. I don’t know, nor if I want to know, how much of her trust I’ve lost because of this.

“Yes.”

A sharp intake, then release, of breath from her.

“Why? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I… feel so…” There’s no way out of this other than pure and absolute honesty, not just with her, but also with myself. I can’t hide how I’ve been feeling about my situation any longer, especially to the woman who trusted me with her deepest feelings and insecurities. She deserves the same from me.

“I’ve… lost so much since I had my heart attack. My friends left me, my hobbies became a danger, my home moved 370 kilometers away.” I can’t help but let out a dry chuckle at that last one. Despite having settled, the absurdity of that fact still boggles me to this day. “Hana… you mean so much to me… I was… I am afraid. The thought of losing you, too? It frightens me so much…”

I still can’t bear to look at her; my gaze is firmly on my hands laid over my lap. Hanako gasps quietly, almost inaudibly, her hands carefully finding their way over mine. I can barely see them through the tears obscuring my vision.

“Why would you…?” Her voice is so difficult to decipher; I can detect hints of everything from shock to understanding, fear to melancholy, resignation to reassurance. It’s a logical question to ask, given that all I’ve done so far is stall, avoiding the crux of the problem.

“I feel so… broken. I can’t go a day without taking those damn pills, I can’t walk up a hill without getting winded, I can’t… I can’t even love you without… without…” Ah, this is bad… I’m barely holding it together…

Hanako’s hands leave mine, instead moving them to carefully cup my face and bring my head up, forcing me to meet her gaze while she stares deep into my eyes. I expected to see disappointment, resentment, or even disgust in her expression. To my surprise, none of those is what I get.

“Hisao. I love you. Nothing, nothing, is changing that. Don’t ever think that you aren’t enough for me. Don’t… don’t think like I did. Please.”

Tears well up in her eyes as she speaks, and though I still feel pretty miserable about the whole situation, I can’t help but feel a warm comfort at her reassuring words. Before I can say anything, she speaks again, a fiercely determined yet somber tone in her voice.

“Don’t… ever keep things from me again. If something is hurting you, I want to know. Promise me.”

“Hana, I…” I can’t hold back anymore; I can feel the tears stream down my cheeks, a quiet sob escaping me for the first time since… I don’t even remember. “I’m sorry… I won’t, I-I swear…”

Her hands move to the back of my head and upper back, gently pulling me into her chest and holding me in a warm embrace. I don’t fight it. For the first time since I got here, I let myself express what I truly feel.

“Shhh… I’m here, Hisao… always…”

PoV: Lilly

“Hisao, Hanako… there’s something I… mmm.”

“Hisao, Hanako, something has… ah…”

“Why-do-I-keep-saying-their-names-each-time… ahem, my friends, I have something I need to… oh, damn it all!”

BEEP-BEEP “The time is… Twelve… o’clock… PM.” BEEP-BEEP

I’m startled momentarily by the clock on my bedside table, then by the lateness of the day. Have I really been mulling over this for two hours? Ever since returning from Scotland, my sense of time has been in complete disarray. I’d like to quip and dismiss it as simple jetlag, but that would be untrue. Truth be told, as next Friday draws closer and closer, I find myself unable to keep track of anything, really. Dates, plans, groceries, it’s all been thrown for a loop. I’ve put off the inevitable for over two weeks now, a fact Akira so crassly reminded me of last night.

I had rationalized in my head that the last thing we needed to worry about during exams period was the news of the summons, but I can’t hide behind that excuse any longer. Tanabata is in exactly one week; with Hisao and Hanako leaving for Tokyo the next day, that leaves us with just seven and a half days left. But perhaps there is still time? If I were to present them with the information today, wouldn’t that put a dark cloud over their preparations for Tanabata? Yes, yes… perhaps it’s best if-

Knock Knock

The light knocking at my door brings me back to reality. I’m fairly certain that is Hanako, though it’s hard to tell now that her mannerisms have changed so much. It’s quite endearing, and reassuring, to see Hanako grow into her own after such a long time. Just in time for me to leave…

Knock Knock “Lilly? It’s Hanako…”

Well, there goes the lingering doubt. I make my way towards the door and open it, putting on my best smile. Always, always smile.

“Good afternoon, Hanako. How are you? Is Hisao with you?”

“Hi, Lilly. No, it’s just me… um… can I talk to you about something?”

There’s a strange undertone in her voice, a mix of nervousness and embarrassment. It’s an odd combination, but at least it lets me know that nothing too serious is happening.

“Of course, Hanako. Come in.” I move to the side and hear Hanako’s steps as she walks in, then close the door behind her. I then turn in her general direction while making my way towards the dresser next to my bed.

“Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, please.”

