Your wholesome Hanako-kun

To be honest, her thank you wasn’t happy. She couldn’t help but feel this pit in her stomach. What was it? She didn’t know. Was it denial? Because she was lying without knowing it? She held back the tears that she didn’t know the reason for. She swallowed the lump in her throat before she grinned, the fake smile taking over. 

“Hmm.. I think Go Fish would be fun!”

She reached over for the deck and began to shuffle them. “I never knew how to shuffle cards so I just used to throw them up in the air and pick them up.” she laughed, seprating the deck into two piles before shoving them together.

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

    The ghost watches her expressions for a moment and with her reply to him it seemed that she wasn’t satisfied with her own reply. If that was the case then maybe there was room in her heart for him. Would it be odd to mention he had seen her multiple times in a dream when he was alive? When he finally met her over fifty years ago as a younger boy? -- No, there were things better left unsaid including how he felt about her. But how could he hide it from her if she told him how she really felt? He could hardly keep his composure when she kissed his cheek or told him that she liked him.

     Oh, the times he would replay the memories in his mind when he was alone and all the students went home. He watched as Yashiro reached for the cards and began to shuffle them, she told him a small secret and that is when a small fox-like grin escapes him.

         ❝ Are you saying you weren’t that co-ordinated, Yashiro-san~? ❞

      He snickered as he waved his hand gesturing that he was teasing her.

Why did… her heart hurt so much? She liked Minamoto-senpai. She liked Hanako-kun too, but more in a friendly way! But… this hurt. Her heart beat slowing, it was almost painful. Nene stuttered slightly as she looked up as him, her hands on her cheeks as she looked down. Her face a bright red from slight embarrassment. Why was she so upset by her own answer? 

She swallowed a lump in her throat before she looked up as he spoke.

“Well… thank you, Hanako-kun.”

Her thanks soft, almost regretting what she said. He was smiling but something to her just felt off. She didn’t know why. Nene shook her head slightly, suppressing her tears before she grinned. 

“Do you want to play some cards in the meantime?”

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

     Her thank you didn’t seem too happy, it seemed just a little bit more strained than the first time she came to him for help. As if the thank you was more happy and delighted the first time. He sat there staring at the cards that she suggested, a small part of him didn’t want to play cards after being rejected, the other part just didn’t want to leave her alone. He wanted to steal her heart away from guys who didn’t seem to care for her in return.

          ❝ -- Cards? Sure we can play cards. What game did you want to play? ❞

Nene paused – her body slightly rigid as he spoke. Her mind began to race. Did she say that? She was silent for a good while… that time in the other world was… interesting to say the least. She knew Hanako was there to save her from any harm that might come her way, that was just… something she knew. That was Hanako’s character – plain and simple. She knew she was going to die soon and Hanako didn’t want that to happen… but to be fair, she didn’t either.  When she looked up from staring at the ground, she noticed she had removed his hat, her brows furrowing slightly in curiosity and confusion. Her eyes locked on his as she parted her lips, wanting to speak. Nothing was coming out. 

“I- I mean of course Minamoto-senpai was there!”

She was in denial. She couldn’t be in love with Hanako-kun.

“But it wasn’t really him! He was just..”

She didn’t know how to respond.

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     Who was he kidding ... No matter what he did he thought that Yashiro really did like him, after all she did admit to liking him in the art world the fourth mystery made. The kiss on the cheek was just something to cheer him up just like she said that one time and maybe her bringing him doughnuts and saying that she liked him was all just a misinterpretation. His heart sank a little, he would be lying if he said he was a little hopeful that she liked him as much as he liked her.

     Well, a ghost dating a girl that was alive is a little ridiculous either way. His hand gripping the fabric of his hat as he forces the feelings from him. Locking up these feelings for Yashiro was reasonable, Protecting her was his job and part of his job, he wanted her to live after all and so long as she does live that’s all he could ask for -- that he could be happy for.

           ❝ -- Shounen’s older brother huh? Well, you have liked him for a very long time. ❞

         Hanako picks up his hat and returns it to his head, he could hear his heart shattering in his ears but so Yashiro wouldn’t worry he smiled at her, trying to not let his true emotions cover his face.

Nene was beaming– grinning form ear to ear. She was so elated, it was something so simple, but it brought her joy and it was fun. She was having a good time forgetting all about the things around her.  “I loved it!” Nene was about to speak once more when she paused, stopping to listen when Hanako began to speak. Her eyes widened and her ears turning a soft pink. 

