Anthology: Again
by Her Pretty Smile

Synopsis: #1: That song... It feels so familiar to him. Like in a dream where everything seems so surreal and everyone is dead. [Continuation of the ending of Angel Beats!]
Disclaimer: I do not own Angel Beats!

#1: Meeting
"Her eyes… They're so familiar."

HE WALKS TOWARDS THE direction of the bus stop, letting his mind get immersed by his thoughts. If I can't pass the entrance exam, then I won't be able to go to college to fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor. His head lowers slightly and his eyes narrow. I'd be unable to help my little sister.

He flinches inwardly, realizing that he's becoming pessimistic.

No. I'll pass it for sure. I have to, or else I won't be able to save the only important person in my life. I have to—

He stops in his tracks as his ears catch a faint humming from the side. In reflex, he turns slightly towards the source and finds a petite girl leaning on the wall whose face is indiscernible due to the hat she is wearing. As he peers more closely, he notices that she has medium-length pale-white hair that's tied up with strands framing her face.

He doesn't understand why, but the melody she is humming sounds familiar, so familiar that it feels almost painful to listen to.

It doesn't make sense, really. He is sure that he has never heard it before. He never does listen to music like that.

He can't explain it very well, but... it feels a lot like the song comes from the deepest depths of his memories and that, strangely enough, it makes his heart race for a reason he can't comprehend.

Also, the girl... She looks familiar. Familiar enough for him to admit tentatively to himself that he feels like they are connected in some way.

But then she suddenly turns away towards the opposite direction, still humming the song with her melodious voice.

Alarm spreads across his body as he comes to the realization that she is leaving—

She's leaving him again.

She isn't supposed to leave.

They're supposed to stay together.

—and something comes over him in an instant.

Hastily, he runs over to her. He then reaches out to touch her shoulder—

—and he grips as tightly as he can as he spins her around to face him, causing her hat to drop carelessly on the ground and her hair to cascade freely down her shoulders.

He is instantly struck by mesmerizing golden eyes, and with that he feels that he can't say anything at all.

"Yes?" Her voice is soft and quiet—mellifluous to his ears.

She doesn't even sound angry at his invasion of her private space.

His breath catches up in his throat. There is something, just something about her that makes his heart ache and beat for her at the same time. He doesn't know why and he doesn't even think that it's possible, but it is like—

"...I'm glad to see you again, Yuzuru," she says quietly with a hint of a smile on her face.

—she has his heart from the moment he saw her.

"...Tachibana..." he breathes out, the name just slipping out of his lips with ease, "...Kanade."

He doesn't know why he suddenly knows her.

Why, indeed?

Have they... met before?

Their eyes lock together for some time, and then she gives him a soft, sweet smile that makes him feel slightly breathless.

"Nice to meet you," she says in her awfully tender voice.

She is glad that they have each other again, and she knows that she isn't going to let go of him.

Not ever.

A/N: Hi! I'm new to the Angel Beats! fandom, and I seriously cried at the end, but not as much as my episode 10 emo scene. Now I know why it's called Angel Beats! It's because Yuzuru's heart beats inside Angel's chest. How creative and nice. Aaw. :)

Edit (05/24/2014): So I rewrote this a bit, and I decided that I'd make this into an anthology. I rather like the idea of Yuzuru not remembering her. It's a great opportunity for some sweet character development! :D