Epilogue

Ten years later...

December 24th. Christmas Eve.

Miu asked, "Did you guys get the box from Shin's house?"

Itsuki replied, "I already got it."

Nise holding a wooden pail, filled with water on it, "Are we starting to clean the grave first?"

Miu shook her head, "No. Let's wait for Yuuki first."

Sakura wondered, "Where's that girl anyway?"

I arrived at the scene, "I'm sorry if I'm late."

Miu asked, "Why did you take so long? Have a boyfriend or something?"

I answered her, "I don't have a boyfriend. I got caught up with the traffic."

Nise seemingly can't wait, "Can we open the box now?"

Itsuki replied, "Fine, let's open the box. Shin must be tired of waiting for us."

Yuuki giggled, "It's been a while since we're together."

Miu followed suit, "I know, right?"

Nise asked, "When was the last we were together?"

Itsuki replied, "Nine years ago? On Shin's first death anniversary."

Miu complained, "Can we open the box?! I want to see it!"

Sakura hits Miu with a karate chop on the head, "We've aged well but there are things that don't change, huh?"

Miu apologized, "My bad."

"I'll open the box," Itsuki opens the box.

The box was filled with the letters that we wrote on Christmas Eve, ten years ago. But there's something that's not a letter. It's a keychain.

Miu grabbed the keychain, "Didn't Shin give everyone a keychain?"

Itsuki answered Miu's question, "He did."

Miu asked another question, "Then, whose keychain is this?"

I showed my phone, with the keychain that Shin gave us ten years ago, "I have mine here."

Sakura showed hers, "It's attached to my bag."

Itsuki followed suit, "Same with Sakura."

"I have it on my purse," as Nise showed the purse with a keychain on it.

Miu explained, "I have it here in my bag."

I realized, "Now that you think of it, I think I know who owns that one."

Miu asked, "Who?"

I smiled, "Who else?" as I looked at Shin.

Miu reacted, "Wait, really?"

I replied, "He must've bought one for himself."

Itsuki suggested, "Let's open the letters."

We all opened our letters. To be honest, this moment feels nostalgic for all of us. 

The last letter on the box was Shin's letter, from ten years ago. I took it out and Miu asked everyone else, "Should we be reading Shin's letter?"

I replied, "I think we should. He told us that he's going to talk to us ten years later."

That's right, the picture that was in the letter that Dr. Minoru gave us at Shin's funeral said those words.

"I'll wait here in ten years and I'll talk to you guys again."

I opened the letter.

"Dear everyone in the future,

First of all, Merry Christmas from me ten years ago. By the time you read this letter, I'm probably in front of you, sleeping in peace. By the way, can you guys do me a favor and clean my parent's and Grandma's grave for me? I would really appreciate it if you do.

I want to play a little game and it's called 'Guess the Future'. The game is pretty simple, I'll guess what you guys have been up to through this letter. If I guessed it wrong, you guys win. If I guessed everything right, you guys have a punishment."

Miu asked, "A punishment?"

I continued reading the letter.

"The punishment is that you guys don't need to visit me if I win."

...

"What?!"

What the hell are you thinking, Shin?

Miu reacted, "Like he'll get everything right."

Nise fought back, "I know you're dead Shin but bring it on!"

I continue reading the letter once more.

"I'll start with Itsuki. It's been a tough ride for you. You wanted to be a basketball player but fate has other plans for you. If I'm guessing correctly, you're now a sports analyst."

Itsuki was surprised, "Wa— How did he get it?!"

After college, Itsuki was hired as a sports analyst in a famous sports league.

"Anyway, I want to say that I'm proud of you for what you become, and remember to always believe in yourself."

Itsuki smiled, "Thanks, Shin."

"Next is Nise. I'm going to believe in your talented skills as an artist and I'm going to guess that you're a renowned fashion designer. I knew that you can do it. I want to remind you never to lie to yourself again and even if people won't accept you, remember that I accept you for who you are."

Like Itsuki, Nise just smiled, "That's the Shin that I know but damn, he got it right."

Nise became a fashion designer and was hired by a top clothing company.

"Next is Sakura. I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to guess what you've been up to but if I could guess, you're an office worker right now in a well-known company. I was surprised when I got to know your past from Miu. I remember the time I also lost everyone else but unlike me, you fought to survive and I want to say that I'm proud to have a friend like you."

Sakura complained, "Damn, he got me too. He is right."

After college, Sakura was offered by a lot of companies to work for her and she went took an offer from a well-known company here in Japan.

Miu complained, "He will guess mine for sure!"

"Next is Miu. You're still an idol for sure but I could see that you're going to be an actress as well. Anyway, I want to say that you're the reason why this group is very cheerful, alongside Nise. I'm glad to have a friend like you. You are truly a spotlight taker."

Itsuki was surprised, "He even guess your other stuff as well."

Miu got a bit tilted, "Dammit."

