Keep on living dear

Chapter 19

Yashiro woke up suddenly to the sound of shuffling in the darkness.
Rubbing her eyes, she moves her head away from the plastered walls and sits up. It wasn't particularly a comfortable way to sleep however, she couldn't resist her exhaustion and she was desperate to see Hanako return.
Yashiro:"Hanako kun?"
Hanako:"Y-Yashiro!?" He holds his hands behind his back.
"How come you're still here!?"
Yashiro:"Because I was worried since you hadn't come back after you said you would." She walks up to him.
Hanako:"I-is that so?" He stutters, diverting just eyes.
Yashiro:"Why did you take so long?"
Hanako:"I was busy."
Yashiro:"If you're busy, say so! You said you'd be back so I assumed it'd be an hour or something but-"
Hanako:"What is it?"
Yashiro growls softly before attempting to snatch his arm.
Hanako:"Hey!"
She gets a hold of it.
Hanako:"There's nothing in my hand, see?" He unrolls his fingers so that his hand is laid out flat proudly. "You thought I was hiding something from you didn't ya?"
Yashiro:"E-explain." She says tearfully.
Hanako:"Huh?"
Yashiro:"Don't play dumb!" She hits her head on his.
Hanako:"ITA! What was that for!?" He puts his hand atop his head that's now throbbing.
Yashiro:"Gotcha." She replies once his sleeves roll down.
Hanako:"Yashiro I-"
Yashiro:"Where did...all of this come from?" She's horrified at the purple and blue bruises that encircle his arm.
There are slashes too: deep and nasty as if someone took their time cutting them open-in no way could they be accidental. If it went slightly deeper, you may as well say his arm would be cut off completely.
Yashiro:"Tell me..."
Hanako:"Yashiro-"
Yashiro:"Don't lie to me." Her eyes gloss over, and her hands are shaking.
He sighs.
Hanako:"I got in a little fight, yeah a fight with Tsukasa."
Yashiro:"But I thought you were stronger than him so how did you get all of this? Not to mention some of these bruises look old."
Hanako:"Come on Yashiro, it's not a big deal."
Yashiro:"Why!? It should be!"
Hanako:"It's nothing new to me..." He whispers while shrugging.
Yashiro:"Hanako kun."
He's right. It's nothing new to him and that's exactly why it's wrong.
Yashiro:"Then we need to do something about it." She arches her eyebrows and storms towards the door.
Hanako:"Wait, where are you going!?" He grabs her hand, halting her.
Yashiro:"To talk to Tsukasa kun of course!"
She pouts.
Hanako:"Pfft."
Yashiro:"What is it?"

He begins to laugh, he just can't hold it back, not with seeing that face expression of hers.
Yashiro:"It's not funny! Now let go."
Hanako:"Sorry." He sniggers.
He pulls her into him.
Yashiro:"Hana-!"
Hanako:"Are you trying to stick up for me?"
Yashiro shuts her eyes.
There is no way he doesn't hear my heart. No way.
Every heartbeat is clamorous to the point that it's the only thing she could focus on.
Yashiro:"Mm."
Hanako:"Cute." He smiles shyly.
Yashiro:"C-C-Cute!? She flushes and pulls away, ready to lecture him about not taking this seriously, until she sees that his face is fully flushed too.

Hanako:"What should we do then? No one could come pick you up at this time. The shounen isn't around is he?" He tilts his hat and stutters.

Yashiro:"Come on." She takes his hand.

Hanako:"Where are we going?"

Yashiro:"The infirmary. Tell your haku joudai to help us get in." She tugs his sleeve.
"And don't tell me it's fine."

Hanako:"It can't be helped." He shakes his head with a surrendering smile.
...
Yashiro:" I'm not a professional when it comes to treating injuries but I'll try." She says holding him by the hand and patting his arms with a damp piece of cotton.
"Hanako kun you always like to worry me all the time and I can't keep up."
She begins to bandage him up.
Hanako:"Yeah?"
Yashiro:"You do."
Hanako:"Sorry about that." He rolls his sleeves back down. And thank you." He smiles.
Yashiro:"O-of course, you're my friend after all." She folds her arms.
Hanako:"So... do you want to ask Tsuchigomori sensei to sleep in the library?"
Yashiro:"Eh? But what will you do?"
Hanako:"I'm planning on going for a walk, the moon is beautiful tonight after all ." He turns to the window.
Yashiro:"A walk?"
Hanako nods.
Yashiro:"Can I...come?"
Hanako turns back to her.
Yashiro:"Unless you don't want me to!"  She presses her fingers together.
Did I make that sound like a-
Oh no! Is that why he's staring at me like that?
Hanako:"Sure." He stands up and puts his hand out.
Yashiro:"Ah." She says bashfully taking his.
He intertwines his with hers and holds it tight.
Yashiro:"Wha-!?"
Hanako:"Just for today, until we get to the roof...please?" He says diffidently.
"It's dark so-"

What's with him being so childish today?
Yashiro:"Okay." Her face fades hot pink.

