"I might have said it before, but I want to be with you," intoned the orange-haired boy solemnly as the sun streaked down the horizon in the distance, its rays slowly bearing down on the boy.
In front of him was a small, white-haired girl, looking at him passively with great interest in his words. She was standing on the stone steps on a level above him, looking down at the baseball diamond in the distance, where a few students could be seen playing a game. At the level she was standing, her eyes were level with the boy's eyes, looking at him intently as he began to speak once more.
"It's because I…" trailed the boy off into silence, courage not coming to him momentarily for him to say the words he so longed to tell the girl.
The girl took his fumble as an opportunity to walk down the steps past him, stopping a meter away from him as his eyes tracked her progress.
"I… really… love you," the boy said suddenly, an imploring look on his face.
Without waiting for the girl to react, the boy took a big step, in more ways than one, and hugged the girl, gently cradling her in his arms, leaning her against his chest.
"I love you," he whispered once more, loud enough for just the girl to hear him.
She didn't react despite being hugged, but after a short while, she closed her eyes and a small smile appeared on her lips. She snuggled further within his embrace, and she continued to smile serenely for a short while.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" asked the boy tentatively, afraid that his actions may have ruined their current friendship. The thought of losing her caused him to unconsciously raise his voice by an octave.
"I will not accept your feelings," said the girl softly.
The boy felt stunned to his very core; his worst fears were confirmed. Right here and right now, the girl he had grown to love over time, a time whose length he didn't even have the slightest idea of, bluntly said that she was not going to accept his feelings.
In a pained voice, he asked her, "Why?"
The girl opened her eyes, still not looking at the boy, yet still locked in his embrace.
"If I accept your feelings, I'm going to disappear from this place."
Confusion punctuated the boy's facial features, as he could only ask, "Why?"
"The reason that I came here to this place, this 'afterlife'… it was all to thank you, Yuzuru," said the girl.
"What do you mean?" asked Yuzuru, still gently cradling the girl's head in his hands.
"In my life, I was able to remain living because of your heart," said the girl softly, gently placing her hand on Yuzuru's chest.
She wriggled out of his embrace, and looked at the boy in front of her.
"Even now, your heart is beating in my chest," said the girl quietly, placing both of her hands on her chest. "My reason for being here… my life's regret was that I was never able to properly thank the person who saved my life by donating their heart for my operation."
She paused momentarily, and then continued.
"I wanted to tell that person badly how much I was indebted to them. I wanted to completely express my heartfelt thanks to the person who had donated their heart to save my life. That regret was so great that I was able to enter this 'afterlife', a place originally for people who weren't able to live out good lives due to the skeletons in their closets."
"No way…" whispered Yuzuru, completely stunned and blindsided by this revelation from the girl he had grown to love. As he died in the previous life due to starvation and dehydration following a train accident, he had indicated that his organs were available for recovery and transplanting on the health card in his wallet. The odds that the person he had saved in the previous life was the person he had fallen for in the "afterlife" was too staggering to consider. Some people would like to call such a thing as "destiny", or "fate".
"But… how did you know that my heart was the heart used in your transplant?" asked Yuzuru.
The girl walked by him and said,
"I realized it when you first appeared in this world, not knowing anything. You asked me to prove that you couldn't die, so I stabbed you, as you may recall. When that happened, there was a gaping void where your heart should have been. Even now, you don't have a physical heart; that heart is beating within my chest, a clear sign of the regret that led me to this world to begin with."
Yuzuru moved to stand beside the girl, who was looking down at a pool of shimmering water that was located on either side of the wide stone steps that led down to the terrace.
"But how were you able to pinpoint that the heart you received was mine?" asked Yuzuru.
"In the infirmary, when I was recovering from an internal battle that came about from absorbing the five-score of aggressive clones that Harmonics created. While you looked after me, you fell asleep on my chest, right above where my heart is located. Your body recognized the beat of its own heart, and you recovered your memories, which you told me about the moment you woke up," said the girl simply.
Yuzuru was stunned into silence, while the girl closed her eyes momentarily, contemplating her inner turmoil. She also loved Yuzuru, and she had already thanked him. If she accepted his feelings, she would disappear. She didn't know what choice to take; to ignore his feelings so that she could physically exist near him, or to accept his, and by extension her own feelings, disappearing from this world afterwards.
In a heartbeat like that of an angel, she knew the choice she would make. Opening her eyes, she continued to gaze down at the pool of water when she spoke.
"Please… Yuzuru," she said quietly, turning around slowly to face him with a smile on her face. "Say what you told me earlier once more."
The one action Otonashi Yuzuru would not want to repeat. He knew that if he told her what he felt about her once more, she would disappear from this world, leaving him behind. He didn't want that to happen.
""N-No! I can't do that! If I do that, you're going to disappear!" exclaimed Yuzuru in despair. "Your request is leaving me in despair, Kanade!" [1]
Undaunted, Kanade pressed on in her request; to hear the feelings of the person she truly loved once more so that she could finally be at peace.
"Please, Yuzuru!" pleaded Kanade.
A wave of anguish settled over Yuzuru, his hands on his chest.
"No… I just can't do it," he spat out, a pained look on his face, shaking his head vigorously.
"Yuzuru!" implored Kanade.
Yuzuru choked momentarily, and he knew that he had no choice. Tears began to drip from his eyes, while his facial muscles involuntarily twitched due to the bittersweet direction this was headed.
"Prove it to me! I want to also believe what you always believed, Yuzuru!" exclaimed Kanade, looking straight at his eyes. "Living is wonderful, you told me. So please, let me experience what you truly believed in."
And in a fell swoop, Yuzuru was won over against his own personal desires to have Kanade stay with him in this world. He closed his eyes for a few seconds while Kanade looked at him expectantly, the tears continuously flowing from them. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes a short time later; gritting his teeth at the deed he was going to do.
"Kanade… I love you," he whispered gently, belying his fears at what he knew was destined to happen.
He moved towards her and she moved towards him, and they met in the middle, embracing each other, trying to convey the fiery love they held for the other.
"Let's be together forever, Kanade," said Yuzuru, tears pouring down his face onto her shoulders, happy that she had accepted his love and sad that she was going to disappear from this world due to that same thing.
"Thank you, Yuzuru…," whispered Kanade into his chest.
"Stay with me forever… Please…," choked out Yuzuru, dreading the moment she would disappear from his sight.
"Thank you so much… for loving me," whispered Kanade.
"Kanade, I love you!" repeated Yuzuru, the anguish breaking further into his voice, as though he was imploring the heavens not to take Kanade away from him. He felt that the more he expressed his love for her, the more that God would take pity on him and let her remain with him.
She nodded, nuzzling his chest, and replied once more,
"Thank you so much for loving me…"
The two began to slip into calling each others' names, trying to convey the love they felt through saying each others' name repeatedly.
"Please, please, don't disappear on me, Kanade!" wailed Yuzuru in despair, sobbing uncontrollably now.
Kanade didn't mind in the slightest; she was cherishing this moment, a moment that she would surely remember when she crossed over into the next life.
"Promise me… Promise me that we'll meet again, Kanade. I don't care how, when, or where, but I want to meet you again, somehow," spluttered Yuzuru.
"This gift of life that you gave me… Thank you so much, Yuzuru," mumbled Kanade, nodding and nuzzling Yuzuru's chest for the last time.
In an instant, the weight that Yuzuru was cradling in his arms disappeared, and he nearly fell flat on his face due to his awkward position. He knelt on the ground, grabbing at the air, scrabbling for any remains of the girl he had held in his arms mere seconds before, but he found nothing. Not a trace of Kanade. It was as if she never existed, as if she never was in his arms, as if he never told her that he loved her, as if she never expressed that she felt the same way.
Yuzuru breathed wildly, a glazed look in his eyes, the tears still streaming uncontrollably from them. He looked skyward and hugged his own chest, an insurmountable void opening up within himself.
"Kanade!" he screamed in despair, looking skyward to a God he imagined to be there, sitting on his throne, knowing that he took away the thing he cherished the most on this world.
As Otonashi Yuzuru contemplated being alone for eternity in this world with the loss of Tachibana Kanade, he suddenly felt light; in fact, he felt like he was light itself.
"What's happening to me?" he looked at his body in disbelief.
He was rapidly disintegrating into light, and before he knew it, everything in his vision faded to white.
"Mom, I'll go shopping for today's dinner now!" shouted Hanazawa Kanade[2] as she changed from her indoor shoes into her outdoor shoes. "We'll need basil leaves for spaghetti al-pesto, right?"
"The money for the greens is on the counter by the door Kanade-chan!" her mother called from the kitchen as she began to make preparations for kani salad as well.
"Roger that Mom!" called back Kanade as she took the cash from the counter by the door. As she stepped out of the door, the glazing heat of the early afternoon sun bore down on her mercilessly.
"Oh dear; I'm going to need something to shield me from this ridiculous summer heat," she muttered to herself.
She dashed back inside the house to grab an umbrella and a wide-brimmed hat that she placed neatly on top of her neatly trimmed hair that barely reached her shoulders. She noted that it was fortunate that she chose to tie her hair in a ponytail and wear a skirt on this hot day and set out from her house on the outskirts of the city towards the urban shopping district.
It wasn't exactly within walking distance, and to her dismay, her bicycle was in the shop for repairs; an accident the week earlier had left one of the bike's inner tubes busted. She opened the umbrella and sauntered towards the bus stop where she would take a 5 kilometer bus ride to the shopping district.
When she arrived at the bus stop, she saw that it was deserted save for a girl in a tracksuit who appeared to be steadily sweating. Kanade guessed that the girl was jogging to or from somewhere, but under this ridiculous heat? She noticed the girl's yellow ribbon affixed on top of her magenta coloured hair and immediately thought that that ribbon would completely absorb heat. The girl's hair was about as long as Kanade's and something about the girl piqued her interest; it was as though she had seen her before. Oddly, she thought that she had fought this girl before… Oh but no, that was impossible. Kanade was one of the least violent people in her school; sure, she had 1st dan in Shotokan karate but she only fought in self-defense, and ever since she put an unarmed mugger her age in his place did she actually put her skills in combat to use. She sensed that this girl would be really great to spar with, she also felt an onee-chan vibe coming from her for some unknown reason.
Shoving all these irrational thoughts aside, she looked at the girl, who caught her looking at her. The girl with magenta-coloured hair raised an eyebrow, and Kanade looked away in embarrassment.
For the next three minutes she waited for the bus, she felt the girl's eyes appraising her, staring at her, when she finally heard the low rumble of a bus headed toward her direction.
"The Doppler Effect in action," she thought absentmindedly, trying to distract herself from the piercing stare she knew that the girl in the tracksuit had on her.
The bus stopped in front of the station and Kanade got on, giving the tracksuit girl one last look before she boarded the bus. Their eyes met and instantly, both of them knew that they had met somewhere before, but neither could remember the circumstances of this event.
As the bus sped away, Sakurai Yuri[3] was wiping her sweat off, only beginning to wonder where she had met the petite girl in a jacket and skirt before...
Kamiya Yuzuru[4] was late. He was supposed to arrive at the auto-store about ten minutes ago for his shift, yet he was still at his home, hurriedly dressing up in a white shirt, a jacket with the scheme of military fatigues, and jeans.
"Damn, the chief's really going to murder me for being late on a Saturday," cursed Yuzuru.
He had woken up late because he spent the entire evening and twilight hours playing a visual novel. He only fell asleep at 6 in the morning when he was fed up with getting bad ends repeatedly due to innocuous choices such as "watching TV" or "resting and having a snack" after dinner. When he finally got his clothing into order, he left the house in a hurry without bidding goodbye to his parents, cursing the name "Matou Sakura[5]" while he took a brisk walk towards the train station that he lived near to. He had to take a short train ride to get to the shopping district, where he worked in a Mitsubishi auto-store.
Lately, he'd been getting this weird feeling that this day would be an important day in his life, a day that would have a life changing experience occur or something along those lines. As he was standing in the train, he thought about his personal life all of a sudden.
He was quite popular in his school, and he'd often get confessed to by multitudes of girls. He'd always turn them down though, because he was a believer in the single-bullet theory. He felt that his heart had been in someone else's all along, and when he met that person, he would know that she was truly the one.
The train called out his stop and he jostled amongst the other passengers, exiting the station and headed towards the Mitsubishi shop where he worked, dreading the wrath that his boss would have in store for him. He walked briskly, not taking note of his surroundings, when he heard a tune that he swore he had heard once before.
naiteru kimi koso kodoku na kimi koso
tadashii yo ningenrashii yo
otoshita namida ga kou iu yo
konna ni mo utsukushii uso ja nai hontou no bokura o arigatou
He turned to his left and saw a petite girl in a blue jacket and skirt, her angelic white hair in a ponytail, a wide-brimmed hat on her head quietly singing the song while leaning against the wall. She took her phone out from her bag and opened it.
The girl then eased away from the wall and she began to walk away, leaving Yuzuru to ponder just how he knew that song.
"My Song...," muttered Yuzuru to himself.
At that moment, it hit him; this girl was suddenly very interesting to him. He threw away all his worries for being late for work and turned around, walking briskly so as to catch up with the girl who was walking away. He reached her and extended his right hand, gently touching her on her left shoulder.
"Uh, excuse me, do I know you?" inquired Yuzuru in a gentle tone.
The girl turned to face him and their eyes met. In that instant, Yuzuru knew that she was the one, the girl that had his heart. He didn't know how that was possible, but he just knew.
A faint memory stirred within him, and he knew that there was one way to check if he was right.
"Yes?" inquired the girl timidly, looking at him.
"Can I ask you… What is your first name?" asked Yuzuru nervously.
The girl, sensing no hostility whatsoever from Yuzuru, felt that she could trust him enough to tell him her full name.
"My first name is Kanade. My name is Hanazawa Kanade. If it's not too much trouble, could you also introduce yourself to me?" asked Kanade.
Yuzuru's heart jumped in his chest; he was right, she was the one. At that moment, everything came back to him; the events of the "afterlife", his time with the SSS, and most of all, the days where he fell in love with Tachibana Kanade. Though her last name was different, he was sure that it was her. Keeping calm, he said in a steady voice,
"My name is Kamiya Yuzuru. Pleased to meet you… Kanade."
The girl's eyes grew wide and suddenly they shimmered in tears; tears that began to cascade down her face uncontrollably.
"It's you, Yuzuru. After all this time, it's you. I've been waiting my entire life for this moment, the moment where we'd meet again, Yuzuru," whispered Kanade softly.
"It was a promise, remember, Kanade?" chuckled Yuzuru.
"Yes. Yes it was a promise Yuzuru," mumbled Kanade as she moved forward and hugged Yuzuru, dropping the umbrella she held in her hands.
People began to stare at them but they didn't care; against all odds, Otonashi Yuzuru and Tachibana Kanade had met again in the next life.
"Kanade… I love you," said Yuzuru.
"And I love you too, Yuzuru," replied Kanade, tiptoeing and kissing him on the lips.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Angel Beats: Beat For You
This world is a sad, yet kind, place.
The souls of the children with regrets gather here so they can fulfill what they could not do while alive. They are given a chance to let go of their lives and pass on peacefully.
When I discovered this, I too, wondered at my existence in this world.
When would I be able to say "thank you" to that person?
When would I be able to let go of my regrets?
I waited in this world, presiding over the children who came here. I managed the rules to give them the experience they could not have while they were still alive. Because, every day, the heart inside me reminded me of my past, and my regret. My wish.
I waited, for that person.
And one day, he came.
It was fun, wasn't it?
These memories I was allowed to share with you, these moments I had with the friends you helped me make, this world, where our regrets disappeared.
It was wonderful, wasn't it?
I'm glad we were able to meet. I'm glad that I was able to fall in love with you. I'm glad I was able to thank you.
I'm glad I was able hear those words from you.
I'm glad I was able to hear you say, "I love you."
Even now, while the tears run down your face and into my hair, even as you embrace me with all your might, I'm happy. Because you were the one who fulfilled my wishes, I'm content. Because you were the one who helped me accept my regrets, so I have none.
So, don't cry, Yuzuru. We'll definitely meet again.
Because…
Can't you hear this heart, Yuzuru?
This heart which you gave me, this heart which was yours.
Ever since we met… couldn't you hear?
This heart it…
Beat for you.
Thank you.
Cars whiz by on the busy street. The girl leans against the wall, humming a tune. She can't remember where she heard it from, but it is a kind song, a warm song, a hopeful song. She leans, she waits. She's waiting, for something to happen. And as she waits, she hums.
The boy walks by. She is just another girl on the street.
But then he hears the song.
He stops.
He turns.
Somewhere, in his mind, a heart is beating.
The souls of the children with regrets gather here so they can fulfill what they could not do while alive. They are given a chance to let go of their lives and pass on peacefully.
When I discovered this, I too, wondered at my existence in this world.
When would I be able to say "thank you" to that person?
When would I be able to let go of my regrets?
I waited in this world, presiding over the children who came here. I managed the rules to give them the experience they could not have while they were still alive. Because, every day, the heart inside me reminded me of my past, and my regret. My wish.
I waited, for that person.
And one day, he came.
It was fun, wasn't it?
These memories I was allowed to share with you, these moments I had with the friends you helped me make, this world, where our regrets disappeared.
It was wonderful, wasn't it?
I'm glad we were able to meet. I'm glad that I was able to fall in love with you. I'm glad I was able to thank you.
I'm glad I was able hear those words from you.
I'm glad I was able to hear you say, "I love you."
Even now, while the tears run down your face and into my hair, even as you embrace me with all your might, I'm happy. Because you were the one who fulfilled my wishes, I'm content. Because you were the one who helped me accept my regrets, so I have none.
