Chapter Text
Fan art of Shigeru by me!
One might assume, after being consistently dumped by shallow jerks with pretty faces, Nene would have learned to be more careful with the boys she chased after.
One would be wrong.
That same relentless optimism and desire for true love that had first driven her to summon a ghost to grant her wish hadn’t faded. It might have even grown stronger.
That’s why, when Tanaka Shigeru from the class above her asked her out on a date, she was over the moon.
“There’s a summer festival coming up next week,” he had said in a deep, timbre voice. “Maybe you’d wanna come with me?”
Everything had been a bit of a blur after than—but Nene was certain she had managed to squeak out a “yes” at some point,
Shigeru was a nice guy.
At least, she thought he was. She didn’t know him that well. But he had shiny navy blue hair that fell across his forehead in graceful waves. Sharp eyes seemed to cut into her very soul and his perfectly chiseled jaw moved so elegantly with every word he spoke that she often forgot to listen.
Either way, Shigeru was perfect for her—now she could at least wave goodbye to the notion that she was just an unlovable daikon who could never find romance.
Of course, Nene had then gone blethering about this to everyone she knew.
Literally.
Everyone had responded more or less typically.
Aoi had been very enthusiastic in her congratulations, while Akane saw this as an opportunity to confess himself—and get rejected, of course.
Kou extremely supportive as well, and Sosuki even offered to tail them on their date to take pictures (which, though Nene was touched, she ultimately refused).
Hanako had been sulky for the entire day.
As dramatic as a five year old, he whined that she wasn’t going to have time to clean bathrooms and change rumors if she wasn’t too busy making out with her new boyfriend.
To which Nene had to patiently explain that, per their contract, she would always be there to help him if needed, and that Shigeru was not her boyfriend (yet, but hopefully soon).
Oddly enough, Hanako hadn’t looked reassured.
～笑ってにもっと可愛いな～
When the day if the fated date finally arrived, Nene was already exhausted.
She hadn’t slept at all the previous night; too busy second-guessing what outfit she would wear. Then, she got up at the crack of dawn to put on a butter yellow sundress with a sea foam belt and open sandals. Her long hair had been meticulously woven into milkmaid braids, with just a few strands falling loose to frame her face.
But all her hard work would be worth it.
Because Shigeru was waiting for her at the festival’s entrance, looking so refined, yet casual in a dark hoodie and jeans that Nene almost fainted on the spot.
Somehow, she managed to hang on to consciousness long enough for them to walk through the stalls together.
Just that in itself was magical—until a large hand closed firmly around her smaller one. Blushing into the ultraviolet spectrum, she realized that Shigeru had taken her hand.
She was holding hands with a hot guy!
On a real date!
If this is a dream, don’t wake me up, Nene thought, starry-eyed. It was just like she always imagined it would be.
Belatedly, she realized that her palm was starting to sweat.
Nene naturally had warm hands, and Shigeru’s hand was warm as well, so the grasp of his fingers was starting to feel suffocating instead of embracing.
His hands are so warm, not like Hanako-kun’s, Nene couldn’t help but think.
The ghost’s hands were cold and smooth. But the icy touch didn’t bother her, it was comforting; especially when he gently laced his fingers through hers.
Nene shook her head furiously.
No, no, no!
She was on her first honest-to-goodness date! She couldn’t afford to let herself get distracted by apparitions right now. This was absolutely not the time to be thinking about Hanako, of all people.
After a lovely couple hours, they reached the end of the fair.
Standing in the parking lot, Shigeru stared off into the distance, apparently deep in thought. Hands tucked into his pockets and hair swaying lightly in the breeze, he looked even more prince-like than before.
Nene’s hand twitched towards her purse, debating whether or not to risk a quick swipe of lipgloss while his back was turned. After all, the end of the date was the most likely time for a kiss.
“Nene-chan,” Shigeru said abruptly, knocking her from her thoughts. “I need to tell you something.”
Oh, so maybe no goodbye kiss? But perhaps he was the reserved polite guy who didn’t kiss until the third date.
What a gentleman.
“Hai, what is it?” Nene said shyly, thinking that he was about to ask her on a second date. Of course, given today’s success, they would definitely be going on a second date.
Tsuchigomori’s book had been wrong after all. She had gotten through her first date with a wonderful buy and absolutely no derogatory remarks about her legs.
Take that, fate!
She felt as light as the clouds. It was as if that entire afternoon had taken place inside a perfect snow globe, detached from reality. It was just the two of them in their own little world.
“Gomen, Nene-chan, but this just isn’t going to work,” Shigeru said bluntly.
