Free! & Hope

HOPE 4

Free! & Hope

(Akane's POV)

Once it stopped raining, I stood up and told Haruka I had to leave at the moment before Edmichiro gets back. He simply nodded and handed over his umbrella in case if it rains again. He asked if he could escort me, but I just refused needing some time alone, he understood. I thanked and bowed from his kind offers and comfort and walked home. Knowing and thinking, what would I tell her? How will I tell her? I walked twiddling my thumbs as I hold my phone and let out a loud sigh. The moment I got home, she wasn't home still. 'Thank GOD' I thought to myself, knowing I had time to think. After leaving putting the umbrella near the coat hanger and immediately decided to take a warm bath, I started to sneeze so I knew I could catch a fever anytime soon. I lie on the bathtub and began to have flashbacks, afraid of the same situation happening again. I had to get ready to go to the hospital soon so I had to tell Edmichiro quick, I looked back at my phone to check the time and over half an hour passed from the call. I heard loud knocks on the door and it was Edmichiro, my heart raced faster than a group of galloping horses, my head was beginning to ache and I froze.

Edmi: "Onee-chan! I'm back~! OMG I have so much to tell you!" She saw me getting dressed, I stood looking at my reflection towards the full body mirror on my room.

Edmi: "Ehem! Where are YOU going?" Finally had the guts to ask 'the man' out? Or was it vice versa?" Still no words coming out of my mouth. She stood quietly staring at me.

Edmi: "Uh, Akane? What's up? Why the long face?" She looked worried, but I stood silent.

Edmi: "Uh, Okay... Fine, if you don't want to talk to me" She left towards the door out and I grabbed her arm.

Me: "I... Uh, Edmichiro, it's... its mom" She blinked changing her expression with eyes wide open.

Me: "Miss Shiro called me, they tried everything they could but..." My voice cracked as tears shed, after a moment of silence she smiled.

Edmi: "It's a shame, but... I'm glad, because I know she was suffering too much. She's, in a better place now, right?" she still smiled now with tears dropping down her cheeks. She caught me by surprise, I thought she would be upset and run out the door, but she took it maturely.

Me: "But... What are we going to do now? We're still underage, they might separate us!" Edmichiro shook her head.

Edmi: "Let's talk to Miss Shiro! I'm pretty sure she'll look after us"

Me: "But she lives so far away from where we live, we'll have to move out"

Edmi: "We can still live here, right?" I stopped to think for a minute, knowing I'm almost 18.

Me: "I guess we can, I'm pretty much almost an adult, we can still be here and let Miss Shiro take care of us, but we'll need legal rights. Edmichiro, do you know anyone you can stay with for a week at least?"

Edmi: "Oh, I can get that covered, I'm meeting Nagisa's parents this next week, I'm sure they might let me stay, if not I'll visit Daisuki" In that moment, Miss Shiro called, she said to be ready by the next day for mom's funeral. I took Edmichiro with me. Miss Shiro, Miss Amakata, Mr. Sasabe, Kurumi, Daisuki, and the boys were found once we arrived. Daisuki and I decided to do a song for her funeral, I was on vocals while she played the acoustic guitar.

(NO POV)

The song was 'I miss you' by 'Avril Lavigne', and as Akane sang, tears fell from her face, others cried along with, including Edmichiro. After a long day at the funeral, everyone was leaving except Akane and Edmichiro's friends who stayed and talked with them to keep them company. Hours later they look at the clock and it was 12pm and Edmichiro fell asleep on Nagisa's shoulder.