After paying the fare, Mitsuha stepped out of the car and carefully smoothed down her clothes — though they were already perfectly neat.
'I'm finally about to see you, Kyousuke.'
She made her way from the parking lot to the sidewalk, then crossed the zebra crossing.
As she walked through the middle of the road, Mitsuha was struck by just how tall Kyousuke really was.
On such a wide crosswalk, he could easily cover a lane and a half in a single stride.
Lifting her gaze, she spotted the familiar yet somehow distant apartment building.
Her heart pounded faster and louder so much so that she could hear it clearly even over the hum of the street.
'Come on, Mitsuha, get a grip! At this rate, you'll meet Kyousuke looking like you're about to faint, he'll probably drag you straight to the hospital for a checkup!'
She pressed a hand firmly against her chest, furrowing her brows slightly in frustration.
Compared to yesterday, the trees along the greenery strip in front of the building looked fresher and more vibrant probably thanks to the rain.
Thinking this, Mitsuha turned her eyes toward the bike shed.
'Huh? Where's Rocket 33?'
She blinked in confusion, halting her steps toward the building and heading for the shed instead.
She had definitely seen the motorbike there yesterday — that big black-cat-looking motorcycle was hard to miss.
Double-checking a few more times and still not finding it, she tilted her head, frowning.
'Did Kyousuke already head out? But the signing event isn't for hours…'
Her excitement dampened a little, leaving her slightly disheartened.
The motorcycle was her main way of confirming if Kyousuke was home.
If it was there, he might be out but if it was gone, he was definitely not home.
After all, there was no way he'd ever lend it to someone else.
'Still... maybe I should check upstairs anyway.'
It felt a bit like a runner realizing right after the starting gun that their shoelaces had come undone — that flash of disappointment made Mitsuha want to turn around and go home.
She wavered in place for a moment but her longing quickly overpowered her discouragement.
'Come on, I can't give up here!'
Cheering herself on in her heart, she raised her head again, staring up at the gray apartment building, and walked determinedly toward it.
Room 701.
Inhale… exhale…
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to steady her nerves.
"Hello, good morning, Kyousuke~~"
No, no, what are you thinking? You're not Sakura, and your English is terrible — don't even try!
"Um, I'm here, Kyousuke."
Ugh, that's no good either — sounds way too formal for a long-awaited reunion.
"Good morning, Kyousuke. Want to have breakfast together?"
Perfect! That's the one!
Mitsuha tightened her grip on the shopping bag she was carrying.
Inside were the same kind of bread rolls she always bought whenever she swapped bodies a habit she never wrote down in any of her notes.
She had secretly hoped for a day when she could share them with Kyousuke.
Just simple Russian bread made from wheat flour but for some reason, she had always thought it tasted incredibly good, a hidden treasure tucked away in her heart.
Last time, she had even tried baking it herself as a "thank you" gift when Kyousuke bought his apartment, copying the recipe a kind shop assistant had taught her.
Sadly, that helpful woman wasn't in the store today.
Taking another deep breath, Mitsuha raised her hand and rang the doorbell — then quickly looked down, double-checking her outfit again.
A smile already crept onto her face, ready to beam at him and lift up the bag as soon as the door opened.
She knew Kyousuke's obsessive nature, he hated the sound of the doorbell and would definitely rush to answer it right away... if he was home.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
He's really not here?
The hope in her heart shattered.
Lowering the bag, Mitsuha jumped up and reached toward the doorframe, feeling around the top.
Huh!?
The key's gone too!?
It was a secret she'd discovered once while cleaning — that childish Kyousuke sometimes hid his key above the doorframe.
But she wasn't planning to sneak inside.
She just needed some kind of confirmation proof that this place, the home tied so closely to her heart, really existed.
What's going on?
Pulling out her phone, she tried logging into the account where she had Sakura and the others as friends maybe she could ask if Naoto's signing event had already started.
But the screen simply displayed: Account does not exist.
...Great.
There was only one thing left to do: head to Meirin Bookstore — the venue for today's signing.
