Hanako stared down at her with wide, frightened eyes. He had tried to avoid the girl because of his selfish regret of confessing.

It was not exactly a good mix, being turned down by the person he looked up to, then hearing she was going to leave.

"Are you okay?" Y/N timidly tried to hold his hands, who's knuckles had already turned white from their tight grip.

"Did Tsukasa... hurt you?" Hanako spluttered. He realized that, through it all, he could not push away Y/N for even a moment. A part of him always worried about her no matter what he did.

"No?" Y/N looked even more frightened now, at the mention of his brother. "Did he hurt you? I came looking for you!"

The spirit took a deep breath in, feeling relieved, and a little embarrassed. He was always the one looking for her, not the other way around.

"I'm fine." He said quietly.

His grip had loosened. Y/N used this as an opportunity to wriggle free and slip away.

Hanako didn't mind. His gaze was still lost, eyes clouded with an emotion Y/N couldn't distinguish.

"Hanako-kun?" She piped up quietly, unsure how to comfort him.

She despised the way the ghost had comforted her through many things, yet when Y/N tried to return the favour, she didn't know what to say. She curled her fists determinedly.

Y/N tried to stay strong for the shaken spirit, as he slowly looked up at her. "Yes?"

"Do you need something?" Y/N ventured gently. "Do you want to go anywhere?"

"Any place will do." He looked to the side, unable to meet her eyes. "As long as you'll be there as well."

She grew a little embarrassed at the comment, but Hanako didn't look like he was trying to be a pervert.

If she was going to be Hanako's way to cope with everything, so be it.

Y/N held his hand with her own two, helping him up. "Well, then! Let's go!"

Hanako watched in amazement as Y/N confidently weaved through the empty halls. The sun slowly sank, shadows lengthening across the floor.

Y/N used to be indecisive, depending on him for help. Now, she looked like she could fare just fine.

Through the harrowing situation, Hanako couldn't help but muster a small smile.

Y/N opened the door to a vacant classroom, sitting on the small stage by the chalkboard. Hanako did the same.

And then, there was silence.

Y/N appreciated how it enveloped them, protecting them from the fear of saying the wrong thing.

Hanako took a moment to reflect, pick up his emotions, gather his thoughts.

Y/N looked up. It was time to express herself.

"I'm sorry!"  Both teenagers blurted at the same time.

Another silence. This time, it was a stunned one.

"Sorry for...?"

"Huh?!"

The atmosphere of regret slowly turned into one of confusion.

"Why did you say that?" Y/N tilted her head.

"Everything!" Hanako exclaimed.

"You did nothing wrong." Y/N flatly stated. "I did the mistake."

"I was the one who got a little carried away," Hanako objected, looking at her meaningfully. "I shouldn't have-"

"But look at you!"

Hanako stopped. Y/N's voice had gone hoarse, which meant...

"I owe everyone everything." She croaked. Hanako could see, from the way she trembled, that she was letting free a lot of worries.

"I owe them all my time. They have spent all of theirs opening up about themselves for me to relate; to comfort me and know they're there for me."

She sighed, shaking her head. She shamefully ran her arm across her face, feeling the start of tears.

She always cried. Always. Y/N felt bitter. She was trying to avoid everything that made her look weak.

"I think I've shown them my gratitude. Sabiro, Aborochi, Yashiro, Kou... but there's one person I haven't done that to yet."

Y/N looked up at him. "You." 

Hanako felt himself die a little inside. Seeing Y/N in a state of great pain hurt twice as much as the one he had felt.

"I owe the most to you." She continued, unable to hold the beginnings of frenzied tears. "You're the one who kept me on my feet. You could've asked for anything in return. Errands, money, eternal assistance..."

Her voice trailed off to a faint whisper. "...and all you asked for was a simple 'yes.'"

Hanako bit his lip, remembering the confession under the Tree.

"And what did I do?" Y/N bitterly scoffed. "I said no. Why? Because of a stupid, silly transfer."

The apparition felt the change of tone; from shame and pain to self-loathing and regret.

"I should have never gotten a new family! I should've stayed here, with you! With everyone!" She looked at him wildly.

"And now, the one who has comforted me through everything... I've hurt him far beyond measure! I'm such a horrible person! I'm sorry, Hanako-kun!  I'm sorry I can't say-"

Hanako swiftly pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Don't." He said weakly. "I don't think I can handle you talking like that."

Y/N's eyes widened as his arms held her firmly to his chest.

"I'm sorry..." Y/N piped up, trying to squirm away like she did before. "Don't hug me. I've hurt you and I-"

"It's not your fault."

He paused. Then, he slowly spoke.

"I was the one who went deliberate on you. And I..."

His words trailed off as Y/N's own arms found their way around his waist. Her voice was muffled, but her words were firm. "It's not yours, either."

Hanako swallowed the pain he had felt from earlier that day. All would be alright. Rather than moon over his destined-to-fail confession, he should savor every last minute Y/N was there.

Every last minute... before she left.

It was like the days before her wish would be fulfilled. He knew she didn't want it to be filled with despondence.

Live the moment and smile because it was happening.

With that, he slowly closed his eyes. He nuzzled his face into her  H/C hair; something he had never tried before, but always dreamed of doing.

He awkwardly waited for an uppercut. But Y/N stayed quiet. She, too, had closed her eyes.

Hanako began to feel dizzy; he felt an overwhelming, fuzzy feeling rising in him, but it felt good.

As for the now quiet, comforted girl, she found great peace in the embrace.

