Persona BLEACHED Gaiden: Seeds

February 10, 1992
"This is what Jii-sama thinks is needing 'minor repairs'?!"
Naruki City, in Tokyo. A fast-developing section of a fast-developing city.
Looking at the state of the building before him, the bespectacled young man wouldn't have guessed any of that. The paint was worn-out, pieces of the roof were chipping off, the name on the building was unreadable. This was not going to be the small project he thought it would be.
"It's not like you to whine, Kaito. I thought you'd be into a challenge like this." the dark-haired woman next to him replied.
"I thought I'd be able to get this put together and running within a week. How'd Jii-sama let it get this bad? No wonder he was so strapped for cash..."
"Exactly why he gave it to you. If anyone can fix it, it'll be the family brainiac."
"I'm not even done with school, Rei. How am I supposed to balance that AND get the market fixed up?"
"That's what big sisters are for, Kai. Dad's not crazy enough to throw you into this by yourself."
"Well I appreciate the help. God, do I even want to see what the inside looks like?"
The inside of the building wasn't in much better shape. Dust permeated the place. It was more akin to the skeletal remains of a market than anything else.
Kaito pulled his shirt up over his nose. "Sheesh! This is ridiculous. You almost have to TRY to let it get this bad!"
"Gramps let it sit for a year. I don't see any rotten fruit around, thank God. Just a few seeds scattered around." Rei said.
"Nothing but seeds. Like the old man saying 'Start from here. Grow it yourself'."
"The geezer wasn't stupid. I can see him testing you like that. 'Degrees don't equal experience. They equal spent cash'."
"Yeah. Sounds like him. Alright, let's see what the damage is gonna be..."
A while later, Kaito had scrawled everything they would need onto a sheet of paper. "...plus the paint...plus refrigeration...plus a new sign...all of that comes out to..."
"One screaming wallet." Rei interrupted.
Kaito put the paper down in exasperation. "How are we ever going to afford this?! I can barely scrape through business school! What was the old man thinking..."
"He was thinking if anyone could get this fixed up again, it'd be you. This place has been in the family for over 300 years. It'd be too embarrassing to see it be condemned now."
"Ugh. No pressure, right? It's gonna be a stretch just getting the essentials. Much less any extra bells and whistles..."
Rei put her hands on his shoulders. "Breathe. Why don't we get some lunch? Sit down and think over where to get started."
"Yeah. Alright. Lunch sounds good."
---
"I just don't know how we're going to raise up this kind of money. I kept telling Dad, 'we need to invest in electronics, that's where the big money's going'. Of course he gives me the 'it'll never take off' speech." Kaito groaned while seated at a table.
"It's almost like you're a business major that knows what he's talking about." Rei chimed.
"Doesn't trust me with investments, but trusts me enough to revive the family business. Wrap your head around that."
"So what's the plan gonna be, little bro?"
"Well first thing's first, we have to get the place looking presentable. No one's gonna want to step into a place in bad shape. We should have enough for a paint job and general cleanup. After that, though..."
"Let's just take this one step at a time. 'After that' can wait. Let's go fetch some paint."
"Alright." 
The pair got up to leave. Before departing, Kaito walked over to the side of the restaurant. There was a young woman seated against the wall wearing flower-print clothing, playing a shamisen. A flowery headband adorned her crimson-hued hair. Kaito dropped a few bills into the bucket sitting next to her.
"Thanks for the concert." Kaito said.
"Oh! Thank you so much. You have a good day now." she said cheerily.
Kaito walked away. "So strapped for money, but you can give a few bucks to a hippie girl. Oh, Kai." Rei sighed.
"Hey, it was a nice tune. Calmed me down a bit."
"Your biggest weakness is that you're way too nice."
"Not sure how that's a weakness, but okay."
---
February 15, 1992
Kaito walked into the market building. The space had been cleaned, with a new paint job in place. "There you are. I was about to call the cops and say you'd been kidnapped." Rei joked, sitting behind the counter.
"You're not so lucky. Just looking through the paper. You believe the Russians and the Yanks are saying they're gonna play nice now?"
Rei scoffed. "Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it. But hey, long as no one's dropping bombs on top of people, they can play as nice as they want."
"I hear that. So, what's on the agenda for today?"
"Working on getting the AC repaired. Then we have to get some actual product in. Kind of important when you open a shop."
"It's all well and good, but there's that teensy little matter of paying for it all. Ugh..."
Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was the red-haired girl, carrying her shamisen in its case on her back. She waved at Kaito, who opened the door.
"Good day. I hope I'm not intruding." the girl said.
"The hippie girl? What's she doing here?" Rei asked.
"I wanted to give my gratitude personally. I don't have many recurring listeners. It's meant a lot to me."
"Recurring...? Kai? Have you been going back to the restaurant?" Rei asked.
Kaito started whistling to himself.
"Kai!"
"Okay, I might've...sort of been going to listen to her music after class. It helps calm me down, alright?"
"Kai...you're the one who's constantly worrying about money, and you're giving it away to some girl with a banjo?"
"It's a shamisen." the girl corrected. 
"Seriously, Kai, this is what I mean by you being too nice for your own good. How do we pay to fix this joint if you're playing the charity game?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any strife. I should probably take my leave..."
"No no no, don't apologize. I should be more careful with my money. It's got nothing to do with you." Kaito insisted.
"I wouldn't have been comfortable taking your money if I'd known you were struggling. I'm curious...are you building a store here?"
"Well, sort of. It's been in our family for a very long time. It's fallen on hard times and we're trying to get it back up and running. Me being 20 years old and partway through business school, though, means money's super tight. And that I really should be more careful with it."
"That's a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders. I'm sorry again for causing any sort of conflict." The girl dug into her pockets and pulled out several bills. "Here you are. I don't feel alright holding onto it."
"No no, please. I wouldn't feel okay taking it back."
"Kai..." Rei pulled Kaito aside. "She's offering to give it back, why are you being stubborn?"
"She's obviously not having an easy time of it, either. I'd feel like an even bigger ass if I took it back."
"I swear to God..."
"Um...if I could make a suggestion..." the girl interjected. "I might have a way to even out everything."
"I'm all ears." Rei replied.
"I can give this back to you and then some. Maybe even enough to fully repair the store. I'm something of an expert gambler...if I can turn this into even more money, I'd be happy to repay you for your kindness."
"Gambling? Seriously? If you're so good at it, why are you playing for cash on the street?" Rei asked.