Counting out 200 yen for the subway ticket, she glanced sadly at her now ultra-slim wallet.
'Kyousuke, please, let me find you soon. Otherwise, I won't even have enough money to get home…'
Thankfully, the morning rush had already passed.
The subway, which usually felt like a boxing ring during peak hours, was calm and quiet.
Only a few students were chatting, two of them wearing Higashi High's black uniforms.
'Weird. I thought Kyousuke was still on vacation. Why are students already back in school? Maybe just some grades started early?'
Puzzled, Mitsuha tilted her head, but quickly turned away before the students noticed her staring.
Meirin Bookstore was in Jimbocho, Chiyoda — on the same street as Maruzen Bookstore, though on opposite ends.
Maybe it was because major publishers like Shogakukan and Iwanami Shoten were clustered around here or maybe it was the other way around.
At the entrance of the bookstore stood a bare ginkgo tree still leafless in April.
Compared to Tokyo's many cherry blossom-filled spots, this place felt a little bleak.
Bleak — and empty.
It was almost time for the signing event, yet not a single person was lined up at the entrance.
There's no way Love Metronome's popularity is this low, Mitsuha thought in disbelief.
This was Kasumi Utako's first-ever signing event — it wouldn't have been surprising if the entire sidewalk was packed.
The strange sight sent her mind spinning.
'Did I get on the wrong train? Did I end up in some alternate Tokyo?'
She stepped inside.
It was just as quiet — only a few scattered customers browsing books.
School hours meant fewer people, sure, but...
The most important thing was — she didn't even need to ask to know: this place had no plans for a signing event.
'Was I wrong about the location?'
No way — it was such a simple name, and she remembered it as clearly as if she'd seen it just moments ago.
'Oh! Maybe Kyousuke went to Enten for breakfast!'
Grasping at this last hope like a drowning girl reaching for a lifeline, Mitsuha jumped onto another train, this time heading for the shopping street in front of Kasuga Station.
Her poor wallet shrank even further.
"KIRAKUDO."
The black sign she had glimpsed through the rain yesterday now belonged to a smoothie shop.
'Maybe... I got the spot wrong?'
She retraced her steps to the beginning of the shopping street, checking each storefront carefully one by one.
Nothing. No trace of Enten.
Frustration welled up from deep within her chest, making it burn.
Her head buzzed with confusion, unable to focus.
She had been running around nonstop since early morning, and the sandwich she'd grabbed outside Tokyo Station had long since worn off.
Exhausted both mentally and physically, Mitsuha finally stepped into the smoothie shop.
After ordering a cold cola and checking with the staff that it was okay to eat her own food, she sat down, sipping her drink and nibbling at the bread she brought — trying desperately to sort through her spinning thoughts.
Kyousuke wasn't home when he should have been.
The signing event wasn't happening when it should have.
The familiar restaurant wasn't where it should be.
Everything was wrong.
Even if it was her fault for dropping by without an appointment, was it really supposed to be this hard just to meet him?!
Besides, Kyousuke wasn't even the type of person who needed strict appointments like some overly formal Tokyoite.
Was it the gods themselves preventing them from meeting?
Frustrated, Mitsuha tried to explain it in a way she knew best: through the lens of Shinto knowledge.
Letting out a heavy sigh, she slumped over the table, the hand holding her bread falling limply by her side.
She had no appetite at all.
In her glass, the brown cola kept bubbling up, the ice clinking softly together — sometimes floating, sometimes sinking.
The cheerful shouts of shop staff grew louder as lunchtime hit, and students from nearby schools flooded into the shopping street.
College girls, braving the chilly April weather in their trendy skirts; middle schoolers and high schoolers in stylish private school uniforms.
Everyone was chatting — about the new English teacher at school, about which shops were having sales.
Mitsuha felt like she had been transported back to her first time walking the streets of Tokyo except now, she no longer felt embarrassed about her plain old school uniform.
'…I should just go back.' She sighed quietly, a wry, helpless smile tugging at her lips.
Maybe they really were only meant to meet through a notebook.
