~~~~~~~~~~Toomi Yuna~~~~~~~~~~
It was time. I could already see the lanterns from high up on the path leading down to the beach. Toronogashi...seeing off the spirits.
It was time for Megumi and Sachi-san to go home.
Toomi Yuna
("Haahh... It was a fun three days.")
It truly was. Catching up with my friends, saying some things I had wanted to say to them...I thoroughly enjoyed the borrowed time we had together. The night before, after flying back to Hokkaido, we had explored the surrounding areas to watch the various Bon dances. Megumi and Sachi-san were very enthusiastic about them, but part of me thinks it's because these dances are known as great matchmaking events and they were probably hoping to find more yuri couples. Hina and I even partook in some of them, me only after ingesting a little alcohol (though not as much as I did the first night). I had fun even doing that, despite myself.
And this last day…
Enoki Sachi
"Thank you again for this, Yuna-san."
Toomi Yuna
"Mm. It was nothing."
It wasn't anything. It really wasn't. My two friends...I'd do anything for the two of you.
Nagatani Megumi
"It wasn't nothing! You brought back my family...and we got to have more fun with you, Yuna. Today, especially. It...it was like just hanging out after school."
Yes, for our last day together we had decided not to plan anything. The four of us had just gone out to the surrounding towns together, doing whatever we wanted and eating whatever looked good.
Toomi Yuna
"It was. In fact, I don't think I've ever really done that with any of my human friends."
Nagatani Megumi
"No, you're certainly not the type to waste time doing meaningless things like that!...Haahh...it's almost time to go. I promise: this time I'm not going to cry. I know we'll see each other again."
Toomi Yuna
"Heheh...that's good. This is certainly not a farewell - it's another 'see you later' sort of thing. Maybe someday you can come back again."
Enoki Sachi
"Yes, perhaps. I'd like that. Maybe when you graduate from college, Hina-chan."
Nagatani Megumi
"Ugh...that'll be so weird! Yuna'll have to be a functioning adult member of society."
Komano Hina
"Me, too. I know Yuna-nee can do it. Me, I don't know. I won't be able to wear tracksuits anymore…"
Enoki Sachi
"No, Hina-chan, you could try to become a coach. Then you could make tracksuits a required uniform."
I chuckled inwardly at that thought. Yes, I could definitely see that happening. If Hina received so much attention from her upperclassmen, who knows how much admiration she'll draw from her students.
Nagatani Yuki
"Megumiii!"
We turned to see Megumi's father hurrying to catch up with us. Behind him, Granny looked on and waved. Earlier, they had said their private farewells to Megumi and Sachi-san, mentioning how they knew their lives were ending and that it wasn't as important to have an extended goodbye as it was for me and Hina. Especially me.
Nagatani Megumi
"Hm? What is it, Papa?"
Nagatani Yuki
"Haah…haah...good, I made it here. I just want you to know, your mother and I will remarry."
Nagatani Megumi
"Eh?! Really?!"
Nagatani Yuki
"Mhm. Again, nothing's changed in our love for each other, but...somehow it seems right to be legally bounded when we pass. She's decided to move in with me, and we'll spend the last years of our lives here on the farm."
Nagatani Megumi
"Snif...Papa~..."
I watched as Megumi gave her father one last hug, and turned, smiling at her mother. I felt a familiar clutch at my heart, but seeing the Nagatani family's acceptance of death and its real meaningless in the grand scheme of things helped me find my strength.
Nagatani Yuki
"Heheh...depending on who passes on first, we'll greet the other, right?"
Nagatani Megumi
"O-Of course! Though, I think Mama should come first. You'd be too lazy to get up and greet her if it were the other way!"
One last jibe, then.
Nagatani Yuki
"Perhaps. ...Haahh...go on, now, Mimi. We'll see you soon."
Nagatani Megumi
"Mhm...bye, Papa. I love you."
Nagatani Yuki
"And we love you, too. Now go. Go be with your friends."
Yuki-san walked back up the path, allowing the four of us to continue on our way down.
Toomi Yuna
"Well...shall we?"
Enoki Sachi
"Yes, let's get moving."
I gripped Hina's hand as Megumi gripped Sachi-san's, both actions completely natural to the four of us. Somehow, as we got closer to the beach, I felt in my heart our time together ending. Somehow, I knew that at midnight I would have to say goodbye again.
Toomi Yuna
("Mm. I'm not going to cry, either.")
No, I'm not. Of course, I'll be hurt. I'll miss my friends all over again. But I can find comfort in knowing that they're up there, waiting for me, watching over me. Maybe I'll see them in five years, maybe I'll see them in fifty. Regardless, I'll always be thinking of them. In that sense, we won't really be separate; not really. They'll always be a part of me.
Nagatani Megumi
"Hmm...let's just sit here."
She gestured towards an area of the beach that had managed to support some grass. Without saying anything, the four of us got onto our backs in a cross formation, our heads on the inside so we could still talk with each other.
