Chapter Text
“I’m impressed by how quickly you’ve recovered Fareeha,” Angela said as she was making her way through the diner, prepping for the usual morning run. “But you don’t have to be here every single day!”
“Nonsense.” Fareeha said as she flipped the switch that illuminated the exterior signs to show that yes, indeed they were very open. “This is the family business, and I’m family aren’t I?”
“Moreso than anyone else here.” Angela replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “Least more than I am!”
“Far as I know though, Mother considers everyone here family in some way or another. I’m just top tier family. Special case.” she grinned as the front door opened and Mako made his way in through the doors. Fareeha raised her hand to the large, towering man, smiling as she did. “Mako, good morning!”
“Hey.” he nodded in response to her.
She watches him make his way through to the back kitchen before looking to Angela. Now, she’d grown up with Mako in her life as a large, silent guardian in a way. He had rarely spoken when she was younger, just a looming presence in the town and her mother’s life. Back then she could count on one hand how many times he’d smiled but ever since she came back he had smiled practically every day, had spoken at lengths with people, even joked. It was like he was a different man.
And because he’d found someone, and from what she’d heard, mostly in thanks to the new girl Hana. Amazing what one person could do to alter the lives of others around them.
Speaking of, the doors were pushed open and there was Hana making her way inside. Her first day back on the job after her break for all her exams and the girl looked like she’d gone toe to toe with the world in a fist fight and the world had won. She looked tired, exhausted with every step, as well as utterly heartbroken.
“Hana...!”
Angela was upon her first, hands out stretching to touch the young woman’s arm in concern. “Hana my dear what’s wrong? Are you alright?”
Mako peered through the kitchen server window curiously, raising a brow as Torbjörn made his way into work just a few steps behind Hana. “What’s this then?” he asked, moving around the two women. “Is she okay?”
“I got my results, from my exams.” Hana lamented, voice twinged with emotional pain.
“Oh no.” Fareeha heard Mako mutter.
“Not good?” she asked, leaning forward a little against the counter she’d just wiped down.
“Aw,” lifting his good hand Torbjörn patted Hana on the back. “Don’t fret lass. Every stumbling block can be climbed over. It’ll be all good in the end, you’ll see.”
Hana lifted both of her hands to wipe them against her eyes looking as if she was half ready to cry but she suddenly burst out a sound that made everyone jump. “SIKE!” she young girl grinned widely, before putting her hands on her hips and puffed her chest out. “I passed em!”
The reaction was a collection of groans, rolling eyes, and even a slight smack against her back but they turned into bemused chortles and snorts. “Sorry, I’m sorry I couldn’t resist!” she laughs weakly, before moving to grab the napkins and utensils to lay out on the cleaned table tops.
“I’m glad you passed, Hana.” Fareeha smiled. “Can I ask what your marks were?”
“Ehhhh,” Hana made a face. “They weren’t the best scores in the world I really struggled with some but technically they’re passes and that’s what matters in the end.”
“That’s too true.” Angela smiled.
“Oh!” turning her head, Hana looked at Angela. “You’re in medical school, don’t you have yearly exams too?”
She nodded her head. “I am, and we do.”
“Did you have them recently too?” she asked, suddenly feeling like a bit of a heel for not having asked her. Angela managed herself so well, sometimes she honestly forgot she had multiple jobs, and was studying to become a doctor all at the same time.
Again, Angela nodded. “Don’t worry,” she raised a hand, smiling sweetly. “I passed. I know have a few weeks break, but I am going to use my time to read up on the next semester's circulators and see what I am in store for. I also have to start looking for placements in a hospital as I’m approaching my last year and you always have to be working in a hospital for some parts of your final year of study.”
“Another job?” Hana asked, frowning.
“I may have to drop a few in order to do it. Which sucks, as I won’t be getting paid for it. But,” she sighed, and straightened her shoulders. “This is what I must do to become a doctor. My dream.”
“I wish I had a goal like that.” Hana admitted. “I still don’t know what I’m doing.”