She picked up her glass and downed the rest of her cola in one gulp.
The fizzy sting exploded on her tongue.
She burped without restraint and crunched down on the ice cubes with determination.
'No! I can't give up like this!'
There were still so many places she hadn't searched.
And if worst came to worst, she could just wait by his front door until he came home!
———————————————————————
The sun gave a lazy yawn, as if shedding its heat after a long day.
Though the sky was blushing happily at the thought of being off work, it was already losing its warmth.
Mitsuha sat alone on a station bench, the golden sunset wrapping her in a soft glow that offered no warmth.
The bench's brown paint had chipped away over time the missing patch oddly shaped like Honshu island just like how her day of searching through Tokyo had yielded absolutely nothing.
Her feet were sore and blistered, the sharp pain stabbing at her with every movement.
Trying to distract herself, she turned to glance at the poster behind her:
"FUN! TOKYO!"
'Liar! Tokyo wasn't fun at all!'
'The people here treated sidewalks and subways like a boxing ring!'
Fuming inside, Mitsuha grumbled to herself.
She had gone to the old Kyu-Furukawa Gardens in Kita Ward, but after wandering around for half a day, she couldn't find any excuse to get inside.
She regretted that it hadn't been turned into a proper tourist site.
She'd even visited Sakura's school, but she didn't even know which class Sakura was in.
Finally, she went all the way to Higashi and nervously asked a boy who looked vaguely familiar if he knew Kyousuke
Only to be met with a blank stare and a confused "Who's that?"
What was happening to the world?!
How could someone at Higashi not know Kyousuke?!
In disbelief, she asked several more people — but no one knew.
The world must have gone crazy!
After one last unsuccessful trip back to the apartment, Mitsuha finally accepted defeat.
It wasn't that she hadn't tried — it was the gods playing tricks again!
She slumped into the chair, the soft cushion doing nothing to comfort her tired heart.
Next time they switched, she would just head straight back to Itomori.
Though the sun hadn't fully set yet, a faint comet's trail was already visible in the sky.
'I wish I could watch the comet with Kyousuke…'
Mumbling under her breath, Mitsuha heard the sound of an incoming train.
The train screeched into the station with its usual annoying brakes, kicking up a wind that made the ladies nearby complain.
Mitsuha didn't care that her hair was being blown all over the place.
She just sat there, waiting for the train to come to a full stop.
'It doesn't matter anyway. I'll be back in Itomori soon. Kyousuke won't even see me.'
But then — as the train slowed and its passengers became clearer —
Mitsuha's eyes widened.
Was it the sunset lighting them up, or was it the sudden rush of hope that made her brown eyes sparkle?
There — there he was!
Mitsuha's mouth fell open.
It was him! Kyousuke!
A wave of indescribable emotion swept over her.
Her eyes instantly brimmed with tears.
Finally, finally — she was seeing him with her own eyes.
Not through a mirror, not through photos — in real life, right in front of her!
For a moment, she forgot how to move, her eyes just following the train instinctively.
'I have to get to him!'
Mitsuha shot to her feet, about to dash toward the train car he was in but pain shot through her blistered toes.
'Agh, come on, you useless feet! I promise I'll let you rest when we get home — just move for now!'
Ignoring the pain, her excitement practically lifting her off the ground, Mitsuha smiled brightly and hurried forward.
Luckily, the platform wasn't crowded at this time, and she quickly squeezed through.
At the very last second before the doors closed, she managed to jump onto the train.
There weren't many people getting off here, so the train was still packed.
Mitsuha squeezed her way forward, muttering tiny apologies as she pushed toward him.
It was strange — the car was full of people, yet in her eyes, there was only Kyousuke.
Everyone else looked like soap bubbles — fragile and dreamlike, easily ignored.
'Have I fallen asleep at the station? Am I dreaming from sheer exhaustion?'
After searching for him all day, it almost felt too good to be real.
Finally — she stood right in front of him.
Strange.
Why was Kyousuke still wearing his school uniform today?
And... why did he seem a little shorter than she remembered?
'Am I the one who grew taller?' She shook her head to clear the thought.