So, don't cry, Yuzuru. We'll definitely meet again.
Because…
Can't you hear this heart, Yuzuru?
This heart which you gave me, this heart which was yours.
Ever since we met… couldn't you hear?
This heart it…
Beat for you.
Thank you.
Cars whiz by on the busy street. The girl leans against the wall, humming a tune. She can't remember where she heard it from, but it is a kind song, a warm song, a hopeful song. She leans, she waits. She's waiting, for something to happen. And as she waits, she hums.
The boy walks by. She is just another girl on the street.
But then he hears the song.
He stops.
He turns.
Somewhere, in his mind, a heart is beating.
Kakerareru Koto
"Hey, Kanade."
Yuzuru tilted his head upwards, to the sea of stars in the summer sky. Beside him was Kanade, and beyond the cliff they stood on was the city in its bright lights.
"Hm, Yuzuru?"
"Sorry it took me so long to find you."
"It's okay. I didn't try so hard, either."
"It doesn't matter anymore, though." Yuzuri brought his gaze down to Kanade, her face and eyes brilliantly lit by the stars. "We're together now. And I'd rather cherish you tonight than worry about having you tomorrow."
Kanade nodded silently, and stepped into Yuzuru's embrace.
Yuzuru cradled Kanade's head in his hand. "Don't leave me again, okay?"
"I'm sorry," came Kanade's muffled voice. "I'm sorry, Yuzuru."
Yuzuru kneeled onto the hard soil and rested his chin on Kanade's shoulder. "It's okay, Kanade. We'll be okay from now on. I love you."
He felt Kanade's fingers grip his woolen sweater from behind. "I love you, Yuzuru," she said with a choked voice. "I love you."
Yuzuru tilted his head upwards, to the sea of stars in the summer sky. Beside him was Kanade, and beyond the cliff they stood on was the city in its bright lights.
"Hm, Yuzuru?"
"Sorry it took me so long to find you."
"It's okay. I didn't try so hard, either."
"It doesn't matter anymore, though." Yuzuri brought his gaze down to Kanade, her face and eyes brilliantly lit by the stars. "We're together now. And I'd rather cherish you tonight than worry about having you tomorrow."
Kanade nodded silently, and stepped into Yuzuru's embrace.
Yuzuru cradled Kanade's head in his hand. "Don't leave me again, okay?"
"I'm sorry," came Kanade's muffled voice. "I'm sorry, Yuzuru."
Yuzuru kneeled onto the hard soil and rested his chin on Kanade's shoulder. "It's okay, Kanade. We'll be okay from now on. I love you."
He felt Kanade's fingers grip his woolen sweater from behind. "I love you, Yuzuru," she said with a choked voice. "I love you."
Sweet Angel
Otonashi watched her with a keen interest. How could she fall asleep like that? in a situation like this? How could she reamin so calm like that? He sat at the foot of the bed, his chin resting upon the mattress as he knelt on the floor. He stared at her, just stared at her. He watched her flat chest rise and fall with steady breaths of slumber. This girl was a mystery to him. Kanade Tachibana, Angel, was a complete mystery to him. What made her tick? What kept her so collected? All he had in his head were questions about her, questions that he couldn't answer and questions that he would never ask her out loud. These were also questions that he would never ask Yurippe; she hardly knew anything about Angel to begin with so he doubted that she knew anything of this beautiful specimen's complexities and innermost desires and thoughts.
He just stared at her, watching her, intensely studying everything about her. He was memorizing her. The way her silver strands cascaded gently over tiny soulders, and the motion that her small chest made as she inhaled and exhaled. He allowed his eyes to travel along the gentle curve of her legs that were tucked beside her as she slept, propped against the wall. His trail stopped at the hem of her skirt however but hovered there for a moment, examining just how the fabrics folded along her body, and he followed the hem carefully yo see where it went.
And Otonashi caught a glimpse of something beneath the skirt. Her underwear were a light pink and although he couldn't see much of them, the color was all he needed to know. He closed his eyes, gulped a shallow breath and bound his lips tightly between his teeth. His fingers tapped against his belt buckle as he debated what to do with himself. She could wake up at any moment: this thought only made it more arousing to him and the extra room in his pants was decreasing with each second that he wasted by trying to think rationally about the situation. He ignored rationality for now and pulled his belt free from the loop that secured it to his waist. In an instant, the leather strap was on the concrete floor beside him and he was awkwardly working to unbutton his pants and tug the zipper down. His tongue ran across his dry lips, his eyes set on the petite girl sleeping only a few feet from him.
Otonashi panted and bit back and groan that caught in his throat as thoughts continued streaming in his mind like a movie that played only for him, a personal slideshow of every fantasy he had ever dreamed up, all of which starred Kanade Tachibana, the mysteriuous girl with the child-like figure and the beautiful sliver hair. His free hand gripped desperately at the sheet on the hard mettress, clawing at it hard enough to whiten his knuckles. He clenched his eyes closed, trying his hardest to make the images as vivid as possible, he needed to feel as though everything he was thinking up was really happening, he needed to put himself under the impression that Kanade would actually do these things with him, that she would be willing to fulfill everything that he was thinking up.
He relooped his belt through his pants after zipping and buttoning them up and he leaned himself against the door of the cell, his knees acting as armrests. The walkie talkie next to him buzzed with the unpleasant sound of static followed by the even more unpleasant sound of Yurippe's voice. Had she interrupted him, the moment would have been ruined and his private film would have been cut short. When Otonashi heard her voice, all desire in him disappeared completely.
He just stared at her, watching her, intensely studying everything about her. He was memorizing her. The way her silver strands cascaded gently over tiny soulders, and the motion that her small chest made as she inhaled and exhaled. He allowed his eyes to travel along the gentle curve of her legs that were tucked beside her as she slept, propped against the wall. His trail stopped at the hem of her skirt however but hovered there for a moment, examining just how the fabrics folded along her body, and he followed the hem carefully yo see where it went.
And Otonashi caught a glimpse of something beneath the skirt. Her underwear were a light pink and although he couldn't see much of them, the color was all he needed to know. He closed his eyes, gulped a shallow breath and bound his lips tightly between his teeth. His fingers tapped against his belt buckle as he debated what to do with himself. She could wake up at any moment: this thought only made it more arousing to him and the extra room in his pants was decreasing with each second that he wasted by trying to think rationally about the situation. He ignored rationality for now and pulled his belt free from the loop that secured it to his waist. In an instant, the leather strap was on the concrete floor beside him and he was awkwardly working to unbutton his pants and tug the zipper down. His tongue ran across his dry lips, his eyes set on the petite girl sleeping only a few feet from him.
Otonashi panted and bit back and groan that caught in his throat as thoughts continued streaming in his mind like a movie that played only for him, a personal slideshow of every fantasy he had ever dreamed up, all of which starred Kanade Tachibana, the mysteriuous girl with the child-like figure and the beautiful sliver hair. His free hand gripped desperately at the sheet on the hard mettress, clawing at it hard enough to whiten his knuckles. He clenched his eyes closed, trying his hardest to make the images as vivid as possible, he needed to feel as though everything he was thinking up was really happening, he needed to put himself under the impression that Kanade would actually do these things with him, that she would be willing to fulfill everything that he was thinking up.
He relooped his belt through his pants after zipping and buttoning them up and he leaned himself against the door of the cell, his knees acting as armrests. The walkie talkie next to him buzzed with the unpleasant sound of static followed by the even more unpleasant sound of Yurippe's voice. Had she interrupted him, the moment would have been ruined and his private film would have been cut short. When Otonashi heard her voice, all desire in him disappeared completely.
Unforgettable Love
It was a hot summer. "Maybe I should go swimming today, hmm maybe Takeuchi will join me.` *Calls Takeuchi*
"Hey Takeuchi, how are you?"
"Hey baby, I am fine. How are you?"
"I am fine hehe, it's kinda hot today. Do you want to go to the beach with me?"
"Yeah! I will pick you up in 15 minutes."
"Ok see you soon" *Hangs up*
15 minutes later
*The doorbell rings* Ding-Dong!
"I am coming!" *Opens the door*
"Hey Kanade" *gives kiss to cheek* "How was your day?"
"It was boring like always, nothing fun happened and yours?"
"I picked up my driver's license and now I can drive a car. That's why I wanted to pick you up, we are going to the beach with my new car. So are you ready to go?"
"Almost let me switch into my Bikini."
*Kanade switches to her bikini*
"So what do you think Takeuchi?"
"You are so beautiful Kanade! You look like an Angel."
*Kanade blushes*
"Really? Thank you!"
* Takeuchi kissed Kanade"
At that moment Kanade suddenly received a shock and she fainted. So Takeuchi placed her on the couch. While Kanade was unconscious she remembered a boy's face, but she doesn't know who it is.
*Kanade wakes up"
"What's wrong Kanade? Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah I am okay, I remembered something weird, but I don't know what it is."
"Maybe we should not go to the beach Kanade, you should get some rest."
"Okay, thank you for helping me Takeuchi."
"No need to thank me, I love you Kanade."
"I love you too Takeuchi."
When Takeuchi left Kanade went to get some sleep. In her sleep she dreamed about the boy whom she still doesn't who it is. She and that boy were lovers, but something happened that separated them.
The Next day
Kanade went to school and it was just like all the other days. After school she went shopping with some friends of her.
"Hey Kanade, how is your relationship with Takeuchi?"
"It's going well, yesterday we kissed but then I fainted for no reason."
"Maybe you were nervous because it was your first kiss?" *Mitsuki started laughing*
"I don't know, but when I was unconscious I saw a face of a boy whom I never met or even saw."
"Maybe it's a boy you were friends with in your childhood?"
"I don't think so, when I went to sleep I had a dream about him. We went to the same school and the school uniforms were different. We were lovers but something separated us."
"What a weird dream. You sure you don't know him?
"Yeah I am sure. Anyways let's finish shopping and go home."
When Kanade was home, her father was home too. She was tired from the shopping so she took a shower before going to sleep. During the shower she was thinking about who the boy might be, but she just couldn't remember. After the shower she went to sleep and she started dreaming again, but this time it was different than yesterday. It was about her past with the boy.
Otonashi faced Kanade when they went outside before a brief glimpse at the rippling water in a pool. "Hey, Kanade? I kind of just realized it. You know... there are others like Yuri and Hinata and the rest who couldn't find their way here right?"
"I suppose," Kanade answered.
"And they might end up staying here, like Yuri, being sad, suffering... and resisting life."
"I suppose."
"But if we stay here, we can teach them, like we did this time, about how the satisfactions of life and help them graduate." Otonashi looked down for a minute. "Maybe I came here to play that role... So won't you stay with me?" The wind tugged at Kanade's hair, whom put it back into place. "If I stayed here," Otonashi said, "I wouldn't be lonely, even in this world. I might have said it before, but I want to be with you." Kanade walked down the stairs as Otonashi said the words. "Because, I... I really... love you." Otonashi stepped forward and hugged Kanade. "I love you."
Kanade closed her eyes at the confession. "Why aren't you saying anything?" Otonashi asked.
"I don't want to," the silver haired girl said softly, opening her eyes. "Because if I tell you my feelings, I'll disappear."
"Why?"
"Because I came to this world to say... 'thank you' to you."
"What do you mean?" Otonashi asked, puzzled.
"I was able to stay alive because of your heart." Kanade put a hand to Otonashi's chest. Otonashi's eyes widened as he absorbed the words. Kanade pushed him away from her and put a hand to her chest. "Even now, your heart is beating inside my chest. My one regret was being unable to say 'thank you' to the person who saved my life. I wanted to tell you so badly that I got lost and wandered here, to Afterlife."
"No way..." Otonashi said. "But how... how did you know it was me?"
"I realized it when I first stabbed you - you didn't have a heart."
Otonashi checked his heart, and for sure he couldn't hear or feel the heartbeat. "But from just that..."
"You also regained your memories when you were sleeping on my chest. Your body recognized the sound of its own heartbeat."
"No way..." Otonashi gasped.
"Please, Yuzuru... say what you said earlier once more."
"I... I can't! You'll disappear!"
"Yuzuru... please!"
Otonashi looked down and shook his head, "I just can't do it!"
"Yuzuru...!" Kanade urged him, gathering Otonashi's attention. "Let me believe what you've always believed. That living is wonderful!" The words made Otonashi about to cry.
Otonashi couldn't help but repeat his words with difficulty. "Kanade..." he said, stepping forward to hug Kanade. "I love you... Let's be together forever..."
Kanade walked up to him and wrapped him in her arms, which Otonashi could not help but do the same. "Thank you, Yuzuru."
"Stay... stay with me forever!" Otonashi's eyes leaked tears, but Kanade continued anyway.
"Thank you so much..." she said as Otonashi tightened his grip on her, hoping that she won't disappear in his tight grip.
"Kanade!" Otonashi forced out behind his crying stature.
"Thank you for loving me."
"Please don't disappear! Kanade...!"
"This gift of life you gave me... thank you so much..." And she was gone.
Otonashi stumbled forward, the weight of Tachibana Kanade gone to support him. He fumbled for where she originally was, only grasping air.
Otonashi, taking him three seconds to realize she had accepted her regrets and passed on, hugged himself; the only entity in the Afterlife school grounds. Tears streaked his face. In anguish, he threw back his head and cried out to where God would be, in the skies:
"KANADE!"
Kanade woke up screaming: "OTONASHIIII!"
She remembered who that boy was, it was Otonashi. She started remembering all about her Purgatory. She cried that she left Otonashi alone and that she couldn't be with him.
Now that she remembered about him she wondered if Otonashi is still there. Since that day she tried to go back to Otonashi, but will she succeed?
"Hey Takeuchi, how are you?"
"Hey baby, I am fine. How are you?"
"I am fine hehe, it's kinda hot today. Do you want to go to the beach with me?"
"Yeah! I will pick you up in 15 minutes."
"Ok see you soon" *Hangs up*
15 minutes later
*The doorbell rings* Ding-Dong!
"I am coming!" *Opens the door*
"Hey Kanade" *gives kiss to cheek* "How was your day?"
"It was boring like always, nothing fun happened and yours?"
"I picked up my driver's license and now I can drive a car. That's why I wanted to pick you up, we are going to the beach with my new car. So are you ready to go?"
"Almost let me switch into my Bikini."
*Kanade switches to her bikini*
"So what do you think Takeuchi?"
"You are so beautiful Kanade! You look like an Angel."
*Kanade blushes*
"Really? Thank you!"
* Takeuchi kissed Kanade"
At that moment Kanade suddenly received a shock and she fainted. So Takeuchi placed her on the couch. While Kanade was unconscious she remembered a boy's face, but she doesn't know who it is.
*Kanade wakes up"
"What's wrong Kanade? Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah I am okay, I remembered something weird, but I don't know what it is."
"Maybe we should not go to the beach Kanade, you should get some rest."
"Okay, thank you for helping me Takeuchi."
"No need to thank me, I love you Kanade."
"I love you too Takeuchi."
When Takeuchi left Kanade went to get some sleep. In her sleep she dreamed about the boy whom she still doesn't who it is. She and that boy were lovers, but something happened that separated them.
The Next day
Kanade went to school and it was just like all the other days. After school she went shopping with some friends of her.
"Hey Kanade, how is your relationship with Takeuchi?"
"It's going well, yesterday we kissed but then I fainted for no reason."
"Maybe you were nervous because it was your first kiss?" *Mitsuki started laughing*
"I don't know, but when I was unconscious I saw a face of a boy whom I never met or even saw."
"Maybe it's a boy you were friends with in your childhood?"
"I don't think so, when I went to sleep I had a dream about him. We went to the same school and the school uniforms were different. We were lovers but something separated us."
"What a weird dream. You sure you don't know him?
"Yeah I am sure. Anyways let's finish shopping and go home."
When Kanade was home, her father was home too. She was tired from the shopping so she took a shower before going to sleep. During the shower she was thinking about who the boy might be, but she just couldn't remember. After the shower she went to sleep and she started dreaming again, but this time it was different than yesterday. It was about her past with the boy.
Otonashi faced Kanade when they went outside before a brief glimpse at the rippling water in a pool. "Hey, Kanade? I kind of just realized it. You know... there are others like Yuri and Hinata and the rest who couldn't find their way here right?"
"I suppose," Kanade answered.
"And they might end up staying here, like Yuri, being sad, suffering... and resisting life."
"I suppose."
"But if we stay here, we can teach them, like we did this time, about how the satisfactions of life and help them graduate." Otonashi looked down for a minute. "Maybe I came here to play that role... So won't you stay with me?" The wind tugged at Kanade's hair, whom put it back into place. "If I stayed here," Otonashi said, "I wouldn't be lonely, even in this world. I might have said it before, but I want to be with you." Kanade walked down the stairs as Otonashi said the words. "Because, I... I really... love you." Otonashi stepped forward and hugged Kanade. "I love you."
Kanade closed her eyes at the confession. "Why aren't you saying anything?" Otonashi asked.
"I don't want to," the silver haired girl said softly, opening her eyes. "Because if I tell you my feelings, I'll disappear."
"Why?"
"Because I came to this world to say... 'thank you' to you."
"What do you mean?" Otonashi asked, puzzled.
"I was able to stay alive because of your heart." Kanade put a hand to Otonashi's chest. Otonashi's eyes widened as he absorbed the words. Kanade pushed him away from her and put a hand to her chest. "Even now, your heart is beating inside my chest. My one regret was being unable to say 'thank you' to the person who saved my life. I wanted to tell you so badly that I got lost and wandered here, to Afterlife."
