Taki breathes in the fresh country air as he stands in the very spot where Mitsuha (and sometimes he) would have lunch with Tessie and Saya, whiling away the time talking about anything and everything. It makes him reminisce about his own adolescence, of time spent relaxing on the school roof with Tsukasa and Takagi, of visiting all of the nearby cafes and giving their own silly critiques, of working hectic shifts every night (while looking forward to seeing Okudera).
All of it seems so far away now, as far as the distant shore where the fragment of Tiamat struck Itomori. Even though they've all stayed in touch with their old friends, they can never go back to those carefree days, when life was simple. Time seems to pass him by now, compared to the almost painful crawl of his childhood. Like many others he had wanted to become an adult as fast as possible, but now, he's nostalgic for the time he took for granted.
Mitsuha, too, had taken that time for granted. And now, she can't even go back to her hometown or her old home. All that waits for her is an empty crater lake and the remnants of the catastrophic impact.
The sheer scale of the destruction will always render him speechless, no matter how many times he'll look upon this landscape. There's a haunting beauty to it, how the lush green countryside contrasts with the stark ruins of the town.
Taki's sure that the sight is far more emotional for Mitsuha, and others who lived in Itomori—especially when a single whimsical act of some unknown force is all that kept them from suddenly ceasing to exist. He doesn't, and will never, know how or why he was able to go back. Or why he even began switching with Mitsuha in the first place. He has his hypotheses about the dreams of the Miyamizus, especially after seeing the ancient depiction of a comet at the sacred relic. But there's far too much to explain, and no answers.
Taki shakes his head, as if to shoo away those thoughts like one would a persistent fly. He can't remember when he gave up searching, but sometimes his mind can't help but wander back. One particular memory always seems to come to mind first—Hitoha's lecture when they journeyed to offer the kuchikamizake at the sacred relic.
Musubi. . .a union. Or a deity? Something, or someone, had inexplicably tied him and Mitsuha together, both their lives as well as their separate places and times. Through that mysterious union, fate was somehow changed.
And today, Taki would form perhaps the most important union of his life.
"If you start now, I bet you could be at the far end of the lake before the ceremony starts." Takagi sidles up to Taki, Tsukasa in tow.
"Getting cold feet is perfectly natural," Tsukasa tries to reassure him. "You're about to make one of the biggest commitments of your life. It's only natural to second guess yourself—it doesn't mean you love Mitsuha any less, or that you're making a mistake."
To their surprise, Taki's countenance is devoid of any doubt. "Thanks, guys. But don't worry. I'm ready."
A hint of a smile graces the corner of his mouth, lips having previously been set in a hard line as he pondered the vagaries of destiny.
Words like fate, or destiny. . .to Taki, they might as well be meaningless so long as Mitsuha is by his side.
Mitsuha gazes into the full length mirror, hardly recognizing the ethereal being that gazes back at her.
In direct contrast to her unearthly calm, a veritable storm of activity swirls around her as friends and family scramble to ensure that everything today is absolutely perfect. She feels strangely detached from the commotion, and the world in general, as she inwardly laughs to herself when she realizes that everyone but the bride is panicking about the smallest potential mishap.
She could trip and fall, forget her vows, or one of innumerable other catastrophes, but in the end it will just be another memory to laugh at and bond over. All that matters to her today is that, at long last, she'll be wed to the man she loves.
The man who saved her life, and the lives of her friends, family, and everyone she had ever known. People he would never meet.
The mere thought of how she and Taki were brought together, and the incredible events that transpired, sends a frisson of inexplicable emotion running down Mitsuha's spine.
"Oh, dear. Are you cold?" Hitoha asks her. "You've goosebumps all over."
"Oh? I hadn't noticed," Mitsuha says absentmindedly. ". . .I was just thinking."
Vague as Mitsuha is, her grandmother seems to understand completely. She smiles, as if to say she can read Mitsuha like an open book. "Well, I'll be off, then. If you need anything, please, let any of us know. It is your special day, after all."
Mitsuha returns to staring at the mirror. "Thanks, grandma."
Through the mirror's reflection, Mitsuha resumes watching the rest of the room. In one corner, Tessie and Saya bicker amicably in the corner as Okudera giggles, while her father and Yotsuha trail after her grandmother like ducklings.
And though he's not present, Mitsuha feels as though Taki is by her side.
A warm sense of ease wells up in her chest.
Energy buzzes just below the surface of Mitsuha's skin, an overflow of emotions that threatens to spill over at the slightest provocation. She grounds herself in what little she can: her wide eyes glued to the doors in front of her, her ears straining to make out the muffled voices beyond, her hands clutching to the tangible anchor of her father's arm.
