It's te evening and I'm leaving the club room. I was going through some of the old costumes with Chiyo, and we found a good outfit for Ken. It's a gray suit with a matching hat. It probably won’t even need that much tailoring.

  Just as I'm about to enter the girl's dorms, I hear the faint sound of someone sniffling. It's a sound I know well. My mom and I both cry all the time, after all.

  It sounds like it's coming from the side of the building. I walk over and look along the narrow space next to the building. While it's very dark, I can make out the profile of a long-haired girl sitting with her back against the wall with her arms wrapped around her knees. And she is definitely crying. So hard that her shoulders are shaking.

  I call out to the silhouette, “A-are you okay?”

  The figure gasps and says, “I-it's none of your business! G-go away !”

  Her response is so forceful that I flinch. At first I want to do what she says, and I start to turn around and head toward the dorm entrance. But then I realize I'm hearing a voice I know very well. That was the sharp tone and distinct accent of my css rep. She sounds like she does when she scolds Ichiro, except right now she's also choking back tears. She may still want me to go away. But I think I owe it to her to double check after how much she has helped me.

  “A-Akane?”

  She angrily responds, “Huh?! Who ?!”

  I flinch again before saying,“I-it's…Nagisa.”

  She sniffles, “Oh. S-s-sorry…for yelling at you.”

  “I-It's okay. D-do you want to be…alone?”

  She's quiet for a moment. Then she sighs, stands up and walks over to me. When she gets in better light, I see her tear-stained face. And I see that she's doing everything she can to hold in more tears. It breaks my heart more than a little bit.

  She's standing in front of me now. She silently shakes her head in response to my earlier question.

  I hug her without saying anything. She hugs me back. From how tightly she is hugging me, I can tell she needed it.

  After a minute or so I ask, “D-do you…want to come up to my room?”

  She responds with only a nod.

  …

  Akane and I are in my room now, sitting on the bed together. She still hasn't said a word and still looks like she might cry more at any time.

  It's hard seeing her like this. She is such a stoic, composed person in css and at lunch. But she's anything but that right now.

  I grab my dango plush and squeeze it, before holding it out to her. “Um…m-maybe it's silly, but this really soothes me when I’m having a hard time.”

  She takes it and snuggles it to her chest, and smiles a little.

  After being silent for a little while longer she sighs and says, “I got…dumped.”

  “That's terrible, I'm sorry. You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend.”

  She sighs and squeezes the dango, “No one knew. Apart from the two of us. Because…b-because…b-because…” She trails off and shakes her head.

  I put a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her, “You can talk about it if you want to. But we can talk about something else if that will help. I just want to do…whatever I can to help you. Like how you always help me.”

  She studies me for a moment, “Y-you…can't tell anyone , okay? Promise me. This is something that you can never tell anyone. Ever . A-and we can't even talk about it anywhere else. It stays in this room only.”

  This is starting to scare me. What happened with her boyfriend that she has to keep it this secret?

  I hesitate for a moment and then nod, “I promise.”

  She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and forces out the words, “I…got dumped…by a girl.”

  “Oh! Y-you…um…” I trail off, finding it difficult to say the words that are coming to mind.

  Akane sighs and narrows her eyes at me, “Just say it , Nagisa. If you can't, there's no way we can have this conversation.”

  She's right. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I just haven't known someone like her before, so it surprised me a little.

  “You…like girls?”

  “Yes. I'm gay.”

  She seems to be studying my face, seeing how I’ll react to this news.

  I nod, “So, your girlfriend broke up with you?”

  She looks at me silently for a moment before saying, “Y-yeah. You really really promise to keep this secret?”

  “I do. I won't ever tell anyone. I promise.”

  She smiles softly at me and says, “Okay…I believe you.” She takes a deep breath. “It was…” She trails off and whispers, “...Misha.”

  “Oh! I’m sorry. How long were you together?”

  Akane frowns, “I confessed to her during Spring Vacation. So…six weeks, I guess? Pathetic I'm this broken up about it after such a short retionship, huh?”

  “I don’t think so. I bet it hurts. I hurt from a boy I never went out with.”

