The Playground Keeper

 ( Yuuko's POV )

After the events of this morning, I was unable to pay attention at school, and I probably looked even more lost than usual, as the others were laughing or pointing at me more noticeably than usual. But I didn't really care anymore. The only thing I saw in front of me was Hanako-san's angry, sad, and indeed deeply hurt face, as he looked at me this morning with his arms folded and clearly refusing any help....I don't think I'll ever understand these stupid boys....they jump at each other over the smallest thing, and they never seem to be able to talk, they just act tough....however, I wasn't just worried about Hanako-san.

During the third break, as I was packing my things out of my locker, I noticed Yosuke leaning against one of the radiators at the end of the hallway, looking visibly angry... His nose was covered in a large white bandage, and as he was eagerly explaining to some of his friends standing next to him, it became apparent that he was indeed missing one of his canines... So Hanako-san is really that strong...? 

I was angry at him for being so rude to me, and my heart broke when I looked at his injuries, but I couldn't forget how kind he was to me and yet he saved me without asking. I just couldn't help but think of him as a really cool guy, even if his past and what had happened to him was a complete mystery to me.  

,,Hanako-san....I wish you had said more...I wish I knew what hurts so much...I want to help you so much....!,, I muttered in confusion, then I heard Yosuke's sneakers footsteps behind me, and with a big sigh I squeezed myself into my locker next to the books. I didn't want to run into him after what had happened, terrified of what he would do if I were alone in front of him again....I held my breath as he passed by my locker, and I was grateful that he didn't notice. However, when I heard his muffled mumbling, for a moment I felt like I was turning to stone.... ,,Hanako-san...if I ever see your face again....I swear you'll regret it!,, 

His words hit me like punch in the gut, but I knew I can't be the same helpless and scaredy girl like before, if I want to help Hanako-san, and find out what happened with him in the past. And after today's fight, I might need to stop truly worrying about him....he was strong, like really. But I was so pointless about what to do...seriously, how can you convince a ghost to speak? And more importantly, a boy to speak? 

I slowly walked back to my class, while I was thinking on the solution, but the only one I knew with experience in these kind of things, was nee-san. ,,No, there's no way you can ask Rui for help!,, whispered the little voice in my mind, as I sat down to my place. ,,You remember how she reacted when she found out that you were talking to a boy, right? She'll assume that you have a crush...!,, I sighed. ,,I don't have a crush on Hanako-san....Ouch!,, I mumbled to myself, then I gently slapped myself in the face for thinking this, but it was a bit too strong. I have never been in love, the feelings in my are just because of my anxiety.....my face turns red around everybody, and I was trembling among others all the time....this has nothing to do with Hanako-san! 

But...the more of I thought about it, something became much and much sure, wich I couldn't deny, even if I wanted to. When yesterday, Hanako touched my hand when we met, my heart started to beat stronger, and I felt some warmth inside of me, wich was quite unusual. Maybe....deep inside my heart....a little bit....maybe I  felt something wich people calls love. 

,,But it would be so impossible, of course! Like....a kitsune and a ghost?! I've seen unusual yokai relationships before, but this would still count as strange. And not if Hanako-san would ever call me on a date....where could we go, anyway? Another bathroom...?,,  I closed my eyes. If someone would ever ask me about my desired date place, I would say a park full of cherry trees.....or a café full of sweets. I also heard ghosts can only consume food if it's a direct offering for them, and I love baking. So I would make cookies for Hanako-san...,, 

And with all of that, my eyes opened up, and I shouted, as I've found the perfect solution. ,,Yes! I will make cookies for Hanako-san!,, Everybody in my class started to look at me as I was crazy, but it wasn't important anymore. I've never met a boy who would say no to some snacks, and I was sure that being dead won't change this. 

,,Yuuko-chan....are you really okay? Why are you taking those cookies out to the bathroom?!,, I felt like I'm sweating again. It was lunchbreak, and I was standing in the door of the Girls' bathroom, holding a small pack of chocolate cookies wrapped into a red napkin, while my sister stared at me with a really confused face. It was almost funny. ,,I just....you know...I really like this ones, and....I just don't want them to be eaten by someone, until I'm going to the bathroom....!,, I stuttered a ridiculous lie, then slowly headed inside, and closed the door. ,,Yuki-chan, do I look like someone, who would eat your cookies all alone?,, I heard Rui's voice. This was now really embarassing..... Maybe, I should tell her at least a little bit, but she has never believed in urban legends, even though we're also yokai. 

Sighing, I hold up the wrapped cookies, and walked to the omnious third stall. The whole bathroom was dimly lit, and empty, just the water dropped from the sinks. I knocked once, but noone answered, so I gently pushed the door inside. Hanako's said stall was actually quite usual, a normal toilet, with normal toilet paper....no blood, or knifes, or exorcism seals, as someone would expect. I took down to the cookies to the closed toilet, and clipped them with a small message wich I wrote back in class. I really hoped noone will find it....

,,Hanako-san! It's just me, Yuuko. I don't want to interrupt you, I just brought you some cookies. They are my direct offerings for you, so you can eat all of them. I hope you're feeling better. If you ever would like to talk with someone, I'll be here. You're a really nice guy. Yuuko. 

Would you mind if I'd call you Hanako-kun?,, 

I touched the letter once again, then wanted to leave, when I  suddenly noticed something strange on the wall, above the toilet. A spot was painted with a more lighter tone, as if someone would try to cover up something on it. I went closer to check it out, and yes, the sunrays lighted something, some faded scratches of some kind of graffiti...

,,I...w...ll...N....E....E...a...g....! I....h...my....l....m...b...y....it'....sg...t.....ng!!!....!! I.....j....t....wa.....e...a....b...y.....!!,, 

I understood none of it, since it looked so old, and faded with time, and the another layer of painting, but something told me that it's connected to Hanako-san, and it's more important than anything. But...what could it be....? Was this message written by Hanako-san himself...?

