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Taking a two-week trip to America with her girlfriend was something Hagumi never would have imagined happening when she first started dating Kokoro.To be honest, she hadn’t felt the need to leave the country in general. She was happy staying in Japan for as long as she was alive and hadn’t really wanted to leave -the only time the question came up was when plans for a world tour came up in a band meeting months ago, and to this Hagumi was eager to finish high school.But Kokoro had proposed that they disappear to America for a date lasting two weeks. And where Kokoro goes, Hagumi will gladly follow.So here they are, three days into their vacation walking hand-in-hand on the river trail that resides behind their temporary home while the sun sets.When planning this “Date of Infinite Smiles” as Kokoro called it, they searched for four things: a county that was friendly to their openly gay relationship, a town that had lots to do, an area where the Suits that came along could easily navigate, and a temporary nest that had the space they needed. Luckily, this was all checked off thanks to a Tsurumaki family friend who was more than happy to aid the couple in their wishes, so they were able to work out other details more quickly.They’re silent as they slowly put one foot in front of the other, enjoying the gentle warmth of their lover’s hand as Hagumi’s music fills the air around them. Occasionally glancing over to their other half, they’ll provide an extra dash of affection paired with a sound effect -a “bonk” from head to shoulder here, a “beep” to the nose there, a “wooshy-woosh” cheek pinch before kissing any possible hurt better- and end it all off with a giggly duet that’s different every time.It’s all so pleasant and welcoming, encouraging Hagumi to hold her hand tighter and Kokoro to do the same.The song changes right as a bridge comes into view.“Let’s go over the bridge, Hagu!” Kokoro turns her head to lovingly glance at her little clementine, who meets her eye contact with a hum of agreement after being tickled by a section of swooshy blonde hair.They laugh as they run like puppies who’ve escaped their leashes but their hands are still intertwined as they each try to reach the bridge first. This sudden race doesn’t have a solid outcome since both girls are equally athletic and reach the first row of stones at about the same time, but it’s not like their competition really needs a winner.“I think you won that time, Kokoron!” Hagumi’s smile is cherry-sweet -just like her lip gloss- and the singer’s heart skips a beat.“Are you positive? I’m pretty sure your foot landed before mine did. I won last time anyway, so I think you should have this one!” It’s clear that Kokoro’s only saying this so she can follow their rule of “loser kisses the winner” and Hagumi can see it in the way she exaggerates her thinking, twirling her hips around in a figure eight with a light bounce in her knees as he brings a finger to her chin in thought.“Of course she’s pretending to think!” Hagumi brings her fists to her cheeks as she snickers and stomps her feet in a knowing excitement. “Kokoron never has to think when it comes to kisses!”Even so, she plays along, because going along with Kokoro always brings the most fun.“Hmm… maybe my foot did land first.” She grins, trying (and miserably failing) to hide her enthusiasm. “I guess I did win!”“Hooray for Hagu! She won, she won!”She’s picked up in one fell swoop, Kokoro’s arms wrapping tightly around her waist as she lifts her smaller girlfriend into the air and spins them around. The bassist laughs something exquisite, a sound that always makes Kokoro feel weak in the knees, but she pushes past it to make sure she doesn’t drop her sweetheart. Joining her in the vocal show of enjoyment, she hugs Hagumi as close as she can before carefully putting her down a few seconds later.Once her feet touch the ground, her cheeks are held up, allowing her to drink in the sunny shimmer in Kokoro’s eyes until their lips meet and lids close.As they exchange silent compliments and practiced rhythms of love, Hagumi grabs a fistful of her shooting star’s beloved sweater, rubbing her thumb against the softness of the knitted fabric. They hum into the kiss at random, content and ecstatic vibrations feeding the buzz that’s beginning to take over their easy-going minds. Kokoro’s hands leisurely slide down her face, along her neck, resting on her shoulders with a tender, grounding hold on the small one as her mind starts to disconnect from everything but Hagumi Kitazawa.It’s becoming clear that they need to part for air, but the idea of not finishing the moment brings enough pain to their hearts is stronger than the burning in their chests that flourishes more