A New Beginning - Part 2

Part 1: https://pastebin.com/1arPSeFe

"Hey, Hisao. You know who that is?"

"Yeah. I think that's Rin Tezuka."

She hasn't noticed us yet. She is wandering down the path while gazing at the buildings.

She looks mostly the same as she did when we were students here, seemingly lost in her own world as usual. Lost, until she turned and noticed us only a few feet away from her.

"Hello."

Lilly furrows her brow at the sound of Rin's voice. I assume she's struggling to recognize it; unsurprising, given how long it has been, so I decide to help her out.

"Hello Rin. How have you been?"

"Cold. I didn't put enough layers on today."

Her deadpan delivery is still the same.

"Oh, that's a shame. Well, what you doing here?"

"I was just wondering that myself. I got on the bus to come here, but I forgot why I was coming when I saw a butterfly on the window."

"Butterfly? But it's winter; wouldn't they be hibernating now?"

"Not this one. It was made by the frost on the outside of the window."

That explains it. Rin looks down at her boots tentatively before returning her gaze to us.

"I remember now. I got a letter telling me to come here today."

"Ah, I got one too. So did Lilly, Akira, and Misha."

"And you all came because the letter said to?

"Well... yes. So did you by the sound of it."

Rin doesn't reply, she just stares coldly at me before changing the subject."

"I like snow. More than rain."

"Oh? Why is that, Rin?"

Lilly makes an unexpected entrance into the conversation, catching Rin slightly off guard.

"Rain makes everything seem soft, snow makes everything seem serene. I feel connected when it rains, but I feel peaceful when it snows."

As Rin answers, her attention wanders around the scenery once again; Her reply explains why she seems somewhat subdued compared to the Rin I remember. But it's been so long since I last saw her, my mind might be exagerating her personality.

"You don't know who sent the letter, Rin?"

"No. The mystery is the reason why I'm here. We have a secret proprietor. So, did you send it?"

"Me? No, I'm here for the same reason."

Rin turns to Lilly and Akira who both deny sending the letter as well.

More snow starts falling lightly, gently thickening the white blankets covering our surroundings. Rin appears to be in a state of euphoria; her eyes are closed and her head tilted back, allowing snowflakes to settle on her nose.

I turn to Lilly and Akira to discuss what to do, but not before another old friend bursts into view.

"Hey everyone!"

"Oh, Hey Em!. I'm surprised you're here."

"Why's that, Hisao?

"You're a world class track and field champion, and a Paralympic medalist-"

Emi's face falls, along with her head and shoulders deafeatedly.

"Bronze medalist, Hisao. I got bronze."

"Still, that's a heck of an achievement. Something to be proud of."

Emi's demeanour doesn't change, she just withdraws into herself further while Rin returns to our world.

"Hellooo."

"Oh. Hey Rin! It's been too long."

"Has it?"

"Yes! We've got a lot to catch up on!"

With that, Emi walks off, gesturing Rin to go with her, who obliges out of boredom.

Akira finishes muttering something to Lilly and turns to me.

"What's her problem?"

"Who?"

"That Emi, she seemed really eager to run off."

"Oh, I guess that's just Emi being Emi."

"She likes living life at Mach 2 then?"

We all chuckle at Akira's remark. She does have a point though, Emi did seem eager to get out of the conversation. Did I say something to upset her? Now that I think about it, her expression changed as I mentioned the Paralympics.

I dwell on the thought for a moment or two while the fresh snow creeps around our feet. The forecast did call for snow around this area today but nowhere near this much.

"Shall we head inside, Lilly? You and Akira look frozen."

"That is a good idea, Hisao. You're right, it is far too cold out here. Akira?"

"Fine with me. You two run ahead, I'll find Misha and Yoshiro then find you."

"Okay. We'll be in the main lobby."

As we begin to make our way over, Lilly places her hand gently on my shoulder, making me jolt.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Hisao."

"Don't be. You just took me by surprise is all. As Emi said, it's been too long."

"Okay. Would you mind?"

"It'll be my pleasure, Lilly."

She smiles softly and returns her delicate hand to my shoulder. I'm surprised I can feel it through my thick coat.

As we head for the main lobby, yet another figure appears before us. While most of her appearance is different from our last encounter, one distinguishing feature makes her identity all too clear.

"I-is that you Lilly?"

Lilly stands dead still, her eyes brightening and twinkling like christmas lights.

"My, my. Is that you, Hanako?"

Hanako doesn't respond. She instinctively runs over and embraces Lilly with tears flowing. Lilly responds in kind, tears and all.

The happiness in the moment is too infectious. I feel myself starting to well up.

"It's so good to see you, Lilly! I've missed you soo much!"

