Reading it once more, it showed itself to be neither emotive, nor lyrical or witty. It looked like only a flat declamation. Still, I found myself growing fonder of it, and began reciting it every now and then.

I began to receive visits from Homura-chan once or twice every month, at least until the spring holidays began. Every time I offered to go to her home instead, she would politely refuse, without offering any substantial explanation. And though I never knew why she visited me, if not to while the time away, it was clear that she found some value in my company. I was aware that the number of her acquaintances was rather limited, so I asked her:

"Are you a lonely person?"
"Yes," she said.

Then she added, "But that does not mean I feel lonely. On the contrary…"

She touched no more on the subject and we drifted on to other meaningless conversations. Such was how her sudden visits always went. By coincidence – so she said – she would always come by on times when no other visitors were around, and especially on days when Nagisa was free. It was always heartwarming to see them both enjoy their time with each other.

One rainy day, near the end of the holidays, she sprung yet another visit on me. I happened to be composing poetry at the time, so as a token of my appreciation, I invited her to look them over and in particular, the verses I had written thinking of her.

At first, she only nodded at me and we departed from the subject. But as the conversation went on, she suddenly interrupted me to repeat my words:

静かに寄り添って
どこにも行かないで
窓辺でさえずって
どこにも行かないで

"Pardon?" I asked, and she repeated again.

Come closer quietly
Don't go anywhere
Chirp your song by the window
Don't go anywhere

"Is this what are you saying with the poem, Tomoe-san?"
"No; not at all. It is a possibility, but I never intended it."
"I see. But now that you are aware of this interpretation, which do you prefer? This new one or your original?"
"What about you, Akemi-san?"
"Why are you answering a question with another question? It is rude."
"Your insensitivity in pointing that out is much ruder."
"I apologize, Tomoe-san. Anyways, which do you prefer?"

Her persistence was unusual.

"As it is, I don't think I can choose between them."
"Hmm."

Would she be satisfied by my answer? I questioned myself. But giving no further due to the matter, she moved on to a completely different tangent.

"Do you treasure this world, Tomoe-san?"

She stared out the veranda as she said that. Dark clouds covered the sky and the city.

"Eh? Of course I do."
"Is that so?"

I smiled.

"Or are you insinuating that there are other worlds to treasure?"
"Between the country of sweets and your castle of cakes?"

A chuckle escaped me – her memory was good.

"No, but a world beyond."
"Within the valley of your breasts?"
"That's lewd of you."
"It takes one to know one."

We laughed. Back then, we spent much of our time laughing freely. But I did not pay any heed to the languor of melancholy that seemed to permeate the atmosphere. And inexperienced as I was then, I often could not understand the significance of Homura-chan's words. Or rather, I was all too experienced – so how could I have missed it out? Sometimes in the past, I wondered if everything could have taken a different course had I just acted differently. But now that Homura-chan is gone, I understand. There was nothing I could have done but await the snow falling faintly across the world and faintly falling, like the descent of their final end, upon all the living and the dead.

Homura-chan – she wanted to finish saying her piece, but, with her mouth left ajar, she seemed to change her mind at the last minute. A fretful expression appeared on her face – she had widened her eyes for so short a moment.

"Never mind. Maybe another time."

I shelved her words at the back of my mind, wondering how long I would have to mull the seemingly simple question through: do I really treasure this world?

It was then that I was inspired with a fiery spirit. Or rather, my unease and curiosity had begun to overflow.

I frankly told her that I found our conversations quite inconclusive. Homura-chan smiled and said:

"They are."
"Sometimes, it seems like you have something more to say, but you hold back, Akemi-san. Is something the matter?"
"But, Tomoe-san, I hide nothing from you."
"You do, Akemi-san. I know that I am prying beyond what I ought to, but –"
"Are you confusing between my thoughts and feelings, and my history? I have no reason to hide what I truly think and what I truly feel. But if you are suggesting that I should tell you all about my past – well, that is another matter entirely."
"But I believe our opinions would be worthless without our experiences. They would be passionless – like soulless dolls."

Astonished, Homura-chan stared into me. Her hand, holding a filled tea cup, was trembling slightly.

"Akemi-san, I just –"
"– want a true friend?"
"I just want to know you better."
"Even to the extent of digging up my past?"

Suddenly, I was afraid. I felt as though the woman sitting opposite me were a criminal, instead of the Homura-chan that I had come to befriend and respect. And though she regained her calm and cool veneer, her face was visibly pale.

"Are you really sure? My past, what I have done, what I have become – learning it may turn out to be a source of regret for you."
"I… I still want to know more about you."

My voice shook.

Then, she sighed, and a gentle smile once again adorned her face.

"You're still so kind. But you really have changed."
"Changed?"
"For the stronger."

I wanted to ask her more, but she continued on.

"I can tell you. I don't mind. I can tell you all about my past. But it may be better if you did not know. And I can't tell you anything right now – so, please wait until I am ready, Tomoe-san."

And when she left in the sunny afternoon, the first thing I did was to check the calendar. There were only 3 days left to the first day of school – the starting of my final year.

Lying on the carpet, awake, listening to the rustle of the bamboo leaves, a strange sadness filled my heart.