Chapter 3:Hanako Ikezawa

Ever since I turned 19,I've had to live away from the orphanage that I've grown to know.

But that was two years ago...three years since I first met Hisao Nakai,and the first time in a long time that someone caused me to smile for no reason other than their presence.
I could say that I loved him...but he left with Emi,so I just shouldered that as a small loss,even though I know I felt my heart breaking when he did go.

Now,I have no real place to go,since I was told I needed to find my way in the world,and that I was old enough to do so.

Ever since then,I've been wandering around,trying to find somewhere that will take me in...but no one seems to want to help,and I've wound up at the city park each and every night after a long day of searching.
I sleep on the bandstand,and since no one goes there,it's the perfect place for someone like me.

And before you think that I'm all alone,I'm going to tell you now that I am not.

As strange as this may sound,I sing a lot in that park...it takes my mind off of things,and no one's around to hear anyway.
Or so I thought,until one day,a crow landed next to me,on the rail of the bandstand.
I tried to get it to go away,but it sat there,big and black,and sort of cawed at me,as if to say,"I'm never going to leave!"

I sighed,and simply continued ,as I sang,more crows came along and listened to me.
It was strange,but welcome;it was a lot more interaction with anything than I had felt in a while.
Eventually,all of the crows,except for the one on the bandstand's railing,left for the night.I looked at it,and it looked at me.

"So,"I ask the crow,puzzled,"You're just going to stay here?"
"Caw!",came the answer.I sighed.

So,I sang and sang,until I didn't feel like singing no more,and I just lay down to try to go to sleep.
That's when I heard a voice calling out,"Hanako!"
My eyes opened,and I thought,No,someone found me.
I felt my heart quicken as I thought,"Is it Hisao?",but then I realized how foolish that is.
I mean,what would Hisao be doing here? He left to go to Rome like two months ago,or something like that.
At least,that's what Lilly had told me...

"Hanako!There you are!We've been looking all over for you!",the voice called out,shrill and very girly.

Oh,God...it's Emi.

Personally,I have no problem with the girl,but she's just too...peppy,I guess,I dunno.
She's too energetic,I suppose,for my tastes,and we just don't get along well.

Walking next to her is a tall blonde figure who...Oh my God,it's Lilly!I haven't seen her in ages!

Well-wait.

What are Lilly and Emi doing in the same area,and,more importantly,why have they been looking for me?

"Lilly!Hi!",I say as we embrace."God,it's been so long since I've seen you!"
"Yes,"Lilly says,"Too 's too bad they had to let you go from the orphanage,y'know?"
"Yes,well,I am twenty-one now,after all...,"I pause."Old enough to take care of myself."

There is an awkward silence after I say that,so to try and remove the tension,I ask,"So,Emi,how's Hisao?"
Emi looks at me with like I asked her to do something terribly immoral,and she begins to cry immensely.
I'm taken aback of her reaction,but then Lilly gravely says,"Well,that's why we came to get you...,"and she abruptly stops,not sure whether she should go on.

"What is it,Lilly?What happened to Hisao?,"I ask semi-impatiently.

Lilly knows how much I care about him,so she nods,then looks at the ground,sighs,and says,"Hanako...Hisao's dead.

My mind freezes when Lilly says that."What?He's dead?"
"Yeah...he died on the steps of the U of T,so I've been told,"says Lilly,quietly.
"Wow,I never would've known...",I say, just as quietly.

This is surprising.
Hisao died only today,and people already know?"Do they know who did it?"
Lilly shakes her head,comforting Emi in her arms."No,there's no information available yet."
I bow my head in dismay."I see..."

After a couple of minutes,I say to Lilly,"So,do you think we should tell Shizune and Misha?"
Lilly nods,although I can see her face tightening up as I ask."It's for the best,"she says.
Emi nods in agreement.
"Well,then,"I say,"Let's go,I suppose."

As we walk away,I look back at the crow and say,"I'll be back soon,alright?"
The crow says,"Caw!"
"Who are you talking to?",Lilly asks.
I smile,and,following behind,reply,"A friend."