with each interrupted breath they take.The kiss is finally completed when Kokoro harshly presses into Hagumi’s lips once more, smearing the ginger’s gloss while she pulls away, swallowing lungfuls of air as she analyzes Hagumi’s face: copper eyes threatening to spill tears of ultimate emotion, freckled cheeks airbrushed red from lack of oxygen and overflowing exuberance, lips swollen as proof of requited warmth and shining with the sugary lip gloss that definitely isn’t as sweet as the lips they’re spread upon.Hagumi catches her breath on the opposite beats as Kokoro, but they slowly converge to create a Tsurumaki-Kitazawa marriage of lungs. They share a laugh once again, then resume their adventure after a peck to her orange darling’s nose.As they walk the path that meets the bridge’s other side, they change the music to be Kokoro’s choice and hum along to what they know -hands held as tightly as before, of course. After two and a half songs, Hagumi notices what appears to be a secret path on her girlfriend’s side of the trail.“Kokoron!” She slows her footing and points to the patch of dirt hidden under grass that’s not as tall as the rest. “Look at that mini pathway!”“Woah! Should we see where it goes?”“Yeah! We’ve got time until the sun fully goes down, let’s give it a shot!”Kokoro leads them through the overgrown side road, Hagumi following from behind with her free hand grabbing the blonde’s braceleted wrist. The green surrounding them brings a smile to her small face and smaller heart as they duck under branches and weave around rotting wood painted in cheery messages. These signs catch their attention the more they see, each one seeming more colorful -and destroyed- than the last.“I’m starting to feel iffy about this route, Kokoron.” Hagumi tries to walk a bit faster so she can be closer to her sunny anchor, squeezing where she holds onto her as she spots an abandoned backpack.It seems to belong to a child, colorful yet filthy as it sits in a divot of solid dirt and spills out paperwork that’s clearly had its fair share of the natural elements. A fully zippable pencil case peeks out from the main pocket that isn’t as mucky as the backpack, but has its own mysterious patch of brown on it.Actually, some of the bag’s splotches might not be dirt…“Don’t worry, Hagu! Once we see what’s at the end, we can head back if you’d like!” Kokoro turns just enough to flash a confident and endearing grin towards her, continuing to walk forward as if she knew the road by heart.“Okay… I think I can work with that.”“Want me to carry you?”“No, I think I’ll be okay. Just don’t run off once we get there, please.”“I promise I won’t let us get separated, Guppy-Gup!”Hagumi squirms at the pet name, a wave of felicity rushing through her and easing the slow build of anxiety that fills her bones.They tread onward, Kokoro’s obvious stance of courage helping Hagumi to stay on guard and focus on what doesn’t scare her. Her hard work is rewarded less than a minute later when they reach the end of the forested trail with a dramatic unveiling of tree branches and a shared gasp of surprise.The sun is lower than it was when they first left the house for their walk, filling the sky with new shades of pinky-yellow and orangy-purple that blend artistically with the darkening blue. In front of the watercolor spill of nature is a one-story school building built with rough, rocky bricks. It’s easy for them to see their bumpiness even from how far away they are, and the knowledge fills their texture-loving brains with so much excitement their hands pulse together as they share a knowing glance. A decent sized playground resides a few yards away to their left with all sorts of fun parts. It’s fairly rusty, but that doesn’t deter the girls, only proving that it’s experienced lots of healthy wear-and-tear from those who have visited it.As cool as the playground is, they sprint over to the school in what can only be described as a neurodivergent excitement, bringing their hands up to touch the funky bricks with childish fervor. They laugh while their hands carefully rub against the harshness, shivers running up their spines and down their limbs. Palms and fingertips and knuckles drag onto crushed and manipulated stone, blissful and satisfying.“Let’s go check out the inside! I wonder how it’ll look all empty and stuff!” Kokoro’s head swivels to face Hagumi, who meets her eager eyes with the same amount of energy.“Yeah! I can’t wait to see what American elementary schools are like on the inside!”They once again race to their destination, Hagumi planting a sturdy kiss onto her singer’s lips before they stare at the doors. Chipping blue supports hold the doors in place, the glass showing a small entryway that separates the school’s darkened interior from the colorful outside world. White walls line the room and lead into the school, while plain gray carpeting butts in between the gravelly outdoors and the few colored tiles they can see among the sea of speckled white.It’s a very white school, it seems.