,,Yuuko-chan! What are you doing there so long?,, I  wanted to write down the visible letters, but I heard Rui's voice again, and decided to not thinking more about this right now. If it's important, maybe Hanako will tell me one day. I just have to trust him, and give him some hope. I'm sure that something truly painful happened with him, since he's sensitive about his past. I just hope that somehow, I can make him a bit happier. 

                                                             Some classes later......

When my last class, maths ended, and I finally started to pack away my schoolstuff, my phone suddenly buzzed up. It was a short message from my sister. ,,Hi, Yuki-chan! I have to stay for a little longer today, the student council wants to discuss something. But I don't want to let you go home alone in this city in the evening, so could you wait for me at that old playground, near to the school?,, ,,Of course.,, I texted her back, and reading this, I felt a strange, nostalgic happiness in my soul, wich was however, slowly shadowed by a sudden feeling of homesickness. The last time I was at a playground was at my home village, back at the mountains. My sister and me just loved swinging, and when were younger, Rui has always made me a hairband out of flowers, and built a sandcastle for me. As I walked through the school's doors, among the other kids, and went down the stairs, I realized I would really like to go back to that playground, to where my previous home was. 

This playground was really old looking, and surprisingly empty. All the climbing frames and swings looked very worn out, and when the wind slowly blew through them, it was almost eerie....but somehow, I still felt myself safe. I took down my backpack to a bench, and tried to swing a little, but when I sat down, and tried to swing forward with my legs, the whole set of swings started to scarily shake...!! I was about to stand up, when I heard a small voice from behind me.....,,Don't worry miss, it won't tear down!,, when I looked back to see who's talking, I gasped. Behind me, not so far from my legs, a little boy stood. He had messy, light brown fluffy hair, and a pair of curious light blue eyes. He wore a simple gray t-shirt, and a pair of black shorts. He was also barefooted, but these things weren't the ones, wich made me wonder. He also had a pair of big, rounded fluffy ears, and a big black-brown striped tail, wich was like a racoon's....he was.....a tanuki?! (japanese yokai/raccoon dog)  The last time I was encountered tanukis were back at my old village, and I've never thought, I would see one again, soon....!

,,It's not an everyday thing to see a fellow yokai here, miss!,, the little tanuki boy seemingly read in my mind, as he nicely smiled to me. ,,Is that other swing taken?,, 

,,N...no...you're free to go.,, I chuckled from the encounter, thinking back to our old tanuki neighbours. The little boy next to me happily gasped, and sat down next to me, giggled and started to swing back and forth. He looked so careless, and childish, yet there was something surprisingly mature in the way he talked. ,,And why are you here today, miss fox? Almost an eternity passed since I saw any other child here....and aren't you too old to be here?,, 

,,I'm....I'm just waiting for my sister. She'll come soon I guess.,, I answered. ,,But who are you? Do you....live here?,, 

The little boy suddenly stopped the swing, and looked to me with his blue eyes. ,,As you say, miss! My name is Koharu, and I'm a Playground Keeper tanuki! You know, I supposed to look after the kids, and play with them in this human form, then when they don't see me, I turn back into a tanuki. I live in an old teapot in the bushes, and I'm here for a reeeeaaally long time......I may look young, but I'm actually more than a hundred years old....or two hundred?,, he looked innoncently confused. ,,The important thing is that I know everything about almost everybody who was once a kid here....,, he smiled. 

,,Re...really?,, I felt that my heart starts to beat much faster, and I knew I have to ask him about Hanako-san. But...it would be too impossible. ,,Then...could you tell me things about a specific person....who is...who is now...technically dead, but....let's say, I've encountered with his ghost?,, 

,,Of course, miss! Who is that?,, 

,,Do you know...,,Hanako-san of the Toilet,,...?,, I asked him, holding back my breath. Much to my surprise, Koharu's eyes started to shine with a knowing glance. 

,,Of course I know mister Hanako, miss! It may sounds silly, but we were best friends, when he was alive, and still a little kid...! We were always playing soccer, and climbed trees and...,,

,,What do you know about him....? I mean...about his..... you know, life....school, family, personal things...?,, 

Hearing this, Koharu's face suddenly turned really sad, and his eyes became dark with some kind of guilt. ,,Oh, of course miss. I know almost everything about him, but....this is not something wich I should share with others. It's.....too hard and just painful. Even for me. Why do you want to know about Hanako's life so bad?,, 

,,Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...,, I sighed. ,,It's just....Hanako was the first nice person with me ever since I came to this city, and back in the school, I noticed how badly injured and impulsive he is....he is clearly hiding something painful, and I wanted to help him....as a way of thanking for saving me from a bully.,, 

,,I understand...but I still can't talk about it. However, if you want to see his past back then, I can help.,, 

,,Re...really, Koharu..?,, I couldn't imagine, how he could help me. Tanukis often had magical abilities, but showing directly the past was a bit too far-fetched...

,,Yes....but you have to come back tomorrow for that......it's a bit....complicated process, miss!,, 

,,That's not a problem....I can come here after school tomorrow!,, I said, my voice filled with excitement, and a little fear. What could I possibly see....? And would be Hanako-san happy, if he would find out, that I was digging in his past.....? ,,But I can see my sister at the corner, so I have to go now, Koharu-san!,, 

,,Alright miss! But...may I ask your name?,, 

,,Yuuko.,, I picked up my school bag from the bench, and started to walk to Rui. 

,,Then I will wait for you here, Yuuko-san!,, Koharu waved a goodbye with his hand, and when I looked back, he was already a small, round tanuki sitting in the grass.