✅ Banana Fish - altenative ending [ENG]

Epilogue

"Eiji, where are you dragging me again?!"

"Don't ask questions, just come on!" Eiji Okumura exclaimed in response, pulling the amused New Yorker by the hand.

Ash was right. Ever since they found themselves at the airport, each new day was better than the last.

"I'm sorry!" Ash tossed left and right apologies as he tried to keep up with the Japanese.

They didn't leave for Tokyo right away. They stayed in Los Angeles a little longer, which was enough to get to know the city inside out. On the last day, they climbed the slope of Mount Lee with the world-famous word "HOLLYWOOD" on which they left their mark in the form of fanciful autographs similar to the celebrities that lived in the city below. 
After spending a wonderful week, they finally set off for Eiji's homeland. Japan from his stories was not half as unusual as it is. Ash couldn't see a culture that was so different from what he had known since childhood. Admittedly, the boy felt uncomfortable at first because of the curious glances that the locals were throwing him. He could have guessed that his blonde hair would attract the attention of the dark-haired islanders. However, he quickly got used to it, and when someone asked for a photo, he agreed with a smile. He was finally happy.

On the first day, he had the pleasure to meet Eiji's parents and sister. They were very nice to him, which in turn was not such a big surprise; Eiji was the same.
The next day, Eiji brutally took him out of bed, told him to get dressed and eat breakfast on the run.

Now they were racing along the crowded pavement, squeezing between people who, unlike them, were walking slowly, taking care not to slip on the icy pavement. Ash allowed himself to go on, ignoring that he still didn't know where they were going. The day was beautiful. Thick blankets of snow-covered city lawns and modern buildings and the winter sun reduced the feeling of coolness, giving the Tokyo people all the warmth it had. After some time, the Statue of Liberty appeared in the distance.

"Is that ...?" Ash was speechless.

"Yes!" The delighted Japanese shouted back. "Similar, right?"
Ash nodded, charmed by the copy of the New York sculpture.
"We'll take a picture together, how about that?"

Ash didn't have time to answer because Eiji had already talked to someone and asked for some photos. The photos were supposed to look spontaneous, so Eiji turned over his shoulder towards the camera. During the pose, the smile could not leave his face. Ash, seeing this joy, unexpectedly became sad.

A few flashes later, Eiji picked up the camera, thanking the old man in Japanese.

"Ash, what happened?" he asked his friend, seeing his sad expression on the screen of the camera.

The boy looked away and walked over to the railing. Eiji immediately joined him.

"Sorry to mess up our photo together," said Ash.

"You know I don't mean the photo... Ash?"

"Yes?"

Eiji reached out his hand and put it on the blonde's cheek, thus forcing him to look him straight in the eyes.

"Don't run back to the past. The only important thing is that we are both here. Together."

"Together" Ash repeated, charmed by the firmness in Eiji's voice.

"No matter what comes next. Just be with me. Body and spirit. I know it can be difficult, especially after..."

"I will," Ash interjected. "I will, I promise."

Somewhere to the side, they heard the sound of a plane taking off and the laughter of children racing along the snow-covered pavement. The noise of the waves merged with the noise of people passing by, you could feel time slowing down. Two boys stood cuddled up to each other, ready for what the future would bring.