Transition and Restart, book six: Secrets unveiling

Chapter two, 2017, ends and beginnings, part two

Yukio took Kyoko's hand in his and grinned. He grinned at Noriko rushing ahead across the gravel as if she had forgotten all her pain. He grinned at how much Kyoko had grown the last year. He grinned at how much their love had grown, and at this very moment he grinned with relief when he understood that he still shared feelings of friendship with the idiot who just received a bundle of pure joy in his arms.

Urufu, make her happy! She deserves it. Then Yukio laughed silently. Noriko, make him happy! He deserves it.

Beside him Kyoko squeezed his hand, and when he glanced at her he saw tears forming in her eyes.

"Kuri-chan, you idiot!"

Her voice was soft and silent, but Yukio heard the words anyway.

"Maybe Ryu's good for her," Yukio tried.

"I hope so. I hope so for all four of them."

The squeeze got firmer, and Yukio tightened his grip on her hand. "At least they helped us two find each other. Has to count for something." His voice was a little more shaky than he had expected.

That made the tears leave her eyes. "Oh Yukio! It means the whole world for me! Of course it counts."

And he knew why her tears mixed sadness with joy. Those who had given the two of them so much happiness broke their own apart.

"Man, you hold on to her this time, or I won't forgive you," Yukio shouted when he saw the usual signs of awkwardness in Urufu. "You made her cry. You comfort her." He'd be damned if he let Urufu get a chance to wriggle out of it this time. If he had no feelings for Noriko, well too bad, but Yukio didn't believe that was the case.

Noriko's back expressed her gratitude for Yukio's words. How she managed that while she clung to the man she'd hunted for months Yukio didn't know, but she did.

"Urufu, we'll leave the two of you alone for a while," Kyoko said. Then she pulled at Yukio's hand. "I can't even begin to express how angry I am with you, but I'm not Noriko, so what I think doesn't matter." She pulled harder, and Yukio followed her down the street in the direction of what looked like a derelict school.

Just as he was about to sigh with relief a voice from behind called to them both.

"It doesn't work that way. We'll tag along. I have too much to apologise for, and not only to Noriko."

Man, what a bother! Yukio played Urufu's word in his head again. We, at least he said 'we'. "Sure. Noriko you can bring your boyfriend."

Kyoko's body went rigid beside him. Yukio could feel it through her hand. Looking at her he saw how she held her breath just like he did.

There was no response.

There was none.

Just the sound of feet following them.

This time Yukio didn't even dare to glance at Kyoko. He stubbornly stared straight ahead of him and hoped the street would lead somewhere reasonable.

A gust of wind carried a faint scent of fresh water.

Another the sound of some lonesome cicadas.

"They're frogs," Urufu's voice said from behind his back. "When I was a kid I thought they were crickets."

With that weeks of worries ran of Yukio's shoulders.

He'll give it a try. He'll give her a chance!

"Tell me more," came Noriko's subdued voice.

Then the footsteps caught up with them, and a little later Yukio saw Urufu and Noriko pass him and Kyoko hand in hand.