Miu remained an idol but expanded her horizons in the showbiz business by becoming an actress.

"Finally, Yuuki. This one is the easiest one of all. I guess that you've become a game director."

Everyone reacted, "Game director?"

"If the others heard it, it's you who's going to explain it to them. "

Shin, you're putting me in a tight spot.

"Anyway, I want to say that I'll be forever grateful to you. You've been with me since the first day I met you and everyone else. And I'm hoping that smile of yours will always be there because your smile shines brighter than everyone else.

I'll end this letter now. I'll never forget you guys and I guess you never forget me either.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Shinsuke Tanahashi."

Everyone looked at me, "Did he get it right, Yuuki?"

I smiled at the skies, "No. We won."

Everyone else smiled and Miu celebrated, "He actually got it wrong!"

We all laughed around on it, as Shin quite make an error on that part.

I became a researcher on cancer treatments. I also became an assistant to Dr. Minoru, who works in a local hospital.

I laughed, "He said it was the easiest one. He was way off."

We were having a good time and suddenly, a man appeared.

"It's been a while, everyone."

We all turned around, and Miu easily recognized the guy, "Wait...Sensei?"

He nodded at us to confirm that he is indeed Sensei. Our homeroom teacher ten years ago.

Itsuki asked Sensei, "What are you doing here, Sensei?"

Sensei answered Itsuki's question, "You could say I'm doing a favor for someone."

Nise asked, "For someone? Who?"

Sensei looked at Shin's grave, "A certain student of mine."

I see, it was Shin.

Sensei handed out a letter, "Uchida-san, this is for you."

I asked, "For me?"

Sensei replied, "Tanahashi-Kun gave it to me during graduation. He told me that to give it to you on Christmas Eve ten years in the future. He said that you guys would be here."

I see, Shin knew all along. I took the letter from Sensei, "Thanks, Sensei."

Sensei informed Yuuki about the letter, "He told me that you should read it on the way home. He said it's an answer."

An answer?

Don't tell me...

"I'll leave you guys now, I have somewhere to go," as Sensei leaves us.

Sakura asked, "Are you going home now as well, Yuuki?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I need to know his answer. I'll see you guys again sometime."

They wave their hands at me, as I left them.

On the way home, I opened the letter.

"Dear Yuuki Uchida.

It's been a while since the two of us. It's a bit weird that I'm writing this right after you just left the hospital. 

 You are the biggest reason why I met everyone else. The connection that we had is something special. The first time I saw you, I wouldn't expect to sit next to a pretty girl. I left a bad first impression on you. I didn't have my textbook at that time but you helped me anyway.

As our friendship got deeper, you made me hide those "little secrets" and I did. I'm glad that you trusted me. If you asked why I never told anyone about it, it's because I want to protect that smile of yours.

Because that smile won me over.

 I want to see that smile every time I see you but my last few days, made it hard for you to smile, as you see the person that you love suffering from an illness that he can't recover from.

I'm sorry if you had to see me weak. I wanted to be stronger but my body won't let me do it.

 When Dr. Minoru told me that I have a few years to live, I decided to end my treatment. He begged me to transfer schools for a new life and I did but all I could think of is "Will this change anything at all?"

But when I met you, I found my answer. Because of you, my life really changed for the better and I'm thankful for that. You're a person that cared for everyone else. You're a person that doesn't want to burden other people but ended up burdening them. You're always a scaredy cat but, you were kind and sweet. Let's say, you're a person with a lot of sides I'm happy that I get to see all of them.

When I'm with you, I'm having the most fun, whether we're in an amusement park, the festival, the hospital, the student council room, the classroom, or even the train. It was fun when I'm with you. 

I remember the time that you asked me to dance around the bonfire during the cultural festival. We had fun until you nearly tripped and fell. The date, I had fun with that one too, even though I collapsed and I felt bad about it.

But before I answer you, I want to ask something.

Was I able to be part of your story?

(Yes, you really played a big role in my story.)

Do I have a spot in your heart?

(Yes, you already put a flag on it.)

I'm sorry that I made you worry.

(No, it's fine.)

I'm sorry if I left you all of a sudden.

(It's fine.)

I know I'm not with you but please, never forget me.

(There's no chance I won't forget you.)

Is that a promise?

(Yes, it is.)

 My heart and these feelings that I carry only belong to one person and that's you.

 I love you, Yuuki.

Thank you for waiting ten years to answer your feelings.

Thank you for giving me a happy ending.

Shinsuke Tanahashi."

I cried as I hold the letter in my hands, "Shin...I miss you."

I drop the letter and there's something on it. I took it out and like ten years ago, it's a picture but a different one.

"I see. All this time, you kept this."

It's the picture that we had in the photo booth, ten years ago on a date.

I smiled and looked at the blue sky.

"I guess, this heart still belongs to you, Shin."

—THE END—