"Hang on a second. How confident are you in your ability to win?" Kaito asked.
"Fairly good. I haven't been doing it lately since I only have enough money to eat. But I really would like to make things easier for you if I can." the girl said.
"Kai, you can't be serious." Rei insisted.
"At this point, I'm out of options. I'm willing to believe she's being truthful. Do you see any other way for us to drum up cash? Or are we just gonna have to keep scraping by for God-only-knows how long?" Kaito retorted.
Rei sighed. "If this doesn't work, I'm not gonna explain to Dad why the family shop is getting condemned. Okay, flower girl. You have yourself some suckers."
"Oh, thank you both! Meet me on the south side of Naruki later tonight. The parlor with the flashing lights. You won't regret it." The girl bowed, and began to leave.
"Hang on one second, I never caught your name." Kaito said.
"Oh, where are my manners?" the girl stopped. "I'm Miu Hanazaki. But everyone calls me Hana."
"Hana, huh? That explains the flower motif. I'm Kaito Kubo. Does 7 tonight sound good?"
"7 tonight sounds perfect. I'll see you then."
"Actually, hold on a minute. The south side's a bit of a rough spot. I don't feel alright letting you walk over there on your own. Why don't you stick around here until then?"
"Oh, no, I couldn't impose on you more than I already have. I'll be alright."
"No, he's right. That's prime gang territory. You'd be a sitting duck waiting there by yourself. And we could use some extra help around here." Rei retorted.
"If you insist. I'm happy to be of any help~." Hana replied.
"(This girl...something's off about her. She doesn't look dirty, and her clothes look pretty new. Why's she sitting around a restaurant playing for money? Hmm...)" Rei thought.
---
Later that night, the trio arrived at a gambling parlor on the south side. The place was adorned with big, flashy signs, the largest of which gave the name of the building: "The Crazy Diamond".
"Guess someone's a Pink Floyd fan." Rei commented.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Hana. There's a ton riding on this." Kaito said.
"I know what to do. Lady Luck always smiles on Hanazaki women. Just leave it to me." Hana said confidently. 
"I hope you're right. I'm not liking the look of the joint." Rei said.
The parlor was full of shady-looking men in suits. "How many snake tattoos do you think are between these guys?" Rei whispered.
"I'd rather not think about it. We're already up against The Wall, here." Kaito said.
"....."
"You...you get it? The Wall...Pink Floyd. Like Crazy Dia--"
"I got the joke, Kai." Rei deadpanned.
Hana giggled. "You thought that was funny?" Rei asked.
"Oh, no, it was incredibly forced. But there's something to be said about the eagerness of it." Hana replied.
"I'm right here, you know..." Kaito grumbled.
"Now, what's the richest-looking table...oh, this looks promising." Hana motioned to one poker table occupied by a number of intimidating-looking men.
"Yeah, promising if we're looking to have our organs sold on the black market." Rei said.
"Remember, Hana. If you lose the money I gave you, that's all she wrote. No pressure, no doubling down. We can't afford to dig this whole deeper." Kaito instructed.
"Oh ye of little faith. You'll be swimming in yen before the night is over. Trust me." Hana replied.
"It's looking more likely we'll be swimming in our own blood." Rei said nervously.
Hana approached the table. "Good day, gentlemen. Room for one more?"
"Well, well, well, and what do we have here?" sneered one suited man smoking a cigar.
"Keep your pants on, Kagetora. Girlie, the juice bar is that way." the middle-aged man at the head of the table pointed.
"I'm afraid I'm deathly serious, sir." Hana insisted.
"Great choice of words, Ms. Peace Love and Understanding." Rei mumbled.
"Girl, I don't know if you realize who you're dealing with. I'm the one running the house. And the house ALWAYS wins. What do ya got to offer?" the middle-aged man demanded.
"In terms of money, only this much." Hana presented the bills. "But I can sweeten the pot."
"Oh, this I've gotta hear."
"I can offer a night alone with me and my friend here." Hana gestured towards Rei.
"You WHAT?!" Rei reeled in shock.
"Oooooh, Missy ain't playing! I'd take the deal, Higashikata." Kagetora said.
"Heh. Alright, then. Make room for the flower girl with the hot sauce hair, boys. Get her some chips." Higashikata sneered.
"Lovely~." Hana chimed, and took a seat.
"I'm gonna kill this bitch if they don't kill us first, I swear to God..." Rei seethed. Kaito could only rub his eyes.
---
Hana was good at poker.
"I'm afraid I'll have to call your bluff, sir~."
Hana was VERY good at poker.
"And that's a straight flush from me~."
The men at the table could only look on in disbelief as their chips slowly depleted.
Kaito was speechless. Rei mouthed the words "What the fuck".
"Four aces, gentlemen. I'll be taking those chips off your hands~." Hana cheerily said.
"This is BULLSHIT! There's no way in hell she can be this good!" Kagetora griped.
"If you argue the way you play cards, it's a wonder you win a court case at all, Mr. Kagetora." Hana chimed.
"The hell did you say?!" The prosecutor's face grew redder by the second.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Higashikata cackled. "I've got hired muscle that don't have the sheer BALLS of this girl! It's a shame. My boy could use a girl with your spine."
Hana began shuffling her chip collection into a bag. "Appreciate the thought, Mr. Higashikata. Alas, my heart waits for my one true love. You gentlemen have a good rest of the night, now~."
"You can't seriously be letting her walk out of here. She's such an obvious cheat!" Kagetora griped.
"Ain't my fault you suck at poker." Higashikata retorted.
"Grrr." The prosecutor took a shot of his whiskey. "Those little shits better hope I never see them in court. I can get them HUNG..."
Hana cashed out the chips. The trio exited the parlor. "And here you are. You could make the finest market in the city and still have plenty left over."
"I...uh. I don't know what to say." Kaito uttered.
"I do. How the HELL did you do that?!" Rei demanded.
"Reading faces is half of the battle. The rest of it is just trusting the wheels of fate. Nothing else to it." Hana replied.
"I don't know how I could ever thank you for this. This is gonna get us off the ground in no time at all. I...I can't take all of it. You're the one that won it. At least take your fair share." Kaito insisted.
"Consider it a gift. For being gracious even when you yourself were struggling." Hana bowed. "Good luck with your store, you two. Maybe I'll stop in sometime. Have a good night~."
"Wait! You seriously don't want any of it?"
