Utapri Short Stories

You're not Alone - Part 2 (End)

On the fifty-sixth night of research since Eiji had left the mirror, Haruka finally figured out how to free him. But at the same time she was happy, her heart was filled with a strange and agonizing sadness. Eiji was a good spirit, she was sure of that, so the moment she released him, he would go to heaven.

She would have to wait another week to break the curse, as she could only do that at the exact moment the clock struck midnight on October 31st. She had not yet decided whether or not to tell him about what she had discovered. She didn't know if he wanted to leave or not. Doubt plagued her mind and remained that way until the eve of the fateful day.

"You've been acting weird lately... It looks sad. What happened?" Eiji asked, appearing beside her and touching her shoulder gently. Haruka was in the forest picking up some herbs that she would need to break the curse. A sigh escaped her lips and, avoiding looking at him, she decided to tell at once.

"Eiji I figured out how to break the curse that holds you in the mirror." She spoke at once, but her voice was not as steady as she wanted. "We can break the curse tomorrow, when the clock strikes midnight. The moon will be full in the sky and we will have the ingredients we need to release you at once." She explained, but she couldn't smile and he noticed it when he spied her face. "And if you set me free... what will happen?" He asked finally.

"If I set you free... You will be a free soul and... As you are a good spirit, I must help you to go to heaven." She explained by looking down and trying to hide the sad half of her heart. "You deserve to be free." She finished in a whisper and then felt his hand touch her face. She was forced to look at him and then forced herself to smile.

"Won't you miss me?" Eiji asked, but he already knew the answer. Haruka hugged him to hide her tears-filled eyes. "We don't need to break the curse. I can continue in the mirror and continue... with you." He said feeling a little embarrassed. He had grown accustomed to the girl's company and didn't want to lose her.

"Eiji, don't say that, please." She whispered in a sobbing voice. "It is my duty as a mediator and as your friend to send you in peace to heaven." And she released him slowly, avoiding looking at his face. The boy stepped forward and hugged her again, whispering, "I won't go in peace if I'm not with you."

Haruka shook her head and pushed slightly. The tears kept running down her cheeks and she tried in vain to stop crying. "Your time here in this world is over. You need to accept that and... move on." She gathered all the courage and strength she had to say that. "I can't arrest you and make you live like this..." She was forced to stop talking because of the crying.

"You won't be forcing me to do anything if it's my choice. I don't want to move on. I don't want to go to Paradise... If you are not there." Eiji closed the distance between them and held her hands in his, with the mirror under his arm. "Don't make me leave because you think you'll be saving me by doing so." He said, even if he was afraid of being selfish.

His words made her heart tighten even more in her chest, but it also made her full of joy. "I love you. I want the best for you. If you go to Paradise, you will have another chance to live. You can reincarnate on Earth or you can be an angel up there." She explained trying to convince him, as she always did with all the good souls.

"Please, Haruka, understand. I want to be by your side. I don't care about my shape or whether I'm trapped in a mirror. I want to be with you." He responded by stroking her cheek with a gentle smile. "But if you don't want me around, I can leave your life. I can leave Earth and..." But the girl didn't let him continue and pulled him close, kissing him.

"I don't want you to go." She said as she separated the kiss. "If you really want to stay, I'll be happy to be able to shelter you and... To be able to continue by your side." She whispered with a shy smile and looked away, embarrassed. "I love every moment we spend together and... I admit that I would be very sad if you left forever." She spoke at last, looking at the basket of flowers she had picked for the ritual. He nodded and smiled happily...

"So... Are you going to let me stay?" Eiji asked with an innocent look and a silly smile on his face. Haruka nodded and chuckled when she saw how happy he was to be able to stay. The girl dropped the basket on the ground and they went back to her house together. They both sat on the roof of the house, watching the moon and stars.

"Are you really sure you want to stay here?" Haruka asked, still feeling unsure about leaving him in that ghost state. "You know we can break the curse next year if you regret..." But he didn't let her continue and gave her a tender peck, which made her face flush.

"I will not regret it. I love you and I will never leave you alone." He whispered tenderly and smiled sheepishly. "It doesn't matter how we find ourselves or what plan we belong to. I will continue to love you and I will never regret choosing to remain that way." He completed and hugged her tightly. "Do you promise that we will always be together?"

"I promise." Haruka whispered, hugging him back. The two continued to live together in the forest house and with Eiji's help, her job became much easier. He learned quickly to control his supernatural gifts and thus made a more than perfect pair. Their love only strengthened and proved that it did not matter even if they belonged to the physical or astral plane, if they were together they could overcome anything.

...

~ Chapter Cover Edited by me using screenshots from the anime and the game ~

~ Story Originally posted on my Instagram: _utapri.stories