“No shame my dear, no shame.” Angela insisted, patting her shoulder. “We all find our course eventually!”
Right. It was only the first year. Hana still had time to figure things out. Before she could continue her conversation with Angela, the door swung open and the ever so cheerful Officer Oxton strolled in. “Cheers, loves!” she exclaimed. “What’s with the get-together? Is there something going on?”
“Wait, how did you get in?” Hana asked. “We’re not even open yet!”
Ana walked up behind Lena, a hot cup of coffee in hand. “No worries, I treat our regulars extra special. Besides, I bet she would love to hear the good news, wouldn't you Lena?”
Officer Oxton’s smile grew bigger. “Good news, eh? Lemme hear it!”
“I passed ALL my exams!” Hana said cheerfully. “No repeating a year or anything!”
“Ahh that's fantastic! Congratulations!”
Lena pulled Hana into a hug, then lifted herself back up and took the coffee from Ana. “Thank you for the good news and good coffee, but I gotta head on out now. After today, Emily and I are going on vacation!”
“Tell your wife we said hello,” Ana said. “And don't hurt yourself on the way out. Goodness, you're always in such a rush!”
“Congratulations again Hana!” Officer Oxton said as she dashed out the door coffee in hand. As everyone watched Lena sprint passed the windows, Ana laughed. “I don’t know what it is, but you seem to bring out the best in people.”
“What makes you say that?” Hana asked.
“That poor girl works so hard, she hasn't taken a vacation since she joined the force,” Ana told the young waitress. “Not even after she got married. Since meeting you, it seems she’s learning to...slow down I should say.”
“Oh, wow. No joke. But she deserves it!” Hana said with a smile.
“And we think you deserve a little something too,” Fareeha said as she made her way to Hana’s side. Smiling wide, she placed a hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “We’d like to throw a party for you to celebrate your good grades! You could also say it’s your Temporarily Going Away party, too.”
Hana’s face lit up. “You guys wanna do all that for me?”
Fareeha nodded. “My mother and I discussed it last night. She would love to have it here so you had the opportunity to say your good-byes to everyone. And don’t worry, we’ll make sure everyone behaves this time.”
“Wow...we barely had the chance to get to know each other, and you’re being so nice to me!” Hana said in slight shock. “I don’t know if I deserve all of this, but thank you!”
“You’ve done a great deal for my mother and everyone else in this diner, so that tells me enough about how much a good person you are,” Fareeha told Hana. “You’re a hard worker and a kind person, Hana.”
Without hesitation, Hana quickly leaned into Fareeha and pulled the taller woman into a hug. Fareeha was surprised by the gesture at first, but a second later was happily returning it. Ana clicked her tongue contently, and joined the hug circle with a small chuckle. As the three of them broke apart, Ana clasped Hana on her back. “That’s enough of that,” Hana’s boss said. “Back to work, everyone!”
---
The party was a few days away, so Hana spent the time in between working and spending time with friends. As promised, the next day Hana found herself back on the beach with Mako and Jamison in tow. The three of them were currently sitting on the light yellow sand, sitting on a large beach blanket surrounded by different kinds of foods. A large rainbow umbrella sheltered them from the bright hot sun, and the sound of the waves crashing the shore was joined by boisterous chatter.
“I hated my Burger King job when I was sixteen,” Hana said as she scooped herself a decent amount of potato salad onto her paper plate. “So many customers thought they were above me and kept trying to get free stuff out of me. It was so annoying!”
“Oi, I remember when I worked at tha Wendy’s by tha mall,” Jamison rolled his eyes as he bit into his buttery ear of corn. “Lost count ‘ow many times I got told ‘I asked fer the meal not just th’ sandwich!!’ Bah. My hearin’ aid works just fine, thank ye.”
“To be honest, it’s a miracle you even got that job,” Mako chimed in. “You tell employers you’re disabled, and they pretend you never even applied.”
“Sure would be awkward if ol’ Ana told ya that ya couldn’t work at Fareeha’s!” Jamison replied. “What with tha one eye an’ all.”