I go about preparing the tea for us; the movements required to do so are so engrained in my muscle memory that I barely even register it anymore. Going with the flow. Once it’s finished, I set everything on the table at the center of the room. Hanako thanks me and takes hold of her cup and saucer, though she still sounds a little nervous. An icebreaker is in order.

“So, how was your date last night?”

There is a strange noise from Hanako as she coughs into her teacup.

“Aghe, uhm… i-it was f-fun. We s-sang together, it was… really good.”

OK, then… it seems my icebreaker was more of a freeze ray. These days, Hanako only stutters when she’s either caught completely off guard (usually by Hisao’s flirtatious comments) or when she’s trying to hide something. Though, she has always been a terrible liar, anyway. Still, it sounds as if things went well on their date, so I can’t quite pinpoint what she needs my advice for.

“It sounds like things went rather well, then! And where is Hisao? I thought he’d be with you today, preparing for Tanabata and Tokyo.”

“He’s, um… i-in my room, resting. He’s still a little t-tired from… last n-night.”

There it is again. I feel like I’m intruding on something, and I have a fairly good idea of what that something is. It’s not the first time I’ve had to nudge Hanako in the right direction in order to have her express what she wants to say, but we won’t get anywhere if I don’t. Alright, here we go…

“Tired? Just from singing? Did something else happen last night?”

“W-well… when we came back from our date, we… w-walked… the long walk up the hill and… Hisao f-fainted…?”

Mhm, ‘fainted after a long walk’, and I’m the Princess of Wales. So, I was right; they’ve crossed the final boundary. There are some details missing, but her and Hisao’s… private intimacies are none of my business, so I’ll pretend to accept her explanation. Right now, there’s a much more pressing matter at hand.

“Fainted? Is he…?”

“Y-yes, he’s fine, we went to go see the nurse and everything. He got some… g-good advice.”

Hanako takes another sip of tea, most likely in an attempt to calm her nerves. As much as I’d like to tease her a bit right now, the timing is most inappropriate. At the same time, however, I can’t help but wonder if what she wanted to talk about was this from the start.

“Well, if the nurse gave him the all-clear, I can’t think of any cause for alarm.” Damn it, resist, RESIST… “Though, perhaps high temperatures might sometimes aggravate his condition, so it would be best to keep a supply of cold water on hand. Especially considering the summer weather, things could get heated.” Lillian Satou, nooo… “And be sure that he stays covered. Ah, from the Sun, I mean! Protection-is-very-important!” Oh… oh, damn.

“Egerhk!” Hanako’s strange utterance confirms what I already knew. Well… shit. At least now we can stop beating around the bush… that is, if I haven’t just caused my best friend so much embarrassment that she’d rather never bring up the subject again. After a few seconds of coughing, Hanako speaks.

“Y-cagh, y-you… h-how d-did…”

“Hanako, I’m so sorry, I didn’t-”

“I-it’s OK…” She lets out a sigh and takes a few moments to steady her breathing, then continues. “There’s… nothing wrong with it, right? It’s… perfectly normal… isn’t it?”

“You were doing what lovers do. There’s nothing more natural, or beautiful, than that.”

“R-right! It really was…” That last bit was barely audible, but it at least confirms that things went well with them in the… climax of their date, oh, goddamn it… Compose yourself, woman!

“S-so… could you help me? Hisao is… well, he… I don’t want him to hurt himself again…”

“Hmmm…” I take a sip of my tea to stall for time. As much as I’d like to give Hanako good advice, my own lack of experience could render it unhelpful, or worse, dangerous.

“Well, first thing’s first… have you and Hisao talked about this? About… not straining himself?”

“Yes…”

Hanako proceeds to give me a more detailed explanation of the events. Naturally, she leaves out details deemed too personal or intimate for conversation, but that’s fine. In the end, I’m able to offer the best advice I can for their situation.

In the back of my mind, however, I’m both surprised and devastated by their ability to communicate openly with each other. Here I’ve been avoiding a life-changing subject for over a month while my best friends spoke from their hearts at the first sign of trouble. If nothing else, it’s comforting to know that Hanako is able to do so without help from me, reinforcing my ultimate decision on the matter.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Lilly… thank you. Really.”

“Of course, dear, anytime.” The last of the tea is finished and so is our conversation on the matter. Just as we finish cleaning up, I turn in her general direction.

“Hanako, if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind accompanying me into town? I seem to be running low on a few essentials.”

“Oh, sure! I need to get some stuff, too. Let me just let Hisao know…”

Don’t think I didn’t notice your hesitation, dear. She taps on the keys of her phone, presumably sending a message to Hisao. Soon, that will be the only way we’ll be able to talk…

Once Hanako is ready, we head off. Thoughts of my conversation with her linger all the while, and I keep coming back to just how honest she and Hisao are with each other. I wonder if I have that strength within myself…

PoV: Hisao

The world comes into focus as I return from my ‘short’ nap on Hanako’s bed. It’s funny; I had just gotten used to waking up in my own room, and now I feel the need to redo the entire process for the times I’ll be waking up in hers. Still, there is one thing missing from this experience: Hanako, herself.

