Spirited Away: The Awkward Rom-Com After Chihiro and Haku's Reunion
A year has passed since Chihiro returned from the mysterious bathhouse, Aburaya. Now a high school student, she's bored out of her mind. The promise she made with Haku, the dragon boy, is a constant weight on her heart.
One day, a transfer student arrives. "Nice to meet you, Chihiro Ogino. I am Nigihayami Kohaku," he says with a dead serious face. He's definitely Haku, but he's acting all human and weird about it! And since he's super handsome, the whole school goes into a frenzy!
But for some
Spirited Away: The Awkward Rom-Com After Chihiro and Haku's Reunion - I'll never be apart from Haku again.
Chihiro held Haku's hand the entire time.
At the bottom of the nameless valley. The pale blue light still pulsed steadily at Haku's chest, where the crystallized memories of the Kohaku River were being absorbed into him. The pre-dawn air was cold, and her breath came out in white clouds.
Her fingertips were freezing.
But the palm of his hand, clasped in hers — that alone was strangely warm.
"[whispers] Haku..."
No answer.
Haku's eyes remained closed. His complexion was pale, his lips bloodless. And yet, only his steady breathing told her he was still alive.
(*Please, open your eyes.*)
Chihiro held onto Haku's hand as if in prayer.
She was terrified.
After all — after all that, they had finally reconnected. She had obtained the crystal, the river's memories had returned to Haku's body, and she had thought this would finally end everything.
But Haku still hadn't come back.
(*I haven't even said anything yet.*)
(*There are so many things I want to tell you.*)
She squeezed his hand tightly.
Chihiro bit her lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.
(*I won't cry. I absolutely won't cry.*)
(*Because it's not over yet.*)
It was around the time the sky began to lighten.
Footsteps echoed from the direction of the tunnel.
"[calling] Chii-chan! Haku!"
It was Rin's voice. Her loud shout reverberated off the valley walls, echoing as if from impossibly far away.
"[gentle] — Oh my. We've finally caught up."
The other voice was much calmer. Soft, yet strangely lingering in the ear.
When Chihiro looked up, two figures were emerging from the tunnel's exit.
Leading the charge, running with her flashy orange ponytail swaying, was Rin. Her skin was hidden since she was disguised as a human, but the choker at her neck glinted in the morning sun. Walking behind her, at a pace that looked almost like a leisurely stroll, was a young woman with long silver hair in a braid — Zeniba.
Her violet eyes behind her glasses caught sight of Chihiro and Haku, narrowing slightly.
"[surprised] Haku! Haku, are you okay!?"
Rin rushed over, out of breath. Her face paled instantly when she saw Haku collapsed on the ground.
"[scared] Hey, don't tell me he's dead —"
"[firm] He's not dead! He's breathing!"
Chihiro shook her head frantically.
"[firm] He absolutely won't die. I won't allow it."
For a moment, Rin looked dumbfounded. Then —
"[laughing] ...Pfft haha! What's that supposed to mean!"
She suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"[laughing] 'I won't allow it' — Chii-chan, you're something else —!"
Clutching her stomach with laughter, Rin reached out and ruffled Chihiro's hair. She rubbed vigorously, almost roughly.
"[laughing] Seriously, you're so damn stubborn! Saying you won't forgive Haku if he dies — you sound like a guardian of the underworld!"
"[embarrassed] H-hey, Rin-chan, stop it! You're messing up my hair —"
"[laughing] Shut up! Anyone who works that hard is destined to get their head rubbed! You did great, Chii-chan. You're amazing."
Rin's hand became gentle.
The rough rubbing turned into soft pats.
"[gentle] ...You really did great."
A sharp sting shot through Chihiro's nose.
(*Stop it, Rin-chan.*)
(*If you say things like that — I'm gonna cry.*)
But before the tears could fall.
"[calm] Rin, quiet down a little."
Zeniba spoke quietly.
She was already kneeling beside Haku. Still in her young woman's form, her long silver hair nearly touched the ground. Her slender white fingers gently touched Haku's chest.
The crystal of the Kohaku River glowed faintly, faintly.