“Yeah, I learned that lesson a long time ago, so I started keeping things to myself when I fill out applications,” Hana said sadly. “These companies can put ‘we’re an equal employer!’ all over their stuff, but it’s not always true.”
“You’re one of the most blunt people I know,” Mako replied. “Dunno you actually had somethin’ to hide.”
Hana put her untouched plate of food down onto the blanket, and began wringing her hands. “Well, yeah…” she trailed off. “I’ve had my share of problems like anybody else. But, I wanna believe you guys would understand.”
Mako and Jamison shared a look, and put down their own plates. “This have ta do with why ya started school so late?” Jamison asked her. The waitress nodded slowly, and made eye contact with the both of them before taking a deep breath.
“It was already hard enough to balance my schoolwork with my fast food job, but one day I came into work after school and my boss called me into the office. I dunno how, but…” Hana let out a shuddered breath, but pushed herself through it to continue. “She...she said someone told her that I was a- that I was...transitioning for the past six years.”
The two men’s expressions changed to that of pure shock, but stayed silent as they let her continue. “They came up with some dumb excuse to fire me, and the whole thing messed me up for a long time. I was so depressed, I started failing a bunch of classes. I got held back a year. It really sucked.”
Hana sighed again, but she managed a small smile. “But, my parents didn’t give up on me. My dad, especially. He helped me get back up on my feet, and would stay up with me when I studied for tests. My dad is my biggest hero.”
She picked up her plate of food again, and started eating. “But all that bad stuff’s behind me now! I’m a lot happier now, and it’s all thanks to everybody in my life who went out of their way to help me. Like my family, like Lúcio, everybody else at school, at the diner, even you guys!”
Mako gave her a super rare yet genuine smile, and Jamison cackled. “Gettin’ ya all wrapped up in our drama made ya a better person, eh?” Jamison laughed. “Well, what’s life without a lil’ chaos, right Mako?”
“Everyday with you is chaos,” Mako replied to his boyfriend contently. “I can’t even go to bed without you breaking something in the apartment.”
“That was ONE TIME!”
Hana laughed as she watched the couple continue their play fight, Jamison shrieking things and bumping his forehead against Mako’s shoulder while the larger man watched in amusement. Hana had watched these two grow not only as a relationship, but as individuals. It was incredible to think that she even played a small role in their development, and they had gone from looking at each other through a diner service window to sharing a bed at night. Her thoughts turned to Ana and Reinhardt, and how ever since the waitress came into town the two had rekindled their romance. Was Hana like some sort of Secret Cupid? Everyone kept telling her how she had an impact on their lives, but she never really felt the magnitude of it until that very moment.
“Y’alright?” Mako snapped Hana out of her whirling thoughts. Hana nodded her head, and stuffed a slice of potato into her mouth. “A lotta stuff on my mind, that’s all!” she mumbled. Mako didn’t seem very convinced, and leaned forward to place his massive hand over her smaller one that was holding a fork. He pushed her hand down, and commanded her attention.
“Well ya kinda dropped a huge bomb earlier,” Jamison piped up. “Me an’ Mako just wanna make sure yer okay. That ya KNOW yer okay.”
Putting her plate and silverware down again, Hana pulled her hand from Mako’s to wipe at her eyes that were suddenly filled with tears. Tears she didn’t even know she had. “Yeah,” she said. “A lot better than I was earlier this week, that’s for sure.”
“Well,” Jamison reached over to her and placed his good hand to her shoulder for a moment, giving it a squeeze. “That's good, can't go havin’ life mess ya up too much! You're strivin’ for something special after all, just like me! If fact,” he drew back to stroke his chin in contemplative thought. “A lot like me.”
Hana wiped an eye with the back of her hand while Mako handed her a very large handkerchief. Honestly it was big enough to be a baby blanket it felt so huge. “Huh?”
