We Still Don’t Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day

Once upon a time, in a quaint town nestled among the hills of Saitama, six childhood friends formed an unbreakable bond under the warm summer sun. They called themselves the “Super Peace Busters,” a name that echoed through their laughter as they played in the secret base they built together in the mountains. Their days were filled with adventures, dreams, and an unspoken promise of eternal friendship.

However, fate had a cruel twist in store. One fateful day, the group was shattered when Honma Meiko, lovingly known as Menma, tragically drowned in an accident. The joy of their youth turned to sorrow, and as grief settled like a heavy fog, the Super Peace Busters drifted apart. Each member carried their own burdens, haunted by memories of that fateful day and the guilt of unspoken words.

Years later, one of the friends, Yadomi Jinta, known to everyone as Jintan, found himself living a secluded life, burdened by the weight of the past. He had failed his high school entrance exams and withdrew from the world, hiding behind a facade of knit caps and oversized glasses. Yet, on a seemingly ordinary summer day, the impossible happened—Menma appeared before him.

Jintan was bewildered. How could this be? Menma, the girl who had been lost to the depths of the river, stood before him, asking for a wish to be granted. But the catch? She couldn’t remember what that wish was. Confusion and disbelief swirled within Jintan, who initially dismissed her presence as a figment of his imagination. Yet, the warmth of Menma’s spirit and her infectious smile rekindled something deep within him—a flicker of hope.

Determined to help her find peace, Jintan reached out to the remaining members of the Super Peace Busters. They were now strangers to each other, each grappling with their own grief. Anjou Naruko, called Anaru, was uncertain, caught between nostalgia and disbelief. Hisakawa Tetsudo, or Poppo, was a free spirit, always ready to believe in the impossible. Matsuyuki Atsumu, known as Yukiatsu, and Tsurumi Chiriko, or Tsuruko, carried their own scars, battling their emotions in silence.

As Jintan gathered his old friends, memories flooded back—laughter, playful teasing, and the warmth of shared secrets. But the specter of Menma’s death hung heavily over them, a reminder of their broken connections. Jintan proposed to help fulfill Menma’s wish, but convincing his friends of her existence proved challenging. Yukiatsu, with his sharp tongue, made it clear that he could not accept the idea of Menma returning, and the distance between them seemed insurmountable.

With every attempt to connect, Jintan felt the weight of his past pressing down on him. A chance encounter with Anaru rekindled old feelings, and as she delivered summer homework to him, memories of their childhood flooded back. He longed for the days when they were carefree, before tragedy had torn them apart. Yet, every mention of Menma brought a mix of joy and sorrow, igniting the wounds they had all tried to bury.

Days turned into nights, and Jintan, alongside Poppo and Anaru, began to piece together Menma’s forgotten wish. They brainstormed ideas, hoping to conjure the essence of their childhood together. Perhaps it was a game they could win or a secret they could share. However, each time they thought they were close, Menma remained elusive, a ghost woven into the fabric of their memories.

The summer days faded into fall, and the anticipation of the fireworks they planned to create loomed over them. They hoped to honor Menma’s spirit with a spectacular display, something to symbolize their friendship and her unfulfilled desires. As they rallied together, emotions bubbled to the surface, and the shared pain of their past finally began to surface.

In a pivotal moment, they gathered at the secret base, where their laughter had once echoed freely. Together, they faced the specters of their past, each sharing their regrets and hopes. Yukiatsu finally broke down, confessing his guilt over Menma’s death, revealing a weight he had carried alone for far too long. The revelation ignited a flame of reconciliation, and as they embraced their shared grief, the bonds of the Super Peace Busters began to weave back together.

With a newfound determination, they resolved to make Menma’s wish come true. As they constructed the fireworks, they shared memories, laughter, and tears, each moment reinforcing their connection. When the day of the fireworks finally arrived, anticipation hung thick in the air, and Jintan felt a mix of anxiety and hope. 

As the first firework lit up the night sky, Jintan felt a rush of emotion—joy intertwined with sadness. In that moment, he realized that Menma’s wish was not just a singular request; it was a reminder of their shared past and the importance of cherishing the connections they had once taken for granted. The memories of their childhood flooded back, and he found himself wishing for one last chance to apologize for the hurtful words he had said so long ago.

And just as the final firework burst into the sky, illuminating the night, Menma’s spirit appeared, smiling through the tears streaming down her face. “I found you,” she whispered, her voice echoing in their hearts. In that moment, the memories of their childhood, filled with laughter and warmth, enveloped them all.

As the last firework faded into the night, Jintan understood. They had not only fulfilled Menma’s wish; they had revived their friendship, rekindling the flame of connection that had been extinguished with her passing. In the quiet moments that followed, they embraced their past, vowing to carry Menma’s memory with them always.

With that promise etched in their hearts, the Super Peace Busters reunited, stronger than ever, forever marked by the name of the flower they still didn’t know. But as they moved forward, they carried the essence of Menma within them—a reminder of love, friendship, and the unbreakable bonds that tethered them to one another, even in the face of loss. And so, under the starlit sky, they whispered her name, knowing she would always be a part of their story, no matter where life took them next.