~~~~~~~~~~Toomi Yuna~~~~~~~~~~
[4]
Nagatani Megumi
"Where are we going?"

...Megumi asked me groggily, a cranky pout on her face. Yuki-san had sent me to get her and Sachi-san for our trip after I had come downstairs to the kitchen with my hair a mess and head pounding, saying something about how getting my blood running would help. I had entered their room with a little wariness that turned into apprehension when I saw their bodies tangled together, but thankfully they were both still fully clothed when I got there.

Toomi Yuna
"It's Obon."

...was all I had in response. Come on, Megumi. I'm not feeling too hot today, either.

Nagatani Megumi
"So?"

Toomi Yuna
"Day 2 of Obon, Megumi."

Enoki Sachi
"Ah!"

Aha, Sachi-san gets it.

Nagatani Megumi
"What? What about day 2? I, uh...I don't really remember…"

I was about to make another barb, but a wave of nausea hit me and it was just about all I could do not to vomit right there.

Enoki Sachi
"That's the grave cleaning! Yuna, is this why you've come to wake us?"

Toomi Yuna
"Y-Yeah…"

Now even Megumi had shaken off her sleepy air.

Nagatani Megumi
"G-Grave cleaning?! Are you...are you taking us…"

Toomi Yuna
"Yeah, I am."

Oh, who am I kidding. Annoying or not, these two are still my friends.

Toomi Yuna
"Hina, Ano, and I did some research. You two were both cremated in your ancestral homes. Megumi, yours is in Nagoya and Sachi-san, yours is in Hiroshima."

Nagatani Megumi
"W-What?! How did you even find that?"

Toomi Yuna
"Lots and lots of searching. Maybe I'll tell you next time."

...Next time? ...Yes, next time. I believe even when Obon is over that we will still see each other again.

Enoki Sachi
"Hiroshima, you said? I didn't even know that. Are these places where we are going?"

Toomi Yuna
"Well…"

Not quite.

Toomi Yuna
"We're definitely stopping by Nagoya, because Yuki-san told me that's where they erected your gravestone, Megumi, but Sachi-san, Hiroshima was destroyed in the war. The entire cemetery was leveled, and we couldn't find your name in any of the records we looked through."

Enoki Sachi
"A-Ah…"

Oh, damn, she looks like I physically struck her.

Toomi Yuna
"S-Sorry. I didn't mean-"

Enoki Sachi
"It's alright. I suppose these things do happen…"

Toomi Yuna
"But your family, thankfully, was still living around Shirojo at the time. In fact, we realized that your family actually never left."

Enoki Sachi
"E-Eh? Never left? You don't mean…?"

Toomi Yuna
"I do. We found one of your relatives in Shirojo. That relative is…"

I couldn't resist a pause for effect, even in my slightly inebriated state.

Toomi Yuna
"Sasa."
[6]
"Whaaaat?!"

Megumi and Sachi-san both exclaimed at the same time.

Toomi Yuna
"Yeah, Ano and I couldn't believe it either, but we traced the Futano name back some sixty years, where Sasa's great-great-something-or-other-grandfather married one of your...I guess one of your great-nieces? Cousin some times removed? A-Anyway, she married into the Futano family. From that we were able to backtrack to basically right after the war, where we were able to find a number of Enoki gravestones that were suddenly erected in a cemetery - in fact, the very cemetery right next to Yatsugishi apartments."

Nagatani Megumi
"H-Huh? You mean, Sachi-san's gravestone...was basically right next to the school?! The whole time?!"

Toomi Yuna
"That's right. It seems that your relatives re-erected as many of the destroyed gravestones as possible, Sachi-san, yours among them."

Enoki Sachi
"Is that so…"

I couldn't really tell what was going through Sachi-san's mind. I mean, it's literally an experience I've never had in my life. ...and for good reason…

Toomi Yuna
"A-Anyway, we're leaving for the airport in an hour and a half. We'll be going to Nagoya first, then taking a train to Shirojo and then flying back."

This should work. Hopefully, the second day of Obon meant that fewer people would be flying, and we'd be able to sneak Megumi and Sachi-san onboard, if need be. Of course, I don't think anybody else can see them anyway, but it'd be nice if they had places to sit.

Enoki Sachi
"Air...port…?"

Oh, that's right.

Toomi Yuna
"Oh, it's where you go to take planes to places."

Enoki Sachi
"I...see…"

Toomi Yuna
"A-Ah, you'll see when we get there."

I kind of wish the two spirits had retained some of their abilities when they were wandering ghosts. Possession and transient bodies would have made this trip a little easier to deal with. Though it is nice to see them engaging in otherwise normal activities instead of experiencing them through my body.

Toomi Yuna
"Anyway, get ready. We don't want to be late. I dunno what spirits need to do to get ready, but clean up, shower, pack, make out, whatever."

Enoki Sachi
"Ah, Yuna…"

Nagatani Megumi
"W-Wait a minute!"

Oh, they're both a little red in the face now.

Toomi Yuna
"I'm kidding. Seriously though, don't be late, alright?"

Enoki Sachi
"Right. Thank you, Yuna."

Toomi Yuna
"Mm, you're welcome. Breakfast is in half an hour, okay?"

Nagatani Megumi
"Okaay~!"

It looks like Megumi's excited to see her gravestone. I suppose that might be because she's with her family right now…? Or maybe she just wants to go see Shirojo again. This is when the summer camp occurs, after all. I usually cooked for it, even after entering college, but this time I left some of my most trusted assistants from last year with what I hoped were plenty of instructions.

Toomi Yuna
("Hm...what happens to the camp's food when I actually need to leave for good and find a job…?")

Enoki Sachi
"Yuna-san? Why are you still standing there?"

Toomi Yuna
"Huh?"

Whoops. I guess I blanked out a little.

Toomi Yuna
"S-Sorry. I'll get going."

