Masami’s mother died the next day. Not because of Kitagawa; her heart simply gave out. Masami didn’t come to school the day after she died, either. They sat under the tree on the hill until late on the night she came back and a few nights after. One night, Kenjiro offered to walk her home. Masami stared at him for a moment, and then nodded. The two walked down the sidewalk to her house, the full, white moon’s cooling light shining down onto them from the black sky.

“The school is having me see a student psychologist next week,” Masami began in a frail voice as she walked beside him. “They think it’ll help me.”

“That’s good!” Kenjiro spoke, smiling down on her. Masami did not smile back. She looked forth with her head slightly downward as they continued their stroll down the street. “Hiroshima-sensei has been getting a lot more attention in class ever since he saved us last week hasn’t he? It’ almost like the students see him as a hero now.” Masami nodded subtly. Kenjiro’s smile weakened a bit. He wanted to say how Kitagawa was finally earning his just rewards, but he decided not to mention him for now. There was an uneasy silence throughout most of their walk. As they neared her house, Kenjiro stopped. Masami turned back and looked at him questionably. He gazed at her with fixed eyes and took in a breath.

“What’s wrong?” Kenjiro asked, standing a few cracks away from her. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

“What are you talking about?” Masami’s eyes began to grow weary, as though they were about to water a bit. “I just lost my mothe—”

“That’s not the problem,” Kenjiro cut through, certain in his words. “I know you, Hata-san. I know you know I do. Why won’t you tell me what’s really bothering you?” Masami looked away a bit, as though she were trying to say something, or thinking about trying. “I asked you to let me protect you.” Kenjiro clenched his hands. “I can’t do that unless you talk to me. Please.” Masami stood there in the dead, cold air, wiped her eyes of any tears that may have developed and put her hands together.

“You told me that my mother would be happy…if I let her go,” she began to speak, trembling. “And now that she’s gone…it feels like…like I’m responsible. Like…like I betrayed her.”

“But you didn’t!” Kenjiro quickly responded. “You didn’t have anything to do with it! She just…was gone. That’s all! Don’t blame yourself!”

“I know I shouldn’t…but…but I still…” Masami wiped her eyes again to remove any developing tears. “…I feel like it was some kind of sign. Like…like I made the wrong decision…I don’t know…I just…I don’t feel right about it. I just don’t…” She repeatedly wiped her eyes with both hands, desperately keeping any tears from falling. She looked up to see that Kenjiro was now standing right before her, staring deeply into her eyes. He then put his arms around her and embraced her tightly, their chests pressed against one another.

“It’s okay,” he whispered calmingly. “It takes a while for the pain to stop. I don’t think it ever really goes away for good. I’ve had it before.” Masami began crying, her arms now caught between the two as Kenjiro wrapped his arms around her body tightly. “But you shouldn’t let it get in the way of you living your life. Your mother wouldn’t have wanted that.” More and more tears fell and Kenjiro held her tighter. “I think her passing was a sign, but not a bad one. I think she was telling us that she could finally rest in peace, knowing that you could be happy again.” Masami continued to weep onto Kenjiro’s shoulder. Kenjiro, himself, felt a small tear escape from his eye and slip out from the bottom of his lens. Masami lifted her head and looked up at him, the tear sliding slowly down his cheek.

“Sasaki-san’s been spending more time with Arashi lately,” she spoke, smiling faintly.

“Yeah, well, they make a cute couple,” Kenjiro said as he smiled back at her. “And besides…” He unhinged his arms and wiped his tear away, holding up his other hand before her. “You’ve still got me.”

“So, I guess this is my stop,” Masami spoke, gently taking his hand.

“We could make another trip around,” said Kenjiro, securing his grasp on hers.

Masami nodded and the two set off once more. As they passed her house, Kenjiro looked down on their hands in each other’s soft grip, and smiled as they walked down the sidewalk to the tempo of their hearts. The intimacy would come with time, but for now, they were happy. For now, all was well.