Chapter Text
"There's no way ghosts and all that supernatural stuff is real."
The glare of the setting sun at twilight illuminated the third floor girl's bathroom where the rumored "Hanako-san" supposedly resided. However, there are only few who have the courage and the ability to summon her.
Such as the dark-haired girl with bright ruby-red eyes standing before the third stall, hands clasped together as if that would increase her chances of successfully summoning the ghost.
It was quiet. But when she finally gathered enough courage, three hesitant knocks echoed throughout the bathroom. And a trembling voice said, barely above a whisper;
"Hanako-san, Hanako-san... are you there?"
Her eyes were tightly closed, but they abruptly shot open at the sound of the door creaking.
I'm just imagining it...
And there she heard an ominous voice say, "I'm heeere~"
The door to the third stall fully opened and her eyes widened at the sight, hands dropping limply to her side. A boy with dark, choppy hair and lifeless, amber eyes stared back at her. If his see-through body, and the two ghostly orbs floating beside him meant what she was thinking, then...
Her hands immediately clasped her mouth shut, but that wasn't enough to stifle her scream, "AAAAAHHHH!!!"
"AAAAHH!!!"
"Eh?"
The ghost in front of her looked somehow shocked at her reaction, and he also let out a scream in return. He huffed, placing his hand on his chest as if to calm himself down, "Jeez... I didn't expect you to scream like that..."
The girl was beyond confused, T-This is Hanako-san? Wasn't she supposed to be a girl??? Her thoughts swirled in her head before she realized that 'Hanako-san' had stopped talking and was now staring at her.
He must've realized she caught him looking at her and he smiled, cheerfully introducing himself, "Anyways, I'm Hanako-san of the bathroom, at your service. Nice to meet you~"
It wasn't supposed to go like this... ghosts weren't supposed to exist! She continued staring at him in disbelief, but she eventually found it in herself to ask, although still a little hesitant, "You're really Hanako-san? You're actually a boy?"
"Ah, right, I should probably explain that first," he looked up at her and hummed.
She shook her head, and instead asked the apparition once again, "You grant wishes right? I-I can't believe you actually exist!"
"Hm? Then why did you summon me?" Hanako floated closer to her, flashing her a cheeky smile, "Ah, are you one of those kids who like to experiment? That's dangerous, you know~"
"I..." She took a step back from the wonder and mumbled, "I wanted to see if ghosts and supernaturals really did exist or not..."
"Like I said, that's dangerous..." he trailed off, and he only stared at her with a blank expression, as if examining her. The dark-haired girl raised her arms to cover her face, but it wasn't out of fear.
Hanako tilted his head questioningly when he saw her brows furrow, hands returning to her side. She struggled with her words as she mumbled, "Why do you... um... Hanako-san, you kind of remind me of someone..."
A few minutes of silence passed as both of them looked at each other with a curious gaze. Hanako broke the silence, tapping a finger to his chin, "I'm pretty sure we just met though?" Then his tone got darker, "Or have you seen any other ghosts that look like me?"
"What?" She shook her head, "No... I didn't even believe that ghosts existed!"
"Well, now you should."
The girl huffed, pinching her cheeks, then she winced, "Ow, I'm not dreaming... I'm sorry, I just really can't believe I'm actually talking to the Hanako-san, although you're a little different to what I was expecting. Not that I was expecting anything, but..."
That earned a chuckle from the ghost, and she looked up with a puzzled expression. Hanako grinned, "You remind me of someone too."
"Oh... I do?" she asked. "Who-"
"Well then."
Hanako suddenly brought out a pen and a notebook out of nowhere, "Let's get to business~ Since you summoned me, you must have some kind of wish, right?"
She was surprised at the sudden change of subject, but she decided not to pry any further, "I told you... I just wanted to see if the rumors were real." She brought her gaze to the floor, sheepishly admitting, "I don't have a wish."
He remained silent for a moment, then he replied, "Hmmm... that's a waste. Only certain people can summon me, you know? I thought I finally got a customer but it was just some curious kid..."
"Certain people...?" He then saw her face light up, "So I was right! You know, I figured as much, since it's not like just any normal human can see the supernatural. But if you had a sixth sense or something, it probably wouldn't be a problem! Sadly, I don't know anyone like that..."
Hanako seemed amused at her rambling on, and he cut in, "You're not wrong, but you are missing something..."
"H-Huh?"
"You're using an item, aren't you?" He pointed at the skull brooch she was donning on the front of her uniform, just above the ribbon, "That's another way to see supernaturals. But it doesn't always work on everyone, so you were quite lucky."
"Oh. Yeah, also that! I guess I did get pretty lucky..."
Hanako muttered something she couldn't quite make out, but he spoke up again before she could ask, "And the last one is..."
"There's another way?"
The ghost smiled, but there was an emotion she couldn't read clouding his eyes, "Seeing ghosts and interacting with them... would also be easy for people who are at the end of their lifespan."
She was rendered speechless, and he continued, "Those people are closer to the far shore than any ordinary living human... just like people with powerful sixth senses. That's why."
"At least, you know you're not dying anytime soon, right?"
The girl found herself unable to say anything else after that, but one question did arise in her mind. Has he... ever met anyone like that?
But of course, she never could've voiced that thought out loud.
"Well, enough of that," he smiled, but it didn't meet his eyes. "You really don't have a wish? Can't you think of anything that you want?"
Finding her voice, she asked, "I can really wish for anything?"
"For a price, yes."
She stood still, thinking to herself, before she spoke up again, "I'm sorry. I can't think of one right now."
Hanako seemed conflicted, "I've been doing this for a long time, but no one's ever summoned me, successfully anyway, without a wish." Then he shrugged, "Well, that's fine. I'll just stick with you until you think of one! You've already summoned me anyway, and besides, not fulfilling your wish would be bad for business."
She nodded, chuckling, "Okay, I hope I think of one soon, you don't really get this chance everyday. But a price, hm..."
In the distance, the school bell rang for the last time that day, indicating that all remaning students must leave the school grounds.
"O-Oh, it's already this late?" The girl fumbled around, "I have to go, Hanako-san! I'm still in the process of taking all of this in... but I'll think of a wish soon, I promise!"
The ghost waved goodbye as she rushed out of the bathroom, but not before turning back around and smiling, "Almost forgot! You can call me Tsubaki, Hanako!"
And with that, she left, leaving him in his lonesome once again.
Hey, where did you get that brooch?
Hey, why does your voice sound like hers?
Hey, your eyes shine just like hers when she was still-
Who are you?