~~~~~~~~~~Enoki Sachi~~~~~~~~~~
[11]
Enoki Sachi
"...Oh…"

...was all I could say upon seeing the plane. In my time, planes were loud, small, and fragile-looking, and most of them were armed for combat. The behemoth in front of me, however, was anything but.

Enoki Sachi
"It...looks like a whale."

Toomi Yuna
"More like a fish, I think."

Yuna-san exited the driver's seat of the car we came in on - she can drive now? Another reminder of the time that had passed - and stood next to me and Megumi as we waited for Yuki-san and Granny.

Komano Hina
"Mm...I think it looks like an angry bird. Or a bored one."

I guess that makes sense, considering that both are flying objects.

Nagatani Megumi
"I think it just looks like a plane."

There was a smattering of chuckles at that. I'm technically old enough to have seen through the development of air travel, but all I know of planes is from my perch on the roof, gazing above me as they took off and landed from the nearby airport. Yuna-san must have read my mind, because…

Toomi Yuna
"There are bigger ones than this, Sachi-san."

Enoki Sachi
"Huh?"

Toomi Yuna
"We're only flying domestic, so it doesn't have to be that big. If you have to go to the United States, or even to Europe, you need a larger plane to carry enough fuel for that distance."

Enoki Sachi
"Wow, you can fly directly to Europe now?"

My, things have changed.

Nagatani Megumi
"Yeah! I loved flying when I was alive! Well, I liked the actual flying part. But I always got sick on planes…"

Toomi Yuna
"But you can fly without assistance, now, can't you?"

Nagatani Megumi
"Well, yeah, but it's different, you know? There's no wind in your hair in space, Yuna."

Toomi Yuna
"...Fair enough."

Komano Hina
"Fwaaaaah~"

As Yuna-san and Megumi went back and forth, Hina-chan pattered up to me, a huge yawn on her face.

Enoki Sachi
"Get enough sleep, Hina-chan?"

Komano Hina
"Mm...I think so. But Yuna-nee kept me up."

Enoki Sachi
"Really? That's a little unlike her. She's usually so responsible. What happened?"

Komano Hina
"...It's a secret. But she was drunk, too, so I also wanted to make sure nothing happened during the night."

A secret, huh? I think I know what that means, so I won't pry. ...Though it is nice that even Yuna-san has her passionate times, too.

Enoki Sachi
"You've become very responsible, haven't you, Hina-chan?"

Hina-chan cocked her head in the way she always did when she was thinking.

Komano Hina
"Maybe. I always try to help if I can and I feel bad when I can't. Like when I told Yuna-nee I loved her, because at that time it was me who put her in an awkward position for so long. Or when Seina said she hurt someone close to her."

Enoki Sachi
"Oh? Maki Seina-chan?"

It slipped out before I could stop myself. I didn't know how much Yuna-san had told Hina-chan about what we did throughout the year. Somehow, I never considered that Hina-chan would have known some of the others, despite knowing they were both in the same year and I've seen them talking together.

Komano Hina
"Hm? Yeah, Maki Seina. You know her?"

Well, I guess it can't hurt anymore.

Enoki Sachi
"Y-Yes. Has Yuna-san tell you about how she helped us during her second year?"

Komano Hina
"Mm."

Oh, so Hina-chan already knows about Yuna-san's efforts for us.

Enoki Sachi
"Maki-chan was the first girl we helped."

Hina-chan's eyes went wide.

Komano Hina
"Hm? Oh, that explains why Yuna-nee wanted to know about her. ...So, Seina...was in love with another girl?"

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, that's right."

Hina-chan cocked her head again and closed her eyes, thinking.

Komano Hina
"Hm…"

I waited a few seconds, not wanting to interrupt whatever train of thought Hina-chan was on.

Komano Hina
"...Is it Aihara-san?"

Enoki Sachi
"Eh? Yes, yes it is. How did you figure that out?"