  She nods and then squeezes the dango tighter, “I really love her. I fell for her st year not long after I started tutoring her. I finally got the courage to tell her over Spring Vacation. She and I both stayed here and we spent a lot of time together alone, and I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I…wasn't even sure if she liked girls. But I had to do it. And I was so happy when she accepted.” She looks at me with some embarrassment. “I know she’s loud and obnoxious but…”

  “She’s just…passionate and energetic.”

  Akane half-ughs and half-sniffles, “I agree.” She sighs and frowns, “Anyway…she dumped me because she's in love with someone else.”

  “Sh-she fell in love with someone else while she was with you!?”

  Akane shakes her head, “She apparently loved this other girl before. She just didn't tell me. She…hoped being with me would help her forget about this other girl, but it didn't.” She squeezes the dango more tightly. “We went for a nice walk together tonight but at the end she suddenly broke down crying. She said we have to stop because she's j-just…using me.”

  I frown, “That's…not very nice of her.”

  After a moment I start to worry that the secret she wants me to keep is more than just that she and Misha are gay. Akane can be pretty scary when she’s angry. And anyone would be angry to be dumped like that.

  “D-did you two get into a fight about it?”

  She frowns, “No. That's what I should have done. Gone into css rep mode and told her to go to hell.

  “You didn’t?”

  She shakes her head, “I'm just a stupid lovesick puppy with her. I comforted her. Told her…I understand. Told her…I would be okay. That she didn't need to feel bad. I…I just didn't want her to be so sad.” She hugs the dango as tightly as she can as a few tears run down her cheeks, “B-but I lied…I'm not okay. I f-feel…betrayed and…heartbroken and…” She takes a shaky breath, “Like I’m not good enough…b-because if I was, I could have made her love me…”

  “D-don't say that! You're pretty, and smart, and funny and ambitious. I…wish I was more like you all the time. Sh-she's just…a dumb-dumb.”

  She halfheartedly says, “Thanks. You're sweet.”

  “I-it's just the truth.”

  She forces a brief smile and then takes another shaky breath, “Worst part is, I spent the st six weeks falling even more in love with her. She was my first…everything. I thought it was all so special and…a-and…sh-she… didn't …” Akane whimpers and then starts to sob.

  I guess she couldn't hold her tears in anymore. It's impressive she sted as long as she did. It’s like she's held them in so long that she can't control her body anymore.

  She drops the dango plush and falls into me. She ends up resting her head on my p as she continues to cry, so much that I can feel my skirt getting wet. I do my best to soothe her, by rubbing her back and stroking her hair. As a cryer myself, I know she probably just needs to do this to feel a bit better. I'll just be here for her while she does.

  As she continues to cry, I start to get a little choked up too. She's hurting so much. Love is wonderful. But it can be so painful too.

  After a few minutes, she sits up, wipes her tears with her sleeve, and sniffles a few times before snuggling my dango again and looking embarrassed. Her voice is raw and her nose is stuffy when she says, “I don't think I've ever cried like that. And…definitely not in someone's p. That was…too much. I’m really sorry.”

  I wipe away my own tears and give her the best smile I can, “I really don't mind. Feeling any better?”

  She shrugs, “I guess. It's like…I feel too drained to be sad anymore. I feel…hollow.”

  “I know that feeling.”

  She chuckles, “Oh yeah, you said you were a crybaby when we first met.”

  I smile, “Exactly. So you don't need to be embarrassed about crying in front of me. Sometimes…you just need to cry to feel better. And…you had a very good reason to cry.”

  “Well…next time you want to cry, let me know, okay? I'll return the favor. I live just down the hall, you know.”

  I smile at her, “I will. I'm…really sorry you're going through this. Love can really hurt when it doesn't go right.”

  She sniffles and nods, “I really shouldn’t have had so much sex with her. I think it made it way worse.”

  I feel my face flush and I'm unsure what to say. Noticing my silence, she says, “S-sorry. Was that too much?”

  I shake my head, “I just…don't know anything about that. So I didn't know what to say.”

  She sighs and then frowns at me, “You mean…because we're both girls?”

  “N-no! Just…in general. I…haven't even had my first kiss.”

  Akane ughs softly, “I should have known you meant that. Sorry I got defensive. Lots of people are…bothered by it. Two girls dating. But you really aren't, are you? You’ve seemed okay with it every step of this conversation.”

  “Well…I think love is the most beautiful thing in the world. It doesn't matter who it's between.”

  She tilts her head and smiles softly, “Wait, wait, wait…Does that mean you're…?”