"You said it yourself that we'll still have plenty left over." Rei added.
"I really don't mind. Make your store the best it can be. Every seed needs water and sunlight to grow, right? Take this as the water and sunlight. Grow it well. The wheels of fate decide the rest." Hana began walking away.
"Where can I see you again?" Kaito asked.
Hana giggled. "Really want another concert, do you? If you're really so curious..." Hana got up close to his face. "I'll be where the flowers are the most beautiful." She kissed him on the cheek, to his surprise. "Hmhmhm~. See you around~." She walked away, a spring in her step.
"Where the flowers are...?" Kaito pondered.
"What a weirdo. Still, can't argue with these results." Rei patted the bag of money.
"Guess we've got a few calls to make in the morning. What a crazy turn of luck..."
"All thanks to the wheels of fate. Now let's hustle before that lawyer guy gets out of his seat."
"Good idea."
The siblings made their way across town to their shared apartment. "(Where the flowers are the most beautiful...it sounded like she expects me to figure it out. I've just got this feeling in my gut...this won't be the last I see of Miu Hanazaki.)" Kaito thought.
---
February 22, 1992
"...and pending Dad's 'secret product line' getting here we should be able to open by the end of--um, Kai?" Rei asked.
Kaito looked pensive, as though his mind was somewhere else.
"Hello? Earth to Kai?" Rei snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Uh, yeah, sure, whatever you say, sis." Kaito snapped out of his trance.
"Stupid. You were a million miles away. You're still thinking about hippie girl, aren't you?"
"Yeah, yeah, okay, you got me. I just can't get it out of my head. 'Where the flowers are most beautiful'. Only place around here I can think of would be the park, but I haven't spotted her. Hasn't come around the restaurant again, either."
Rei sighed. "She was just teasing you. I bet she's messed with a bunch of guys the same way. You don't need to keep thinking about her this much. She helped us out, we thanked her, and she walked away. She was an oddball. Let's just take it as an oddball thing that happened, and move on."
"....."
"...ugh, fine. If it'll help you move past this quicker, there's one place I can think of with beautiful flowers year-round. Over on Mt. Shirayuki, where the cabins are. This time of year especially, they should be in full bloom. If I was a hippie flower girl, I'd be on that like a bear to honey."
"Mt. Shirayuki...yeah, that'd make a ton of sense! I'll head over there pronto. Thanks a ton, sis. I'll see you later." Kaito sprinted off.
"Hey, hold up, what abo--ugh, at least try to not get lost!" Rei yelled in exasperation.
Kaito hopped on a bus and headed to the base of Mt. Shirayuki, just outside of town. He proceeded up the hiking trail. "(What am I doing here? There's still a ton of stuff to work on for the store. But...I can't get this girl out of my mind. She plays for money on the side of the street, but when the opportunity arises she hands over a small fortune, no strings attached?)"
He thought again to that peck on the cheek. "(...I need to find her again. I've still got too many questions...)"
After about an hour of walking, Kaito stopped to catch his breath. "Ugh...I've really gone and lost it now. In more ways than one. Must be out of my damn mind, chasing after a fairy--"
A sound began to echo through the trees. Music. Somebody was playing music. Kaito recognized the tune. He followed the sound off the path and through the trees. He emerged next to a cabin overlooking a lake. He remained hidden in the trees when he saw the source of the noise.
Hana, standing almost knee-deep in the water, was playing her shamisen. With the wind blowing, flower petals from around the lake were fluttering about. Kaito was completely entranced.
She turned around. A bright smile crossed her face when she caught sight of him. "So I see you figured me out, college boy~."
He tried hiding behind a tree. "Don't be shy. I like having an audience. I didn't think my tune was loud enough to reach the city."
Kaito peered out from behind the tree. "It didn't. I, um...I came up here looking for you."
"What was that? I couldn't quite hear you. You'll have to come a bit closer."
Kaito sheepishly emerged from the trees. 
"You can do better than that."
He slowly walked up to the shoreline. "This better?"
Hana shook her head. "My hearing's a bit off today. You'll just have to come over here yourself."
Kaito began sweating profusely. "('My hearing's off' nothing! This girl's trying to freak me out! *groan* Am I really about to go out there?)" he thought.
"Come, now. The water's lovely today. And it isn't that deep, either."
Kaito groaned. He took off his shoes, and waded into the water. He made his way over to Hana, still sweating.
Hana removed his glasses. "Hey! I can't see without those!"
"I'm amazed that you could see at all, what with how foggy these things are." Hana wiped them with her blouse. "There you are. The air's fairly pleasant today. How did you get so fogged up?"
"N-never mind that! I...I wanted to see you again. You haven't come back to your usual spot. I haven't had the chance to thank you for what you did the other day. There's just...so much I don't know about you. Like why you let me have all of that money and didn't take any for yourself."
"I promised you that I'd let you have all of it."
"But still! You clearly need money, don't you? How come--"
"I never said I needed money."
"You...what? But you said--"
"I said that money was tight enough where I couldn't risk gambling it all away. I play on the street when I don't have any gigs scheduled."
"Gigs?"
Hana took him by the hand. "Why don't we talk about it over tea? My cabin is right over there. I don't have many guests."
Hana pulled Kaito along and walked into the cabin. A short while later, he was seated at a table. "My family rented this cabin on our last vacation. I became so infatuated with the place that I decided to stay behind and start making my own way out here. My family has a very long history of growing and working with flowers. So when the opportunity came up to be somewhere remote, surrounded by flowers, I couldn't resist." Hana explained.
"I'm curious about something. How come you aren't working in the family business if you love flowers so much?" Kaito asked.
"Well, you see..." Hana began, somewhat downtrodden. "I had a falling out with my family not long before the trip here. My two older sisters just took over the family garden. I'd been eyeing that role for a long time, but of course the oldest ones always get first dibs. They've always hoisted their 'superiority' over me, and I wasn't about to become their employee. So at the first opportunity...I forced my way out."
"...how old are you, Hana?"
"Eighteen years young."
"Well at that age maybe your parents were hesitant to give that much responsibility to you."
"Like yours clearly were? You're younger than your sister, right? But you got the store. Your family recognized your talents. Mine never did." Hana's mood darkened. "Can you imagine what it's like, having your accomplishments dismissed because someone you're related to is just the tiniest bit 'better'? How MADDENING it is? I had no choice but to leave. Everything would've boiled over otherwise."