Komano Hina
"In our first week, Seina wanted to know about my childhood friend who made me lunch everyday. She said something like, 'it's like you have your own personal senpai' and how she wanted to get close to senpai too. Then she joined the beautification committee and became the class president, so her senpai must have been someone very responsible. The only four people I know who can handle that much work are Yuna-nee, Aki-san, Miyu-senpai, and Aihara-san. I'm dating Yuna-nee, Miyu-senpai's about to get married, and Aki-san's dating Youka-san, so it has to be Aihara-san. I also know that Aihara-san had a kindred heart-"

That part's not entirely true, but only a select few know about it.

Komano Hina
"-and that she was president of the beautification committee at the same time Seina joined, so she was doing a lot of favors. Seina mentioned how her senpai was so kind and helpful, so it makes sense that Aihara-san probably ended up heling her. I guess she was feeling down that one time because she hurt Aihara-san somehow, but they made up. She also mentioned to me and Shiori during our group project how she was dating someone older than her, so they must be still dating now."

...I'm quite impressed. I think it's fairly easy to assume Hina-chan's a little dumb, or simple because of how little she speaks and how blunt she is with her words, but it's more like she doesn't say more words than necessary to get a point across. In that sense, she reminds me of Miyama-san, where their exterior personalities hide something more than meets the eye.

Enoki Sachi
("...In that sense, they're my opposite.")

No. No need to bring that up. Both of the people dearest to my heart listened as I bared my soul and accepted me for who I am. I existed eighty years with regrets; there is no need to bring up the past again.

Komano Hina
"...So Miyu-senpai and Matsuri-senpai, and Aki-san and Youka-san, you knew about them too?"

Enoki Sachi
"Huh? E-Er, yes, we did. I can read emotions in somebody's heart if I stand very close to them, and besides that as ghosts we were able to, er...observe."

Hina-chan just nodded. Apparently, she doesn't care as much as Yuna-san did about privacy and such, though I suppose that might be because she hasn't made the connection yet to Megumi and I wanting our first time together.

Komano Hina
"Mm...what about Kiri-san and Sonou-sensei?"

Damn. Again, Hina is surprisingly sharp. But Tsurugimine-chan and Tsukuyo-chan are a more special case. What should I say?

Enoki Sachi
"A-Ah, well…"

Komano Hina
"Don't worry. You can't help who you feel love towards, right? It's okay that they were teacher and student, if they were in love."

In that case…

Enoki Sachi
"Then yes. Those two, as well."

Toomi Yuna
"What are you two talking about?"

Behind us, Yuna-san and Megumi walked up, still elbowing each other in the sides from whatever conversation they were coming from..

Enoki Sachi
"Just reminiscing about the past. Remember your game of tag?"

Yuna-san rolled her eyes.

Toomi Yuna
"Yeah. Not fun, you know. And Hina, you scared me half to death, jumping out the window."

Komano Hina
"I know, I know…"

Enoki Sachi
"Haahh…"

I let out a sigh of content as the four of us moved onto more inconsequential subjects. It felt nice, being able to chat about meaningless things like this. A few minutes went by, and Hina-chan and Megumi were in a serious discussion about eating lamb when I heard Yuki-san calling over to us.

Nagatani Yuki
"Over here! Sorry we took so long."

Otsuka Hikari
"That's because of your terrible driving."

...muttered Hikari-san from beside him.

Nagatani Yuki
"Anyway, Megumi, Sachi-san, I honestly have no idea how this going to work. I don't know why I've never heard of spirits before you two, and I don't know why after coming back to Earth you have somewhat physical bodies. In fact, I don't even know if anyone else can see or hear you. Until we can figure that out, the two of you stick with me, and keep quiet, okay?"

Nagatani Megumi
"Okay~!"

Enoki Sachi
"I understand."

What a novel experience this was turning out to be, pretending to be normal, walking among family and friends. ...Novel? No, not novel. It's familiar. Nostalgic. Forgotten, maybe, in the last eighty years, but a sensation I did not realize I missed.

Toomi Yuna
"Our flight's soon, so let's get going."


Even though we were supposed to be on a normal trip together, I couldn't help staring at the things around me. It had occurred to me many times that what I knew of the world was limited to the grounds of Shirojo, but standing in a building some dozens of meters high with lighted screens, electronic announcements, and automated processes everywhere felt almost like walking into another world. As we walked down the concourse to our check-in aisle I heard Yuna-san come up behind me and Megumi, muttering under her breath. It was an action that was made so familiar to us when we met her in Shirojo that for a minute I felt a little disoriented.

Toomi Yuna
"Okay, so we'll be in this aisle. Stay in between Hina and me when we're in line, and when we get up to the counter, let Yuki-san do all the talking."

Nagatani Megumi
"'Let Yuki-san do all the talking'? Been watching too many movies, Yuna?"

Megumi stuck her tongue out at Yuna-san.

Toomi Yuna
"Shut up. This will basically determine whether or not others can see you. I'd like to find out whether or not they can feel you, too, but since you're able to interact with objects in the real world I think it's safe to assume that they can."

Enoki Sachi
"Okay, makes sense. How does Yuki-san talking with the receptionist determine whether or not people can see us?"

