She frowned as she stared at the boy sitting in the back tables in the lunch room. He was munching his food slowly, almost as if he was imagining there were people there with him.
"Nee-san," Shinobu tapped her sister's hand, "what are you staring at?"
She followed Kanae's gaze as she realized she was looking at Sanemi Shinazugawa. Kanae looked at her sister, realizing she was talking to her.
"Nee-san," Shinobu sighed, "Shinazugawa is bad news. Why do you even talk to him anyway?"
Kanae pouted.
"He's not bad news, Shinobu! He's just... lonely."
"Mmhmm." Shinobu rose an eyebrow. Kanae sighed.
"Sanemi's... different. He isn't evil." Kanae disagreed.
"She likes him!" Mitsuri squealed, nudging Kanae with her hips. Kanae toppled, off balance. As if he was the wind, Sanemi ran forward and caught her.
"Get your hands off of her." Shinobu seethed, staring at the senior. He frowned.
"Sorry." Sanemi apologized. Kanae looked at him, her eyes filled with pity.
"Why don't you sit with us. Sanemi-san?"
Kanae beamed at him. He stared at her, shocked. Mitsuri nodded in confirmation.
Shinobu frowned.
"No."
"Shinobu!" Kanae hissed in irritation. Sanemi simply shrugged, and walked away.
"Shinobu! That was rude!" Kanae hit her sister lightly on the forehead. Shinobu laughed.
"Why don't you go sit with him, then?" she teased. Kanae nodded, grabbed her lunch, and walked over.
Shinobu was shocked.
"She's likes him- oof!" Mitsuri huffed, as Shinobu elbowed her in the gut.
...
"What are you doing?" Sanemi narrowed in his eyes on her figure. Kanae beamed.
"I wanted to sit with you!"
Without any invitation, Kanae plopped down on the bench. Sanemi sighed.
"I thought I was bad news."
Kanae blushed.
"You heard that?"
"Of course I did. I'm ignorant, not deaf." he said simply.
"I'm sorry," Kanae apologized.
"I'm used to it." Sanemi shrugged.
"So, tell me about yourself."
Sanemi laughed.
"The great Kanae Kochou, student body president, leader of the track team, and lead singer in the school's choir? What should I tell you?" he pretended to think, making Kanae laugh.
He stared at her.
Her laugh was like twinkling bells in the breeze.
"Sanemi-san? Tell me about yourself!" Kanae repeated. Sanemi looked at her again. He never really liked going into the favorites and things like that.
"What's your family like?" she asked.
Tears began to form.
Kanae's eyes widened, and leaned forward with a tissue. Sanemi pushed it away.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I shouldn't have pried." she blabbered, blushing wildly, as she picked up her tray.
"No-No. I'm sorry. It's just, hard," Sanemi sighed, "my parents and 4 siblings of mine were killed. That left my younger brother."
Sanemi choked back a sob.
"You must be lonely," Kanae sympathized.
"A little." Sanemi admitted. Kanae placed her hand softly on his.
"You're not lonely anymore."
Kanae smiled at him. He stared at her.
Had she always been so beautiful?
She picked at her food.
"I lost my parents at a young age. Me and Shinobu, we're orphans."
"I had no idea."
"Neither does anyone else." Kanae sighed.
"Why? I bet they'd help you."
Kanae laughed.
"It's not just me. I need to stay strong. I don't want charity." Kanae pushed the tray away.
Sanemi smirked.
A strong, kind girl. How fun.
"And... when they were murdered, I cried. That was the second time I cried, the first being when I was born. Apparently, I was a little ray of sunshine. So... me and Shinobu, we do our best." Kanae stared at her hands.
"If you want, I could help." Sanemi offered. Kanae looked at him and smiled.
"Thank you for the offer. But I-"
Sanemi squeezed her hand.
"I thought you said to never be lonely."
"I know, but-"
"But," he insisted, "you're lonely."
Tiny tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You're crying, Kanae-chan." Sanemi wiped her cheeks softly with a napkin gently.
"I-I- guess I am." Kanae sniffed.
Pulling her into a hug, Sanemi kissed her forehead gently.
"You're not lonely anymore, Kanae."
...
He stared at the gravestone, on his knees. There were tears in his eyes, and behind him was the entire student body, Shinobu, and Genya.
"Shinazugawa-san," Shinobu choked on her tears, "I know how much you loved her, but- it's time to leave."
"She said she'd never make me feel lonely again." Sanemi sobbed, screaming prayers into his hands.
"She said she'd never leave me! She-" Sanemi yelled, the roses in his hands breaking. Genya placed his hands on his shoulder gently.
"Brother, we'll give you a few minutes."
Sanemi stared at her gravestone. Her picture was still smiling.
"Kanae... you said-" Sanemi hit the gravestone gently, the tears falling on the green grass.
"Sanemi... I'm sorry."
As if it was the wind, he could almost feel her gentle touch on his shoulder, saying she was sorry as well.
"I-I promised you, didn't I?"
