Chapter II
Nomu ran a hand through his near black hair. Hikari was right. The pain he had experienced the night before seemed like an unbelievable dream. The gray wings now attached to his back were the amazing evidence that it had all been real. He smiled, almost hopping out of bed. The fever from the previous night had broken, leaving Nomu with an abundance of energy.
"Oh, you're up," Hikari cheery voice greeted from the doorway.
"Yeah," Nomu replied, turning around. "I feel so good right now."
"That's good to know," Hikari replied. "I came to say that you'll have to wait a while for some new clothes. Only female Haibane have ever lived her and we'll have to go to town to get you something to wear."
"Okay," Nomu replied. "I didn't think I was supposed to go outside in this anyway." He pulled on the smock, chuckling slightly.
"Are you hungry?" Hikari held up the small pot of rice. Nomu nodded eagerly. Sitting at the table, the young man began to devour the rice. "You should slow down," Hikari said. "It's the first thing you've ever eaten. You might get sick."
"Sorry, I just…" Nomu trailed off before slowly finishing his meal. He let out a satisfied sigh upon finishing.
"Now that you're done," Hikari began, "would you like to meet the other Haibane who was just born? She got to see you yesterday when you were still asleep."
"What's her name?"
"Sukare," Hikari replied. "She said she felt tired in her dream." Hikari led Nomu down the hall. "Rakka," Hikari called out after knocking on the door to the common room. "I've brought Nomu to meet Sukare." Nomu could hear two voices briefly talking before Rakka replied.
"Come in." Hikari motioned for Nomu to enter first. The young man took a few tentative steps into the room. Two girls about his age were sitting across from one another. Nomu could immediately tell which one was Sukare; she was dressed the same way he was.
"Morning, Nomu" Rakka said, motioning to a chair. Nomu took a seat. "I'm Rakka." She turned her head slightly to address both of them. "There's a lot to learn about being a Haibane, but I'd first like to welcome you to Old Home."
---
Later that afternoon the senior residents of Old Home took Sukare shopping for clothes. They promised Nomu that they would bring something back for him to wear. Left by himself, Nomu lounged on the East Wing's balcony overlooking the courtyard. The warm afternoon sun raised his spirits. Though Rakka had said that the loss of memories might cause depression, Nomu felt carefree. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him. It's as if a great weight had been taken off his shoulders.
Nomu basked in the sun for a moment longer before the sound of footsteps made him look down in the courtyard. Old Home's housemother was escorting the young feathers back from a trip to town. To get a better look, Nomu stood. It only took a moment for one of the young feathers to spot him.
"It's him," Hana yelled out ecstatically. Almost immediately all the children were begging the housemother to meet the new Haibane.
"Well young man," the housemother called up to Nomu after she was unable to quiet the children, "would you mind meeting with these kids for a few minutes?"
"Okay," Nomu said somewhat hesitantly. The housemother led the children into the East Wing and up to the balcony. The children immediately surrounded Nomu, bombarding him with questions.
"Did it hurt when your wings came out?"
"What was your cocoon dream?"
"Why are you the only older boy here?"
"One at a time," the housemother commanded.
"Thank you," Nomu said to the housemother once the children had quieted down. "I don't know why I'm the only older boy here. I'll have to leave if the Haibane Renmei want me to go." The young feathers cried out together in distress. Is it really that rare when a Haibane is born, Nomu wondered. "I won't go unless I have to, though." The young feathers' mood quickly improved.
"You have to come and play with us sometime," Shorta begged. "The girls are no fun!"
"I promise I will," Nomu said. "Even if I have to go, I'll still come by and play with you first." Shorta and the other young boys cheered.
"Alright," the housemother finally said, "I think we've bothered the young man enough today. He'll still recuperating, you know."
The housemother led the children away. Nomu waved to the few that took a second look at him. Turning his attention back to the pleasant day, Nomu fell asleep in the early spring sun.
---
"There you are." It wasn't the voice, but the touch of a hand on his shoulder that awoke Nomu. He groggily looked up to see Sukare's face looking down on him. Before he could say anything, a cold wind blew. Nomu shivered, suddenly realizing that it was dusk. "Let's get you back inside," Sukare added, helping Nomu to his feet.
"Thanks for getting me," Nomu said. "I might have frozen out here. Hey, you got new clothes." Once they had gone inside Nomu was able to take a look at what Sukare had bought for herself. The girl had decided on a pair of loose fitting dark jeans, tennis shoes, and crème blouse."
"The tailor there made holes for my wings too." She twirled slightly to show off her wings. "We got you some clothes too," she exclaimed, suddenly remembering. "I put them in the common room. Come on, you need to try on them on." Sukare took Nomu by the wrist, pulling him along the entire way.
---
"It looks great on you," Nemu commented as Nomu came back into the common room after changing.
"You think?" Nomu asked inquisitively. He looked down at himself. Though the jean jacket was intended for colder weather, it felt comfortable enough for the early spring. Below that was a button up dark green cotton shirt. His pants were dark beige kakis. Like Sukare, the girls had chosen a pair of tennis shoes for him. "Best to work in," Kana said at seeing Nomu looking down at his shoes.
"Thank you," Nomu said to everyone. Though he might have chosen differently, it felt almost reassuring to own something, even if it was old clothes. As he was lost in thought, Rakka entered the common room.
"Nomu, Sukare, there was a letter from the Haibane Renmei waiting at the entrance. Both of you are going to the temple tomorrow."
