Disclaimer: I do not own The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. No, not even a copy.

Stitches

x: one

Graphite

Makoto rolled across the bedspread, head lolling off the edge. He was leaning over his homework; maybe it would best not to interrupt, she thought. No, she set her mouth in a grimace, she wanted to tell someone—especially him.

"Kousuke."

"Yeah?" he replied, brow furrowing at the equations scribbled in graphite.

"I made him disappear."

Kousuke looked up, eyeing her with confusion. "What?" he responded slowly. "Who?"

She couldn't look him in the eye anymore, so she stared up at his stucco ceiling. "Chiaki," she said.

There was a long quiet. She could feel him staring at her.

"Why?" It came out sounding unhurried. But she knew he wanted to know.

"I played with the time we had." She closed her eyes guiltily. "Sorry, Kousuke. Chiaki was our best friend."

Kousuke gazed down at her critically. Finally, he murmured, "Chiaki was my best friend, Makoto." When she didn't open her eyes, he turned away, back to his work. He knew she wouldn't talk about this again.

"Yeah," Makoto agreed in a whisper. A small crystal beaded from her eye and fell with gravity.

A/N: I actually wrote these many months ago, last year. But when I first felt like posting them, I couldn't find the category for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, so I just left a scrap in my journal, and the rest in my computer. Lately, though I should be really focusing on my studies, I've started up reading again, and I really missed writing. So, when I came across this little series in my computer, I thought, "Why not post it?"

I didn't put a fin or a tbc at the end for a reason. It will be up to you to decide whether they are separate drabbles or a connected story. Also, before I forget, please give me a shout-out if you do happen to read this. I'm eager to meet some other fans of this movie, since the fanbase is so scarce. Lastly, I hope you have a pleasant day. And thanks for putting up with the absurdly long author's note.