Day 1: Holding Hands
On the third day, they held hands. In reality, Chihiro didn't know how long they had been in the strange school for, but it had felt like three days.
And in those three days, so much had happened—she still flinched when she thought of the classmates, three classmates, all gone. It hadn't completely hit her that she wouldn't see any of those three again. But she was certain that, when it did, Oowada was going to be there for her.
Oowada was a special type of person. Chihiro hadn't met anyone like him before, those kinds of people hidden from her sheltered, boarding-school lifestyle. That was one reason why she liked him so much.
The second was the promise. The most delicate aspect about her, and she gave it to him with her full trust after knowing him for such a small time period. He took it from her, and he handled it with care. He was unexpectantly gentle with her fragile secret. His reaction was unexpected, too, acting as if something like that was normal. Even if he thought she was weird, she was happy he hadn't shown it.
And now, Chihiro could think of a third reason. They were in an empty corridor, enjoying each others company. Holding hands. His hands were rough, and that was to be expected, but he had proven to be gentle with them. So gentle… Chihiro couldn't help but lean against his arms and close her eyes to enjoy every moment. They had to, with so many people in the building, they couldn't expect to be alone for long. But when they were, Chihiro was certain that, for the first time in years, she had finally returned to her true self.