Now wasn't the time to worry about trivial things.
But was Kyousuke seriously not recognizing her?
Her pride kept her from immediately calling out, but she couldn't hold it in any longer.
She needed to tell him — tell him how much she had gone through just to see him today!
Just as she opened her mouth — she saw it.
Kyousuke was staring right at her.
'Ugh, he's still so annoying!' The kind of guy who could have a staring contest with a dog for five minutes without blinking.
(That was a little trivia Shouko had once shared.)
But why wasn't he saying anything?
Had he really not recognized her?
Right — she had only just gotten her memories back today.
Maybe in his mind, her face was still a blur.
Still, she couldn't help feeling a little upset.
She had looked for him all day and he was standing here like he didn't even know her!
Mitsuha pouted slightly.
"Um—"
"Kyousuke!" They spoke at the same time.
But why was Kyousuke looking at her like she was a total stranger?!
Mitsuha stared at him, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Suddenly, she thought of the beautiful big sister she had met during the cherry blossom festival — Okudera Miki.
Back then, that woman had looked just as heartbroken as she felt now.
What had she done at that time?
And what would Kyousuke do now?
Even if his memories were hazy, surely he wouldn't have forgotten her completely... right?
The joy of their reunion was starting to fray at the edges but Mitsuha, no longer just a naïve girl but a shrine maiden who had walked with the gods, made up her mind.
'She would help Kyousuke remember — no matter what.'
"It's me," she said, lifting her hand and pointing to her small nose only to accidentally brush against the beads of sweat forming there.
Oh no... Could the sweat have ruined her makeup? Was that why Kyousuke didn't recognize her?
Wait, no! She wasn't even wearing any makeup today!
Seeing the boy in front of her still staring blankly, she asked nervously,
"Don't you remember me?"
"What's your name?"
'My name, you idiot I told you the very first time we met! I'm Mitsuha!' Her heart trembled with frustration.
She had truly believed that if they ever met face to face, they would recognize each other instantly.
But it seemed even Kyousuke couldn't fight against the whims of the gods.
"Sorry..." she mumbled, feeling bitter.
Maybe he really had mistaken her for someone else.
Maybe... maybe they were only meant to recognize each other when they were in each other's bodies.
The train screeched to a halt at the next station. Turning away, Mitsuha merged into the flow of passengers heading for the exit.
"What's your name?" Kyousuke's voice called out behind her.
Typical him.
Even if he saw her as a stranger right now, he couldn't just let things slide without getting to the bottom of it.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
She stopped walking, wanting to properly tell him her name.
But the moment she stopped, the tide of passengers pushed her forward relentlessly.
Even with all her kendo training, she couldn't stand against the force of the crowd.
"Mitsuha! My name's Mitsuha!" she shouted, raising her voice over the commotion.
She reached up, tugging the ribbon from her hair, and tried to hand it to Kyousuke.
If this ribbon symbolized the gods she believed in, then maybe it could serve to bind them together again.
She saw Kyousuke reach out to catch the ribbon.
Relieved, Mitsuha let herself be carried by the crowd toward the train doors only for a sudden tug to stop her in her tracks.
She looked down to find a familiar, broad hand wrapped around her wrist, it felt so familiar that she knew without a doubt it was his.
With Kyousuke's help, she finally regained her balance.
His presence shielded her from the waves of passengers.
It was like the two of them were tiny islands, standing firm against a surging sea of people.
"Hey, Mitsuha, was it? You're not done talking yet. Why are you trying to run away?"
His voice, It's sound familiar and yet so different, like his voice reached her ears for the very first time.
Only now did Mitsuha finally understand why Shouko had always said Kyousuke would make an amazing voice actor.
Even if he were just reading lines without emotion, people would probably still fall for that voice.
"You're hurting my wrist, you know!"
Her complaint came out in a high-pitched, almost whiny voice that even surprised herself, as a bright smile bloomed across her face.
From his hand, she felt that same comforting warmth she remembered—like all the exhaustion and anxiety of the day had just melted away.