Toomi Yuna
"We'll be travelling as a group, but we purposely did not reserve any seats. If the receptionist gives us four tickets, then people can't see you and that becomes a problem. If she gives us six, then people can see you, and presumably feel and hear you."

Enoki Sachi
"I see…"

Nagatani Megumi
"Huh, I guess you did think of everything."

Yuna-san's mouth twitched as she fought a smile.

Toomi Yuna
"Come on, Megumi, why do you still sound surprised every time?"

Nagatani Megumi
"Because it's surprising every time!"

I shook my head in mock admonishment.

Enoki Sachi
"Now, you two. Behave."

Nagatani Megumi
"Heheheheheh…"

Toomi Yuna
"Haha...yeah, yeah."

I absently wondered if Megumi and I looked weird as we stood in line between her parents and Yuna-san and Hina-chan. I think spirits can project whatever form they wish in the ethereal plane, but apart from some...intimate...times, neither Megumi nor I had elected to change our sailor uniforms, though I have considered projecting Shirojo's current uniform just to see how it looks. Perhaps it was just more normal for us to continue using them, but in hindsight maybe it would have been better to change into something more casual. Yuna-san must have had the same thought, because…

Toomi Yuna
"Shoot, I didn't consider your uniforms. ...Maybe we can pass you off as just getting off school? Hopefully nobody asks, though I suppose it would be a little rude to do so…"

I could sense her darting glances around the massive room as the line inched forward. I snuck a few glances of my own. Nobody seemed to be paying attention, but I wasn't sure if it was because nobody cared or if nobody could see us. I started praying that it was the former as our mismatched group finally made it to the front of the line.

Receptionist
"Good morning! Where are you headed?"

Nagatani Yuki
"Good morning. Nagoya, please."

Receptionist
"Alright. Are the six of you together?"

Ah. Six of us. That means others can see us. Though, that raises a number of questions. I heard Yuna-san start muttering to herself behind me.

Toomi Yuna
"So they're not invisible...which makes sense, because Hina and I aren't part of the Nagatani family and we can still see them...but why…?"

She trailed off, but I knew what she was asking. Why are we the first spirits that...well, that we know? If it's Obon, and spirits are able to return to Earth, and spirits are able to interact with the real world, then why have none of us heard of anything until now? In fact, looking around, it appears we're the only spirits around, and I know we're not the only ones to come back; I've met others who regularly return for Obon.

Enoki Sachi
"...Interesting…"

Toomi Yuna
"Yeah…"

Hina-chan just shrugged a little.

Komano Hina
"I don't think we'll ever know the answer."

Enoki Sachi
"Probably not."

Toomi Yuna
"But it's certainly interesting to think about."

Nagatani Yuki
"...thank you. Let's go."

Yuki-san beckoned us over, this time directly addressing Megumi and me now that we could pretend to be human.

Nagatani Megumi
"Wow! This is exciting, isn't it? We're going home!"

Yes. Home. We may be going to Megumi's ancestral home, but I knew what she meant by home. Shirojo. Where so many memories were created.

Enoki Sachi
"Yes. We're going home."

~~~~~~~~~~Nagatani Megumi~~~~~~~~~~
[8]
I...don't really know what to think. I guess I was pretty excited at first - after all, how often do you actually get to see your own gravestone? And now that our group has accepted the reality of death and spirits, it's actually a little funny in a strange, detached sort of sense that four humans - two of which who are younger than me chronologically but older physically - myself, and my hundred-year-old girlfriend who still looks like a high schooler are standing in a cemetery looking at a carved piece of rock meant to mark my passing. In that way, it really is funny.

It's the other things that make it less so.

Nagatani Megumi
"Hm…"

Enoki Sachi
"Hm? What's wrong?"

Sachi-san, as always, was quick to pick up my mood.

Nagatani Megumi
"Well…"

I kept my voice down. It only seemed appropriate.

Nagatani Megumi
"That family, over there."

I glanced towards an elderly woman with what I assumed to be her two children and their families crouching at a headstone in a neighboring plot. Sachi-san casually turned in a way that allowed her to observe without seeming to.

Enoki Sachi
"Ah, yes."

Nagatani Megumi
"I just...it reminds me, you know?"

Enoki Sachi
"I understand. This is where hopes and dreams were raised and crushed."

Yes, that's exactly it. I realized I was feeling guilty. Here I was, holding hands with my eternal love, among my friends and parents, while another family affected by grief were kneeling nearby, mourning the death of a loved one. It just didn't seem...right.

Otsuka Hikari
"Don't worry, Mimi. People have to handle grief differently. It may hurt now, but unfortunately we need to allow these people to grow together."

Nagatani Megumi
"But…"

But...I caused my parents' divorce! I mean...they never blamed me for it, and they never blamed each other, but…

Otsuka Hikari
"Shh...it's alright. The things you experience dictate who you are. Your friend, Yuna-san. Was she perfect?"

Nagatani Megumi
"No…"

No, definitely not.

Otsuka Hikari
"From what you told me, it was her imperfections - her fears, her trauma and her background - that ultimately led the three of you to become friends for life - and beyond. Would you have wanted her to be any different?"

I thought about that. Had Yuna been fine...had she been okay when she met us, without the darkness in her heart, would she have seen us? Would we still be waiting on the roof, frustrated at our inability to help girls in love? Would she have responded to Hina-chan?

Nagatani Megumi
"No. I'm glad Yuna's my friend."

Otsuka Hikari
"Then worry not about this family. Death is a part of life, after all. Your father and I are close to death. Are you worried about us?"

Nagatani Megumi
"No. Because I'm waiting for you."

I realized that was the important thing. Death really is a part of life. Maybe it hurts to be apart for any amount of time, but ultimately, at the end of life, you exist together with your loved ones for eternity.

Nagatani Megumi
"...Phew. I feel better now."

Mama smiled at me and held my hand.

Otsuka Hikari
"That's good. Now. Would you like to have the very unique experience of cleaning your own gravestone?"

Nagatani Megumi
"Sure!"

