I only updated this because someone told me to, I have many...things...to do irl. Anyways, here's a post.

Chapter 10: The Pumpkin Carriage without the prince

The fight yesterday had spread throughout the whole school. It's only natural because the student council had never been beaten like that before.

But the more shocking thing was, the school didn't even find a reason to console this matter, and Ayato just goes to his classes and meeting like normal, even thought his face was covered with bandages.

"We're going to move." Yuri's voice was as small as a mosquito. The normally high-spirited Yuri seemed so proper today.

"Move?" Otonashi and the group said surprised, almost swallowing their whole lunch.

"What? Why Yuri? Why move without reason?" Kanade asks urgently. The others nodded, looking at Yuri.

"Because, because Meiko said that she wanted to go to another place, change the environment, and father approved."

"When will that happen?" Otonashi felt that the thing was going out of hand.

"The day after tomorrow…"

Then, Otonashi thought, there will be somethings that I have to make sure myself.

"Uh, Kanade, when we go to class later, help me tell the teacher that I have things to do at home, so I went back." Thinking to here, Otonashi waves his hands, and ran out of the cafeteria.

"Ot-" Yuri shouted, but didn't finish. Thinking, why would I care about him.

"Geez, just ran away without telling us anything. Don't care about this kind of guy. Yui pouted. "Hinata, come here and let me beat you up, I'm in a bad mood!"

"WHAT? WHY ME?"

"Because I love you, hue hue hue!" The devil laughs, making all the boys in the cafeteria shudder.

Must do something, MUST do something, damn it, why do I want to learn more about this, even though it has nothing to do with me! Otonashi's mind flashed back to the few days that he had been with the group, and ran faster. Why help others when I didn't even clear up my own problems!"

Because he came here before, he got to the destination faster: Nakamuri Yuri's house.

Opening the door is a small kid one or two years younger that him, around fifteen years old, should still be going to middle school.

"You are?" The boy asked with uncertainty.

"Right, nice to meet you. My name is Otonashi Yuzuru, i'm Yuri's classmate. You sister told me to find Meiko for somethings because she is busy."

"Oh, so you're sister's classmate, my name in Nakamura Kouta. I'm the younger brother of Yuri-nee and Meiko-nee san. Is the thing urgent?

"Yes, very!"

"K, then come in." Kouta's face opening the door with doubt on his face. But in his eyes, there was a obvious slice of hate, hate for Yuri? Or her classmate?

"Isn't auntie normally in the house?"

"She had to do something today, so i had to stay home to take care of sister." Kouta said without any feelings.

Something to do? Something more important that taking care of Meiko? Seems like it's something related to moving.

Otonashi doesn't say anything more, and walked straight towards to Meiko's room. But he stopped in front of the door, thinking about how this was presumptuous, and not knowing what to say.

"What? Aren't you going in? She shouldn't have slept yet." Kouta said behind him.

"No, it's nothing, sorry for the trouble." Otonashi smiled apologetically.

"Well then, I'm going to clean up some stuff. If you need anything, call me, mother's coming home soon." Kouta said, walking down the stairs.

Otonashi opened the door, his mind filled with fog.

"Who is it?" Meiko was reading a book, hearing the sound, she put it down.

"Erm, it's me, do you remember me?" Otonashi smiled, embarrassed.

Meiko immediately knew who it was, and replied in kind. "Yes, I remember, you're Yuri-nee's classmate that came to play, your name, is Otonashi Yuzuru, right, Yuzuru-ni san!"

"Heh, just call me Otonashi." Otonashi turned his head away.

"Oh, I can't do that, Yuri-nee reached me to be polite to everyone, and Yuzuru-ni san is a very good person!" Meiko's innocence made Otonashi helpless. It seems like these two sister's attitudes are as different as the sky and land.

"Don't you need to go to school today Yuzuru-ni san?" Meiko blinks her eyes.

"Yes, I came here to see you." Otonashi didn't feel the need to hide it anymore, if they were to move, then they would never see each other again.

Meiko shocked asked, "To see me, something the matter? Or does Yuri-nee have something to do with this?"

"No, no, I came to find you personally." Otonashi smiles.

"Ok, then, ask, what did you find me for?"

"… …"

'"What's wrong?" Meiko not understanding.

"Uh, I heard that you and your family are going to move, is that true?"

Meiko realized, and nods, "Yes, we are, what about it?"

"Uh…" Otonashi couldn't say it, since it was private, and it would very likely touch a strand of Meiko's sad strings.

"It's alright, just say it, I will tell you whatever I know!" The innocence of Meiko touched Otonashi's heart again, he didn't come here just for farewells. He raised up his courage and after a few seconds, he asked the heavy question.

"Did you give up on waiting?

"Hmm? What?" Meiko didn't understand.

"Did you go into total despair, and gave up your one year of waiting?" This time, it was obvious. Just without saying the name.

Meiko didn't answer immediately, the smile on her face slowly disappearing. But the next moment, she smiled again, but this time, it felt miserable, and sad. It's like she wants to cry but had endured it. It's not a smile either, it's just shivering lips faintly curling upwards.

Then she buried her head inside the covers, answering:

"No, it's just that I don't want everyone to suffer anymore because of me! Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, Ayato…"

Ayato, the sound very weak, like it doesn't want to be heard by Otonashi.

Otonashi seems like he understood something, and smiled bitterly. What a silly girl he thought, to let everyone get out of the pain, she chose to carry the burden upon herself.

Eyesight blurred, Otonashi faced the window, scared of Meiko knowing. There were two shadows flashing that gives off a familiar feeling. One short, one tall.

"What is it? Yuzuru-ni san!" Meiko tore her head away from the cover, and asked softly. Her tears wiped clean, leaving only traces of what had happened.

"Heh, no, nothing. What? Is this a pumpkin carriage?" Otonashi's attention turned towards something else. Below the window, there was a snow white colored pumpkin cart. The one that only appears in fairy tales, the one that the prince uses to greet the princess. But something's different…

"The prince? I remember that there should be a prince sitting on the cart." Otonashi points at the pumpkin cart without the prince.

Meiko's face went reddish, and giggles: "I gave the prince to Ayato, he said, that one day, he would come and receive me, so , I always waited, hehe, isn't it stupid?"

This time, it was a very happy smile, a smile towards pod old memories.

"Alright, I understand!" Otonashi ruffled Meiko's hair. "It's absolutely stupid, but it's also very cute, I believe that your happiness will come."

"Mmm!"

"Well then, I will be going now."

"Alright, goodbye Yuzuru-ni san!'

Otonashi stopped in front of the door. Without turning his head, because he eyes were blurred.

"Meiko, remember, do not ever give up, no matter what it is."

"Ok, thanks Yuzuru-ni san!"

THe door closed behind Otonashi, and Kouta walked up the stairs at the same time, his eyes with more hate.

"Hehe!" At this moment, Otonashi was suddenly enlightened. He faced towards Kouta, "I'm done with the thing. Sorry for the trouble, I will see you the day after tomorrow!"

"Alright."

Thanks for all the readers that have been reading this, I cannot stop thanking you all. Anyways, if someone else really wants me to write another chapter, just tell me, I will spare sometime and do it.