Case Review

“Guess I messed up didn’t I~”

“You… Idiot!”

Hanna thumped her fists on Sherry’s chest. “Didn’t I tell you to do a perfect crime! You stupid useless detective!”

Sherry smiled with that dumb grin of hers. “I mean, it’s so hard! I thought I had come up with a pretty good trick too… I didn’t expect Margo to have littered fruits like that!”

“Stupid! Idiot! Moron! Gorilla woman! No brain detective!”

The insults were accented with fists. They hurt, but it didn’t compare at all to the pain of burning alive. Sherry continued to laugh.

“Well as I expected of Ema! She’s really smart!”

Hanna looked up with tears in her eyes. “You’re just dumb! The only person who could’ve moved the guest houses around was you!”

“B-but it was a great idea wasn’t it?!”

“Clearly not!”

“Oh come on Hanna… can’t I just get a little bit of praise? You know, something like ‘Oh Sherry, you were so close! If only Margo wasn’t a litter bug and if only Ema was just a bit dumber!’”

The fists stopped. Instead, Hanna leaned against Sherry’s chest. Unsure what to do, Sherry awkwardly scratched at her own cheek.

“…you…”

“Hm?” Sherry couldn’t hear what Hanna was mumbling. “What did you say?”

“I said…” Hanna jumped up hitting Sherry in her jaw. “Thank you!”

“Ow… That hurt!”

“H-hmph!” Hanna turned away, but was unable to hide her bright red cheeks and ears. “I was simply thanking you for being decisive in killing me before I became a witch, that’s all! There, is that praise enough?!”

Instead of the response that Hanna expected to receive though, Sherry was quiet. Concerningly quiet for a noisy girl like her. She turned up to look at Sherry. There were tears in her eyes.

“S-Sherry?!”

Sherry turned away so that Hanna couldn’t see her eyes. Using her sleeves, she wiped away at the tears that were falling.

“S-sorry…” Sherry responded. “That’s the one thing I wished you didn’t praise me for…”

Who’s the real idiot now? Hanna cursed herself. Of course Sherry would feel terrible about that… It was one of the worst things she could’ve asked a friend to do. But she also knew that the only person who could, and the only person who she trusted, was Sherry to do it.

Sure she said she didn’t have any regrets. Hanna didn’t either. But even still, it must not have been easy. They were friends.

Instead of words, Hanna reached up and grabbed Sherry and forced her to look at her.

“…You may be a loud, obnoxious, dumb, too strong for her own good, and a woman with no delicacy… but…” Hanna hesitated. “Thank you. For everything. You, Ema, and Meruru were the reason why I lasted as long as I did. But you especially.”

Sherry sniffed. “Geez Hanna, it’s almost like you’re about to confess your love for me or something.”

Hanna turned away again. “Like I said, no delicacy!”

But she didn’t refuse what Sherry had said. Sherry blinked. “Hanna?”

Hanna tried to escape but Sherry didn’t let her. She grabbed onto her arms. Damn this gorilla woman, Hanna thought to herself.

“Do you-”

“Yes, idiot! I love you okay! I love how stupidly straightforward about everything! I love how you care about your friends even if you’re dumb and can’t read the room! I love your stupid smile! I love your stupid confidence!”

“…Half of that sounded more like insults to me though?”

“I- Gah! Why the hell did I have to fall in love with you of all people!”

“…Thank you Hanna.”

Sherry pulled Hanna into a hug. “…I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our promise.”

“…You better be sorry. You’re going to have to make it up to me.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Stay with me. For as long as we can.” Hanna turned to face Sherry and looked her in the eyes.

Sherry’s eyes brightened. “That’s an easy promise! All I have to do is hold you tight like this then!” She scooped Hanna up with a laugh and held her close to her chest.

“Tight…!!!!! You gorilla woman!!!!” Hanna squeaked out and Sherry loosened her grasp a little while laughing. “Gentler!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Sherry apologized. “Anything I can do to make it up to you?”

Hanna gave a little ‘hmph’. The only way she’d feel better is if Sherry was as equally embarrassed as she was.

“Ok, how about you say you love me then?”

“I love you Hanna!” Instant response.

H-how could she do that so easily? If anything, this made Hanna feel more embarrassed.

“Hmph! You could just be saying that, do you think I’m such an easy-”

But her complaints were quieted by Sherry gently kissing Hanna.

“-woman…?” She was dumbfounded.

Sherry beamed. “How’s that then!”

“…Idiot!”

“What did I do wrong this time?!” Sherry cried out as Hanna hit her again. “I thought kisses between lovers were supposed to make them feel happy!”

Of course it did! Hanna wanted to shout. But Hanna couldn’t tell Sherry that. If she did, then she would know that anytime Hanna was ‘upset’ all Sherry had to do was kiss her. And she didn’t want this stupid idiot to figure out more ways to worm out of dumb situations.

Slowly, Hanna opened her eyes. The crushing pain and weight she felt moments ago were gone. Instead, it was just clear blue skies, a light breeze, and the grass she felt on her back. Was this the afterlife? She let out a sigh of relief. Then… that means she didn’t become a witch after all.

On the other hand though, it meant she was alone again. At least, that’s what she thought. Hanna tried to get up only to find that her hand was firmly gripped by a blue-haired self proclaimed famous detective.

“S-Sherry?!”

Yawning, Sherry blinked and opened her eyes. “Hanna…? Hanna!” Sherry leapt and hugged Hanna. “I kept my promise this time!”

