We sat together.

Quiet, silently appreciating the beautiful natural scenery around us.

My friends and villagemates quickly surmised what was happening since all of us were Lysithea crew, and so they let us have some time alone while they continued the harvest.

My childhood friend, Noboru.

He was by my side right now.

It felt like a dream come true for me, one that didn't feel real, but I couldn't really lie to myself.

I wanted to talk to him, but there was too much to say all at once, and nothing properly came into my mind.

"So, how long have you been on this planet?" He finally asked me.

Casual small talk it seemed, nothing serious.

"Just about the full 8 years," I replied, "we crashed onto Agharta not long after the Lysithea lost power, so we were kind of stuck here for a very long time."

"Ah, really? It must've been rough."

"Ahaha, it was, but it was honestly better than being stuck up in space with no light or places to go. Setting up the village was hard, but honestly, I would take it over what was essentially purgatory any day!"

"Heh, I guess that would be true."

He smiled calmly.

I noticed that his face was older, more defined, and he was even taller, with a much stronger looking body.

Jeez, I was already checking out his grown-up figure, how embarrassing…

"All of this is quite new scenery for me." He asked.

"Yeah…"

I didn't blame him, it took me a long time to really see this as a new home.

Although, if I had to pick between this planet or the Lysithea, I had to say I preferred Agharta.

The Lysithea was state-of-the-art, but it didn't feel natural to me.

Here, there was no futuristic gear or state-of the art technology, we built our own homes and survived on simple resources, and while primitive, it felt like I was a proper living being, rather than a cog in an artificial machine.

While it wasn't the same as Earth, It was just that little bit more familiar to me, and I could rest easier because of that.

"How about you Noboru, how was Earth doing while I'm away? Was everyone fine?"

"Ah yeah, everyone's doing well. Both my family and yours too."

"Really? So you kept in touch with my parents?"

"I guess, we're just acquaintances you know? Although, it was kind of awkward without you…"

"Right! I can imagine!"

I laughed freely.

"Judging from your uniform, joined the military didn't you? That's amazing! You really ended up going far didn't you?"

"Aha, I guess so. But I wasn't alone actually, a few people from our class joined into the military like I did, so we worked hard together."

"Eh? Really?!"

"Yeah, but they're in different branches, I came alone."

"I see…"

I inhaled and sighed.

"You really came here though, didn't you?"

"Yeah, it's hard to believe." He replied earnestly.

I tucked in my legs and laughed.

I knew, even though we had this small talk, we had to touch on the serious subjects.

All eight years, and I never really imagined how our reunion would be.

I always assumed it would be a happy thing.

But now, I wondered if it really was.

"Mmm…Noboru, I want to ask you something honestly."

"Hmm? Sure, ask me."

"You came here…was it for me?"

A short silence.

"…Yeah. It was, I wanted to see you again, those are my honest feelings."

"I see…"

I felt myself frown a little.

"…Was it worth it?"

"Huh…?" I could hear his surprised voice.

I sighed.

"Noboru, you had a life on Earth. Your family, your hometown, so many things to see, so many things to do. All of our friends from back there, and I'm sure you've met so many different people since we've parted…"

Noboru was intently listening, so I had to convey my thoughts to him well.

"But what you did has thrown all of that away. We don't know if you can return safely, or even at all…we are so far from Earth now, our home. It could've just been me, but now you've left it for my sake as well…"

Even though he said it was his choice, he still risked his entire livelihood just to see me again.

It made me feel a bit guilty…

"I just want to know, was I really worth that? Because…I'm not sure if I would be myself…"

Noboru could've had a life on earth.

He could've pursued his own dreams, found his own way, and lived a happy life with the friends and family he's known for his entire life.

But he's now on Agharta with me, far away from any other human civilisation.

It must've taken him so much.

So much work, so many risks, and so many years.

All just to get here.

"Mikako…" Noboru spoke softly.

"Can you let me be honest with you, right now?"

I nodded.

"Gotcha." Noboru said.

"Mikako, I had been on Earth for a while, I've seen the scenery I've seen before plenty. I've been able to talk to my family and yours as well should I have wanted to. I've met so many people, made so many friends, and there was even one girl who tried to ask me out."