"No way..." Otonashi said. "But how... how did you know it was me?"
"I realized it when I first stabbed you - you didn't have a heart."
Otonashi checked his heart, and for sure he couldn't hear or feel the heartbeat. "But from just that..."
"You also regained your memories when you were sleeping on my chest. Your body recognized the sound of its own heartbeat."
"No way..." Otonashi gasped.
"Please, Yuzuru... say what you said earlier once more."
"I... I can't! You'll disappear!"
"Yuzuru... please!"
Otonashi looked down and shook his head, "I just can't do it!"
"Yuzuru...!" Kanade urged him, gathering Otonashi's attention. "Let me believe what you've always believed. That living is wonderful!" The words made Otonashi about to cry.
Otonashi couldn't help but repeat his words with difficulty. "Kanade..." he said, stepping forward to hug Kanade. "I love you... Let's be together forever..."
Kanade walked up to him and wrapped him in her arms, which Otonashi could not help but do the same. "Thank you, Yuzuru."
"Stay... stay with me forever!" Otonashi's eyes leaked tears, but Kanade continued anyway.
"Thank you so much..." she said as Otonashi tightened his grip on her, hoping that she won't disappear in his tight grip.
"Kanade!" Otonashi forced out behind his crying stature.
"Thank you for loving me."
"Please don't disappear! Kanade...!"
"This gift of life you gave me... thank you so much..." And she was gone.
Otonashi stumbled forward, the weight of Tachibana Kanade gone to support him. He fumbled for where she originally was, only grasping air.
Otonashi, taking him three seconds to realize she had accepted her regrets and passed on, hugged himself; the only entity in the Afterlife school grounds. Tears streaked his face. In anguish, he threw back his head and cried out to where God would be, in the skies:
"KANADE!"
Kanade woke up screaming: "OTONASHIIII!"
She remembered who that boy was, it was Otonashi. She started remembering all about her Purgatory. She cried that she left Otonashi alone and that she couldn't be with him.
Now that she remembered about him she wondered if Otonashi is still there. Since that day she tried to go back to Otonashi, but will she succeed?
Beyond the AfterLife
The sun shone brightly above my head, not a single cloud in the sky to swallow the blazing orb, allowing it to glare down at the busy city streets with its warm gaze. People and cars were milling about, doing their daily business with the usual haste of a sprawling metropolis. I took my time, slowly walking down the street. I still had twenty minutes until my classes begun and the college was only a couple of minutes away, so I was in no hurry to get there. I enjoyed the warm spring weather, and watched the other people all around me. With so much happening in the area surrounding me, you'll forgive me for not at first noticing the short girl standing nearby, leaning against a wall. I only noticed when I passed her.
She was wearing a white blouse and a small, blue jacket, and a white skirt played calmly around her knees, caught by the soft breeze. I couldn't see her face, due to the hat and her downcast stature, but I could tell that her hair was short and silvery from under the brim of the hat. It seemed to gleam and shine in the warm sunlight. She caught my attention because, compared to all the people around us, she was the only one who did not seem to be in a hurry to get anywhere. She seemed content with simply standing there, leaning against the wall behind her.
As I passed by where she was standing, I realized that she was humming a tune, very softly. It was quiet and soft, almost melancholic in tone, and it enticed me. For some reason I couldn't quite grasp, it seemed familiar to me, even though I was fairly sure that I hadn't heard it before. At least I could not remember having heard it. Yet, the tune now compelled me. I stopped, and turned back towards where the girl was standing, to find that she was now walking away in the opposite direction.
I didn't really know what I was doing, yet I didn't hesitate for more than a moment. School was forgotten as I walked after her, my pace quickly increasing to a light jog in order to catch up to her. My hand reached out, and my fingers grasped her shoulder. I felt her startle against my light grip, and she spun around. A pair of beautiful golden eyes, wide with surprise, stared up at me. Only now did I realize that I was at least a head taller than her. I looked down at her cute face, at an awkward loss for words.
What was I doing? I had no idea what I was going to do at this point. Going after the girl had been almost an instinct, and I had not planned for what I was going to do when I reached her. I simply stood before her, dumb-founded, my brain desperately trying to scramble some words I could say to explain myself. But nothing seemed to spring to mind. I could do nothing but just standing there, gaping slightly. People walked past us, oblivious to the strange meeting that was taking place in the middle of the sidewalk.
Her golden eyes stared at me, scrutinizing me. If I were to guess, I'd say she was probably trying to decide if I was crazy or not, having just run up to someone I didn't even know just to stare dumbly at them. I couldn't really blame her, either. I had no real idea why I had done exactly that, and I was already regretting my actions. I was about to stutter an apology and hurry away from the embarrassing situation, when I noticed a change in her expression.
Her golden eyes were narrowed, and she stared at me intently. Her head tilted slightly to the side, and I felt as if her eyes were staring directly into my soul. Then her golden orbs widened in surprise, and she opened her mouth to speak. "Yu-Yuzuru?" Her voice was light, and tainted with a tremble that I could distinguish quite clearly. I stared at her as she spoke the name. It wasn't the name I had been given at birth, but for some reason it felt familiar. It felt right.
Without warning, memories I never even knew I possessed began flooding back to me. I gasped as I suddenly remembered everything. I remembered having died in my previous life. I remembered the afterlife. Meeting the Afterlife Battlefront, all the missions we had performed, everything we had done to save ourselves. I remembered the moment when we had realized that everything we had done up to that point was wrong, and that there was only one way to leave the afterlife. I remembered how much it hurt when she had left, leaving me alone in the afterlife, crying her name to the heavens.
I stared at the girl standing before my eyes, seeing her now in a completely new light. I knew who she was. She smiled back at me, her beautiful golden eyes moistening. "Do you remember me now?" Her voice was trembling, but she was doing her best to conceal it. I didn't answer; I just took one step forward and embraced her. I placed my arms around her and pulled her smaller body close to mine. I felt her hugging me back, her cheek resting against my chest. "Kanade," I whispered, and I felt her hug me tighter. "Yes," she breathed, trembling in my embrace. She was crying, I realized.
How many years hadn't we lived, without ever knowing of each other's existence? How long had these memories been locked away somewhere inside us, only coming to the front if we by some chance met? As I held her close, I felt like the whole world just fell into place around me. Everything felt right. We were finally together again, in another life. Smiling happily, I held her tighter, and I could feel her wet cheek against my shirt. "We're together now, Kanade," I whispered. Her only response was a happy nod, as she looked up at me with tear-stained cheeks. Everything would be alright now.
In the middle of the pavement, with busy souls walking all around us on the way to their next destination, we held each other. We had both done the almost impossible. Two souls had found their destined partner and become one, and we could ask for nothing more. We only hoped all our friends from the afterlife had been so lucky in this life.
She was wearing a white blouse and a small, blue jacket, and a white skirt played calmly around her knees, caught by the soft breeze. I couldn't see her face, due to the hat and her downcast stature, but I could tell that her hair was short and silvery from under the brim of the hat. It seemed to gleam and shine in the warm sunlight. She caught my attention because, compared to all the people around us, she was the only one who did not seem to be in a hurry to get anywhere. She seemed content with simply standing there, leaning against the wall behind her.
As I passed by where she was standing, I realized that she was humming a tune, very softly. It was quiet and soft, almost melancholic in tone, and it enticed me. For some reason I couldn't quite grasp, it seemed familiar to me, even though I was fairly sure that I hadn't heard it before. At least I could not remember having heard it. Yet, the tune now compelled me. I stopped, and turned back towards where the girl was standing, to find that she was now walking away in the opposite direction.
I didn't really know what I was doing, yet I didn't hesitate for more than a moment. School was forgotten as I walked after her, my pace quickly increasing to a light jog in order to catch up to her. My hand reached out, and my fingers grasped her shoulder. I felt her startle against my light grip, and she spun around. A pair of beautiful golden eyes, wide with surprise, stared up at me. Only now did I realize that I was at least a head taller than her. I looked down at her cute face, at an awkward loss for words.
What was I doing? I had no idea what I was going to do at this point. Going after the girl had been almost an instinct, and I had not planned for what I was going to do when I reached her. I simply stood before her, dumb-founded, my brain desperately trying to scramble some words I could say to explain myself. But nothing seemed to spring to mind. I could do nothing but just standing there, gaping slightly. People walked past us, oblivious to the strange meeting that was taking place in the middle of the sidewalk.
Her golden eyes stared at me, scrutinizing me. If I were to guess, I'd say she was probably trying to decide if I was crazy or not, having just run up to someone I didn't even know just to stare dumbly at them. I couldn't really blame her, either. I had no real idea why I had done exactly that, and I was already regretting my actions. I was about to stutter an apology and hurry away from the embarrassing situation, when I noticed a change in her expression.
Her golden eyes were narrowed, and she stared at me intently. Her head tilted slightly to the side, and I felt as if her eyes were staring directly into my soul. Then her golden orbs widened in surprise, and she opened her mouth to speak. "Yu-Yuzuru?" Her voice was light, and tainted with a tremble that I could distinguish quite clearly. I stared at her as she spoke the name. It wasn't the name I had been given at birth, but for some reason it felt familiar. It felt right.
Without warning, memories I never even knew I possessed began flooding back to me. I gasped as I suddenly remembered everything. I remembered having died in my previous life. I remembered the afterlife. Meeting the Afterlife Battlefront, all the missions we had performed, everything we had done to save ourselves. I remembered the moment when we had realized that everything we had done up to that point was wrong, and that there was only one way to leave the afterlife. I remembered how much it hurt when she had left, leaving me alone in the afterlife, crying her name to the heavens.
I stared at the girl standing before my eyes, seeing her now in a completely new light. I knew who she was. She smiled back at me, her beautiful golden eyes moistening. "Do you remember me now?" Her voice was trembling, but she was doing her best to conceal it. I didn't answer; I just took one step forward and embraced her. I placed my arms around her and pulled her smaller body close to mine. I felt her hugging me back, her cheek resting against my chest. "Kanade," I whispered, and I felt her hug me tighter. "Yes," she breathed, trembling in my embrace. She was crying, I realized.
How many years hadn't we lived, without ever knowing of each other's existence? How long had these memories been locked away somewhere inside us, only coming to the front if we by some chance met? As I held her close, I felt like the whole world just fell into place around me. Everything felt right. We were finally together again, in another life. Smiling happily, I held her tighter, and I could feel her wet cheek against my shirt. "We're together now, Kanade," I whispered. Her only response was a happy nod, as she looked up at me with tear-stained cheeks. Everything would be alright now.
In the middle of the pavement, with busy souls walking all around us on the way to their next destination, we held each other. We had both done the almost impossible. Two souls had found their destined partner and become one, and we could ask for nothing more. We only hoped all our friends from the afterlife had been so lucky in this life.
Not Again
I can't believe that I am actually doing this again...
I just need a little time alone to get me sleepy, but she suddenly turned up our of nowhere and rested her head on my shoulder - that pesky little seitou kaichou, Kanade Tachibana.
I could have sworn that my head feels hot because of her, my heart may be beating way too fast for comfort and I am fighting back my urge to kiss her.
Well, we are dating.
If I kiss her now, I might be waking her up.
Hold on, she was the one who slept on my shoulder without warning in the first place!
I dived straight in for her lips.
Her lips, tastes like Mapo Tofu and maybe a little strawberry.
I feel my nether regions itching, and so I had to push her down, very gently and then continued my kiss.
We are seeing each other for a long time already, so she would not mind, even though this is called "rape" by a healthy person standard.
I gasped as I turned back and saw her dazzling yellow eyes staring straight into mine.
Before I could say anything, she forced herself on me, our clothes are flying all over the roof, we are feeling our own nudity, and we kissed all over and made out until we climaxed.
Those perverts, especially Hinata and Yoshidayama (I must get his hair, or rather haystack harvested with my Gunblade), were all looking at us when we had breakfast at the cafeteria later that morning.
…because Matsushita found our panties hanging on a tree when he was walking here from his morning exercise.
I just need a little time alone to get me sleepy, but she suddenly turned up our of nowhere and rested her head on my shoulder - that pesky little seitou kaichou, Kanade Tachibana.
I could have sworn that my head feels hot because of her, my heart may be beating way too fast for comfort and I am fighting back my urge to kiss her.
Well, we are dating.
If I kiss her now, I might be waking her up.
Hold on, she was the one who slept on my shoulder without warning in the first place!
I dived straight in for her lips.
Her lips, tastes like Mapo Tofu and maybe a little strawberry.
I feel my nether regions itching, and so I had to push her down, very gently and then continued my kiss.
We are seeing each other for a long time already, so she would not mind, even though this is called "rape" by a healthy person standard.
I gasped as I turned back and saw her dazzling yellow eyes staring straight into mine.
Before I could say anything, she forced herself on me, our clothes are flying all over the roof, we are feeling our own nudity, and we kissed all over and made out until we climaxed.
Those perverts, especially Hinata and Yoshidayama (I must get his hair, or rather haystack harvested with my Gunblade), were all looking at us when we had breakfast at the cafeteria later that morning.
…because Matsushita found our panties hanging on a tree when he was walking here from his morning exercise.
Ehagaki no Haru
There was this girl who I had noticed for a very long time, she had this really beautiful white hair and fair skin that completely brings out the beauty in her topaz iris.
The infamous student council president who is always known for being a loner and an antisocial ever since her friends of the same age all graduated, she was retained because of a traffic accident that made her absent from her graduation exams you see.
I always saw her at the Chinese restruant in town, eating the notoriously spicy Mapo Tofu all by herself. I never fail to spot her by the window every time I walk back home from school after my club practice.
From behind the glass door fogged up from your sigh, I can see your radiance
As you tried to embrace the multicolored universe that covered the desk.
One morning, I never really knew why, but I felt a sudden urge to say "good Morning" to her.
She just took a single glance at me before moving on as a response.
By the way, I just noticed that we are on the same class, it makes me to feel that She is only letting your presence out slightly. I was like "are you really a invisible person?" since I was the only one who had even interacted with her through the entire year.
To be able to say "good morning" to the girl you love, that morning will never be forgotten
We are animals simply thinking that people are lovely but at the same time wishing to be loved
She being invisible to others sort of gave me a huge advantage – that I can have her all to myself.
Maybe I am starting to be a lesbian or something, but I felt my irregular heartbeat as I grasped her hand all of a sudden.
I tried to look away, but when I rolled my eyes to look at her, I noticed that she rolled her eyes away at that instant I look over, how cute.
I tightly grasped your hand and I know it was me who froze up
Even though your hands were getting cold, you tightly grasped my hand back
So this is what's called "sharing"
I feel like I understand it just a little bit, God
Our relationship became that close, that we eventually started to have dinner together.
Every time she ordered Mapo Tofu, you would spoon feed me with that notoriously spicy meat and Tofu mixture, I always would have a bottle of icy cold water on standby for this.
And then one night, I took the initiative again – I kissed her under the street light near her house.
Jumping a step, every time you go up, your backpack bounces on your back
On Monday morning, your unruly hair frolics and you think the day is young
I wonder if you're thinking about how you are going to pass the day too,
Your breath is routinely repeated as I listened while the morning envelops us
I remember that summer break, where she asked me to go to the mountains with her for a summer camp.
The both of us, or rather, with her leading me, made it to our summer house where we stayed for the entire break, it was a small little cottage with a wide field of flowers in full bloom under the wider blue sky.
I engraved the image of her dragging me by our tightly knit hands, while running through the flower field. She was smiling like the blossoming flowers.
The soft sunlight is on your side, let's search for a peaceful spring
Get on a train, don't look at a map, follow your heart, from the inside the forest,
the wind is freely blowing as if it's swimming
That night, after we had sex for the first time at her cottage, she was shivering. Not because she felt cold because of being naked, it was because of her nightmares.
That's right, her parents were killed in that accident. And hence I found another thing we had in common – we were orphans.
I did not even know what my parents looked like because I was a baby, the patron of the orphanage told me that I was found at the doorstep with my dead mother carrying me in her arms. When I thought of that, my face shrivels, but she was there for me, like how I was for her.
We slept peacefully for the first time in our lives.
No matter how far away, We saw the same moon, no matter how far away we saw the same light
No matter how far away there's only one, even if I'm unsure, I'll believe
I'll hold your hand, look up, and see the moon in broad daylight
We graduated together and I proposed to her later that night.
And under the witness of our friends, we got married. Simple as that.
My wife, now a famed artist for children books, drew her first portrait about us. About the both of us walking freely in a forest, hand in hand.
A person's hand is this warm, Life's still this awesome
When you smile, I'm happy, I finally able to find myself thinking that
So that the day when we thought of the same thing finally came
On the back of this picture postcard, that scenery of that spring, I'll depend on you to find it
The infamous student council president who is always known for being a loner and an antisocial ever since her friends of the same age all graduated, she was retained because of a traffic accident that made her absent from her graduation exams you see.
I always saw her at the Chinese restruant in town, eating the notoriously spicy Mapo Tofu all by herself. I never fail to spot her by the window every time I walk back home from school after my club practice.
From behind the glass door fogged up from your sigh, I can see your radiance
As you tried to embrace the multicolored universe that covered the desk.
One morning, I never really knew why, but I felt a sudden urge to say "good Morning" to her.
She just took a single glance at me before moving on as a response.
By the way, I just noticed that we are on the same class, it makes me to feel that She is only letting your presence out slightly. I was like "are you really a invisible person?" since I was the only one who had even interacted with her through the entire year.
To be able to say "good morning" to the girl you love, that morning will never be forgotten
We are animals simply thinking that people are lovely but at the same time wishing to be loved
She being invisible to others sort of gave me a huge advantage – that I can have her all to myself.