The snow globe cracked.
“H-huh?” Nene blinked, fully convinced that she must have misheard something.
“This isn’t going to work,” Shigeru repeated. “Listen, you’re a nice girl and all, but you’re legs are just too fat.”
The damned book had been right after all.
“B-but you knew what my legs looked like before you asked me out,” Nene said, trying to fight the tears pressing up behind her eyes.
“Yeah, I was trying to go for something difficult,” Shigeru explained. “My last exe told me that I was too shallow, so I wanted to prove her wrong by going out with an ugly girl.”
He paused, scratching his cheek thoughtfully. “But I guess she was right about me, I just can’t put up with an ugly daikon as my girlfriend. You understand, don’t you?” He shrugged and walked away, throwing one last wave over his shoulder.
“Sayonara.”
Nene was left standing alone in the middle of the pavement, feeling horribly lost.
It seemed that she hadn’t been able to change her fate after all.
～笑ってにもっと可愛いな～
While Nene was getting rejected, Hanako couldn’t say that he was having a great day either.
For one, he was unsure what to do with himself. He had grown so accustomed to Nene coming to the bathroom after school that he didn’t know what to do without her.
So, the seventh wonder leaned forlornly against the windowsill, resting his chin on his crossed arms. He sighed, definitely not sulking over fact that his assistant was out on a date with a boy he didn’t even know.
Because why would he sulk about that?
There was absolutely nothing to sulk about.
Nene might have been his contracted assistant, but she was her own person. She was totally free to go date random boys, and then hold hands in public with said boys … maybe even kiss—
He gripped the windowsill so hard that the wood threatened to splinter under his fingers.
“Hey, Hanako!” Kou popped his head ‘round the doorway. “There are some low-level supernaturals causing trouble in the art room.”
“Hm?” the ghost hummed distractedly, not turning around. “Okay then, go deal with it.”
That made Kou pause. “Really? You don’t want to come along?” Usually, the other boy made such a big deal out of “working together as a team”, and all that.
“You’re an exorcist, you can handle it,” Hanako replied in that same disinterested tone.
Kou was startled for a moment—then beamed. Could this mean that the ghost was starting to trust his abilities?
“No.3, go with him and make sure he doesn’t get himself killed,” Hanako continued dully.
Kou sighed.
“Why me?!” Mitsuba shrieked, popping her head out of one of the bathroom mirrors.
“Do you want me to repeat myself?” Hanako asked slowly, finally snapping out of his stupor long enough to give her a dark glare.
“No, sir! Understood, sir!” Mitsuba squeaked, hurriedly pulling herself out of the mirror to follow Kou.
She even saluted before she left.
Not that Hanako noticed because he had already slipped back into his haze of self-induced depression.
The moment they were farther down the hallway and out of earshot, Sosuki let her shoulders slump as she sighed. “For all our sakes, I hope Daikon-senpai’s date isn’t going well.”
Kou turned to his friend in surprise. “Why would you say that? You were all supportive yesterday—you even offered to take pictures!”
“I said it, but it didn’t mean it!” Sosuki snapped. “And the picture offer was just so I could hopefully get the guy at a bad angle.”
“But why?” Kou repeated in utter bewilderment.
Mitsuba just stared at him like he was a toddler trying to attempt calculus. “Because if Daikon-senpai gets a boyfriend, then No.7-sama will be in a foul mood—and he’s going to take it out on everyone else. Mainly me! Because I’m frail and easy to take advantage of!”
“Oh come on,” Kou said, trying to defuse the situation. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting here? Hanako wouldn’t …” he trailed off. “Okay, maybe he would.”
Sosuki sighed.
～笑ってにもっと可愛いな~
The next day, Nene made sure to plaster on a bright smile before she went to school. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to know that she had been dumped in the worst way possible.
So she just kept her head down in class, shrugging when Aoi asked how the date went and explaining to Kou that she and Shigeru just weren’t a good match.
It might have been her imagination, but Nene swore she heard a sigh of relief coming from a small mirror on the wall.
It was exhausting though, having to force some cheer and tell everyone that she was fine—when, on the inside, Shigeru’s cruel words replayed in her mind like a warped record. By the time lunch was over, her smile was tired and trembling slightly at the edges.
But the worst was yet to come.
Because she still had to meet Hanako.
At first, Nene seriously considered not showing up. Of all people, lying to Hanako was just the hardest. She always told him everything (even if that sentiment wasn’t mutual). And he always knew how to prod the truth out of her, if necessary.
And she might not be able to stop herself from crying if she had to admit what really happened.