It was almost gone. It was being absorbed into Haku's body.
"[gentle] ...The river's memories are dissolving into him."
Zeniba murmured.
"[gentle] His power as the master of the Kohaku River is returning. All that's left — is whether he himself accepts it. That's all."
"[anxious] What do you mean, 'that's all'...?"
Still holding Haku's hand, Chihiro looked up at Zeniba.
Zeniba narrowed her violet eyes behind her glasses and smiled slightly.
"[gentle] Haku has always believed he wasn't worthy of being the river's master. He kept blaming himself, thinking the river was filled in because of him — and because of that, he rejected his own power. But now, it's different. Thanks to a certain someone."
Zeniba's gaze turned toward Chihiro.
"[gentle] You called his true name. You never let go of his hand. That's why — Haku no longer rejects himself. He's become able to accept his own power."
Chihiro couldn't say anything.
She just felt like Haku's fingers had moved, ever so slightly.
"[surprised] — Haku?"
Chihiro held her breath.
Haku's eyelids slowly lifted.
Deep emerald-green eyes.
The first thing reflected in them — was Chihiro's face.
"[whispers] ...Chihiro."
His voice was hoarse.
But it was, unmistakably — her name.
"[crying] Haku...!"
Tears spilled uncontrollably from Chihiro's eyes.
She had held them back for so long. But the moment she saw Haku's face, it was over.
"[crying] Thank goodness... thank goodness..."
Still gripping Haku's hand, Chihiro cried out loud. She didn't care if she looked pathetic anymore. Her face was a mess of tears and snot, completely ruined.
"[crying] If you... if you hadn't woken up — I didn't know what I was going to do...!"
"[gentle] ...Don't cry, Chihiro."
Haku's hand squeezed hers back.
Just a little, with strength.
"[gentle] I'm right here."
"[crying] Yeah... yeah...!"
Chihiro nodded over and over.
The tears wouldn't stop.
Beside them —
"[angry] — Now hold on just a damn minute!"
Suddenly, Rin's furious shout rang out.
She stomped over next to Chihiro and, with all her might, flicked the collapsed Haku right on the forehead.
*Thwack!*
"[angry] You're too late, you idiot! Do you have any idea how worried we were!? Running off on your own! Trying to disappear on your own! Do you know how much Chii-chan cried because of you —"
"[cold] ...You're too loud, Rin."
Haku pressed his forehead and spoke in a cold voice. But his eyes — seemed to be laughing, just a little.
"[angry] What'd you say!? You bastard, I was holding back 'cause you were passed out —!"
"[laughing] Hehehe. You two get along so well, as always."
Zeniba chuckled.
Chihiro, her face still a tear-streaked mess — couldn't help but burst out laughing too.
"[laughing] ...Hehe. Rin-chan and Haku really are like brother and sister, aren't you?"
"[angry] Hah!? I'd hate to have a little brother like this!"
"[cold] I'd also rather not."
They both said it at the same time, then turned away from each other simultaneously.
Laughing, Chihiro squeezed Haku's hand tightly.
(*Ah, thank goodness.*)
(*This is — this is how it usually feels.*)
---
By the time the sky had fully brightened.
A cold wind blew through the valley.
— No. Not wind.
A presence.
"[cold] — In accordance with the law of boundary-crossing, I have come."
A hoarse voice echoed through the valley.
Chihiro looked up with a start.
When had she appeared? The old woman in the white kimono — Ubaba — stood at the tunnel's exit. However, she wasn't the three-meter giant from last night. She was in the form of an ordinary, stooped old woman. Her wrinkled face, her glaring yellow eyes — those alone were the same as last night.
"[angry] Ubaba —!"
Rin braced herself.
But Ubaba did not move.
She simply announced, in a flat, emotionless voice.
"[cold] Last night, at Zeniba-dono's proposal, a forty-eight-hour suspension was granted. That deadline will soon arrive."
"[cold] — Complete the proof of your bond."
Still holding Haku's hand, Chihiro stood up.
Her knees were trembling. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't scared.
But — she wouldn't run anymore.
"[firm] ...Understood."
