Keep on living dear

Chapter 17

"But Hanako, there isn't any other things to do that we haven't already done now is there?"

"Senpai is right."

"There is too!"

"Like what?"

"Have our own tanabata festival!"

Hanako:"Shounen, you aren't very good at cutting out, are you?" He holds his stomach and laughs as the boy tries to use every inch of creativity he has to make a tag.
Kou:"Don't underestimate me Hanako." He says with his eyes less than 2 cm away from the scissors and card-his tongue stuck out in full concentration.
Yashiro holds her card into the air, towards the light.
"It isn't perfect but..."
Hanako:"Are we ready to start!?" He puts his fist in the air.
Kou:"Finished!" He says proudly despite his tags having some jagged and coarse edges.
It's imperfect.
"It's not the best." He rubs behind his head.
Hanako:"No, it's good enough." He collects them in and shuffles them so that it's a random pick.
Kou:"Hanako, where will we hang these up though, once we make a wish on them?"
Yashiro:"Kou kun is right , the confession tree's branches are too small to support even a piece of string and won't he complain?"
Hanako:"Uh um, that's why we're gonna use the bonsai tree in the library." He says mischievously.
Yashiro:"Will Tsuchigomori sensei mind?"
Hanako:"Probably."
Yashiro:"Hanako kun." She says disappointedly.
Hanako:"Don't worry, its not like it'd be be there forever, relax!"

Yashiro:"Hmm. Just this time." She smiles.
"Since you sound responsible for once."

Hanako:"Lets go." He takes Yashiro's left hand and and Kou's right and walks ahead with them:
the starlight bounces off him from outside while streaks of light guide their a path through  a dark corridor.

Their friendship was inarguably strange-an exorcist, a ghost and his assistant; what a strange trio they were.
Maybe they were never supposed to cross paths the way they did, but none of them regretted that secretly, because their friendship was one more precious than what money could ever buy.

Hanako:"You know-"
The two listen.
Hanako:"I really appreciate you guys even though it may not look like it all the time." He mumbles as he takes them along.
Kou:"What's this all of a sudden Hanako?"
Hanako:"I'm just saying..."
Kou:"Oh."
Yashiro:"I feel the same way about you guys too." She smiles.
Hanako:"And you guys are about the best thing that's happened to me since I've been dead."
Yashiro:"Hanako kun..."
Kou:"That had to be an exaggeration Hanako." He says half-sadly.

As an exorcist, he felt guilty to have such a compliment;It's underserved.

Hanako:"It's really not...I mean it."

Kou:"Hanako..."

Hanako:"We're here!" He lets go of their hands as they enter the library.
"Tsuchigomori."
Tsuchigomori:"Hah? Why're you guys here at this time."
Hanako smirks.
Tsuchigomori:"Don't tell me you're planning to do your little party here."
Hanako:"Tanabata festival." He corrects him.
Tsuchigomori:"No.7 sama, may I ask why it's in the library?"
Hanako:"We need that bonsai tree." He points to it's 'abode' by the window.
Yashiro:"Sensei, I know it may be a bother having tags on your tree but, we'll make sure to take them off at some point." She says defensively.
I think I'd let Hanako do what he wants, only for today because I'm just relieved he's awake. So, why not be a bit childish too?
Tsuchigomori:"No, you don't have to take them off." He acquiesces.
Kou:"Spider sensei-"
Tsuchigomori:"SEN-SEI."
Kou:"Oh right."
Tsuchigomori:"Well, don't make too much of a racket because I'm busy." He gestures.
Hanako:"Yeah yeah."