Maybe I am starting to be a lesbian or something, but I felt my irregular heartbeat as I grasped her hand all of a sudden.
I tried to look away, but when I rolled my eyes to look at her, I noticed that she rolled her eyes away at that instant I look over, how cute.
I tightly grasped your hand and I know it was me who froze up
Even though your hands were getting cold, you tightly grasped my hand back
So this is what's called "sharing"
I feel like I understand it just a little bit, God
Our relationship became that close, that we eventually started to have dinner together.
Every time she ordered Mapo Tofu, you would spoon feed me with that notoriously spicy meat and Tofu mixture, I always would have a bottle of icy cold water on standby for this.
And then one night, I took the initiative again – I kissed her under the street light near her house.
Jumping a step, every time you go up, your backpack bounces on your back
On Monday morning, your unruly hair frolics and you think the day is young
I wonder if you're thinking about how you are going to pass the day too,
Your breath is routinely repeated as I listened while the morning envelops us
I remember that summer break, where she asked me to go to the mountains with her for a summer camp.
The both of us, or rather, with her leading me, made it to our summer house where we stayed for the entire break, it was a small little cottage with a wide field of flowers in full bloom under the wider blue sky.
I engraved the image of her dragging me by our tightly knit hands, while running through the flower field. She was smiling like the blossoming flowers.
The soft sunlight is on your side, let's search for a peaceful spring
Get on a train, don't look at a map, follow your heart, from the inside the forest,
the wind is freely blowing as if it's swimming
That night, after we had sex for the first time at her cottage, she was shivering. Not because she felt cold because of being naked, it was because of her nightmares.
That's right, her parents were killed in that accident. And hence I found another thing we had in common – we were orphans.
I did not even know what my parents looked like because I was a baby, the patron of the orphanage told me that I was found at the doorstep with my dead mother carrying me in her arms. When I thought of that, my face shrivels, but she was there for me, like how I was for her.
We slept peacefully for the first time in our lives.
No matter how far away, We saw the same moon, no matter how far away we saw the same light
No matter how far away there's only one, even if I'm unsure, I'll believe
I'll hold your hand, look up, and see the moon in broad daylight
We graduated together and I proposed to her later that night.
And under the witness of our friends, we got married. Simple as that.
My wife, now a famed artist for children books, drew her first portrait about us. About the both of us walking freely in a forest, hand in hand.
A person's hand is this warm, Life's still this awesome
When you smile, I'm happy, I finally able to find myself thinking that
So that the day when we thought of the same thing finally came
On the back of this picture postcard, that scenery of that spring, I'll depend on you to find it
Reflections
I remember the first time. I don't remember the song; no I don't remember the song, or whoever was around. Weather it was in the moonlight or your school's cafeteria, it didn't really matter. I remember when I saw you walk in, I was actually frozen wondering if it was really you or just something I wanted to see. I was nervous, I didn't want to run up and hug a stranger if my mind was really playing a trick on me. Then you smiled in my direction, your red hair framing your face, as if you were calling me over, how excited I was that I ran over and glomped you and latched my arms around your shoulders. You wrapped your arms around my waist and spun around with me a few times until the momentum from my running start wore off.
We were both wearing things that we wouldn't normally, like I was wearing a black short sleeved shirt and worn blue jeans, not some white dress. You, oh my god, you were wearing a red T-shirt with a black long sleeved jacket and black Capri's; instead of that blue outfit you usually always wear. It was good, because we fit in, everyone was wearing dark colours. I still swear that Iwasawa helped you with the outfit.
Later we danced like a real couple would. All I know is that you pulled me close with your arms around my neck. I smiled, as if you read my mind. I was getting so nervous when everyone else started to slow dance. Yeah, I've done it before and certainly so have you but never together. It was as if I was dancing for my first time. I wrapped my arms around your waist.'Remember I have to remember if nothing else'. I thought. It was something I wouldn't be able to forget even if I tried.
You laughed- no chuckled-and smiled as you knew your mistake. You told me that this didn't mean anything because you would still be the same in this relationship, not that we really had one. I simply just smiled like an idiot and said "I know" and thought 'I wouldn't have it any other way'. Some people would describe it as love, I know I did. Maybe I over exaggerated my feelings maybe I didn't, it after all was my first time feeling like this. I never acted hyper for anyone else. You smiled sweetly, too sweetly for me to handle. I was such an idiot. You gave me this beautiful, yes beautiful, smile, using your smouldering blue eyes. People say we have the same colour eyes, I strongly disagree, yours are softer, and you didn't have much pain to cloud yours. In response to your beautiful smile, all I did was give you a closed-eyed ear-to-ear smile. God, I must have looked so childish, even though we were the same age.
Like I said I don't really remember much about that night. I don't remember who I came with, what group, or even what I did before that dance. No, that's a lie. I remember, you took my hands and we just moved to the music, pretty badly since neither of us knew how to dance. We enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. We were crowded. Couples danced everywhere, but we didn't notice. Me, I didn't notice! I usually get claustrophobic when there are like three people around me, and here we were, like thirty other couples around us, of course we were in the back.
We almost bumped into one of the guys dancing behind us, I laughed a little. I couldn't do anything but be happy. I wasn't even embarrassed that I was dancing with someone of the same gender! Of course, everyone was, I wasn't alone. That was the point of a GSA dance, to be able to meet someone like you, or just be able to show your love for someone and be completely accepted. I don't think the smile left either of our faces during that dance… those dances. Right, I recall that we danced twice like that, and in between those two dances we stood there for a moment and you grabbed my hand and laced your fingers through mine. The second time we danced like we should have, my arms around your neck and your hands on my waist. Man how I longed to be closer, we were too far apart! It was tearing at me like a hungry stray dog outside a stake restaurant. My blond hair kept getting in my face, trying to hide my blush.
Oh god, if only you knew how bad I wanted to kiss you that night. The moments lasted forever, but ended too soon. You told me that it would only make things harder for me, since you weren't looking for a relationship after the one you got out of. I said I didn't care, with that stupid smile I had. That night was never meant to end. It was meant for you and me. I could've died in that night, and slept peacefully forever. I never needed anything else. I could have died and gone to heaven. No, I couldn't, I can't think of a heaven without you. I don't even know if I believe in heaven, but if there was one, it is in your eyes. And if we both died and go to heaven, it would be hell just knowing that you died somehow.
I wanted to rest my head on your shoulder, but I was afraid you wouldn't let me that close, so I didn't chance it. My friends found people too as I had you, nothing else was needed.
Like I said, I don't remember the song. It didn't really matter what the song was anyway. Your voice drowned out everything else. Your eyes were like a different world. I remember wishing to see nothing else for the rest of my life. You always had a way of knowing what I was thinking, but some things you just miss completely. Your voice put the singer's song to shame. Even if you didn't like singing, or if I never heard you sing seriously, I bet you could still whip the floor with them. No one else has to like your music, but I'd love it. I'd be your number one fan. I guess I can settle for best friend.
I don't remember the song, I really don't, and maybe that's a good thing though. If I did, I probably wouldn't be able to listen to it today. I guess you had me pretty much whipped. I think I recall saying that it felt like you had me on a chain leash. Yeah, I did, because wherever you went, I couldn't help but go. When I told you this, you laughed and said you had many like that. You have no idea how my heart fell, but you quickly made it jump by saying I was your favorite one. I was your favorite. It didn't really matter that you had others, as long as that was true.
Like I said, the smile didn't leave my face all night, not once. I was really happy, and completely jealous of everyone else you hugged. I couldn't wait until it was only me. I knew how caring you were, and I loved it, it made me even more envious, yes I was even envious of you. When you felt someone was alone you would bring them into our little dances because you hated leaving people out. I thought it was really sweet, and I wanted to be all yours, which I basically was. You weren't all mine though, and that's where the little problem was. It did matter then.
It didn't really matter if it was in the moonlight, or in your cafeteria, your eyes held a whole different world. It didn't matter if it was just us, or a bunch of people jammed into one room, I still loved it. I guess I like to reflect to that day, not to torture myself, though it does anyway, but to remember how it feels to actually feel something. The smile never did leave my face, until I had to leave. I wish I could have taken you with me, but I came with others and I doubt I could have asked. I wished to see you soon, but it wasn't going to work.
I guess everything happens for a reason. You have to fall in order to stand after all. I guess I'm glad you have a new love, even if I haven't found one yet, not that I'm really looking. I guess I learned that not everything goes the way you plan. We're still best friends, which is good. I used to want more and more, and I got to the point of cutting. It didn't really matter why I did, because I still did. You and Hinata helped me get out of that.
All in all, I still look back to that day and say: I remember the first time.Yeah, that was around one of the best days of my life. For some time, you really were all mine, even if not official, and I thank the heavens for that. I guess I still miss those days, but it doesn't really matter because it's all over now… It's been all over now for about a year. It's true what they say, you never really know what you have, until it's gone. I miss you, Yuri, but what's left for me? What's left for Kanade?
We were both wearing things that we wouldn't normally, like I was wearing a black short sleeved shirt and worn blue jeans, not some white dress. You, oh my god, you were wearing a red T-shirt with a black long sleeved jacket and black Capri's; instead of that blue outfit you usually always wear. It was good, because we fit in, everyone was wearing dark colours. I still swear that Iwasawa helped you with the outfit.
Later we danced like a real couple would. All I know is that you pulled me close with your arms around my neck. I smiled, as if you read my mind. I was getting so nervous when everyone else started to slow dance. Yeah, I've done it before and certainly so have you but never together. It was as if I was dancing for my first time. I wrapped my arms around your waist.'Remember I have to remember if nothing else'. I thought. It was something I wouldn't be able to forget even if I tried.
You laughed- no chuckled-and smiled as you knew your mistake. You told me that this didn't mean anything because you would still be the same in this relationship, not that we really had one. I simply just smiled like an idiot and said "I know" and thought 'I wouldn't have it any other way'. Some people would describe it as love, I know I did. Maybe I over exaggerated my feelings maybe I didn't, it after all was my first time feeling like this. I never acted hyper for anyone else. You smiled sweetly, too sweetly for me to handle. I was such an idiot. You gave me this beautiful, yes beautiful, smile, using your smouldering blue eyes. People say we have the same colour eyes, I strongly disagree, yours are softer, and you didn't have much pain to cloud yours. In response to your beautiful smile, all I did was give you a closed-eyed ear-to-ear smile. God, I must have looked so childish, even though we were the same age.
Like I said I don't really remember much about that night. I don't remember who I came with, what group, or even what I did before that dance. No, that's a lie. I remember, you took my hands and we just moved to the music, pretty badly since neither of us knew how to dance. We enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. We were crowded. Couples danced everywhere, but we didn't notice. Me, I didn't notice! I usually get claustrophobic when there are like three people around me, and here we were, like thirty other couples around us, of course we were in the back.
We almost bumped into one of the guys dancing behind us, I laughed a little. I couldn't do anything but be happy. I wasn't even embarrassed that I was dancing with someone of the same gender! Of course, everyone was, I wasn't alone. That was the point of a GSA dance, to be able to meet someone like you, or just be able to show your love for someone and be completely accepted. I don't think the smile left either of our faces during that dance… those dances. Right, I recall that we danced twice like that, and in between those two dances we stood there for a moment and you grabbed my hand and laced your fingers through mine. The second time we danced like we should have, my arms around your neck and your hands on my waist. Man how I longed to be closer, we were too far apart! It was tearing at me like a hungry stray dog outside a stake restaurant. My blond hair kept getting in my face, trying to hide my blush.
Oh god, if only you knew how bad I wanted to kiss you that night. The moments lasted forever, but ended too soon. You told me that it would only make things harder for me, since you weren't looking for a relationship after the one you got out of. I said I didn't care, with that stupid smile I had. That night was never meant to end. It was meant for you and me. I could've died in that night, and slept peacefully forever. I never needed anything else. I could have died and gone to heaven. No, I couldn't, I can't think of a heaven without you. I don't even know if I believe in heaven, but if there was one, it is in your eyes. And if we both died and go to heaven, it would be hell just knowing that you died somehow.
I wanted to rest my head on your shoulder, but I was afraid you wouldn't let me that close, so I didn't chance it. My friends found people too as I had you, nothing else was needed.
Like I said, I don't remember the song. It didn't really matter what the song was anyway. Your voice drowned out everything else. Your eyes were like a different world. I remember wishing to see nothing else for the rest of my life. You always had a way of knowing what I was thinking, but some things you just miss completely. Your voice put the singer's song to shame. Even if you didn't like singing, or if I never heard you sing seriously, I bet you could still whip the floor with them. No one else has to like your music, but I'd love it. I'd be your number one fan. I guess I can settle for best friend.
I don't remember the song, I really don't, and maybe that's a good thing though. If I did, I probably wouldn't be able to listen to it today. I guess you had me pretty much whipped. I think I recall saying that it felt like you had me on a chain leash. Yeah, I did, because wherever you went, I couldn't help but go. When I told you this, you laughed and said you had many like that. You have no idea how my heart fell, but you quickly made it jump by saying I was your favorite one. I was your favorite. It didn't really matter that you had others, as long as that was true.
Like I said, the smile didn't leave my face all night, not once. I was really happy, and completely jealous of everyone else you hugged. I couldn't wait until it was only me. I knew how caring you were, and I loved it, it made me even more envious, yes I was even envious of you. When you felt someone was alone you would bring them into our little dances because you hated leaving people out. I thought it was really sweet, and I wanted to be all yours, which I basically was. You weren't all mine though, and that's where the little problem was. It did matter then.
It didn't really matter if it was in the moonlight, or in your cafeteria, your eyes held a whole different world. It didn't matter if it was just us, or a bunch of people jammed into one room, I still loved it. I guess I like to reflect to that day, not to torture myself, though it does anyway, but to remember how it feels to actually feel something. The smile never did leave my face, until I had to leave. I wish I could have taken you with me, but I came with others and I doubt I could have asked. I wished to see you soon, but it wasn't going to work.
I guess everything happens for a reason. You have to fall in order to stand after all. I guess I'm glad you have a new love, even if I haven't found one yet, not that I'm really looking. I guess I learned that not everything goes the way you plan. We're still best friends, which is good. I used to want more and more, and I got to the point of cutting. It didn't really matter why I did, because I still did. You and Hinata helped me get out of that.
All in all, I still look back to that day and say: I remember the first time.Yeah, that was around one of the best days of my life. For some time, you really were all mine, even if not official, and I thank the heavens for that. I guess I still miss those days, but it doesn't really matter because it's all over now… It's been all over now for about a year. It's true what they say, you never really know what you have, until it's gone. I miss you, Yuri, but what's left for me? What's left for Kanade?
Oningyo
She lost both Yuri Nakamura and her humanity on that day…
But she looked much the same as before. Long, shining silver hair, soft childish features and her flawlessly neat school uniform; the only difference was in her eyes, which had always before seemed to be brimming, overflowing with emotion. They were blank. Apathic. ...Almost evil. Just empty pits of crimson, orbs filled with a bottomless depth of blood.
She would not respond to anything, didn't turn her head to look at stimuli, did not eat or sleep or speak. She could not any longer. The transformation had been completed, and so every trace of her humanity was gone.
It was exactly as Hinata had said when he found out about Angel Player. She is now only a puppet, a channel for God to enforce order.
A doll.
Nothing else.
There is a angel.
I see her when I close my eyes.
She has green eyes and red hair.
She has a strange look on her face. A look that is "sad".
I want to ask, why is she "sad".
But the words are only in my mind.
And the angel is not there.
I only see her when I close my eyes, and when I close them, tears come out.
She could not feel pain, she could not feel warmth, she could not display emotion.
They simply did not know what to do with her.
The only way they could tell she was alive was when they battled against her. Then, instead of being so seemingly emotionless and unnervingly marionette-like, she would rush onto the front lines and attack ruthlessly, slaughtering all who stood in her way.
Takeyama explained it by saying that as the complete user of Angel Player, she now displayed a ferocious survival instinct. She would kill anything that threatened her, without regard to who or what it was.
It was even more frightening than her periods of blank absence.
They try to kill me.
They try to stop me.
I do not let them.
She lived mechanically, like the magical machinery the Guild adored so much. She just carried out the necessary functions, and otherwise stood or sat at the rooftop mindlessly.
They all despaired at her condition. Even Otonashi, the newcomer despaired. Was there nothing they could do, to try to bring her back?
Their words are words that have no meaning.
Their words are not the words of God.
Their words are strange and garbled.
Unintelligible.
I cannot understand any of it.
She goes to school, attend lessons, paid attention in class and carried out the teachers' requests, while they watch her slightest movement. She is a child again, a child who knows everything and nothing, and they feel responsible for her in such terrible ways that they are unable to express.
She does things absently, as if executing such things with the smallest available part of her mind she can spare. She is like a living doll-a body that moves on its own without any visible thought process behind it.
A doll, and no more.
What hope is there?
After I dried myself and put on my clothes, I went to my table to do my homework.
On the cover of my workbook is a strange writing.
I follow it with a fingertip.
"Kanade Tachibana" it reads.
There is no meaning in it.
There is no purpose in it.
Until there is purpose, I do not do anything.
I do not need to move without a purpose.
Without a spirit.
Without a "me".
The boy with orange hair and orange eyes gives me the same look as the devil I see.
The look that is called "sad".
I do not understand.
Why are they "sad" when they see me?
What is there to be "sad" about?
I am what I am, what I am meant to be.
I await my purpose.
Until then...
Nothing matters...
Nothing to be "sad" about...
She is merely a doll clinging to the very edge of existence.