Hana shook her head. "I'm sorry. It's a touchy subject. I don't want to scare you away."
"You're fine. Envy's a dangerous thing. Staying in a comfortable spot away from all the drama was probably the smart thing to do. So anyway...you said that you do gigs?"
"Oh, yes. Music clubs, bars, small events...people enjoy hearing me play for whatever reason. I go wherever the music takes me."
"And the wheels of fate, right?"
Hana giggled. "Precisely. And those wheels are actually taking me to a club in Akihabara tonight. Apparently there's a get-together for video game enthusiasts going on this weekend and they need some extra entertainment."
"Oh, boy. A nerd convention. That sounds like a doozy."
"Does it ever. You're free to come along, if you'd like. Actually, let me rephrase..." She scooted closer to him. "I'm inviting you along. As my guest. Pretty please. You haven't heard my best, yet. Or my singing voice."
"Oh, boy, you SING too?"
"Mmhmm~. Piqued your curiosity now, haven't I~?"
"I...alright. I'll come with. I'll have a million things to explain to Rei, but..."
"Yay~!" Hana wrapped the now-flustered Kaito in a hug. "It's going to be so much fun, I promise. And now it gives me an excuse to pick your brain even more~. Oh, I almost forgot about the tea! Hope I haven't overdone it..."
"(Well, I'm going to a nerd concert now. Not how I imagined this day going. But I won't lie...this girl's fun to be around. Getting to spend more time with her can't be a bad thing, I guess.)" he thought.
His train of thinking was interrupted by something brushing against his leg. The sensation made him jump out of his seat. "What the what?!"
"Ahahahaha~! Sorry." Hana had rubbed her foot along Kaito's leg. "I had to get your attention somehow. You get really into it when you're thinking."
"(Uggh...now if only she wasn't such a shameless tease!)" he thought.
---
"My God. I don't think I've ever seen this many nerds in one place before." Kaito commented.
Akihabara. The epicenter of electronic culture. The business student and his flower-loving companion were making their way through a large crowd of people.
"Everyone has a hobby they're enthusiastic about. Some are a little more niche than others. Nothing wrong with that." Hana replied. "Besides, given those glasses you're wearing, you don't look out-of-place yourself."
"Tch...yeah, you have a point there. Still, this is a lot more than I'd imagined there'd be."
"From what I've heard about, people have come from all over Japan to be at the expo. Getting to see new technology first-hand before it's even out yet is very appealing for a lot of people."
"Can't argue with that. This really doesn't strike me as a shamisen-loving crowd, though."
"That's why I didn't bring my shamisen."
"You...wait, what? Then what's in the case?"
"My electric guitar."
"Your electric guitar."
"Mmhmm."
"Hana."
"Yeeees~?"
"You do not seriously have an electric guitar in that case."
"Of course I do! My shamisen's my comfort instrument. I save it for small get-togethers or more formal gatherings. When it's something like this, though, I bring something a little less...traditional."
"(This girl has to be pulling my leg. She HAS to be.)" Kaito thought.
The pair arrived at the nightclub. "So what exactly are you gonna be playing, anyway?" Kaito asked.
"Well, I'm starting with a few remixed tunes from some popular games out at the moment. After that, I'm going to introduce some people to a certain Prince..." Hana reached into her pocket, and pulled out a white, shimmering glove, and put it over her right hand. "...and a certain King."
"...are you real?" Kaito asked.
"Yo." A raspy voice called out.
Kaito looked over to see a young man leaning up against the side of the building. He was garbed in a black hooded jacket, a red backwards cap bearing the words "NEO•GEO" on it, and a shirt featuring the cast of "Street Fighter II". He had beard stubble, and had a cigarette in his mouth.
"You the entertainment for the evening, missy?" he asked.
"Yes sir, I am~." Hana replied.
The stubbled man studied Hana for a moment. "Not what I was expecting, but who am I to judge? And how about you, four-eyes? You the backup singer or something?"
"I'm, uh...her bodyguard." Kaito sheepishly replied.
"Might wanna reconsider your hiring standards, missy. If I was you, I'd want my bodyguard to be a little more...confident? But whatever. Hey, either of you got a light on you?"
"Nope. And you really shouldn't be doing that stuff. It'll kill you one day." Kaito replied.
"Eh, maybe, maybe not. Won't be today. Tch, I get enough of this nagging crap from--"
"There you are!" a young brown-haired woman wearing glasses and a blue sweater emerged from the club.
"Aw, jeez, here comes the noise..." the man grumbled.
"'Aw jeez', nothing! I was at that table for twenty minutes thinking you'd gotten lost somewhere, and here you are trying to huff some more addictive garbage!"
"WhaaatEVER. Little Miss Nursing Student gotta act like every tiny thing's gonna kill me. Just let me do my own thing, alright?"
The woman grabbed the man by the hood and began pulling him inside. "Sorry if he bothered you two. He's just being a blockhead. I'm looking forward to your performance!"
Kaito was left speechless. "What was that all about?"
"Lover's quarrel, I'm guessing." Hana got up close behind Kaito, and whispered into his ear. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you, college boy~?"
"(This girl's not gonna be satisfied until she gives me a panic attack.)" thought an embarrassed Kaito.
Moments later, Hana and Kaito were behind the club stage. Hana popped open the case she had been carrying, and picked up a red-and-pink colored guitar out of it. "And here's my weapon of choice."
"Oh dear lord, you were completely serious." Kaito blinked.
"Of course I was. Pretty, isn't it?"
"Yeah you are--" Kaito caught himself. "--you electrical instrument, you. You sure are, uh...electrical. Hehehehe..."
Hana gave a light giggle. "The kind of wordplay I would expect from a future businessman~. Okay, it's time to start the party. Wish me luck~."
Kaito looked on in amazement. The same girl that he had heard playing a soothing, gentle tune on a shamisen was now blaring out covers of Prince's "Purple Rain" and Michael Jackson's "Bad". The crowd loved it. At the performance's end, she gave a bow, and walked back behind the stage.
"Oh, a grateful crowd never gets old! So, what did you think?" Hana asked.
"That...that was...girl, you're crazy!" Kaito exclaimed. "But...good crazy. Crazy like...super good. Where did you even learn that stuff?"
"Time alone in the mountains gives you plenty of time to practice in peace and quiet. Plus it's just funny to see people's surprise when the unassuming flower girl breaks out the electric guitar." She grabbed Kaito's hands. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I would've felt terrible if I'd dragged you out here and gave you a bad performance."
