Chapter 22: The Truth Revealed

"What? You’re kidding. No way." I denied it.

"Which part sounds like a joke to you?"

I paused. Those times Hana had chosen the seat beside me on the bus. How she’d been at the fireworks festival.

It was undeniable.

"I honestly expected you to figure it out. Especially after the dango incident. Didn’t that make your heart go doki-doki?"

"H-how did you know about the dango incident? You weren’t there!"

"Pfft. I taught her that. I didn’t expect her to carry it out quite so flawlessly either. She must really like you."

I could only stare.

"Onii-chan. I thought I wouldn’t need to say anything, but I can’t just watch anymore. At this rate you’d go back to Sendai without knowing how Hana-chan feels."

"Her feelings… Since when did she…?"

"Nope. That’s her story to tell. But you have a job too, onii-chan."

My throat went dry.

"You have to respond to her feelings before you leave. Okay?"

She folded her arms.

"Otherwise I’ll stop calling you my onii-chan."

I stood there quietly for a moment.

"Understood… Give me some time."

I headed out of the room slowly and paused at the door when Sachi spoke.

"Its’s only two days until Obon, onii-chan. Don’t make her wait any longer."

I went back to my room and lay on the futon, looking at the ceiling.

Hana-chan likes me… Has she liked me this whole time — even while I was chasing Yuki-chan?

Then Hana’s question from earlier floated back.

“If an apple belonged to someone. That person didn’t eat it. Would it be okay for another person to take it?”

I put my face in my hands. I’d answered with complete sincerity by taking it literally.

“I’ve already asked onee-san…”

Wait. Yuki-chan knew too? Was that why she cried after our conversation? How many people knew about this?

Then the pieces finished assembling themselves.

“Treat her well, okay?”

I had been such an idiot.

But did I like Hana-chan?

It wasn’t easy not to think about her lately, if I was being honest. Thoughts of her drifted in when I least expected. Especially the image of her asleep on my shoulder on the bus.

I’d been telling myself it was just a confused heart looking for something to hold onto after a heartbreak.

My thoughts carried me deep into the night.

For once, Yuki wasn’t the centre of them.

* * *

— Sachi’s Room —

Sachi lay on her bed, texting Hana.

Sachi: Hana-chan. Err…

Hana: Yes, Sachi-chan?

Sachi: Don’t be mad. I told Ryo-kun about it.

Hana: Huh? About?

Hana: Wait. No. No you didn’t.

Sachi: I’m sorry. 🙇

Hana: Eh?!?!

Sachi: 🙇🙇🙇

Hana: WHY?!

Sachi: I mean, Obon is in two days.

Sachi: At this rate he’d leave without ever knowing.

Hana: But still… What if he feels pressured?

Sachi: I couldn’t wait any longer.

Hana: But…

Hana: What did he say…?

Sachi: He said to give him time. 🙄

Hana: That’s exactly why I didn’t want to pressure him!

Sachi: It’s better this way. Trust me.

Hana: …

Sachi: He asked questions. Like how long you’ve liked him.

Sachi: I told him to ask you directly.

Hana: Oh. So you didn’t tell him anything else.

Sachi: 🙏

Hana: Sachi-chan. You didn’t tell him anything else. Right?

Sachi: 🙇🙇🙇

Hana: Sachi-chan!!!! What else did you tell him????

Sachi: 🍡

Hana: Kill me.

* * *

Sunlight came through the curtains. The house was already busy. Kaminoseki had that particular energy that only arrived once a year.

Obon was a different kind of event to the fireworks festival. Where the fireworks had been local colour — food stalls, games, a crowd — Obon was communal in a deeper way. Community representatives coordinated alongside the villagers. Everyone had a part to play.

Our family had the grave-cleaning this morning. After that, the rest of the day was rehearsals, decorations and final checks, all the way into tomorrow. Kenji, Hana and Sachi were deep in preparations.

I, too, had preparations of a different kind.

Obon is tomorrow night. Sachi-chan and Hana-chan are performing. I must give Hana-chan an answer before I leave for Sendai. It has to happen tomorrow night, after the dance.

Sleep hadn’t given me any clear answers. But I was sure of one thing.

My feelings for Yuki-chan had been obvious and strong. My feelings for Hana-chan were newer, quieter, harder to name. But they were there. I was certain of that much.

Would I be able to commit, though? When it’s this recent, and long distance on top of it?

I decided to take a solo trek at the nature park tomorrow morning and think it through properly. No distractions. Just the forest and my head. Like a priest on pilgrimage, minus the robes and the enlightenment.

The plan was straightforward: trek in the morning, back after lunch, three o’clock bus home. Last bus from the park departed at five — I had margin. That would leave me enough time to get ready for the festival. The procession started at seven, and I had no intention of missing Sachi and Hana’s dance.

The rest of the day moved quickly. Dad came back in the afternoon and we cleaned the graves together as planned.

After that, I joined Kenji to help with the decorations at the festival area.

"Kenji. Can I ask you something?" I drove a stake into the ground as he held it steady.

"Sure. Just don’t lose focus. What’s up?"

Clang. Clang. Clang. The stake rang with each strike.

"I talked to Sachi-chan last night. About what you told me — how she blamed herself for me leaving."

Kenji looked at me like a man waiting for a verdict.

"Go on. Do I still get to see tomorrow?"

"She said she’d think about it. But that wasn’t actually what I wanted to ask."

Kenji exhaled and surveyed the next spot, pulled out a fresh stake and held it in place.

"How did she take it? "

"Mostly quiet. Oddly quiet. That’s a good sign. Means she was actually thinking."

Kenji shook his head. “I’m stocking up on chocolate sweets before I see her tomorrow.”

"That reminds me — I owe her four cartons of chocolate milk."

"Four? How did that happen?"

"One for each nuisance that caused her trouble. You, Yuki-chan, and me twice."

"Two with your name on it. Sounds about right."

"Actually… the fourth one is partly because of Hana-chan. That’s what I really wanted to ask you about."

Kenji looked up.

"Keep this between us, okay?" I glanced at him.