“We should stay here for a bit before going in.”Hagumi doesn’t even have to face her to know that Kokoro’s tilting her head towards her in curiosity.“Why do you say that?”“I don’t know. I just feel like we should stay here for a bit longer.”“Hmm…” The ball of sun folds an arm under her chest, resting the opposite’s elbow next to the hand across the top of her ribs to hold her chin in thought. “We should have a moment of silence! For the school’s life and for all of those who have entered!”“That’s a wonderful idea, Kokoron!”“Teehee! Not as wonderful as you, Hagu!”A few more kisses are exchanged before Kokoro shuts her music off and they begin the moment. They steady their footing before closing their eyes, lowering their heads as they clap their hands in front of themselves.The silence is peaceful and calming, which the two find equally nice and strange since it can be hard for them to fully clear their minds and relax like this.After a full minute, they open their eyes and let themselves in. They turn their phone flashlights on after passing through the entryway, clinging onto one another as they venture into the building’s eerie darkness.As they enter their first hallway, they chuckle and point at the assorted colors and symbols that dot their surroundings. Pressed into the center of the walls are pastel and/or faded stripes of the rainbow that lay underneath an assortment of happy flowers and clouds and simple yellow faces. The paint is gone in certain areas but still conveys a joyful environment when combined with the randomly scattered tiles of similar colors on the floor.It’s simultaneously just enough and in need of more life, which is understandable with the school’s state. Not that it’s bad for this to be the case, it’s just something they notice.They reach the first set of classrooms and excitedly peek in, careful to not step inside and intrude any more than they already are. Some of the doors are open, while others have broken windows or are fully locked.“Look at those desks! They’re so cute, all big and tall like that!” Kokoro giggles as she pokes her head into a room on the left side of the hall.“Aww, and the little wall decorations! It’s all so friendly!” Hagumi leans in closer to Kokoro’s body as she points to the things that dangle from the ceiling on the other side. She feels a squeeze on her shoulder as the singer hums in delight and raises her shoulders as a wave of pleasant warmth speeds through her.Moving on to the room diagonal to their current one, they run with their fingers intertwined and an extra pinch of pep in their step. The new classroom is set up pretty much the same way except for a rocking chair in the opposite corner, a big rug, and different -but equally adorable- ornaments. A few of the desks and chairs have been pushed around, but not much of the room’s necessities are out of place.The next bundle of classrooms reveal the land’s dark truth -the reason why the building is abandoned.The first one they see is an absolute mess -not that the others were perfect, but this was a lot more disarray than the one they’d just seen. Kokoro and Hagumi freeze at the sight, their smiles falling into a startled expression as their eyes process the state, bit by bit.None of the desks are upright, most of them broken and mixed with equally unusable chairs. About half of the ceiling is on the ground, insulation and dust blanketing the destruction. Hagumi spots a few backpacks in the rubble and starts to worry about what they walked into.“Kokoron?”“I’m looking it up. Was there anything outside that said the name of this school?”Once they figure out where they are and type their location into the browser, they take a sharp breath in at the sight of “massacre” being the first autofill option. Kokoro taps on it, then scrolls through a multitude of articles that share the details of what definitely counts as a massacre. Returning to the top of the page, she picks the first article that comes up and reads it out loud so Hagumi can hear.“I’m not sure if we should keep exploring if this is the site of a mass murder. I don’t want to anger any ghosts that might be here.” Hagumi presses herself into the blonde’s side, clearly shaken up by the horrible news. Kokoro pets her head while she thinks with a small pout and furrowed brows.“Well, we did pay our respects before entering, so maybe they won’t be mad if we stay.”“You’re alright with staying? Knowing why this place got shut down?”“Why not? Even if it’s full of sadness, I think this place has nice vibes. Plus, if it is full of spirits, shouldn’t that be even more of a reason to stay? We might be able to cheer them up!”Her sunny smile is out of place now that they know the past events of the school, but it doesn’t fail to make the corners of Hagumi’s mouth twitch upward.
