Author's note: Hello everyone! Finally, the long-await reunion of the two has come! How do you think the two can stay together?
Don't forget to leave your reactions in the reviews!
Enjoys!
Qwqs
The reunion
"Yosh! Let's do our best again today!" Yuzuru declares to the sunflowers in his student council room in an energetic voice.
He is now fully prepared to take whatever comes at him today.
…He soon realizes, however, how wrong that conclusion of his is.
*Slam*
Haruka loudly opens the door of the room and then gasping for breath.
"*Gasp…*gasp*…*gasp*"
It seems like she was running with her full power for quite a distance.
"W-What's wrong, Saigusa-san? Why were you running in the corridor?!" Yuzuru reprimands. After all, Haruka is also a member of the student council, and so she should follow the rules.
"Your Kanade… *gasp*…has come to the Afterlife!"
-o-O-o-
5 minutes ago
Haruka went to welcome the new soul as usual.
'Wait, that girl is…' This was Haruka's thought when she finally saw the new soul that had come to the Afterlife.
That girl's features were the same as that of the girl in the photo Yuzuru had shown her.
'Seriously, is she…'
"Hey, you!" Haruka shouted as she ran over to where the girl was.
Kanade turned her head to Haruka's direction and slightly tilted her head in inquiry.
"You are Tachibana Kanade, aren't you?!"
Haruka firmly grasped both of Kanade's shoulders after she had closed the distance.
"Y-Yes, I am. What of it?"
"Wait here! I will call Otonashi-san over ASAP!" After hearing the answer, without further ado, Haruka quickly ran off again. Her goal is the student council room where Yuzuru was.
-o-O-o-
"…"
"…"
Silence has dominated the Afterlife…
No, that is an exaggeration. Though, at the very least, there is no sound in the proximity around the two – Yuzuru and Kanade.
Everything is in stillness except for little drops of water falling from the couple's eyes and the blinking of the eyes that filled with surprise, yet happy emotions.
"…Kanade"
"…Yuzuru"
The two murmurs at the same time.
They are both more than a little surprised. They can't get rid of a little doubt left in their mind that what they are seeing is just a mirage created from their deepest wish. That doubt is finally dispelled when they each hear the murmuring of their name from their other half.
Taking a step forward, they both continue the murmuring.
"Kanade"
"Yuzuru"
Another step…
"Kanade"
"Yuzuru"
…Yet another step
"Kanade!"
"Yuzuru!"
Their slow steps change into a run.
"KANADE!"
"YUZURU!"
When they finally reach each other, they put everything they have into a hug of their other half.
"I really missed you, Kanade!" Yuzuru cryingly says so.
"Yes, me too!" Kanade sobbingly nods in agreement.
The two hug each other tightly while crying tears of joy.
All this happens under the observation of a certain scheming girl who leisurely leans her back on a nearby wall as she carefully observes the scene with a stern face.
"…"
There is a trace of envy in the girl's eyes.
She shakes her head once to get rid of the unpleasant feeling that has emerged.
'It seems like I win the bet after all.'
That is the only thought in her mind after she has eliminated the ugly feeling that fleetingly appeared in her well-disciplined mind.
-o-O-o-
"…So that is what you have been through, Kanade," Yuzuru says after finished listening to Kanade's story of what she has been doing after they have parted way back then.
Kanade nods, "What about you, Yuzuru? Have things been hard for you?"
"Ah, not really," Yuzuru smiles wryly. He can't say how much of a pain he has been dealing with since meeting a certain student council vice president. Not in front of the person herself, at least.
"I just have been helping other souls to move on. There is nothing interesting about it at all," Yuzuru continues.
"I see. I am glad you have been okay during all this time," Kanade shows Yuzuru her angelic smile. The impact of a trace of tears on her beautiful smiling face does nothing but intensifies the affection Yuzuru has for her.
"Ah, yes. I am very fine now, Kanade; now that you are with me again," Yuzuru gently says with the eyes of tender affection for his little angel.
"By the way…" Kanade begins again.
"Yes?"
"Who is that person?" Kanade points her finger at Haruka who quietly and leisurely leaning against the wall not far from where they both are while watching the two converse.
"Ah, she is…"
"I am Saigusa Haruka, the student council vice president. I am just a soul who decided to stay here in the Afterlife helping other souls to move on like Otonashi-san has been doing," Haruka interrupts Yuzuru as she introduces herself to Kanade.
Kanade nods in acknowledgment before replies, "I am Tachibana Kanade. Thank you for looking after Yuzuru in my absence."
Kanade bows in gratitude.