  She trails off and for a moment and I'm not sure what she's getting at. Then I make the connection.

  “No. I only like boys. But I think it’s good for you or anyone to love whoever they want to love.”

  Akane smiles at me, “Makes sense. I can't imagine you disliking or hating anyone for any reason, much less for who they love.”

  She pauses for a moment and then nudges me with her shoulder, “You have to tell me about that boy you mentioned, so we're even.”

  “Well…he was a friend who really helped me become more confident at my old school. But he ended up with one of my friends instead. I was really happy for them, but…it was hard being around them all the time.”

  I didn't start crying this time. That's good.

  Akane sighs, “Yeah…I don’t know what I am supposed to do about being around Misha all the time…in sign nguage css, at lunch…”

  “Well…if you need to eat lunch somewhere else, you could with the drama club. I'm sure everyone would be okay with that.”

  I see a brief fsh of…something on her face. It almost looked like anger. Or fear? But why would she be angry or afraid?

  “Thanks but…I don't think I’ll need to. I'll be okay.”

  Akane looks at my clock and sighs, “I didn't realize it was so te. I should get to my room.” She pauses for a moment and then sternly says, “It’s against the rules for me to be in your room this te.” She winks at me and I ugh. She does too.

  “Thank you…so much for this, Nagisa. I’d probably still be down there crying if you hadn’t heard me. You're a good friend.”

  I smile at her, “Well…you’ve helped me a lot since I got here. I don’t think I would have gotten used to things here without you. So…I’m gd I was finally able to help you.”

  She stands up and walks towards the door, still holding my dango.

  “U-um…”

  She ughs, “You’ll be wanting this back?”

  I half heartedly say, “W-well…if you really need it tonight…”

  She tosses it to me and I catch it before hugging it to my chest.

  “I don't even know what it is, but it sure is cute and snuggly. Goodnight, Nagisa.”

  She opens the door and heads into the hall before I can tell her about the Great Dango Family. I’ll have to do it another time.

  “Ever since the bomb, you ain't been yourself. You're keepin’ people at arm's length an’ mopin’ around with a scowl on your face ‘til ya get home.”

  We’re doing another read through of the script for our py. I was expecting the next line to be read, but Chiyo doesn’t read it. When I look up, all three of my clubmates are looking at me.

  This readthrough is the first time Ken and Chiyo have critiqued me. They've been nice about it so far and I know I need it. But I'm still a little scared every time this happens.

  Dorayaki.

  “D-did I do something wrong?”

  Ken says, “Not…wrong. In fact, the emotion you’re conveying with your voice is great for our first readthrough, especially with no experience. But, you need to work on your Hiroshima dialect. Try to make it sound more…natural.”

  “H-how do I do that?”

  Chiyo says, “Listen to a lot of it. Right now you are doing kind of an over the top impression, and it sounds like an impression. And it's kind of funny. Not what we want in a dramatic scene.”

  “O-okay…I'll try.”

  Daiki says, “What if the three of you just always do your Hiroshima dialect when we're alone? Seems like a good way to get her used to it.”

  Ken nods, “That's a really good idea.”

  Chiyo nods and turns on her Hiroshima dialect , “I'm thinkin’ that's doable. We could use the practice anyway. Well, maybe Ken don’t need it. But I do.”

  Ken ughs and replies using Hiroshima dialect, “Practice makes perfect.”

  Chiyo ughs and pokes his arm, “Well yeah, but yours already is perfect.”

  He shrugs, “My voice is really important so I work on it a lot. Because I'm not as good with facial expressions.”

  Daiki says, “Huh. Somehow, I never thought of it that way. Does that mean you're leaning towards voice acting?”

  “I'd like to do other kinds too…but, yeah, that might be where I have the best chance.”

  Chiyo nudges him and blushes a little when she says, “Plus, you get to go to work in yer underwear.”

  He ughs, blushes, and nudges her back, “That sounds more like somethin’ you would like, as much as you like sleepin’ in.”

  I wish she would just tell him. But at the same time I know I can't really know what it's like to be in her situation either. After all, I never even confessed to Tomoya.

  But…why hasn’t Ken confessed? The more I watch them, the more I think he likes her too.

  Daiki says, “Stop flirting, you two. We've got work to do.”

