Broken Fragments

Chapter 52: Under the Cherry Blossom Tree

A butterfly fluttered by with the spring breeze. The flowers bloomed beautifully under the April sky. The cherry blossoms' scent filled the air. Laughter accompanied the birds' tweets as Yuuhi chased Kirika around in the grass.

Hiroto couldn't help but smile at the sight of such joyful scene. For the first time in a while, he worried about nothing.

"It's still hard to believe that she was in the brink of death about two months ago," Seiji commented, also watching Yuuhi.

"I still can't believe it either. I'm still thankful that she didn't let go," Hiroto remembered the moment Yuuhi finally woke up from her coma.

"I'll be back," Hiroto softly said to Yuuhi, leaning down to give her a peck on the forehead.

With eyes still closed as he lifted the upper half of his body away from Yuuhi, Hiroto didn't notice the simultaneous change from the kiss he left. Hoping for no other delays, Hiroto let go of Yuuhi's hand and turned away from her.

Without a warning, the hem of Hiroto's shirt was once again pulled.

Hiroto's eyes widened, overwhelmed and shocked.

He quickly turned around and grabbed the hand that pulled on his shirt. Hiroto fell to his knees as he began kissing the hand that also held his.

"Yuuhi! Yuuhi!" he cried.

Yuuhi's eyes slowly opened, squinting at the brightness of the world she hasn't been a part of in a while. She looked around to find the people she kept close to her heart standing around her with hopeful looks on their faces. Then, after slightly turning her head, Yuuhi's eyes finally found the person she had been wanting to see.

"Hiro…to," her voice softly called.

Hiroto found the sound of his name from Yuuhi's lips so beautiful that he cried more tears of joy.

"I'm here! I'm here, Yuuhi!"

Hiroto placed her cold hand on his cheek. The warmth of Hiroto's face made Yuuhi smile as a tear fell from her eyes.

Yuuhi turned to the people that surrounded her. They were all crying. Chairman Muranishi was holding Kirika in one arm and embracing Kumoi-san with the other.

"Chairman…Kumoi-san…Kirika-chan," smiled the auburn-haired girl.

The husband and wife couldn't help but cry. Their daughter was still confused, but she was happy to see that her big sister was back.

"I'm back…everyone."

The gentle smile on Yuuhi's face was everything she, and everyone else, had ever asked for.

"We ran to the hospital as soon as we heard from Chairman Muranishi, you know," Fubuki joined the conversation, hugging Seiji from behind.

As Fubuki rest her head on Seiji's shoulders, her eyes also trailed to Yuuhi and Kirika.

"Jeez. What a troublesome girl," a kind smile contrasted Fubuki's statement.

Just a few moments after, Subaru arrived to their picnic with plastic bags full of more food. The golden-haired boy dropped it off to the married couple who prepared their meals.

"Thanks a lot, Subaru-kun," Chairman Muranishi said as he flipped the yakiniku he was preparing.

"Where's Akane?" asked Kumoi-san, taking the plastic bags from Subaru.

"She's out of town for a photoshoot," Subaru answered.

Before Subaru could get cozy with the others his age, Kumoi-san asked him if he could help set up with the food. The Chairman called everyone to eat as soon as finished grilling the last stick of yakiniku. Yuuhi and Kirika held hands as they walked towards the delicious scent.

When everyone received their own plates, they sat down on the picnic blanket under the shade of a giant tree. The whole group made small talk as they enjoyed the cherry blossom viewing. The tasty food was also filling up their appetites. Silence never visited the group for they had so much to talk about.

Ever since Yuuhi was released from the hospital, she was on hiatus in the show-business. Hiroto, who returned to being an idol prior to Yuuhi's coma, couldn't completely take a break from his job. Yuuhi wouldn't let him. Seiji and Fubuki, ever since officially announcing their relationship, had difficulties with their fans at first but now, their fans fully support the two. Subaru and Akane's relationship was going so well that the group knew the couple would end up marrying each other.

"Speaking of marriage, how did the wedding go?" Chairman Muranishi asked Yuuhi and Hiroto, who went to Neko and Takumi's wedding.

"Neko-nee was so mean to me. I couldn't help she had to postpone the wedding to April because I was in a coma," Yuuhi pouted, laughing with the others after.

"Hey! I was in more pressure after you caught the bouquet, you know," Hiroto pointed out, scratching his head.

More people laughed at the thought of Yuuhi's family staring Hiroto down with cold eyes. After all, Yuuhi was Ichirou's only daughter.

"What are you saying? Do you not plan to fulfill the meaning of my catching the bouquet?!" Yuuhi asked, fists on her hips.

"Isn't it too early?!" Hiroto tried to reason out, but he knew it was no good.

Hiroto and Yuuhi have always had a love-hate relationship. They argued, but it was out of love. Most of the time, their arguments were over such small things that it was comedic to everybody else. And most of the time, they argued because Yuuhi was being a tsundere.

Everyone in the picnic laughed at Yuuhi and Hiroto until Seiji got up and loudly cleared his throat. The silence subsided right away.

"Ahem," Seiji fixed his shirt as he faked a cough.

"As you all know," the way Seiji spoke gave his audience a hint of what he was going to announce.

While Seiji spoke, he seemed to be feeling around for something in his pockets. The people with him could sense Seiji's anxiety, but his confident speaking grabbed their attention.

"I've had the support of an amazing person ever since Kirari-chan passed away about five years ago. I didn't think I could learn to move on until this person showed me all the other things in life that's worth living."

Fubuki's face blushed. Her heart thumped fast, but she liked the sensation. Her head was down, but her eyes kept glancing up at Seiji like there was a magnetic attraction.

"I know it seems too hasty…but I'm sure of how I feel," Seiji took a deep breath as he placed a hand on his shirt pocket.