"Ah, sorry, sorry," he said, quickly letting go of her.
Immediately, Mitsuha felt a pang of disappointment.
If only she hadn't sounded so bratty, maybe he would have kept holding her hand longer.
The Tokyo subway really was way too crowded; without someone steadying you, it felt like you could fall over at any moment.
Cursing herself internally, she couldn't help but blurt out,
"Honestly, you really are rough—like a delinquent boss or something."
No, no, no! What are you doing, Mitsuha?!
You're not Eriri! You can't just copy her tsundere way of talking without the twin tails and blonde hair to match! Get a grip!
"Uh, Mitsuha... You seem really familiar with me, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time we've ever met. Also, I'm not some delinquent," Kyousuke said awkwardly.
"How could you not be? I mean, you..."
Wait, what?
He doesn't remember anything—and now he's denying being himself?
Did he really mean it?
Could there possibly be another middle schooler in Tokyo who looked this ridiculously handsome?
Mitsuha was about to argue when she noticed people around them starting to stare.
Her cheeks flushed red instantly.
Come on, Tokyo people!
Aren't you supposed to mind your own business and pretend not to notice? Why are you all staring now?!
An awkward silence settled between them.
They both decided to save the conversation for after getting off the train.
At Sendagi Station, the platform was packed with students in all kinds of uniforms, heading home after school.
Mitsuha noticed a few boys in Higashi uniforms passing by but none of them even spared Kyousuke a second glance.
No greetings, no reactions—nothing.
Her heart tightened in shock.
What the heck was going on?
At Higashi, Kyousuke was practically royalty not just because he led the Rampaging Angels gang, but also because of his unbeatable grades and kendo trophies.
Even people who weren't part of the kendo club admired him.
Mitsuha used to find it annoying how every time they ran into a classmate on the street, they would bombard them with greetings and even insist on treating them to meals.
But now? Nothing.
"Want to grab something at a family restaurant?"
Kyousuke's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She followed his gaze to the wide staircase ahead of them.
[Yanaka Shopping Street]
This was one of the places Mitsuha rarely visited during all the times they switched bodies.
Yanaka was known for its old-fashioned "shitamachi" culture—which, judging by the name, wasn't exactly trendy.
Usually, she only came here at night when she was too lazy to cook and craved some snacks.
The croquettes here were her absolute favorite!
But now... A family restaurant sounded great but her wallet definitely disagreed.
Looking at Kyousuke, who still felt like a stranger, Mitsuha hesitated.
Back when she was borrowing his body, she could eat and spend his money shamelessly.
Now, she suddenly felt self-conscious.
"N-no thanks. I'm not really hungry..." she stammered.
'Growl.'
Her stomach betrayed her with a loud, unmistakable rumble.
'Ugh, seriously?!'
'Feet, stomach—why are you all so unreliable?!'
'I promised I'd treat you better once we got home!'
'Can't you at least endure until then?!'
At Higashi, this kind of weakness would have earned her a hundred extra practice drills!
"Come on, let's go. My treat. Or are your feet hurting so much you can't walk anymore? Want me to carry you?"
"N-no, I can walk just fine!" This guy... he was still as thoughtful and kind as ever.
Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, Mitsuha's delicate face flushed even deeper.
She didn't dare look him in the eyes, keeping her head down as she studied the stairs ahead—the ones famously called the "Sunset Steps."
The 36 steps faced directly into the evening sun, so when you descended them at sunset, it felt as if you were walking alongside the dying light.
The vibrant colors splashed across the steps like a soft, gilded cloak.
It felt almost ceremonial, somehow.
Surely, whatever food they ate after descending these steps would taste even more special.
Mitsuha made a silent vow:
'Next time we switch, I'm coming here again and I'm going to eat my way through every shop!'
Their long shadows stretched out behind them as they walked into a cozy-looking family restaurant called "Matsuyama."
As she flipped through the menu, Mitsuha was flooded with memories—like the second time they had switched bodies, when she had forgotten to buy breakfast and ended up starving at school, feeling like she would pass out at any second.
