Hisao, Lilly, Hanako, and Maru walked along the path away from the Tanebata stalls.

It's a shame the festival's almost over, Hisao thought as he looked up at the stars for a moment before he looked to the blonde girl beside him. The yellow yukata she wears suits her. Simple, tasteful, but elegant and eye-catching. He gently gave her hand a squeeze, and was rewarded with a bright smile in his direction. Hanako's voice brought him back to the conversation at hand.

"S-so Akira is really still going to go back to S-Scotland?" Hanako clutched onto Maru tightly, the purple yukata she wore not drawing much attention compared to her taller friend.

"That's right," Lilly said after a moment's hesitation, a fleeting frown having crossed her face and disappeared. "She has been delaying it for the sake of her boyfriend, but in the end she still intends to go." This time the frown stayed.

Maru chuckled, his crappy pirate coat starkly contrasting the yukatas of the festival. "The things we do for love, no?"

"I am to understand it's taking her a considerable amount of time to acquire a passport," Lilly agreed before she smiled once more. "I have to admit that I am not particularly bothered by this fact."

"Heh!" Maru grinned. "All the more time together, no?"

Lilly nodded slightly. "Indeed so."

Hanako gingerly pulled herself away from Maru, to give Lilly a warm hug.

It's odd to see Hanako provide Lilly with assurances like that, Hisao thought as a smile graced his face. It reminds me how much both of them have changed since I first met them.

"...Group hug!" Maru halfway bounded over to the two of them, before encircling the two in his arms.

...Unlike some of us, of course, Hisao thought as he reached over to smack Maru upside the head.

"Buh," Maru commented before he let go of the two girls and chuckled.

Lilly shook her head with her eyes closed, and Hisao couldn't escape the impression that she had just rolled her eyes.

Hanako gave Lilly a last quick squeeze before she turned to Maru with a pout on her face.

"Ahahaha... aha..." Maru looked back at her for a few moments before he reached up to adjust the collar of his shirt.

Quietly, Hanako walked within arm's reach of him, brought her hand up, and silently bopped it on Maru's head.

Maru blinked a couple times before his face cracked into a wide grin and he warmly embraced her.

Well, now I've seen everything, Hisao thought as he blinked at the spectacle of Hanako giving Maru a tsukkomi.

Lilly opened her eyes, clearly confused about what had just happened.

"Hanako gave Maru a tsukkomi," Hisao clarified.

Lilly was silent for a long moment, before she smiled. "If I am to be frank, it has been a long time coming."

Hisao couldn't help but chuckle. "I couldn't agree more."

Lilly gently reached out for Hisao's arm and, as she found it, she wrapped her own around his with a smile.

Maru sighed contentedly before he let Hanako go and took her hand in his. "Heh, care for a dance, milady?"

Hanako looked around at the still slightly crowded area with a blush. "M-maybe later."

Maru followed her gaze before he chuckled and nodded. "Heh, sure, sounds good." He paused and blinked before he turned to Hisao and Lilly with a predatory grin.

Uh-oh, Hisao thought as he bit back a grimace.

"So, what're you two doing for summer vay-cay?" Maru's grin grew wider.

"We were thinking of going back to the summer house," Lilly replied in Hisao's stead with a smile. "Akira managed to have it placed in my name."

Maru nodded. "Ah, so you're now the proud owner of a farm house in the middle of nowhere?" He chuckled. "Kinda envious, actually."

Hisao decided to turn the tables. "And what of you two?"

Hanako and Maru looked at each other for a moment, before Hanako nodded.

"Well," Maru said, "we were thinking of taking a bit of a tour. See the world, and all that." He chuckled. "Or at least see more of the country. Maybe also do some camping out or something like that; saves on expenses, you know."

Lilly nodded slightly. "Is there anywhere in particular you're thinking of going?"

"Kyoto, at the least," Maru replied.

Hanako nodded. "M-maybe also Hokkaido."

"Heh, so please, if you're busy, put a 'Do-Not-Disturb' sign on the door," Maru said with a chuckle.

Hanako swatted him in the ribs as she rolled her eyes.

Hisao found himself fighting off a coughing fit. Did he really have to bring that up?

Lilly frowned and puffed out her cheek with a blush. "You didn't need to bring that up, you know."

"On the contrary," Maru replied with a raised eyebrow. "I may be laughing, but I'm also serious. Well, as serious as I get, anyway. Er, for the situation, that is." He blinked, groaned, and shook his head. "You know what I mean." He grimaced and looked to the side. "Seriously, we don't want a repeat."

Lilly took a breath before she shook her head with a slight frown. "We will bear that in mind, then."

Hisao shook his head as he rubbed his eyes wearily. "And on a different subject entirely, did you really have to confuse that Takoyaki stall worker so badly, Maru?"

"Hey, it's not my fault she didn't know the exchange rate for I.O.U.'s," Maru replied indignantly.

"I believe she was saying that she couldn't accept them," Hisao replied. "I'm still trying to figure out how dancing like a monkey was supposed to rectify that."

"Well, sometimes you feel like a monkey," Maru said sagely. "...And sometimes you don't."

Hisao rolled his eyes while Hanako and Lilly giggled. In truth, he hadn't really minded the spectacle, even if he almost had to dodge Maru when he ended up tripping and falling on his back. He did keep things lively, after all. He shook his head and glanced at his watch. "Well anyway, it's about time to get back, isn't it?"

"Alas," Maru agreed as he rested his head on Hanako's, who in turn leaned into him as they started to walk back toward the school grounds.

Hisao shook his head again and looked over at Lilly. "Shall we be off, then?"

Lilly gave a gentle nod and a smile as beautiful and warm as ever. "Indeed we shall, Hisao."

As they set off towards the school, that wonderful smile engraved itself into Hisao's memory. That wonderful smile that they both shared. Our pasts may be scattered and at times overshadowed by sadness, but they're also an irrevocable part of our lives and personalities. Even if I could change a single thing, I wouldn't, because my past was what led me here. That's why, even with all that's happened to us before, and all that may well befall us... together, we'll keep walking forwards. Forwards... towards the future. Our future.

And there we have it, the end to "…It Costs An Arm And A Leg!" :O A little canon, a little original "humor," just a smidge of feels, and too short for some people's taste; I guess it's sort of a microcosm of the whole story. XD Anyway, I'd just like to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and/or favorited this story; I didn't think it'd be nearly as popular as it was, but thank you all for enjoying it! :D (And sorry for this being a day late; though it's not my fault the site was acting up and not letting me post. :( )

I would like to send shout-outs, especially to my most consistent reviewers (holy crap, I can say that's a thing), in no particular order; Remvis, and thank you so much for the cover art; Twilit Rebirth, and thank you for noticing those small details; Zap797, that you thought I did so well as to be akin to canon is heartening; Mr. Vault 101, you were the first person to review my story, thank you so much for that (though why does your story have to be so much better than miiiiine?!); Soviet Bot, your reviews are always welcome even if they may be "late"; Blake Tourdner, your reviews always make me laugh; AngelOfTheMad, you do your best to live up to your name and it shows; Praegressus, even though you seem to have disappeared; TrueFoxSpear, also absent; Zeron-sama, ditto; and everyone else I've missed and should have really included here, feel free to smack me upside the head. XP