"You too, Hanako. Oh my, it's been far too long."

After a few moments, the pair seperate and Lilly wipes the tears from Hanako's eyes.

"Let's go inside, Hanako. Hisao and I are rather cold."

"Okay. I'm sorry I ignored you, Hisao."

"Don't worry about it, Hanako. I know you two needed the moment."

Hanako smiles and gives me a hug as well, but it feels like I'm embracing an imposter. The is no trace of the nervousness that characterized her when we were both students here. Hanako feels warm, forward and genuinely comfortable in her own skin. I'm happy for that; I'm happy for her.

We make our way inside the Lobby and scan the walls for a light switch. It is no different to when we last stood in here, with the exception of a new computer at the main desk and a thin layer of dust on many of the surfaces.

We all bask in reminiscence of a life long gone. I still remember starting at Yamaku; feeling like I was stuck in time after spending so long in the hospital and having my life thrown into complete disarray.

"Wow. Nearly 10 years on and this place feels no different."

Misha bursts through the door with Yoshiro bouncing around on her shoulders, both of them covered in snow and giggling away with Akira in tow.

"Hey, Hanako~! You just got here as well?"

"Hello, Misha. Yes I did, how long have you been here?"

"A while. I've been running around with this little one."

She points to Yoshiro, who is still giggling away to himself.

"I didn't know you had a child, Misha."

"Wahahaha~! No, he isn't mine. He's Akira's."

"Yep, he's mine alright."

Akira steps forward and the door begins to close behind her, but stops midway and reopens again, indicating the presence of yet another being. This one being completely silent, yet still demanding our attention.

It's Shizune, I would greet her like I did with everyone else, but I know there isn't any point in doing so. That responsibility falls directly on Misha, whose is completely frozen in shock.

"Hello aunt Shizune!"

Of all the people to break the silence, Yoshiro is the one I wouldn't expect to do so, wouldn't he know that Shizune couldn't hear him?

"Shizune can't hear you, remember?"

"Oh. Sorry, mummy."

Misha lifts Yoshiro off her shoulders who runs over to Shizune, giving her a hug. Misha looks uneasy now Shizune has arrived, could it be to do with them drifting apart?

To my surprise, rather than being formal and stern; Shizune actually hugs Yoshiro back and smiles, then turns to Misha and signs something to her.

"[...]"

"Shicchan says it's nice to see everyone here and looking well."

We all nod and smile as is the best response we could give without Misha signing on our behalf.

Misha doesn't seem herself now that Shizune is here. She's become withdrawn and quiet, as if she is scared of her.

She signs something back, but it's hard to make anything out as her hands are shaking violently. Not that I understand sign anyway.

As Misha finishes, Shizune produces the same letter from her coat pocket that we all recieved.

A few awkward moments pass in silence. No one else seems to be coming, which would imply everyone is here. Something Akira has noticed as well and speaks up.

"Since we are all here, the person who sent us that letter must be as well."

"Well, not everyone is here."

"What do you mean, Hisao?"

"My roommate, Kenji is supposed to come as well according to my letter. He was taking the train after the one I took."

"Right, when should he be here?"

Glancing at my watch, I realize he should have been here nearly thirty minutes ago.

"He's late, he should have been here nearly half an hour ago."

"Well we can write him off. There's no way the trains would be even five minutes late, let alone half an hour."

She has a point, Kenji has bailed on me. Not that I'm surprised, but it may work out for the better since he would notice all the girls here and go crazy.

"As I was saying, the person who sent us that letter should be here as well. We should find them."

"How should we do that? The buildings are really big and so are the grounds."

"We should split up to cover the most ground. I'll take Yoshiro, Lilly and Hanako, and Misha and Shizune."

Misha and Shizune seem resistant about teaming up, but Akira's pairing does make sense. Misha is the only one who can directly communicate with Shizune. Eventually they both acquiesce.

"Okay. Shicchan and I will look around the third floor."

"Hanako and I will check the second floor and the Library."

"I'll take Yoshiro and we'll search the ground floor."

"Wait, what about me?"

"Pick whoever you want, Hisao."

I'm thinking of going with Shizune since I can tell Misha would appreciate the extra company. Before I can make my decision known, Lilly interjects in realization.

"Wait. Aren't Emi and Rin somewhere around as well?"

"Good point, Lilly. Hisao, you go and find them then search the grounds. That should cover the most area."

Akira does have a point. It's a good thing Lilly remembered.

"Okay, shall we meet back here then?"

We unanimously agree and head off in different directions. As Rin said, this is a total mystery.

I pull my gloves out my pocket and put them on before venturing out into the flurry of snow to find Emi and Rin, if they haven't left already.

Part 3: https://pastebin.com/BpT8MqB9