Chapter 25: The Last Bus

— In the Woods —

Sweat ran down my face. My left leg had taken everything the compensation could give. I sat on the ground and tried to recover what I could. My right ankle had swollen visibly by now, and I’d removed the shoe to relieve the pressure.

Another item I won’t be coming back for. Sorry, forest spirits.

The water was long gone. The bottles and backpack were somewhere behind me on the trail, discarded to move faster. I had the stick and my watch and nothing else.

Beep. Four o’clock.

My heart sank a little more with each beep. I was more than halfway back. But I was out of water, out of energy, and the walking stick felt like a personal enemy. I half-hated it and half-needed it.

The facts were becoming hard to avoid. At this pace, I would miss the last bus. That meant a night in the forest until the first bus came in the morning.

At least I’d survive.

My eyes closed.

* * *

"Hana-chan, I’m so sorry. I wanted to be there, but —"

"You broke your promise again, Ryo-kun." Yuki’s voice. "Go away. Don’t come near Hana-chan."

"Sorry, bro. I thought I could trust you." Kenji.

"I even told you about it, onii-chan. After everything I did for you, you still couldn’t manage it. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you to come home." Sachi.

"No — everyone, please, I’m sorry —"

"Ryo-kun. Maybe we weren’t meant to be."

Hana’s voice. Soft. Hurt.

My heart broke.

* * *

My eyes snapped open. Tears had made their way down my face while I was out.

No. I won’t let this happen. Not this time. Not when I can still walk.

Quarter past four. I’d been out for fifteen minutes. I felt, if not rested, at least sharper.

I gripped the stick and got to my feet.

Every hobble burned. The terrain didn’t help. My clothes were filthy from the rest stops on the ground, the constant leaning against trees, wiping my hands on bark.

I must look like a homeless goblin.

More time passed. I checked my watch. Quarter to five. Fifteen minutes until the last bus.

Something ignited within me. One last spurt. I pushed harder.

The path was becoming more solid under my foot. The trees were thinning. Street lamps appeared through the gaps. Camp facilities. A toilet block.

My eyes stung.

It’s there. Nearly there.

The main lodge came into view. The bus stop was right beside it. Just around the corner.

I pushed to the limit of what the ankle allowed. I didn’t care about dignity anymore. If I collapsed in the road, the bus driver would at least see me.

Beep. Five o’clock.

No. No no no. Not when I’m this close.

I was in the car park. I lurched forward. My left leg cramped. My right ankle caught on the rough road surface and sent pain screaming up through my leg. I leaned hard on the stick. It snapped. I went down onto the tarmac, jaw clenched, fighting the pain with everything I had.

The bus engine roared.

I shouted from the ground.

"Wait! I’m here! Don’t go! Please!"

A few seconds. The engine revved, then moved, then faded.

Only one thought etched in my head, accompanied by the depths of despair that I sank into.

"Hana-chan…"

The word left me as a whisper.

* * *

— The Hayashi Residence —

Kenji and Hana sat in the living room waiting for Sachi. A familiar scene, minus one person.

"So… are you ready for the dance, Hana-chan?"

"I think so."

Kenji looked at her. She didn’t seem sure of herself.

"Nervous?"

"A little…"

"You’ve practised plenty."

"It’s not that…" She touched her ear. It was bare.

Sachi came down moments later, matching miko outfits with Hana. Kenji forgot briefly what he’d been thinking about.

"Onii-chan isn’t joining us just yet — he said he’d meet us there." Sachi announced it while sashaying past Kenji in the scarlet hakama with serene nonchalance.

That did nothing for Hana’s nerves.

"Oh." They said it in unison. One of them looked distracted. The other, disappointed.

"Hana-chan. I’ll have a word with him about this afterwards." Sachi’s eyes had that particular gleam.

"He’s not reachable, though." Kenji had finally remembered to check his phone. His messages hadn’t gone through. "Is that normal?"

"He goes dark sometimes. Hermit mode." Sachi waved a hand.

Hana looked at the floor as if Obon had been cancelled.

"I think onii-chan mentioned he had something to sort before tonight." Sachi nudged Kenji’s ribs.

"Ah! Right — ow — yes! He was really looking forward to Obon!" Kenji rubbed the spot.

"He’ll be there. I’m sure of it. Now come — we need to be early." Sachi took Hana’s hand.

* * *

They arrived at the festival grounds just before six. Hana and Sachi gathered with the other dancers. Kenji went to check on the event arrangements.

Hana was entirely elsewhere. Her eyes kept moving across the crowd.

I’ll deal with that irresponsible onii-chan later. Sachi watched her.

Yuki and Daiki arrived together. Yuki wore a blue yukata printed with sakura, a yellow obi, a small drawstring pouch. She spotted them immediately and came over.

"Hana-chan! You look wonderful!" Then she turned to Sachi. "Good evening, Sachi-chan…"

It was the first time they’d spoken in weeks. Daiki greeted them both warmly.

"Good evening, Yuki-chan… Matsuda-san." Sachi kept her eyes level, not quite meeting either of them.

Daiki nudged Yuki.

"The hakama suits you, Sachi-chan." Yuki said it carefully, maintaining her smile.

Sachi’s lips did something involuntary. She pressed them together. “Thank you, Yuki-chan. Your yukata is lovely. You both… look good together.”

The effect on Daiki and Yuki was immediate and visible.

"By the way — where’s Ryo-kun?" Yuki looked around.

A pause. Nobody had an answer. Hana touched her ear again. The nakedness of it made her feel exposed.

Sachi checked her phone. “Still nothing…”

None of them knew that, miles away, that very person had bigger concerns on his plate.