Beginnings and Endings

Class 2-D of Kitagawa High School

“Before the summer break, I want to assign you a history project.”, Sakurai-sensei announced to the class.

“Ah, really?”

“Let us have it easy before summer break sensei!”

“Who wants to do this project with me?”

The whole class was groaning and complaining at the sudden announcement.

“Now, now, you haven’t even heard about it yet. You are going to have to write a paper about the fire that happened 50 years ago.”

“Sensei, I thought people said it was bad luck to talk about that!”, a student yelled out.

“Haha, people just say that because it was a sad event. No one may talk about it anymore but I think it’s important to remember that event because it marked a significant change for the present. Do your research, write a great paper, and you’ll have a great vacation.” Then his voice suddenly turned grim. “Because if you don’t, I’ll make you rewrite it over the summer break!”

“Ahh, are you serious?”

“I guess I have to start it today.”

“Who wants to come to the library with me today?”

Students were throwing out remarks about the difficulty of researching while some others were already planning to get it started.

“Oh, and if anyone is planning to go to the Southern village, I recommend going with a friend.” His face and voice suddenly turned grim again. “The ghosts of the villagers might try to take you to the afterlife with them.” Students were shaking in their desks and the bell rang. “Oh, see you tomorrow guys!”, he said with a bright smile.

“Why’d you have to end class like that?”

“This isn’t funny Sensei”

“Who wants to go to the southern village with me?”

Sakurako wasn’t scared, she already saw a ghost, or was it the person before he turned into a ghost? She was still confused about that day. Because of that, she hasn’t been up there for a while. She didn’t want to go through that experience again. Although, maybe she could use that to her advantage for this project. “Okay, I’ll go back in time again but only so I can get first-hand accounts on what happened during that day. This will be the last time”, she decided.

“Sa-sa-chan!” Yumi and Daiki walked over to Sakurako’s desk.

“Sakurako.”, she corrected Yumi who felt embarrassed.

“Ah, me and Daiki are going to get started on researching today, you should come with us.” She leaned in closer to Sakurako to whisper to her. “I need you to be there with me. He’s only going to procrastinate and distract me.” Daiki looked annoyed at Yumi because he knew what she was saying; but he also knew that what she said was true.

“Not my problem.” Sakurako replied.

Yumi let out a whining sound. “Please, please, please! I know you love history and you do well in school! We need your help!”

“Maybe find better friends.”, she eyed Daiki

Daiki was shocked at Sakurako’s reply. “That was directed at me wasn’t it?

At this point both Daiki and Yumi’s moods were ruined. Sakurako wasn’t actually this cruel, she just wanted to do the research herself by going back in time. She didn’t want to tell them the truth because it would only make her seem crazy. Still, she appreciated their honesty.

“I guess I’ll re-do this project over the summer then.”, Yumi said depressingly.

“Uh…”, Sakurako felt bad.

“I guess I’ll be lonely forever then.”, Daiki also said depressingly.

“I don’t think I can help you with that.”, Sakurako thought to herself.

She felt bad yet annoyed because of their guilt-tripping.

“FIne, I will go with you guys one day but not today.”

“Wait, how about we go to the southern village together!”, Daiki suggested. The girls gave him a dirty look. “Uhhh, I guess that’s a no.”

Sakurako actually realized that was actually a good idea. She wanted to see it last time but got caught up with time travelling. Hopefully she won’t go back to the past with them and is able to explore the aftermath of the village. “Actually, that’s fine. Let’s go this weekend.”

Yumi and Daiki looked at each other with surprised expressions. They’ve never once been out with Sakurako out of school before. 

“Good!”, Yumi said giving Sakurako a thumbs up.

“Yahoo! Sakurako is actually spending a weekend with us!”, Daiki said excitedly.

“You do realize we won’t be there to have fun right?”, Yumi gave him a reality check which caused him embarrassment.

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Sakurako was on her way home before going to the hill. She always wants her grandma to know where she is going so she wouldn’t worry. When she arrived at her house, Tanimoto Akira was just leaving.

“Ah, Sakurako!”

“Mr.Tanimoto. Hello.”, she bowed to him. “What were you doing here?”

