Chapter XLVII: The Reconciliation A cold wind passes them as they encounter each other. "Why are you here?" (Kota)"Look, I would have also asked the same question" (Akiko) Kota turns his back from her. Tears then begin to roll off Akiko's rosy cheeks."I'm sorry for what I'd said back then. It was really unfortunate for me to do that in front of you. Look, I admit it's my fault. I couldn't really forgive myself hurting the one who knows how to care for me, the one who knows how to be down to earth and will always stay with me, the one who really feels what I feel to the very end, the one who really gives effort, and the one who really loves me 'til the very end" (Akiko) Kota takes one step from her but she rushes to him and hugs him from behind."Please, don't do this anymore! People who loves you are sickly worried about you. We are worried about you, especially me! So please, comeback to us!", she says. Tears then also begin to drip from his face."I felt no one would even love me and of all the problems that I'm still facing, I had no choice but to escape from them physically and not spiritual. Life is too precious for me to take it and it is not in my hands that I have full control of its fate or even destiny", he says to her. She hugs him even more."I'm really sorry for doing this. I'm really sorry if I made you go this far. If I would sacrifice for anything, that would be you. I will find you 'til the corners of the earth, day and night, I will never going to give up on you. For the past moments that my life sparkled a bright light because you were there. I didn't realize the importance of your feelings and taking them into consideration for the whole time. From our friends, I see the flowering connection. You are not lame, you are not boring, you are not a no man. No man is an island. Your own personality is what makes you! And that is what I love about you.This isn't the Kota that I know. The Kota that I know is strong, very confident, smart, gentle, and humble. The one who really knows how to knock ones socks off. Look, I could never thank you enough for your care towards me although very obvious, you were there. You're someone special to me! So snap out of it!", says Akiko to him. After saying this, she kisses him on the lips while the Sakura blossoms fall to the ground. Kota then hugs him back."So we're cool now right?" (Akiko)"You made me realize how important I am to people, especially you. Look, the tension we fought over is now over and our bond starts all over again. I'm really sorry for running away. Now, I feel much better, thank you" (Kota)"It's ok. Btw, aside from me, there are also others waiting back there who really wants to speak to you" (Akiko) While walking back to the station,"Oh yeah, which reminds me, how did you get here? And how did you even know where I am?""Well you see-", she begins to tell the whole story. Once she arrived at her destination, Akiko gets off the train. As she emerges from the station, she sees the dramatic skyline of Tokyo."Looks like this is the said location", she says. She then flashbacks to what Gin said."Apparently, Kota told me that he's going to Tokyo. The specific location is 'A wise man will climb it once, only a fool climbs it twice'""I know it was Mount Fuji because a mountain represents challenges and I know you're suffering from a mountain of problems. Therefore I went there", she tells Kota why she knew the specific location. The couple then hops on the train. From afar, a strange hooded guy draws closer to them every time the train goes into a tunnel. As soon as the stranger is just 2 feet away from him, he dashes towards Kota with a knife but using the Water-breathing technique from My Sister is a Demon, he kicks the stranger to the back of the train, dropping his phone in front of them. The hood slips off and reveals his face."Wait a minute, I recognize him", says Akiko. She then adds,"He's my former narcissist classmate, Homura Aizawa!""Hey, what's this?", asks Kota as he picks up Homura's phone."*Gasp* He's IceBurgh?! What the f-? He's behind it all along? So that's why there's always a feeling like I'm being watched. That prick!" (Akiko)"Oh boy, you could say that again. That's why don't ever trust strangers online" (Kota)"Hey, since he did this, what if we...you know? Hehehe" (Akiko)"Oh, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" (Kota)"Hell yeah!" (Akiko) Both of them goes in front of Homura as he's back into being conscious. Kota cracks his knuckles while Akiko gives a small clap. They then get off the train. After a minute or two, Homura emerges from the train, revealing bruises all over his body. As they are getting out of the station, both are greeted by Gin, Enmei, Tengen, Hanako, Himari, Natsuki, Asahi, and Masashi. The squad then bows to them as a sign of respect and apology. Asahi steps forward and says,"Kota, I know I have done bad things to you like at the literature club, making you out of place, and making you emotionally damaged by my insults and mockeries. I admit that I have been a bad friend because I forgot the unseen value of our friendship and to be honest, I'm the one who really turned it around. I hope you can forgive me" In behalf of the group and the class, Enmei steps in front of them and says,"Kota, you have been a light to our squad. Even though we all aren't mitochondria in a cell, all of us has a part that makes us very unique from each other. We all have importance in a system. In this system, the squad and our whole bond is nothing without you. This squad is boring if not for your ideas, and contribution. Please, come back to us" Kota also steps forward and says,"I accept what is true which is the truth that I have heard. It's like what they say, 'We cannot escape from the truth'. The truth of our own reality may always be hard to accept but we need time and patience to accept it. Though a bad truth is something really harsh, but there will always be a time that light will shine upon us. For the whole time, I thought most of you were giving me dead air in my darkest hours, but the truth is, it's the opposite. Thank you all for never giving me up and still giving me light on my problems" The squad thanks him for saying his heart-warming remark."So, it's already dark. How about we all go home and hangout tomorrow?" (Kota)"Ok, it's going to be all on me guys" (Asahi) They all go home. When Kota got home, he apologizes to his parents and promises that he'll never do it again. The next day, Kota goes out to hang out with the squad. While walking in the park, he bumps into Akiko and joins him."How's your day?" (Akiko)"Well same old, same old, but glad it's better than before" (Kota)"Is it because you saw me?" (Akiko)"For starters, it's a fresh start to all of us, especially me" (Kota)"Don't you go run off again, ok?" (Akiko)"Of course, I won't" (Kota)"Or you can run off to me, besides now that I'm on your side again, I'm always here for you" (Akiko)"Aww, you're too kind" (Kota)"Btw, have you seen the latest episode of Avenge of the Titan?" (Akiko)"Oh yeah, the poor commander though, that was very brutal" (Kota)"Well, he got burned anyway, literally and insultingly by the short captain haha" (Akiko)"That's what I miss about you, your humor" (Kota)"Aww, the same goes for you" (Akiko) She then kisses him on the cheeks. Kota again looks flustered with this."That doesn't really get old, does it?" Akiko then smiles at him after saying this. As they enter the mall, the squad sees them. The two goes to them and enter a fast food restaurant. Before eating,"Ok guys, a toast that we'll never left anyone behind, and for our undying friendship and unity, cheers", says Enmei as they raise their glasses and toast. After a whole day of fun, they all go home except for Akiko and Kota. The two of them goes again to the dike, under the Sakura."Well, here we are again", says Akiko while viewing a nice sunset on the river."A new beginning for a newer version of ourselves. It's like in the song, we need to leave the past behind, all our bad memories, and mistakes behind" (Kota)"We all have mistakes that we learn from it. Problems, we can face them as long as there are supports" (Akiko) Both of them hugs one another while viewing the mellow sunset."You know, this reminds me of the A Lie in August. How orange it is, the memories that are golden will always stand tall" They then continue to view the orange skyline and then a Sakura petal falls to the ground and on both of them. A new beginning, and the ship begins to set sail again for a genuine journey.