Note from the Author!
Chapter 4 is a go! I had to take a Regents Exam on Thursday, so I wasn't able to write much on either Tuesday or Wednesday. But, I decided to not push the release date back a bit and wrote excessive Amounts on Friday and Saturday to make up for time lost. I won't let you guys down! I also just began a semester-long writing class, so that should be a good place to get new ideas (Maybe I'll hand this fanfic in as a project! :3) Also I used a (large) number of official songs in the chapter, including lyrics to one of them, so I wrote a disclaimer in the description for legal stuffs. Enjoy the party!
-{Chapter Four: A Night to Remember}-
Otonashi stood inside the school doors in the black suit Matsushita had made. He could see lights flaring and music playing out on the field. He inhaled deeply and stepped outside.
As he walked toward the field his senses were overwhelmed. All around him there were people dancing, loud music playing and lights flashing on and off in a series of colors.
"Hey Otonashi! Over here!" Matsushita called over to him, "Come join us!" Matsushita stood with Iwasawa, Ooyama, Hisako, Noda and Naoi. Otonashi walked over to the group.
"Hey guys! Great party huh?" Otonashi said.
"Well, it is the only dance I've ever been to so I can't pass proper judgment." Ooyama said while the others cracked up.
"Speaking of dances," Otonashi said, "where's TK?"
"Where do you think he is?" Iwasawa said snickering, "He's on the Dance Floor!"
The group looked over in the direction of the dance floor and sure enough there was TK busting out all his moves. He was jumping around spewing incoherent sentences like, "like an invitation to the crazy carnival!" and "One, two, here we go. Let's dance!"
"Well he seems to be enjoying himself."
"Yea, although I think he broke his neck a few times while spinning on his head. He seems to be resurrecting pretty quickly though." Iwasawa said.
"Well, you know a party isn't awesome till someone snaps their neck a few times!" Noda joked, earning laughter from the group.
"It is an awesome party," said Matsushita, "And it's all thanks to you Otonashi!"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well if it wasn't for you, none of us would even be here! We'd all be waiting to reborn into barnacles or something." Iwasawa said raising her cup, "To Otonashi!"
"To Otonashi!" the rest of the group said. Even Noda said it and lifted his cup, although he didn't look too happy about it.
"Heh, it was nothing, really." Otonashi said blushing.
"Hey Iwasawa, it's almost time for us to perform!" Hisako exclaimed, "We'd better go get ready!"
"Alright, sounds good." Iwasawa replied, "Hey Otonashi!"
"What's up?"
"You should go find Kanade; you'll both want to be here for the show."
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Trust me," Iwasawa said with a wink, "You both need to hear the new song!" With that Iwasawa ran off with Hisako.
"Well, that was a bit vague," Otonashi said, "I was going to find Kanade soon anyway. Any of you know where she could be?"
"…Hey dude…Look behind you…"
"Oh! Hey Kana-"Otonashi's said, his voice falling as he saw Kanade.
She wore a light pink, pleated, strapless dress, with a blue bow hooked onto the top. She also wore another small blue bow around her neck. Her hair was in its' usual fashion, but had slightly more volume than normal.
Otonashi was completely speechless.
"Heh, We'll go help Gildemo with the prep. Enjoy the night you two." Matsushita said with a wink, and left with the rest of the group trailing behind him.
"…H-hey Yuzuru, h-how are you?" Kanade said, her voice quivering.
"Uh…good…you?" Otonashi was still in awe of her.
"Umm… Fine, I guess…"
"You look great," Otonashi said, breaking out of his stupor, "did Matsushita make that for you?"
"Y-yea… He didn't have to go through all this trouble for me though…"
"I'm sure he didn't mind, and the dress looks perfect for you! It makes you look very… angelic." Otonashi said with a small grin.
"R-really?" Kanade said, suddenly becoming excited, "Thanks Yuzuru!"
There was a pause between the two of them. Come on just ask him already! Kanade yelled at herself in her head. "Y-Yuzuru …"
Suddenly the lights began to dim. A guitar riff began to play from the direction of the stage.
"Oh! It looks like Gildemo is starting!" Kanade said "We'd better go over!"
"Huh? It sounded like you wanted to tell me something. What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing! I'll tell you later…"
"Uhh… Ok then." Otonashi said quizzically. "Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! Iwasawa said they were preforming a new song, and that we needed to hear it."
"Well, we'd better go over then! C'mon!" Kanade said dragging Otonashi along.
The Guitar on stage quickly escalated, playing the introduction to "Alchemy." As the song continued the crowd got more and more hyped up. Iwasawa was rocking the vocals and guitar! Lights flared and smoke was everywhere. The band didn't stop there though. They played other songs like "Crow Song," "Run with Wolves," and "Rain Song." Yui even got up on stage and sung "Thousand Enemies."
Yurippe sat on the fence on the edge of the field, watching the performance.
"Hey, care if someone joined you?"
"Heh. Sure, come join me Matsushita."
He walked over to the fence and leaned on it. "Great night to have a Party, huh?"
"Yea, it's pretty nice," Yurippe said looking up at the sky, "Thanks for making the suit and the dress for me."
