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"We're here," Elly said as she, Zul, Mizuha, and Shimizu finally arrived at her family's tombstone.
"I see, so she's no longer with us," Mizuha remarked.
"So, both of you actually planned to visit her grave today?" Shimizu asked.
"Yes, today is her death anniversary, so I come here every year on this date. I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys earlier, but I really wanted to bring you here to introduce you to her. I'm sorry for not telling you the truth," Elly explained.
"Elly-chan..." Mizuha said with a sad expression.
"Onee-chan, I'm here again this year. I'm in my first year of high school now, and today, I didn't just come with Zul like usual—I brought my friends from class to meet you," Elly said, praying at the grave.
"Arisa, I'm here too. I've come again this year, just like I promised Elly since middle school..." Zul added, wanting to share with Arisa how much Elly had changed. Elly and Zul tidied the tombstone, Mizuha and Shimizu quietly assisting.
"Elly-chan, let's help you too," said Mizuha.
"Mizuha-chan, thank you," Elly replied.
Then someone walked toward them suddenly. "Ah, someone's coming," said Mizuha.
"Huh, this person... she is...?" Elly murmured.
It was Miku who slowly approached them, carrying a bunch of flowers while wearing her high school uniform. "Huh? Who are these people? I've never seen them before," Miku said, confused by the number of people visiting Arisa's grave today.
Suddenly, she noticed Zul. "Oh, it's you, Zul! Long time no see. You've grown so much and gotten taller," Miku said. She was Arisa and Zul's classmate from elementary school.
"Oh Miku! Long time no see. I see you're doing well too," Zul replied.
"I don't see Elly. She's not coming today?" Miku asked, looking for Elly.
Suddenly, Elly approached Miku. "I knew it was you, Miku-san! It's been a while. Long time no see, since elementary school," Elly greeted Miku in her usual polite tone and manner.
"It can't be... Arisa-chan? You're alive? Then whose grave is this?" Miku asked, shocked by Elly's appearance, thinking it was Arisa.
"No, no, I'm not my big sister. It's me, Elly, her younger twin sister," Elly said to Miku.
“Eh!? You’re Elly—that boyish girl who argued with me back then? I can’t believe it,” said Miku, turning to Zul. “Tell me my eyes aren’t lying!”
“You’re not wrong. It’s the same Elly,” Zul replied.
Miku stared, speechless for a moment. “Are you kidding me…?”
After Elly explained everything to Miku, Miku responded, "I see, you've changed so much, Elly. Your appearance is completely similar to how she looked in the past now. Not only that, but the way you speak now is also just like her, with such politeness. I thought I'd seen her ghost earlier."
"I think this is how she would look now, if she hadn't passed away," Miku wondered aloud.
"I'm sorry for shocking you earlier. I didn't mean to surprise you like that," Elly apologized.
"I only granted her final wish, which was for me to change into a proper girl and to avoid fights or violence, unlike how I was before. I used her as a role model to change myself because I respected her so much.
So, I ended up resembling her more and more as time went on because we came from the same essence. Even though I resemble her now, I haven't inherited her smart thinking or her genius specialties," Elly chuckled.
"Elly..." Miku said, suddenly seeing Arisa's influence within Elly as tears began to fall.
"Thanks, Elly—I mean, Elly-chan—for granting my best friend's final wish," Miku said, hugging Elly and crying. Elly laid her arm on Miku's back and accepted the hug.
"Thank you for visiting her grave today. “You remember what today is, right?” It's the anniversary of her death. I also want to apologize for the mean things I said to you earlier," Elly said as tears fell from her eyes.
"No need to apologize. You were right back then. I know you just wanted to protect her from my foolishness. You really loved your sister since back then," Miku said, chuckling. She put the flowers at the tombstone area and prayed for Arisa, trying to tell her what she was doing now.
After finishing, she returned to Elly and the others. "So, are all these people your friends, Elly-chan?" Miku asked.
"Yes, both of them are my classmates and close friends in school, Mizuha-chan and Shimizu-chan," Elly introduced them to Miku.
"Mizuha-chan, Shimizu-chan, this is Miku-san. She was my late sister's best friend," said Elly.
"Nice to meet you, Miku-san," Mizuha and Shimizu said in unison.
"Nice to meet you. Thank you for being friends with her," Miku responded. After that, they all talked about Arisa and other topics for thirty minutes before Miku was about to leave.
"You're leaving already?" Elly asked.
"Yes, I think I've learned a lot today. Elly-chan, please keep her will alive as she wished," Miku said.
"You too, Zul. Make sure you keep protecting Elly-chan as my late girlfriend's final wish to you," Miku said. Both Shimizu and Mizuha were shocked to hear that Arisa used to be Zul's girlfriend.
"Yes, we will make sure her will is kept alive," Elly and Zul said simultaneously.
"Miku-san, let's meet again next year on this date. There's more I want to discuss about my late sister," Elly suggested.
"Alright, I agree. Let's meet again next year on this date," Miku said.
After Miku said goodbye to everyone, she left the graveyard.
"I think it's better if we head back now," said Elly.
"You're right; it's getting late, and we need to catch the train," said Zul.
"Onee-chan, I'm going to leave for now. I promise to come back next time. I promise I will have more stories to share with you," Elly said to Arisa's grave.
"Me too, Arisa. I hope you rest in peace in the afterlife. I promise I will fulfill your wish and protect Elly myself," Zul added.
As they walked away from the tombstone, Elly, Zul, and Shimizu began to leave, with Mizuha trailing behind. Suddenly, she felt a breeze from the tombstone and turned to see an image of Arisa smiling and nodding at her. Mizuha was shocked to see her image; her appearance was really similar to Elly, just as Elly had told her before.
Mizuha stayed for a moment, feeling the wind on her face. When she looked back, Arisa gave a small smile toward the tombstone—then left vanished.
I understand, Arisa-san. Both Elly and Zul have fulfilled your final wish, and you can see that they are doing well, Mizuha thought with tears in her eyes.
"Mizuha, hurry up! What are you doing? We're going to leave you behind," Shimizu called.
"Wait for me, guys!" Mizuha shouted, wiping her tears and running to catch up. On the train ride home, both Shimizu and Elly were sleeping. Elly suddenly dropped her head onto Zul's shoulder beside her.
"I miss you so much, Onee-chan," Elly said in her sleep, sleep-talking with a smile.
I see, Elly really loves her late twin sister so much, Mizuha thought.
Zul gently grabbed Elly's shoulder and leaned it against his own. Mizuha noticed this and saw Zul give a silent sign while smiling at her. Mizuha smiled back and nodded.
After that, Zul also settled down, falling asleep next to Elly. They really seem like siblings instead of childhood friends sleeping like that, Mizuha thought as she watched them.
As Mizuha watched Elly and Zul, their quiet grief clarified everything. Their shared loss, Elly’s transformation—it all made sense now.
Now I know why she didn't fight back when the bullies targeted her a month ago. She actually made a promise to her big sister not to use violence or get into fights anymore, so she just let herself be bullied like that, Mizuha thought.
And that's also why Zul was so upset when Elly didn't tell him about the bullying. He wants to make sure Elly is safe and protected, especially after he promised her big sister that he would look after her, Mizuha reflected.
As the train moved, Mizuha remembered the weekend plans. She needed to stop at the supermarket for picnic supplies.
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