With the barest of nods, a nearby coordinator signals to Toshiki that, finally, the time has come.
"Mitsuha," he whispers to her. He looks at her with jumbled mixture of love, pride, regret, and infinite other emotions she would never have the time to name.
She's eternally grateful that her father is here on this day. Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, she truly understands that he loves her.
Even so, she's caught off guard when he steals the words from her mouth:
"Thank you."
Before she can answer, the doors grandly swing open, and her father helps her take her first steps towards the next chapter of her life.
Taki hardly registers his surroundings as he and the rest of the bridal party proceed down the aisle and assemble before the altar. If he had to pick a word to describe how he felt, it'd have to be nervous—but it's more of an unbearable anticipation, as if these feelings had built up in the years that he and Mitusha had forgotten each other. And now that this day has finally come, he finds it funny that only now does he feel like he can't wait any longer.
Even with all eyes trained on him, Taki sees nothing but the imposing double doors leading into the hall. Everything else looks like a blur, and the words of the priest presiding over the ceremony sound distant muted, like he's underwater.
The creaking of the doors opening returns crystal clarity to Taki's world.
A familiar pang makes his chest feel tight as he catches the briefest glimpse of white, pure as the driven snow.
As quickly as his world came into focus, it once again narrows down to a single point—or more correctly, a single person. In that moment, the rest of the world around them ceases to exist, as if they've suddenly been spirited away to some place far out of reach.
With each of Mitsuha's painfully slow steps, Taki's heart pounds harder and harder as she draws near. In those few seconds he feels as though he's lived an eternity, even as they come and go just as fast as any others.
And finally, she's there, standing before him. For a beat Taki stares, entranced, until Toshiki softly clears his throat as he offers his daughter's hand. Too enraptured by Mitsuha to feel any embarrassment, Taki reverently reaches out to gratefully accept Mitsuha's hand from Toshiki, whose eyes glisten with tears even as the corners crinkle in gentle mirth.
When her fingers finally touch his, the nervous energy that had built up suddenly dissipates, the familiar feel of his hand in hers comforting her. Letting her know that she truly isn't dreaming. She laces her fingers with his and lets their hand hang comfortably as the gaze into each other's eyes—seeing their own reflections as much as they see each other.
She doesn't hear anything—not the rites, not even her own vows, nothing. Not until she sees Taki's lips begin to form those two words she's been longing to hear:
"I do."
And the floodgates open. Taki and Mitsuha come crashing together, simultaneously sharing an embrace and a kiss as their friends and family cheer in the background.
They separate, faces mere inches apart, and Mitsuha grins up at him with tears in her eyes. He smiles back. Neither of them needs words to express themselves.
She eagerly takes his offered arm, and together they burst through the doors and into the brilliant golden sunlight.
A whirlwind of festivities follows, dragging Taki and Mitsuha along for the ride (though not unwillingly). Immediately, the couple is inundated with a seemingly never-ending stream of people wishing the happy couple well and familiar faces making welcome appearances.
Eventually, their closest confidants finally make their way over, having waited so as not to waste the other guests' time too much.
"I'm so happy for you!" Saya sniffles tearfully as she clutches onto Mitsuha.
Tessie sagely closes his eyes and nods. "We were worried, you know. For the longest time, you seemed. . .empty? Not quite depressed, but it felt like something inside you went missing." He turns to Taki. "Something Taki helped you find. Treat each other well, you two. There will be ups and downs, but I know that together you can weather any storm."
"Saya, Tessie. . ." Mitsuha is on the verge of tears. "Thank you so much. I love you two, more than you could ever know."
Tsukasa initially takes Taki's outstretched hand in a firm handshake, but quickly pulls him in for a hug. "You two look good together."
Okudera looks around the reception venue, and the distant landscape beyond. "How funny—all those years ago, we came to Itomori and can't even remember why. Taki, you were so obsessed with this town for some reason. It really feels like something else brought us here that day," she wonders. "Something brought you to Mitsuha. You two have something truly special—so make the most of what you have, okay? Live without regrets." She leans forward to take both Taki and Mitsuha into a hug.
"I'll never forget how you all helped me out when I needed you, even if you didn't know why," Taki thanks them. "I'm lucky to have friends like you."
"Congratulations, Sis." Yotsuha's seemingly permanent furrowed brow is surprisingly absent, her genial tone a far cry from her usual pointed wit.
"Thank you, Yotsuha. You've been by my side all my life. . .I don't know where I'd be without you," Mitsuha says gratefully.
