[Hanako] Leave The Lights On

Leave The Lights On


"H-Hisao?" I wake up to a start to a quivering voice beside me. The comfort of my dreams has been put on hiatus for a bit, as I reach my hand out and turn on my bedside lamp. My eyes squint a bit as they adjust, but I'm greeted by the sight of a terrified girl beside me. Outside, wind and rain beat into the side of the apartment, a sound that normally helps me sleep considerablely better.

"What's wrong, Hana?" Within a moment of me finishing my question, a loud crack of thunder causes Hanako to nearly jump out of her skin, her shaking hands moving up to cover her mouth out of fear. We've only been living together for a few days, and although we spent many nights together back at Yamaku, this is a completely different situation. I sit upright and pull the girl into my side, snuggling up nice and close to her body. Her muscles tense with every drop of water that beats against the outside of our room, but quickly relax as I rub my hands against her shoulder.

"I-I can't s-sleep..." She trails off and wraps her arms around me, squeezing tight enough that I could potentially be losing life from my body. I lean down and give her a kiss on the forehead as she clings to my chest, her head coming to a rest on my scar.

"Is the storm keeping you up?"

"Y-yes, I've never been very g-good with storms..." She's quite truthful about that. I remember the night she stayed in my room back at Yamaku just a little over a year ago, clinging and wimpering against me the entire night as a storm system passed over the school. I think the combined effect of adjusting to a new home and her fear of thunder may cause me to get minimal sleep tonight.

"You know you've got me here, my darling..." She smiles lightly behind closed eyes, her ears listening to my steady heartbeat as she continues to rest her head and arms on my chest. The peaceful pattering of rain against the outside makes me begin feeling drowsy, but yet another crack of thunder causes Hanako to tense her grip around me, wimpering like a lost puppy.

"Hana... would it help you sleep if I left the light on? You can sleep like this tonight if you want." She nods her head behind closed eyes, her heightened pace of breathing beginning to finally slowly down to its average speed. I slide back down into bed and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her in as tight as I can to my body. I notice a slight smile creep onto her face, which for whatever reason doesn't disappear as the next bout of thunder sounds outside. Within a few moments, her muscles have relaxed entirely and her breathing has gone into that of a peaceful slumber. I smile to myself, finally starting to nod off into sleep.

Right before I reach darkness, I can hear a few words muttered into my ear from the beautiful girl beside me.

"I'm never going to let go of you."



'Leave The Lights On' is a song by Meiko.