She didn’t want Hanako to see her cry. Not because she feared his teasing. Far from it, he was surprisingly sensitive when he knew she was genuinely upset.
But … she didn’t wan to burden him.
He had so much going on with being the leader of the school mysteries, and making sure everyone was safe. A high schooler getting her heart broken on her first date was the least of his worries.
Nene checked her smile one more time in a pocket mirror (still looking good), before she entered the bathroom.
Immediately, a weight cannoned into her, almost knocking her to the ground.
“Yashiro, you’re back!” Hanako cried, voice muffled by her hair. He was currently clinging to her tightly, like a koala bear to its home tree.
“Yes, I’m back,” Nene gasped out. “But that’s a little tight; I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry, sorry,” the ghost loosed his grip, but didn’t let her go entirely; instead he snuggled her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. He pouted. “I’m just glad you’re back, I don’t like having to share my assistant. Now that you’ve got pretty boy over there, I bet you’ll be going on dates all the time and leaving me all by my lonesome.”
As soon as the words were out, Hanako winced.
That was a little too close to the actual truth.
Nene seemed to take a deep breath—then smiled. “Well, you don’t have to worry about Tanaka-san, we aren’t together.”
“You aren’t?” Hanako immediately perked up, trying to squash down the rising hopefulness before it appeared on his expression. “But you were so excited before—did something happen?”
“Oh no, nothing at all,” Nene said airily. “We just didn’t get along that well—we didn’t have much in common, so the conversation was awkward. We decided that we wouldn’t work well together.”
She went to pick up her mop.
“I see.” Hanako floated idly back to the window. “Sorry it didn’t work out.”
He wasn’t really sorry.
“But at least I won’t have to worry about losing my employees for now. And I so generously gave you yesterday off, but you’re going to make up for that today. I want the floor spotless, so move those daikon legs!”
Nene stiffened, grip tightening on the mop’s handle.
“I just can’t put up with an ugly daikon as my girlfriend.”
Hanako was just stretching out on the windowsill when he heard a quiet sniffle. Turning, he gasped when he saw crystal tears sliding down Nene’s cheeks.
Naturally, he panicked.
What had he done wrong? Usually, a teasing comment like that would have earned him a huff and an exasperated glare. At worst, maybe a headbutt.
But she shouldn’t have cried.
Because Hanako would never, ever intentionally do anything to make her cry. He had already learned through his previous social blunders that making his assistant cry was objectively the worst thing in the world.
“G-gomen!” Hanako apologized frantically. He quickly floated over to put a hand on her shoulder—then decided against it and retracted his arm. “It was just a stupid joke, I didn’t mean to make you upset, I swear!”
“I know,” Nene said, angry with herself as she dried her face. Now she had made her best friend feel bad too. “It wasn’t you, really it wasn’t.”
“Then what was it?” Hanako asked, pressing his face up to hers.
Nene took one looked into the ghost’s deep amber eyes and knew she wouldn’t be able to lie to him. “It was Tanaka-san. We didn’t actually part ways. He … he dumped me.”
Hanako’s aura darker considerably.
“He. Did. What?” he spat murderously, slowly pronouncing every word.
“I just don’t understand,” Nene wailed, burying her face in her hands. “The date went really well until the end. Then he just up and told me he only went out with me because I was an ugly daikon. I-I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bother you with all this—”
She gasped as she was suddenly enveloped by a strong embrace.
Hanako had pulled her into a hug, both arms tightly wrapped around her back, keeping her close to him. He had levitated slightly so that he was tall enough to tuck her head under his chin.
Instantly comforted by the familiar feeling of cold arms around her, Nene relaxed into her friend’s embrace and pressed her face into his chest. “I know it’s a stupid thing to cry about,” she hiccuped. “It’s just a boy. But … it was my first date and I was so excited. I thought someone was finally seeing me. But I guess that’s too much to hope for. Maybe there’s something wrong with me. That’s why no guy would ever want to go out with me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Hanako said firmly, running his fingers through her long hair. “You’ve got so much amazing stuff going for you. You can cook, sew and grow just about anything. You’re funny and strong and cute when you smile. Any guy would be beyond lucky to have you.”
“Really?” Nene asked in a small voice voice.
“Definitely,” Hanako insisted, though he had to briefly pause and swallow the lump growing in his throat. “Your only problem is that you go after the wrong type of guy. You need to find someone who will appreciate you for the awesome person you are. Because you deserve someone who will love you more than anything in the world.”
“I really am sorry for bothering you though …” Nene reluctantly attempting to ease out of the ghost’s cold embrace—but he kept her close.
