Dang, this fic is probably the only fic that has EVER made me cry.

The writing is fucking beautiful, and this is the only fanfiction i've ever felt genuine emotion for. Also I love the line about the 'poor innocent stone' Neku kicked like a 'professional football player'. That made my day XD

I made a post about it on Tumblr, and linked it. I hope you don't mind.

I hated that. You're supposed to give a happy ending with nobody being dead except for a couple "angels." And angels not being Josh or Mr. H.

I'm still holding out for a happy ending. Joshua staying dead is NOT a happy ending.

I just read the warning for character death. I'm outta here

This better have a happy ending

I love characters that you can easily hate and love.

I had to fight veryvery hard not to cry in public, and everything hurts.

This was super sad.

The epilogue was great!

That was soooooo good!

Oh, heck. I first read this fic back in... was it 2012? Quite a while back, either way. I don't remember many things I read back then but this stuck with me, enough that I decided to find it and read it again today, and I'll be damned if my heart isn't as broken as it was the first time around. This is maybe not the best fic I've ever read, but it's one of the most IMPORTANT fics I've ever read. To me, that is. This is the fic that showed me that fanfiction is just as valid an art form as original literature. This is probably the fic that got me inspired to start trying to write fanfiction myself - something I still do to this day, although I only post on AO3 by now. This fic, like the game and songs that inspired it, will always hold a special and important place in my heart.

Looking back on it now, is it as mindblowing as I thought it was when I was 13? No. Between overuse of alternative character descriptions (it really can kill the mood when someone is referred to as "the [brand] lover" in the middle of an emotional scene and pseudo-homophobic remarks (which were common in fanfiction during the time period this was written, I'm very well aware) it's not the perfect masterpiece I saw it as back then. But, unlike almost all fics I've remembered reading and loving at that age and then gone back to re-read more recently, it's still a pretty damn good fic. It's still well written and thought out, with believable dialogue and emotions, with descriptions detailed enough to pull the reader into the world yet simple enough not to get sidetracked. Is part of the reason I'm on the verge of tears while writing this review nostalgia factor? Yes. But just as large a part - if not larger - simply comes from my enjoyment of this fic. It meant something to me back then, and it means something to me now - and it would have, even if I hadn't read it all those years ago too.

I know this account has been inactive for 5 years, so I know that you, the author, will most likely never even see this review. In case you do, though? Thank you. Thank you for bringing this work of art into the world.

*starts bawling* oh good word that was so sad! Was that the spirit of Josh we heard though I wonder? Hmm... Still kudos for making me need tissues... Excellent piece of work right there.

I can't BELIEVE I haven't reviewed this story. I read it back then and I loved it! And I still love it now! I'm still shedding tears whenever I read the epilogue. Day 7 was sad but the epilogue has that certain feel in it. That feeling of sadness and longing of those people who are left behind but at the same time trying to go on normally with their lives. I really felt those emotions especially when Neku was waiting for a reply from Joshua but there's only silence.

But what moved me the most was:
Back in front of the café, on the sidewalk, the two empty gift boxes sat quietly under the snowy night. The memories of two important figures and friends remained still despite the relentless ticking of the clock.

While the rest of the world moved on.

—Last Chapter

"Merry Christmas to you too, Neku dear. Hee hee."

I like that Neku will never forget his memories with Mr. H and Joshua. A friendship that special should never be forgotten. And Joshua somehow greeting neku (that probably neku didn't hear *cries*) means that Joshua still remembers him wherever he is.

I really can't express it in words just that I really love this story and everyone is in character till the end. It's really sad but still a great story.

THIS STORY IS BEAUTIFUL. I cried so much. Good work. One of the best fanfictions I've read.

OMG WHY DID YOU MAKE ME CRY SO MUCH!? D;
It was so beautiful...