~~~~~~~~~~Enoki Sachi~~~~~~~~~~
[12]
"Hi, Hina, Yuna-senpai!"

Toomi Yuna
"Hm? Oh, hello. Are you ever going to call me Yuna-chan?"

"Probably not!"

I turned to see a bubbly young girl of about college age - which would make sense, considering she somehow knows Hina-chan and Yuna-san - bounding over to our place in front of my re-erected gravestone. Yuki-san and Granny both declined to join us, saying that they felt that the cleaning should be limited to my close friends, so it was only four of us preparing the water and washcloths. As the girl approached, I realized there was something familiar in that bright smile and small figure, but it wasn't until I saw the tall, elegant woman behind her that it clicked in my mind.

Enoki Sachi
"Maki-chan? Is that you?"

Toomi Yuna
"Ack-!"

Komano Hina
"Uh…"

Nagatani Megumi
"A-ah!"

I mentally slapped myself. Shoot, I did it again. Spending eighty years as a ghost nobody can hear or see made it hard to remember to filter some things that shouldn't have been said. Like saying hi to somebody that has no idea who I am, for example.

Maki Seina
"Eh? I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Enoki Sachi
"Er...ah…"

Shoot, what do I say? Megumi was looking at me with a face that was equal parts alarm and amusement. Yuna-san wore a look of panic. Hina-chan...was Hina-chan, I suppose. But before I could respond, Miki-chan stepped in, eyes furrowed as she recalled some memory.

Aihara Miki
"Excuse me for this, but...you do seem rather familiar, though I'm certain we've never met."

Enoki Sachi
"Ah, you must be mistaken…"

Maki Seina
"Nope! Miki-san can memorize faces and names like nothing! That's how she became so popular in school!"

Aihara Miki
"I did do other things, you know, Seina."

Yes, Miki-chan, I know. We know, Megumi, Yuna and me. But you don't know that we know; how could you?

Aihara Miki
"See, I was on the beautification committee for Shirojo. I guess I overworked myself a little too much-"

That's a bit of an understatement.

Aihara Miki
"-but it allowed me to explore the school as a first-year. I guess I picked up the ability to remember names and faces easily, and that, um...gave me the title 'Saint of Shirojo'."

Miki-san finished with a small blush and a shrug.

Maki Seina
"It's a good thing! I never would have met you otherwise, Miki-san."

Aihara Miki
"I-I suppose, but evidently it's not as good as you're hoping, love. I'm sorry-"

She turned her attention back towards me.

Aihara Miki
"-for some reason I don't remember you attending Shirojo at the same time I did, yet for some reason I want to associate you with it."

Enoki Sachi
"Th-That's alright."

I had to make something up quickly and hopefully divert attention away.

Enoki Sachi
"I, uh, wasn't really that popular, or even, well...outgoing."

I guess my actual school experience would work here.

Enoki Sachi
"I'd, uh, just go out to where the enoki tree was during the breaks and wander around betw-"

Aihara Miki
"Ah!"

Enoki Sachi
"A-Ah…?"

Miki-chan let out a little exclamation and started inspecting my face even closer. Then she stepped back with a bewildered expression.

Aihara Miki
"You couldn't possibly be Enoki Sachi, could you?"

Enoki Sachi
"Ah…"

Damn. She figured it out. It must have been me mentioning the enoki tree. I guess it'd just cause more trouble to not tell the truth at this point.

Enoki Sachi
"Haahh… Yes, I am."

Maki-chan blinked and cocked her head. Apparently, her following Miki-chan around campus for half a year had taught her a lot about Shirojo's history.

Maki Seina
"Enoki…? Miki-san, that can't be right. Wasn't that an accident from eighty years ago?"

Aihara Miki
"Yes, that's what I thought. Tell me, how could you be the same Enoki Sachi, unless you're...oh."

Miki-chan's confused and suspicious face suddenly turned into one of understanding.

