Bokutachi no Uta

"…ko…"

Who was it…?

"…co…to…ke…"

Who was it calling?

"Mako…wa…!"

Yuki Makoto slowly opened his eyes, as light pierced into his sight and he closed them back.

"…Wake up already!"

A familiar scarlet came into sight and turned clearer. It was an auburn haired girl with XXII trademark on her hair. Her bloody orbs were especially beautiful, and it seemed it would take him away at anytime.

It was all too familiar to him.

The song you hummed

Overlaps with my humming

Things like this could happen to anyone, but

We laughed over this weird occurrence

"…Hamuko?"

"So you've finally back to senses, huh?"

Even though it's only a trivial accident

It makes me really happy

Because I want to think of you and me

As more special than anyone else

Her eyes shined in flames, obviously was angry. He could see that, though he had no idea what she's angry with.

Even her face was showing: I am really angry, you know!

"…What happened…?" Oh his head was aching.

"…You don't remember?" She raised one of her brows, arms crossed.

He looked around and getting up from the ground. The special design and weird taste of the room was completely non-reality. It's too obvious to tell where they were now.

"…Tartarus…"

"Yes, we're inside Tartarus, but hell knows which floor it is."

Yeah…they had sneaked into school intended to rescue Yamagishi Fuuka, a girl who was missing since ten days ago. From their investigation, she wasn't exactly missing. In truth, she's been locked in Tartarus. And thanked to that, they had no choice, but to take risk to sneak into school before Dark Hour approached.

Mitsuru and Yukari was waiting outside, having only he, Akihiko and Junpei doing this alone. Anyway, out of all the possibilities and danger they might face, they did it, but in the cost of being separated with the other two.

"…So, we're separated."

"Yes, you've sleeping all the time! And you know how dangerous to stay here in that condition!?" She shouted behind him, face reddened due to anger.

"Hamuko…"

"I was worried sick! I kept calling you, but you didn't seem to wake up at all! What are you guys doing, taking risk like this…!" Tears started to gather in her eyes. She had to clench her fist so hard, until biting her lips so hard to restrain from crying out. "I know you're worrying the girl, but what if something happen to all of you…to you and you would end up trap in this place!? Have you ever thought about it!?"

Sometimes I become anxious

Thus unconsciously I'm trying to search

For a proof like the invisible string

That strongly connects the two of us

Makoto was speechless. It was true that this mission was too risky. It could have any chance they would trap in Tartarus like Fuuka. But just as Akihiko said, they couldn't leave her like this. Even it was risky, they had to do it.

And there's no way he would leave Akihiko did it alone.

But now…to see her cried like this, it really hurt him. How could he do this to her? He knew full well she would worry. But yet, he did this without inform her. He simply thought she would understand him, simply thought it was a right decision. But in truth…

"…If anything happens to you…I'll…I'll…!" Her cry was piercing his heart. It's hurt, and making him frowned.

"…I'm sorry, Hamuko."

Even if the others sneer at us

I'll continue to strongly believe

Even now, I always, always, wishing

For the future where we are together

She sobbed quietly and glared at him hardly.

"…No next time, you got it?"

He nodded without protesting. He had no way to protest, anyway. It was his fault.

Hamuko wiped off the remaining tears. Standing straight, she turned around, and telling him to come with her.

"Come over here."

"…Where are we going?" He couldn't think of a place they could go in Tartarus.

"Shut up and follow me!" It seemed her rage was still there. Makoto quickly zipped his mouth, not dare to ask again.

"…Sorry."

Look up and continue to move forward

Because you're not alone

Someday I'll say "See, we're fated," to you

It'll be nice if we can smile together

A sigh escaped out of her mouth as she heard that, and a shade of red covered her face. Perhaps she's worried too much, but it was because of him, she's out of controlled. Makoto knew she'd collapse if anything happened to him, as the same would go to him if she did it.

She couldn't lose him, just as he couldn't lose her.

