Mabase had slowly gone back to normal, since Haruko left. No one except Naota remembered Haruko, or Atomsk, or the explosions, or even how Naota saved the whole town with his baseball bat. No one wanted to remember it. They all felt more comfortable believing that there was nothing outside of the little town they lived in. The smoky haze covering the town had proben to them that the outside world was just a myth. Even Naota started to believe that he was trapped forever.
It had been five years, since Haruko left. And just as he started to believe that she might come back for him, she never did. He wanted to drop out of school, and go work at the factory for the rest of his life. His grandfather had died of a heart attack two years ago. His father had left Mabase a couple months ago, after the bread shop was forclosed. He'd taken up residence under the same bridge a certain friend of his had lived under years ago.
It was a normal day. As Naota slowly walked to school, an orange moped swerved past him. Female in figure, but their face was covered by a helmet. He could see a streak of golden orange hair protruding from the jet black helmet. he thought for a moment that it might be the alien who left him all those years ago, but gave up that hope just as quickly.
As he entered the school, he heard ruthless chattering. Everyone was in hysterics.
"Naota! Did you hear?" It was Ninamori.
"Hear what?"
"There was an explosion at the old mecchanica plant! They don't know what caused it."
"Why should I care?" He hid his excitement behind an annoyed face.
"What if its her?! Maybe she's back! I mean, I know its been a while but-" Naota stopped her.
"Who is 'her'?"
"Don't lie to me, Naota. I remember what happened five years ago." She gave a reassuring half grin.
"Lets walk there after school. We need to catch up anyways." She walked away before he could say anything. They hadn't spoken in a year, and all this time she remembered.