“She has a good point. With how long the school’s been abandoned, the ghosts could use some nice company. And we’re part of ‘Hello, Happy World!’! Our goal is to make the world smile, and ghosts stuck on Earth count as part of the world! But still…”
“What if we asked the spirits what they wanted?” Kokoro’s face bounced to stare at her pondering features as she explained her thought process. “We’ll ask if we should stay out loud so if there are any ghosts here, they can tell us what they want us to do. If we feel like we should leave we’ll respect their wishes, and if they want us to stay then we can keep exploring, but be even more mindful of what we do.”“That’s an excellent idea, Hagu!” Her summery eyes widen in joy as she moves to plant a big kiss on the ginger’s squishy, angel-loved cheek. She blushes at the abrupt show of affection given the circumstances, but doesn’t think too deeply on it as Kokoro leads them to the center of the classroom grouping’s hallway.“Hello, ghosts!” Kokoro starts with her usual inviting grin and a big wave into the air.“Hi, spirits!” Hagumi follows her girlfriend’s example, albeit a little shaky in her movements. The idea of being forced out makes her nervous so she’s trying to keep her thoughts happy, but she finds it a tad difficult with how serious the past of the school is. Sensing her unease, Kokoro grabs her hand and rubs her thumb against her skin.“We’re sorry for entering your home without permission. We aren’t from around here, so we didn’t know what had happened and we hope you’re not mad at us for intruding. We’d like to keep looking around, but we don’t want to do that unless you’re all alright with that, so if you could let us know if we can stay or not we’d appreciate it.”“And we thank you for letting us stay as long as we have! Even in the building’s state, it’s been nice to see what an American elementary school looks like! This place is really cool!”Silence takes over after Hagumi’s thanks. They glance around with their phones lighting the area, patiently waiting for a reply.A short while later, they still don’t hear or see anything that answers their question. They step closer to each other, the bassist resting her head on her lover’s shoulder while they wait. It’s then they sense a difference in the air -what was previously as cold as the outside now filled with a gentle warmth, acceptance, and welcoming.With the sign being given, they grin at one another and continue to wander around.Their eyes bounce from room to room, trying not to linger around the rooms that have lots of damage. Although each class has the same basic setup, the styling choices make each space feel special and give the girls a better understanding of which grade was in each area. A few of the rooms had signs of previous students peeking from under desks and shelves, sparking memories of their own pasts to fill the air.“Kokoron! Check out the dolls on the counter over there!”“Awww, those are so cute!”“Totally! And they seem pretty well-made from what I can tell!”“Have you made dolls before, Hagu?” Kokoro’s eyes sparkle as they snap onto the bassist to hear her response.“Kinda! When I was younger, I tried making puppets for part of my summer homework. My grandma helped me learn how to sew for it but I had a hard time doing it because of all the steps and wanting things to be perfect. I was hoping to make one for each member of my family, but I ended up only completing mine and got halfway through making my brother’s before I gave up and time ran out.”“Do you still have them?”“I think so. I’m pretty sure they’re somewhere in my closet with the other small elementary school projects I was happy with.”“We should look for them next time I come over! I’d love to see how cute Puppet Hagu is!” Hagumi glances away from Kokoro with a light blush on her face and tucks some orange strands behind her ear. “Ooh, ooh! We should do a puppet show when we go back home! And we could ask some of the other bands to help with sewing and making the script!”“Kaoru would have so much fun working on the storyline! And Rimi and Rinko could help us with sewing!”