Staying in silence, the two trot down the silent hallways.
Cold.
His hands are freezing
Which is expected but its a clear reminder that he's long perished away.
In contrast, she's self conscious about whether her hands are sweating due to her nerves.

Hanako:"We're here."
They climb up the short ladder leading to a higher level so that they could get a better view of the sky without any periphery like the school gate.
He didn't have to climb but he wanted to ensure she didn't slip.

Hanako:"It's beautiful isn't it?" He says as she sits down next to him, their knees up to their chests.
Yashiro:"Mm."
Hanako:"I wanted to go so bad."
Yashiro turns to him.
Hanako:"-To the moon, so when you offered to take me there, I actually felt a little bit happy."
Yashiro:"Hanako kun."
Hanako:"But I know it's impossible."
Yashiro can't respond.
It is impossible for someone dead and It can't be sugarcoated.
Hanako:"I remember, up until I was around 6 I'd wish to go to the moon every tanabata festival."
Yashiro frowns.
Hanako:"It's a bit sad, I know but I'm sort of glad that I died."
Yashiro:"Why?"
Hanako:"Because, it helped me stray away from such dreams. It was like a wake up call and also because, I got to meet you."
Yashiro:"Me?"
Hanako:"It's the first time I-" He stops.
"I imagine if I had met you then, you would have been my solace when I was alive."
Yashiro:"No way, I'm not that amazing to have something like that said about me." She holds her face.
Hanako:"You would have been though. I know that for sure."
Yashiro:" I don't deserve to be told that." She says sombrely.
Hanako:"You do."
Maybe to him that doesn't sound like much but I know some of the pain he went through when he was alive so how could he give me such an honourable title?
Yashiro:"Ne Hanako kun."
Hanako:"Hmm?"
Yashiro:"Can I make you a promise?"
Hanako:"A promise?"
Yashiro:"Yeah."
Hanako:"That's fine but what is it?"
Yashiro:"Up until I die or if I live-" She starts.
"I'll protect you."
Hanako:"What's with that?" He giggles.
Yashiro:"Because you always protect me so I need to repay you somehow otherwise, it's unfair.
Hanako:"Right." He smiles, sticking his pinky out.
Yashiro loop hers around his.

Yashiro:"But really, there's stuff I wanted to do if i'd lived." She says dreamily staring at the sky.

Hanako:"You wanted to get married in a Snow White dress right?" He laughs.

Yashiro:"You remember that out of everything else!?" She covers her face in embarrassment.

Hanako:"Uh huh."

Yashiro peeks through the gap between her fingers.

Hanako:"You're hiding?" He takes her hands away from her face.
"Why?"
He smirks.

Yashiro:"It's embarrassing!"

Hanako:"I don't think so."

Yashiro:"That has to be a lie, I'm sure you're laughing in the inside aren't you? It's childish and stupid!" She covers her face again.
"I was lost in the moment and to get my point across, I had to-"

Hanako:"You think I'm laughing on the inside?"
He says leaning his face close to hers and pulling her hands away for a second time.

Yashiro:"Hana-ko?"

Hanako:"That's not funny to me at all. Why not?" He leans in closer so that his head touches hers.
"I don't think it's silly, Yashiro."

Yashiro blinks in disbelief.
He's, he's going to-!
She squints her eyes.

All it takes is one more inch of movement:
Just 3cm apart.

Hanako:"You're dangerous." He takes his forehead off hers and looks away.

Yashiro:"Huh?"

Hanako:"Tsuchigomori sensei wouldn't mind if you stay in the library. He'd be annoyed at first but he'll give in. Let's go!" He smiles, standing up.

Yashiro:"Oh, s-sure."
It was my imagination.
But now my heart is making a racket again!
Hanako you idiot. Why are you so confusing?

Hanako:"Come on. Tomorrow is Thursday isn't it? Two days until you go on break? Perhaps you could have one more comfy sleepover before you go, instead of one in the bathroom."

Yashiro:"Right..."