The guy sitting across from her insisted she could order whatever she liked.
Knowing he was loaded, the girl went all out and ordered way more than she could ever finish.
'Well, we can just share later,' she thought nonchalantly.
While waiting for the food to arrive, the two finally found time to talk.
"What!? Today's your first day of school!? You're only a first-year middle schooler???"
Mitsuha clutched her head in disbelief.
'What did I just hear?'
The boy sitting across from her not only didn't have any of the convenient 'connections' she expected, but was just a kid—a first-year middle schooler!
Given that Mitsuha herself was already a third-year and fifteen years old, she felt fully justified in calling him a little brat.
'Am I still dreaming?Or was everything up until now the dream?'
'Is it really possible for someone to have the same dream for two years straight?'
"We used to swap bodies in our dreams," Kyousuke explained. "We agreed to keep records of everything that happened while we were in each other's bodies, so we wouldn't cause any trouble for each other."
'Right! The memos!'
The ones Kyousuke had written himself!
Mitsuha hurried to open the memos on her phone—only to watch, helplessly, as the words scattered like mischievous monkeys breaking in through a window.
One by one, the characters disappeared right before her eyes.
By the time she raised her phone up in a panic, the screen was blank.
'Dear gods… do you people have no sense of justice whatsoever?'
"Come on, compared to swapping bodies, a little phone trouble's no big deal, right?" Kyousuke said with a wry smile. "Besides, you still remember, don't you? Just tell me."
His words gave her a tiny sliver of hope.
'That's right. Our memories, our bond… it's all real!'
She opened her mouth to speak—but froze.
The memories, too, were slipping away, retreating like ink being drawn back into a bottle.
Her mind, once filled with vivid moments, was now blank, like freshly cleaned paper.
A hollow emptiness opened inside her.
The warm, bustling restaurant suddenly felt freezing cold.
Tears welled up and streamed silently down her cheeks.
But apart from wetting her face and deepening her sorrow, she felt nothing at all.
Suddenly, someone gently patted her on the shoulder.
Dazed, Mitsuha turned her head.
"Kyousuke…"
Her hair, freed from its knot, fell in damp strands across her tear-stained face, making her look heartbreakingly delicate.
With her big brown eyes and trembling voice, she resembled a lost kitten who had finally found its way back home.
Calling his name so softly, she threw herself into Kyousuke's arms.
The cold world melted away in an instant.
Though two years separated their current selves, Kyousuke's embrace was exactly as warm as she had remembered.
Pressed against his broad chest, Mitsuha's sobs grew louder and more unrestrained.
"There's that whole 'grandparent paradox' thing, right?" Kyousuke said gently, trying to comfort her. "If you know the future, it can change the future."
"Maybe… maybe this is happening exactly because it's what will let us stay connected, just like in your memories."
Listening to his voice, Mitsuha's heart slowly began to settle.
"You have to keep a diary," she said seriously, as they stood at the station.
"Write down everything—everything that happens. And then show it to me later, okay?"
After their heartfelt talk, Kyousuke personally walked her to Tokyo Station.
The Shinkansen bound for Nagoya was just about to arrive.
"I will. I promise," he nodded.
"Oh! And make sure to watch the comet on Thursday night!" she added, her face lighting up.
"I'll be at the shrine festival, praying for you!"
"Got it!"
Satisfied with his answer, Mitsuha finally boarded the train, a smile blooming on her face.
One hand clutched her phone now loaded with Kyousuke's contact info and the other held her ticket up to her eyes.
Even though he was almost broke, Kyousuke had still bought her a ticket.
"Save your pocket money for snacks during the ride," he had said, trying to act cool.
'Seriously,' Mitsuha thought, 'he's already almost bankrupt. He really should start looking for a part-time job if he wants to make rent!'
The further she got from him, the clearer her memories became.
It made her trust his explanation even more—maybe this was all meant to happen, to protect their future.
Still...
Did she really have to wait over two years to see him again?
Mitsuha hugged her knees to her chest in the train seat, sighing.