“Yes, yes, yes! We should write all this down once we get back!” Kokoro pulls Hagumi into a big hug before swinging her around the hall. She giggles and cheers as her legs fly outward, keeping her arms wrapped tightly around her sunflower sweetheart. Once her feet are back on the ground, the blonde presses a passionate kiss to her forehead before they move on.They found the gym a few minutes after clearing through the bundle of classrooms they were spinning in the center of. Spacious and dotted with foam balls, the air is weighted with unfinished battles and fading smiles that don’t know where to go. Backpacks haphazardly line the stage’s steps, seeming to have been let go in a rush to play until it was time to go to homes few -if any- would return to.It crushes Hagumi to see such a blessed staple of childhood be automatically shot down by such despair and hatred. Her thoughts begin to reel her into a spiral of anxiety and melancholy when an arm slides past her neck to rest a hand on her shoulder.“You doin’ alright, Guppy?”As intuitive as ever, Kokoro’s worried expression helps Hagumi escape the darkness that tries to take over her mind.“Not really. My head’s pushing me into all the sad stuff that’s happened here and… a little further down that road to stuff I really don’t want to think about.”“Intrusive?”“Very.”“Let’s sit down.”Kokoro moves to the center of the rusty (doorless) doorway and kneels down, easing her way down into a cross-legged sitting position after placing her phone on the floor. She pats her thighs once she’s ready for Hagumi to join her and snakes her slender arms around her girlfriend as she sits in her lap.“I’m not hurting you am I?” Hagumi makes eye contact with a small turn of her head. Concerned, coppery beauty meets adoring orbs of sunlight, and she can already feel the bad thoughts melting away.“Not at all!”“Ok, good.”A small, comfortable smirk softens her face, allowing her to keep her focus on the good memories that they don’t know the details of that roam around the halls.“I wonder what they were doing with those balls.” Kokoro’s voice is light next to her ear, analyzing the gym’s state from where her head is tenderly perched on the bassist’s shoulder. Seeing as how she’s the only one holding a light now, Hagumi shines her device over the mentioned equipment.“Maybe they were playing dodgeball?”“With that many balls? There are probably more balls than backpacks!”“Well, rules might be different in America. Or maybe they changed some rules to fit the kids better. It’s not like they’d be doing professional dodgeball that young.”“You got a good point there, Guppy! Oh, what if they were doing their own special game? One that’s special to America, or maybe specific to this school! A game that just lets you throw balls to the other side until it’s time to go home!”“That sounds fun!”The blonde hums in agreement and the conversation settles into the natural silence until she thinks of something to share.“Did I ever tell you I won a game of tennis against a bunch of strangers in middle school?”“What?” The ginger’s face lit up in surprise and eagerness to hear more. “Tell me, tell me!”“Well, I was walking home from school one day when a group of people came up to me asking if I knew how to play. I didn’t, but I watched them for a bit to get a feel for it y’know, and then I beat them all! And they were all on their way to being pros, too!”“Woah, that’s so cool, Kokoron! Oh! Maybe we could play some tennis while we’re here! There’s gotta be easy places to do that here, right?”“Ooh, yes! We should ask the Suits to help with that while we work on the puppet show details!”“Yay! I can’t wait to play!”“I can’t wait either!” They giggle in each other’s hold, the warmth of their energy like a joyful flame in the school. Even as their tittering calms down and they catch their breaths, the air around them is filled with loving care.“Well then,” Hagumi gazes over to Kokoro as she poses her question, mirroring her sweet smile and full heart. “Shall we keep going? I think we’re about halfway through.”“Yep! Let’s go!”After assisting one another in standing up, they push onward towards the opposite side of the building. They continue to share stories, untold memories and times experienced together bleeding into the atmosphere as they take their steps. Their hands are locked in their lover’s grasp as they open up more of their lives and look into others, occasionally slipping out to pat a tall head or kiss a small nose.As they finish their current collection of classrooms, they hear two sets of loud screeching from around the corner. It takes them a bit to realize what the sound is, but they sprint to the end once the sound mentally clicks with words. They should be alone. There’s no normal explanation as to why they’re hearing chairs scraping against the tile floor.Their shoes aren’t the best for running on tile, but they succeed in not crashing into anything as they reach the merging point. Glancing up from the floor, they stare straight ahead to watch two chairs from opposing rooms meet in the center of the hall not that far up ahead. Facing each other to silently confirm that what they saw was real, they wait for a few seconds to read the air around them.Like before, the area is warm -in fact, it’s the exact same warmth as before. It’s nice, oddly calming, and energetic. A comforting breeze from open arms……there’s no breeze inside.Arms are open, but only to push the girls towards the seats.