I followed Hanako, just like the night before. Out of the building, out of the glass door, & before we knew it, right back to the highest branch of my sakura tree. & as if it had become routine for the two of us, we sat side by side, a little too close for my comfort, but close enough to know we're friends.

Sitting there silently, just staring at the stars, all felt right in the world once again. I wasn't worried about seeing Tsuchigomori at the library during free times or getting exorcised by one of the Minamoto boys. I felt calm & safe within this small space we had created in these past two days.

I silently wished that this wouldn't have to change, but I also didn't hold my breath. Things like this come & go as fast as the season's change, & once I'm not Hanako's assistant, I don't see why he'd want to hang out anymore like this.

"Hey, what's going on?" Hanako asked, noticing my frowning face.

"Nothing, don't worry about it. Just a little entrapped in my thoughts." I sighed, looking over at Hanako, his bright amber eyes as bright as the night stars.

"You know, you can tell me anything. You don't have to keep all your thoughts all to yourself," He said, looking back up at the stays, "I know it might seem easier, & you must be used to from being alone for so long. But, I know from experience sitting alone with your thoughts can weigh you down...so, if you ever need someone to lend an ear without judgment, I'll be there."

I continued to stare at the boy who seemed to be speaking from the heart. I took his words to heart, feeling the warmth of genuine wrap around me. I sighed, "Thanks...Hanako..."

He then nudged me on my side with my elbow, "Now, cheer up. Do you have something to talk about? Let's talk, we do have all night after all."

Shaking my head, I continued, "Maybe another time. For now, I'd like to enjoy the here & the now with you."

Just as I thought that my comment would go undetected, a small smirk lifted to his face. Hanako opened his mouth, probably to say something flirtatious, or some comment to tease me, but closed it gently & moved is gaze back to the sky.

Before I could ask, he started pointing at the beautifully painted sky in front of us, "I have so many things to tell you about the stars & the planets, so let's get started!"

& from there, that's what happened. Hanako went on & on for what felt like hours about the different stars, comets, planets, & every single fact he could conjure from that small brain of his. It amazed me he stored all this information, & could talk about it in such excitement.

I could sit here for days it felt with him, watching the sky & talking about the endless possibilities of it. What's beyond the universe, & what exactly is still hidden within it. There was much to discuss, but such little time to.

After a few more minutes, Hanako turned back to me with a small sigh, "You know, I never told you my name."

My head cocked to the side in confusion as he continued, "You probably thought you were the only one with secrets up your sleeves. Well, I'm a man with many as well."

I chuckled, "Well, I guess that's another thing we have in common."

He nodded, "The only difference between us, is that I want to figure out every single one of yours."

Before I could even fully comprehend what he had said, my face had heated up. I was probably as red as a fire truck, which is pretty strange for a ghost.

Hanako, the seventh wonder of the school, the most powerful apparition I've known, wanted to know every single thing about me? Did I hear him wrong?

Rubbing the back of my neck slightly, I murmured out words, "You want to know everything about me?"

"Of course I do." Hanako answered, "You are a very interesting girl, & you now one of my friends...I know it won't happen all in one night, & I don't expect it to, but hey...we always have these times of the night to talk."

I hummed, starting to twiddle my thumbs, "Well, alright. I have a deal for you."

"I'm listening." he purred, causing me to push him over lightly.

"Every night after our work, we meet up here. No matter whether we were working together that day, or I was off having to help Tsuchigomori - we find our way here." I explained, "Catch is, is that every night we tell one thing about ourselves to the other. Just to make it easy on the other, we ask the other person what they want to know in a form of a question. Simple enough?"

"That's brilliant!" Hanako chimed, clapping his hands together softly, "& for tonight, I'll answer two, seeming yesterday you told me one."

"Well, let's get the ball rolling."

"You told me your name, a beautiful angel of a name..."

"Stop stalling, Mr. Flirty-Pants."

"...& now it's my turn. My name is Amane."

I pondered on his name for a minute, listening to it rattling in my head for a second.

"Amane." I echoed, "That's a cute name, why don't you use it?"

"Ah-ah," he tsked, "do you really want to waste your question on such a simple question?"

"Touche," I stated, racking my brain for another question.

I couldn't do any intense questions that rattled up there, seeming we just started this, & would be rude since we just became acquaintances. It took me a few minutes of looking at the stars dancing among the darkness to finally come up with a simple question, "What's your favorite food?"

"You sure? You don't want to ask how I died, or what criminal records I have from my past life?" Hanako asked me, a little tease in his voice.

"Nope," I answered straight out, "It's rude, just as rude as kissing a girl on the first date."

"Are you saying this is a date?"

I jumped back startled, "WHERE DID YOU IMPLY THAT FROM?!"

He chuckled, holding his stomach from laughing so hard, "Calm down! I was kidding Sephy."

I rolled my eyes, flustered, as he finally answered, "Donuts actually. Just normal, plain old donuts."

"That's pretty simple for someone as complicated as you," I added on.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He asked, a little puzzled.

"Something for you to ponder on, & for me to figure out." I answered, "Now, what's your question?"

Hanako folded his arm, taking a good long look at me. I pushed back a lock of hair that was hanging long in front of my face, waiting for him to have his 'aha!' question. It took a little longer than I had expected it to.

"What's something you miss while being dead?" He finally asked, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"Man, you really did put some thought into that." I half-laughed as I started to think.

I had been dead for a while now, it wasn't like it was in the last year or anything, so nothing came straight to mind. It almost was like a faded memory at this point of what human life was compared to my life now. Sure, it was much different, but in what ways? Nothing came up in my mind for a while, all seemed blank.

I sighed, "Man, you always wind up asking the hard questions. But, in all honesty, I don't know. I don't miss my human life as much as I think I would. Nothing much seems different from then than it does now. I guess I do miss the feeling of being able to go anywhere in the world, but in some way, that seems like a lie to you."

"How so?" Hanako asked me, listening intently.

"I never really left. I always was stuck here. Whether it be in the garden, in a classroom, or in a place that I should've been able to call home, but never could. I was always in the same places, unable to find the finer things in life. Almost like now."

"Well, I think you have found one, it's just right under your nose."

I looked over at him, his eyes bright. His smile was warm & welcoming, hanging on every word I spoke. Looking over at the sky that I never have appreciated more than ever while I was dead, I realized he was right.

I did find a finer thing, all these moments right here.

& maybe, just maybe, with Hanako,

I'll be able to find some more.