“This time?”

Memories of events that Hanna were unfamiliar with came flooding into her mind. A different set of trials, different people they spent time with, a picnic, her… her own death.

And even some memories of after her death.

Hanna blushed a furious red.

“You remember!” Sherry hugged Hanna even tighter.

“R-remember what?!” Hanna tried to deny it but her body wasn’t cooperating. As much as she wanted to push Sherry away, she wouldn’t. As much as she wanted to call Sherry an idiot for dying with her, she didn’t. As much as she wanted to say she didn’t love Sherry, she couldn’t.

For once, perhaps not in life but in death, Hanna could afford to be a little more honest. “…yes I remember. I remember everything.” She said. Looking into Sherry’s brilliant golden eyes, she leaned forward and kissed Sherry. “Payback for last time.”

Sherry blinked, dumbfounded. “Last time?”

“When you kissed me, remember?”

“I kissed you?”

What? Hanna grew angry. “You took my first kiss and dare to forget it?!”

“B-but I killed you remember…?”

“Yes, and I called you an idiot after you died too! Don’t you remember me saying I love you, you stupid gorilla woman!”

“You love me?”

“Yes I love you- Wait, you don’t remember what happened after we both died?”

Suddenly Hanna realized the discrepancy between their memories. Was it possible that was all a dream…? That they weren’t in the afterlife together?

But before Hanna could despair further, Sherry leapt up with joy, carrying Hanna with her. “Yay!!!”

“W-what are you all excited about?!”

“If you experienced that too that means it wasn’t a dream!” Sherry leapt to and fro, carrying Hanna all the while. “That means you really do love me!”

Embarrassed Hanna wanted nothing more than to crawl in a hole and hide. Somehow, that means she confessed her love for Sherry twice. And it was even more embarrassing the second time around!

“L-let me go!”

“Never! I promised to stay with you as long as I could remember?”

“That doesn’t mean you have to hold me like this you idiot!”

“Eh~ are you mad Hanna?”

“Yes I’m mad!”

“Well then I know exactly what to do!”

Sherry kissed Hanna.

“Wha-!” Hanna stared at Sherry.

“It really worked this time! Yay!”

Sherry continued laughing with joy. Seeing Sherry so happy, Hanna just couldn’t stay mad at her.

“Ah, whatever, I give up!” Hanna sighed. “You win!”

“What were we competing in?” Sherry asked innocently.

“Argh!” Hanna just wished she wasn’t so stupid. But if she wasn’t, then would she really be the same Sherry? Looking at Sherry’s innocent face, Hanna smiled warmly. They may not have a life together, but at least they could have death together.

“Hanna! Hanna!” Sherry pointed at the crepe cart. “Let’s get some crepes!”

The two of them were walking around town. It had been some time since they had returned from that island and slowly they were getting used to living as normal girls again, or well, as normal as one could be after what they had gone through.

“Okay, okay!” Despite Sherry losing her “magical” strength, Hanna swore Sherry’s magic didn’t do as much as everyone thought it did. She was just naturally strong this damn gorilla woman!

Sherry pulled Hanna over to the truck and the two of them had gotten crepes. It was amazing to think about how not that long ago they were kidnapped and condemned to death on a remote island. Even more so when they remembered the other worlds where they had killed their friends. Hanna grimaced.

“The first bite is mine!” Sherry leaned down and took a bite out of Hanna’s crepe.

“Wait- What the!” Hanna exclaimed in shock. “You have your own crepe, why are you eating mine!”

Sherry swallowed and replied. “Because everything you have is mine too!”

“Idiot!” Hanna thwacked Sherry on the head lightly.

“Ow~ Hanna that hurt!” Sherry pouted.

As they had promised, they got together quite frequently. Sherry and Hanna especially. It felt like every day they were together. Sherry would take Hanna around and the two of them would chat away the day doing this or that.

“May I ask a question Sherry?”

“Hrmgmh?” Sherry nodded with a mouthful of crepe, her own this time.

“Why are you spending so much time with me?”

Slowly, Sherry swallowed. “I promised remember?”

Promise? Hanna remembered that Sherry promised to not leave her behind, but surely she didn’t have to go this far right?

“I promised to be with together with you as long as we can!” Sherry beamed. “That’s also why I’m working hard at my part time job so we can rent an apartment together!”

“Wha-?!” This was the first Hanna heard of that! “When did we make such a promise!”

“Eh~, don’t tell me you forgot! Remember? You asked me to stay with you forever and then-”

Hanna couldn’t believe she had forgotten. That’s right, it was during that time in the after life that she had-

Her face flushed a bright red.

“Ah! You remember!”

“N-no I don’t!” Hanna tried to deny it.

“Nuh uh! That didn’t work last time and it won’t work this time!” Sherry smiled devilishly at Hanna. While smiling, Sherry looked at Hanna warmly. “I love you Hanna.”

“…I know.” Was the best Hanna could muster in response.

“Do you love me?”

“…” Hanna looked to the side to avoid looking Sherry directly in the eyes. She had already said it twice, what’s a third time?

“Yes I love you, you stupid gorilla woman.”

“Ehehe!” Sherry hugged Hanna from behind, dropping her crepe in the process.

“H-hey! You dropped your crepe!”

“But instead I got to hug you! That’s the best trade I could ask for!”

Hanna sighed. She hated to admit it, but she was happy. She smiled. It seemed that in both life and death, she would always be with Sherry.