WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN. . .

"What's the point of seeing her again

if I don't even remember that she's the same girl

who changed my life?"

— MANGA SPOILERS WARNING!

— implied KouNene, so please don't expect anything

- - -

It's been 14 years since Yashiro Nene almost died.

It's been 14 years since Hanako sacrificed his own life just for Yashiro to keep on living.

It's been 14 years since Yashiro last saw the boy who she was bounded with.

14 years since she last saw the boy who changed her life in the best way possible.

14 years since she retired as an assistant from the former seventh mystery —  Hanako-san of the toilets.

"Mommy, mommy!" A young boy exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly.

Nene's train of thoughts faded away as she turned to her son, his wide eyes staring expectantly at her, lip bitten. Nene softly smiled. "Yes, Ko-chan?"

Kohana, Nene's 4-year old son, gestured at the playground behind him, where a few other kids were playing. "Can I play? Can I?"

Nene laughed, lightly pinching Kohana's cheeks. "Of course you can! Just hurry up a bit so we can go get ice cream, okay?" Kohana squealed and nodded, before he ran towards the play ground.

Beside Nene, on the other end of the bench, a voice spoke. "He's a good kid."

Nene smiled proudly. "Yes, I raised him well."

"Oh, I bet you did."

Nene finally tilted her head to see who she was talking to, a smile on her face. Wide eyes, choppy black hair, and a cheeky smile. Something about him is. . .

She gaped, almost dropping her bag. Nene sputtered nonsense, not able to find the proper words to express her emotions. It was overwhelming. "H—" she gulped— "Hanako-kun!?"

The boy stared at her, flabbergasted at the sudden exclamation. He raised his hands as if to surrender. "I'm sorry, but who?"

Nene felt her chest burn, big tears pooling in her eyes. He looked so healthy and happy. It's weird to see him without a seal. "I'm just— I'm sorry. . ."

But Nene knows that it was too good to be true. For starters, he doesn't even know her. And he was supposed to be dead!

"You just reminded me of someone," Nene finally told him, wiping the unshed tears away with her palm. "Oh geez, my shirt's getting wet."

He laughed, understanding. "It's alright. I'm Yugi Amane."

Nene stiffened, but decided not to make anything weirder. "Ah," she croaked out, her voice hoarse. She stared at Amane, not able to really put the feeling she's getting into words.

I mean, he's here!

He really is!

Alive and healthy! And (hopefully) happy!

Nene saw him die before her own eyes.

But they're in public, and she didn't want to make a scene. She has dignity, thank you. She might creep Amane out, too.

"Minamoto Nene." Nene straightened her posture. "You're formally dressed, Yugi-san. I wouldn't wear  that to a children's park if I were you."

Amane laughed. "Ah, I was just on my break. Being a teacher is pretty stressful. Kamome has some weird kids. I always visit the ice cream shop near it, so this bench, as I've found, is the perfect spot." He really did dress formally. Kind of like Tsuchigomori's outfit, yet his own style still shows.

It was weird to see him wearing something different from his black and red uniform or the Kamome boys' uniform.

Nene's heart ached upon the sight.

"Kamome, huh? I used to study there." Nene forced a laugh. "Good memories. Especially the rumors circling the school."

Amane brightened almost immediately, a wide smile plastered on his face. "Ah! The rumors! They're so interesting, really! Too bad they're not real. . ." He slumped on the bench.

Nene snickered. "I wouldn't say that."

"Eh?" Amane blinked at her.

"Nothing, nothing." Nene grasped a strand of her hair that fell off from her messy braid and tucked it behind her ear. "Say, are you a Science teacher?"

He gaped. "How did you know!?"

"Lucky guess." Nene shrugged.

"About the rumors, Minamoto-san. . .do you know any?" Amane asked eagerly, scooting closer to her. Nene blushed.

Amane definitely looked. . . different. But not in a bad way. So him being all comfortable with her all of a sudden feels a little. . .

Nene coughed, flushing red. "Of course! I know them all by heart!"

Amane's eyes sparkled. "Whoa! Really!? Can you tell me?"

Nene smiled. He acts like a child.

Nene grinned triumphantly, raising her chin. "Of course! Let me tell you about my favorite rumor, and the most well-known — they say that in the third stall in the third floor girls' bathroom in the old building. . .you can find Hanako-san. A wish will be granted for those who can successfully summon her, but, in return—" Nene paused for dramatic effect— "she will take away something that person holds dear."

Amane nodded vigorously, excited. He seemed to be interested in his own story. Ah, but that's not the case anymore, huh?

"To summon her, you knock on the door three times and say—" Nene purposefully raised the her voice— "Hanako-san, Hanako-san, are you there?"

Amane made a noise of amazement, biting his bottom lip.

Nene giggled at his expression. "Would you believe me if I say I met Hanako-san?"

"To be honest, no. You seem to know too much for a normal person."

"Hanako-san is actually a boy, you know. That's a flaw in the rumor. He's very flirty, childish, and likes to mislead people, even if he didn't mean to. But he cares a lot for his friends." Nene felt her eyes get hot again. "Ah, I'm sorry." She shook the tears away.

Amane nodded. "Hanako-san seems like a pervert. He's a boy roaming in the girls' bathroom!"

"Funny you say that," Nene said.

"Mommy!" A squeaky voice said. Nene felt herself get tackled. "Mommy, mommy! I want ice cream now!" Kohana then realized the person next to Nene. "Who are you?"

Amane smiled at him, ruffling his hair. "Hey, I'm Yugi Amane. Nice to meet you, boy."

He used to call Kou that, Nene thought to herself.

Kohana beamed at him and stood on the bench. "You're mommy's friend, right? My name is Minamoto Kohana!" He proudly said, his blond hair getting all messy. His magenta eyes travelled to Nene.

Nene smiled and raised a thumbs up. Kohana grinned, his fangs showing.

Amane smiled, until his phone rang. His smile faltered. "Ah, sorry! My break's over. Tsuchigomori might scold me." He stood up and fixed his lab coat.

Nene gasped, remembering her spider teacher. "Oh, Yugi-san! Mind if you tell Tsuchigomori-sensei I said hi?"

Amane seemed stunned. "Oh. . .okay? Well, call me Amane, okay?"

Nene. . . Yashiro nodded and giggled. "Alright! Bye, Amane-kun!"

Amane waved and ran off. "I'll see you around, Nene-san! Maybe we'll get some donuts and coffee someday!" His footsteps were now barely heard.

"I'll be looking forward to it, Hanako-kun," Yashiro said to herself. Was it bad that she still gets butterflies around him?

- BONUS -

"Tsuchigomori, I made a friend today," Amane said, watching as Tsuchigomori fixed some papers, drinking water on his other hand.

He nodded. "Yeah?"

"She said hi."

Tsuchigomori's brows furrowed. "And who's this girl, exactly?"

"Her name is Minamoto Nene."

Tsuchigomori spat out his water.

- - -

Okay, okay, this was fun to write!

Also, if you're wondering why is her surname Minamoto. . .I honestly wanted to add a bit of twist. So, yeah, she's married to Kou in this universe I guess.

So, like, I tried to ask myself, after reading all those theories about the Ending Song of tbhk, what if they were true? What if Hanako was given a chance to live? In exchange of his memories?

So yeah this is it.

Double update !

Thanks for reading!!! I really am happy about the 15k reads and 700+ votes! 💕