Getting better acquainted with my surroundings, I notice the lights are off and the curtains are drawn. Still, a sliver of light makes its way into the room, allowing me to see that the time is around mid-afternoon. Getting up from her bed, I draw open the curtains and let the natural light of the day illuminate the room. Apart from a few essential items and decorations, there really isn’t much in here to see. Still, Hana’s room is a maximalist’s dream compared to mine, so I shouldn’t judge.

Speaking of, I wonder where she is? I’m not bold or crazy enough to check in the bathroom, especially considering that, unlike my hall, more than two students share the bathroom here… and I’d never hear the end of it if I walked in on Lilly by accident. ‘Nagged to Death by Angry Scotswoman’, what a thing to have on my tombstone. Deciding that the best course of action would be to call her, I’m greeted by a message once I open my phone.

“Went into town with Lilly for groceries. Back soon, love you!”

I can’t help but smile as I read the end of her message. Little moments like those really do brighten my day. Closing the display, I take another look around the place Hanako has called her home for the past two and a half years. It’s pretty tidy, as far as school dorms go. What few items she has on her shelves seem to be categorized somewhat, especially her collection of books. On the opposite side of her room next to the window is a small table that’s been claimed by her ‘going out’ hat and a stuffed penguin of some sort. I’ll have to ask her about it one day.

Just as I entertain the idea of grabbing one of her books and making myself comfortable on her desk, I hear the door open behind me. Turning around, the object of my affection walks in with a couple of bags in her hands.

“Oh, you’re up!” She smiles as she notices me but is struggling with the door. I make my way to her and take hold of one of the bags, allowing her to close the door… and lock it. Oh, boy.

“Hello dear, I see you’ve returned from shopping. Our provisions for the week, I’m guessing?” I put on the most ‘adult’ tone I can, struggling to hold back my laughter with each passing syllable. My teasing earns me an exaggerated roll of the eyes from her.

“Yes, darling.” Despite the sarcastic tone in her voice, I like the sound of that word, just as much as I enjoy the cackle of laughter that erupts from both of us afterward. Once we’ve settled down, she looks at me with a sweet but serious expression.

“Feeling better?”

I am, genuinely. Still, I feel like I can express that better than with simple words, so I lean in and plant a kiss on her soft lips. She returns it in kind, a small giggle escaping her.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’”

With nothing more needing to be said, I help Hanako organize the things in the bags. Just as I’m about to finish, one box in particular steals all my attention and forces me to stop.

“Uh, Hanako? What are these?” I hold up the colored box marked ‘Assorted’, its contents rustling on the inside as I do.

“Um… condoms?”

“I… can see that, but where’d you get them? How did you get them?”

“Well, since Lilly and I were shopping, I figured… we were already there, so…”

I’m amazed by how naturally this is coming to her; I figured she’d be a bit more embarrassed. Still, considering her recent streak of boldness, should I even be surprised anymore? Hang on…

“Wait… you said you were with Lilly when you got them?” I can feel the panic rising in me; does that mean Lilly knows?!

“I… didn’t think she’d notice? I told her I was just getting some chocolate milk.”

“Huh, I guess you… you like chocolate milk?”

She relaxes a little at the change of subject and nods. I never saw her as a 'chocolate' kind of girl, duly noted. I finish helping Hanako organize her items, taking special care to hide the box somewhere discreet, just in case she gets any surprise visits from the Student Council. Hell would be a picnic compared to what would happen if Shizune found out…

With everything said and done, Hanako and I find ourselves at a loss for what to do. So much has happened today that I can barely believe it’s all been in the span of nine hours. My contemplation of today’s events is interrupted by the sound of knocking.

“Hanako, Hisao? It’s Lilly.”

I turn to Hanako, who seems just as confused as I am. Lilly sounds very… off. Like, ‘something serious is going on’ off. Hanako takes the initiative and unlocks her door, then invites Lilly inside. Once she’s in, Hanako closes the door again and guides her to the center of the room. I break the silence.

“Lilly, are you alright? You seem… stressed.”

She opens her mouth, then closes it. She repeats this movement again, still failing to get the words out. After this, she takes a deep breath and opens her eyes as if to look at us directly. Finally, she speaks.

“We need to talk.”

