“It sounds like there are a lot of people here”
“Yeah, it looks like most of my class is here.”
“Even...” I trail off as I search the room for one particular voice that’s usually not hard to single out
“Yeah, Shizune’s here. Misha being quiet is weirding me out too”
 
Despite everything, Hisao’s remark manages to get a smile out of me.  The room is suddenly getting quieter. More and more people must be noticing my presence.  Our arms linked, Hisao leads me forward.
 
“We’re here”
I reach out and find a horizontal surface just above waist height. I run my hand along its contours until I find the edge.
“I want to see her”
Without a word Hisao takes my hand and places it gently on her cheek. My hand recoils slightly before returning to her face. It’s just as soft as it’s always been. But nothing will change the fact that it feels cold and lifeless. My index finger brushes over her lip. My thumb passes over the edge of the scarring on her right cheek. It had taken Hisao to even convince her to let me touch this side of her face. I remove my hand and wipe away the tear that just ran down my own cheek
“Hey, it’s ok. This isn’t the kind of place where you have to hide it”
I sniffle ever so slightly
 
“Tell me Hisao, how does she look?”
He thinks for a few seconds
“Remember her 18th birthday party? That’s how she looks now”
I turn my head to face his voice. A silent cue for more information which he picks up on straight away.
“Content” I jump a little at the sudden presence of his lips on my cheek. He puts his arm around my shoulder and leans his head against mine.
 
“She looks content”