———————————————————————
At the Miyamizu residence, her father, Toshiki, had been sitting cross-legged in the living room, anxiously waiting for her return.
When he saw Mitsuha walking in with two giant bags of snacks, his voice shot up in surprise.
"Mitsuha!"
"Ah, good evening, Father, Grandmother," Mitsuha said sweetly, slipping off her shoes at the entrance and tiptoeing into the living room.
She was so happy, she even felt like dancing a celebratory Kagura in the shrine's sacred hall.
"Wow, chips!" Her little sister, Yotsuba, was so amazed at the mountain of snacks that she completely forgot to ask about Mitsuha's "date."
Toshiki wanted to question her more, but one look from his stern mother made him clamp his mouth shut, sulking.
Back in her room, Mitsuha couldn't wait to call Kyousuke, just like he had asked her to when she got home.
She dialed eagerly—
"The number you have dialed is not available."
'Dear gods,' she thought bitterly, 'this is how you lose your loyal shrine maiden!'
Feeling utterly deflated, she dropped her phone on the charger, grabbed her loungewear, and trudged toward the bath.
Only a hot soak could soothe her broken heart now.
———————————————————————
Over the next few days, even though she longed to go back to Tokyo, Mitsuha was completely tied up with preparations for the shrine festival.
As the town's shrine maiden, the symbol of their faith, she absolutely couldn't leave at a time like this.
So she could only bottle up her feelings and focus on organizing the event at the shrine.
One evening, Mitsuha knelt formally in the living room while her grandmother used a decorative hairpin to lift a small section of her hair, then carefully combed it with a peachwood brush and began braiding.
Mitsuha wore a luxurious kimono made of fine silk, dyed a deep blue and patterned with clover leaves.
Yotsuba, sitting next to her with her hair being woven as well, wore a matching design—but hers was a brick-red color instead.
Seeing his two daughters looking so lovely and radiant, Toshiki felt a pang of nostalgia for his late wife.
These kimonos had been sewn by her own hands during the final months of her life.
Even someone as skilled as Futaba had taken ages to make them so beautifully.
But strangely enough, as Toshiki gazed at his daughters' smiling faces, the resentment he'd long harbored toward Itomori finally eased a little.
Outside, the town of Itomori was already bustling.
The lights of the village were beginning to dim as people made their way up the mountain toward the shrine.
As mayor, Toshiki needed to be on standby at the town hall, ready to handle any emergencies during the festival.
Watching his two daughters taking pictures together, he walked over, hoping to snap a group photo while he had the chance.
But just as he approached, he overheard his eldest daughter say:
"I bet Kyousuke is watching the comet tonight too."
Dressed in a beautiful kimono, she stood gracefully by the window, gazing up at the comet streaking across the sky.
She murmured to herself, her smile carrying an emotion he could read all too easily.
'That damn kid!'
His own smile stiffened a little, but he pushed the feeling down and went over anyway.
After politely asking his wife for permission, the four of them gathered at the entrance of the living room and took a rare, long-overdue family photo.
"Alright, I'd better get over to the town hall. Yotsuba, be good and stay close, okay? I don't want you getting lost!"
Even though Miyamizu Toshiki knew full well that Itomori was a town small enough to walk across in half an hour, he still gave the reminder seriously, as if it were a bustling city.
"Got it, Dad!" Yotsuba nodded enthusiastically.
'Today, I'm going to show Sendo and the others that I'm going to grow up to be a real beauty too!'
'Oh, and Yukino! I'll find her and we'll catch goldfish together! I'll win a bunch and raise them in her yard!'
Toshiki turned to his eldest daughter, his expression softening as he looked at her still glued to her phone.
"Mitsuha... have fun, okay?"
Without looking away from her screen where a little Tachibana-colored exclamation mark blinked Mitsuha smiled up at him and replied,
"Don't worry, Dad. I will."
———————————————————————
Standing atop the grassy hill, she saw a sight she would remember for the rest of her life.
Itomori Lake was burning.
The town she had always dreamed of escaping from — Itomori — had died, utterly and completely destroyed.
———————————————————————
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