  This makes me giggle, while the two of them turn bright red and suddenly are very focused on continuing our readthrough.

  …

  We just finished our readthrough and I have lots of notes on my script. It's a little stressful knowing I need to improve so much, but I know my clubmates will help.

  Ken says, “Nagisa, how do you feel about rewriting the lines that need it now that your character is a mother instead of a father?”

  “Wh-what? Me?”

  Chiyo ughs, “So…not feeling so good about it?”

  “I…just don't know the first thing about writing lines.”

  Ken nods, “I know. And maybe I'm asking too much. But I think doing this will help you. Really think about your character. Really think about what will be different for a mother versus a father. That will help you understand her, too.”

  “O-okay. I’ll…try. I just don't want to ruin the py.”

  Chiyo smiles, “You don’t necessarily have to do it all on your own. But I think taking a crack at it yourself first is a good idea. Then we can talk about the changes together.”

  “Okay. That sounds good. Makes me feel less pressure.”

  I’m leaving the dorms to go to drama club. I'm running te, because I left my script with all my notes on it in my dorm room, and I really don't want to waste everyone's time by making the same mistakes they helped me correct earlier this week.

  Just as I'm about to enter the performing arts center, I hear a strange sound. It almost sounds like coughing. But it's kind of squeaky. I hear the sound again, and approach a bush where it seems to be coming from.

  When I hear the sound again, I kneel and look under the bush, and I see a bck cat lying on its side. It looks like it is having a hard time breathing. Its sides are rapidly rising and falling, and it looks really distressed. It doesn't react to me at all. It just stares at me, unmoving.

  Normally I'm afraid of outdoor cats, but this one needs help and isn’t threatening me. I gently pull it out from under the bush and pick it up. In the light, I see it isn't all bck. It has spshes of orange on its fur. It's really pretty.

  It hasn't moved at all, and it's body is mostly limp. But it's warm. And it's breathing. But the way it's breathing looks painful, and it’s letting out a little cough every few seconds. It just closed its eyes. That's probably not good.

  Now that I have this animal in my arms I’m not sure what I can possibly do. I start to feel overwhelmed, and I clench my eyes shut to think.

  Should I take it to the nurse? He would know better than most what to do, even if he doesn't normally treat cats. He’s nice, and I can't imagine him telling me to go away with a sick cat in my arms.

  The cat REALLY needs a vet, though. And quickly. But I don't know where one is. Maybe my drama club friends can help me. They are waiting for me inside, so it makes sense to check with them.

  Wait. Didn't Daiki say his dad is a vet? And he takes care of the cats on campus?

  I open my eyes, turn around and enter the performing arts center. The second I enter the costume shop I hear Chiyo snarkily say, “It’s about time. Did you get lost or something?”

  I reply, “Um…n-no. I found this sick kitty outside. I d-don't know what to do.”

  As I approach the table where we’ve been doing our read throughs, Daiki’s eyes get wide and he stands up and walks over to me. He frowns and puts his hand on the cat. It covers pretty much her entire body.

  He frowns, “Oh, no. Tortie.”

  “Tortie?”

  “Yeah. I’ll expin in the car. We need to get her to my dad.”

  “C-car?”

  He nods, “I have one.” He turns to Ken and Chiyo, “Sorry guys, gonna have to skip drama club today.”

  Ken nods, “That's okay. Just hurry. She doesn't sound good.”

  …

  I’m in the car with Daiki, who is driving. Well, “car” isn't the right word. It feels more like a tank. It's a huge American SUV of some kind. It is probably the only kind of car he fits in comfortably. The passenger seat is huge, and I must look like a little girl who only recently got big enough to sit in the front seat.

  I'm holding the cat in my arms. Its condition hasn't changed.

  “Tortie is short for tortoiseshell, that's what fur like hers is called.”

  I look down at her and smile, “Oh! I can see why it's called that. She's pretty.”

  “Yeah, she is. I try not to name the campus cats, but it's usually useful to be able to refer to them by color at least ” Suddenly his eyes get wide, “I just realized I didn't actually ask you if you wanted to come. Things were kind of a blur.”

  I ugh, “It's okay. It was a blur for me too and I want to help Tortie.”

  He smiles, “I can't say for sure, but I think she likes you. Normally when a cat is in distress, it's eyes are open at least a little bit. Like they have to monitor their surroundings just in case. Cats only close them all the way when they are comfortable.”

