Request for transfer to Sukora Academy:

Name: Y/N M/N L/N
Date of birth: Y/BDY
Adress: Y/AD
Reason for transfer: Switching schools to work closer to new home
New location of home: 12th District, Yamata
Date of entrance exam: 10/5/20

The list went on and on. Y/N held up the paper and looked to the side soberly, not even daring to look at Hanako's face.

He stayed awfully quiet during the whole ordeal. He didn't smile; simply read. Y/N didn't want to say anything, but she felt she had to.

"I'm being taken in by a distant relative," Y/N finally found her voice. She spoke heavily, but tried to sound firm. "I.... I need to go to my cousin's school. I'll be too far away."

Hanako still stayed quiet. Y/N sighed; she had to get straight to the point-

"I'm transferring."

That seemed to pull Hanako back down to earth.

"I see." He tipped his hat low to hide the  distress in his eyes. Y/N reached out to touch him.

"I'm fine!" The spirit forced a grin, looking up.

Y/N took a step back. His smile had been too jarring. She knew he was lying, and she was determined to make him feel better.

"Look, I'm sorry!" Y/N shamefully looked down at the grass on her feet. "I want to stay with you, trust me. But you're bound to this school, while I'm bound to leave. I-"

"Just listen."

Y/N looked up anxiously.

Hanako had lost his grin now. He knew no lie would work on her. They knew eachother so well they practically read the other like an open book.

"I'm fine." He repeated in a steely voice. "Pretend this conversation... Y/N, listen!"

Y/N, who had been going to get the bag of donuts, flinched at his tone. He had never directed anger towards her.

Hanako's eyes flashed threateningly. "Pretend this conversation under this tree never happened. Do you understand?"

Y/N bit her lip. Just earlier, he seemed to be incredibly calm. Why was he so furious?

"I'm sorry..." she kept babbling. Though she tripped on her words, it was only because she couldn't pour out her regret on them alone. "I'll try to convince the prin-"

"Just go!"

Y/N knew he didn't want her to. She could see the start of tears in his slitted, hostile gaze.

"Hanako-kun...."

BRRRRRINNNNGGGGGGG!

"HANAKO-KUN!" Y/N called above the ringing of the schoolbell.

"Y/N-CHAN!" A pair of voices rose higher.

Y/N whipped her head around to see Kou and Yashiro, rushing up to her with incredibly worried looks on their faces.

'No! Not now!'

"Your friends are waiting." Hanako responded blatantly.

Y/N turned to face him, holding the brown parcel desperately. "At least take this!"

Hanako doubtfully looked at it.

"Y/N! What are you doing so far off?!"

Y/N had no choice but to turn to Kou, who was anxiously looking her up and down. Yashiro, who was panting heavily from all the running, did the same despite her exhaustion.

"Guys!" Y/N looked at them pleadingly. "Hanako, he-"

Kou blinked. "Where?"

The girl took a deep breath in, slowly turning around.

The ghost had disappeared; along with him, her parcel. Y/N let a small flicker of relief enter her.

●●●

"Dear Hanako-kun,

The principal's command really made it tough for me. Did you know I'm writing this in my mum's kitchen right now? It's really scary!

No matter. I had some ingredients lying around. I'm sorry I could not add frosting. Are regular donuts in your palate? I hope so. I cooked my best for this batch!

You guessed it; another thank you. Though I think donuts alone can't express that. You keep saving me. How do you do it? Do you never get tired?

Whatever the answer, I want to learn how to be like you. Now I'm just getting ahead of myself... enjoy the donuts!

Hanako averted his eyes guiltily as he finished reading the note.

"Love, Y/N."

A stretch of silence fell on the now empty clearing. Hanako had stayed in the branches of the Confession Tree, feeling safe and hidden from the harsh reality he refused to face. The leaves allowed a scatter of sunlight to enter, making it just the right amount of cool and warm.

"She really cares for you," a deep voice reverberated through the whole tree. Hanako wasn't startled, though. It was just the Confession Tree speaking.

"Sorry for asking your help," Hanako sighed. He had opened the bag, at last settling his eyes on the donuts.

Regular. He would have loved to pull Y/N in a tight embrace and tell her how much plain donuts were his favorite.

"Don't be." The tree continued in his wise tone as Hanako tucked into his meal. This spirit had seen a multitude of successful and failed confessions before. "That was one of the most genuine professions of love I've heard in a while. I'm sure she would have accepted."

Then, to Hanako's surprise, the tree's tone became stern.

"You blew it, though. Why are you that upset about her not being your partner?"

Hanako stayed quiet, closing his eyes. Finally, he summoned the courage to say the truth.

"It's not about her being my partner," Hanako mumbled. "And I'm not upset."

His mind drifted to his little brother; a person he thought he would lose for eternity.

"Then why the worried frown?" The Tree pressed patiently.

Hanako sighed, shaking his head. He was starting to feel a little anger at himself now. He shouldn't have lashed at Y/N so abruptly.

"I'm afraid." He admitted quietly and simply, finding he had no appetite. His eyes were distant.

"I'm scared that I might never see her again."

