Emi Epilogue - Stopping Short: Chapter 5

Start Date: April 8, 2015

*NOTE* I will probably continue to refer to Emi's hair as pink. Sorry if that bothers you. Now go enjoy the finale of Stopping Short. <3
EDIT: For the curious, the "special reward" will be revealed in the epilogue...an epilogue of an epilogue, huh? So, an EpiEpilogue? Or is it an EmiEpilogue? EmiEmilogue? Fuck it, you'll see in a few weeks time.

Stopping Short - Chapter 5: The Finale

"AAAHCHOOOO!"

Ah crap, it's cold in here.

Did I forget to turn on the heater or something?

Oh wait, it's summer...so why the hell is it so cold?

I open my eyes slowly, moving my hands to my face to rub the sleep out of them. Stretching gradually as I sit up, I notice something beside me. Or rather, a lack of something.

Where did that girl run off to now?

Before I leap out of bed and begin another frantic search for Emi, my mind jumps back to Sunday afternoon.

'C’mon, Emi. We’ll run again tomorrow, alright?'

Repressing my undue panic, I reach the logical conclusion that Emi has simply headed down to the track for our previously scheduled run. Albeit it is a bit earlier than usual, but that's hardly something to get worked up over in Emi's case.

Casually sliding out of bed, I make the usual preparations and head out to meet with the pigtailed wonder.

==========

The sun peeks over the horizon as I make my way down to the track. Already I can tell that today is gonna be rather warm despite how early it is. At least the morning's exercise will be out of the way before it gets too bad.

As I draw nearer to the track another oddity strikes me. The distinct lack of the usual "click click clicking" sounds makes the air feel strangely still and empty.

Perhaps she's still warming up?

I quicken my pace, a small flutter of worry sending my heartbeat into an unsteady rhythm. Emi's training has definitely made my body more capable of enduring physical stress, but emotional stress is an entirely different beast.

I'm sure she's fine. Just don't worry so much, Hisao...

The black surface of the track finally comes into view.

Not a single runner in sight.

My pulse quickens.

It's fine. Everything is fine. I'm sure she's just with Rin or in her room or back at the male dorm or with Nurse or...

These thoughts flit through my head at a somewhat incomprehensible rate as I make a hasty 180 and begin jogging to the Nurse's office.

==========

Nowhere.

This girl is nowhere.

All my options exhausted, I plop down by the wall in front of the dorms, leaning against Rin's mural dejectedly. I open my phone and dial Emi's number for what must be the thirteenth time, the result exactly the same as the twelve times prior: straight to voicemail. I try getting a hold of Meiko once more, but calling her phone results in nothing but a busy signal. Sighing, I let my arm drop and look up to the sky.

The sun is finally making its presence known to all, rising up fully over the horizon and bathing the earth in its warm glow. Aside from the occasional cloud here and there the sky is largely empty, leaving me gazing up at a massive blue void.

Probably all the better so I can think more clearly. Admittedly though, this wasn’t what I wanted when I hoped for a moment without distractions yesterday.

I’ll hang on the optimistic side and say that Emi is safe. At the very least, I’m almost positive that she left of her own will, so that isn’t really the problem here. The problems are why did she leave and where did she go?

*Sigh* Alright, first things first, her motivation for disappearing.

……

Because she was hiding something from me? I’m pretty confident that that had something to do with it. What exactly she was and still is hiding isn’t quite clear yet, but that can wait. What’s important is that she left because she felt like there was something she couldn’t tell me. She’s definitely grown, but she’s still the same ol’ Emi, huh?

So now, where would she go when something emotional like this started nipping at her mind? Likely someplace comforting, but I doubt it’d be back to her house. I’ve already explored all the places she might be in Yamaku, so that’s out as well. As far as I’m aware, Emi doesn’t have any other places with her current family or friends that she frequents. So just where could sh-

!!

In a split-second I’m on my feet and flying towards the school gates.

The bus stop. I’ve gotta get to the bus stop NOW!

Thanking my past self for deciding to change out of my exercise clothing while visiting my room earlier, I race through the gate and begin thundering down the hill leading to the small town below Yamaku.

Wait for me Emi. I’ll be there…

Promise.

==========

Thoroughly exhausted from my earlier sprint, I sit on the bus and attempt to quietly restore my breathing and heartbeat to normal. The pulsing in my chest is dramatically uneven, but I haven’t started seeing spots yet so I refuse to quit now.

The bus churns down the street at an agonizingly slow pace, leaving me itching to get to my destination. Grumbling to myself, I lean back in the seat and stare out the window. My faint reflection stares right back as if silently questioning me.

‘C’mon, Hisao, are you sure you know what you’re doing? Have you thought of everything just yet?’

What do you mean “have I thought of everything?”

‘I’m sure you’re right about Emi’s disappearance being related to whatever she’s been hiding for the past day or so, but have you given more thought to WHAT she’s been keeping hidden?’

Isn’t it more important just to find her and make sure she’s alright first?

‘No, Hisao. It isn’t. Some tough hero charging in on his white stallion to save the day is exactly what Emi does NOT want. She doesn't need someone to save her, she likely just wants someone who cares. If you’re gonna do this, you need to think about it first.’

…shit.

‘Exactly. Now calm yourself and THINK for once, Hisao.’

I didn’t realize my conscience was such a snarky asshat.

‘The longer you keep quipping at me, the more hurt Emi's gonna be.’

Sorry, sorry. But I’m still at a loss for what Emi is hiding. Doesn’t she trust me?

‘Maybe she wants to, but she just can’t force it. Think back, Hisao. What is one of Emi’s biggest fears?’

Getting close to people, definitely. She’s afraid of bonding with someone and having them wrenched out of her life.

‘Good. Keep going.’

Well, people have to earn your trust before you can form a bond with them. I'm almost certain that I had earned Emi's trust before this all happened, so if she’s afraid of getting close to me isn’t it a bit too late for that? And doesn’t she trust me enough to talk to me about these things?

‘You keep saying that, Hisao. Haven’t you made the connections?’

Are you saying that…Emi sees this entire incident as me being slowly ripped out of her life?

‘Holy hell, boys! The kid ain’t brain dead after all!’

But she knows I don’t have actual feelings for Iwanako, doesn’t she?

‘What she knows and what she feels don’t always have to coincide.’

In other words, she knows how I feel but the trust is already wounded?

‘…most likely…’

So what can I do?

‘I'm not sure, but in no way should you make her think you're trying to fix her. She can handle herself, but you need to make sure she knows that you understand that. Only then can you regain her trust.'

How would Emi want me to go about this?

'I only know as much as you do, Hisao. I can’t answer every question…’

Then how did you know Emi’s feelings from the start?

‘Because YOU knew. I just helped force it to the front of your brain.’

…huh.

‘You really are a doof, numbskull.’

Then wouldn’t that make you-

‘Yes, haha, you’re hilarious. Shut up and get off the bus.’

The “conversation” ends just in time as the bus lurches to a halt at my destination. Tearing my gaze away from the reflection in the window, I quickly rise from my seat and exit the bus. As I step out of the climate controlled interior of the vehicle, my body is met with the blistering summer heat. Instantly, sweat begins to form across my skin.

Doing my best to ignore the temperature, I put my feet in motion down the sidewalk in the direction of the departing bus. Within minutes I’m standing on the opposite side of the street, gazing across at a familiar archway.

I’m here…so what now?

Decision

1.	Wait for Emi outside
http://pastebin.com/aR26KpR1

2.	Find and talk to Emi
http://pastebin.com/yX8EnTZs