Aihara Miki
"...I see."

Maki Seina
"Eh? Miki-san, did you understand something?"

Aihara Miki
"Yes, yes I did. It's Obon."

Maki Seina
"Mhm. And?"

Miki-chan gently poked Maki-chan in the forehead.

Aihara Miki
"Seinaaa~, Obon. What is Obon?"

Maki Seina
"The festival for spirits? What, I don't get i- Oh."

Looks like Maki-chan made the connection, too. Obon, spirits, an accident eighty years ago…

Maki Seina
"So...you're dead?"

Immediately, Maki-chan covered her mouth in embarrassment.

Maki Seina
"I'm sorry! Did that sound rude? I mean, like...are you a spirit?"

I stole a glance towards Megumi. She just gave me a helpless shrug.

Enoki Sachi
"That's alright. Yes, I'm dead, but technically...I'm not a spirit. I existed as a spirit for eighty years, and Megumi for thirty, but we both achieved peace three years ago. Now, we exist in the afterlife, but since we're on Earth for Obon we have physical bodies. Though, it's easier just to refer to us as spirits."

Maki-chan and Miki-chan's eyes were big as saucers. I'm not surprised, honestly. The first time Yuna-san met us, she ran away, after all. All things considered, these two are taking the existence of spirits quite well.

Maki Seina
"Three years ago...so that would explain the giant beam of light!"

Toomi Yuna
"Huh? You saw that, too?"

Maki Seina
"It was kind of hard not to! A massive beam of light, going towards space, you know. I guess that was your release from this world, huh? But wait, how do you know Yuna-senpai and Hina?"

Toomi Yuna
"Well, they scared me to death."

Nagatani Megumi
"Not literally."

Toomi Yuna
"Not yet."

Er, is this something you should be joking about, you two…?

Toomi Yuna
"For some reason, they appeared to me when I was eating lunch on the roof one day. I've never quite figured out why, though I have some theories, none of which I can prove."

Aihara Miki
"What do you mean, 'appeared'?"

Toomi Yuna
"I mean, before that, they were invisible to me. And I couldn't hear them."

Yes, I remember those days. Despite having Megumi all to myself for the better part of thirty years, it was lonely and frustrating, being a ghost, especially with all of the seemingly arbitrary limitations that the universe placed on us.

Maki Seina
"On the roof...oh, wait! I thought I heard clapping behind me once. It was-"

Nagatani Megumi
"The day you confessed to Miki-san! Yeah, I remember that day. Me and Sachi-san were both really proud of you!"

Maki Seina
"Ehehehehe...so you saw that, huh? Don't praise me like that...it's a little embarrassing now that I know you were watching…"

Enoki Sachi
"Oh, but you were absolutely stunning, Maki-chan, standing at your proudest like that."

Aihara Miki
"You really were, . Even in the face of my not understanding of you and your feelings...you held true to your own even while I struggled with myself. And not just then - you managed to so for the entire year, and since then."

Miki-chan turned towards us.

Aihara Miki
"But...I have to ask...how much did...did you watch us?"

Oh, shoot. I know exactly what she's implying. The fact that we were once spirits, with incorporeal bodies, and that nobody could see or hear us. Though they seem to be accepting of the existence of supernatural beings, maybe now is not a good time to inform them of our initial goal of observing two women becoming one in body and soul. I was struggling with how to form my words when Yuna-san saved me.

Toomi Yuna
"Not all the time. There were other couples at school to keep track of."

Miki-chan and Maki-chan's eyebrows, which had finally settled after their owners' initial surprise, shot up again upon hearing Yuna-san's statement.

Maki Seina
"Yuna-senpai? What do you mean?"

Toomi Yuna
"Er, well...these two approached me for a favor, asking me to help them help girls at school who harbored well...yuri feelings. I didn't want to at first, but they managed to convince me otherwise, and-"

She turned away with a small smile, blushing slightly.

Toomi Yuna
"-it was because of meeting them that I found love in Hina."

Komano Hina
"Mm!"

Maki Seina
"And what a great couple you are!"

Maki-chan effectively tackled Hina-chan in a bear hug. It was a little bit of a strange sight, seeing these two polar opposites, but judging by Hina-chan's big smile they had become good friends.

Aihara Miki
"Helping them?"

Toomi Yuna
"Ah, not obviously. They both died because of regrets from untold love in their hearts and didn't want other girls to leave school without acting on their feelings. I told them I'd help from the shadows. If you remember, Miki-san, we, er...had a discussion about other people's perception?"

Aihara Miki
"Some discussion. You helped me realize what it means to understand somebody else, but you looked like you were hurting over something terrible. I felt that you had experienced something similar to what I had."

Toomi Yuna
"Yes, that's true, but since then I've made peace with my past. Anyway, at the time I didn't want anybody to know, because...well...I didn't want anybody to think I was...meddling."

I think that fear still remains, Yuna-san. I think you've just figured out how to deal with it and move on.

Aihara Miki
"And now?"