"But...you were playing for the crowd. If they all liked it then that's the main thing, right?"
"I guess...but I invited you personally. You're my guest of honor, you know. Have to put in that extra effort."
"R-right. Well, the night's still a bit young. You want to, I dunno...check out the rest of the expo? I'm kind of curious about some of the games they have going."
"Why, Kaito! Are you making this into a, dare I say it...a date~?"
"(Welllll...we're doing this now!)" he thought.
"...yes. I'm asking you on a date. I...really like hanging out with you." 
Hana put her arm around his. "How convenient for me~."
The two left the club.
They didn't notice the figure following them.
But someone else did. 
A short while later, Hana had stopped to admire some small statues. "Oh, this little blue one is adorable~! What did you say he was? A hedgehog?"
"I can sense the attitude just oozing off of him." Kaito added.
With the pair's gaze elsewhere, they didn't notice the hooded man behind them drawing his knife. He began towards Hana...
...and was promptly dropped from behind by the "Street Fighter" fan from the club.
"What the hell's going--huh?" Kaito turned around and saw the knife lying on the ground.
"Uuuugh...what the hell was that?!" the attacker griped.
"I'd like to know the same thing. Trying to mug people minding their own business? What do ya want, her guitar? Money? Just being a shitstain? Creeps like you make me SICK." the capped man dictated.
"Asshole--!" The attacker started to rise up, only to receive a kick in the backside.
"Just get lost, asshole! Where do you get off, attacking an innocent girl like that?!" Kaito exclaimed.
"I'm rather disappointed that your response to my concert was this. Everyone's a critic, I suppose." Hana said.
"Joking? Now?" Kaito asked.
"Man, I'm gonna give you one warning. I catch you looking at anyone else like that...I'll eat your heart for breakfast. Ya dig?" the bearded man said in an intimidating manner.
"Alright, stand aside!" a security officer entered the scene.
"Douchenozzle's right here, officer." the bearded man pointed. The officer grabbed the attacker and hauled him away. "Well, that could've gone a lot worse."
"Jin! There you are! You scared the hell out of me!" his female companion arrived.
"Well, Risa, if I'd gone any slower this poor missy would've been done for. Apologies for being urgent."
"Ugggh...I'm so sorry about this." Risa said.
"There's no need to apologize. I'm grateful he was paying attention." Hana replied.
"I should've been doing that. He would've gotten you and I would've just stood and watched. I really screwed up." Kaito lamented.
"Don't think like that. You can't control how someone's going to act." Hana said.
"Your lady friend's right, four-eyes. Big a crowd as this, it'd be easy to blend in. Don't gotta kick yourself cuz someone else was being a creep." the man added. "Shit, I just realized. We've had such nice chats and I never gave you my name. I'm Jinichi Mirai. The Third. That part's important. And this lucky lady here is my ravishing fiance, Risa." He looked over to another stand. "And that's some of the most delicious freakin' candy I've ever seen. Excuse me, y'all have a good rest of the night now." He walked off.
"Seriously?! Right in the middle of a--ugh." Risa uttered.
"Bit of an odd duck, isn't he?" Kaito asked.
"He makes himself seem so scary but he really isn't. Just doesn't like bullies or the like. Does things without thinking more often than not. And if you couldn't tell, he's relentlessly stubborn." Risa explained.
"His heart's in the right place, at least. We would've been in trouble if he hadn't intervened." Hana added.
"Guess that's true. I'm marrying him for a reason, aren't I?"
"This is freakin' DELICIOUS!" Jin exclaimed by the candy stand. "Risa, you gotta try this! Mango-lemonade is the BOMB!"
Risa sighed. "He'll have cavities before we get back home. Sorry again for all the drama. You two enjoy the rest of your night." She bowed, and walked away.
Kaito sighed. "Heck of a first date, huh? Want to call it a night?"
"Oh, absolutely not. I won't let something like that spoil an otherwise wonderful time." She grabbed him by the hand. "Let's see what else they have around here."
"Well, alright. Long as it's what you want, I'm fine with it."
---
"Your humble abode, madame." The pair arrived at Hana's front door.
"My thanks, oh brave bodyguard~." Hana opened the door. "I really had a wonderful time. Thank you so much for coming along."
"Appreciate the invite. I had fun, too. You know, aside from the attempted mugging. Could've done without that."
"True. At least that intimidating fellow was around to stop it. But anyway...it's a good way down the mountain. Are you sure you'll be okay? You could, I don't know...stay until morning?" Hana began blushing.
"W-well, uh, I'll be, um...I'll be alright. I stay out any longer it might give Rei an aneurysm. I...appreciate the offer, though."
"Well, alright. Can't fault me for trying. Will you be back sometime?"
"Sure. When I have the time. I could get used to this sight...er, the lake and the trees, I mean."
Hana giggled.
"Well...I should head down before the demons start crawling about. I'll see you around, Hana." Kaito turned to leave.
"Wait! Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Huh? What did I--"
Hana grabbed Kaito by the arm, got up on her tiptoes and kissed him. After a few seconds, she let go. "Safe travels, college boy~." She bounded inside the cabin and shut the door.
Kaito smirked. "See you later, flower girl." He turned, and began making his way down the mountain.
About an hour later, he arrived home. He carefully opened the door and slipped inside, trying to avoid any noise.
The light in the living room turning on revealed the futility of that endeavor.
"You have fun, Kai?" Rei was seated on the couch, looking very unamused.
"Oh, uh...hey, Rei. I didn't think you'd still be up."
"Well when your kid brother decides to go running after a vagrant and vanishes for hours, it's a little tough to get any sleep."
"Hana isn't a vagrant. She lives in a cabin on the mountain."
"Oh, of course! The hippie girl lives among the trees and the great outdoors. Probably where she stashes her drugs."
"Rei, she's not that kind of girl."
"'Not that kind of girl'? You've known her for what, a week? Two weeks?"
"You're making a big deal out of nothing."
"She's got you wrapped around her finger, Kai! Gramps trusted you to get the store fixed up good as new, and you've had your head in the clouds thinking about a mountain hippie you barely know. Kai, you're an adult. Part of being an adult is making the smart choices. Between school and the store, you can't be spending hours up in the mountains cuz of some puppy love. You're losing focus on what's important. We could be opening the store before the week's over. I need you to be 120% focused on this. You hear?"
