Why does this scene hit so hard?!
"The gift?"
Tanaka paused for a moment, then glanced at the page number.
"Idiot! We haven't reached that part yet!"
"I know! I'm just saying, don't forget! Open the website first—get ready!"
"Right."
Saying that, Tanaka reached for his phone.
"Wait, why aren't you using your own phone?"
"What's the difference? Stop wasting time—hey, you bastard!"
"Tch."
Muttering complaints, Tanaka quickly pulled up the webpage they had checked at noon.
He set his phone aside and turned the page.
.............................................
"W-What do you mean, hide-and-seek?!"
Annoyed, they grumbled, then the group bolted out from the Super Peace Busters' hideout to search for Menma, who had declared the game.
"Not yet... Not yet..."
Menma's hands slowly became transparent.
"I still need to properly say goodbye to everyone."
She whispered to herself as her friends' voices echoed in her ears.
"Just a little longer..."
Holding back tears, she clasped her hands together and scribbled in her diary.
"Just a little more… almost done..."
Night faded.
The sky gradually brightened.
The group, unable to find Menma, gathered near the large tree where the sunset rose.
"Wait... what's that?"
Just when they thought she had passed on and sorrow filled their hearts, they noticed five neatly folded notes beneath the tree—ripped from Menma's diary.
They wanted to keep reading... but—
......................................
"We're at the sensei's page!"
Out of trust and respect for their teacher, they hadn't forgotten the "gift."
"You open it, I'll turn the page!"
"Got it."
Tanaka flipped to the next page.
At the same time, Shihara pressed the confirmation button on the screen.
................................
Tsuruko unfolded one of the notes—
"I really like Tsuruko, who is always kind."
A clear, pure voice filled their ears through the phone's speakers.
"With you in the late summer, dreams of the future—"
[君と夏の終わり 将来の夢]
"I really like Yukiatsu, who never gives up."
"Big hopes—I never forgot—Ten years later, in August—"
[大きな希望 忘れない 10年後の8月]
"I really like Poppo, who is fun and full of energy."
"I believe we'll meet again—cherishing these beautiful memories..."
[また出会えるのを 信じて]
"I really like Anaru, who is always reliable."
"Cherishing these beautiful memories..."
[最高の思い出を…]
.........................................
Tears dripped onto the notes in the manga panel.
Outside the panel, the three them' eyes blurred with unshed tears.
The intro ended.
The sorrowful yet nostalgic summer melody began to play.
And then—
.......................................
Jintan's letter appeared as they turned the page.
"I really like Jintan."
"The kind of like where I want to marry you and be your bride."
"Our meeting was just a small moment—at the crossroad on the way home."
[出会いは ふっとした 瞬間 帰り道の交差点で]
Reading the manga, the three of them couldn't hold back anymore.
Tears streamed down their faces.
Menma's face seemed to appear before them.
In the manga, a teardrop slid down Jintan's cheek.
They made it in time.
Menma, weak, leaned against the tree, looking at her childhood friends.
"This time, I properly said goodbye to everyone."
"Come find me and say, 'Let's go home together.'"
[声をかけてくれたね 「一緒に帰ろう」]
Almost…
"I hid my blushing face behind my school bag."
[僕は 照れくさそうに カバンで顔を隠しながら]
Jintan, sobbing: "What is this?! What the hell is this, Menma?!"
"Wasn't this hide-and-seek?"
"If we don't find you… it won't end, right?!"
"But deep down, I was really, really happy."
[本当は とても とても 嬉しかったよ]
"Ready or not—"
"Ah—bright fireworks bloom in the night sky—illuminating the fragments of sadness."
[あぁ 花火が夜空 きれいに咲いて ちょっとセツナク]
"Ah—the wind and time—flow away together."
[あぁ 風が時間とともに 流れる]
"We had so much fun—so much happiness—we shared so many adventures together."
[嬉しくって 楽しくって 冒険も いろいろしたね]
"In our secret base, just the two of us."
[二人の 秘密の 基地の中]
The song paused for a moment.
In the panel, Menma used all her strength and called out—
"I'm ready—!"
The next second, the song's climax burst in their ears.
"With you in the late summer—dreams of the future—big hopes—I never forgot!"
[君と夏の終わり 将来の夢 大きな希望 忘れない]
"Ten years later, in August—I believe we'll meet again!"
[10年後の8月 また出会えるのを 信じて]
The panel lingered on the friends' stunned expressions.
At that moment, the distance between life and death felt smaller.
They had all heard her voice.
The scene froze on Menma.
The sun rose over the mountain, casting its light.
And in that light—
Menma stood, leaning weakly against the tree, tears in her eyes.
She realized her friends could see her.
For a brief moment, she was shocked.
Using her last bit of strength, she stood with the tree's support.
Even in such a sorrowful moment—she smiled.
Softly, she spoke:
"Isn't there something else you should be saying now?"
"Menma, you really suck at hide-and-seek."
"Jintan, say it."
"Then… it'll really be over, right?"
Sunlight passed through Menma's body.
They all knew—this was goodbye.
So—
Poppo: "I read your letter!"
"I really like you too, Menma!!"
Tsuruko: "I really like you too!!"
Anaru: "I really like you!!"
Yukiatsu: "Of course, I really like you!!"
Close-ups of their tearful faces.
And then—
Poppo: "Goodbyes aren't one-sided, are they?"
"Right, Jintan?"
Jintan, his eyes full of tears, smiled in relief.
"Thank you for granting my wish."
"I really like you, Menma."
"The kind of like where I want you to marry me!"
"The kind where I want you to be my bride!!"
At his heartfelt confession, Menma's eyes overflowed with tears.
Memories of their childhood flooded her mind.
Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold back the words—
"Menma... still wants to be with everyone!!"
"Still wants to play together!!"
"So... I'll be reborn."
"That way, I can be with you all again."
"So Jintan cried, and everyone said goodbye."
"So..."
Was it a lie or the truth?
Nobody knew.
But—
"One, two—Menma! Found you—!"
As their voices rang out—
Blinding sunlight shone down,
And Menma, tears on her cheeks, smiled in relief.
"You found Menma..."
The song reached its final verse.
And with that, the story came to an end.
.....................................
"Oh god, Menma!!"
The three of them hugged each other, crying uncontrollably.
Other diners in the family restaurant turned to stare in confusion.
A concerned waitress approached hesitantly.
"U-Um... sirs? Are you okay...?"