“I guess the spirits want us to sit, Kokoron!” Hagumi laughs with a relieved grin on her face.“That’s so sweet of them!”They race to the dingy blue chairs with grace, slowing down just as they reach the area and spinning to land in their seats perfectly. With their lungs catching up, Kokoro reaches for her honey’s hand and gives it a loving squeeze.“Let’s have another moment of silence for everyone and everything here.”“Alrighty!”Temporarily turning off their flashlights, they bow their heads and close their eyes as they sink into the quiet. They sense the effect their kindness has in seconds as they think about all the wonder and gloom that’s consumed the land. The area around them feels full -as if a group of children is surrounding them with awe and patience flowing through them. It makes the two tense up at the attention, but their nerves settle down as they remind themselves of their connection. Kokoro shifts her fingers for more comfort while Haugmi rubs the back of her hand.Their faces lift almost in unison, blinking a few times as they readjust to the low lighting. Peeking glances are shared as they return to the moment, about to stand up when an idea hits the blonde.“Wait, Hagu! We should sing to the ghosts!”Hagumi’s features brighten at the proposition before colliding with her girlfriend in a tight -almost crushing- hug.“That’s an amazing idea!” She pushes herself away from Kokoro enough to look up and around them. “Can we sing to you guys? Is that alright?”Within the stillness, faint childish excitement can be heard. Hearts flooded with giddiness, they giggle and reposition their jittery bodies to comfortably relax in their chairs.After picking their song lineup, they introduce and explain each song with practiced ease. Hagumi pulls up instrumentals while Kokoro details the song’s contents.It’s obviously different when they don’t have the other members there to aid in the performance, but they’re able to make do by sharing parts and small movements. Even if they can’t see those nearby, they can sense them as they cheer and sway and clap in appreciation for their presence. Those emotions enhance their stage and have them bringing out all the stops; they feel like they finished an official concert as they wrap up their third song.“Thank you for having us!” Kokoro’s out of her chair and waving to the ghosts like she does after every show. “Unfortunately, it’s pretty late now so Hagumi and I will have to go home soon. But it’s been great being here! Thank you so much for letting us stay as long as we have!”“Mhm! You have a really cool place here! It’s sad that it couldn't last forever. I bet you all have lots of good memories here! Thank you for allowing us to peek into your lives!”They wave for a few more seconds, bowing in respect before running off to check out the last few room gatherings.Once satisfied with their progress and back at the door they entered, they spin around and stare into the hallway’s darkness. It’s much harder to see the bits of color with how far the sun’s gone down, but the light from their phones helps give the spots they shine on a gentle and ominous glow that brings it together in a similar -or possibly better- way.As they’re moving to face the door again, a thought presents itself to Hagumi.“Kokoron!”She snaps her attention to the ginger at the sound of her name.“Yeah?”“What if we left the spirits something to remember us by?”“Oh? What do you suggest? We don’t have much on us.” Kokoro cocks her head to the side with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.“I still have the stickers from earlier!”“Great thinking! Let’s put some on the wall!”Hagumi digs her hand into her shorts pocket and hands her sunshine a folded sticker sheet. They take turns picking stickers and placing them on the dreary, white wall until they are satisfied with their handiwork. Big smiles adorn their faces as they lean into one another, grateful for everything that’s happened today.“Thank you all once again for letting us be here!” Hagumi bounces on her feet as she speaks into the hall-void.“Yes, thank you! We hope you enjoyed our singing! Don’t be afraid to drive out any meanies that try to ruin this wonderful place!”“Yeah, kick out the meanies!”With that they leave the school, laughing and giggling up a storm as they run back to their home. Dinner is consumed and time passes in the comfort of glowing orangy-yellow hearts who share a nice bubble bath before cuddling on their heavenly, spacious bed.