Key:
() = hand-written text (not printed)
** = action/description
[] = clarification
{} = editorial comments

Color picture: Rika-chan and Terada-sensei.

pg. 5

Sakura at last recovers herself enough to speak.

Sakura: Shaoran-kun......

He looks down gravely.

pg. 6

Shaoran: The reason I came to Japan was to find the scattered Clow Cards.

Sakura: But even after they were all captured, you still stayed here...!

Shaoran: Because strange things were still happening even afterwards. But that's over now, too, and the Clow Cards have all been changed into Sakura Cards.

He smiles a little.

Shaoran: By your power.

pg. 7

Sakura: *desperately* It wasn't my power alone! Tomoyo-chan and Kero-chan and Yue-san all helped me! And even more than that, you were with me...!!

He looks down again, sobered.

pg. 8

Then he manages another smile.

Shaoran: It makes me really happy that you think that.

Sakura's eyes are hidden as she bows her head, clutching her hands to her chest.

Sakura: No matter what....... you're really going?

pg. 9

Shaoran: ........ Yeah.

He lifts his head with a gleam of purpose in his eyes.

Shaoran: There are things that I have to do, as well. In Hong Kong.

Sakura is trembling.

Sakura: ...When are you going?

pg. 10

Shaoran: ........ Tomorrow.

pg. 11

Sakura: TOMORROW!?

Shaoran: If I hadn't seen you, I would have come to your house later today. I leave here tomorrow afternoon.

Sakura: *in shock* It can't be... that soon...

He reaches out.

pg. 12

Resting his hand on her shoulder, he looks in her eyes and smiles.

Shaoran: I'm glad that I came to Japan.

pg. 13

Shaoran: It meant... that... I got to meet you. [fn1]

pg. 14

Mover Guy: Excuse me! I need a confirmation of the destination address for these things, if you would!

Shaoran: *turning* Oh, of course.

He dashes over, leaving Sakura gazing after him. When he looks back after consulting with the mover, she has disappeared.

pg. 15

He stares at the empty street where she had been standing.

Shaoran: Sakura...

pg. 16

Sakura is walking, her head down, heedless of where she is going.

Sakura [thinking]: Shaoran-kun's going back to Hong Kong. He's going far away. Far away......

She stops in her tracks.

Sakura [thinking]: I won't be able to see him anymore?

pg. 17

Her hands are still clutched helplessly to her chest.

Sakura [thinking]: My heart hurts... it hurts so much......

She remembers Eriol's words to her from before he left.

Eriol [memory]: Please remember this. When you learn that a person close to you is going far away, please think about how your feelings then differ from how you feel about saying goodbye to me now.

pg. 18

Sakura [thinking]: When I found out Eriol-kun was going back to England, I thought it was really too bad. I hoped I'd get to see him again, and I wanted to write him letters, and things like that. But with Shaoran-kun...

Shaoran [memory]: I'm going back. To Hong Kong.

The first teardrops roll down her cheeks, and she lets them fall.

pg. 19

Sakura [thinking]: I can't handle it... I can't.

pg. 20

Someone calls to her from behind.

Voice: Sakura-chan!?

She turns to see Rika, who is wearing an expression of deep concern.

Sakura: Rika-chan...

Rika: Are you all right? Are you hurt?

Sakura: N...no! Nothing like that!

pg. 21

Rika holds out her handkerchief gently.

Rika: But you're crying.

Sakura takes it, and the tears fall again.

Sakura: ...Thank you.

Rika reaches to console her as she wipes her eyes.

pg. 22

Sakura: I'm sorry to be crying like this.

Rika: Not at all.

Sakura: *trying to put on a smile* I'm all right now.

Rika: But you still look like you're hurting.

Sakura: Eh?

pg. 23

Rika: Would you rather be alone?

Sakura: No, not at all! I'm really glad you found me.

She looks at Rika's dress.

Sakura: (Fancy clothes and a handbag-- going out?) Rika-chan, are you on your way out somewhere?

Rika: *smiling* Yeah. But I still have time.

Sakura: Is it... are you going out on a date?

Rika flushes.

pg. 24

Sakura [thinking]: Even though Rika-chan's always so grown-up and calm, for her to be turning so red..... she must really like the person she's seeing.

Sakura: Um, Rika-chan.

Rika: Y...yes?

Sakura: You're going out with a person who's older than you, aren't you? Do you not get to see each other very much?

Rika: Eh...?

Sakura: Don't you feel sad, not being able to see each other? Do you cry sometimes?

pg. 25

Rika's blush fades and she reaches for Sakura.

Rika: You can't be with the person you like? Is that why you were crying?

Sakura closes her eyes.

Sakura: Soon I won't... be able to see him anymore......

Rika: I see...

pg. 26

Rika: With me, it's not that I can't see him, but that we don't get to talk much, or spend time together.

Sakura: But why.....?

Rika: *with a sad smile* His work, for one thing...

Sakura: The person you're seeing has to work?

Rika: Yeah. And there are other things.

pg. 27

Sakura: Other things?

Rika only smiles.

Sakura: Don't you get lonely?

Rika: Sometimes I do. But I still like him.

pg. 28

Rika: I can't stop liking him just because I can't see him.

pg. 29

Rika: Does it seem like you'll stop liking him because you can't see him? That person.

Sakura blinks, then shakes her head, tears welling up again.

Rika: In that case, it'll be all right.

pg. 30

Sakura: *eyes clearer* ...Thank you. (Oh!) Rika-chan, you were waiting for somebody! I'm sorry I kept you! (Will it be okay?)

Rika: Yes, it'll be fine.

Sakura turns to leave.

Sakura: Thank you so much! (I'll see you at school.)

Rika: *waving* See you later.

pg. 31

Sakura takes off down the street toward her house, running. A second later, Terada-sensei emerges from behind a convenient tree.

Rika: I'm sorry I kept you waiting.

Terada-sensei: No, it's okay. I hope Kinomoto will be all right. (That's the first time I've seen her cry.)

Rika: She'll be all right. She's Sakura-chan.

pg. 32

Reaching home, Sakura bursts into her room, almost scaring Kero to death.

Kero: WAAAAA!

He flutters over to her as she gets out a box.

Kero: You sure came back in a hurry! Hey, what're you getting out the sewing kit for? (Did you tear your clothes?)

Sakura: No, I'm going to make something.

Kero: *blankly* Make what?

She is silent as she pulls out a bolt of fabric and holds it to her.

Sakura [thinking]: I understand now-- what I feel for Shaoran-kun. That's why I have to make it. By tomorrow.

To be continued. {Next chapter is the end, kids!}

[Footnote 1: Sorry, couldn't think of a good way to put this in English, but it deserves an explanation. Shaoran usually calls Sakura "omae," which is a highly casual (and under some circumstances, rude) word for "you" used mainly by guys. Here, for the first time, he switches in the middle of his sentence to using "Sakura" instead of a pronoun, which is quite a bit more respectful. It's really sweet. ^^]

Back to CCS.