You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine….

"Come on, Hershel- do it for me, please?"

Now, Claire, you know that I've gotten quite a lot of jests from other people just because I have a rather….. unique name."

"But it'll be fun! Just once, please?"

Layton sighed and picked up the Hershey's chocolate bar. "Hershel bars! Hershel bars! They're delicious!" he sang.

You make me happy…

When skies are grey.

Claire flung herself into Layton's arms the second she got off the stage. "I did it, Hershel! I got the scholastic science award!'

Layton smiled and tipped his cap. "You deserve it, Claire. Now, let's go celebrate with dinner at Denim's."

Claire looked up at her boyfriend. "Hershel, aren't you excited for next week? You'll soon be appointed the position of professor! A full-fledged member of the academic community!"

"Well….. I hope I'm up to the task."

"Just remember: a true gentleman never backs down from a responsibility." Claire smiled. "To celebrate, I'll give you a present!"

"Hmm?"

"You'll see."

You never know, dear

How much I love you…

"Mr Hershel Layton, the deceased, Claire, has left you her entire collection of books in her will."

"…."

"Mr Layton?"

Layton just cried harder into his hat. "All I have left is her love! And nothing else!"

"Eh… um…. I'll…. Um, be outside while you calm down."

The lawyer ended up having to wait about 3 hours before the professor stopped crying.

Please don't take….

My sunshine…..

"Claire, wait!" Layton called, hoping to pull her back, to somehow…. To somehow make her stay.

"We had so many plans for the future. You won't forget, will you?" Claire smiled gently at him. "Our shared past…. And our lost future."

Layton gritted his teeth and stepped forward. "You can't go!" his usually calm voice rose sharply. "I don't want to say goodbye again! I can't! I won't!"

Claire hesitated, her eyes already stinging. "I know you. And I know you'll stay strong. Because that's what a gentleman does."

She started to walk away, her shoes leaving no marks on the ground at all.

"I must go now, Hershel. Thank you for everything. Goodbye."

….away…..

Layton slowly took off his hat. Snow was falling, already erasing any evidence that Claire had ever existed.

"Goodbye."