And so, the two stayed there; a tight-knit tangle of arms and legs. One that neither of them ever wanted to pull away from.

The sun had sank beyond the clouds. Shafts of moonlight began to fill the classroom.

Eventually, Y/N knew it was time to speak up. Hanako had quite literally made a home for himself in this embrace. She was worried he might fall asleep on top of her.

"Hanako-kun?" She piped up quietly.

"Yes?"

Hanako's response was drowsy and slow. Y/N saw this as a good sign.

"We've done this before." She murmured. "Learning to say goodbye."

Hanako's arms subconsciously got a little more tighter. Almost like he refused to let her go.

But somehow, a newfound strength willed him on. Y/N had to learn to be happy with her new family; and if she had to do this, he knew he should fight down his own wishes.

A sacrifice, but it was for Y/N's happiness.

"I know. Do you think you can do it?"

"Yes, I can." Y/N slowly pulled away, much to Hanako's disappointment. She affixed him with a steady, serious stare.

"Can you?"

Hanako wanted to admit it right there. 'Never.'

But he held his tongue. Right now was not the time to be childishly clingy, but he couldn't help but feel selfish about her. She was everything he was once; they had so many similarities and had helped eachother through it all.

They were practically made to be together. How could he say goodbye to that?

But he knew he couldn't stop her transfer, and he didn't want to be a hindrance to her shot for a wonderful life.

"I'm sure, in due time, I will." He managed. It was neither truth, nor lie. More like a promise.

She needed to move on. He had to stop liking her.

"But you look so bothered," Y/N frowned.

"Why, obviously!" Hanako shrugged, prodding her. "Just like everyone, I'll miss you!"

Y/N sighed, shaking her head. "If I could be a spirit to stay here, I would gladly be."

Suddenly, Hanako felt cold air rush atop his head. Y/N had taken off his hat.

He opened his mouth to protest, until he saw where it went.

Y/N fiddled with it unsurely as she placed it on her head, patting down her hair so she could see clearly.

"Here!" She drew herself up to sit a little straighter, a sheepish smile on her face. "Y/N the bathroom ghost! Not a bad idea, eh?"

Hanako turned a little red. Him and Y/N sharing the bathroom as spirits?

The idea went from embarrassing to strange, then silly. Hanako burst into laughter, unable to control himself.

Y/N looked at him incredulously. Once he had finished his fit of chuckling, he gently tilted the lopsided hat on her head.

"It's tipping over." He said with a small smirk. "How can you be a spirit if you can't even wear a hat properly?"

Y/N rolled her eyes, brushing his hand aside. She stuck her tongue out. "I'll learn."

"Oh, really?" He leaned on one hand, suddenly interested to this possibility. What if  Y/N was a spirit?

But he knew it was tedious and harder than it looked. He sighed, slowly reaching for his hat.

"Give that back, you doofus."

"Nope!"

Hanako looked at her, stumped.

"I've seen what this can do," Y/N adjusted the hat like how he did, looking at him hopefully. "It made you laugh. If me wearing this hat cheers you up, it stays on."

Hanako blinked. A flicker of amusement was in his eyes. "Y/N-"

"Don't take it off."

He pulled away, finding he could not protest. Besides, Y/N looked cute with it.

"Well, the night is young." He nodded to the window outside.

Y/N brightened up instantly. "Let's talk about things. I missed you."

She gave him a meaningful glance. Hanako felt a lump in his throat.

"Of course."

●●●

It was a pleasant conversation. One to make up for the rejection; one to reconcile and get him back on his feet.

Y/N had fallen asleep on his shoulder again... and, funny enough, with the hat on.

His eyes softened as she snoozed away, and he took a moment to gaze at his surroundings.

It was the same classroom he and Y/N had slept in their first night. He felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

'Before I thought everything was the same. When I look back, everything has changed.'

He sighed, pulling Y/N a little closer. Sleeping on the floor wasn't ideal, but he'd do just about anything to make her feel comfortable.

Don't take off the hat, she had said. But somehow, he found himself doing just that.

He found himself looking at her with great affection, with a pang of longing. Again, he asked himself, could he learn to say goodbye?

He would miss everything. And, as much as he didn't want to, he felt like he was falling all over again.

Well... quite literally.

He had leaned in, his head suddenly going light. The weird feeling was back.

His eyes flew open as he realized what could've captured him.

'OH MY GOD.'  Hanako thought internally, blushing horribly and berating himself. 'What am I doing?'

This was not the first time he had done that. He looked to the side, glad that Y/N was still sleeping obliviously.

He could not bring himself to do it. If he did, he was scared he would never want to pull away.

And so, slowly raising his chin, he went for a kiss on the forehead instead.

'Thank you.' 

He hoped, one day, Y/N would realize she didn't need a hat to cheer him up. With or without it, she always found a way to make him smile.

●●●

Y/N woke up with a start, birdsong emanating through the classroom.

Her E/C eyes widened with a jolt. Had she fallen asleep on Hanako again?!

She slowly turned around. Usually, he'd leave her early in the morning, but to her surprise, he was still right there.

'And... sleeping?'

She had never seen him sleep before, but he looked adorable. He had a childish aura by clinging to her tightly, hand clasped in hers.

Y/N sighed. She knew that she had no choice but to stay and wait for him to wake up.

Something must have happened, though. Hanako never fell asleep beside her. Why was he being so clingy?

She shrugged away the thoughts, contentedly nestling beside him once more. She closed her eyes to sleep the early dawn away.