¹ Lilly became Toph Beifong for moment. Toph Beisatou? Lilly Safong? That sounds like a Latin seasoning.
² 30,000 words in and we finally have the first headpat.
³ At last, my long journey has reached its climax. I have finally done it; included this line!
⁴ Pseud-Pseudo Suzu Route by ScissorLips

Bonuses/Scraps

► Show Spoiler

*** Bonus 1: Alternate Rika Talk ***
(This was the first talk with Rika I wrote before changing it to be less confrontational. Will keep around for future reference.)

“Don’t worry about it, Hisao.”

“Huh? How do you know my name? We’ve never-”

“Rika Katayama, second year. Hisao Nakai, third year, transferred two months ago. We’re the same, you and I.”

‘The same’? What is she talking about? She correctly guesses that my silence means I’m completely lost and repeats herself.

“We are the same.” As if to emphasize the point, she gently pats on the left side of her chest. Wait, what?!

“How do you-?!”

“Consider it payback for walking in on me half-naked. Foul play, senpai!

‘Senpai’? Whatever… I don’t know what’s more infuriating; her back and forth between serious and lighthearted, or how she somehow knows about my condition and is treating it like some kind of game.

“That was an accident!”

“I know, and I forgive you. Relax, Hisao, I won’t tell anyone. Hell, how about we even the score? Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Oh, and albinism, as you can see.”

Consider my sails completely windless. What an enigma this strange girl is. I thought she’d be furious for my embarrassing faux pas and demand an apology, but instead, she took matters into her own hands and somehow procured all my private information as ‘payback’. Not only that, but she also offers the same in return for seemingly no reason other than to try and reassure me.

“Hisao…”

Hana’s voice brings me back to the real world. She’d been so quiet all this time that I almost forgot why I’m even here in the first place. Rika’s expression softens considerably once she notices Hanako, which is odd. She seems… I don’t know, happy for her, in a way. I thought they didn’t know each other?

“Anyways, I should get going, Saki’s waiting for me. It was nice meeting you, even if it was awkward. Catch you later!”

And with that she strides off down the hallway without a care in the world. After a few steps, though, she turns around with a smile.

“Be sure to lock your door at night, Hanako. Mr. Romantic here might just try and sneak a peek!”

► Show Spoiler

Author's Notes

► Show Spoiler

Alright, so there’s a lot to talk about in this chapter. Let’s get down to business. First, we’re introduced to Rika Katayama. I tried my best to blend the two most popular interpretations of this character; not as cynical as Rikabro’s, not as adorkable as Sharp-O’s. I’ve been expanding more on this interpretation of the character in my Answers of the Day project, so by the time she makes another appearance, she’ll have some more personality.

CONDOMS?! Yes, finally, this legendary line has arrived, and while the recontextualization is not as funny, it still managed to make me laugh, so there! Hana ‘bout to run our boy ragged; there’s a reason the term “Squirtathon” exists.

Men can cry. That’s all I’m gonna say. It’s kind of odd that someone as depressed as Hisao (and believe me, he is) only ever cries during Rin’s route. Fear not, papa Alex (never calling myself that again) is here to soothe thy pained soul. Also, no, you are not getting specifics on what sex advice Lilly gave to Hanako. This is what we call a copout, fuck you. Speaking of that Lilly convo…

I. Fucking. HATE. Writing. For. Lilly. I have been writing this FUCKING SCENE for OVER ~~TEN GODDAMN HOURS~~ TWO FUCKING DAYS! Writing for her is as slow as she is at walking, which probably explains why Hisao almost always fucking dies in her route! Whyyyy do I do this to myself?! WRITE FOR HANASAO, YOU IDIOT!

FUCKING HELL, this chapter is long! I still have to write the intro flashback sequence and it’s already a whopping 13 pages long! Christ! Everyone gets a PoV in this chapter, huh? Dayum, son. Two days later: Oh… my… God. It’s finally done. At a whopping 15 pages and 7,356 words, the longest chapter (so far?) in Consolidation is complete. According to my currently fried brain, this took about two weeks. Jesus. Now it’s finally Thanksgiving break (actually, now it’s Christmas when I’m posting), so I can give myself a bit of a respite. Ah, who am I kidding. Onwards to the next one!

Thanks again to Tomas for the editing and to Sharp-O for the Rika sprites!

Frankyo · Post by **Frankyo** » Wed Dec 25, 2024 1:22 am

Thanks for the update on Christmas eve, Alex. I’m enjoying your take so far!
I’ve got this thread followed since I love me a good Hanako fic.

Celestial Caesar · Post by **Celestial Caesar** » Wed Dec 25, 2024 2:02 pm

Frankyo wrote: Wed Dec 25, 2024 1:22 am
Thanks for the update on Christmas eve, Alex. I’m enjoying your take so far!
I’ve got this thread followed since I love me a good Hanako fic.

Eyyy, Merry Christmas! Thanks for sticking with me so far on this little adventure, glad you're enjoying it!

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