Everyone kept their gazes on Seiji as he took Fubuki's hand. Then, Seiji took something out of his pocket.

"Fubuki…will you marry me?"

The wind blew the cherry blossom petals down on a scene Fubuki would never forget. Her purple eyes shimmered, getting watery. Her hand in Seiji's shook.

Everyone's eyes were wide. They were surprised, for they didn't expect such announcement. They, with Seiji, held their breaths as they waited for the lavender-haired girl's reply. Yuuhi felt nervous, knowing she'd one day be in her spot. Hiroto was aware of how Yuuhi felt because she held his hand tighter.

As a tear fell down Fubuki's cheek, a petal landed on the ring that Seiji held.

"Yes."

Seiji embraced Fubuki and lifted her from the ground. They spun around as everyone clapped in merriment. When Fubuki returned to the ground, Seiji slipped the symbolic jewelry on her left ring-finger. The couple shared a passionate kiss, their audience feeling the warmth of the couple's feelings.

Hiroto noticed Yuuhi's hopeful eyes. The sun's rays shone on Yuuhi, making her look even more radiant to Hiroto. Amidst all the feelings flowing in the air, Hiroto couldn't help but pull Yuuhi in his arms. His lips landed on Yuuhi's, surprising her. Her eyes gradually shut as she enjoyed the spark between them.

"Don't worry," Hiroto whispered as he pulled away.

"Next time, you'll be the one to throw the bouquet."

Yuuhi's whole face turned red shortly before she buried her face on Hiroto's chest. Hiroto tightly hugged the person he was sure he'd spent the rest of his life with.

The merriment didn't last long when Kumoi-san's voice cracked it.

"Kirika?" the mother called out.

All of them looked around with the only noise accompanying them was the swaying of the trees.

Before they could all panic, the sound of footsteps on the grass approached from behind.

"Seiji-nii-chan! Fubu-nee-chan! Kira-nee-chan came back for a little bit just to say congratulations!" the little girl ran up to the couple.

Everyone was quiet. Chills ran down their spine.

This time they were sure of something. They knew Kirika disappeared for a few moments and that the little girl wasn't with Hiroto and Yuuhi. All the things Kirika had ever said about 'Kira-nee-chan' flashed back in their minds.

"Hiro-nii-chan!" Kirika shouted as she lifted up her arms.

Hiroto squatted down and picked up the girl, lifting her up high.

"Kirika, what are you doing here?" Hiroto asked, a smile on his face.

"We're playing hide and seek!" Kirika enthusiastically replied.

"With who?" Hiroto curiously asked.

"Kira-nee-chan!" Kirika said, pointing to the direction where she came from.

... ... ... ... ...

"Why is it that only the picture of Kira-nee-chan is here, Mama?" the little girl asked the eye-glasses-wearing manager.

"She's not here, Kirika-chan," Chairman Muranishi answered.

"What do you mean?"

"You see, Kirika-chan. Kira-nee-chan is in a faraway place called heaven. There, she's looking over all of us and protecting us with her smile," Fubuki explained, having a hard time keeping her smile.

"But I've been playing with Kira-nee-chan, you know?" Kirika announced.

... ... ... ... ...

"We are dating," in synchrony, the couple said.

They received applauses from everyone who supported the couple's decision. Chairman Muranishi and his wife were the happiest among the crowds because Seiji and Fubuki were like their own children.

"Kira-nee-chan said she's really happy that they're happy," Kirika tugged on her dad's sleeve with a cheerful and enthusiastic smile on her tiny face.

"Was she with Hiro-nii-chan?" asked the Chairman, knowing that Kirika was actually referring to Kirari's twin sister, Yuuhi.

"No. She was by herself, so I stayed with her for a little bit," Kirika looked at the corner where she was, her arms embraced around the Chairman's neck.

"I'll contact Hiroto to see if he's found Yuuhi yet," Kumoi-san softly placed her hand on her husband's shoulder before she excused herself to make a phone call.

"Hey, Kumoi-san," the voice on the other side of the phone answered after three rings.

"Hey, Hiroto. Did you find Yuuhi yet?"

"Yeah, I'm with her now."

"Oh, alright. That's good, then."

"Well, I have to go, Kumoi-san. Yuuhi's waking up."

Before the former idol could say something, Hiroto hung up on her.

"Wait…waking up?" Kumoi-san thought, confused as to what Hiroto had said.

"But…Kirika saw—"

"Kasumi, come and join me on the stage," Chairman Muranishi broke Kumoi-san's train of thoughts.

... ... ... ... ...

"I'll see you later, Kirika-chan," Hiroto took a knee and patted the little girl's head.

"Aren't you going to say bye to Kira-nee-chan?" Kirika asked, her eyes still on Yuuhi.

"She's disappearing, you know."

Hiroto was taken by surprise. He quickly turned to Yuuhi, knowing that Kirika was mistakenly calling the auburn-haired girl by Kirari's name.

"Kirika! That's enough!" Kumoi-san scolded her daughter because of her unintended insensitivity.

"But, Mama—"

"Kirika! That's Yuuhi-nee-chan!"

"It wasn't…Yuuhi…this whole time," Kumoi-san muttered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

They all turned to where Kirika ran from. Under another cherry blossom tree stood a blurry, glowing figure. The rest of the apparition's body had already disappeared, but they still caught a glimpse of the kind smile they all used to see five years ago. They all froze as a breeze full of cherry blossom petals washed away the image.

It was quiet and peaceful. The group couldn't say anything for a few moments, still trying to take in what had just happened.

"She's been with us all along," Hiroto quietly said to himself, gently embracing Yuuhi.

"Kirari-nee," Yuuhi thought about the dream she had when she was in a coma.

"Thank you for everything."