Komano Hina
"Wow...the sky's so clear."
Enoki Sachi
"Yes. I've always noticed that the stars shine brighter at the end of Obon, and that the tug home feels stronger. I could always sense them, even if there were rainclouds on this day."
Nagatani Megumi
"I've always thought that each one's like a friendly spirit, welcoming you home!"
Toomi Yuna
"It must be somewhat true, then. I wonder how many of them are watching over me…?"
Enoki Sachi
"Heheh...in your twilight years, Yuna, you'll find that Megumi and I will be among them."
I felt my heart warm towards those words. Yes, I'd like that. I'd like that very much.
Komano Hina
"What's the afterlife like?"
Enoki Sachi
"I'd rather not say. It's...really quite indescribable. Enough so that you must really experience it for yourself. Besides, if I tell you now, then there will be no great mystery in your life anymore."
Komano Hina
"Mm...okay."
Nagatani Megumi
"Concentrate on your life, Hina-chan! Make sure you take care of Yuna, and make sure she takes care of you!"
Toomi Yuna
"Come off it, Megumi. You know I'll always be there for Hina."
Nagatani Megumi
"Maybe so, but it's my duty to remind you!"
Toomi Yuna
"Haahh...whatever you say."
We lay there for another few minutes, before…
Nagatani Megumi
"Yuna?"
Toomi Yuna
"Yeah, Megumi?"
Nagatani Megumi
"There's a package for you on the kitchen table. Open it after you get home, okay?"
Toomi Yuna
"Huh? For me? What is it?"
Nagatani Megumi
"Heheh...you'll see."
Toomi Yuna
"Hmph…"
I let it slide. I was in too good a mood to let anything bother me. What a peaceful night it was. We drifted off into silence, lost in the vastness of the great beyond. I drank in as much of my senses as I could - the different timings of my friends' breathing, the gentle splashing of the waves, and the wind along my face. I willed time to stop, hoping to stretch the moment into eternity, but…
Enoki Sachi
"...It's time."
Toomi Yuna
"...So it is."
Somehow, despite not carrying my phone or my watch, I could feel it in my heart. Midnight had approached, and now Megumi and Sachi-san must return home. With a heavy but steady heart, I stood, pulling my three friends up.
Komano Hina
"Megumi-san, Sachi-san, you're glowing."
Enoki Sachi
"Yes, it seems we are. I also feel...light. Like air."
Nagatani Megumi
"Like we're spirits again! But it's...different."
Enoki Sachi
"Yes...I still have control over my senses. Heheh...another mystery of the universe. Perhaps we could leave this one unsolved."
The two spirits walked towards the ocean, drawing surprised and awed gazes from the various onlookers. Hina and I kicked off our shoes and socks, rolling up the legs of our pants, wading into the warm water, but Megumi and Sachi-san merely kissed the surface, as if walking on solid glass. A few meters in from the shore, they turned.
Enoki Sachi
"This is where we part, Yuna-san."
Toomi Yuna
"Mhm."
I could feel that, too. My heart felt weighted down with the desire to hang on to them just a little longer, yet inexplicably light with knowing that they'd be waiting for me at the end. I took each one of them in a tight hug, mentally bracing myself for their departure.
Toomi Yuna
"Megumi, Sachi-san...I love you both. You two will always be special in my heart."
Nagatani Megumi
"Heheh...of course we are, Yuna."
But she said it with a gentle smile almost unbecoming of her that for once I couldn't think of a comeback.
Enoki Sachi
"Yes. You are special to us, too. You, too, Hina-chan. I only wish we had more time to get to know each other."
Komano Hina
"Mm. But if you're Yuna-nee's friends, you're my friends too. And...we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other"
Hina. So straightforward and honest.
Enoki Sachi
"Heheh...that's very true. But the two of you...live long, happy lives. We'll be friends forever - there's no need to hurry and see us."
Nagatani Megumi
"Yeah! The next time we come back, I want to see both of you living up to your true potentials!"
The next time…?
Toomi Yuna
"...I'd like that. Thank you Megumi, Sachi-san. Take care."
Enoki Sachi
"Yes, we must be off now. Take care, Yuna-san. Take care, Hina-chan."
Komano Hina
"Mm. Bye bye. It was nice getting to know you better."
Nagatani Megumi
"Yeah. Bye, Hina-chan. Bye, Yuna. See you later."
"See you later"...that's what we said last time, too. And it came true. We'll see each other again.
Toomi Yuna
"Yes...see you later."
As the kindred spirits turned away, walking off to where the hundreds of lantern boats sparkled in the moonlight, I kept my head high and my chin up. The smile on my face was natural as the two spirits slowly disappeared into the lantern light. Then, slowly, they glowed brighter, and their figures less pronounced.
Toomi Yuna
("Safe travels...to wherever you go.")
Then, finally, the light faded, and they were gone.