Jamison smiled, though it didn't hold his usual manic energy like it normally did. This was a far more subdued smile, and it looked almost out of place on him. “I'm savin’ my money for somethin’ real important like. I'm gonna be gettin’ myself the top surgery I've been wantin’ since, well. Always!” He erupted into a short burst of laughter. “Finally get ta say goodbye to me binders ‘n hello to a flat chest at last! Mako’s helpin’ me, ya see. He's a right angel from above ain't ya big guy?” He looked to him affectionately, like a schoolboy with a crush.
“Yeah.” Mako replied. “Someone's gotta teach your scrawny ass how to manage your funds better.” Those rough few months where Jamison couldn't even afford his HRT had been Hell on him after all. And as far as Mako was concerned it would never happen again.
Meanwhile, Hana was blown completely out of the water. She had no idea that she was in the same boat as one of her own friends, but mostly due to her knowing it was inappropriate to assume. But the surprise turned into a wave of relief and comfort. She felt less awkward about sharing something so personal, now that she was aware she was in similar company. She picked up her plate again and lifted it towards Mako. “I think I’ll have some of that corn now!” she said happily. Mako grabbed the pair of tongs aside him and grabbed an ear of corn from a container, and brought it over to her plate to place it down on the paper surface.
---
The party for Hana had the same setup as the last; it took place at the diner after hours, and everyone who attended the previous party was invited. Ana even allowed Jack and Gabriel to attend, but on the condition that they don't start another fight or else she would ban them forever. “Mako said he would be more than happy to toss you both out the door,” she had told them. The two old men shared a disgruntled look, but agreed for Ana’s sake.
Reinhardt came bursting into the front door with his signature cheery demeanor, stomping proudly over to the young waitress who sat next to Lúcio at the counter. “Hana my dear!” he bellowed. “Congratulations on a successful semester! I brought you a gift!”
The massive mailman handed a small gift-wrapped box to Hana, and she accepted it with glee. “Aww, you really didn't have to do that! But thank you so much!” she said. Reinhardt just gave her a smile and nod, and gestured for her to open it. Hana began ripping open the gift, and when she opened the small paper box she saw what was hidden inside. It was a heart-shaped locket with a long silver chain, and carved onto the surface were even smaller hearts swirled all the way around. Hana popped the locket open and inspected the insides where there was room to fit two photographs. “Make sure you put two very important people in here,” Reinhardt told her. “That way, they stay close to your heart.”
Hana put the present down to hop off the barstool and pull Reinhardt into a hug. Reinhardt immediately reciprocated it with a hearty laugh. “Thank you, I love and appreciate this so much!” Hana said as she parted from the hug. Reinhardt looked down at her and beamed a bright smile. “That’s not the only surprise I have today, though!” Reinhardt said.
“Another present?!” Hana asked excitedly.
“Something like that, maybe!”
Reinhardt left Hana and Lúcio be, and the two friends made their way around the diner to speak with the others. Torbjörn once again brought his wife Elsa, but they were also accompanied by all of their children. They ran around Hana enthusiastically, calling her pretty or asking her a thousand questions about what college was like. A few of them even knew Lúcio, and begged him to give them a free copy of his next album. As Elsa got her children under control, Torbjörn took Hana by the hands and smiled. “Don't think I would’ve ever gotten Bastion runnin’ have you never walked through these doors,” he said to her. “You’re like this dinner’s own lucky charm! So many wonderful things happened after you joined the crew.”
“Thank you so much for everything Torb,” Hana replied. “Thanks to Bastion, I know every classic song from the 1950’s!”
The two laughed as they hugged, and parted ways to speak to other guests. Next to the couple was Amélie, who made eye contact with Hana and addressed her with no smile but a small nod and a raise of her teacup. Hana responded with a nod of her own as well as a smile, and turned away to keep making her rounds.
Officer Oxton sprinted up to her and Lúcio, her wife Emily in tow. Lena talked excitedly about the vacation she and Emily were about to embark on, and Emily pressed a sweet kiss to her wife’s cheek to get her to relax. Hana and Lúcio giggled at the loving gesture, and said their goodbyes (Lena and Emily’s flight was later that night so they couldn't stay as long as they would have hoped to).
