Red Balloon

Loop

"Reiko....is gone?" The cell phone slipped out of his hands and crashed onto the floor, forming a long ugly crack on the screen.

They were going to celebrate their 3rd month anniversary today. Yet, news came that she was pronounced dead in an accident site.

Keito felt giddy, as if the world was spinning around him. He staggered to the wall and leaned on it. He thought she was just late, not expecting this to happen at all.

"No...it can't be. "

After that day, Keito sank into depression. None of his family members could make him leave his room. Its been the 8th day and all he ate were red bean buns that Reiko bought for him. They were no longer fresh but he did not care. Swallowing the last mouthful of bread, he lay on bed and stared at the ceiling. He lost the spirit to live. He did not even bother attending school as the empty table a few feet away would send a nausea feeling to him and he would cry.

"Its all my fault...If only I offered to walk with her to the bus stop, instead of waiting for her...this would not have happened. Reiko..." He sat up and opened the bedside window. The air was cooling outside and smelled sweet from the cherry blossoms. Keito looked up into the cloudless blue sky and thought of the girl, who's smile felt like sunshine. He leaned further out, stretching out his hand.  The distance below was so far that trees looked like miniatures. "Are you up there, Reiko? Alone? Do you want me to join you?"

Then, a red balloon came floating up and stopped in front of him. It took quite a while, but he remembered. The scar was still visible on his left palm.

"Take me?" He read aloud. "You mean..you can grant me a wish?" The paper tag fluttered gently in the air, as if beckoning him to do so.

"Can you...save Reiko?"

"Can you...save Keito?"

A breeze blew through the window.

A breeze blew into the room

"Really?"

"R-Really?"

The paper tag flipped to its other side and words were written on it. Keito tilted his head to read it,

"Replacement?"

"Replacement?" mumbled Reiko.

After giving a thought, he nodded.

"Understood. Deal."

"I understand..Deal."

The sky outside turned very bright suddenly, as if the sun shone at its best. The paper tag had long detached from the string and flew away along with the wind.

"I'm coming Reiko."

 "I'm coming...Keito."

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The End of part 5

Loop

"Granting its owners wishes"