The three friends comforted each other.
"Even if we can't buy it after school, we wouldn't be able to leave the school gates right now anyway!"
A brief silence followed.
Tanaka took a deep breath, his expression resolute, as if ready to sacrifice himself.
"What if I just climb over the wall!?"
The other two were shocked, grabbing Tanaka instinctively.
"You idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
"If you get caught, it's not just a simple call to your parents!"
Tanaka scratched his head, "Then what do we do?"
"Let's just wait until school ends. Like we said earlier, there should still be copies left."
"And if we really can't get one we'll just have to wait a little longer."
"By the way, didn't the sensei mention a special surprise today? Since we can't go buy Anohana right now, why don't we check their SNS for updates?"
Tadakuni and Tabata turned to Tanaka in surprise.
"What?" Tanaka asked, confused.
"Damn it! I refuse to believe Tanaka actually had a good idea for once!"
"Fuck off!"
Tanaka rolled his eyes but still took out his phone and logged into his SNS account.
The other two immediately huddled in.
"Don't you guys have your own phones?"
"Don't be stingy!"
"Yeah! This kind of thing is best experienced together!"
Tanaka sighed but didn't protest further.
The page loaded.
Their eyes lit up.
"New post!"
"But it's shorter than usual. That's not like Sensei at all."
"You idiot! It's not a progress update like before. Of course, it's going to be short!"
Warrior of Love and Hope:
"First of all, thank you to everyone who has purchased my work, AnoHana!
I hope this story brings you warmth, love, and nostalgia."
"May it remind you of those carefree childhood days spent playing with friends,
And may it also bring you new, cherished experiences as you grow."
"At the bottom of the post was a link (Click to jump) followed by one last sentence:
I hope you all enjoy this special gift!
"So this is the surprise?"
"Come on, open it already!"
Under the urging of his friends, Tanaka clicked the link without hesitation.
The screen transitioned to a new webpage.
A single question appeared, along with two options:
Have you read page 210 of AnoHana Vol. 2?
Yes / No
"Huh? What is this?"
"Whatever, just click 'Yes'!"
Tanaka nodded and selected "Yes."
Another prompt appeared:
Please confirm! If you haven't reached this part yet, wait until you do before opening this gift.
Only then will you truly understand the sincerity behind it.
Would you like to accept this gift now?
Yes / No
Tanaka sighed. "Knew it."
"So we wait?"
The other two nodded.
"Well, if sensei says so, we don't have much choice."
"But now I'm even more curious about what this gift could be!"
With anticipation building, the afternoon dragged on painfully slow.
Finally, the last bell rang.
The moment their teacher left the classroom, the three wasted no time, grabbing their bags and dashing toward the nearest bookstore.
"Excuse meeeee!! Do you have AnoHana Volume 2!?"
Seeing the three of them pale and breathless, the store owner was startled.
But after a moment, he nodded.
"Yes, we do."
Their eyes sparkled.
"Yes!!"
"One copy, please!"
""
"Thank you for your purchase!"
Tanaka held the book like a treasure as they stepped out of the store and headed to a nearby family restaurant.
"Hurry, hurry!"
Despite their excitement, Tanaka carefully unwrapped the book and flipped it open.
The three of them read at the same pace, so there was no need to argue over who went first.
As for how that was possible well, they had plenty of experience reading the same manga together.
Before long, they were completely absorbed in the story.
From the protagonist's fleeting childhood memories to the three of them visiting Menma's house
Finding her diary, uncovering her unfulfilled wish
Menma's tearful monologue upon realizing Jintan and the others had gone to her home
Discovering what they thought was her wishto create fireworks
Working part-time jobs to raise money, overcoming conflicts, the painful accusation that Menma was just Jintan's imagination
Then, the moment of proofMenma's handwriting appearing on the previously blank pages of the diary:
"Today, I played with everyone in our secret base. No fighting! Super Peace Busters will always be best friends!"
A jolt of electricity ran through them.
The story had them in its grip, stirring something deep in their hearts.
The story continued.
Eventually, everyone realized that Menma's presence wasn't just Jintan's delusion.
Their determination to help her move on solidified.
As the fireworks exploded in the night sky, Tanaka and his friends instinctively thought, This is it.
She's going to disappear.