“What! If course you’re not my type! I keep telling you that over and over!”

Of course, she was in denial to herself – but that wasn’t important right now.  “What would I like to do… well we can play cards if you want to!” 

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

      Well, he might have teased her about not being her type but at the same time what she said to him in Shijima’s painting was completely different. Being added into the world of her painting in order to save Yashiro was the best thing he could of come up with since she was going to die any day. Being painted in that world and staying there was much safer for her but he was convinced that that wasn’t what she wanted because the boy she liked -- if he recalled correctly -- wasn’t there.

       The sound of her words back then still ringing through his ears and his body. He stares at her as if he was looking straight through her bluff. Curiosity strikes him as he reaches up and touches the brim of his hat and removes it, maybe he should test out his theory.

        ❝ -- Well, correct me if I’m wrong, Yashiro but if I remember correctly you said something along the lines of you not wanting to stay in the painting because the person you like wasn’t there ... Even though he was. ❞

            His neutral expression turning into a small pout.

Nene smiled happily, completely forgetting about the storm outside and that the power was out. She hummed slightly as she glanced over the deck before carefully plucking a card from the deck. She quickly pulled it close to her chest in order to hide it from the other, making sure he wasn’t able to see what she had picked. She looked back up at him and grabbed the pen and scribbled her name on the card. She reached over and slipped the card into the middle of the deck and held her hands together, anxiously waiting on the result of the trick. She watched him carefully, making sure he wasn’t pulling any tricks on her. She nodded as he spoke, paying attention with a small smile.  After he snapped twice, she leaned in, eyes wide as she watched, her lips parted slightly, her breathing quiet. Once Hanako-kun had revealed her card with her scribble she let out a gasp. 

“Wow! Hanako-kun, that’s amazing!”  She looked at the card and then up to Hanako, flushing slightly at his action. 

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

      Hanako smiled his signature smile as she was super happy to see the trick he presented her. He couldn’t help but laugh as he floated down allowing to sit on the floor near her, her amazement to the trick was more amusing to him than the trick itself. Yashiro was always such an interesting girl and there was always something new that Hanako would learn, lately she had been getting braver around enemy supernaturals.

         ❝ I’m glad you liked it! ❞

       The boy continued to smile as a hand raised to the back of his head and to rub the nape of his neck. He noticed the flush on her face he was extremely tempted to tease her more but that would only back fire really quickly since she was his type.

         ❝ I’m just teasing after all I’m not your type, right? ❞

       He would never expect her to love someone that was already dead, let alone a murderer. He had come to accept his way of life and would continue to fight for her life.

Nene huffed slightly, puffing out her cheeks with a small pout.  “They’re cute…” she mumbled underneath her breath She glanced up at him and smiled a little as he smiled. She watched him as he rummaged through his pockets with curiosity. Her eyes lit up at the deck of cards, gasping softly. 

“Do you know any magic tricks?” she asked, her eyes practically sparkling. Sure, she had met so many supernaturals with actual magical tricks– but she always loved card tricks. Maybe he knew some!

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

       She liked magic tricks huh? Well, he wouldn’t deny that he did know one that he taught himself before he met her. A smile appeared on his lips again as he pushed the end of the cards allowing them to fly over his head and into the opposite hand.

         ❝ Well I do know one but I’m going to need you to write on it. ❞

        Hanako smiled as he gathered the cards together, split them in half and shuffled them before laying them out in front of her, he dug into his pocket again and pulled out a black inked pen.

        ❝ Pick any card you like Yashiro -- you can show me if you like. ❞

         He waits until she picks a card and gives her the pen in order to write on it and gathers the remainder of the cards. Once she is done he takes the card and places it in the middle of the deck. A grin on his face, since he has to put on a show!

       ❝ -- Now as you can see your card is neatly added into the pile there are no cards or edges sticking out and no dents in the card to show me which one is your card. Now that you have signed it, it is connected to you so when I snap my fingers it won’t appear on the top. ❞

         Hanako says as he snaps his fingers beside the deck and flips over the top card to reveal the five of clubs. He turns it back over and gestures for her to snap her fingers. When she does the cards shake a little in his hand. He reaches to the top card and flips it over to reveal her signed card: the seven of hearts.

