NOVEL NEXT Volume 10, Epilogue - When Hikaru Was on the Earth……
Volume 10, Epilogue: When Hikaru Was on the Earth......
The following year, Spring—
The Cherry Blossoms had wilted, and it was a warm day where one would sweat wearing a coat out.
Koremitsu had entered the second year of high school.
He made new friends in his new class, and during lunch break, was able to eat his meals with them, and chat with them.
Michiru was still his classmate, and unlike before when she was nominated to be the class representative, she nominated herself to be it. She also intended to run for the presidency of the student council, and requested, Mr. Akagi, please help me with my speech.
He was streamed into a different class from Honoka, but the duo would meet after school at the Japanese dance club room, and they would leave school together, going on dates during vacations. They watched an action movie Koremitsu really liked, and this time, he was to accompany Honoka to watch the suspense-themed love story she liked.
"There's a lot of amazing plot twists here. You don't have to worry about being bored, Akagi."
With their hands clasped with each other, Honoka spoke with a cheerful face.
She had her hair, usually let down, tied in a ponytail, and she was dressed in a long one-piece dress with frills on the hem. Whenever they went on dates, Honoka would wear clothes cuter than usual.
"You should praise me well, Akagi. That's why I'm working hard here."
She smiled cheerfully.
Koremitsu would usually be at a loss of words as to how to praise Honoka whenever they went on dates, but the friend who no longer existed did say before, "'Isn't it good' is a line that can only be said once. You have to praise girls well when they work hard to dress smart."
Honoka started to chat happily about what happened in class.
(This girl's always smiling now…back when we first met, her eyebrows were usually raised, and she was glaring at me.)
As he recalled how Hikaru said that the latter would help him search for a girlfriend who liked to smile, his eyes and lips naturally began to smile too.
And Honoka suddenly immediately looked up at Koremitsu, whispering bashfully,
"It seems you've been smiling a lot recently, Akagi. Your smiling face…is very gentle. I like it."
—It seems that whenever you are with her, you too would be cheerful and uplifted, influenced to smile too.
The rich sweet voice rang within his eyes.
A fiery lump rose up his throat, and used his hands to cover his face and lift it up.
"Hm, what's the problem?"
"Ah, it's nothing. I just so happened to think of a ghost."
"What's that about?"
Honoka spoke with interest. Koremitsu held his tears in, and then rubbed his hands that were on his face on Honoka's cheeks.
"Let's hurry. The movie's about to start."
Saying that, he walked away.
"Ah, you're buffing me here! Is my foundation ruined? What about the rouge?"
One of these day, he would tell Honoka Hikaru's matters.
The story of this important friend of mine, who brought me a flower that likes to smile.
Yes. Perhaps that guy's somewhere on this Earth.
—The next time, I will head to your classroom to borrow a textbook, Mr. Akagi. When that comes, I have a request to ask of you.