"...yeah. You're right. I haven't given this the full attention it needs. I'm gonna go sleep on it...need to rethink my priorities."
"Just trying to do what's best for you, little bro. I don't want to have to tell Dad that you got lost in the mountains chasing after fairies. Now get some shut-eye."
Kaito went to his room. He sighed. "Get my mind in order...yeah, like it's gonna be that easy..."
---
March 14, 1992
"--for real, those stories about stuffing helium into the lychees are hugely exaggerated. Honestly, I don't think that's even possible..." Kaito explained to a customer.
"That's only in the secret stash. The real stuff Dad won't let us have." Rei added.
After weeks of planning, Kubo Produce had finally re-opened its doors near the end of February. With the extra cash won by Hana, the siblings were able to hire a full-time staff that could help hold down the fort while Kaito focused on school, only working part-time for the time being.
"Alright, sis, I'm gonna take my lunch. Before I have to explain to one more joker that seeds can't grow in your stomach." Kaito said, exiting the building.
He didn't make it very far before bumping into a familiar face.
"Ngh, sorry, didn't mean to--ah, Hana. Hey, I didn't realize it was you."
"Hey. It's fine, I should've watched where I was going..." Hana looked downward. "Been busy lately, have you?"
"Yeah, market's been open for a couple weeks now. Haven't had much in the way of free time." Kaito began fidgeting. "Look, I know I haven't been around too much. I've just been so busy, and I--"
"It's fine, really. Just...we had our little moment last month, and I haven't heard from you at all since then...I just don't know how I'm supposed to take that."
"Take it how it seems, hippie girl." Rei suddenly appeared behind Kaito. "Kai has better things to do than prance around fantasy land with you. A little thing called 'responsibility'. If it's a foreign concept, I'd be glad to explain it."
"Rei. Don't." Kaito pleaded.
"Ah, a daughter of capitalism, I see. Someone's existence isn't devoted to the acquisition of money, therefore it's the wrong way to live. Are you afraid I might infect Kaito with the pesky idea of 'freedom'?" Hana asked.
"Both of you, knock it off! This doesn't need to be a scene!" Kaito demanded.
"You're right. I've got ideas for other things to do, anyway. See you later." Hana walked off.
"Enjoy your visit with Mary Jane, girlie." Rei called out.
"That was SO uncool, Rei. Are you forgetting that we couldn't have even opened the shop up without her help?" Kaito asked.
"She nearly gambled all of it away, on top of nearly getting ME sold off. That girl's nothing but trouble. Not my fault she's never heard of 'growing up'." Rei went back to the store.
"Uggggh." Kaito groaned.
About an hour later, Kaito was sweeping up. "Excuse me, sir?" an elderly man piped up.
"Yes? How can I help you?"
"By any chance would you know what's happening out there? Seems like they're trying to get your attention."
Kaito looked out the window. "Aw, no."
Across the street, Hana was seated in front of a shop, playing her shamisen, with a sign perched above her head reading "FREE KAI". 
"Why that little--!" Rei stormed out the door.
"No no no no no..." Kaito went after.
Hana looked up to see Rei bearing down on her. "Oh, hello. I knew a responsible adult would be able to decipher my message. It's subtle, I know." Hana joked.
"Listen, you. I know the concept is pretty abstract for you, but Kai is working right now. He can't just go running around the fairy woods with you just cuz you want to. This, right here? It's fake. A mirage. Just hiding the fact that you're a dumb girl living in the middle of the mountains cuz the real world is too much for you."
"Sure are doing a great job of making the 'real world' more appealing. I'm happy enough with where I am. I don't need to shuffle around for nine hours at a time for my life to mean something."
"You really are just a lazy nobody, aren't you? I bet you couldn't even afford drugs if you wanted them. No sense of responsibility at all. Just a hippie living in outer space."
"Oh, dear. You really do sound like my sisters." Hana's gaze darkened. "I hate my sisters."
"Alright, enough!" Kaito walked over. "Rei, go back inside. Let me talk to her. Alone."
"Fine. No use wasting brain cells on an airhead like this. Later." Rei went back inside.
"Love you too, oh snippy one!" Hana replied.
"Hana, stop it! You're just making it worse. I need you to go home."
"I want you to come with me. Please. A life of tedium is just going to keep you down."
"I can't do that. My family trusted me with this store. I can't turn my back on that."
"It's not complicated, family is overrated~." Hana chimed.
"Look, I don't completely understand what made you so bitter towards your family, but this is important to me. There's not a person out there that wouldn't want to live how you do, but people have things they're responsible for. This is something I need to do. I can't have you parked in front of the place making a scene and picking a fight with my sister. Please...just go."
Hana looked genuinely hurt. "You're really going to side with her over me. Of course. Family is just...SO important, isn't it." 
"Hana..."
She placed a hand over his heart. "Tonight. I want to see you by the lake tonight. If you don't come...you won't have to see me again. I'll disappear into the wind. I just want to know...that this isn't fake. This feeling in my chest...isn't an illusion. I hope this isn't goodbye, Kaito. But if it is...I enjoyed this time we shared." Hana somberly walked away.
"....." Kaito wordlessly went back into the store.
"(...now what?)" he thought.
---
Once Kaito returned home, he knew what had to be done. Rei didn't exactly look pleased as he walked out the door. But he knew he had to see this girl at least one more time.
Maybe Rei was right. Maybe Hana had cast a spell over him. But was that really as bad as she made it sound? He had to be sure. Was it puppy love? Or something more?
There was only one problem when it came to his plan, however. Partway up the mountain, he'd lost track of where he was. "Was the lake through here...? No, it was a little higher up than this...right? How long have I even been walking..."
He checked his watch. It was stuck on 6:57 PM. 
"And my watch is busted. Radical. Maybe I should just go back the way I came. But..." He saw a vision of Hana standing in the lake. "She's waiting. I've gotta figure this out. This tree looks familiar..."
The night air was broken by the sound of machinery.
"What was that? It can't be construction work. Maybe they're cutting down trees? Nah, not at this hour." The noise echoed out again. "Whatever it is, it's close. Hopefully they can tell me where I am."
Kaito followed the noise through the sea of trees. "(It sounds like...welding?)" he thought. 
After a few minutes of walking, he reached a clearing. He stayed hidden behind a tree. The noise's source made him stop dead. 
On the ground was some sort of device, resembling a large mirror that had been broken in half. Figures draped in blue, hooded robes were working on the device. Among them was a woman, adorned with a silver hood, who appeared to be issuing orders.
