Chapter 22: Beautiful

BEAUTIFUL

CHAPTER 22 OF THE MANGA

Previously
One day when Hazumu is told by the Alien Being that she has only about a month more to live, Hazumu does what she always has done when she is distressed or discouraged; she goes alone to Mt. Kashima, and spends time wandering on the mountain trying to sort out things in her mind, and to thinks things through. Of course, because Hazumu never tells anyone when she goes to Mt. Kashima, everyone is worried about her, and wonders what has happened to her. The friends always search for her, but most of the time never think to go look on Mt. Kashima. Hazumu eventually returns, after seeing a field of Cosmos Flowers, and finding hope and solace in the flowers blooming so prettily. When Hazumu returns, she acts if nothing has happened, least of all knowing that she will soon die. How will the friends take such news ? Indeed, how will Hazumu take such news in the day ahead ?

Chapter Overview
After learning that she has only about a month to live, Hazumu has retuned to having social contact with her friends. But a unseen barrier is set up; Hazumu does not give any hint that she knows of her impending demise, and the friends are unwilling or unable to breach the subject with her. Thus, an elaberate masquerade begins between Hazumu and everyone else. Hazumu goes through her daily school routines, but the paradox and irony are almost unbearable. For instance, Hazumu invites another girl to the rooftop garden, and begins instructing her on how to take daily care of the plants and flowers, since Hazumu may "retire" from such duties ! Asuta goes overboard in trying to help Hazumu, making it so clear that he knows something and is greatly bothered by it. Each one of the friends tries to handle the dilemma in their own special way. Yasuna takes a premonition when seeing a special bird fly by the school window. Hazumu comes by the window where the friends are, but acts all smily and happy. She then excuses herself to go to the girl's restroom. However, she ends up in a stairwell corner, alone and worried, and with her hands covering her face, in order to hide from herself.

This Chapter's Story
The next school day, as always, the friends come to Hazumu's home so that they can all walk to school together. By now, the friends know that Hazumu (supposedly) has only one more month to live. Yet, the friends seem to have decided to hide the fact that they know this from Hazumu herself. So begins a vast masquerade of not letting on to Hazumu that anything is different about her. On the doorstep, when Hazumu greets the friends, she immediately apologizes for going 'missing in action' earlier. She claims that she just wanted to see the beautiful autumn colors on the mountain. Tomori mildly scolds her by saying not to go off by herself without telling anyone. Hazumu relates that she saw the most beautiful and adorable field of Cosmos Flowers ! Hazumu wants everyone to come with her next time to see all the wonderful sights that she experienced. We can all take a lunch. It will taste so good out in the open. Then let's all pick grapes ! Hazumu says that there are so many things that she wants to see and do, since fall is so short a season. This tremendous irony of Hazumu not having enought time to do things is not lost on the friends, but they say nothing.

Later, at school in the morning, Hazumu sees Yasuna leaving the girl's room, and invites Yasuna to share lunch with her on the rooftop garden. Somehow, word gets around, and several of the friends join Hazumu and Yasuna for lunch in the garden. Once there, Hazumu passes around her own homemade cookies. This is the first time that she has tried to do any serious cooking ! The friends pretend to really enjoy them, but their knowing Hazumu's personal secret dulls the joy of the occasion. During lunch, a cute girl with blue eyes and blond twin tails comes to meet with the group. Hazumu tells her that she, Hazumu, will teach her how to take care of the rooptop garden. This in case if Hazumu were to "retire" from caring for the garden. When Tomari hears this, she drops her bento box on the ground. Is Tomari okay ? As she bends down to clean up the mess, she mumbles that she is fine.

That afternoon, during the time that Hazumu is assigned to daily take care of the garden, Asuta, out of the blue, meets with Hazumu to help her with her duties. He helps move bags of fertilizer, and pick dead leaves. While helping out, Hazumu innocently asks him why is he doing all of this ? Aren't you acting kinda weird ? Asuta turns her concern back upon herself, saying if Hazumu has any problems, or wants to talk about anything, to tell him or call right away. No matter the time of day or night. Why, asks Hazumu ? Asuta almost 'spills the beans'! He says that because you probably know that in one month.......Just then, Ayuki appears out of nowhere and soundly whacks him on the back of his head. Asuta is down for the count and out cold. Ayuki innocently whistles as if nothing happened, as Tomari looks on.

While out cold, Asita begins dreaming about Hazumu, and how she will become his ardent girlfriend. He dreams of her wearing a cute, sheer chiffon, baby doll nightgown, and coming to him laying in his bed. Hazumu offers him a kiss......Asuta comes to, with Hazumu kneeling down with his head in her lap. Hazumu tells him that he unexpectedly fainted. Asita, seeing Hazumu directly face to face, scoots away in a flash. Tomari tells Hazumu to pay no attention to that idiot !

Later, Yasuna is looking outside at the sky from an open window, and watching a lovely bird fly by. With her are Ayuki and Asuta. Yasuna, with heartfelt emotion, comments that she feels that everyone and everything now is merely a dream. That would be so nice, however, the dream is all gone now, and this currently is hard reality. Yasuna, in a romantic Yuri mood, says that she wishes that she could be with Hazumu forever ! Just then, Hazumu walks by coming down the hallway, and reminds Yasuna that the two of them were going to do something later. Hazumu also invites Tomari to join them, but she declines, saying that she has club activities to attend. Hazumu tells Yasuna that she has to go to the girl's room, and will be right back. At the door of the restroom, Hazumu pauses, and turning back to the friends, flashes a warm, genuine smile. Everyone returns the smile, but the friends are deeply troubled, once again showered with the whole irony of the situation.

With a distressed heart, Yasuna comments to the others, how can Hazumu smile so sweet and bright ? Could it be that she has privately accepted her fate ? Has she already prepared herself to accept whatever may come ? Ayuki says that if that is so, that breaks her heart ! After leaving the girl's room, Hazumu finds herself at the stair's landing between the floors. There, she hids herself by facing the corner of the landing and standing still. She places her hands over her face, to further hide herself. In that position, she silently thinks to herself that whenever she is with her friends, she could burst into tears at any moment. However, the sky is clear today, and she is still with her friends, and that little bit makes her very happy.



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