They were then approached by Jesse and Mr. Shimada, and Hana’s teacher appeared to be really enjoying himself. “Oh Ms. Song,” he addressed his student. “Wonderful work on your exams. You should be very proud of your achievements.”
Hana smiled at her teacher’s high praise. “That means a whole lot!” she said. “I studied REALLY hard on your exam, and I'm psyched I got an A!”
Hanzo returned the smile with a rare, genuine one of his own. “You came a long way from when you first started, and I hope you keep up that work ethic next semester. I look forward to teaching you again.”
“Y’know you’re real cute when you're actually nice to your students,” Jesse said with a smirk.
Hanzo swatted Jesse by the arm as the farm boy laughed wholeheartedly. “It's okay darlin’, if you don't want me embarrassing you in front of your students we can go flirt by the punch bowl.”
“You could never embarrass me, Jesse,” Hanzo said, a dreamy look in his eyes. “But, you never shy away from letting others know we’re together.”
Lúcio leaned towards Hana to whisper. “Uh, I think we just stumbled into something private,” he told her. “Think we should leave em be?”
“Yeah, good idea,” Hana whispered back. She brought her attention back to her teacher and his boyfriend, and cleared her throat. “We're gonna keep going around if that's okay! You two enjoy yourselves okay?”
“Certainly,” Hanzo replied with a nod. “Again, a job well done Ms. Song.”
Hana and Lúcio headed over to Satya and Angela, who were in the middle of refilling food trays. Angela had just finished putting down a fresh tray of macaroni and cheese when she looked up and noticed the two friends were in front of her. “Oh! Are you two ready to eat? I’ll serve you!” the doctor-in-training said cheerfully.
“Totally!” Lúcio said as he picked up a paper plate from the edge of the table. “But I do hope you girls get to enjoy the party at some point. It's like you never stopped working!”
“I’m perfectly fine with keeping myself occupied,” said Satya. “Even during recreational events such as these.”
“Did you get to invite Sanjay again, Satya?” Hana asked. “I don't see him anywhere.”
Satya gave the other waitress a small shrug. “Unfortunately, he had to travel for business purposes. But, he sends his love and his congratulations to you.”
Hana smiled. “I hope he comes by again when I come back from summer vacation!” she replied as she handed Satya her plate.
“Your parents must be very excited to have you back home for a few months,” Satya said while scooping mashed potatoes onto Hana’s plate. “Do you have a job back home to keep you busy? I do hope you don't plan on slacking off during your summer vacation.”
“Yeah, actually! My aunt runs a textile shop and I’m going to work for her until I have to come back. She said she’ll even teach me how to sew during slow days,” Hana explained. She took her plate back from Satya and handed it to Angela as soon as Angela was finished serving Lúcio. “I take it Fareeha’s gonna be taking my place while I'm gone?” Hana joked.
“She would, but I don't think she can fit in your uniform!” Angela laughed. “Fareeha actually wishes to find work as soon as she fully recovers, but for now she is perfectly happy helping her mother. She has missed the people of this town, and is taking the opportunity to reconnect with everyone.”
“No matter what she chooses to do, Ana is very proud of her and just happy to have her daughter home,” Satya stated. “Being together again is what truly matters in the end.”
“Oh of course!” Hana said.
Hana and Lúcio thanked Angela and Satya for the food, and stepped away to find a table that wasn't currently occupied.
She easily spotted Jamison, having helped himself to some of the food being offered by Angela and Satya. Somehow she contained a small snort of amusement at just how Satya still begrudgingly put up with Jamison’s general existence. Even with him cleaned up to the best of his abilities it seemed she wasn’t won over by him.
Of all the people in this town to become such good friends with, Hana wouldn’t have expected Jamison to be one. If she’d run into someone as eccentric as him back home, she may have given him a wide berth yet now he was like a brother in arms she couldn’t replace at all. Even with him stuffing some food into his mouth, with his mouth, in front of Angela and Satya. Poor Satya looked like she was about ready to throw up.
