Matsukawa, funeral home employee, tells the dead all about being in love with his best friend who moved away. It’s nice because the dead don’t talk back.

One Tuesday, Matsukawa is listing all the things that drive him crazy about Hanamakki when a

voice calls out, “Maybe you should just ask him out.”

Matsukawa knows he’s the only one working today. Logically, he knows the dead don’t talk.

The voice continues, “Have you ever thought maybe he felt the same way?”

Matsukawa walks over to the coffin, opening the lid.

No one alive is in there.

A hand reaches out to grab his ankle and Matsukawa screams.

Hanamaki rolls out from underneath the table the coffin is resting on, hands over his ears, “What the hell, Issei? I think I’ve gone deaf.”

Matsukawa’s brain isn’t computing the scene.

Hanamaki is here. Someone talked. Hanamaki is the only one who could have talked. Hanamaki heard his confession. Hanamaki heard his confession. Hanamaki heard his-

A look of horror must cross his face because Hanamaki grins, “Yeah, I heard you waxing poetic about me.”

“Lies. All lies. None of it true,” Matsukawa blurts out, backing away as Hanamaki strides closer.

A finger reaches up to run down his cheek, Hanamaki stepping up so they are chest to chest, “All lies? What a pity. I was hoping to get a date with you but if it’s all lies-“

“Yes, date. Yes, please.”

Hanamaki chuckles in his ear, “I’ll pick you up after work okay? We’ll get dinner then I’m kissing you goodnight. Prepare yourself, Issei!”

Matsukawa watches him walk away before he turns back to man in the coffin and says, “Well that was a surprise.”