She of that was the Angel. Just a soul who denied reality.
When Yuri died, Kanade died on that day too.
Both Kanade and Yuri are now cuddled up with each other on a little boat sailing on the river of dreams.
And they never will reach the end… just drifting for life...
But she looked much the same as before. Long, shining silver hair, soft childish features and her flawlessly neat school uniform; the only difference was in her eyes, which had always before seemed to be brimming, overflowing with emotion. They were blank. Apathic. ...Almost evil. Just empty pits of crimson, orbs filled with a bottomless depth of blood.
She would not respond to anything, didn't turn her head to look at stimuli, did not eat or sleep or speak. She could not any longer. The transformation had been completed, and so every trace of her humanity was gone.
It was exactly as Hinata had said when he found out about Angel Player. She is now only a puppet, a channel for God to enforce order.
A doll.
Nothing else.
There is a angel.
I see her when I close my eyes.
She has green eyes and red hair.
She has a strange look on her face. A look that is "sad".
I want to ask, why is she "sad".
But the words are only in my mind.
And the angel is not there.
I only see her when I close my eyes, and when I close them, tears come out.
She could not feel pain, she could not feel warmth, she could not display emotion.
They simply did not know what to do with her.
The only way they could tell she was alive was when they battled against her. Then, instead of being so seemingly emotionless and unnervingly marionette-like, she would rush onto the front lines and attack ruthlessly, slaughtering all who stood in her way.
Takeyama explained it by saying that as the complete user of Angel Player, she now displayed a ferocious survival instinct. She would kill anything that threatened her, without regard to who or what it was.
It was even more frightening than her periods of blank absence.
They try to kill me.
They try to stop me.
I do not let them.
She lived mechanically, like the magical machinery the Guild adored so much. She just carried out the necessary functions, and otherwise stood or sat at the rooftop mindlessly.
They all despaired at her condition. Even Otonashi, the newcomer despaired. Was there nothing they could do, to try to bring her back?
Their words are words that have no meaning.
Their words are not the words of God.
Their words are strange and garbled.
Unintelligible.
I cannot understand any of it.
She goes to school, attend lessons, paid attention in class and carried out the teachers' requests, while they watch her slightest movement. She is a child again, a child who knows everything and nothing, and they feel responsible for her in such terrible ways that they are unable to express.
She does things absently, as if executing such things with the smallest available part of her mind she can spare. She is like a living doll-a body that moves on its own without any visible thought process behind it.
A doll, and no more.
What hope is there?
After I dried myself and put on my clothes, I went to my table to do my homework.
On the cover of my workbook is a strange writing.
I follow it with a fingertip.
"Kanade Tachibana" it reads.
There is no meaning in it.
There is no purpose in it.
Until there is purpose, I do not do anything.
I do not need to move without a purpose.
Without a spirit.
Without a "me".
The boy with orange hair and orange eyes gives me the same look as the devil I see.
The look that is called "sad".
I do not understand.
Why are they "sad" when they see me?
What is there to be "sad" about?
I am what I am, what I am meant to be.
I await my purpose.
Until then...
Nothing matters...
Nothing to be "sad" about...
She is merely a doll clinging to the very edge of existence.
She of that was the Angel. Just a soul who denied reality.
When Yuri died, Kanade died on that day too.
Both Kanade and Yuri are now cuddled up with each other on a little boat sailing on the river of dreams.
And they never will reach the end… just drifting for life...
Arigatou Kanade
Ever since the day you left me, Kanade, I was never able to keep my life straight. You were the only girl who could ever make me happy, the only girl who could ever put a smile onto my face, you were the one who could keep me from dying. Looking forward to being able to see you, that's what kept me going.
In life, I learned that happy endings weren't real, and now I know, that is true. Unable to recieve a happy ending is my curse. A curse placed upon me when I was young. A curse that only one person could ever save me from. That was you, however, that person must sacrifice their life to save me from this curse.
Say, do you believe in a saying that was once said in stories. "If you truly loved someone, you would be willing to give up your life for them." I always thought that there would be nobody in the world who was willing to give their life up for me. Slowly, and slowly, I began to accept my life. Living a life like this was a curse, not being able to fall in love with someone, not being able to find your destined one, and not being able to live a normal life, was a curse. I wanted to give up, and soon I was able to.
As I lived my teen days alone, you saved me from suffering like this. Although the days we spent together were not much and were a bit too fast, I was able to experience what it was like to fall in love, I was able to experience what the feeling of wanting to give up your life for someone. Kanade, it was you who taught me the true meaning of life, you taught me everything I wanted to know. You answered all of my questions and for that I am grateful. If it wasn't for you, my life would've ended. I thought that I would be together with you for the rest of my life, but I was wrong...
The day before you disappeared out of my life you said. "I love you a lot, and because of that, I am willing to give up my life for your curse to be removed. There is no use stopping me, I have already made up my mind. I want you to live a life with a great ending. You've done many great things for me, and for that I am grateful. You taught me how to finally feel what it's like to love someone, and you also taught me how it feels like to want to sacrifice your own life to save the one you love. All of the things that I couldn't understand, the things that I couldn't find my answers to, you were the one who helped me find them... I have no regrets in life now, so there is no reason for me to not to sacrifice my life for the person I care about... the rest of the things I want to say are in this letter..." You handed me a letter then disappeared, suddenly I felt something inside me. The tattoo on my arm disappeared and the curse was lifted, and then the skies showed your face.
The moments we spent were irreplaceable, no one can ever replace them. You were the only person who I gave all of my heart to. I treasure your voices, expressions, and especially you smiling face. But I mostly keep our memories together. The memories we spent were very precoius to me, much more precious that the earth and the sky. They were the only things I can never get back.
I can even remember the times, the fun times when we played tag. Heck, I almost cried in that memory, trying to run away. I hated to lose. Hahahaha.
I could never keep a straight face when I'm with you. Kanade, you were a very special person to me, and you still are. You were the answer to all of my questions. You literally knew every answer. You were like a God.. er.. Goddess, actually. Nobody and no one can ever replace you, because you are a girl, a very rare girl to find in the world.
Everytime I look up at the sky, I see your face, the sky reminds me of you, including the sun. You were a very cheerful person, you were someone who always smiled, who was always happy, who enjoyed her times no matter what. You would always pretend to be strong, and that's what drew me to you. I'm really glad I met you, it must've been fate.
I can always remember your face, they never tried to or never did fade away from our memories, I could easily remember your face, and it never did change. It always stayed the same.
Kanade, I promise I will never forget you. I hope that one day I'll find you again, and this time, I will never let go off of you. I'll keep holding onto you no matter what happens, and until then wait for me. I'll definetely find you no matter what so that's why I'll find you.
I'll fly high and find you. I'll search the world for you. I'll fly higher than angel for you. If it's for you, my wings will be ready. If it's for you, I'll do anything. So be patient and just wait for me, because I will definetely find you no matter how many challenges and hardships I may pass onto. I'll never give up in finding you.
Remember something for me. "The reason that I am still living is for you. So don't worry, I'll carry on your legend. Your uncompleted life, that you wanted to continue. So... Wait for me...
In life, I learned that happy endings weren't real, and now I know, that is true. Unable to recieve a happy ending is my curse. A curse placed upon me when I was young. A curse that only one person could ever save me from. That was you, however, that person must sacrifice their life to save me from this curse.
Say, do you believe in a saying that was once said in stories. "If you truly loved someone, you would be willing to give up your life for them." I always thought that there would be nobody in the world who was willing to give their life up for me. Slowly, and slowly, I began to accept my life. Living a life like this was a curse, not being able to fall in love with someone, not being able to find your destined one, and not being able to live a normal life, was a curse. I wanted to give up, and soon I was able to.
As I lived my teen days alone, you saved me from suffering like this. Although the days we spent together were not much and were a bit too fast, I was able to experience what it was like to fall in love, I was able to experience what the feeling of wanting to give up your life for someone. Kanade, it was you who taught me the true meaning of life, you taught me everything I wanted to know. You answered all of my questions and for that I am grateful. If it wasn't for you, my life would've ended. I thought that I would be together with you for the rest of my life, but I was wrong...
The day before you disappeared out of my life you said. "I love you a lot, and because of that, I am willing to give up my life for your curse to be removed. There is no use stopping me, I have already made up my mind. I want you to live a life with a great ending. You've done many great things for me, and for that I am grateful. You taught me how to finally feel what it's like to love someone, and you also taught me how it feels like to want to sacrifice your own life to save the one you love. All of the things that I couldn't understand, the things that I couldn't find my answers to, you were the one who helped me find them... I have no regrets in life now, so there is no reason for me to not to sacrifice my life for the person I care about... the rest of the things I want to say are in this letter..." You handed me a letter then disappeared, suddenly I felt something inside me. The tattoo on my arm disappeared and the curse was lifted, and then the skies showed your face.
The moments we spent were irreplaceable, no one can ever replace them. You were the only person who I gave all of my heart to. I treasure your voices, expressions, and especially you smiling face. But I mostly keep our memories together. The memories we spent were very precoius to me, much more precious that the earth and the sky. They were the only things I can never get back.
I can even remember the times, the fun times when we played tag. Heck, I almost cried in that memory, trying to run away. I hated to lose. Hahahaha.
I could never keep a straight face when I'm with you. Kanade, you were a very special person to me, and you still are. You were the answer to all of my questions. You literally knew every answer. You were like a God.. er.. Goddess, actually. Nobody and no one can ever replace you, because you are a girl, a very rare girl to find in the world.
Everytime I look up at the sky, I see your face, the sky reminds me of you, including the sun. You were a very cheerful person, you were someone who always smiled, who was always happy, who enjoyed her times no matter what. You would always pretend to be strong, and that's what drew me to you. I'm really glad I met you, it must've been fate.
I can always remember your face, they never tried to or never did fade away from our memories, I could easily remember your face, and it never did change. It always stayed the same.
Kanade, I promise I will never forget you. I hope that one day I'll find you again, and this time, I will never let go off of you. I'll keep holding onto you no matter what happens, and until then wait for me. I'll definetely find you no matter what so that's why I'll find you.
I'll fly high and find you. I'll search the world for you. I'll fly higher than angel for you. If it's for you, my wings will be ready. If it's for you, I'll do anything. So be patient and just wait for me, because I will definetely find you no matter how many challenges and hardships I may pass onto. I'll never give up in finding you.
Remember something for me. "The reason that I am still living is for you. So don't worry, I'll carry on your legend. Your uncompleted life, that you wanted to continue. So... Wait for me...
Dear Hinata
Dear Hinata,
I'll probably never know why I did it. I heard her sweet voice humming such a familiar tune and I just acted on impulse. As I touched her slim shoulder she turned around and gazed questioningly at me. I knew that I had better say something.
"I'm sorry miss!" I shouted embarrassed "I just feel as if I know you from somewhere." Her beautiful amber eyes stared into my brown ones. I defiantly recognized her from somewhere, I just couldn't quite figure out where.
"I'm Yuzuru Otonashi," I quickly sputtered trying to recover from the embarrassment.
"Yuzuru Otonashi," she said quietly, "My name is Kanade Tachibana."
"What a beautiful name, "I replied. Her name, face, posture, everything about her was familiar. I had another impulse and quickly pulled her into a hug. She hugged back.
"I missed you, Yuzuru," she said quietly.
Tears started rolling from my eyes, "I missed you too Kanade."
I still don't know how all of that happened. I don't know how Kanade and I knew each other and I don't know why I did what I did and said what I said. Kanade is just as confused by it as I am. All I know is that I'm in love and will be marrying my angel, the woman of my dreams in a few months and I want you to be my best man.
-Otonashi
P.S. I met one of her bridesmaids the other day. Her name is Yui. She's very eccentric and just your type. I guarantee you'll love her.
I'll probably never know why I did it. I heard her sweet voice humming such a familiar tune and I just acted on impulse. As I touched her slim shoulder she turned around and gazed questioningly at me. I knew that I had better say something.
"I'm sorry miss!" I shouted embarrassed "I just feel as if I know you from somewhere." Her beautiful amber eyes stared into my brown ones. I defiantly recognized her from somewhere, I just couldn't quite figure out where.
"I'm Yuzuru Otonashi," I quickly sputtered trying to recover from the embarrassment.
"Yuzuru Otonashi," she said quietly, "My name is Kanade Tachibana."
"What a beautiful name, "I replied. Her name, face, posture, everything about her was familiar. I had another impulse and quickly pulled her into a hug. She hugged back.
"I missed you, Yuzuru," she said quietly.
Tears started rolling from my eyes, "I missed you too Kanade."
I still don't know how all of that happened. I don't know how Kanade and I knew each other and I don't know why I did what I did and said what I said. Kanade is just as confused by it as I am. All I know is that I'm in love and will be marrying my angel, the woman of my dreams in a few months and I want you to be my best man.
-Otonashi
P.S. I met one of her bridesmaids the other day. Her name is Yui. She's very eccentric and just your type. I guarantee you'll love her.
Angel's Heart Beats
She can feel her heart again. Her right hand was on her chest where the heart is as she woke up. She looked outside the half-open window. It springs. She could see pink sakura flower petals everywhere being blown by the wind. A woman was sleeping side her bed. She knew that the woman is her mother. She put her hand on the woman's head slowly trying not to wake her up, playing with her brown shiny long hair. "Kanade!" a man's voice from the door made her turn her head to it. The voice also woke her mother up. She recognized that man as her father. A plastic bag that her father was holding drop and his hands quickly wrapped around her tiny body. "Kanade!" her mother also do the same. "We're so glad you're finally awake," her mother said. She felt glad as well, but for some reason, she had this sad feeling inside her. It felt like she had to separate with someone that she really cares about. But who is it? Both of her parents are here. Who it would might be?
She got into coma right after her heart transplant. The doctors were afraid because it was never happened before to anybody. It had been 6 months. That's what her parents told her. 6 months? She was surprised. She felt like it was longer than that, like maybe years or decades. She had been in coma only for 6 months?
She had been discharged 3 days later and immediately starts going to school even though her parents don't really like the idea at first. After a little persuasion, they let her with a promise not to strain herself too much on physical activity. She made new friends and school has become a very fun place for her. But something was not there. She felt emptiness inside her heart.
Summer came. It was summer vacation. She promised Haruna to meet her in front of a white building to go shopping for swimming suits for their beach trip next week. As she waited, she was humming a song. She couldn't remember where she had heard the song. Only that she knows she always hum it. In the class, lunch time, while studying, everywhere. Haruna once asked her about the song too but she really knows nothing about it. "Kanade-chan!" she heard Haruna called out for her from across the street. A girl wearing a T-shirt and a short waved at her. She was about to leave the place when suddenly she felt a hand was touching her shoulder. She turned around and a tall figure with the hand still on her shoulder. She lifted up her head a little as she couldn't see the face of the figure under her big white hat. It was a boy. A boy with a short light orange hair looking straight at her. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's okay," she said. Her heart suddenly beat fast. "I thought you're somebody I know," the boy said as he leaving her standing there. What was that? What is it about the sudden beats? Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call from Haruna who was waiting for her across the street. She ran to Haruna with the thoughts still playing on her mind.
Season changed and autumn came. New term started with new things happened. "There's a new transfer student. And he's a boy! This might be my chance!" Haruna told her. Usually, she didn't get really excited about this kind of stuff but her heart was beating fast like last time. "Okay, kids, sit at your place. We had a new student today. Kid, introduce yourself to the class," That's him. The boy he met last summer. "Hello. My name is Otonashi Yuzuru. It is nice to meet you all." Otonashi…Yuzuru? That rings a bell but she really couldn't recall hearing the name anywhere. "Okay. You can sit any vacant place you want," the teacher told him. As he walked to his place, her eyes met his and he smiled. She quickly turned away, holding her chest with her beating heart felt like it can explode anytime.
She tried to find a way which she could talk to him. She tried every chance she could get and even her friends were helping her out but she failed every time. She was very disappointed as she walked home alone thinking if she could try again tomorrow. She did feel like she was a little desperate to talk to him but there's a lot of question in her mind. Have we met before? Do we know each other? Because I felt like we do. With all the things inside her head, she accidentally kicked a stone and fell. Today is really a bad day for me, she thought, sitting there while looking at her injured knee. Suddenly a bicycle bell rang behind her. "Are you all right?" a boy was riding a bicycle got off from it and went closer to her. "Yu-…Otonashi-…kun," she recognized him immediately. "Are you okay, Tachibana-san?" He knows my name. "There's a scratch on your knee and it seems like you sprain your ankle, too." It happened again. Her hearts beat so fast. "Mmm…I think so," "Let me take you to the clinic," "I think I will be okay….Kya!" she screamed as he carried her little body onto the back seat of his bicycle and he cycle as fast as he could to the nearest clinic.
"Let me take you home. You can't walk in that condition," he said after she got treatment from the clinic. Her ankle was still hurt. "Okay," she agreed. They talked along the way like they have known each other for a long time. They talked about the weather, schools and everything that happened around them. She felt strange. She really liked talking to him like this and wished that they would be like this forever.
"Thank you for everything," she said as they arrived in front of her house. She really hated it when it came to an end.
"You're welcome," he said. "So, see you tomorrow," as he turned and about to leave.
"Wait!" she stopped him. He turned back.
"You're that boy…we met last summer, right?"
"Yeah. I was mistaken you for someone else,"
"Who is it….that you mistaken me for?"
"I don't … know. It's just…you looked familiar,"
She also thought the same of the boy.
"Tachibana-san,"
"Yes?"
"What is your given name?"
"Kanade,"
"Kanade…What a beautiful name you have. 'Playing music' really suits you, I think,"
"You…think so?"
