OneShot Compilation

[14] Hana and Me (Honorable Mention)

"Motto hayakuuuu!"

Kenji gasped when Midori's thin voice rang in his eardrums. Aside from the tinnitus sounds resounding in his head, he didn't really hear much to what his friend has said that he had to turn to him in askance.

"What is it now, Midori?!" He groaned, fixing his hearing aid.

"Oh! I'm sorry, did I mess with it again?" Midori's voice quickly went soft and apologizing. He now stood in front of Kenji.

"It's fine," Kenji assured him with a smile.

"Thank goodness. Shall we head home now?" Midori cheerfully fixed his black tote bag, which is oddly hanging loose on his right shoulder, and walked pass Kenji, trailing the way towards their homes.

After hours of playing soccer, Midori could finally breathe. Kenji's only the one who likes sports and he's just trying to be a supportive friend.

"Chotto matte," Kenji muttered just enough for Midori to hear and look at him.

Seeing that his friend is still standing on the same spot, looking down all weary-he already knows exactly what he wants to say that he could only sigh in defeat.

"If I say no, would you listen?"

Kenji's lips thinned, shaking his head.

"I thought so, too," Midori tittered. "Alright, but don't get caught or Fujishima-san will really kill me this time."

"Arigatō," Kenji sighed in relief. "I'll be at Ueno Park. Don't you wanna come?"

"I'd like to, but my part-time job starts at 5 PM and it's already 4:22," Midori shrugged. "Will you be fine on your own tho?"

"Of course," Kenji smiled. "Don't worry, I'll text you when I get there and when I get home."

"Alright, see you tomorrow then," Midori lifted one hand to wave his friend goodbye and Kenji did the same.

He waited for his friend to disappear in his sight before walking the way to his left. He could feel his heart racing with each pace. He shouldn't be really going to Ueno Park just yet. The incident might have happened a year ago already, but for Kenji, it felt like yesterday.

He knew the consequences too well; however, the emptiness he's feeling each day passes is slowly killing him, so he decided to take risks this time-for the first time-finally.

"Oh! I'm sorry," Kenji gasped when he accidentally bumped into a lady and almost cringed back to see a familiar face with her red floral kimono.

"Well... well... well..." the lady started off in a sarcastic tone and the grin plastered on her face sent chills to Kenji's body. "I thought you're not allowed in places with Cherry Blossoms, Kenji Fujishima?!"

"H-How'd you know about that?"

Kenji took a few steps backwards by the lady's sudden surge even when wearing three-layered Zouri. The lady stands 5'6 to begin with while Kenji stands 5'8, so her sudden action brought them almost nose to nose.

"Ahh-" Kenji opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. He felt as though the words he's about to say kept evaporating on the tip of his tongue.

The lady stared at him directly in his eyes, seemingly reading what's going on inside his mind. He thought she's gonna say something, but didn't. She only heaved a deep sigh, turned to her heels, and left as if nothing happened.

"A-Ann," finally, Kenji said her name. Although she heard him, she only raised a thumb up and continued walking away.

Kenji couldn't argue. Ann abhorred him because of what happened to Hana: her best friend-at least, that's what he thinks. He haven't really talked to her before.