Chapter 29: Five Cartons

— The Next Day —

I looked out of the shinkansen window on the way back to Sendai. The familiar hum of the train, the scenery sliding past — it all reminded me of separation again. But this time, there was something to come back to.

The familiar sting came to my eyes as I said goodbye to Kaminoseki, its heartbreaks and its hard-won warmth.

The mountains and forests outside gave way gradually to modern towers and expressways, then to paddy fields and houses.

I smiled at the window.

When will I be back? My heart was already aching for home.

Memories came in a rush. The boom of the fireworks. How they lit the bay. Hana holding that dango skewer in front of me. The glint of her earrings.

What a month. I faced my childhood bully, had an epic misunderstanding, got my heart broken, sprained my ankle, crawled through a forest, and got myself a girlfriend.

Will we survive the distance? I’ll text her every day.

I took out my phone. Hana’s face was on my lock screen now.

* * *

— A Few Hours Earlier —

"Onii-chan, eww." Sachi had peeked at my lock screen at the station this morning.

Everyone had gathered to see me off.

"I have better ones." She produced her phone with a devilish smile and presented her collection of Hana fast asleep. "You know the going rate."

"Sachi-chan!" Hana combusted. "I told you to delete those!"

I coughed and went pink.

Sachi-chan knows me too well.

"I want all of them." I grinned.

"Ryo-kun! Sachi-chan! Don’t you dare!" Hana protested, mostly unconvincingly.

Everyone laughed.

It was about time.

Daiki held out his hand. "Hayashi-san. Take care of yourself."

"I will. You take care too… and Yuki-chan… Daiki-san."

Daiki’s face did something when I used his given name. “Thank you… Ryo-kun.”

Yuki beamed as she stepped forward from beside him and hugged me. “Goodbye, Ryo-kun. Come back soon.”

I returned it. My heart didn’t hurt as badly now.

Kenji and Sachi came in together.

"We’ll miss you, bro."

"You’re welcome to visit anytime. Come alone."

Sachi’s elbow found my ribs.

"What was that, onii-chan?" she murmured, leaning close. "Don’t forget I know where you hide the manga."

My face went pale.

"I’ll be waiting for you to come back. With souvenirs." She smiled sweetly, the threat very much still present.

Then Hana stepped forward. The others gave us room.

"Text me when you arrive, alright?" She stood in front of me, still a little shy.

"I will. Before that, even." I kept my voice down.

"That’s good."

Silence.

"I’ll miss you, Hana-chan."

She nodded and held my sleeve. “I’ll miss you too, Ryo-kun.”

"I’ll be back before you know it." I tried to hold it together. My eyes didn’t cooperate.

Hana reached up and wiped my face. “I’ll be waiting.”

Gagging sounds could be heard from Sachi’s direction.

Shimizu’s white hakama appeared beside the barrier gate.

"Ryo-kun. You’ll miss your train." He wore his usual smile.

"Honestly, that wouldn’t be the worst thing." I walked over to him. "Thank you. For everything, Shimizu-san."

"Don’t mention it. You’re an experienced sweeper by now. Take care of that foot."

"Foot? What’s up with my foot?"

He just smiled his mysterious smile.

I turned back, gave a last wave to everyone, and stepped through the gate.

* * *

— The Present —

I texted Hana.

Ryo: Hey. I miss you.

Hana: Where are you now?

Ryo: Don’t you miss me too?

Hana: Don’t. Sachi’s here.

Ryo: I miss you a lot.

Hana: …

Hana: Me too.

Hana: Answer me. Where are you now?

Ryo: I’m nearly there.

Hana: ONII-CHAN, HANA-CHAN MISSES YOU SO MUCH 😭

Hana: Sorry!!! 😅

Ryo: Sachi-chan, go bother Kenji.

Hana: I’ll text you later after the Obon debrief 😊

Ryo: Sure. Arriving at Sendai now.

"Sendai station." The announcement chimed through the speakers.

The shinkansen slowed. I took a breath and stepped off.

Something felt wrong.

I looked down at my foot. It was in a splint.

That wasn’t there this morning.

I looked around. Something was… off.

Shimizu’s last words landed belatedly.

Take care of that foot.

That priest always said the strangest things.

* * *

I opened my eyes.

Still in bed. Body hot and heavy. My head felt as if there was a nail in it. The restrictive weight of the splint still around my ankle.

It was a dream? All of it?

The room was warm. Even my breath felt warm. Wait.

Am I running a fever? What time is it?

I found the alarm clock.

Ten o’clock.

I’d forgotten to set it. The shinkansen left in an hour.

I’d make it if I hurried, but…

I looked at the mess around the room. Then at the splint. A cab to the station. Barely making it. Getting there in this state.

I sighed and chuckled at the ceiling.

Some battles aren’t worth fighting. Maybe I’ll recover my belongings from the forest while I’m at it.

Sachi knocked.

"Onii-chan! What time’s your train?"

Her voice drove something sharp into my head. I groaned.

"Onii-chan! Wake up —"

She opened the door. Her eyes narrowed immediately. “Are you sick?!”

"Sachi-chan. Quietly, please." I pressed a hand to my forehead.

"Your train, onii-chan. You’ll miss it at this rate. What. Time. Is. Your Train?!"

"Eleven."

"Eleven?! You haven’t even packed! How are you supposed to get to the station in —"

"Sachi-chan." I groaned. "I’ll get another ticket when I’m better."

She paused. As if the possibility genuinely hadn’t occurred to her. Then the grin appeared. “So you’re staying. For now.”

"Bring me the medicine on my desk, please."

She looked me over with a critical eye. "You won’t die anytime soon." She stood up and left, shutting the door with a loud thud.

All I wanted was my medication. Sachi-chan is a walking blood pressure hazard.

I closed my eyes.

After a while, the front door opened and shut downstairs.

Did she go out? The medicine is right on my desk. Honestly.

A soft knock at my door.

"Come in." I didn’t open my eyes.

"Sachi-chan, the medication is on the desk. Just this once, please. I wish Hana-chan were here. She wouldn’t be this difficult."

The bag of medicine was placed gently into my hand.

"About time." I huffed and opened my eyes. "Some water…" I looked at the figure beside me and the rest of the sentence fell apart. "Please."

Hana. Looking at me with quiet, critical eyes. She pressed a glass of water into my hand.

"Y-yes, Hana-chan?" I sat up slightly.

"Looks like our long-distance relationship starts a few days later." She smiled, not bothering to hide how pleased she was about that.

Sachi appeared in the doorway, grinning.

"I figured you’d need a nurse, onii-chan."

"This… isn’t a bad arrangement," I admitted.

Sachi bent down to my ear.

"Five cartons of chocolate milk, onii-chan."

— The End —