“Don’t apologize,” Hanako murmured. “You can stay here until you stop crying.”
Nene wanted to protest more: that this really wasn’t a big deal, she shouldn’t have even brought it up …
But she couldn’t bring herself to.
Because, the moment the cool arms had tucked around her, she melted. Curled up against the familiar still chest brought a comforting security that she had been craving.
She was with Hanako—she was safe.
And with that, the dam fully broke.
Grasping fistfuls of his thick jacket material, Nene cried. Not the hesitant, suppressed tears of before—but deeper sobs that had been pressing against her consciousness ever since she had watched Shigeru walk away. But it was okay, she could break down with the reassurance that Hanako would protect her.
He hadn’t spoken since hugging her—and there was a reason for that.
True, the gesture had been mainly to comfort her, it also served the partial purpose of calming himself down as well. Nene needed right now, so he needed to be there for her. It wouldn’t help her to go into a fit of rage.
That could wait until later.
But still, the ire wasn’t easy to contain. Not when Hanako was sitting with his back against the wall, and Nene crying in his arms. She didn’t deserve this—she deserved all the love and joy and happiness the world had to offer. She deserved a kind, handsome living boy who could make her smile each and every day.
It was all that kid’s fault—Shigeru, was his name?
He had told Nene she was ugly, was he blind?!
Couldn’t he see how soft and fluffy her hair was, gleaming in the sunlight like an ethereal fairy? Or her round eyes that glittered like garnets and reflected the world with an innocent wonder? Or what about her thick, smooth legs that tapered perfectly at her ankles with a gentle curve?
How could someone be so stupid as to not appreciate such beauty?!
Nene whimpered again, pressing her face into his shoulder.
Taking a steadying breath, Hanako tried to focus on keeping his gestures gentle. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with the utmost care, being as gentle as his clumsy fingers knew how. Inside, he was absolutely seething. Feeling the girl’s delicate back shudder with every sob only fueled the wrath burning in the pit of his stomach.
She was suffering—all because of him.
How dare he do this to her?
As much as Hanako believed in a hands-off approach to his job, there were a few things he couldn’t let slide: going against the rules of the world, supernaturals actively endangering human lives, and making Nene cry.
None of these crimes could be tolerated.
Especially the last one.
Before he knew it, Hanako found himself already plotting Tanaka Shigeru’s untimely demise. Unfortunately though, he couldn’t put any of those wonderful ideas into action. He was still technically on probation for the last time he killed someone.
Still, that didn’t mean the obnoxious brat was going to get away with this—there would be hell to pay, Hanako would see to that personally.
But, again, that could wait.
“Haku-Joudai,” Hanako murmured, coaxing the green orb to summon his cape.
Nene was still sniffling when she felt the thick, woolen material drape over her shoulders. “Thanks …” she sighed, feeling exhausted, but lighter. “I feel better now.”
“You sure?” Hanako asked, not releasing his secure hold just yet.
“Mhm.” Nene nodded, the warm of the ghost’s cape melding with the coolness of his body against hers. “I’m sorry you had to see me crying over a boy like that—you probably think I’m ridiculous.”
“Yeah, I do,” Hanako confirmed without missing a beat.
Nene twisted in his arms to look up at him in shock—only to find him grinning.
“You’re always ridiculous, Yashiro. It’s what makes you, you.”
It wasn’t exactly the most encouraging pick-up line, but it was perfect. And, for the first time that day, Nene laughed.
～悪ってにもっと可愛いな~
When Nene woke up the next morning to butter-yellow sunlight streaming in through her pastel-pink curtains, she had to think for a moment to pinpoint what exactly felt different about today.
Then she remembered Shigeru.
While the night after his rejection had been a mess of nightmares involving dancing radishes, this one had been peaceful. She almost forgot about him entirely.
It was like the memory of his hurtful words had been washed away and replaced with lighter recollections: Hanako holding her close, whispering reassurances and wrapping his cloak around her.
With those happy memories filed away, Nene bounced downstairs to have a typical breakfast. By “typical” she of course meant some strawberry jam swiped hastily on a piece of toast that was shoved into her mouth as she jogged out the door and to school.
One of these days, she swore, she’d wake up on time.
From then on, it was just school as usual: classes, pop-quizzes that no one asked for and a grant total of three failed confessions from Akane. It felt almost soothing in its normality, as though the world was right again.
Nene talked to her friends easily, laughed with Aoi, and smiled with no difficulty whatsoever. That heavy weight that had pressed down on her shoulders ever since Shigeru’s rejection has completely dropped away.