Licking his hand, Jamison is led away by Mako who at least knew what should be done in public, but he didn’t look entirely ashamed. If anything he looked amused. No doubt he found Satya being put off just as funny as Jamison did.
“Enjoying the food?” she asked him as Mako walked him past her.
“Too right I am! Even if Mako didn’t make this stuff,” he glances up at his boyfriend, grinning toothily. “This stuff’s pretty sweet.”
“I can’t make everything.” Mako points out. “Otherwise I’d have no down time at all.”
“Can’t be havin’ that now!” Jamie laughs, before turning his attention back to Hana. “Still, what a night! So far no one’s beat up anyone else yet. Already one up the last party this place had huh?”
“That’s for sure.”
“That does make for a far better time, doesn’t it?” Ana had, somehow, snuck up on the group. Just how an older woman like herself could suddenly magic her way in and out of a room was a little mystery. “I’m glad that this one’s going better too. I do not want a repeat of last time.”
Lúcio nodded. “Yeah that didn’t... go so well.”
“The boys are being on their best behaviour.” she replied with the kind of smile only a mother can use. The one that screams authority and respectability and if you dare throw any of it back into her face you’d face Hell and high water.
Still, Hana highly doubted this party would end on such a shock as Fareeha returning from being presumed dead for so long. Now that was one Hell of a way to end a party. She cast a glance towards Jack and Gabe, the two men keeping a respectful distance from one another while clearly uncomfortable with being so close they were still behaving. At least they could be adults for once.
She spotted Reinhardt walking up to talk to Mako about something, clapping a large hand on the just as large man’s shoulder. Hana knew Reinhardt enough to know he was a very talkative man but here he appeared to be whispering something to Mako, whose deadpan expression almost changed a little with a raise of his eyebrows. But he proceeded to nod, before giving Reinhardt a thumbs up.
“Everyone, everyone!” Ana called out, drawing everyone's attention in the room to her as she moved to stand in what was generally accepted as the middle of the diner. She smiled, clasping her hands together. “Now, we are all aware of just why we’re here but just to be sure you’re all paying attention and listening to your elders,” a small joke considering the age range between everybody here. “We are here to thank Hana for all the help she has brought our little diner, and the friendship she brought with us.”
Hana felt her face begin to heat up a little and she brushed some of her hair behind her ear, glancing around with an awkward smile on her face. Jamison caught her eye and gave her two thumbs up, accompanied by one of his patented huge grins that showed off his golden tooth.
“While we’re sorry to see her go we know she won’t be gone for long. And when she does come back for the next school year, Hana dear,” she moved closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Know you are always welcome here and if you still need the work, consider yourself hired immediately.”
“You’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup.” Hana said as firmly as she could, though her voice did give a little tremble despite her best efforts.
“Oh now we wouldn’t want that.” Ana smiled, patting her shoulder gently.
“Three cheers for Hana!!” Jamison suddenly shouted from his seat, going so far to stand up and hold aloft his drink, ultimately spilling most of it on him in his excitement.
“Oh my god no-” Hana started.
“Aw yeah!” Lúcio chimed in excitedly, “C’mon, everyone!”
Hana had to cover her face as she felt like it was about ready to melt off and that was before the literal cheering began. She’d never been the centre of this kind of attention; sure she’d have people cheering her on in her twitch streams but that was so very different compared to being right here to hear their cheers and clapping. She felt like she might as well melt into a puddle of goo on the floor, only to be cleaned up by Mako or Satya.
Laughing softly, Ana helped Hana to her seat. “Here here, before you die of embarrassment.”
Grumbling was the only answer she got, while Lúcio approached his friend and offered her a drink as a peace treaty.
“Ana,” Reinhardt had approached during this time. “I was wondering if I could ask you something!”
Blinking, Ana turned her attention to the towering mail man, smiling softly. “Of course Reinhardt.”
“Well!” he stroked at his bearded chin, “I know that this is Hana’s going away party and a big thanks to her for all she’s brought us but I feel as though now is good a time as ever to do this. Also, to take the heat off the poor girl!”
