Chapter 6: The Day of Farewell

No one can stay an elementary schooler forever.

Naturally, that was true for me as well.
On the day of the graduation ceremony, my mother was with me, so there was no way I could meet Hanako-san in the restroom.

Thinking that, I told Hanako-san about my graduation the day before.

Hanako-san smiled and said, “Congratulations on your graduation,” but I was crying.
The first time we met, and the last time we met, I was crying—I was.

When I became a middle schooler, I ran to the third-floor restroom on the day of the entrance ceremony.
However, unlike the old school building of the elementary school, the restroom in that relatively new school was the kind where the doors were left open when not in use.

I tried leaving the door open, tried closing it by hand, tried going inside—and tried everything I could, but Hanako-san did not come out.

I was struck down by sadness, but time flowed on regardless of such feelings, and before I knew it, I had entered society and was working.

Then one day, I overheard talk that the old school building of my elementary school was going to be demolished.

I thought I was heading home from work, but before I knew it, I was standing in front of the main gate of my elementary school, looking up at the old school building.
Bathed in the evening sun, my alma mater looked exactly the same as it had back then, but security cameras—ones that hadn’t existed at the time—had been installed.

“What are you here for?”
I was suddenly spoken to, and when I looked toward the voice, a male janitor was standing there.

“This is my old school, and… I guess I just felt nostalgic.”
I answered haltingly.
Since I had been on camera the whole time, it seemed he had come to check.

“Um, I heard that the old school building is going to be torn down, and… if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you let me see the girls’ restroom on the third floor one last time?”
Even to myself, I thought it was a completely incomprehensible thing to say.

He thought it over for a moment, then said, “You’re really not supposed to, but just for a little while,” and let me in.
I wrote my name on the visitor sign-in sheet and had my identity verified with my driver’s license.
Since photography was not allowed, I put all of my belongings into the visitors’ locker.

I was told that the chime would ring at six o’clock, and that I was to come back when I heard it.
Then he added, “Don’t stay too long—this really isn’t allowed,” pressing the point.
When I checked the time, I had only about thirty minutes, but just the thought that I might be able to see Hanako-san, even for a little while, made my heart race.

There were no students inside the school, but it seemed that a few teachers were still around.
Even so, there was no one at all in the old school building that was going to be demolished soon.

Just in case, I had been given a flashlight as well, but without ever using it, I reached the restroom filled with memories.
I turned on the restroom light and went inside, then stood in front of Hanako-san’s stall.
The door looked older than it did in my memories—more scarred, with the paint peeling away.

Knock, knock, knock—three knocks.

I thought about calling out, but expectation and anxiety kept my voice from coming.
I found myself remembering who I had been back when I was bullied, but as if to shake that off, I forced my voice out.

“…Hana-ko-saaan.”

I called out, just like I had back then.

But no matter how long I waited—there was no answer.
Along with the feeling of my chest tightening, a single tear—slid down my cheek.