It’s all thanks to Hanako-kun, Nene thought, staring out the window during literature. He was so kind to me yesterday. It’s because of him that I’m back to my old self now.
She should do something to thank him—maybe bake doughnuts in home economics? Yes, he’d like that.
However, halfway through the class, the door crashed open and in strutted none other than Tanaka Shigeru.
Though, “strutted” might have been a generous word. His steps were unsteady, arms dangling stiffly by his sides, as if he were unused to the length of his own limbs.
“Tanaka-kun?” The lecturer paused at the chalkboard. “Did you need something?”
Ignoring her entirely, Shigeru teetered over before falling to his knees right beside Nene’s desk. “Nene-chan, please I need you to hear me out.”
Why did his usually timber voice sound slightly higher and a little … raspy?
He grabbed her hand in both of his—those warm, rough hands just a bit cooler than she remembered.
“Tanaka-san,” Nene began hesitantly. “What are you—” and then she gasped when he raised his head. Because his almond eyes weren’t their normal brown.
They were amber.
A very familiar shade of amber.
“Hanako-kun?!” Nene hissed.
Hanako—or, Hanako currently inhabiting Shigeru’s body, gave her a cheeky wink. “Just play along,” he whispered. In a louder, overly dramatic voice, he shouted. “Nene-chan, I’m deeply in love with you!”
Nene hesitated, unsure if she should be happy that Hanako was saying that—or annoyed that he was saying it while puppet-mastering her ex boyfriend.
“I know you totally dumped me after I was so horrible to you,” ‘Shigeru’ continued. “Like ignoring you, ogling hot chicks and making you pay for everything—but please take me back! I’m nothing without you!”
He broke down sobbing loudly—but ducking his head to subtly apply eye drops for a more realistic performance.
“Tanaka-san,” Nene started awkwardly, aware of everyone watching. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’re right for each other.
Hanako pulled Shigeru’s face into a comically anguished grimace. “But you’re the most amazing girl I’ve ever met! I’ll never find anyone as perfect as you—my life is over!”
The entire class was now murmuring to themselves, looking genuinely concerned that they boy might have gone insane.
Nene was the only one who saw the shadowy figure pulling itself out of Shigeru’s body.
The boy blinked, rubbing his forehead as his eyes faded back to brown. “What happened? What’s going on?” he mumbled under his breath. Then he registered his position. “Daikon-girl?” he blinked dumbly.
“TANAKA SHIGERU!” The literature teacher thundered. She had swelled up not unlike a toad and was absolutely livid. “What is the meaning of this unsightly behavior?!”
““S-sensei?” Shigeru stammered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What am I even doing here?”
“Interrupting class and harassing a student, we’ll see what the principal has to say about this!” the woman boomed, grabbing the boy by his ear and quite literally dragging him out of the classroom.
The boy’s pained and confused screams echoed through the halls as he was escorted unceremoniously to the principal’s office to decide his fate.
The entire classroom burst into conversations.
“What a crackpot,” Aoi said, leaning over to his friend’s desk. “To think, he treated you so poorly and you still lied and called it a mutual breakup to spare his pride! You could do so much better than him!”
“I would never dream of treating you like that Ao-chan,” Akane cut in.
“Four points,” Aoi sighed. “Your timing was off.”
Akane slumped at his desk.
Nene took the moment of distraction to turn to the ghost who was floating beside her, trying unsuccessfully to suppress his cackles behind his hand. “That was mean, Hanako-kun. The poor guy’s going to be in detention for a week because of that.”
“He’d deserve it,” Hanako declared, grinning wickedly. “I couldn’t let him get away with making you cry like that.”
Nene smiled, touched. “Thanks for standing up for me. And not just for that, but for being there for me yesterday. It’s almost like you’re my guardian ghost.”
The seventh wonder beamed and tipped his cap. “All in a guardian ghost’s job!” he chirped. “Besides, I don’t like it when you cry. You’re cuter when you smile.”
Nene looked down, playing with her pencil shyly.
She froze at the feeling of cold lips pressed into the curve of her cheek. Blood rushed up to her face, making it burn a bright pink.
Hanako snickered. “You’re even cuter when you blush.”
Very well.
Two could play at that game.
Gathering her nerve (and giving a quick check to ensure that no one was looking) Nene leaned forward and stole a quick kiss on the ghost’s lips.
Stunned by her unusual boldness, Hanako was left mouth agape, his translucent cheeks quickly turning crimson.
Taking a page out of his book, Nene gave a snicker of her own. “You’re cuter when you blush too, Hanako-kun.”