“Your grandma, she’s been sick lately hasn’t she?”

“Yes, it just happened so suddenly.” She knew why her grandma was getting sick and she still feels guilty about it. Stressing about the past took a toll on her health.

“I just hope I don’t lose another friend.”, he let out a sigh. “But we’re old now, we can’t escape it forever.”. He tried to sound positive.

“Oh, that’s right! You and grandma were friends before, right? With two other people, Uehara Chiharu and Sakurai Kaori?”

As soon as Akira heard those names, he seemed to get even more depressed but tried to mask it with a smile. “I was closest to Chiharu.”

“More answers!”, Sakurako thought to herself.

“The first time we met, I was sleeping in class and he woke me up telling me class is not a place for sleeping. I was always a slacker and never really liked how he was being like a parent to me. My dislike for him at the start was because I knew he was right about everything he told me. So, instead of disliking him more, I decided he would be a good influence on me. I don’t regret ever becoming his friend and we became close quickly. He’s the reason why I don't give up just because something is difficult; if anything, he told me it would be more satisfying if a hard job gets done.”

Getting to know more about Chiharu was helping Sakurako have a different opinion about him. He seems like someone she would like to know. Even if she wanted to know him better, it’s better not to as it could change history, so maybe it’s just better to hear about him from different people. "What happened to him?", she asked.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 21, 1967

5:00PM

Uehara Chiharu was sitting under the sakura tree, staring into the sky as he had done for the past week. He hasn’t gone to school recently. Every morning he would come up and sit under the tree as he watched the sun rise and set on the horizon. He sits there with regret and remorse. “I promise I’ll wait for you. No matter how long it takes.”, he would mutter to himself from time to time.

“Chiharu!”, a voice called out from behind, it was Tanimoto Akira. He knew Chiharu would be here because he is a sentimental person. Things hold meaning to him and this place now holds a new memory to Chiharu: the day he lost a part of him.

“What?”, Chiharu replied without turning around.

“You have to come back to school. You can’t let this take over your life. Do you think we’re all not feeling this way too? Rena and I have been trying to get through this together and we’re also very worried about you. You have others who know how you feel. You don’t have to be alone while you go through this. Just come back!”

“Akira…you don’t know what it feels like. You guys just felt like you lost a person. I felt like I lost a part of my soul. It’s not the same”

Again, Chiharu was right. Akira doesn’t know what it felt like to lose a part of his soul. He realized that Chiharu’s love for Kaori must’ve been deeper than he thought.

“I come here everyday, hoping that part of my soul comes back to me. I will wait here as long as I can until it finally comes back. It's a promise I made to myself and to Kaori.” 

Akira stood there in silence for a bit.

“Then, there’s nothing I can do to get you out of here is there?”

Chiharu didn’t reply. Akira took that as a yes.

“Akira…don’t come back.” Chiharu said.

“What do you-”

“I know you, you won’t let this go so easily. This is my difficulty to overcome. Don’t come back.”

Akira let out a sigh and hesitantly agreed, “Mm.” He turned to walk away.

“And Akira.”, Akira stopped in his tracks. “Keep doing well in school. Don’t slack off just because I’m not there. I know you can do well without needing me.” Tears were starting to form in Akira’s eyes. If he wasn’t able to see his friend anymore, he could at least make that promise to Chiharu.

“Mm.”, he said, barely audible enough so that Chiharu couldn’t hear that he was about to cry.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Present Day

“Everyday, he was up there. That was my last time seeing him. I thought I should just respect his decision to be left alone forever. He died that summer. His parents reported that he didn’t come home one day. Me and Rena heard about this and found him under the sakura tree…”, his voice trailed off. Sakurako was quiet. She had tears forming in her eyes as if she knew the pain that Akira and Rena went through. “Ah, I’m sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry.”, Akira felt bad for telling her such a sad story.

“I’m fine.”, she wiped some tears away. “I was the one who wanted to know what happened.”, she said to make Akira feel less guilty.

“Well…I guess I’ll go now then.”, Akira started walking away but then stopped. “Oh, and Sakurako…if you’re going up there again, say hi to his ghost for me.”, and then he was gone.