first love / late spring

The classroom was dark, and nearly devoid of all movement save the slight shifts of Nene's slumber and the constant rise and fall of her chest.  Her remained back pressed along the cold, white walls, shimmering moonlight highlighting each of her soft features.  She was but a peach tree among the shade. 

Hanako felt the cold night breeze tangle through his hair and tickle his complexion, leaving something sweet against his pale skin.  Such a blissful moment could never last a notable amount of time, however.  Not in the world of Amane.  Not in the world of Hanako. 

☆

From the second he laid eyes on her, he knew he would attach himself to her.  Such a kindhearted, beautiful girl, only searching for returned love; it was such a pity she'd die so young. 

He had always known, right from the very beginning he knew.  There was no way some ordinary human would be able to see and interact with supernaturals so casually.  It's always said that young children and the elderly were the most sensitive to the paranormal, and yet she was neither.  Only two options had remained for her-- an exorcist or a dead girl walking.  But if she were an exorcist, she would have tried to dispose of him right away.  So, the fact of the matter remained that this girl wouldn't live past her first year of high school. 

Hanako had convinced himself for the entirety of his fifty years as a school wonder that he'd never care about the world of the living.  He had desensitized himself to death, teaching himself it was merely a natural occurrence.  He worked so hard to fossilize his sorrows, to hide them in the darkest shadows of his still, non-beating heart.  Though, quickly, he  found there was no hiding what he felt for her. 

☆

Nene always looked like she wanted to tell Hanako something, like there was some sort of fragile sentence on the tip of her tongue that would shatter if spoken.  There was always some sort of childlike twinkle in her eyes, one that'd spoken millions of words that had never left her lips.  And each time he had seen it, he only thought the same thing.  

"Please don't say you love me," he'd sigh to himself with a weakened grin.

Hanako was a creature incapable of being loved; he was a disgusting, rotted thing with a pitted heart and lifeless eyes.  He believed he was a broken, worn toy, something unable to love anyone, but feelings for Nene came naturally to him.  It frightened him, the lengths he would take for her. 

One word from her, and he'd jump off of the ledge that he was on. 

☆

Taking drastic lengths is what led Hanako to this, to a fake world in which he could keep Nene alive long enough to carry out an average lifespan.  He only needed to pose as Amane-- or rather a better, Tall Child version of his living self-- long enough so that she'd forget her memories from her true reality. 

Everything felt so perfect, and for a moment, he thought that maybe he'd want to stay too.  But he knew deep down that was an impossible desire.  

But, the fact remained, he didn't want to go home just yet. 

☆

"The guy that I like... isn't here."

Seven words.  Words that felt like a punch to the throat.  He couldn't breathe.  She was talking about him-- or rather the Hanako from the real world, and not the 'Amane' he put on as a front.  The one thing he had been afraid of. 

Sitting atop the roof with Nene, he felt like sobbing; sobbing and kicking something, anything.  An internal panic so overwhelmingly present that he couldn't do anything.  He couldn't do anything but make a measly joke about how this "guy" she had fallen for sounded like a real jerk. 

"I like him," she stated so proudly, reaching her hands to his jawline.  Carefully, she tilted his head, staring him down with determined, rosy eyes.  "So, Hanako... let's escape together to the real world!"

He could never understand why she'd choose him over fulfilling a happy, long life.  How could someone like him ever mean that much to her? 

☆

She told him she wanted to go to the moon with him, to walk to the top of the big night sky with him.  What had he ever done to warrant such care for him?

☆

Nene was a flower, one blooming in the late spring only to wither away before winter.  She was precious and dear, something Hanako needed to protect at any means.  

Her second wish.  One to go back to reality with him, and one to live there for the next ninety years.  A wish is a wish, and as much as Hanako desired to tell her to hurry and leave him, he had to give in. 

☆

Looking at the sleeping girl in the classroom, Hanako couldn't help but smile.  He slid beside her, letting his head rest on her shoulder.  He could never, ever understand how he had managed to be a priority over someone's own life.

Some part of him was glad she had chose him, glad she still wished to even associate with him after what he had done.  He would never cease to be amazed by her loyalty.

No matter, he'd assure himself he'd find a way for her to carry out her well deserved ninety years.  

Leaning down, he planted a gentle kiss to the crown of her head, stroking her silky hair back with the tender movement of his bony hand.

☆ 

A first love, and even a perfect example of the right people at the wrong time.  A romance that blossomed like flowers of late spring, and a pair of ill-fated lovers. 

They'd come this far together.

Hanako slipped his hand on Nene's, tangling their fingers together.

So maybe they could make it work.