Miki-chan's tone was gentle, as it always has been, but Yuna-san flinched as if struck.

Toomi Yuna
"Now...I just feel like you deserve to know the truth. M-Meddling or not."

Maki Seina
"Yuna-senpaaai~"

Miki-chan just laughed quietly while Maki-chan let go of Hina-chan and hugged Yuna-san.

Aihara Miki
"I'm not going to scold you, Yuna-chan. It's not as if you know of some dark secret - I told you about it, didn't I? - and if you did you seem to be the type to keep it anyway. Besides, it's all in the past now."

Maki Seina
"And apparently I have you to thank for helping me be happy with my girlfriend!"

Toomi Yuna
"I guess… A-Anyway, the first thing I did was distracting those third-years with a fake dog. Remember, Seina? When you were delivering your love letter?"

Maki Seina
"Huh? Wait, that was you? Wait, you know about it?! Aaahhh, it's so cheesy, though...and a little embarrassing..."

Aihara Miki
"I think it was cute. You know...I still have it."

Maki Seina
"Eh? Really?! B-But why? I thought I would have creeped you out with it, Miki-san…that you would have thrown it away as soon as possible..."

Aihara Miki
"Not creeped out, necessarily. Just surprised. And maybe a little hurt because I thought you were pushing yourself onto me - not that it was ever true. But I kept it for some reason I don't know, and now…"

Miki-chan let a shy smile spread across her face as she unzipped her purse and pulled out a small, thin wooden box. She opened it gingerly, as if handling glass, and inside…

Maki Seina
"Huh?! Is this my letter?!"

Miki-chan just nodded. In her hands was indeed a pink, crumpled, and fairly worn-looking sheet of paper that I recognized as the letter that Maki-chan had spent weeks trying to deliver.

Aihara Miki
"I've...been carrying it with me for a while. Ever since September or October of our first year together. It's my favorite possession. Sorry it's so wrinkled, though...I do like to reread now and then."

Maki Seina
"N-No! It's...it's totally...fine…Miki-saaaan~"

Now Maki-chan let go of Yuna-san and flew into Miki-chan's arms, on the verge of tears.

Maki Seina
"You should've told meee~"

Aihara Miki
"Heheh...I'm sorry. I do feel very possessive of this, even though you wrote it for me."

Yuna-san coughed. That's right; she's not like me. I guess she still isn't comfortable with seeing affection in front of her.

Toomi Yuna
"Er, anyway. We also helped with finding you a hideout."

Oh, their faces went red at that. No surprise there, considering what...memories...they have there. I pretended not to notice.

Toomi Yuna
"I have to say, finding a place for you and making you think you found it yourself was tricky."

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, I was worried you wouldn't follow my poltergeist noises."

Maki Seina
"Wait, wait. The reference room...that was you, too?! Er...how much did you see?"

Nagatani Megumi
"We didn't watch you all the time. I couldn't even go into the inner building! Besides, there were other couples to watch over."

Technically, Megumi didn't exactly answer the question, but it served as a suitable distraction.

Aihara Miki
"Er, you couldn't go into the…?"

Toomi Yuna
"Ah, I'll tell you some other time, Miki-san; it's a little complicated. I think that's basically where our - meaning my - interference stopped, more or less. The rest of the story with Sachi-san and Megumi is a long one, and I'd like to tell it in its entirety sometime."

Aihara Miki
"I see. Also...ah...never mind…"

Toomi Yuna
"Hm? What is it?"

Aihara Miki
"Oh, I shouldn't, but...now I'm just curious…who else?"

Toomi Yuna
"Huh? Who else did we help?"

Aihara Miki
"Yes. Oh, if you're at liberty, that is."

Toomi Yuna
"Well...have you checked your mail recently?"

Aihara Miki
"Eh? Y-Yes, I have, though I've been on vacation, so most of last week's mail is still sitting on my desk…I think Miyu and Matsuri sent me something…"

Toomi Yuna
"Ah, they'd be one of them. They may have sent you a wedding invitation."

Aihara Miki
"Oh? A wedding invitation?...Suddenly a lot of things make sense now…"

Miki-chan shook her hand in amazement.

Maki Seina
"Ooh! What about Ariu-senpai and Koba-san? I heard that they kissed onstage during, ah, the festival I was suspended from! Oh, I would have loved to see that…"

Aihara Miki
"Heheh...don't be so voyeuristic, love."

Maki-chan just stuck her tongue out at that.

Toomi Yuna
"Yes, them too, though that's not really a secret, is it? There are two more in my year, but I don't know if they want me saying anything, and of course, there's me and Hina."

Maki Seina
"Who confessed?"

Toomi Yuna
"E-Eh? Er, Hina did."

Aihara Miki
"Heheh...from what I heard from Miyu and Matsuri, it took you over a month to respond."

Toomi Yuna
"W-What? Ugh, they could've kept that quiet…"

Aihara Miki
"Don't worry about it, Yuna-chan. I do remember that month, too. I could tell you were beating yourself up over something."