       ❝ See? All thanks to your connection to the card you were able to summon it to the top of the deck. ❞

Nene pressed her lips together to keep them from trembling. She felt the, almost warm, embrace from her friend. She glanced over, a deep breath escaping her lungs with relief. It was like a wave of burden disappeared off of her, she felt light. It was times like this she was grateful for her friend. 

She leaned into his touch for a few moments, her eyes closed. Her eyelids were heavy… She pulled back as he did and she tilted her head slightly in confusion and curiosity. 

“Games? I’m not sure…” she paused before she glanced down at her phone. Low battery. “I have this idol-raising game I like to play but my phone is almost dead anyway.”

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

          ❝ -- Uh .. ❞

         Hanako blinked as he looked at Yashiro her phone was already out of battery? She must really like her idol-raising game, but he wasn’t really surprised since the game was filled with attractive men.

           ❝ What ever are we going to do with you and attractive men, Yashiro. ❞

         The raven said with a teasing smile before rummaging around in his pockets. There had to be something in his pockets in order to pass the time but without light it might be a little hard -- or maybe her eye sight has adjusted to the darkness already? The book on love, the empty bag of mermaid scales, the kokeshi, a magazine -- no he couldn’t use that. The only other thing he really had on hand was the deck of cards he normally used to play with the Mokke. Pulling them from his pocket a small nervous sweat ran down his cheek.

          ❝ -- Sorry, Yashiro ... This is all I really have entertainment wise. ❞

       Maybe the next time he needed to buy something at the spirit world he would buy something for this kind of circumstance

Nene day was already a struggle. She had woken up late and barely made it to campus that day! Her hair was a mess and she was still tired from a restless night of sleep. She yawned, rubbing the tears that prickled the corners of her eyes. She had noticed the dark clouds that began to hover in the sky, growing blacker with each passing hour. A shiver shot down her spine with the sudden BOOM of thunder and bright FLASH of lightning.  “Eep!”

Her eyes widened from the sudden noise as she walked down the hallway a bit faster to the bathroom that she frequented often. Her face was pale as she shuffled into the restroom and glanced over at her friend, a nervous smile on her face as she tried to rub away the tears, how embarrassing.  “Y-Yeah- it’s just something I’m not too fond of.” she murmured softly.

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

         Hearing her words brought back emotions that he rarely ever used any more, after all ghosts don’t really need to be afraid of anything other than them disappearing. He guessed every human had something that really scared them some were afraid of heights, others loud sounds and a variety of other things that could ale them. Death was always a scary thing for any human. Reaching out he slowly and softly touched the side of her head in order to comfort her.

          Wouldn’t reaching out and hugging her be too much? -- Well normally he did cling to her. So without a second though he moved closer to her, arms wrapping around her shoulders in a tender hug.

            ❝ It’s okay it will all be over soon. ❞

          Hanako said with a smile and in a happier tone in order to distract her. Pulling away slightly he smiled an idea popping in his head in order to try and keep her preoccupied and not focused to her surroundings even though there was yet another clap of thunder.

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

         It had been a sunny day until dark clouds started to roll in. Hanako watched the sky from the girl’s bathroom window, his eyes narrowing as the sky turned dark. This was a perfect time for supernaturals to cause a fright with the students -- but then again that is normal. You could hear from a far off distance that thunder and lighting were approaching quickly. The Hakujoudai seemed to be shaking in the air around him as if anticipating something to come in the future that might require him to deal with.

      A few hours later the thunderstorm was over top of them, the sound rumbling and shaking the whole school and stirring mischief. It was near the middle of classes when Kou and Yashiro would visit him and then once again after school. A large clap of thunder hit over top of them causing the power to go out, his eyes narrowed as he started getting worried about the safety of the student and his friends. It was then that the door swung open and in came in a familiar face calling for him, his eyes wide with sudden surprise.

      Hanako floated over to her side, it must be a bit hard to see since the lights just went out -- however it was easy for him. He could see tears in her eyes as his shocked expression turned into a soft comforting smile.

     ❝ -- There, there Yashiro ... I am right here. Did something happen? Are you okay? ❞

      It was then that he realized that she might be scared of lightning.

    ❝ Don’t tell me you are afraid of lightning after you have faced so many supernaturals! ❞

˟  ☾  ✩   ━━

         ❝ -- Ne, Ne Yashiro ~ ❞

      The raven haired boy said as he floated near her a snack in his mouth.