Once again, spoilers lurk beyond this point, especially in the story-specific sections. You've been warned.
On 'Differences'
- I started off this story trying to keep the same narrative tone as the
game, but inevitably my own style started showing through. I don't have
music or CG to build mood with, so I had to use words. I pretty much abandoned
the approach in subsequent stories.
- Although Kana's hair appears brown in the game CG, the game text describes
it as black, so that's the path I've also taken.
- In Japan, manga (comic book) chapters are initially published serially,
in magazines, and later collected into small books like the ones Kana is
stacking the shelves with.
- Kana's apartment has tatami (woven mats) on the floor, rather than carpet.
Kana and Taka sit on the floor in the traditional Japanese manner.
- When Kana talks about her past boyfriends, she refers to them with the
affix '–kun', which implies a closer relationship than the more formal
'–san'.
- Kana talks about 'confessing', which basically means admitting you have
feelings for someone.
- Suggested CD tracks:
'How Do You Feel?' for the scene downstairs.
'Thank You' for the discussion about relationships.
And 'We're Become One' for the final hug.
I wrote this story as a response to 'The First Farewell', the so-called 'best ending' to the game. (What makes it the 'best' ending, anyway? Because it made me ache the most?) It tore me up inside that Kana could live, and that the game writers would then have her leave Taka behind.
I'm not saying that the best ending was wrong. It was a wonderful bittersweet conclusion. But I wanted a happy ending. Or a happier ending. (It's hardly surprising that my first title for this story was 'Kana: Wish Fulfilment'.)
I'm painfully aware of the line in 'The First Farewell' where Taka says Kana wants a relationship that doesn't have to be kept a secret. I've tried my best to work with it.
When I wrote this story, I actually hadn't worked through that problem yet – much like Kana herself, I just knew what felt right, without being able to justify it to myself. However, after this I wrote 'Eyes of the Heart', which explores things from Kana's point of view. And I think I found a solution. Well, one that satisfies me for now, anyway.
For this story, though, there's still a leap of faith required. I wanted to believe this. Other people may not find it convincing that Kana would turn around and want a relationship with Taka. On the surface, things haven't changed. They're still siblings, to the world at large.
But this story was written to satisfy my needs more than anyone else's. I just wanted Taka and Kana to be happy needing each other. Accepting it. That's the leap I had to take. Whether or not I cleared the chasm is for each individual reader to decide.