The Return

The light fades, I open my eyes and find myself at the vending machine that Shinichi and I met for the first time all those years ago.

However, things look a little different around the area.

Oh well, my parents’ house isn’t too far from here.

I make my way towards my parents’ house and it hits me, do I really want to see them just after they lost me?

Yeah, that’s probably not a great idea.

I hang my head and start walking aimlessly until I see another familiar place.

This convenience store was always a place I first started going to when we moved.

I instinctively enter the store passing through the glass door and… what is this music?

Is this what passes for pop music now?

Sheesh, gone for a few hours and music takes a nose dive.

I make my way over to the books section and glance at the newspaper.

To my surprise it’s been four years since I died.

FOUR YEARS!?

Ok, calm down.

This really complicates things.

I don’t know where anyone is except maybe my parents.

Yeah, I was going to my parents’ house but I guess cancelling that idea has now been uncancelled.

It’s a good a place as any to start.

Shinichi and my parents always got along and my dad was so happy to have a son in the family finally.

I’m sure they’re still in touch.

Instinctively I exited the convenience store and traversed a good portion of the path to my parents’ house while I was lost in thought.

Just a little bit more but, what will I do there?

It is getting kind of late.

Hopefully I won’t be disturbing dinner.

Well, they can’t see me, I guess.

It should be fine.

Stepping further along until I finally reach the house, I pass through the door and instinctively let out an “I’m home,” and go to the living room area.

It feels weird not having to take my shoes off when I come inside.

Is this how Americans feel when they visit Japan?

I see my dad sitting on the couch watching TV and my mom finishing up the last of the dishes.

I am so glad that they are still doing well.

I look around the room.

It hasn’t changed much except for the small area with my picture on it.

The type of area reserved for a close family member who is deceased.

My dad starts to pick up his smartphone and make a call.

He says a familiar name.

“Hi, Shinichi, I was wondering if you were going to visit Michiru’s grave tomorrow? …Oh, you are? We’ll be going there about noon… Oh, you won’t make it there until later in the afternoon. Well, how about coming by after you do to have dinner tomorrow… Great, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It’s HIM!

YES!

I wish I could have heard him.

Dad why are you so loud?

I want to hear him.

Sigh, so, I guess I’ll go with my parents and wait around to I can see Shinichi.

That will be kind of surreal to see my own grave stone.

Now that I know what I’m going to do tomorrow, I go upstairs and head to what was my old bedroom.

Not much has really changed in 4 years.

I glance at the clock by my bed to see it read 9:36PM.

Looking around the room there are some of my things that are boxed up and my bed is empty with no sheets on it.

My desk is still the same.

How many nights have I spent studying at this desk?

And this computer, it’s a good thing I am not a guy so I didn’t really have anything questionable on there.

Besides if I had those thoughts, I always had Shinichi to go see to make me feel better.

What am I even thinking?

My bookcase is still as I left it with the exception of the witches’ academy series missing.

Hmm wonder where that is.

Oh well not like I can read it anyway or can I…

I reach out to the bookshelf and focus hard on grabbing a book.

It moved! Oh, hmm, let’s go with this one, the signed copy from the Magic Kingdom series.

I removed it from the shelf with my hand and I carry it back toward my bed.

Before I start reading, I remember God did say that I would have some abilities to help me out.

It seems I can interact with items around me a little bit.

I guess that makes sense.

You hear stories of things being moved around by ghosts.

I guess it wasn’t all just made-up stories designed to scare people.

As I finished my thoughts I laid down on my bed and start to thumb through the book but then I close my eyes and drift in the memories I had in this room.

The nights I’d be reading a book or when Shinichi and I would be studying for some exam.

I feel so light and I start to blackout…