"Ah, don't worry about that. I do it because I have my own goal. Please do not mind my presence and continue your conversation. I know you two have a lot to talk about with each other," Haruka indifferently shrugs with a wry smile on her face.
"Thank you for your kind words," giving her thanks once again, Kanade raises her head and continues her sentimental conversation with Yuzuru.
-o-O-o-
They sit down on a bench and chat about their nostalgic times together for an hour before Kanade suddenly goes silent.
"What's wrong, Kanade?" Yuzuru asks.
"Somehow, I know I am still not dead, Yuzuru. I feel like I have to go back to my body soon.
"…"
Yuzuru is speechless when he hears her reply.
-o-O-o-
"I-I-I see. I-I guess you have to, huh?" Yuzuru finally stuttering says with sorrow evidence in his eyes.
"…I really don't want to, Yuzuru, but I somehow know that I can't resist it," Kanade says with the same level of sadness in her eyes.
"I-I see…" That's all Yuzuru can murmur in response.
"…"
"…"
Silence and depression hang in the atmosphere as they are both filled with grief.
"…You know, Kanade…" Yuzuru is the first to begin again after the fight between each conflicting emotions in his mind finally reaches its conclusion.
"…You should go back," finally, he murmurs his cruel decision.
"Eh?"
Kanade yelps in surprise.
"I realized something important during the time we have been apart, Kanade," Yuzuru says resignedly.
"What is it?! What is it that makes you said such cruel words?!"
"Your feeling will restrict her from finding new things including new love, and that shouldn't happen. Do you really think she will be happy if she always has you in her heart but isn't able to meet you all her life? Especially with your feeling for her still intact, I imagine it would be quite a painful thing to her if she remembered your love and still desperately trying to fulfill it knowing that you are still in love with her," Yuzuru quotes the words he remembers so clearly.
"What?" Kanade asks in surprise.
"Those were the words spoken to me –words that I can't really refuse. I am a burden to you, Kanade. I don't want to bind you with the unattainable past anymore. You should look forward to the future. You should be free," Yuzuru continues.
"…" Kanade is quietly digesting what has been said to her.
"You have no need to worry about my feelings, Kanade. Even though I still love you, I think I will be fine. I can be satisfied if I have memories of you and reminisce about our times together from time to time. I don't think I need anything more. I won't bind you to me with my love and instead allow you to have a happy future without any bindings of the past. That is my conviction. How I realized what to do with these feelings of mine without troubling you anymore."
Yuzuru takes a deep breath and continues, "That's why you should go back, Kanade. Go back to live your life; to live your future."
*Slap*
In answer to Yuzuru's resolve and conviction, Kanade gives him a slap.
-o-O-o-
"…Kanade"
Yuzuru murmurs as he rubs his swelling cheek while looking at Kanade bewilderedly.
"…You are too presumptuous, Yuzuru," Kanade clenches her fists tight and bits her lower lips.
"Huh?"
"Who are you to decide that I would be happier with a life without you?! Look forward to the future?! I won't have a happy future as long as I still can't be with you, Yuzuru! I should be free?! What is the point of being free if I can't even get what I truly want the most?! "
"Kanade…"
Kanade suddenly puts Yuzuru into a hug again, "I only need you, Yuzuru. I only need you to be truly happy. Even if I don't have anything else, I will be happy as long as I have you, Yuzuru," Kanade says in tears.
"…"
Now, it is Yuzuru's turn to go silent to digest everything he has been told. His conviction, which he believed could never be bent, was broken easily by Kanade.
"...Sorry, Kanade. I won't say such things anymore. That's right; I also love you, Kanade. Let's be together again," finally, returning the hug, Yuzuru accepts Kanade's decision to be with him no matter what.
They both are hugging each other tightly while crying.
Haruka looks upon this scene expressionlessly. No one can guess what her true feelings are while she is watching this moving scene.
-o-O-o-
"What should we do, Yuzuru?" Kanade asks when both of them have finally calmed down.
It is regrettable, but Kanade has to leave the Afterlife soon and it is uncertain whether they will ever meet again.
"…I don't know," Yuzuru shakes his head. He really has no clue of how to fulfill this across-dimension love.
As they are both thinking hard on what to do, Haruka suddenly begins, "Why don't you go back first, Tachibana-san? I will persuade Otonashi-san to move on and you can wait until he becomes an adult again before confessing your feelings to him."
"!"
"!"
"Oi! What do you mean, Saigusa-san?! I won't leave this Afterlife!" Yuzuru protests.
"Your goal for staying here is for the souls who come here to have someone to guide them and finally move on to begin their next life, isn't it?" Haruka calmly asks.