"If you don't mind…may I called you by your first name?"
"Huh?"
"I mean…I feel like we have become friends…you can call me Yuzuru if you want to,"
"Okay. I will,"
"Ha?"
"You can call me Kanade and I call you Yuzuru. Yuzuru written like 'tie a bow', right?"
"Yeah. So…I think I'm going back now. So…see you tomorrow…Kanade,"
"See you tomorrow, Yuzuru," she said as he left.
She watched him as he pedaled his bicycle down the road. He turned around and waved her and she waved back.
"My little heart," she said with her hands on her chest.
"You really like this boy, aren't you?" as she saw that boy disappearing into the road, hoping for a great day tomorrow for both of them.
She got into coma right after her heart transplant. The doctors were afraid because it was never happened before to anybody. It had been 6 months. That's what her parents told her. 6 months? She was surprised. She felt like it was longer than that, like maybe years or decades. She had been in coma only for 6 months?
She had been discharged 3 days later and immediately starts going to school even though her parents don't really like the idea at first. After a little persuasion, they let her with a promise not to strain herself too much on physical activity. She made new friends and school has become a very fun place for her. But something was not there. She felt emptiness inside her heart.
Summer came. It was summer vacation. She promised Haruna to meet her in front of a white building to go shopping for swimming suits for their beach trip next week. As she waited, she was humming a song. She couldn't remember where she had heard the song. Only that she knows she always hum it. In the class, lunch time, while studying, everywhere. Haruna once asked her about the song too but she really knows nothing about it. "Kanade-chan!" she heard Haruna called out for her from across the street. A girl wearing a T-shirt and a short waved at her. She was about to leave the place when suddenly she felt a hand was touching her shoulder. She turned around and a tall figure with the hand still on her shoulder. She lifted up her head a little as she couldn't see the face of the figure under her big white hat. It was a boy. A boy with a short light orange hair looking straight at her. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's okay," she said. Her heart suddenly beat fast. "I thought you're somebody I know," the boy said as he leaving her standing there. What was that? What is it about the sudden beats? Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call from Haruna who was waiting for her across the street. She ran to Haruna with the thoughts still playing on her mind.
Season changed and autumn came. New term started with new things happened. "There's a new transfer student. And he's a boy! This might be my chance!" Haruna told her. Usually, she didn't get really excited about this kind of stuff but her heart was beating fast like last time. "Okay, kids, sit at your place. We had a new student today. Kid, introduce yourself to the class," That's him. The boy he met last summer. "Hello. My name is Otonashi Yuzuru. It is nice to meet you all." Otonashi…Yuzuru? That rings a bell but she really couldn't recall hearing the name anywhere. "Okay. You can sit any vacant place you want," the teacher told him. As he walked to his place, her eyes met his and he smiled. She quickly turned away, holding her chest with her beating heart felt like it can explode anytime.
She tried to find a way which she could talk to him. She tried every chance she could get and even her friends were helping her out but she failed every time. She was very disappointed as she walked home alone thinking if she could try again tomorrow. She did feel like she was a little desperate to talk to him but there's a lot of question in her mind. Have we met before? Do we know each other? Because I felt like we do. With all the things inside her head, she accidentally kicked a stone and fell. Today is really a bad day for me, she thought, sitting there while looking at her injured knee. Suddenly a bicycle bell rang behind her. "Are you all right?" a boy was riding a bicycle got off from it and went closer to her. "Yu-…Otonashi-…kun," she recognized him immediately. "Are you okay, Tachibana-san?" He knows my name. "There's a scratch on your knee and it seems like you sprain your ankle, too." It happened again. Her hearts beat so fast. "Mmm…I think so," "Let me take you to the clinic," "I think I will be okay….Kya!" she screamed as he carried her little body onto the back seat of his bicycle and he cycle as fast as he could to the nearest clinic.
"Let me take you home. You can't walk in that condition," he said after she got treatment from the clinic. Her ankle was still hurt. "Okay," she agreed. They talked along the way like they have known each other for a long time. They talked about the weather, schools and everything that happened around them. She felt strange. She really liked talking to him like this and wished that they would be like this forever.
"Thank you for everything," she said as they arrived in front of her house. She really hated it when it came to an end.
"You're welcome," he said. "So, see you tomorrow," as he turned and about to leave.
"Wait!" she stopped him. He turned back.
"You're that boy…we met last summer, right?"
"Yeah. I was mistaken you for someone else,"
"Who is it….that you mistaken me for?"
"I don't … know. It's just…you looked familiar,"
She also thought the same of the boy.
"Tachibana-san,"
"Yes?"
"What is your given name?"
"Kanade,"
"Kanade…What a beautiful name you have. 'Playing music' really suits you, I think,"
"You…think so?"
"If you don't mind…may I called you by your first name?"
"Huh?"
"I mean…I feel like we have become friends…you can call me Yuzuru if you want to,"
"Okay. I will,"
"Ha?"
"You can call me Kanade and I call you Yuzuru. Yuzuru written like 'tie a bow', right?"
"Yeah. So…I think I'm going back now. So…see you tomorrow…Kanade,"
"See you tomorrow, Yuzuru," she said as he left.
She watched him as he pedaled his bicycle down the road. He turned around and waved her and she waved back.
"My little heart," she said with her hands on her chest.
"You really like this boy, aren't you?" as she saw that boy disappearing into the road, hoping for a great day tomorrow for both of them.
Like Fate's Red Strings Tied Together
"Yuzuru, I came to this world because my longing to thank you for the new lease of life you had given me so immensely… But I'm glad, because I managed to fulfill that, and it also gave me a chance to realize that…"
"I love you, Yuzuru."
"I'm going to be late…" The white-haired girl whispered under her breath as she quickened her pace, causing her hair and white sundress to flutter in the breeze. She didn't want to be late – she had already made an appointment with her best friend, whom she hadn't gone out with for more than a month, and she only had five minutes left to reach their promised meeting place.
The constant clicking sound of her heels against the floor reminded her about the dull, throbbing pain at her ankle. She had sprained a few days ago during Gymnastics, but she decided that she couldn't wear sandals with such a pretty white dress, could she? Not that Yuri would mind, though, she had never cared much about looks. All she wanted was a true friend that she could trust.
Just then, someone had gently grasped her shoulder, causing her to flip her head around. She saw a red-haired boy looking at her with confused, but determined-looking eyes. "Have I met you somewhere before?" was the first thing he said, his voice deep with genuine curiosity.
She looked at him and blinked. Nope, she didn't think she had ever seen someone that looked like him before. "I'm sorry, you must've gotten the wrong person." She smiled at him, unknowingly dazzling him and leaving him stunned for a few seconds. I have to hurry… She turned and began to walk away briskly, only to be stopped by him once again, his hand firmly clasped around her wrist. "Don't go." That one touch, seemed to spark up something in her mind. Only what? She couldn't recall. A faint memory attempted to surface in her head, but quickly disappeared once again, leaving her head throbbing slightly.
The amber-haired boy seemed to be confused at his own actions as he awkwardly let go of her hand, "Nevermind. I just thought you looked so familiar… even though I can't recall…"
"I'm going to meet my friend, if you have nothing on, would you like to come along?" The words left her lips before she could consider them properly – What on earth was she thinking? Bringing a complete stranger to meet her best friend, who would certainly not appreciate the extra company. Nonetheless, the words had already been spoken, so she had to stay true to them.
"S- sure…" He followed after her as they walked at a face pace, but in silence.
"By the way, I'm Kanade. Tachibana Kanade." She said, turning her head and smiling.
The boy stopped for a second. Tachibana Kanade… that name echoed in his head, seemingly trying to remind him of something, trying to make him realize something very important. "What's wrong?" Her words broke his train of thought.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how pretty that name was." Gah, there was it all over again. He didn't even know what he was saying anymore, quickly adding something to cover up the embarrassing situation, "I'm Otonashi Yuzuru. Pleased to meet you."
"I'm pleased to meet you too. Now, if we don't hurry, I'm afraid my friend would be very upset." She muttered, motioning for him to walk faster.
"Yuri!" Kanade waved cheerfully at a silky red-haired girl, who was wearing a small frown on her face and scowling at her. "You're late!" She lifted her hood from her head. A white, ribbon blouse, a black hoodie and grey shorts. Like always, Yuri always liked to dress up in her own style.
"I'm sorry… I had some… Issues." She said as she looked at me. "And uhm… this is Otonashi Yuzuru. And my friend here is Yurippe, even though she's mostly known as Yuri."
Yuri raised an eyebrow at Kanade, but then turned her attention on Otonashi and stared… for a long time. "Eto… Yuri? I think you're scaring him." Kanade said sheepishly.
"Oh. Don't take it to heart, yeah. I was just wondering why you looked so familiar." Yuri said casually, slapping Otonashi on the shoulder. "It's like I know you from a past life or something. Funny, huh."
Past life…? Another thought sprung into Kanade's head… this time clearer, still blurry, but she thought she could images of her laughing… fishing, probably, with some friends. Only that she didn't know them – for sure, they looked familiar, but she didn't know them. Maybe she had forgotten, but she had never gone on a fishing trip.
"Well then, I shall just overlook the fact that you decided to bring someone else to our lunch date." Yuri rolled her eyes as she picked a table nearest to the window. Both girls briefly glanced at the menu, flipping the pages at lightning speed, but never really reading them.
"Well, you want Mapo Tofu, don't you?"
"And you, Beef Stew, am I right?"
And they both burst into hearty laughter, simply enjoying being in each other's presence.
"Otonashi-san, what would you like, then?"
"Well, I'm fine with anything, but Mapo Tofu… I guess I'll try something new for today then. I'll have the same as you, Tachibana-san."
But when the tofu entered his mouth, the flavor burst in his tongue so strongly that he had to gulp down mouthfuls of water. Now why then, did he find the taste so nostalgic? It didn't taste entirely new to him – fresh, but it's taste was somehow locked in some distant part of his mind. Did he ever try eating Mapo Tofu before? The dish that was well-known for its utter spiciness.
And as the day passed, he watched as Kanade and Yuri chatted leisurely and laughed, caught up in their own world, apparently forgetting about his existence. He didn't mind, though, somehow he found himself contempt listening to them, their voices ringing in his ears. Like church bells… they seem to radiate a soothing feel. A smile crept up onto his lips.
"Ah… it's already so late." Yuri suddenly stood up, staring at her watch anxiously. "I'm sorry, Kanade, I need to rush home. My siblings are waiting for me to read them another story book, and I can't possibly keep them waiting, I have to be a good older sister, after all, don't I?" And with that, she promptly paid the bill for the whole table and ran off.
"Well, now it's just you and me." Kanade smiled, grabbing his hand and walking out of the shopping mall, towards the train station.
And for some reason, Otonashi thought that he wasn't going to wash his hand when he got home.
"It's never been so crowded before." Otonashi groaned as the duo tried their best to keep sight of each other while jostling in the crowd. "mmsfsiyoa."
"What?"
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" She nearly shouted across to him, a few people separating them now.
"NEVERMIND!" He shouted in reply, as he reached his hand out towards her. She nodded and reached for him too, desperately trying to get closer. And when their fingers touched, he pulled her towards him, unfortunately with too much force, as she landed squarely on top of him.
"Itai…" He rubbed his head and looked down to see Kanade, her ear pressed against his chest.
"I hear you." The whole world seemed to come to a stop at the moment, as if someone had pressed the "stop" and "mute" button. Her whisper was so audible in his ears. "I hear your heart beating." Tears streamed down from her eyes as memories flooded their minds, playing the times which they used to have together, the obstacles that they overcame together, and the very last moments that they had spent together. It was only then that they realized. Maybe this was all meant to be, their seemingly coincidental meeting, her acquaintance with Yurippe, everything, was all already set in fate's hands – a love so powerful, that it could even transcend time.
And so, she thought, she would tell him the very same words that she had told him that day. Those words that bound their souls to each other for all eternity.
"I love you, Yuzuru."
"I love you, Yuzuru."
"I'm going to be late…" The white-haired girl whispered under her breath as she quickened her pace, causing her hair and white sundress to flutter in the breeze. She didn't want to be late – she had already made an appointment with her best friend, whom she hadn't gone out with for more than a month, and she only had five minutes left to reach their promised meeting place.
The constant clicking sound of her heels against the floor reminded her about the dull, throbbing pain at her ankle. She had sprained a few days ago during Gymnastics, but she decided that she couldn't wear sandals with such a pretty white dress, could she? Not that Yuri would mind, though, she had never cared much about looks. All she wanted was a true friend that she could trust.
Just then, someone had gently grasped her shoulder, causing her to flip her head around. She saw a red-haired boy looking at her with confused, but determined-looking eyes. "Have I met you somewhere before?" was the first thing he said, his voice deep with genuine curiosity.
She looked at him and blinked. Nope, she didn't think she had ever seen someone that looked like him before. "I'm sorry, you must've gotten the wrong person." She smiled at him, unknowingly dazzling him and leaving him stunned for a few seconds. I have to hurry… She turned and began to walk away briskly, only to be stopped by him once again, his hand firmly clasped around her wrist. "Don't go." That one touch, seemed to spark up something in her mind. Only what? She couldn't recall. A faint memory attempted to surface in her head, but quickly disappeared once again, leaving her head throbbing slightly.
The amber-haired boy seemed to be confused at his own actions as he awkwardly let go of her hand, "Nevermind. I just thought you looked so familiar… even though I can't recall…"
"I'm going to meet my friend, if you have nothing on, would you like to come along?" The words left her lips before she could consider them properly – What on earth was she thinking? Bringing a complete stranger to meet her best friend, who would certainly not appreciate the extra company. Nonetheless, the words had already been spoken, so she had to stay true to them.
"S- sure…" He followed after her as they walked at a face pace, but in silence.
"By the way, I'm Kanade. Tachibana Kanade." She said, turning her head and smiling.
The boy stopped for a second. Tachibana Kanade… that name echoed in his head, seemingly trying to remind him of something, trying to make him realize something very important. "What's wrong?" Her words broke his train of thought.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how pretty that name was." Gah, there was it all over again. He didn't even know what he was saying anymore, quickly adding something to cover up the embarrassing situation, "I'm Otonashi Yuzuru. Pleased to meet you."
"I'm pleased to meet you too. Now, if we don't hurry, I'm afraid my friend would be very upset." She muttered, motioning for him to walk faster.
"Yuri!" Kanade waved cheerfully at a silky red-haired girl, who was wearing a small frown on her face and scowling at her. "You're late!" She lifted her hood from her head. A white, ribbon blouse, a black hoodie and grey shorts. Like always, Yuri always liked to dress up in her own style.
"I'm sorry… I had some… Issues." She said as she looked at me. "And uhm… this is Otonashi Yuzuru. And my friend here is Yurippe, even though she's mostly known as Yuri."
Yuri raised an eyebrow at Kanade, but then turned her attention on Otonashi and stared… for a long time. "Eto… Yuri? I think you're scaring him." Kanade said sheepishly.
"Oh. Don't take it to heart, yeah. I was just wondering why you looked so familiar." Yuri said casually, slapping Otonashi on the shoulder. "It's like I know you from a past life or something. Funny, huh."
Past life…? Another thought sprung into Kanade's head… this time clearer, still blurry, but she thought she could images of her laughing… fishing, probably, with some friends. Only that she didn't know them – for sure, they looked familiar, but she didn't know them. Maybe she had forgotten, but she had never gone on a fishing trip.
"Well then, I shall just overlook the fact that you decided to bring someone else to our lunch date." Yuri rolled her eyes as she picked a table nearest to the window. Both girls briefly glanced at the menu, flipping the pages at lightning speed, but never really reading them.
"Well, you want Mapo Tofu, don't you?"
"And you, Beef Stew, am I right?"
And they both burst into hearty laughter, simply enjoying being in each other's presence.
"Otonashi-san, what would you like, then?"
"Well, I'm fine with anything, but Mapo Tofu… I guess I'll try something new for today then. I'll have the same as you, Tachibana-san."
But when the tofu entered his mouth, the flavor burst in his tongue so strongly that he had to gulp down mouthfuls of water. Now why then, did he find the taste so nostalgic? It didn't taste entirely new to him – fresh, but it's taste was somehow locked in some distant part of his mind. Did he ever try eating Mapo Tofu before? The dish that was well-known for its utter spiciness.
And as the day passed, he watched as Kanade and Yuri chatted leisurely and laughed, caught up in their own world, apparently forgetting about his existence. He didn't mind, though, somehow he found himself contempt listening to them, their voices ringing in his ears. Like church bells… they seem to radiate a soothing feel. A smile crept up onto his lips.
"Ah… it's already so late." Yuri suddenly stood up, staring at her watch anxiously. "I'm sorry, Kanade, I need to rush home. My siblings are waiting for me to read them another story book, and I can't possibly keep them waiting, I have to be a good older sister, after all, don't I?" And with that, she promptly paid the bill for the whole table and ran off.
"Well, now it's just you and me." Kanade smiled, grabbing his hand and walking out of the shopping mall, towards the train station.
And for some reason, Otonashi thought that he wasn't going to wash his hand when he got home.
"It's never been so crowded before." Otonashi groaned as the duo tried their best to keep sight of each other while jostling in the crowd. "mmsfsiyoa."
"What?"
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" She nearly shouted across to him, a few people separating them now.
"NEVERMIND!" He shouted in reply, as he reached his hand out towards her. She nodded and reached for him too, desperately trying to get closer. And when their fingers touched, he pulled her towards him, unfortunately with too much force, as she landed squarely on top of him.
"Itai…" He rubbed his head and looked down to see Kanade, her ear pressed against his chest.
