Mirrored Images

Hanako-san, Hanako-san

"Have did you know?"

"This school has seven mysteries."
Amane stood in front of the female's bathroom with a frown.
This was ridiculous. He couldn't believe he was about to enter the girl's bathroom just for some creepy rumor Aoi-senpai had told him.
"If you learn the truth behind all seven of them..."
He took a breath, shaking his head.
"Something will happen, they say."
The door creaked as he opened it.
"You don't know any of them?"
"Okay, I'll tell you just one. The most famous story."
His steps rang loudly in his ears.
"No. 7 of the seven mysteries— Hanako-san of the toilet."
Amane walked to the third stall just as Aoi had instructed him.
"She will grant one wish to anyone who summons her spirit.
But in exchange, that person will have to give up something precious."
He raises his hand.
"To summon the ghost, you knock three times..."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Hanako-san, Hanako-san. Are you there?"
He flinched at the creaking of the stall.
A gasp left him at the sight of a pale face.
Blinking, Amane stared at the now empty stall.
"Oh, thank god..." He whispered, "I was just imagining it..."

"Boo."
He screeched at the voice, crashing into the stall behind him as he whipped around to face the voice.
"What the!" He swung at her, his hand going through her head.
"Ah!" He yelped, ducking to the floor, "This can't be real!"
The girl giggled.
"You're so funny," She spoke, her voice full of amusement.

He opened an eye, making eye contact with thick ankles.

He looked up, meeting ruby eyes.
A see-through body. Ghostly orbs. A really old-looking uniform.
"You're..." Amane couldn't speak, his hand clutched at his chest.
"I'm a supernatural!" she pointed to herself. "I'm No. 7 of the Seven Mysteries. Hanako-san of the toilet! Nice to meet you!"
"You're Hanako-san?!"
"The one and only!" She gave him a cheeky smile, striking a pose.
"I... No way!" the boy blinked. "Where's your bob?"
"Totally not my style!" Hanako-san grinned, tilting her head at him, "You can call me Hanako-chan if you want!"
Supernatural phenomena have their own styles?!
Amane couldn't understand what he was seeing.
"Everything else about the rumors you've heard is true. I can grant your wish for the right price."
"I didn't think ghosts were real..." He trailed off.
"Well, we are!" She laughs lightly, "You have a wish, don't you? So? Let's hear it!"
His eyes dart down.
"Maybe you should sit down... Can ghosts even get swollen ankles?" He whispers the last part to himself.
"Huh?" She followed his gaze to her ankles, "My ankles aren't swollen?"
"But they're fat?"
Hanako turned around, fading away, "I guess you really didn't want your wish granted... forget it..."
"Wait!" Amane yelled, panicked by the girl's sudden departure, "I think they're cool! You're super cool!"
"...cool?" She whispered.
Hanako turned around, a grin on her face, "I'm a cool ghost?!"
"The coolest ghost!" Amane insisted.
Something in the back of his head wanted her to be happy.
"What's your name and wish?" She asked him, a smile on her face.
"My name is Yugi Amane, and my wish is—"Amane paused, blinking, "My wish?"
"Yes, your wish, Yugi-san, you came here for a wish, right? Well, I can grant it?"
Amane looked away, "...I don't remember."
"You don't remember!?" Hanako yelled, stunned, "Why did you even come here then?"
"Honestly..." He felt his face burn from embarrassment, "I just wanted to see if the rumor was true..."
"I don't understand?"
"Aoi-senpai— my friend, she told me about your rumor, and I... I dunno, I just wanted to see if I could summon a ghost, you know?"
"So you don't have a wish?"
He shook his head.
"You know, it doesn't have to be some big grandiose thing, right?" She pushed him to make a wish.
"Huh?" he tilted his head. I already said I didn't have a wish."
"But you took the time out of your day to summon me, so... might as well take a shot and wish for something, you know?"
"I would have to think about it—besides, isn't there a cost for you to grant a wish?"
"It does," she waves a hand dismissively. It's not really that important right now. Don't worry. I won't use any steep supernatural abilities to drive up the price. I don't really care for taking more than I need."
Amane narrowed his eyes, staring at Hanako suspiciously, "How do I know that? You could easily be lying." He pauses. She could be trying to trick him, "Are you going to take years off my life? Or—"
"No!" She shouted at him, her feet landing on the floor, surprising him, "No! I don't take people's lives— let alone my clients! I would never do such a thing! How could you even jump to that as a conclusion?"
The black-haired boy flinched away from her loud voice.
He didn't understand why she got so upset.
"I don't know!" He raised his hands, surrendering, "I get it! You are not going to take precious years off my life!"