  This chokes me up a little, since her eyes were open when I found her. I thought it was bad when she closed them. I guess I was wrong. She was happy I picked her up. She probably didn’t want to be alone. I hold her a little more firmly, hoping I am helping her a little more.

  …

  We just entered the Matsuzaka vet clinic. The waiting room is empty. There is a woman in medical scrubs in an office behind a sliding gss window. She's looking down at something. Daiki approaches the gss and knocks on it and says, “Hey mom, is dad avaible?”

  I would have guessed she was his mom. She has curly hair and eyes the same color as her son's. She is a very small woman, though. Hard to tell with her at a desk, but I would guess she is only a little bigger than I am.

  The woman looks up from her desk with raised eyebrows and slides the gss screen open, “Daiki? Did something happen with one of the cats?”

  He nods and points to me and Tortie. Surprisingly, she smiles. Then she looks at Daiki again with an even bigger smile.

  “Well…she's a very cute cat.”

  Daiki looks frustrated, “Mom, there's a cat suffering. Save this for another time. Or, better yet…don't do it at all. Is dad avaible or not?”

  He just scolded his mother, something I can rete to. My dad needs a good scolding sometimes. But I don’t understand why he scolded her. Tortie IS cute.

  …

  We’re in an examination room. Daiki is standing and I’m sitting in a chair with Tortie in my p. She hasn't changed at all.

  Before long Daiki’s mother and a tall bald man with a salt and pepper goatee come in. He’s wearing a b coat. I think in most rooms in Japan he would be the tallest man in the room. But his son is much bigger than he is. He doesn't share as many of his son's features as his mother, but there are some simirities in the way he carries himself. He gives off an aura of intelligence, like Daiki does.

  “Hi son, sorry you had to come here today.”

  “Yeah, sorry to barge in. I forgot to call.”

  He smiles at me and Tortie and then looks at his wife, “You were right. She is a cute cat.”

  Daiki sighs, “Will you please just examine the cat?”

  I stand up with her near the examination table.

  “D-do I need to let her go, sir?”

  “There are some things I can do with you holding her. I'll do those first.”

  He gets out his stethoscope and listens to her. He almost immediately frowns before moving his stethoscope around and listening some more. His frown never leaves his face.

  After about 30 seconds he stops and says, “Her lungs are on their st legs. Filled with fluid. It's probably cancer. And it is probably quite advanced, based on her condition.”

  I look down at Tortie and back up at him and ask, “Wh-what can we do, sir?”

  He smiles at me, “Unfortunately, the best we can do is help her go peacefully.”

  I sniffle and look down at Tortie, “Oh.”

  “Do you want to take her back and bury her?”

  Daiki nods, “We'll bury her on campus, like the others.”

  His dad nods and then his mother opens up a drawer. She starts pulling out syringes and other objects I don't recognize.

  Daiki says, “You don't have to be here for this part, Nagisa.”

  I do my best to speak as I start to cry, “I know. B-but…you said she's comfortable with me. S-so, I want to stay with her and keep her comfortable until she...goes”

  Daiki's father nods, “Okay. You staying too, son?”

  “Yeah, I'll stay.”

  His mom grins, “ Interesting . You don't normally.”

  “Mom, this isn't really the time for you to be weird. Just do your job.”

  She nods and hands the syringe she prepared to her husband who says, “Okay. I'm going to give her this injection…and then she'll drift away peacefully.”

  “C-can you do it while I'm holding her?”

  He smiles, “I can. Ready?”

  I nod as more tears start to fall down my face. I feel a warm sensation on my back, and it takes me a moment to realize it's Daiki's hand because it takes up a good three-quarters of my back. Not something most hands would do. Once I realize, it does have a comforting effect. Like a security bnket.

  Daiki's dad gives Tortie the injection, and she almost immediately goes completely limp. A few seconds ter, her bored breathing stops. A few seconds after that, her eyes open.

  Dr. Matsuzaka listens to her with his stethoscope and quietly says, “She's gone. I'll take her. We have a nice box we can put her in.”

  I hesitate, because I haven't let go of Tortie since I found her. I don't want to let her go. But then I come to my senses and hand her over to Mrs. Matsuzaka.

  He says, “You two can stay here as long as you need.”

  “Th-thanks, dad.”