Kaito remained hidden, and listened in.
"This is going nowhere. At this rate it could take several decades to reconstruct the portal." one figure complained.
"Then we'll work for that long. As long as it takes. The sooner the Soul Driver is completed, the sooner we can regain our strength and return home." the woman in silver replied.
"You know better than anyone that it just isn't feasible at the moment, Lady Ismene. Odyssea's technology was light-years ahead of Earth's even 500 years ago. You're asking us to rebuild a cognitive portal with the equivalent of sticks and ropes."
"Exactly what I told Pittacus. At their current rate of development, it will likely take over a decade before their technology is compatible with ours. I understand his rage and frustration more than most. But until humanity evolves to a certain point, he'll have to make due with incremental progress."
"The hell did I stumble into...?" Kaito muttered to himself. "This some kind of weird costume party? But those eyes...they don't look normal." 
The hooded figures all had bright, yellow eyes, and pale skin. "If I didn't know any better...I'd say they were--"
The silver woman halted the conversation. Kaito looked on nervously.
Ismene seemed to be in a meditative trance. "My Lady? Have you sensed something?" one hooded figure asked.
"My 'Pesquisa' has detected an anomaly..."
She promptly turned around. Kaito was left stunned, both by the suddenness of it, and by her appearance. Her hair was snow-white, her eyes bearing white irises and black sclera. And those eyes were staring right at him.
"Ah. A fox thinking he's entered a flock of lambs, unaware of the wolves hiding within. How unfortunate." 
Knowing he'd been caught, Kaito sprinted away.
He ran for what felt like hours, not knowing if the strange group was following him. Eventually, he tripped over and fell. He was at the lake.
"Who the hell were those people...what were they doing...the cabin. I've gotta tell Hana. It isn't safe out here. Maybe I can get hold of the cops or something..." he panted.
A large shadow fell over him. He looked up, and froze.
It was another man in a blue hood. He was gigantic, head-and-shoulders above Kaito. The face beneath was a dark-skinned man, though his eyes appeared to have been glowing yellow. Almost robotic in nature.
He bent down and hoisted Kaito up by the throat.
"Curiosity has led you down an unsavory path, human. Are there others with you? How much did you see? How grievous your injuries will be hinges on the contents of your answer." he ordered.
Kaito struggled to get any words out, so tightly was the man clutching his neck. He couldn't tell him about Hana. Whoever these people were, they were clearly threatening.
"I'm...here alone...I got lost...trying to find this lake...I won't tell anyone...I swear...I don't even know who'd believe me..."
"Truthful as that might be, you still contain dangerous knowledge that could further complicate our plans should it get out." The man dropped Kaito onto the ground as he gasped for air. He raised his foot over the young man. "I'm afraid you're going to have to die."
"Halt, Haimon." Ismene appeared from the shadows. "We have protocols for this very occurrence. Are you so starved for a proper hunt that you would break the rules you yourself put in place? If he disappears from here, surely his clan will come looking for him. That would only bring more curious eyes around here."
"Yes, you're right. I acted far too rashly. You may proceed."
Ismene produced a needle, and plunged it directly into Kaito's neck. The young man lost consciousness almost immediately. 
"I'd warned you about working on the Soul Driver out in the open like this. It's practically asking for trouble." Haimon said.
"It's isolated enough where the chances of this happening are close to nil. But if it assuages any fears, we can resume searching for a cave system in this mountain range from which to continue working. Though most of the caves we've come across haven't been large enough..." Ismene replied.
The pair began walking away. "Humans and their curiosity." Ismene mused, and the hooded pair disappeared into the night.
---
Hours later, Kaito awoke on a couch. "Where..."
"Oh, thank goodness! I was so worried..." Hana exhaled in relief.
"Hana...how did I..?"
"I found you on the lakebed. You were unconscious. What happened to you?"
"By the lake...? Well...I, uh..." Kaito kept thinking, but was drawing a blank. "I honestly can't remember. I remember stepping onto the trail, but after that...ah!" Kaito grabbed the back of his neck.
"What's wrong?"
"My head hurts like hell...must've hit it on something...everything's just a blur..."
"I'm sorry..."
"What are you sorry for? Not like you bashed me over the head or anything."
"You only came up here because I asked you to...all this time I've only thought of myself. I couldn't stand my family, so I left. I couldn't stand being away from you, so I called you here. And it got you hurt. I just...I have to know. Why did you give me your money that day? You weren't in a place to just be freely handing it out. Why?"
"You're still hung up on that?"
"Just tell me."
"Well...I don't need to tell you how stressful this last month has been. School's already busy enough, but then getting a rebuilding and managing job thrown on top of it...I thought the stress was gonna kill me. Then I heard your music and, well, it calmed my nerves for a few minutes. None of that pressure was really there. So I just wanted to say thanks. Didn't really think about it. I just did it."
"So why do you keep coming back?"
"I can't tell you exactly why. I just feel compelled to. I hear your songs even when you're not around. It's like you have me captive. I just...like being with you. I feel like I don't have to be the hyper responsible adult for a few minutes. With you it can just be fun."
"Hana..." Kaito continued, "I'm sorry I told you to leave earlier. I wanted you to stick around, but I knew it would only make Rei even madder. If it were my choice, I'd never let you out of my sight. I don't know how to say this..."
Hana gave a smirk. "Then let me spell it out for you."
Hana leaned in, and the two kissed.
The wheel of fate had spun its course. At that moment, a seed was planted.
---
(Fate takes its twists and turns. I know that better than most. If I hadn't ran from home...if he had never dropped those yen...who knows where life would have taken me?)
(By the end of 1992, Reiko had moved out of the house, and I moved in with Kaito. I kept up my gigs for a few years, until it became necessary for me to help with the shop.)
(In 1994, Kaito and I were wed. Two years later, I gave him a son, and we named him Hyōtan. Kaito graduated from college, and devoted his full attention to the shop. In 2003, our second son Tohru was born. And just a year after that, came our apple blossom, Ringo.)
(Life was good. Great, even. But as the children grew older, cracks began to form. Tan was falling short in school, and was leaning into delinquency. And Tohru...was an angry child. Exceptionally intelligent, but openly resentful towards the rest of the family. Ringo in particular. Even a child as optimistic and bright as her could only take so much of their sibling being cruel to them. Kaito thought it was just normal sibling rivalry. I saw it differently.)