"Wait she's still here?!"
"So that wasn't her real wish? Then what is?!"
"Shut up and keep reading!" Tanaka snapped.
They reached the final two chapters.
The characters confronted their own feelings, confessing their selfishness in wanting Menma to pass on.
"I I have to apologize!"
Even though she was crying, Anaru still held firm.
Following her lead, the others decided to do the same.
They gathered at their secret base.
But when Jintan returned home, he found Menma collapsed on the floor.
He held her in his arms as she finally remembered her wish.
"I promised Jintan's mom"
"I promised to make Jintan cry for her."
She smiled weakly.
Memories of that day flooded back.
Tears streamed down Jintan's face.
Menma reached out, wiping them away.
"But you know I like your smile much more."
"I guess it's time to say goodbye, huh?"
Her hand slipped from his grasp.
"Just saying it isn't enough! I want to see you! I've always wanted to see you! I want to call your name, apologize, tell you I love you But it's not just me!"
"Everyone loves you! Everyone wants to see you! We're all waiting for you! At our place!!"
Jintan carried Menma on his back, running as fast as he could.
But when they reached their base, he could no longer see her.
She was right there, but he couldn't see her anymore.
Panic. Fear. Helplessness.
"We we're playing hide and seek."
Menma covered her eyes, her voice trembling.
Despite being three "tough guys," they could no longer hold back their tears.
Just as Tanaka was about to turn the page
"Wait! The gift!"
[096] "Menma! !"
Why does this scene hit so hard?!
"The gift?"
Tanaka paused for a moment, then glanced at the page number.
"Idiot! We haven't reached that part yet!"
"I know! I'm just saying, don't forget! Open the website firstget ready!"
"Right."
Saying that, Tanaka reached for his phone.
"Wait, why aren't you using your own phone?"
"What's the difference? Stop wasting timehey, you bastard!"
"Tch."
Muttering complaints, Tanaka quickly pulled up the webpage they had checked at noon.
He set his phone aside and turned the page.
.............................................
"W-What do you mean, hide-and-seek?!"
Annoyed, they grumbled, then the group bolted out from the Super Peace Busters' hideout to search for Menma, who had declared the game.
"Not yet... Not yet..."
Menma's hands slowly became transparent.
"I still need to properly say goodbye to everyone."
She whispered to herself as her friends' voices echoed in her ears.
"Just a little longer..."
Holding back tears, she clasped her hands together and scribbled in her diary.
"Just a little more almost done..."
Night faded.
The sky gradually brightened.
The group, unable to find Menma, gathered near the large tree where the sunset rose.
"Wait... what's that?"
Just when they thought she had passed on and sorrow filled their hearts, they noticed five neatly folded notes beneath the treeripped from Menma's diary.
They wanted to keep reading... but
......................................
"We're at the sensei's page!"
Out of trust and respect for their teacher, they hadn't forgotten the "gift."
"You open it, I'll turn the page!"
"Got it."
Tanaka flipped to the next page.
At the same time, Shihara pressed the confirmation button on the screen.
................................
Tsuruko unfolded one of the notes
"I really like Tsuruko, who is always kind."
A clear, pure voice filled their ears through the phone's speakers.
"With you in the late summer, dreams of the future"
[]
"I really like Yukiatsu, who never gives up."
"Big hopesI never forgotTen years later, in August"
[ 108]
"I really like Poppo, who is fun and full of energy."
"I believe we'll meet againcherishing these beautiful memories..."
[]
"I really like Anaru, who is always reliable."
"Cherishing these beautiful memories..."
[]
.........................................
Tears dripped onto the notes in the manga panel.
Outside the panel, the three them' eyes blurred with unshed tears.
The intro ended.
The sorrowful yet nostalgic summer melody began to play.
And then
.......................................
Jintan's letter appeared as they turned the page.
"I really like Jintan."
"The kind of like where I want to marry you and be your bride."
"Our meeting was just a small momentat the crossroad on the way home."
[]
Reading the manga, the three of them couldn't hold back anymore.
Tears streamed down their faces.
Menma's face seemed to appear before them.
In the manga, a teardrop slid down Jintan's cheek.
They made it in time.
Menma, weak, leaned against the tree, looking at her childhood friends.
"This time, I properly said goodbye to everyone."