  Through my tears I manage to say, “Yes, th-thank you…Dr. and Mrs. Matsuzaka.”

  He smiles and nods, “Of course.” Then they leave the examination room with Tortie.

  I let out a few sobs, but then pull myself together. When I look up at my companion, I'm surprised to see I'm not the only one crying. He’s composed unlike me, but there are tears on his cheeks.

  He notices me looking at him and ughs awkwardly before wiping his tears, “This is why I can't go into the family business. I don't do well when animals pass. Sorry you had to see it.”

  I smile up at him, “Don't be sorry. I think it's sweet you care so much about Tortie.”

  He smiles back, “Yeah. I do my best not to get attached. Outdoor cats usually have short lives. But I do see the ones on campus a couple times a week, you know? And…realizing I won't see her anymore…makes me sad.”

  I sniffle loudly and say, “Well, I just met her today, and I was sobbing a minute ago.”

  He ughs, “That's true. You can get away with it though, you’re a girl.”

  “Don’t worry, I won't let it get out that you cried over Tortie.”

  He ughs, “Thank you for your discretion.”

  Mrs. Matsuzaka comes back with a Tortie-sized wooden box. I take it and hold it to my chest, like I was holding her earlier.

  She smiles at me and says, “So, can you two stay for dinner?”

  Daiki sighs, “Mom. Read the room . A cat just died. We’re going to go back to campus and bury her as soon as possible.”

  I nod, “B-but…thank you so much for the invitation, ma'am.”

  She nods, “I’m sure we’ll have another chance some time soon. Drive safe, kids.”

  Daiki picks up the box.

  Only now that Daiki removes his hand from my back do I realize it has been there this whole time.

  …

  We're in the car, headed back to Yamaku.

  “Sorry…my parents were…like that.”

  “Like what? They were really sweet.”

  Daiki chuckles, “Well…if you didn't notice anything, I don't need to bring it up.”

  I look down at my hands, embarrassed I missed something. “I'm confused, so I guess I didn't notice.”

  We're quiet for a while and then I say, “They are okay with you burying her on campus?”

  He nods, “I have the approval of the groundskeeper. He was burying them before I ever came along, actually.”

  I touch the box sitting between us, “That's good.”

  …

  My fellow drama club members and I are standing around a hole that Daiki dug behind the performing arts center. I’m holding Tortie’s box.

  I was a little worried about Daiki digging because of his cane. I offered to do it and he did his best not to show it, but I think he got annoyed with me. More than he did when I offered to help him in the cafeteria. I need to stop doing that. He has a cane, but he really isn't that limited. He had no problem digging a hole. In fact, it was pretty effortless for him.

  He says, “Nagisa, you can put her down, now.”

  I nod and put Tortie’s box in the hole.

  I step back and say, “Bye, Tortie. It was nice meeting you today. I'm gd you're not suffering anymore.”

  I'm proud of myself for getting through that without being too choked up. I guess I already cried a bunch about her.

  Daiki smiles, “Well said.” Then he picks up the shovel.

  “W-wait! What was she like? I only knew her when she was sick.”

  Daiki puts down the shovel and thinks for a moment, “Well…she was energetic and mischievous. If I was putting out food for them, if I wasn't paying attention she would sneak up and chew through the bag.” He ughs, “She was the most vocal cat I’ve ever known too. Meowed every time she saw me. Sometimes she even meowed while she was eating.”

  Ken says, “Oh, yeah , I knew this cat too, then, didn't I? She's the one who lurked outside the boys dorm and looked for you when she got hungry?”

  Daiki ughs, “Yep.”

  Ken frowns, “She had a funny meow. Kind of whimsical. I'll miss you, Tortie.”

  Chiyo says, “I didn't really know you Tortie, but you sound like my kind of cat. Rest easy.”

  Daiki nods and picks up the shovel again, and before long she's covered by dirt. He picks up a big stone and puts it over her.

  Once the little funeral is over, Chiyo walks up to me and says, “Here.” She holds out my script to me. I take it, unsure of how she got it.

  She says, “We found it outside the performing arts center, you probably dropped it when you found Tortie.”

  “Oh! Woops. That was bad of me.”

  Ken ughs, “A life is more important than your script.”

  Chiyo gives an exaggerated gasp and pokes him in the chest, “You’re never gonna make it as an actor with that kind of thinking.”