Taki waves someone over, and they're quickly joined by Takagi. "Hey, congratulations!"
Taki nods in acknowledgement. "You've been a big help—most of the time—these past few months.
Takagi proudly points to himself with a thumb. "Hey, it's what I do! And if I do say so myself, I'm a pretty good friend."
"I don't think you're the one who's supposed to say that," Yotsuha deadpans.
"I can vouch for him," Taki laughs. "He's always had my back, no matter what."
"You've always done the same for me too, Yotsuha," Mitsuha chimes in.
Yotsuha looks away bashfully. "Well, of course I did. And always will. We're family."
Exhausted but happy, the newlyweds collapse to the tatami mats of their suite, which is more of a fancied up room at a nearby inn.
"Hey, Taki. . ." Mitsuha begins hesitantly, and doesn't finish her train of thought.
Taki rolls over to face her and takes the initiative. "Something wrong?"
"No, not really. . ." she says. "There's. . .well, this might sound kind of weird and unreasonable. . ."
"Don't worry about that," Taki reassures her with a smile. "No matter what it is, I'll always want you to speak your mind with me."
Confidence restored, Mitsuha speaks with renewed vigor. "I know it's late, and we're both tired, but there's somewhere I want to go with you."
Mitsuha had come prepared for this excursion. She had packed proper clothing and gear for the both of them, which they don after a short but restful nap in the suite.
Two beams of light illuminate the inky darkness, hardly providing any visibility, yet Taki swears that he can recognize the tiniest details of the path they walk.
They continue in silence, surrounded only by the rhythmic chirping of insects and the rustling of a cool night breeze through the treetops. Eventually, the forest gives way to rocky slopes, the disappearing forest canopy allowing the gradually setting moon to dimly light their way.
They reach the edge of the crater just moments before the moon disappears below the mountains on the horizon. On one side is the tranquil landscape of the sacred shrine, and on the other the devastation and twin crater lakes—both causing fond memories to rise to the surface.
"We first met here," Mitsuha says quietly. "Well, not counting the time I found you before you even knew me."
A pithy remark is on the tip of Taki's tongue, but something about the atmosphere makes him swallow his words. "Yeah," he merely replies.
Mitsuha turns to him, eyes shining with the barest hints of the rising sun. "Do you remember? I spent all day up here. I couldn't believe or understand what was going on. But as the sun set, something stirred in the back of my mind, like a distant windchime singing in the wind. We couldn't see each other, and even if it was in my own voice, to hear you call out for me so desperately—" Mitsuha closes her eyes, reliving the moment. "I was so happy. Even though you were so close yet so far, just knowing that you were there. . ."
Taki turns to the shimmering lakes. "I felt the same way. When I found out what happened to Itomori, I suddenly felt so lost. My memories seemed to come unraveled." He fiddles with the braided cord on his wrist. "But through sheer chance, you left something to remind me and anchor me to you."
"And here I am."
The sky continues to lighten, the vivid warmth of the sun clashing beautifully with the ethereal cool of the fading night sky. Mitsuha takes Taki's hands and they turn to face each other, one side still shadowed by the dying night as golden light slowly begins to stream over the horizon.
Nearly a decade ago, they shared a fateful sunset that marked the beginning of one chapter of their lives.
And now that chapter closes with a shared sunrise, and the next begins.
Notes: About 40,000 words and more than 100 pages in Word later, it's finally finished. This may be the end of this story, but I don't think this will be the last I write about Your Name. It's such a well-crafted, emotional film, and the ambiguous ending truly lets the viewer interpret and imagine what happens next. I have a few budding ideas in mind, but I don't want to jump the gun just yet.
Writing this story has been quite the experience, in several ways. First of all, its been a learning experience: telling me first and foremost that I have no idea how to write. But that's okay. Writing the first chapter or so was more of a way to express myself after watching the movie for the first time, and I felt this sense of discontent that they might not remember at all. To me, their memories of the switches and everything else is so integral to their relationship that is wouldn't be the same without them. So, mostly to satisfy myself, I did a bit of writing in my phone's Notes app before classes began one morning. Second, it's also seen me through a difficult life experience. Through the course of writing this story, I felt confident in my path and choices, suffered from severe anxiety and depression as it all came crumbling down around me, and now I've picked up the pieces and become stronger for it. And silly as it may seem, it became a morning ritual for me to check my email every morning to see if " " showed up in the notifications tab. Seeing someone enjoy the story I wrote made getting out of bed that much easier.
So truly, thank you to everyone who read, liked, followed, favorited, commmented, and/or left a review on this story.
P.S. You bet I intentionally posted the last chapter on October 4th