●●●

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The time seemed to stretch longer and longer as Y/N stared, unfocused, on her Astronomy test.

Her mind was filled with much too many worries for her to pay attention. She had promised Kou and Yashiro she'd explain what was going on.

But how could she possibly tell them? She didn't want them to have the same reaction as Hanako.

She began to feel restless. She had to finish this test, too. She refused to give in to failure; but what with all these newfound tensions, she wasn't able to study.

Many thoughts clouded her mind. Her grip on her pen tightened.

8. What is the biggest known star? Write its name.

'BE-8903?' Y/N panicked. 'Red Giant? A-027-80? 78-'

"-UY Scuti."

Y/N nearly jumped out of her seat.
She looked up a fraction from her test.

There floated a familiar apparition, leaning thoughtfully with eyes on the test.

Y/N was shocked, but she didn't dare say a word. Just because Hanako was invisible to other eyes didn't mean she was, too.

She had told him to never visit her during classes so that she could focus. However, she had to admit that she really needed his help.

Y/N looked around. She had chosen to sit at the backseat like the usual so she wouldn't be disturbed in the test.

No one had turned to look at them. Not even a glance. Y/N slowly wrote down Hanako's answer on the line. He did not protest.

9. What constellation is given in Figure A?

"Ursa Major."

10. What star is used as a guide, mainly by sailors?

"Polaris, the North Star."

They continued the small routine again and again. Soon, they had finished all 30 questions...

Y/N's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at the wallclock.

'....in only 10 minutes?!'

Y/N felt a light tug on the paper. She turned away from the time and looked at Hanako.

He had pulled out the test, peering at it intently.

"What are you doing?" Y/N spluttered.

Some classmates turned to look at her. Y/N shrank in her seat shyly, lowering her tone.

"Hanako-kun, what are you doing?"

"Reviewing." Hanako murmured simply.

Y/N felt a little embarrassed. She reached out with a hand. "I can do that myself-"

Hanako wound his fingers around hers, making Y/N turn red. Holding her hand, he gently placed it down. It was only when she stayed still that he let go.

"You're good to go." Hanako nodded curtly.

Y/N awkwardly took the paper from him. The rejection under the Tree hadn't exactly left them on pleasant terms; she still felt ashamed, as if she failed Hanako. She opened her mouth to apologize.

"I'm sorry, Y/N." Hanako whispered, beating her to it.

Y/N's eyes widened, taken aback. The ghost looked to the side. "And the donuts were wonderful. Thank you."

"Uhm..." Y/N trailed off uncertainly.

"Alright, everyone!" The teacher called. Everyone's heads whipped up in one swift, synchronized movement.

Y/N hastily went to get her test sheet. She continued to stare in disbelief at her Astronomy test, then remembered.

'I've got to thank him! I'm such an idiot!'

"Hanako-" Y/N started, slowly turning around. He had already disappeared. Y/N puffed her cheeks in frustration.

"Ms. L/N." The teacher's voice called sternly.

The student sighed, handing out her paper. She mumbled a quiet apology.

●●●

As she exited the classroom to head home, she crept quietly to the bathroom, hoping not to come across...

"Y/N!" Kou and Yashiro called out.

'Oh dear.'  She held the document of her transfer to her chest.

She was wishing not to see them so that she wouldn't upset more than one person today. How could she possibly tell them she's transferring? Would they become hostile and distant, like how Hanako did?

But she knew she had no choice. She couldn't keep the truth hidden forever.

"Hello, guys." Y/N sighed, slowly turning towards them.

Kou immediately got the hint. "What's the matter?"

"Y/N, what are you holding?" Yashiro added with a worried frown.

The student held up the paper.

It was as if the judgement day had arrived. Kou and Yashiro held the paper, looking at it with wide eyes and looks of complete disbelief.

Seconds seemed to stretch into minutes as they kept rereading, over and over again.

Finally, Yashiro slowly looked up, her red eyes wide. "So what you're trying to say is that... you're transferring?"

"I'm not coming back." Y/N let the words stumble out of her mouth, not wishing to lie anymore. Her two best friends deserved the truth, and the truth alone. "Sukora is a lot of distance from Kamome."

Both friends gaped at her with looks of disappointment and despondence. Her hands, which she clasped behind her, had a more firmer grip.

"I'm sorry!" Y/N shut her eyes tight, forcing back tears. She looked down at the floor, bowing her head in shame. "Yashiro, you're my best friend. You don't deserve my sudden absence. I want to stay here and help you..."

"Y/N-chan..."

"Kou!" Y/N looked up, dodging Yashiro's approaching hand. The blonde held his staff a little more tightly.

"You were the nicest out of everyone I've recently met. I want to know more about you, trust me, I do."

"Don't say that." Kou's blue eyes darted to the floor.

"Both of you," Y/N continued, trembling from the weight she had put on all of their shoulders. For maybe the hundredth time, she had failed her friends.

"I'll miss you. I want to go back. I don't want to leave. I'll make sure-"

Yashiro and Kou leapt on her, cutting off her shaky sentence. Y/N's E/C eyes snapped open with a start.

They were hugging her.