Toomi Yuna
"M-Mm. Er, anyway, what are you two doing here?"

Maki Seina
"Huh? Oh, we're on a date!"

...What?

Nagatani Megumi
"...In a cemetery."

Maki Seina
"Oh, it sounds bad when you put it like that!"

No, I think it sounds bad no matter how you put it…

Aihara Miki
"I've come to learn that Seina's family holds a very positive outlook on...well, on about anything."

Maki Seina
"Yeah. My dad always said that death is part of life and not to dwell on it too much - that it's okay to be sad, but that it's better to celebrate who people were and not focus on how they're not here anymore."

Nagatani Megumi
"That's like my family!"

Toomi Yuna
"I-I get that, considering that two of my closest friends are both spirits, but still...a cemetery? Not everybody shares your optimism, Seina."

Aihara Miki
"That's just Maki Seina for you."

Miki-chan ruffled Maki-chan's hair, much in the way I've seen Yuna-san and Hina-chan interact.

Maki Seina
"But what about you? Why are you here? Are you here to clean something?"

Enoki Sachi
"Yes. We flew to Nagoya from Hokkaido for Megumi's, then took a train here. We're here to clean my second gravestone."

As I said that, I made sure to focus on their faces, knowing it would be an expression I would cherish for eternity. Maki-chan kind of opened her mouth slightly in confusion, while Miki-chan cocked her head as they both processed my words.

Aihara Miki
"...Your gravestone."

Maki Seina
"...Your second gravestone."

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, that's right."

...I said, purposely keeping an innocent smile on my face.

Maki Seina
"Are you going to give us any context?"

Enoki Sachi
"Probably not."

But I did gesture to the headstone that our group was standing at. Maki-chan and Miki-chan both knelt down to read it more closely, noting my name, date of birth, and date of death.

Maki Seina
"I don't get it...did you die twice?"

It was such an unexpected question that I relented and burst out laughing."

Enoki Sachi
"Hahahaha...no, no, nothing like that. My ancestral home is Hiroshima, according to Yuna-san, but my family fled after the bombings. Apparently, my first headstone was destroyed so a second was re-erected here."

Maki Seina
"...I understand that sequence of events. But…"

Aihara Miki
"It's strange to hear them with...first-person pronouns…"

Toomi Yuna
"You kinda get used to it after a while."

Aihara Miki
"I suppose...well, I guess we'll be seeing you...at the wedding, huh?"

Toomi Yuna
"Yes, I suppose so. Though, you won't see these spirits there. They'll have to go home tomorrow."

Ah...that's right. Tomorrow...we'll have to say farewell all over again.

Aihara Miki
"Oh, that's a shame. I would so love to talk to you two more about your experiences and what comes afterwards. Though, Seina, I guess this proves your family right: death really is just another natural part of life."

Maki Seina
"Mm! I can't wait to die!"

Aihara Miki
"Eh? Hahahahaha...don't say it like that!"

Laughter rang throughout the group.

Maki Seina
"Whatever! Bye, Yuna-senpai, Hina! And it was nice to meet you, spirits! ...Though I suppose we already have, technically…?"

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, it was nice to meet you in person. I hope we see each other again."

Nagatani Megumi
"Yeah! Maybe we can come back again in a few years…"

Come back…? Maybe. I hope so. If the laws of the universe will allow it.

Komano Hina
"Mm. Take care, Seina."

Aihara Miki
"Yes, we'll see you two at the wedding."

Toomi Yuna
"Mhm. See you then."

I waved as Maki-chan and Miki-chan left our plot, thinking once again how much things have changed in the last three years.

Enoki Sachi
("I guess I'm really starting to sound my age, huh?")
[8]
Yes, I'm definitely sounding like an old woman now.

Nagatani Megumi
"Maki-chan's all grown up now...it's kinda sad, isn't it?"

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, it is. I'm glad she kept the pigtails, though."

Nagatani Megumi
"Yeah, they're like her trademark!"

Toomi Yuna
"Seina's in college now, I think for architecture or some sort of engineering. She's actually at the same school as me and Miki-san. I've been trying to get her to call me Yuna-chan outside of school ever since she started coming over to hang out with Hina."

Enoki Sachi
"I don't see that happening any time soon, Yuna-san. She seems to be the type that will give her wholehearted respect to anyone that deserves it, and judging by how much you've helped her through study sessions I think you've earned it."

Toomi Yuna
"Haha...I suppose. I guess that isn't so bad. I kind of prefer having her call me senpai than being known as the Black Princess, or the White Secretary. It feels more...personal. Now I know how Miki-san feels about having titles applied to your name."

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, you and Miki-chan are quite similar in several regards. I guess when I consider it that way, I'm not entirely surprised at your surge in popularity."

Toomi Yuna
"Haahh...thanks, I guess? Anyway, shall we move on? Officially invite you back home to Earth?"

Enoki Sachi
"Yes, let's. This will be a very unique experience."