"I hear you." The whole world seemed to come to a stop at the moment, as if someone had pressed the "stop" and "mute" button. Her whisper was so audible in his ears. "I hear your heart beating." Tears streamed down from her eyes as memories flooded their minds, playing the times which they used to have together, the obstacles that they overcame together, and the very last moments that they had spent together. It was only then that they realized. Maybe this was all meant to be, their seemingly coincidental meeting, her acquaintance with Yurippe, everything, was all already set in fate's hands – a love so powerful, that it could even transcend time.
And so, she thought, she would tell him the very same words that she had told him that day. Those words that bound their souls to each other for all eternity.
"I love you, Yuzuru."
Duet of An Angel And A Demon
Chapter 1
Her real name was Kanade Tachibana.
But nobody seemed to even acknowledge her existence, not even the SSS club.
The SSS club, even the newcomer, Otonashi, seemed to call her Tenshi, an angel.
She is just someone with no friends, her friends have all been sent to heaven by the gods.
For all she ever knew, she had lived longer than anybody else here, not even the Vice President, Naoi, knew about her at all.
But, at least one person, tried to acknowledge her existence.
His name is Suneo Honekawa, the teacher in charge of the SSS club (it would have been disbanded if it weren't for him.), the half demon son of Overlord Jecht (so he claims.), that enigmatic man who have been intrigued by her for a long time.
How did he make his way into her heart?
Well, it all begins, when Kanade was having her lunch on the rooftop, alone.
Her lunch was the extra spicy Mapo tofu and a single serving of rice. Which none of the students, not even the most fearsome teacher in the Afterlife school, Mr. Garland (you know, that guy from Final fantasy!), dared to even take a nibble.
Since her past memories have been erased when she entered this world, Mapo tofu was her favourite, at least she remembered this.
Halfway through, she smelt tobacco, someone was smoking on the rooftop.
Since smoking was banned even in the Afterlife school, Kanade felt that it was her duty as Student President to stop the smoker, even if she had to send him or her to the infirmary as a dead body. The smoker, was not wearing a student uniform at all, it was a teacher.
167cm tall, squinty eyes, a cross shaped scar o his left cheek, always seen carrying a pair of guns, Ebony and Ivory, and his monstrous right arm that had spikes on his shoulder and elbow, followed by a eye with yellow iris and a silted pupil on the back of his right hand.
Kanade stares to the eye on the right arm, completely absorbed by its beauty, she did not realise that Suneo was staring right at her as well.
"So, the famous student president is attracted by Buddy huh?" cheerfully commented Suneo Honekawa as his voice snapped Kanade back to reality, "I don't see you much around here haven't I?" he said further. All of a sudden, a sudden gust blew over the couple, Kanade remained silent, while Suneo's squinty eyes looks straight onto her face, her eyes and her hair.
Ever since then, every lunch break, Kanade would bring her Mapo tofu to the ceiling while Suneo would just quietly smoke while he gazes up into the blue sky. Kanade would just pour out all her troubles, especially SSS's antics, to Suneo, while Suneo would just shrugs away with a laugh, and when Suneo talks about the philosophical things about life, future and his past with Overlord Jecht, Kanade would just quietly listen. On rainy days, they would meet in a tiny corner in the cafeteria to do the same things, and sometimes revise on Kanade's exams.
When Kanade would walk in the corridor to do her duties, she would find Suneo, laughing at Yuri, the leader of SSS, when she asks for Suneo's permission for her latest plan to get rid of the teachers and god. Suneo would always laugh it off and allows Yuri to proceed with her plan, and very often, she would see Suneo in another corner of a corridor after school to ask Otonashi to watch after Yuri for him.
One day, Kanade asked a rather casual question, "Why do you want to make friends with me? Aren't you afraid that you would disappear?"
Suneo looked at her confused, eyebrows lowered, deep in thought, and then came his reply in a timid manner.
"You do know that how my kids are always calling you Tenshi, an angel right? So I figured that as an Akuma or demon, even if I am technically speaking, a half demon thanks to Mom, I am supposed to be with you! You know...opposites attract...like a magnet...half and half, you get the picture..."
As Suneo started to blush and panic, Kanade smiled, and took the initiative to lean over to Suneo, kisses him on his scar, and whispered something to his ear.
Like a happy little girl she always wanted to be, she skipped away happily, while Suneo stayed there like a statue, completely dumbfounded, taken aback by her words.
"Suneo sensei, I love you too."
Her real name was Kanade Tachibana.
But nobody seemed to even acknowledge her existence, not even the SSS club.
The SSS club, even the newcomer, Otonashi, seemed to call her Tenshi, an angel.
She is just someone with no friends, her friends have all been sent to heaven by the gods.
For all she ever knew, she had lived longer than anybody else here, not even the Vice President, Naoi, knew about her at all.
But, at least one person, tried to acknowledge her existence.
His name is Suneo Honekawa, the teacher in charge of the SSS club (it would have been disbanded if it weren't for him.), the half demon son of Overlord Jecht (so he claims.), that enigmatic man who have been intrigued by her for a long time.
How did he make his way into her heart?
Well, it all begins, when Kanade was having her lunch on the rooftop, alone.
Her lunch was the extra spicy Mapo tofu and a single serving of rice. Which none of the students, not even the most fearsome teacher in the Afterlife school, Mr. Garland (you know, that guy from Final fantasy!), dared to even take a nibble.
Since her past memories have been erased when she entered this world, Mapo tofu was her favourite, at least she remembered this.
Halfway through, she smelt tobacco, someone was smoking on the rooftop.
Since smoking was banned even in the Afterlife school, Kanade felt that it was her duty as Student President to stop the smoker, even if she had to send him or her to the infirmary as a dead body. The smoker, was not wearing a student uniform at all, it was a teacher.
167cm tall, squinty eyes, a cross shaped scar o his left cheek, always seen carrying a pair of guns, Ebony and Ivory, and his monstrous right arm that had spikes on his shoulder and elbow, followed by a eye with yellow iris and a silted pupil on the back of his right hand.
Kanade stares to the eye on the right arm, completely absorbed by its beauty, she did not realise that Suneo was staring right at her as well.
"So, the famous student president is attracted by Buddy huh?" cheerfully commented Suneo Honekawa as his voice snapped Kanade back to reality, "I don't see you much around here haven't I?" he said further. All of a sudden, a sudden gust blew over the couple, Kanade remained silent, while Suneo's squinty eyes looks straight onto her face, her eyes and her hair.
Ever since then, every lunch break, Kanade would bring her Mapo tofu to the ceiling while Suneo would just quietly smoke while he gazes up into the blue sky. Kanade would just pour out all her troubles, especially SSS's antics, to Suneo, while Suneo would just shrugs away with a laugh, and when Suneo talks about the philosophical things about life, future and his past with Overlord Jecht, Kanade would just quietly listen. On rainy days, they would meet in a tiny corner in the cafeteria to do the same things, and sometimes revise on Kanade's exams.
When Kanade would walk in the corridor to do her duties, she would find Suneo, laughing at Yuri, the leader of SSS, when she asks for Suneo's permission for her latest plan to get rid of the teachers and god. Suneo would always laugh it off and allows Yuri to proceed with her plan, and very often, she would see Suneo in another corner of a corridor after school to ask Otonashi to watch after Yuri for him.
One day, Kanade asked a rather casual question, "Why do you want to make friends with me? Aren't you afraid that you would disappear?"
Suneo looked at her confused, eyebrows lowered, deep in thought, and then came his reply in a timid manner.
"You do know that how my kids are always calling you Tenshi, an angel right? So I figured that as an Akuma or demon, even if I am technically speaking, a half demon thanks to Mom, I am supposed to be with you! You know...opposites attract...like a magnet...half and half, you get the picture..."
As Suneo started to blush and panic, Kanade smiled, and took the initiative to lean over to Suneo, kisses him on his scar, and whispered something to his ear.
Like a happy little girl she always wanted to be, she skipped away happily, while Suneo stayed there like a statue, completely dumbfounded, taken aback by her words.
"Suneo sensei, I love you too."
Duet of An Angel And A Demon
Chapter 2
The place I stood upon full of memories
That we once had
Sorrows and loneliness began to stir
As I remembered the times we once had together
...
When we laughed out sharing our joy together...
When we cried out our deepest sorrows together...
When we held each other hand in hand walking towards
The path that we once promised to take together...
...
But then comes a time when we have to part
When you found a new source of happiness
When you're gone to start a new life...
...
But...I wasn't there with you...
Not included in your new found happiness
Left out alone from your new beginning...
...
For now you see I'm just
A hindrance in your new found happiness
A hindrance in your new found life
For tears flowed down my cheeks
For its not what I ever want to be
...
Forcefully turning my back against you...
Leaving you with your new found life...
As I sobbed while striding away from you
Losing all courage to face you
...
Did you remember the promise that we once had?
Promise to be together forever no matter what happened
Promise not to be separated even by death...
...
I'm sorry my angel
I guess I couldn't keep the promise...
...
It comes a time when we have to part again
I'll go to somewhere you can't reach
Not ever wanting to be your hindrance
For all I ever wanted to see were you being happy...
For My Other Half, Suneo Honekawa
Looking at the sky up there,
clouds floating calmly in the vast blue sky
As I remembered the times we once had together…
...
When we met each other for the first time…
When we laughed and played together till we worn ourselves out
And when you protected me with the Buster Sword
...
Then that fateful encounter came…
When your parasitic right arm invokes your demonic blood…
No matter how hard it was that time,
You tried as hard as you could to protect me
But in the end, you were forced to become a being you despised the most,
An Overlord…
...
Then you said that you wanted to be stronger than before,
and left without saying goodbye…
Ever since then I'm always waiting for you
But, you never came…
...
After years, we finally met…
But you're not the one that I've known for long time
No matter what I did, you always kept your distance from me
Avoiding me as if I'm a nuisance in your life…
...
Each time I saw your face, my heart always throbbing in pain
The most painful feelings that I have ever felt,
for losing my most treasured mentor in my life
...
After the fight with Overlord Laharl, I learnt that you still have it,
the same tenderness that I've known for years…
Then spending time together, forgetting the bitter past
and craving the sweet moments in our heart
The sweet and gentle happiness that I've never felt before in my life
...
But that happiness never last for long…
Another bitter thing came and destroyed our happiness
And the time we had to part again came…
...
But for the last time and forever
No matter how long I'm gonna wait for you
You will never come back to me anymore…
...
Resting in peace forever…
Nobody could disturb your eternal slumber
...
But deep down in my heart, I know that you're
always watching and protecting me from there…
See you soon, my Overlord…
The place I stood upon full of memories
That we once had
Sorrows and loneliness began to stir
As I remembered the times we once had together
...
When we laughed out sharing our joy together...
When we cried out our deepest sorrows together...
When we held each other hand in hand walking towards
The path that we once promised to take together...
...
But then comes a time when we have to part
When you found a new source of happiness
When you're gone to start a new life...
...
But...I wasn't there with you...
Not included in your new found happiness
Left out alone from your new beginning...
...
For now you see I'm just
A hindrance in your new found happiness
A hindrance in your new found life
For tears flowed down my cheeks
For its not what I ever want to be
...
Forcefully turning my back against you...
Leaving you with your new found life...
As I sobbed while striding away from you
Losing all courage to face you
...
Did you remember the promise that we once had?
Promise to be together forever no matter what happened
Promise not to be separated even by death...
...
I'm sorry my angel
I guess I couldn't keep the promise...
...
It comes a time when we have to part again
I'll go to somewhere you can't reach
Not ever wanting to be your hindrance
For all I ever wanted to see were you being happy...
For My Other Half, Suneo Honekawa
Looking at the sky up there,
clouds floating calmly in the vast blue sky
As I remembered the times we once had together…
...
When we met each other for the first time…
When we laughed and played together till we worn ourselves out
And when you protected me with the Buster Sword
...
Then that fateful encounter came…
When your parasitic right arm invokes your demonic blood…
No matter how hard it was that time,
You tried as hard as you could to protect me
But in the end, you were forced to become a being you despised the most,
An Overlord…
...
Then you said that you wanted to be stronger than before,
and left without saying goodbye…
Ever since then I'm always waiting for you
But, you never came…
...
After years, we finally met…
But you're not the one that I've known for long time
No matter what I did, you always kept your distance from me
Avoiding me as if I'm a nuisance in your life…
...
Each time I saw your face, my heart always throbbing in pain
The most painful feelings that I have ever felt,
for losing my most treasured mentor in my life
...
After the fight with Overlord Laharl, I learnt that you still have it,
the same tenderness that I've known for years…
Then spending time together, forgetting the bitter past
and craving the sweet moments in our heart
The sweet and gentle happiness that I've never felt before in my life
...
But that happiness never last for long…
Another bitter thing came and destroyed our happiness
And the time we had to part again came…
...
But for the last time and forever
No matter how long I'm gonna wait for you
You will never come back to me anymore…
...
Resting in peace forever…
Nobody could disturb your eternal slumber
...
But deep down in my heart, I know that you're
always watching and protecting me from there…
See you soon, my Overlord…
Angel Beats! Reunited
Chapter 1
Strange place
The teacher was insistent. About what Moe was unsure. She was unsure about many things. How did she end up in a school? Where did the brand-new uniform she was wearing come from? Where on Earth was she? Why wasn't she dead?
Moe KNEW she was supposed to be dead. The small thirteen-year-old girl knew that she could not have survived that massive collision, yet here she was, in a classroom. None of it made any sense.
The bell rang, and Moe blindly followed the other students out the door to the large cafeteria. She watched as others handed tickets to the ladies behind the long counter and were handed food without question. She realized that the ticket must have been what allowed students to get food. Panicked, Moe realized she had no ticket that she was aware of. She frantically searched her pockets for something that felt like paper, and found nothing. As the line approached the counter, she grabbed one of the other students by the shoulder and asked him where he got his ticket.
His answer was short, generic, and seemed scripted: "You buy the meal tickets from the machines at the far right corner of the room." Although helpful, the student's instructions brought another problem for Moe; she had no money. Hoping to possibly find a flaw in the machine, Moe ran to the far right corner of the room. She tried just pushing a button, kicking the machine, and forcing a folded slip of notebook paper into the money slot, but nothing Moe tried rendered a meal ticket.
Desperately hungry, Moe decided to steal from another student. The line was still quite long and, being one of the shortest in the room, Moe figured she could grab from the student in the front and then successfully hide behind someone in the back. The real problem with her plan was that if someone saw her, she would not be able to blend in with the crowd at the back of the line.
Very sneakily, Moe crouched down and proceeded up next to the student three places from the counter. This girl seemed to be an easy target as she was holding the meal ticket loosely in her hand that was casually placed at her side. Moe sped up without straitening her back from her low crouch and seized the girl's ticket. She made it all the way to the end of the line before she realized that no one had made a scene about the stolen ticket. Moe was confused, but accepted the silence as her win.
As she assumed, on the ticket was the name of a specific food. When the ticket was handed in, it was traded for a bowl of rice and sushi. Moe ate in the corner of the room at an otherwise empty table and no one else seemed to notice.
Strange place
The teacher was insistent. About what Moe was unsure. She was unsure about many things. How did she end up in a school? Where did the brand-new uniform she was wearing come from? Where on Earth was she? Why wasn't she dead?
Moe KNEW she was supposed to be dead. The small thirteen-year-old girl knew that she could not have survived that massive collision, yet here she was, in a classroom. None of it made any sense.
The bell rang, and Moe blindly followed the other students out the door to the large cafeteria. She watched as others handed tickets to the ladies behind the long counter and were handed food without question. She realized that the ticket must have been what allowed students to get food. Panicked, Moe realized she had no ticket that she was aware of. She frantically searched her pockets for something that felt like paper, and found nothing. As the line approached the counter, she grabbed one of the other students by the shoulder and asked him where he got his ticket.
His answer was short, generic, and seemed scripted: "You buy the meal tickets from the machines at the far right corner of the room." Although helpful, the student's instructions brought another problem for Moe; she had no money. Hoping to possibly find a flaw in the machine, Moe ran to the far right corner of the room. She tried just pushing a button, kicking the machine, and forcing a folded slip of notebook paper into the money slot, but nothing Moe tried rendered a meal ticket.
Desperately hungry, Moe decided to steal from another student. The line was still quite long and, being one of the shortest in the room, Moe figured she could grab from the student in the front and then successfully hide behind someone in the back. The real problem with her plan was that if someone saw her, she would not be able to blend in with the crowd at the back of the line.
Very sneakily, Moe crouched down and proceeded up next to the student three places from the counter. This girl seemed to be an easy target as she was holding the meal ticket loosely in her hand that was casually placed at her side. Moe sped up without straitening her back from her low crouch and seized the girl's ticket. She made it all the way to the end of the line before she realized that no one had made a scene about the stolen ticket. Moe was confused, but accepted the silence as her win.
As she assumed, on the ticket was the name of a specific food. When the ticket was handed in, it was traded for a bowl of rice and sushi. Moe ate in the corner of the room at an otherwise empty table and no one else seemed to notice.
Angel Beats! Reunited
Chapter 2
Must Be
Moe had a sneaking suspicion about the students, and she was right. No matter what she did, the students did not care. No matter how obnoxious she was the students would not react. No matter whom she asked, no one would confirm that Moe had in fact died. As the day was coming to an end, Moe was tired of it all. She had skipped out on class right when the teacher was preparing for a history lesson. Moe announced she was going to the bathroom, and fled to the roof.