As we walk home together

We looked up at the vast sky

The fact that our small existence meets

Even that is such a wonderful thing

"…Aren't you looking for Yamagishi Fuuka? I'll show you the way."

"…You know where she was?" That's kinda surprised him. But she wasn't human. Maybe she could what they couldn't...?

She frowned, shaking her head.

"I…don't know. Well, I can feel something over this direction, but I don't know what it is." She slightly tilted her head, lips pursed together. "…Heck…why am I ended up helping you guys?"

Makoto smiled. That's just the Hamuko he knew.

The time we nonchalantly spent

And even the tomorrow that certainly will come

All of them are irreplaceable things

That's what you taught me

"Stop laughing, and wipe that smile off your face!" She shouted ashamedly, face completely reddened like a tomato. "…You know I'm helping because of you, Makoto."

"Yes, I know."

"Hey, by the way…this was the first time we meet outside of your room since you transferred back to Tatsumi Port Island." Out of the blue, Hamuko suddenly said. She turned her head to see Makoto while chuckling softly. "It's funny. I wonder if we could do this again."

Makoto stopped his pace.

No matter what kind of tomorrow awaits me

If you're by my side

I'll surely be able to move forward

I'll always, always, walk together with you to our future

Now she talked about it.

Makoto knew she only showed up during Dark Hour, and she would only be able to meet new scenes if he transferred to other places. But even though, she could only show up by his side. He had no idea whether she couldn't leave his side, or was it because she didn't want to, the guilty suddenly swelled inside him like a balloon.

He always knew fact that it was him locking her up. But to feel it this close, he was at the limits to take it.

"…I'm sorry, Hamuko."

It seemed she had aware of his unusualness. She turned around with a frown on her face.

"…Makoto?"

That smile of yours always gives me the courage to face forward

No matter what kind of day awaits, "If it's us, we'll be alright," you said it'll be nice if we can smile together

"…It's me locking you for ten years. If wasn't me…maybe you…" Maybe she could live better, living with her own will, going to any places she wanted. Being sealed inside him had confined her from freedom.

It clenched his chest so hard. It's too pain to bear.

"What are you talking about, Makoto?" A pair of soft palm lifted his head and pulled into her warmed embrace. "I'm in bliss. I'm the happiest person in the world, because you're here with me. The times we've spent are the proof I'm living."

Even someone like me can be stronger

With just having you by my side

That's why, when you feel down

I want to be by your side

"Makoto, it's the same as you wouldn't care what I am, I wouldn't care if I have lost freedom. To me, the most important is to stay by your side. I won't force freedom that's not belonged to me from the beginning."

She said it with bright smile on her face. It always her smile wiped off the heaviness on his chest. Her smile was the cure of his inferiority.

Seeing that smile of her, Makoto finally let out a small chuckle. She's always like this, leading him all the way ahead. It was Hamuko had brought him out from darkness. She always lurked into his heart without warning, just like ten years ago.

Even if the others sneer at us

I'll continue to strongly believe

Even now, I always, always, wishing

For the future where we are together

Having it in mind, Makoto nodded his head.

"…Thank you, Hamuko."

She leaned forward, leaving a kiss on his cheek.

Look up and continue to move forward

Because you're not alone

Someday I'll say "See, we're fated," to you

Then we'll both laugh

"Baka Makoto!" She turned her head to other side as she aware of something. "Someone's here. I have to go."

"…Good night, Hamuko."

"See you tomorrow, my dear Makoto."

Just as she vanished into darkness, a pair of thin leg showed up at the back of the corner. The girl slightly stuck her head out with tiredness and fear written on her face. She had aqua short hair, and dressed in Gekkoukan High uniform.

No doubt she's Yamagishi Fuuka.

"Mmm…? Err…you're alone…?"

Makoto widened his eyes. It seemed Hamuko had showed him a right way, but instead of finding her, Yamagishi Fuuka successful in looking for them.

"…Are you Yamagishi Fuuka?"

"Yes…"

Arisato Hamuko sure was an interesting girl.

It'll be nice if we can smile together