A/N: Okay so it has been a loooong time since I've picked up this story. But then, not too long ago, I realized I had accidentally given it a mature rating...oops. Hopefully I've fixed it and I will try to continue and complete the story. Sorry it took so long.
Several years had passed and Yuri and Otonashi had grown closer. Although, Yuri had gotten quite annoyed at how long it was taking. It made things easier when Yuri's parents began letting her go to a public school. Otonashi was put in a higher class than her, but she made sure to approach him every day at recess.
Through the time they spent together she began to notice little things that had changed about him now that he was reincarnated. He was a little more reserved than he used to be, almost shy. He also now had an insane love for spicy foods, and Yuri had a feeling she knew why. Other than that, it was the same old Otonashi that she was friends with in the afterlife. The two of them were ten years old now, and every day they would meet out at the park where they first met.
"Yuri? Yuri can you hear me?" Otonashi snapped his fingers in front of her face. Her mind had wandered again, trying to think of ways to find everyone else. "You've been out of it all day. Is something on your mind?" Yuri sighed. Otonashi had been this way since the day she met him. He always cared about other people.
"No no, I'm fine. Just tired." That was more of a half lie. She really was tired, she just couldn't tell him about the others yet. That was another thing she was worried about. How was she going to get him to remember? Would something trigger a memory? Maybe he'd have to be the same age he died to remember. Or maybe he'd never remember at all. Either way, she couldn't risk telling him and have him leave. She didn't want him to think she was crazy.
"Well, okay. Maybe we should head home and get some rest then. It's getting dark anyway." Otonashi stood up from the bench, and Yuri climbed down from on top of the jungle gym. "Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No I'm fine," Yuri sighed, "I don't live far from here. Meet here tomorrow at the same time."
"Okay." Otonashi began walking the opposite direction, but turned. "Oh, I almost forgot. Can I bring a friend of mine tomorrow?"
Yuri was too tired to turn around. "Sure, whatever. I don't care."
"Okay. See you tomorrow!" Otonashi yelled as Yuri had already walked far ahead.
The next day went by extremely slow for Yuri. Slower than school normally went for her. Going to school without the fear getting obliterated felt nice for a while, but then it just got boring. The teacher stood at the front of the class teaching times tables. Yuri inwardly groaned. This was one of the downsides of remembering your past life: having to go through another ten years of classes you already took.
Before she knew it her head was down on her desk, and she was fast asleep. She dreamed of the afterlife world, and the school that existed within it. She didn't know why, and couldn't explain the feeling the dream gave her. Almost like being home for the first time in years, and a longing to return. She hadn't realized how much she missed being there, carrying out operations with her friends. She missed them more than anything.
"Yuri, are you okay?" A loud voice pulled her out of her sleep. The teacher stood in front of her, a concerned look on his face. "You were crying in your sleep."
"I'm fine." Yuri nodded sheepishly. How could she cry in front of her whole class. She was so embarrassed.
"Are you sure? Should I send you to the nurse?" Yuri just nodded. Anything to get her out of that class. The teacher grabbed her a pass and sent her on her way. She took the long way to the infirmary, passing by the garden. It reminded her of Kanade. She inhaled deeply through her nose, smelling the sweet smell of magnolias. The cool air blew threw her hair and gave her goosebumps. She arrived at the nurse's office sooner than she wanted to.
She walked inside and sat down in one of the wooden chairs. Across from her sat another boy, his bright blue bangs covering one of his eyes. He turned his head and the two of them locked eyes. Yuri felt the blood rushing to her cheeks, but before she could look away, all he did was smile at her.
That was when it clicked. She knew that smile all too well. Was that? It couldn't be...
"Hinata." The nurse called as she came from around the corner. "Here's an ice pack for your eye. Try to be more careful next time." She scolded, handing him a blue packet filled with ice. He took it and moved his bangs revealing a nasty black eye, and placed it on. Yuri stared at him on his way out but he didn't seem to notice.
"Okay Nakamura-san," The nurse's voice took her out of her trance, causing her to jump, "Sorry to keep you waiting. What seems to be the problem?" Yuri began to panic when she remembered she didn't actually have a reason to be in the infirmary at all.
"I uh, just, my stomach hurts."
"Well that's not good. Let me go get you some water. You may just be dehydrated."
The final bell rang and Yuri was the first out of the classroom. She hadn't paid attention at all the rest of the day. Her mind kept going back to the infirmary. Had she really found Hinata? Or could it have been a coincidence? No, that was definitely him. How had she not seen him around school until then? How would she even find him again. Before she knew it, she had already arrived at the park.
She set her bag down on the bench and walked over to sit on the swing. She closed her eyes and tried to think of nothing. There was no point stressing about it. It was obvious that he goes to the same school. And he seemed to be the same age. She may just not have been paying attention. She'll just look for him tomorrow.
"Hey Yuri." Otonashi greeted her. Right on time, Yuri smiled. She opened her eyes back up and saw not just Otonashi but Hinata right behind him. She just blinked, her mouth open. "Yuri this is the friend I was talking about, Hinata Hideki."
"Hey." Hinata pointer at her. "You're the girl from the infirmary."
"Oh? You two have met?"
"Not really. She just sorta stared at me."
"Yeah, she tends to do that. That's how we first met." Hinata just laughed and turned back to Yuri.
"Anyway, like he said, the name's Hinata. It's nice to meet you." He held out a hand which Yuri took.
"What's wrong with your eye?" Yuri asked, pointing out Hinata's left eye, which was now covered with an eye patch.
"Oh, this? I just had an accident at baseball practice." Hinata hand motioned a baseball hitting his eye, adding in his own sound effects causing the other two to laugh.
"So how did you two meet?"
"I'm knew here and was put into Otonashi's class."
Otonashi chimed in, "The two of us began talking and we just got along so well, as if we've been friends forever." It took all of Yuri's strength not to smirk. Obviously they must remember each other, if only subconsciously.
The three of them talked for a few hours, trading homework answers and complaining about teachers, until finally the sun inevitably began to set. Yuri truly felt disappointed. She didn't want to go home yet. She hadn't seen Hinata in so long. As they exchanged goodbyes, Yuri spoke up.
"Hinata you should come to the park every day with us. You're pretty cool."
"Sure I'd love to." And with that the two boys turned to opposite direction to head home, pushing each other and roughhousing as if they've been friends for years. And they almost have been.
Yuri arrived home and quickly ran to her room. She dropped down to her knees and reached her hand underneath her bed, pulling out the journal. She flipped to the back, her friends names all in a row with one of them already crossed out. She grabbed a pen and her heart beat rapidly with excitement as she crossed out Hinata's name. Slowly but surely, she was reaching her goal.
A/N: Please read and review. It's been so long since I've written and actually completed a fanfiction so criticism is highly encouraged. Sorry is it seemed rushed at all. Thanks for reading.
