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Oh well.
This sure wasn't how Hanako imagined their picnic to turn out. One minute, him and Yashiro were chatting and eating donuts. In the other one, Nene was sleeping. Hanako shook his head.
Silly Yashiro.
First arranging the picnic so they both can have a good time and then just falling asleep. Just like that. Leaving him alone. How could that happen?
Not that Hanako minded, now he could watch her features and her face without having her scold him for being a pervert and creep.
The first thing he figured is that she looks so peaceful. The dim light of the sunset let her look even softer. So sweet. Her skin tone seemed to be more peachy. The green tips of her hair more ghostly. But still oddly satisfying to look at.
So. Beautiful.
The supernatural stood up and lazily floated above her, legs tugged up behind him, so he could see and recognize each unique part of her face better. Like her nose is actually smaller and rounder than during daylight. A desire to poke it rose in Hanako. And her parted lips. They look so soft. But he resisted. Not risking to wake her up. She deserved to rest.
Hakujoudai hovered just above him, not quite sure where they could float.
"Hhmm", Hanako hummed in thoughts, his lips twitching up in a lopsided smile.
Do we know each other for this long again?, he wondered. The supernatural reached out his hand. It carefully stroked her cheek -as careful as possible as if he is afraid that she would shatter at any second by his touch- and wiped a strand of hair out of her face.
Yashiro, if only...
His hand stilled in the process, smile dropping as quickly as it came, as one depressing thought striked him again like a burning lightning, leaving only a sad expression on Hanako's face.
Slowly did he retract his hand and folded it with his other hand in front of his chest as a reaction to that thought. An old habit, it seemed. To comfort himself.
Hanako sighed, a long and lifeless sigh of defeat.
Why does she have to die so soon? What can I do to prevent this from happening? He questioned this himself every single minute he has to spend in the near shore as School Mystery No.7. Yet he can't find an answer. If only it would be so easy.
At least Yashiro didn't know about it. It's better that way. For everyone.
A beautiful being like her... should be able to live forever. Closing his eyes, Hanako floated to the other side of the roof, his gaze falling onto the city. He couldn't bear looking at her any longer. Wind came up. The soft breeze would tickle him if he weren't dead, now it's just a faint feeling running through him. Sometimes he misses this feeling.
Being alive.
Having the wind rustle his hair. The sun burning his eyes and skin. The cold shaking him. The coldness he always carries around feels... Off. But at least it reminds him of his duty.
His eyes darkened, looking into nothing.
How great it would be to spend his life with her. Going together to school. Studying together. Maybe having sleepovers too.
It's just a foolish dream of his. This could never ever come true. He is dead.
And once you are dead... You can't come back to life.
It would be easier to die for a human. And for some people, death really wouldn't be so bad.
But...
She just... can't die, no matter what he wants. In the worst case she might end up like him, thanks to the bond caused by the mermaid scales. An existence in the near shore without a future. Without hope. Without release. Just endless suffering.
Nene is the only one making him feel alive. He still couldn't feel the wind or the heat of the sun, but he feels normal around her. Joy. Friendship. Love. Yashiro taught him those feelings again. They became vivid because of her.
Hanako-San of the toilet slowly turned his head to the girl. A faint and sad yet soft smile was making him look like a lost and homeless child -Only waiting for someone to take him in and love him.
"See, Yashiro? This is what bothers me when you don't distract me", he whispered more to himself than to anyone else.