Skipping class was not uncommon for Moe, even before everything changed. She had never been thrilled about going to school. Her unusually small size, and slow learning abilities made her the target of most nasty rumors. Moe was fairly good at sports, but her low grades prevented her from ever joining a club. There were days in her life when Moe felt that she was worthless. If it had not been for the encouragement of her older sister, Moe would have committed suicide a long time ago.
The memory of the day Moe's sister walked in on her poorly executed suicide attempt sent chills down her spine. Her sister was horrified, but not in the least bit judgmental. After that Moe spent every possible moment she could by her sister's side. Moe often spent hours at the restaurant where her sister worked. She had finally accepted that her life, however socially unacceptable she was, had meaning. Then the accident happened. Moe and her sister were driving home after work had ended when a speeding pickup truck hit their small electric car, and the next thing she knows, Moe is sitting in a classroom of an unfamiliar school wearing a uniform she had not dressed herself in.
"I must be going crazy." Moe thought to herself. "Either that or I'm dead and this is some sort of personal hell I've been dragged to." As she looked over the edge of the very tall building, Moe had a brilliant idea.
"If I am dead," she said aloud, even though she was sure no one else was listening "I can jump over the edge head first, and nothing will happen to me. I'll just get up and walk away. If I'm not dead, then when I hit the ground I'll die, and I don't have to live in this freakish hell anymore."
Moe thought it was a brilliant plan. As she climbed up onto the ledge and closed her eyes to prepare herself to jump, she heard a voice. This voice clearly did not come from within her own mind considering that it sounded like a boy instead of Moe's own voice.
The voice said, "You're completely wrong you know. Just because you're dead doesn't mean it won't hurt." Moe brushed the warning off as a figment of her imagination and leaped head first off the roof. There was a crushing pain as she hit the ground before Moe blacked out.
Must Be
Moe had a sneaking suspicion about the students, and she was right. No matter what she did, the students did not care. No matter how obnoxious she was the students would not react. No matter whom she asked, no one would confirm that Moe had in fact died. As the day was coming to an end, Moe was tired of it all. She had skipped out on class right when the teacher was preparing for a history lesson. Moe announced she was going to the bathroom, and fled to the roof.
Skipping class was not uncommon for Moe, even before everything changed. She had never been thrilled about going to school. Her unusually small size, and slow learning abilities made her the target of most nasty rumors. Moe was fairly good at sports, but her low grades prevented her from ever joining a club. There were days in her life when Moe felt that she was worthless. If it had not been for the encouragement of her older sister, Moe would have committed suicide a long time ago.
The memory of the day Moe's sister walked in on her poorly executed suicide attempt sent chills down her spine. Her sister was horrified, but not in the least bit judgmental. After that Moe spent every possible moment she could by her sister's side. Moe often spent hours at the restaurant where her sister worked. She had finally accepted that her life, however socially unacceptable she was, had meaning. Then the accident happened. Moe and her sister were driving home after work had ended when a speeding pickup truck hit their small electric car, and the next thing she knows, Moe is sitting in a classroom of an unfamiliar school wearing a uniform she had not dressed herself in.
"I must be going crazy." Moe thought to herself. "Either that or I'm dead and this is some sort of personal hell I've been dragged to." As she looked over the edge of the very tall building, Moe had a brilliant idea.
"If I am dead," she said aloud, even though she was sure no one else was listening "I can jump over the edge head first, and nothing will happen to me. I'll just get up and walk away. If I'm not dead, then when I hit the ground I'll die, and I don't have to live in this freakish hell anymore."
Moe thought it was a brilliant plan. As she climbed up onto the ledge and closed her eyes to prepare herself to jump, she heard a voice. This voice clearly did not come from within her own mind considering that it sounded like a boy instead of Moe's own voice.
The voice said, "You're completely wrong you know. Just because you're dead doesn't mean it won't hurt." Moe brushed the warning off as a figment of her imagination and leaped head first off the roof. There was a crushing pain as she hit the ground before Moe blacked out.
Angel Beats! Reunited
Chapter 3
Otonashi
When she woke up, Moe was lying on a bed in a nurse's office. There was no one else around, and judging by the position of the sun, Moe could tell it was the middle of the next day. She got up and left only to find all of the students heading towards the cafeteria again. Moe was quick this time, stealing a meal ticket from a boy with almost pink-colored hair without being noticed. This time though, Moe figured that nothing would be done if she simply acted innocent. Much to Moe's surprise, this boy was not brainless like the others.
"You may not want that," he said, startling Moe.
"Why?" Moe replied, seeing if she could get an answer that did not sound generic.
"It's really spicy." Moe considered it for a second, then quickly handed the ticket back to the boy. "Here, take this one." The boy handed her an extra meal ticket for the same bowl of rice and sushi Moe had eaten yesterday.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. How's your head?"
"Huh?"
"You landed on your head yesterday after jumping off the roof. Are you feeling okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine, but how did you know I jumped off the roof?"
"I was there, telling you not to."
"Wait! That was you? I thought I was just going crazy."
"Well you did jump head first off a roof."
"Pretty crazy." Moe and the boy she had just met went through the lunch line without saying anything else. After receiving their food, Moe followed the boy back to the table where she had sat the previous day.
"So," Moe began after eating in silence for too long. "What's your name?"
"Yuzuru Otonashi. Yours?"
"Moe Honda. Nice to finally meet someone who seems to have a brain."
Otonashi laughed, "The NPC's are really here just to fill space Honda-san. They don't act like humans."
"I gathered that. You can call me Moe by the way. So, what exactly is this place?"
"The Purgatory. This is where people who have died young end up so that they can come to terms with their life before reincarnating."
"Oh, so if I just play along here I'll eventually just disappear."
"Sort of. The souls that come to the Purgatory have to overcome their biggest regrets and come to peace with the fact that they're dead."
"Regrets huh? What if you don't have any?"
"People generally don't end up here if they don't have any regrets. Can you not think of anything?"
"Well, I never had good grades, I always skipped class, and I pretty much avoided doing normal teenage girl stuff but I don't really regret it because I had a fun life."
"I see . . . I'm sure you'll think of something. Most people do."
"Most? What happens to the rest?"
"They find peace and disappear. If you think of anything at all, tell me and I will help you."
"Thanks, Otonashi-kun. I'll let you know as soon as I do."
Otonashi
When she woke up, Moe was lying on a bed in a nurse's office. There was no one else around, and judging by the position of the sun, Moe could tell it was the middle of the next day. She got up and left only to find all of the students heading towards the cafeteria again. Moe was quick this time, stealing a meal ticket from a boy with almost pink-colored hair without being noticed. This time though, Moe figured that nothing would be done if she simply acted innocent. Much to Moe's surprise, this boy was not brainless like the others.
"You may not want that," he said, startling Moe.
"Why?" Moe replied, seeing if she could get an answer that did not sound generic.
"It's really spicy." Moe considered it for a second, then quickly handed the ticket back to the boy. "Here, take this one." The boy handed her an extra meal ticket for the same bowl of rice and sushi Moe had eaten yesterday.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. How's your head?"
"Huh?"
"You landed on your head yesterday after jumping off the roof. Are you feeling okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine, but how did you know I jumped off the roof?"
"I was there, telling you not to."
"Wait! That was you? I thought I was just going crazy."
"Well you did jump head first off a roof."
"Pretty crazy." Moe and the boy she had just met went through the lunch line without saying anything else. After receiving their food, Moe followed the boy back to the table where she had sat the previous day.
"So," Moe began after eating in silence for too long. "What's your name?"
"Yuzuru Otonashi. Yours?"
"Moe Honda. Nice to finally meet someone who seems to have a brain."
Otonashi laughed, "The NPC's are really here just to fill space Honda-san. They don't act like humans."
"I gathered that. You can call me Moe by the way. So, what exactly is this place?"
"The Purgatory. This is where people who have died young end up so that they can come to terms with their life before reincarnating."
"Oh, so if I just play along here I'll eventually just disappear."
"Sort of. The souls that come to the Purgatory have to overcome their biggest regrets and come to peace with the fact that they're dead."
"Regrets huh? What if you don't have any?"
"People generally don't end up here if they don't have any regrets. Can you not think of anything?"
"Well, I never had good grades, I always skipped class, and I pretty much avoided doing normal teenage girl stuff but I don't really regret it because I had a fun life."
"I see . . . I'm sure you'll think of something. Most people do."
"Most? What happens to the rest?"
"They find peace and disappear. If you think of anything at all, tell me and I will help you."
"Thanks, Otonashi-kun. I'll let you know as soon as I do."
Angel Beats! Reunited
Chapter 4
Helping
Moe thought about it all day, and although at first she thought she had no regrets, it did not take long for Moe to find a reason not to just disappear. In her life, even though she felt loved and accepted by the crowd she began to hang out with when she was not in school, she realized that she had not done anything for them. Her sister and her coworkers were always going out of their way to make Moe happy, but Moe never did anything for them in return.
"I'm useless." Moe realized. "I never helped anyone. Not because I couldn't, but because I was too selfish." Knowing that this is what she needed to change, Moe set off to find Otonashi.
Not knowing where to go, Moe asked one of the NPCs which class he was in and got this response: "Otonashi-kaichou is in the student council office." Moe had not been told Otonashi was the student council president, but considering he was the only non-NPC she had come across, Moe wondered why she had not thought of it herself.
When Moe got to the student council office, sure enough, Otonashi was waiting there. He greeted her with a smile as she let herself in. "Have you figured it out?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"So what can I help you with?"
"Okay, so my whole life I've always been helped. Anything I did, I generally messed up and someone always had to come to my rescue. So instead of being useless, I want to help someone."
"Really? That will be easy!"
"How?"
"When people come here, they need help of making sense of everything. They all need help, and I'm the one to help them."
"I see. I can help other kids move on the way you do, and eventually I'll move on myself!"
"That's the plan. We can get started now."
"Okay, how?"
"You go to class."
"Why?"
"Because someone new just got here. They're sitting in the classroom; probably as confused as you were when you got here. Go and watch them. When they decide that they want help, bring them here."
"Got it! Wait, you've been saying 'they'. How many are there?"
"Two. I think they're twins."
"I see. You can count on me!" Moe left for the classroom, and made it just before anyone would have noticed her being late. As Otonashi had said, there were two new girls sitting in desks that had been filled by NPCs the previous day. Moe paid no attention to the teacher and intently watched the two girls who exchanged confused glances frequently. After a while, one of them raised their hand.
"Yes." the teacher called on one of the brown-haired girls.
"Sensei I don't understand what's going on. Didn't the school burn down?"
"Aren't we dead?" the other girl asked.
"You can't possibly expect me to believe that I lived through that!" the first girl was getting frantic. "I burned! I was on fire! I FELT it! I'M DEAD! SO WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?" The other girl began sobbing as her sister became more and more panicked. At that point, Moe decided it was time to step in.
"You're right." she said simply. "You are dead."
"So why are we here? Is this some kind of hell you're sent to when you die?" the frantic girl asked.
"Not exactly. Why don't you follow me and we'll explain."
"We?"
"We." Otonashi answered as he peered in the door. The frantic girl walked to Otonashi. Moe took the hand of the other girl and lead her to the student council office. They waited until the two girls had calmed down before speaking. "I'm Yuzuru Otonashi." Otonashi introduced himself.
"And I'm Moe Honda." Moe added. "What are you names?"
"I'm Akia," the frantic girl replied.
"And I'm Akio," the sobbing girl followed. "How did we end up here?"
"When someone dies young," Otonashi began to explain, "they tend to have regrets about their life. When someone has regrets, they can't move on to be reincarnated until they have done what it was they never got a chance to do."
"Can you two think of anything that you wanted to do but never got done before you died?"
The two thought about it for a moment, and then Akio replied, "We never settled it."
"Never settled what?" Otonashi inquired.
"Our rivalry." Akia explained. "We were both really good at sports, but we disagreed on who was the better twin. We were always on the same team and always practiced together, but we had never really gone up against each other."
"I see. So what sport would you two like to compete each other in?"
"Well, we were both the best at soccer, but you need at least two on a team to play."
"We can play with you!" Moe excitedly volunteered.
"Perfect." The four of them headed to the soccer fields, and Akia played against Akio with Moe and Otonashi as the goalies. It was a close competition, but in the end Akio won.
Even with the victor determined, the girls were not satisfied. They played game after game with Akio coming out the winner each time. The girls were still playing as the sun was setting. At the end of that final game, both agreed that Akio was the better twin when it came to sports.
"Good fight Akia." Akio complemented her sister.
"You too Akio." Akia replied. Then both girls, overcome with exhaustion, collapsed onto the center of the field. They smiled at each other and then they were just gone. Moe was slightly shocked.
"I knew that we disappear," she explained to Otonashi after they had gotten back to the school, "but I didn't know that it would be like that. I thought we'd dissolve into thin air or something like you would see in a movie."
"No," Otonashi responded, "You're there, and then you're gone. Just like that."
"Strange, but you know, I don't think I'm going to leave just yet."
"Why?"
"I mean, sure I helped, but it doesn't seem like I did my best. I'm not too sure, but I know that I'm not entirely satisfied."
"Okay, so stay. I could use some help."
Helping
Moe thought about it all day, and although at first she thought she had no regrets, it did not take long for Moe to find a reason not to just disappear. In her life, even though she felt loved and accepted by the crowd she began to hang out with when she was not in school, she realized that she had not done anything for them. Her sister and her coworkers were always going out of their way to make Moe happy, but Moe never did anything for them in return.
"I'm useless." Moe realized. "I never helped anyone. Not because I couldn't, but because I was too selfish." Knowing that this is what she needed to change, Moe set off to find Otonashi.
Not knowing where to go, Moe asked one of the NPCs which class he was in and got this response: "Otonashi-kaichou is in the student council office." Moe had not been told Otonashi was the student council president, but considering he was the only non-NPC she had come across, Moe wondered why she had not thought of it herself.
When Moe got to the student council office, sure enough, Otonashi was waiting there. He greeted her with a smile as she let herself in. "Have you figured it out?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"So what can I help you with?"
"Okay, so my whole life I've always been helped. Anything I did, I generally messed up and someone always had to come to my rescue. So instead of being useless, I want to help someone."
"Really? That will be easy!"
"How?"
"When people come here, they need help of making sense of everything. They all need help, and I'm the one to help them."
"I see. I can help other kids move on the way you do, and eventually I'll move on myself!"
"That's the plan. We can get started now."
"Okay, how?"
"You go to class."
"Why?"
"Because someone new just got here. They're sitting in the classroom; probably as confused as you were when you got here. Go and watch them. When they decide that they want help, bring them here."
"Got it! Wait, you've been saying 'they'. How many are there?"
"Two. I think they're twins."
"I see. You can count on me!" Moe left for the classroom, and made it just before anyone would have noticed her being late. As Otonashi had said, there were two new girls sitting in desks that had been filled by NPCs the previous day. Moe paid no attention to the teacher and intently watched the two girls who exchanged confused glances frequently. After a while, one of them raised their hand.
"Yes." the teacher called on one of the brown-haired girls.
"Sensei I don't understand what's going on. Didn't the school burn down?"
"Aren't we dead?" the other girl asked.
"You can't possibly expect me to believe that I lived through that!" the first girl was getting frantic. "I burned! I was on fire! I FELT it! I'M DEAD! SO WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?" The other girl began sobbing as her sister became more and more panicked. At that point, Moe decided it was time to step in.
"You're right." she said simply. "You are dead."
"So why are we here? Is this some kind of hell you're sent to when you die?" the frantic girl asked.
"Not exactly. Why don't you follow me and we'll explain."
"We?"
"We." Otonashi answered as he peered in the door. The frantic girl walked to Otonashi. Moe took the hand of the other girl and lead her to the student council office. They waited until the two girls had calmed down before speaking. "I'm Yuzuru Otonashi." Otonashi introduced himself.
"And I'm Moe Honda." Moe added. "What are you names?"
"I'm Akia," the frantic girl replied.
"And I'm Akio," the sobbing girl followed. "How did we end up here?"
"When someone dies young," Otonashi began to explain, "they tend to have regrets about their life. When someone has regrets, they can't move on to be reincarnated until they have done what it was they never got a chance to do."
"Can you two think of anything that you wanted to do but never got done before you died?"
The two thought about it for a moment, and then Akio replied, "We never settled it."
"Never settled what?" Otonashi inquired.
"Our rivalry." Akia explained. "We were both really good at sports, but we disagreed on who was the better twin. We were always on the same team and always practiced together, but we had never really gone up against each other."
"I see. So what sport would you two like to compete each other in?"
"Well, we were both the best at soccer, but you need at least two on a team to play."
"We can play with you!" Moe excitedly volunteered.
"Perfect." The four of them headed to the soccer fields, and Akia played against Akio with Moe and Otonashi as the goalies. It was a close competition, but in the end Akio won.
Even with the victor determined, the girls were not satisfied. They played game after game with Akio coming out the winner each time. The girls were still playing as the sun was setting. At the end of that final game, both agreed that Akio was the better twin when it came to sports.
"Good fight Akia." Akio complemented her sister.
"You too Akio." Akia replied. Then both girls, overcome with exhaustion, collapsed onto the center of the field. They smiled at each other and then they were just gone. Moe was slightly shocked.
"I knew that we disappear," she explained to Otonashi after they had gotten back to the school, "but I didn't know that it would be like that. I thought we'd dissolve into thin air or something like you would see in a movie."
"No," Otonashi responded, "You're there, and then you're gone. Just like that."
"Strange, but you know, I don't think I'm going to leave just yet."
"Why?"
"I mean, sure I helped, but it doesn't seem like I did my best. I'm not too sure, but I know that I'm not entirely satisfied."
"Okay, so stay. I could use some help."
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