  …

  “Well…that sounds like a tough day.”

  It's te evening, and Akane has dropped by my room. We’re both sitting on my bed. She does this most days since the night of her break up. We just chat about our days and other little things. I just told her about Tortie.

  “It was in some ways. I had never…seen a living thing pass away like that. But it was …kind of nice too. Being there for her.”

  She smiles, “Yeah, I guess I can see that. I didn't realize Daiki was basically the cat caretaker. Where does he find the time to do that, drama club, and beat me on all the tests?”

  I ugh, “I don't know. It is pretty impressive.”

  She sighs, “I just think…the guy has to have some fw, otherwise it's not fair. Like it's enough that he's smarter than me, but he's a better person than I am too?”

  “Th-that's not true! You're both good people.”

  Akane doesn't look convinced, so I change the subject.

  “H-how are things going for you? With your student council friends.”

  She sighs, “They're okay. I mean, Misha and I kept it a secret from Lilly and Shizune anyway, so pretending like nothing has changed is already our default mode. So it's easy.” She frowns, “In the moment…at least. The minute I’m alone in my room I feel pretty sad about it.”

  I nod, “That's why you’ve been dropping by?”

  She nods feebly, “Well, I also like talking to you. But…I do want to put off being alone as long as possible.” She frowns, “I’m…not bothering you, am I?”

  “O-of course not! I like having you here. I-if it would help you, we could sleep in the same room too.”

  She raises an eyebrow at me and grins, “I’m fttered. But I don't think I'm ready to move on just yet.”

  “M-m-move on?” I blush, realizing her joke. Then I frown at her and cross my arms, “Y-you know what I meant.”

  She ughs, “I do. Thanks. But…I probably do need to process it. Feel the sadness. Or it will just take longer to get over her. So, my room’s fine.”

  She drapes her arm over my shoulders, “Thank you Nagisa…you’re literally the only person I can talk to about this. I think that really helps me process it too.”

  “Y-you’re welcome. I wish…you could talk to people about it. If Misha was a boy you could.”

  She nods, “Yeah. It kind of sucks being gay. It would certainly be simpler if I weren't. But, I don't seem to have a say in the matter.” She takes a breath and picks up my plush dango and gives it a squeeze. “Your room has kind of become a safe space for me, since that night a couple weeks ago. It’s very rexing.”

  “I’m gd.” I giggle, “You seem to really like my dango.”

  She looks down at the plush in her arms with a confused expression, “This is a…dango? Like…the food?”

  I sigh.

  I take it from her and turn it towards her so she can see the face. “Yeah, it’s a dango with a face, see? From the Great Dango Family.”

  She says the words like they don’t belong together, “Great…dango…family?”

  “Yes. They were in commercials some years ago. And you could even buy dangos at the store with cute little faces.” I hug the plush tight, “They are my favorite characters because they are cute and they take care of each other like a family should. There’s a whole family of them that have different faces and different colors. They even have a cute song.”

  (Author’s Note: You can hear Nagisa sing the song here. Bonus points if you can do that without tearing up.)

  I stand up with the dango in my arms and start singing the song for her, “Dango, dango, dango, dango, the great dango family / The mischievous roasted dango / The gentle bean jam dango-”

  Akane cracks up ughing and rolls around in my bed. I stop singing and sit back down feeling embarrassed. I frown and look down at the ground. She keeps ughing for a bit, but then notices I’ve stopped singing.

  She looks at me guiltily, “Sorry…”

  I shrug, “I-it’s okay. No one seems to feel the same way as me about them. At my old school either. I don't know why I think anyone else will like them as much as me. I should have learned my lesson by now.”

  “It’s adorable how passionate you are about it. And the cuteness and silliness of it all hit me just right to make me ugh. I needed a good ugh. But…I wasn’t making fun of you.”

  I shrug, “If you say so.”

  “I do have to agree that the plush is cute. I’d like to see the other colors. And the song is cute too.” She takes the dango back from me and hugs it, “And I do feel soothed when I snuggle it. So…I’m a fan of the Great Dango Family too, now. Thanks for introducing us.”

  I smile at her, “R-really!?”

  “Well, yeah.” She brandishes the plush. “Who wouldn’t think this is one of the cutest things ever?”

  Take that, Tomoya!