Epilogue: The end, or is it?

3 days later, New York City, New York, America...

"Are you a tourist, miss?" asked the cab driver.

Hanayuki shook her head. "No. I was born here in New York City."

"Oh? Where did you come back from then?" he asked again.

"Japan. I had been studying there since I was 12," Hanayuki answered.

"I see, I see," said the cab driver, nodding his head. "Came back for the Christmas holidays, I presume?"

"Yeah, you could say that."

The conversation ended, and Hanayuki looked out of the window at the shops and houses and people as they passed by.

It's been 3 years since I last came back...

She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

3 years, since that horrible incident... 3 years, since I left this city for Japan the second time...

-Flashback-

Hanayuki stood in front of the house, looking up at the window of her room, as Mrs Anzai helped the cab driver put the luggage into the car boot. She watched as Anzai-sensei stepped out of the house and locked the door behind him.

Anzai-sensei, who noticed her looking at him, gave her a small smile and walked towards her. Standing beside her, he put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't worry. You'll come back again one day, when you're ready."

When you're ready...

Hanayuki didn't reply. She didn't even give any indication that she had heard what Anzai-sensei had said. She just stood there and looked up at the window, and didn't move until Mrs Anzai came over and gently steered her away from where she was standing and into the cab.

Will I ever be ready...?

-End of flashback-

Hanayuki opened her eyes.

That was 3 years ago. At that time, I thought that no matter where I went, it wouldn't change anything.

She let out a deep sigh.

The cab driver half-turned around. "You feeling alright, miss?"

Hanayuki smiled. "Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for your concern." She continued looking out of the window, once again letting her thoughts fly.

It had been 3 long years, and not everything has changed, but at least, it hadn't been 3 miserable long years. At least, I made the right decision of going to Shohoku.

The corners of her mouth curved up in a small smile.

If I didn't, I wouldn't have been reunited with oniichan and Hisashi-niichan. I wouldn't have met up with Aki, Kogure-sempai, Ayako-san, Akagi-sempai, Miyagi-sempai, Haruko-chan, the gundan, the rest of the team, and...

I'll wait, for as long as it takes.

... Kaede...

"We're here, miss."

Hanayuki snapped out of her thoughts. Looking out of the window, she found herself looking at a colonial-style double-storey terrace house, with a small garden at the front. She had reached her destination.

"Thank you very much," Hanayuki thanked the driver, as she handed him some bills to pay for the taxi fare. She got out of the car, carrying her hand-luggage, while he opened the boot and took out her other luggage for her.

"Thanks again," said Hanayuki.

"You're welcome, miss," the driver replied, before getting into the car and drove off.

She waited until the cab disappeared around the corner, before turning around to face the house.

I'm finally back...

Either out of habit or for old time's sake, she looked up at the window of the room that used to be hers. Not that it isn't mine now.

Taking a deep breath, Hanayuki walked up the driveway and stopped in front of the door. Putting down her luggage, she pressed the doorbell.

Wouldn't okaasan and otousan be surprised to see me? She smiled to herself. I hope otousan doesn't get a heart attack.

"Coming!" someone shouted from inside the house.

That sounds like okaasan. I just can't wait to see her and hug her again. And otousan too...

The door opened, and Hanayuki broke into a big smile. "Surprise!"

"Ha... Hana-chan...? What are you doing here?" Mrs Anzai asked in surprise.

"Okaasan, I missed you so much!" Hanayuki wrapped her arms around Mrs Anzai's neck, hugging her for all its worth. Naturally, she didn't see the alarmed expression on her mother's face.

"I missed you too, Hana-chan, my dear," said Mrs Anzai, a little hesitantly.

Little as it may be, it didn't escape Hanayuki's notice. "Is everything alright, okaasan?" she asked, pulling away from the hug.

She was interrupted by the sound of laughter coming from one of the rooms inside the house. "Did I come at a wrong time?"

Mrs Anzai seemed to be contemplating this question, but in the end, she smiled and shook her head. "No, dear. You're not interrupting anything. Come on in."

Obliging happily, Hanayuki walked in. "Ne, okaasan, where's otousan?"

Mrs Anzai, who was helping Hanayuki with her luggage, pointed down the corridor. "He's in the living room."

"Well, I'll surprise him there then," said Hanayuki, smiling mischievously.

"Hana-chan, there's-"

Hanayuki put a finger to her lips. "Not so loud, okaasan. Don't worry. I won't surprise otousan to the extent of giving him a heart attack."

Before Mrs Anzai could say anything else, Hanayuki made her way quietly towards the room. Reaching the entrance, she could see Anzai-sensei sitting on the floor, laughing at something.

That's weird. The news on TV is reporting about an accident. Otousan couldn't be laughing at that, could he?

As if on cue, her curiosity was further piqued by another round of laughter, only this time, it wasn't just her father's laughter she heard.

Determined to get to the bottom of things, Hanayuki stepped into the room and inched towards the centre of the room, where Anzai-sensei and his companion were still laughing. She didn't see a paper cup lying on the floor, and when she accidentally stepped on it, it made a crunching sound that alerted Anzai-sensei of the presence of another person in the room.

He turned his head around to see the intruder, and Hanayuki watched the surprise settle upon his face. It was quickly replaced by alarm, but Hanayuki wasn't looking at him anymore. Instead, she was looking at his companion, her eyebrows knitted in confusion. Sou na...

Slowly, her eyes widened with recognition, and both her hands flew up to her mouth.

Oh... my... God...

To be continued...