Chapter 129 - 127

Words : 1163 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

That night, Haruki put aside his manga work and gathered with Naoya and Kenta in front of the computer, waiting for Episode 10 of Anohana to air. After months of working side by side, the three had become close. Conversation flowed easily now, without any awkwardness. "Hard to believe it's almost over," Kenta said between bites of grilled meat. "Just one episode left after this, huh?" He'd ordered a spread of barbecue earlier, and the trio ate casually as they waited for the stream to start. "Yeah," Haruki replied. "Why?" "Well..." Kenta grinned. "Any chance you'll throw us a bone? Tonight's the fireworks episode, right? Once they send Meiko off, she'll disappear. So what's left for the finale?" Though neither Kenta nor Naoya had worked directly on Anohana, being part of Haruki's creative circle meant they were naturally invested. Both had become die-hard fans, tuning in live every week without fail. As the finale approached, discussion online had exploded. The two had even joined several fan groups on fend to keep up with theories and speculation. Sure, the pacing was quiet, almost slow week to week—no traditional cliffhangers or shock twists. But bingeing ten episodes in one sitting? That hit like a freight train. There was Meiko, the girl who connected them all; Jinta, stuck in the past; Tsuruko, quietly hiding her feelings for Yukiatsu; Anaru, who loved Jinta but couldn't say it; and Poppo, whose smile masked something deeper. Everything—friendship, grief, and love—was tangled around Meiko's memory. That was the beauty of it. To Kenta and Naoya, it felt like a crime that Anohana was only ranked fifth among currently airing shows. If the final episodes landed the emotional payoff—and maybe gave the story a hopeful close—it could crack the top three. Sure, it couldn't rival Oathbound, which had become a massive hit with over 50 million views. But Anohana was climbing fast, approaching 27 million and gaining on the third-place title at 34 million. Meanwhile, shows like Three Sisters Next Door—which started strong—were losing steam. It had already slipped from fifth to seventh. Anohana, which had debuted in seventh, had quietly overtaken it—a reversal that amused more than a few viewers. Even the fan debates between Anohana and Three Sisters had cooled lately. And though Haruki and Asami weren't exactly on warm terms, their audiences had stopped fueling the fire. "No spoilers at all?" Kenta pressed, nudging Haruki. Haruki raised an eyebrow, pretending to think. "I can't. Kazanami made me sign a confidentiality clause." He smirked. "But haven't I already hinted at the tone online? It's a healing story." "You mean that vague line you posted on Fend?" Naoya rolled his eyes. "That could mean anything. Never mind, don't say anything. I'll just watch next week." (TL: read this chapter while listening to "Uchiage Hanabi" (Fireworks) by DAOKO × Kenshi Yonezu. If you want to enhance the experience, I recommend playing the song as you read—it fits the mood almost perfectly. P.S. Read slowly; the song is about 4 minutes long.) Episode 10 went live. Naoya bit into a skewer, the warm scent of grilled meat lingering in the air as he hit play. All across the country, screens lit up. Fans tuned in the moment the episode dropped. This was the episode. The one they'd been waiting for. The emotional peak. Jinta had done everything—odd jobs, planning, fireworks. All for Meiko. All so she could move on. But underneath it all... He didn't want her to leave. He loved her. He'd never said it—not really. Just held onto it in silence, buried under guilt. And yet... even if she had returned only as a ghost, That had been enough. Then came the quiet moment. The summer night wrapped the scene in stillness. Meiko turned to him, eyes soft. "If I'd grown up... would I have become your bride, Jinta?" A pause. And then—raw, unfiltered— "Even if that's not the case... if you just stayed here, without passing on... wouldn't that be enough?" No music. Just breath. That line hit everyone. Hard. Jinta wasn't perfect. He ran from things. He shut people out. But when it mattered—his heart was bare. By the end of the episode, Meiko turned him down—gently. She didn't want to linger. She wanted to move on, to be reborn... To meet everyone again, someday, in a better life. The message landed softly—like dust settling after fireworks. Time to let go. Time to say goodbye. A quiet, devastating kind of hope. But fans weren't ready. "Wait... that's it? No—no, not like this!" "I swear, if Meiko disappears I'm gonna cry." "You are crying, bro." "Shut up, I'm buying a Meiko body pillow." Fend threads lit up instantly. The floodgates had opened. Back in the show, the group gathered at the launch site. Each carried something heavier than fireworks. Tsuruko, frustrated—unable to see Meiko. Anaru, quietly hoping Meiko's goodbye would give her a chance with Jinta. Yukiatsu, bitter, still chasing memories. And Jinta— Begging inside for just a little more time. He could stop it. He could say no. Stop the fuse. Keep her. But when the moment came... He didn't. The fuse lit. The flame crawled forward. And then— The ending theme began to play. That one. The one that shattered everyone the first time they heard it. It was like a cue. Eyes welled up across the country. Fireworks soared into the night. Meiko's wish... was coming true. Every regret, every whispered name, every what-if— They all rose with it. And when the sky exploded— White. Blinding. Still. A moment suspended in time. That ache in the chest. The sharp inhale. The helplessness of watching someone walk away. The episode neared its end. Meiko... was fading. She smiled. She thanked them. And then— She was gone. Just like that. The cycle would begin again. Viewers sat in silence. Shocked. Wrecked. They had lost her. Until the very last moment. "Wow! Look at the sky—fireworks!" That voice— Cheerful, familiar, alive. Behind Jinta. He turned. "Meiko...?" She was still there. And then—narration, soft as a whisper: "You haven't disappeared... That's wonderful." It was selfish. Everyone knew it. Jinta's hope. The viewers' refusal to let go. But it didn't matter. She was still here. As the credits rolled, fireworks crackled in the background. And across the country, people sat motionless. Not crying anymore. Just quiet. One episode left. And no one knew what to expect anymore. (TL:-Did you enjoy the music recommendation.Let me know if it added to the mood—or if you'd prefer I skip these suggestions in future chapters. I'm happy to keep including them if you're into it!) (TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)

Chapter 129 - 127

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