(Then came September 22, 2011. The day that the house of cards came crashing down. Ringo was with us at the store because she was sick. We were in a slow period of the day, so it was more noticeable when someone entered the store. This person immediately pulled out their handgun and pointed it at Kaito. He did what he always did. He tried to calm this boy down. Told him that he probably had more money than we did. If this had gone differently, he might have tried to help this boy out.)
(By the end of the day, the life I'd been promised came to a screeching end. Kaito was gone. The boy who shot him was only 14. The love of my life was taken from me. And it only got worse after that.)
(Tan fell into criminal behavior. Five years after Kaito's death, he was arrested for armed robbery. He swears that he did it to help our own struggling finances. Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. Sounds like someone I know. He would spend three years in prison after brokering a deal.)
(Tohru and Ringo both took turns for the worse. His put-downs and outbursts grew even more venomous by the day. Her mood grew darker. I saw her smile far less often. His last insult to me came on October 25, 2018. After once again verbally accosting Ringo, I finally told him that he needed to respect his sister. He looked at me with the most cruel gaze I'd ever seen from him, and said to me "Like you respect yours?" Then he walked out. I knew then that he was the way he was simply because I made it seem that it was okay. I was nothing more than a hypocrite. I had no room to judge him.)
(I never got the opportunity to make peace. His own life ended that night. Again, by the barrel of a gun. By the age of 45, I'd buried my husband and our youngest son. Weeks later, I nearly added my daughter to that list. Ringo attempted to end her own life. The loving family I'd thought so secure had completely fallen to pieces. The "Hanazaki luck" I'd relied on for so long had left me.)
(But where there is darkness, there is light. Things slowly got better over time. Tan got his life in order and runs his father's shop now. Rin regained her old optimism, graduated from college, teaches at one of Japan's finest institutions, and married the most angelic girl you can imagine. She's made an old granny out of me. The same parlor where I had won the money that saved the shop, is now mine. Along with the flower shop I'd long wanted.)
(Things are finally good again. But in the back of my mind, I always think about...what could have been...)
---
July 29, 2029
Late afternoon in Naruki City. The work day was slowly winding down. For all intents, this was a normal day for most.
For Miu "Hana" Kubo, this was not just any day.
She waded her way through the tombstones at the local cemetery, until she came to the one she was looking for.
"Kaito Tadashi Kubo. July 29, 1971 - September 22, 2011. 'From every adversity, lies the seed of hope...'"
"Hello, Kaito. Sorry I'm a little late. Grandmotherly duties and all that. I have a surprise for you today..." 
Hana took out a small, flower-print shamisen from the case on her back. "Recognize this? I pulled it from the closet the other day. I tried refurbishing it as best I could. I haven't touched it since...the day you left...but if there was any gift I could give you, it might as well be what brought us together in the first place. I might be just a little out of practice..." Hana let out a light giggle.
"Well, there's a face I haven't laid eyes on in years..."
Hana turned around to see an older woman, with graying hair and glasses. "Reiko..." Hana uttered.
"In the flesh."
"I haven't seen you since the funeral..."
"I'm aware. We didn't exactly leave off on the nicest of terms."
"If you need some time with Kaito, I can just come back later..."
"Wait, Hana. I've been stewing on this for a while and I think the time for old bitterness is over. It's no secret that I didn't like you. At all, really. But Kai loved you more than anything. And seeing you here now tells me that you still feel the same way. That's the same ring he gave you, isn't it?"
"Yes...I've never taken it off. Never even humored the idea of finding love again. I already did. I spent 19 wonderful years with the man." Hana looked somber. "Next year will be 19 years since we lost him. It might sound cliché, but part of me died that day."
"I know. And we should've done more to help you through it. I spent so long thinking that you were ruining him, but it was me that always held him back." Rei sighed. "Look, Hana. I'm 60 years old with a really irritating case of arthritis. I can't hold onto old anger anymore. It's not what Kai would've wanted. It might be too late to start over, but...I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted. In all honesty, I never held your feelings against you. I've blamed myself for a lot of how things turned out. Tohru's bitterness, Hyōtan's delinquency, Ringo's depression. But my family always believed in the wheels of fate. That things happen for a reason. All things considered, things are going wonderfully now."
"I'd love to hear about it all. Maybe over tea if you have the time?"
"Well, about that..."
"Oi, Ma! You alright over here? No ghosts came and swallowed you up, did they?!" A muscular man with wild, dark hair, a goatee and tribal tattoos ran over, panting. 
"Ugh, you don't need to shout, Tan. You'll wake the dead screaming like that." A red-haired, bespectacled woman appeared behind him.
"Hold on a minute...these wouldn't be Hyōtan and Ringo, would they?" Rei asked.
"That would be my babies, yes." Hana confirmed.
"Hm? Wait, aren't you...Aunt Rei?" Rin asked.
"Auntie Rei?! Holy crap, I thought you'd been kidnapped by aliens or something!" Tan exclaimed.
"Aliens, Tan? Really?" Rin asked.
"Hey you can't question that after fighting a bunch of moon pe--" Rin elbowed Tan before he could finish. "YOW!"
"Anyway, it's been a while, Auntie. Almost 20 years."
"You're telling me, last time I saw this one he didn't have tattoos, and you were only yea big!" Rei replied. "And is that a ring on your finger, missy?"
"Oh, yes. I actually just got married a few weeks ago. We've got a lot to catch up on. We were going to have dinner after we left here, if you want to come with."
"I'd love that. If that's alright with you, Hana?"
"Of course. You all can start catching up now. I'm going to be a few more minutes." Hana replied.
"Take all the time you need." Rin replied.
"So where's your wedding band, big man?" Rei asked.
"I'm working on it..." Tan nervously replied.
"Same response he gives whenever you ask about his mix tape." Rin added.
The trio walked off, leaving Hana alone. She sat next to the grave. "Sorry to keep you waiting, college boy. Hope I still know how to do this..."
She played the same exact song that she did on that day in 1992, in front of the restaurant. Once she had finished, she let out a sigh. Then, the wind blew a little harder, and something fell onto her lap.
It was a yen bill.
She looked surprised, but gave a knowing laugh. "Always so generous." She pocketed the bill, and got up. "I'll be back soon. I know how much you love when I play. I never like to keep you waiting." She knelt down and kissed the gravestone. "Happy Birthday, Kaito. I love you."
She walked away. It was as it was 37 years prior: a flower girl singing to the college boy she loved.