“I’m not that weak!” Hana complained, face still pink.
“Reinhardt?” Ana asked, cautiously, as she watched him reach into his back pocket and get himself down onto one knee. Doing so, put him more or less eye to eye with her but only if he slouched a little. He was a big guy, after all.
“Ana Amari,” large hands opened a velvet box revealing a very simple, but still elegant, looking ring. “I know you aren’t one to mince words so I’ll get right to it. Will you marry me?”
The atmosphere in the diner did a one eighty. Exuberance turned to shock, and Hana was sure she could hear Jamison vibrating from where he sat, gripping tightly onto Mako as he watched this unfold. Fareeha was stood to the side, watching this with a surprised expression but she didn’t seem overly shocked. Her mother had told her about how close she and Reinhardt had gotten, how he had helped her through some terribly painful times. And who wouldn’t want their mother to get with a huge beefcake of a man like that?
Ana stared at him in silence. Little did everyone here know the two had discussed getting married many times in the past. Neither were the type to mess around, or hide one’s feelings or intentions with somebody. Ana had spoken of how it would be lovely, and that if he ever felt it necessary he could make a big show and propose to her or they could do it quietly and announce their wedding to friends later. It seemed as though the brash old man had chosen the first option, so typical of him.
She loved it.
“Reinhardt,” she smiled as she reached out and placed both her hands onto his, which still held that velvet box. “Nothing would bring me greater pleasure.”
—
“You sure you got everything in there?” Lúcio asked Hana as he gestured to her gigantic suitcase.
“I hope so! Otherwise I’m gonna have to fly back and break into my old dorm room,” Hana replied as she patted the top of the suitcase.
Accompanied by Genji (who drove the three of them to the airport), Lúcio wanted to wish Hana good-bye before she boarded her flight. Her plane wasn’t boarding for the next half hour, so they had time to grab some snacks and converse amongst each other. Hana was glad that Genji got to spend a little time with them, she felt like she didn’t know him very well and she was starting to learn how funny and charming he was. It was no wonder Lúcio befriended the guy, and based on the looks the two men gave each other Hana wondered if there was a little something more. But she would just have to pry for info when she came back next semester.
Hana looked at the time on her phone display, then looked over to Genji and Lúcio with a sad look. “Well...looks like it’s time for me to go,” she said. She needed time to go through security and find her boarding area, but hated that time moved so quickly. She stood up from her seat and pulled out the handle on top of her suitcase. She took a deep breath, realization hitting her that she was really leaving.
Lúcio shot up from his seat and pulled Hana into a big hug. “You better text me as soon as you land, okay?” he said to her. There was a bit of a warble in his voice, and Hana wondered if he was trying to bite back tears as well. “I’m gonna miss you a whole lot. I’m gonna go to the diner more often and wish you were back already!”
Hana hugged the smaller man back, and smiled. “I’m gonna send you the silliest cat pictures everyday, and I’ll be back in town before you know it.”
“Mind if I get in on this?” Genji asked as he walked over to the two friends. Hana and Lúcio laughed as they partially separated to let Genji join in on the now-group hug. A minute passed, and Hana broke the hug so she could collect herself and head her way through security. “Well…good-bye for now!!” she said with a wave. Lúcio and Genji waves back at her, and she grabbed her suitcase and made her way to the other side.
As she handed the TSA officer her ID card and plane ticket, she began to reminisce on her first college semester. She thought about everything that happened- working at the diner, meeting and befriending Lúcio, getting Jamison and Mako together, meeting Ana’s presumed-dead daughter Fareeha, getting punched in the face, opening up about herself, and all the tidbits in between. Hana was now heading onto the plane and everyone’s faces flashed through her memory. They all loved and cared for her, and God knew she was going to miss them. Hana sat down at her window seat after sliding her carry on luggage into the compartment above, and stared outside. She was heading home, back to her parents’ house. Her first home. Hana smiled to herself.
She thought about visiting a diner after she made it home.