A very tight one, too. But both were shaking. Y/N realized with a jolt that they were crying, too.

"I'm sorry...." Y/N feebly managed one last time, before wrapping her arms around both friends.

"Why are you sorry?" Yashiro exclaimed, pulling Y/N closer. "You're going to live a better life! Why do you look so sad?"

"But you guys..."

"Don't mind us." Kou buried his face into her shoulder. "Sukora is a great school. You'll make a lot of new friends!"

"But..."

"You have a family, too." Yashiro continued, smiling to herself. "I'm sure they're lovely people."

"You guys are my family!"

Yashiro and Kou exchanged sad glances. They knew they had no choice but to silently agree.

"Forever, Y/N." Yashiro said firmly. "We'll always be with you in spirit."

That seemed to warm up Y/N just a little. She let out a heavy sigh, closing her eyes again. She succumbed to the comfort of the hug.

"Thanks, you two. But Hanako..."

She felt a stab of guilt at the buried, agonized look he had given her before he disappeared below the Tree. As much as Y/N didn't want to dwell on it, she couldn't. And she knew she shouldn't.

"What's up with him?" Kou gently asked.

"I've made him a little upset," Y/N decided, unsure how to choose her wording. But if you rejected someone, surely it made them more than just a 'little upset.'  She lingered on the thought with a heavy heart.

"Why would he?" Yashiro shook her head. "You're off to a good school with a great family!"

"I put him down." Y/N continued, wishing she could go to the girls' bathroom. It felt like every part of her was screaming to apologize.

For now, she had to explain everything to her friends... except the confession part. The thought made her feel an overwhelming plethora of emotions she didn't want to.

●●●

"Amane, what's gotten into you?"

Hanako stayed outside the bathroom; not stargazing, not with Y/N. The latter was what puzzled Tsukasa... but also pleased him.

"It's nothing." Hanako waved him off in a push-away manner, continuing his absentminded pacing through the dark, empty schoolhalls.

"What do you mean?" Tsukasa chuckled, a kakujoudai floating alongside him. "I heard much of the story."

He merrily tailed after his brother, until he was right beside him. "She's leaving Kamome, right? Am I right or am I wrong, Amane?"

The words still stung him. He strained to control his pain, looking away.

"Right..." He responded with a crestfallen look.

"Well, then! I think that's good news!"

Hanako looked up at his younger twin. Tsukasa did not show the least bit of remorse or sadness at her future absence.

"It'll be just me and you again!" Tsukasa laughed, holding his incredulous brother by the shoulders. "That H/C-haired girl has been pulling you away from me for quite a while now! What a nuisance!"

Something clicked in Hanako's instincts at the word.

Before he knew it, Tsukasa was pinned to the wall. Tsukasa looked down at him with a dumbfounded look. Hanako's grip was shaky, but he didn't let go.

"She's not a nuisance." He said lowly.

Tsukasa, despite the high tensions, managed to pull off a sultry grin. "I'd say she is! Look at you. Reduced to a wandering, inefficacious ghost!"

Hanako, already put down by the events that happened today, could only recoil at his words, feeling a terrible amount of shame.

"We'll hang out a lot again, just like the old times." Tsukasa continued, instantly taking note of the effect he had placed on his brother. He slowly took hold of his arms.

"Lots of fun memories, Amane! We can relive them. Going to festivals, playing some games..."

Tsukasa grinned, hands tightening on his arms.

"...let's never forget our murderous tendencies."

Hanako's grip slackened, tears beginning to well that he refused to show.

"I see you haven't forgotten." Tsukasa chuckled. "So then, let's forget about Y/N..."

Hanako couldn't endure this predicament anymore. He shoved his younger twin aside, racing away from him.

"Amane?" Tsukasa called out in annoyance.

Hanako kept running. He didn't care anymore; he just wanted a good and quiet place. A refuge. He needed to clear his mind and get himself back on track, ignoring the pain like he always did.

"AMANE!" Tsukasa's voice grew demanding as he raced after him with open arms, in a sort of pre-forced hug.

'Stay away.'  Hanako chanted in his head, shutting his eyes tight. 'Stay away stay away stay away stay a-'

He crashed into something in the hallway.

"OOF!" The something exclaimed in fear.

Tsukasa skidded to a stop faraway, the kakujoudai floating alongside him menacingly.

Hanako slowly pulled away from what he had landed on, still gripping it tightly in unsurpressd pain. Then, he opened his eyes.

Y/N looked right back at him, E/C eyes wide in terror.

"What are you..." Hanako started dimly, then shook his head in surprise as reality dawned on him.

"Y/N?"

"Hey." Y/N squeaked nervously. Hanako realized she wasn't moving. What's up with that?

"Easen up a little, will you?" She continued. It was only then that Hanako realized her wrists struggling against his firm hold.

The spirit descended into embarrassment. To say the least, being on top of her was flustering.

Tsukasa awkwardly looked to the side, letting out a low whistle. He would deal with his brother and Y/N later. He disappeared into a gray cloud, turning away.

Soon, the pair were left looking at each other. Both were speechless, a hopeless look on their eyes.