"No problem! After making and fixing my SSS uniforms for the past few years, I seem to have developed a knack for sewing."
Yurippe laughed, "Well we all have hidden talents don't we?"
"Yea, I guess. Do you think that the Operation will work?"
"Well, it should! It's not like it was even that hard! All we had to do was push those two a bit. Operation Adam and Eve can't fail!"
"Why did you call it that again?" Matsushita said groaning.
"Because it sounds awesome!" Yurippe said laughing.
"You have a weird sense of humor, don't you?"
"You should know me by now Matsushita! I am one of the strangest, most badass rebel you will ever meet," Yurippe said as she jumped off the fence, "Now if you excuse me, I have a little operation I have to conduct myself."
"Uh, ok then. See you later then Yurippe" Matsushita said.
"Bye!" Yurippe yelled as she ran off into the darkness.
As the song "23:50" ended, the stage suddenly went dark. Only Iwasawa was illuminated with a single light.
"It's time for the final song of the night everyone. This is a new song, and it's dedicated to our friends in the SSS, Otonashi and Kanade." This last remark surprised Otonashi and Kanade. What is she planning? Otonashi thought to himself.
"My Most Precious Treasure."
A piano began to play a melodious song.
"Hey Kanade…" Otonashi said, "Would you like to dance?"
Kanade froze, but her confused expression soon turned into a smile, "Sure."
She turned and held Otonashi's hands as Iwasawa began.
Whenever the tips of my clothes got wet,
I was alright just waiting for them to dry.
I jumped wholeheartedly to the sound of the water.
You taught me that; I'm not afraid anymore.
No matter how fettered I am, I can grasp happiness. That's why…
Otonashi and Kanade moved in a small circle, dancing to the ballad.
I'll go by myself, even if it looks painful,
I'll always carry on the dream I had with everyone.
Being with everyone is so nice; Being with everyone was so wonderful.
But when I woke up in the morning, no one was there.
Even if I don't turn around anymore, I know I won't see anyone's reflections.
Only the puddles were shining.
Living is the same thing as fighting.
If I understood that, I would have only the courage to advance onward.
Kanade slowly leaned her face into Otonashi's chest, the dance turning into a hug. They stopped moving in a circle and slowly began to sway back and forth.
I'll go anywhere, you all know that.
I'll show you all that I can grant your dreams of happiness.
Even if I'm separated from everyone, no matter how far,
I'll be born with the new morning.
Kanade lifted her face up and looked at Otonashi, her eyes filled with tears.
I'll go by myself, even if I'm on the verge of dying,
I can hear your voices; I mustn't die.
Even if it looks painful, even if I'm locked in darkness,
Deep in my heart the light is burning.
Time changed as it ebbed and flowed.
I can't remember what happened anymore but,
If I try and close my eyes I can hear everyone's laughter.
Somehow that's now my most precious treasure.
Otonashi looked into Kanade's eyes. His were filling up with tears too. As the last notes of the song played they stopped dancing and just looked into each other's eyes.
When the song ended, the crowd cheered loudly and clapped. Kanade and Otonashi just continued to stare into each other's eyes. "Kanade…" Otonashi said, "Can I show you something?"
"Y-yea…" Kanade said wiping away tears from her eyes.
"C'mon!" Otonashi said, leading Kanade towards the school.
Otonashi pushed open the door to the roof. Kanade quickly followed behind him. Otonashi walked over to the railing.
"This is my favorite place in the entire school. You can see everything from here."
"It one of my favorite places too," Kanade said, "it's right in the center in the school area, but it just seems so distant from the rest of the place. It's like you can just forget the rest of the world up here. I've spent many nights up here just gazing at the stars." She slowly moved towards Otonashi, joining him over at the railing.
"Yea, it's a great place." He looked up at the twinkling sky, "It sure is a nice night out too?"
"It's a perfect night." Kanade said, "Just like always."
Kanade looked around the roof and spotted a cylindrical object over near the corner, "What's that thing over there?"
"Hmmm? Oh, that stupid thing? I think Noda is trying to make a trap or something there. Why he would make one now is beyond me. He'll probably just set it off himself like he always does."
Kanade started to laugh. Otonashi laughed along with her. Soon their laughter died down to silence.
Kanade's hair swayed in the wind. "Yuzuru …"
Otonashi looked over at Kanade. She had tears in her eyes. "Huh? Kanade, what's wrong?"
"…I'm just… so happy." She said her heart pounding. "I'm glad we're here in this world! I'm glad I get to spend more time with you Yuzuru! I'm glad because… because…"
Before she could say another word Otonashi leaned in and kissed her. Kanade could feel the warmth of Otonashi's lips against hers. She slowly put her arms around Otonashi's neck as she lost herself in his embrace.
"I love you." Otonashi said, completing Kanade's sentence, "I love you Kanade." Kanade was dumbstruck.
"I-I Love you too Yuzuru!" Kanade said, her voice filled with happiness, "I want to be with you forever!"
"I don't think that'll be a problem" Otonashi said and kissed her again.
Yuzuru loves me. Kanade thought, Yuzuru loves me! And I love Yuzuru!
~End of Chapter 4~