"Eh? Yes, I guess," Yuzuru dumbly replies.
"Then you don't have to worry. I will stay here for a very long time. I will be the one who does this duty in your place. You already know how capable I am, don't you? It will be fine to leave the Afterlife to me," Haruka persuades.
"Umm… I guess that seems reasonable… But!"
"But?" Haruka inquires.
"Even if I do leave the Afterlife, how do you know that I will really meet with Kanade again?" Yuzuru answers.
"Indeed, I really do not know, Otonashi-san," Haruka agrees.
"Then!" Yuzuru raises his voice.
"But do you really have such a little faith in your love, Tachibana-san, Otonashi-san?!" Haruka also raises her voice.
"What do you me-" Yuzuru tries to inquire but is cut off.
"I mean what I said! Miracles happened time and time again for you guys! Tachibana-san coincidentally met with her heart donor and fell in love with him. Even after you two had parted, somehow the both of you had this repeated dream of a marriage and an invisible ring from your dream appeared on your respective left ring finger. And now, against all odds, you happened to meet again even though one is dead and one is still alive in this Afterlife for God's sake! What's wrong with having faith that a miracle will happen just once more time to you two and you will meet each other in the real world after Otonashi-san is reborn?!"
Haruka takes a deep breath and continues.
"If the faith in your love is just that little, don't try to pull "I will never forget and always love you no matter what" on me! That is just hypocrisy!" Haruka says and walks towards the two of them.
"…"
"…"
"Otonashi-san, Kanade-san," Haruka puts each of her hands on Yuzuru's and Kanade's shoulder respectively.
"Believe in your love and bet on a 1 in a 7.8 billion chance of you two meeting again. Miracle will surely happen to you once again if you just believe."
Putting her hands away, Haruka takes several steps back to give the couple some space.
"In the end, that is just my suggestion. The choice is for you two to decide."
"…"
"…"
Silence dominates them again. It is not for so long this time, however.
"…You are Saigusa-san, right?" Kanade gently asks Haruka.
"Yes, that is my name," Haruka nods.
Kanade stands up from the bench and then bows towards Haruka, "Truly thank you for your admonishing. I would forget about such an important thing if you did not remind us."
Kanade raises her head and walks towards Yuzuru.
"Kanade?"
"She is right, you know? We should take this bet using our love as chips. As long as our love still lasts, so are our chips, and as long as we still have chips, we will never lose. Eventually, we will win!"
Kanade shows Yuzuru her angelic smile once again. This time, however, the smile is full of cheerfulness.
"Even if I become an old hag, I will always wait for you, Yuzuru. I will definitely find you. "
"…"
After staring dumbfounded at Kanade for a while, Yuzuru finally shakes his head.
"I can't seem to win against you girls, huh?"
With an amused smile, Yuzuru stands up, "Alright, I'm in!"
What greets Yuzuru is the smiles of the two girls.
Unfortunately, before the three can fully relish in this happiness, the time is up.
"It is almost time now. I have to go back," Kanade informs.
"So soon?" Yuzuru is displeased.
"You both should go out now. Go at the same time for a lucky charm. Don't worry about this Afterlife, I will manage it just fine," Haruka says with a reassuring smile.
Both of them nod.
"Then, I will leave it to you, Saigusa-san," Yuzuru finally formally accepts the birth of this new authority of the Afterlife.
"Kanade, try to find me as quickly as you can eh?" Yuzuru teases
"Don't make me wait for too long that I become an old hag, Yuzuru," Kanade teases back.
They both smile at the teasing before finally turn their head to Haruka one last time.
""Thank you for everything, Saigusa-san!""
The next moment, the two vanish.
Only Haruka is left there.
-o-O-o-
'There, eh?'
After the two have gone, Haruka suddenly looks at a completely different direction and pulls her gun out and shoots it at the empty space. It hits nothing, of course, but not minding that, she says, "Won't you stop peeking at us and come out and have a talk with me, god?"
Since her assumption is correct, now it is time for her to have a little chat with god.
On a side note, this will be the first time in the long history of the Afterlife that a person is capable of shooting at god.
Done!
I said it in Chapter 12, right? There is a point in writing about the realms. Someone in the story indeed has a chance to talk with god. A certain reader thought it is Yuzuru though. I hope this surprises them.
The date of the next update is undecided since it will be a very long chapter talking about hard-to-understand concepts and so on.
I dare say the next chapter may be the best one in this story.
Looking forward to it, okay?
And…
…Do not forget to review.
Reviews are like fuel that keeps me going.