"Come find me and say, 'Let's go home together.'"
[]
Almost
"I hid my blushing face behind my school bag."
[]
Jintan, sobbing: "What is this?! What the hell is this, Menma?!"
"Wasn't this hide-and-seek?"
"If we don't find you it won't end, right?!"
"But deep down, I was really, really happy."
[]
"Ready or not"
"Ahbright fireworks bloom in the night skyilluminating the fragments of sadness."
[]
"Ahthe wind and timeflow away together."
[]
"We had so much funso much happinesswe shared so many adventures together."
[]
"In our secret base, just the two of us."
[]
The song paused for a moment.
In the panel, Menma used all her strength and called out
"I'm ready!"
The next second, the song's climax burst in their ears.
"With you in the late summerdreams of the futurebig hopesI never forgot!"
[ ]
"Ten years later, in AugustI believe we'll meet again!"
[108]
The panel lingered on the friends' stunned expressions.
At that moment, the distance between life and death felt smaller.
They had all heard her voice.
The scene froze on Menma.
The sun rose over the mountain, casting its light.
And in that light
Menma stood, leaning weakly against the tree, tears in her eyes.
She realized her friends could see her.
For a brief moment, she was shocked.
Using her last bit of strength, she stood with the tree's support.
Even in such a sorrowful momentshe smiled.
Softly, she spoke:
"Isn't there something else you should be saying now?"
"Menma, you really suck at hide-and-seek."
"Jintan, say it."
"Then it'll really be over, right?"
Sunlight passed through Menma's body.
They all knewthis was goodbye.
So
Poppo: "I read your letter!"
"I really like you too, Menma!!"
Tsuruko: "I really like you too!!"
Anaru: "I really like you!!"
Yukiatsu: "Of course, I really like you!!"
Close-ups of their tearful faces.
And then
Poppo: "Goodbyes aren't one-sided, are they?"
"Right, Jintan?"
Jintan, his eyes full of tears, smiled in relief.
"Thank you for granting my wish."
"I really like you, Menma."
"The kind of like where I want you to marry me!"
"The kind where I want you to be my bride!!"
At his heartfelt confession, Menma's eyes overflowed with tears.
Memories of their childhood flooded her mind.
Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold back the words
"Menma... still wants to be with everyone!!"
"Still wants to play together!!"
"So... I'll be reborn."
"That way, I can be with you all again."
"So Jintan cried, and everyone said goodbye."
"So..."
Was it a lie or the truth?
Nobody knew.
But
"One, twoMenma! Found you!"
As their voices rang out
Blinding sunlight shone down,
And Menma, tears on her cheeks, smiled in relief.
"You found Menma..."
The song reached its final verse.
And with that, the story came to an end.
.....................................
"Oh god, Menma!!"
The three of them hugged each other, crying uncontrollably.
Other diners in the family restaurant turned to stare in confusion.
A concerned waitress approached hesitantly.
"U-Um... sirs? Are you okay...?"
[097] Just Don't Read It [30 PS]
At Akifumi's house
Holding the second volume of Anohana, Eriri frowned.
Akifumi sighed. "I told you don't read it."
"Hah?"
Eriri glared. "The rest of the story is right here!"
She waved the book in her hand.
"How could I possibly stop myself?!"
"You're going to cry." Akifumi stated flatly.
"Tch, as if!"
Eriri scoffed. "After surviving Madoka Magica, I'm immune to sad endings!"
"Besides, Menma was already dead, wasn't she? She just ascendedshe was at peace!
"Why would I cry over that?!"
...She was totally going to cry.
Of course, you will cry.
That kind of sorrow lingers the deepest, precisely because from the very beginning, there was no way to save them.
Akifumi sighed. "Well, I've already warned you."
"Don't blame me if you end up crying."
"Who needs your consideration?!"
With that, Eriri plopped down on the couch and flipped open the book cover.
"I'm sorry, Akifumi," Shiina Mahiru said with an apologetic smile.
"I'm really curious about what happens next in Anohana. Looks like you'll have to manage dinner on your own tonight."
Akifumi waved it off casually. "No worries. I'll just have instant noodles. Want some?"
"Let me finish first," Eriri responded without looking up.
"I think I'll read to the end too," Shiina added with a smile.
