Nanashi had to wait for a whole four days before her Aunt Atsuko could be tracked down and come get her from the police station in her hometown. For those long days, Nanashi did little more than cry. She was put up in a hotel room near the station. Her friend Umi had come to visit her each day after school and they talked. Umi knew just how to comfort her. How to hold her, what to say, what to do. Nanashi loved her like a sister. When Aunt Atsuko arrived, Umi did most of the packing for Nanashi. When it was time to leave, Umi hugged Nanashi tightly.
"I love you. Stay in touch," Umi whispered in Nanashi's ear.
Nanashi nodded, unable to to speak. Atsuko stood there awkwardly waiting. When Umi broke the hug, Atsuko went, "Alright, let's go. My, you look just like my son."
With that, Atsuko and Nanashi headed off to Nanashi's new home by train. At first, Nanashi felt quite panicked to be on a train. Atsuko had to pull her by the hand onto the train. Nanashi felt on the verge of a panic attack. Atsuko made an effort to distract her by telling her the plans put into place. With a new person under the roof, Atsuko had to find a new apartment with three bedroom instead of one. It took a little persuading of the landlord, Mr. Oto, but after a good night, he agreed to let Atsuko moved to another apartment in the building with three bedrooms for the same price as the two bedroom one.
Astuko also told Nanashi about her son, Yusuke. He had been sick awhile back to point where she had been told he was dead. Then one day, he woke up and was fine. Still as big a nuisance as ever. Skipping school to the point where he was sent to a six month long camp. He was to return home in just four weeks. Astuko handed her a picture of him. He looked like a cocky little ruffian. Nanashi was surprised how much they looked alike. Black hair slicked back, rounded face meeting at a pointed chin. Brown eyes with a stubborn look. Nanashi touched her long black hair. It was the same color. Nanashi looked at the window and got a hint of a reflection in it. They had the same face, same eyes, same nose. They could have been identical twins if it was not for the gender difference.
Atsuko interrupted her thoughts. "You both look like my father. It's almost like looking into a window to my childhood."
That began a slowly awkward conversation about their family. Atsuko had run off at a young age. Her brother and Nanashi's father, had married and had a two year daughter (Nanashi) by the time she was tracked down. Atsuko by that time had a newborn baby (Yusuke), no husband or boyfriend to speak of, and her own life. When Nanashi's father failed to convince Atsuko to return home, they never saw each other again. That led to Nanashi confession about her break up with her boyfriend, Taiki. She admitted feeling in love with him, and him taking advantage of that. Umi had convinced her to break up with him by showing her photos of him with another girl, Shu, from her history class. Taiki was all but determined to get her back. On the bright side, having to move away allowed her to get away from him. Eventually she hoped her love would fade.
When they arrived at the last stop, Atsuko and Nanashi caught a cab and arrived at Nanashi's new home.