Chihiro looked straight into Ubaba's yellow eyes.
"[firm] The proof of the bond — I'll do it."
"[gentle] No, Chii-chan. I'll teach you how."
Zeniba spoke quietly.
She stood before Chihiro and Haku.
"[gentle] Both of you, keep holding hands — just like that, face each other. And then, call each other by your true names."
"[surprised] ...Huh, is that all?"
Chihiro's eyes went wide.
"[laughing] That's all. That's what the proof of a bond is. Don't overthink it."
Zeniba laughed softly.
Chihiro looked at Haku. Haku was gazing at her, too.
His emerald-green eyes were no longer cold.
Quiet, deep — but undeniably warm.
"[gentle] ...Chihiro."
Haku spoke first.
"[gentle] Ogino Chihiro."
Slowly, as if confirming it, he said her name.
A warmth spread deep within Chihiro's chest.
(*Ah — this is it.*)
(*What I've wanted to hear all along.*)
(*Was to have my name called like this.*)
Holding back her tears, Chihiro opened her mouth.
"[crying] Nigihayami Kohaku."
"[crying] That's your true name. Not 'master of the river,' not 'Haku' — none of that. You are Nigihayami Kohaku."
— In that instant.
The purple hair tie in Chihiro's hair shone brightly.
Violet light and yellow light intertwined and sparkled. The hairpin Zeniba had entrusted to Chihiro — the one that tethered her bond to the spirit world — now pulsed as if it had a will of its own.
At Ubaba's hand, the scroll opened by itself.
The articles of the law written on the ancient washi paper emitted a faint glow. The characters rewrote themselves, one by one.
A long silence.
Ubaba narrowed her yellow eyes and stared intently at the scroll.
Finally —
"[serious] — The proof of the bond has been confirmed."
Ubaba declared solemnly.
"[serious] The application of the boundary-crossing law is formally suspended. The deadline is — for the time being, indefinite. However, this is merely a suspension. The law has not vanished."
Having said that, Ubaba's figure vanished, as if flickering out of existence.
All that remained was the quiet valley, bathed in morning sunlight.
"[surprised] ...Huh, it's over, just like that?"
Rin's voice was dumbfounded.
"[surprised] Isn't an enforcer of the law supposed to be more, like, flashy!? Fighting with magic, showing off the power of the law!? When I crossed the boundary, they harassed me way more persistently!"
"[laughing] A bond is a simple thing. Calling each other by name — that alone can change the rules of the world. It's just that very few people can do it in the truest sense."
Zeniba laughed, pushing up her glasses.
"[angry] Wait a minute! Then why was it such a pain when I crossed the boundary!? Was just calling names not good enough for me!?"
"[laughing] In your case, the contract was a little more complicated. Yubaba tampered with various things."
"[angry] That damn old hag —!!"
Rin shouted.
Chihiro laughed — but somewhere in her heart, she realized.
(*Rin-chan didn't get anyone to listen to her.*)
(*No one worried about her own boundary-crossing.*)
Chihiro didn't miss the fleeting shadow of loneliness that passed behind Rin's smile, just for an instant.
But, for now —
Haku stood up.
"[serious] Chihiro, step back — a little."
"[surprised] Huh? Why —"
"[serious] Please."
Haku's eyes were serious.
Chihiro did as she was told and took a few steps back from him.
Rin quickly ducked behind Zeniba and grabbed her shoulders.
"[scared] D-don't tell me, this guy —"
"[gentle] Hehe. Watch. It's been a while since we've seen the river master's true form."
Haku's body was enveloped in white light.
Light, like faint particles, overflowed from his entire being. It was the same color as the crystal of the Kohaku River that had been shining in his chest moments ago.
The light swelled.
His human form dissolved.
What appeared in its place was —
White scales.
A long body.
Deep emerald-green eyes.
— A white dragon.
About five meters in total length. Much smaller than when she had seen him in the spirit world, but still, his presence was overwhelming. Bathed in the morning sun, his white scales shimmered in rainbow colors.
Chihiro's legs froze.
It wasn't that she was scared.
She was overwhelmed, unable to move.
What stood before he
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