Aww thank you!
Kiyoko’s been waiting for this her entire life, and after.
The moment she steps into the soft world of heaven, or whatever it is, and sees Kasuka’s face.
“Hey.” She waves nervously.
Kasuka is waiting by the gate, in the exact same pose she used to adopt when she waited for Kiyoko outside her apartment, so that they could walk to CCG together. “Been a while.”
“It has.” Kiyoko sighs. “A lot changed.”
“I know.” Kasuka smiles at Kiyoko’s restored legs, because there are no missing limbs in heaven. “I’m proud of you.”
Kiyoko smiles. Tears sting her eyes. She heard once that there were no tears in heaven, but she’s glad to know that’s not the truth; there’s tears of happiness and overwhelming emotion and even guilt here, tears of catharsis, and it’s perfect.
“Don’t you have something to tell me?” Kasuka tilts her head. “Kureo knows, too. It’s okay, up here.”
Kiyoko’s mouth dries. “You – saw -”
“We know, Kiyoko. Here, nothing is perfected, but our understanding is.” Kasuka reaches out her hand.
“I loved you all my life.” Kiyoko’s eyes widen. “I still do.”
Kasuka throws herself into her friend’s arms. “Kiyoko, it’s okay. It’s okay.”
They both cry, for what might have been on earth, for Kasuka’s early departure, for Kasuka, who doesn’t regret falling for Kureo at all, for Kiyoko, who lived alone for the rest of her life.
But it’s okay. It’s really okay. Because they have heaven now.