Mmm.

I had figured something like that would happen at one point.

"But, I couldn't rest easy, not there…and…do you know why?"

He took in a deep breath and looked into the slightly turquoise sky of Agharta.

"It's because you weren't there with me."

I felt my breath caught within my throat.

"The streets I used to walk through didn't feel as warm as they used to, the sunlight didn't seem as vivid as before, and the summer rain felt colder and bitter than ever."

He chuckled.

"At first I thought it was because I was maturing, because I was slowly becoming an adult. But…I figured out, the main reason was because…it didn't feel the same without you."

He turned around and looked into my eyes.

"Mikako…you are my best friend, you always were, and what made those nostalgic childhood days so wonderful wasn't just the scenery, the summer rain, or the bright days, it was because you were there with me to experience them all together."

"Because…I was there?"

Hah…yeah, of course.

We were always inseparable after all.

If I were the one left behind back then…I probably would've felt the same way too.

Life just isn't right when you miss someone so close to you.

He was trustworthy, we always got along, and we were tightly knit best buddies.

I could lean on him when I couldn't for anyone else.

I trusted him with so much, and he trusted me too.

Ahaha…I was dumb for even worrying.

I giggled to myself and looked at him again.

"Noboru…"

We really were so close, it made me blush.

"Actually, there was one more thing." Noboru spoke up again.

"Mikako, ever since you've left all those years ago, I really felt like something was missing from my life, and I really mean that. It was like as if there was a hole in myself, and I couldn't really fill it back up no matter how much I did."

"Yeah, I get you. I felt the same way…because I missed you and Earth so much."

"Mhm…but, I've figured it out…the reason to that was very simple."

The reason…?

"From the beginning, we really were two peas in a pod huh. Our free spirit, your energy kept up with mine, and our playful personalities just let us keep going and going together, it was so much fun."

"Mhm…those were the days."

"They sure were…and, I've realised there's nobody else I can really do that with, and I've treasured those moments with you a lot…"

Noboru began gazing off into the distance, seemingly trying to avoid my gaze.

"Mikako, I cannot imagine how I could describe how much you mean to me…heck, I travelled the cosmos just for a chance to see you again, and I'd say it was totally worth it for this moment, cuz I just wanted to tell you this one thing…"

He breathed in.

"I really…can't imagine my life without you anymore…I want you to stay by my side for as long as possible, and I want to be there with you as well…"

Ah…I see…

He's felt this way too.

"Aha…it's taken me far too long to realise this, in hindsight it was so obvious, but now I can say with full confidence…Mikako, I love you."

"Ah…"

Those words.

They were what I wanted to say to him face to face for so long.

"Ah, you're so silly."

"Huh? W-What do you mean…"

His embarrassed face was so cute.

"You've gone and done so much all just to say that?"

"Well, yeah, I do okay…"

"Ahaha, sorry sorry…it's just…I kinda wanted to say those words myself…"

"Huh?"

"Hm. 'I love you'. You said it before I could y'know…"

"Ah…I see…I guess I did…of course, I don't know what else I expected."

We laughed together.

We now knew, the two of us, we were true partners now.

I reached out my hand to him, and he took it and grasped it gently.

His hand…it was so much rougher than I remembered.

Yet, it was definitely the same hand I would hold in the past.

I looked into his eyes and smiled.

Right now, I was truly the happiest I had ever been in years.


Soon after we finished taking care of the farm and getting our harvest for the day, we began heading back to the town.

On the way, lots of people asked Noboru a lot of things, such as how many people came, how Earth was doing, and their plans for the future.

Noboru awkwardly tried to answer their questions, but had trouble giving answers to most of them, he clearly didn't have a good idea either of what they were planning to do once they had arrived.

I walked along with him as well, talking to him like the old days, and sharing the many different things we've done on Agharta since.

Our new lives, the new friends I had made, and how we've all been making do on the planet.

So many people have begun new lives, found loved ones, and we've built a strong sense of community to survive here, and honestly, it's impressive the more I look back on it.

As we arrived back at the village, the farmers greeted their friends and families, and Noboru told me we had to go somewhere.

"The people in my team should be here by now."

"You mean the rescue team?"

"Yeah, at this point they should've tracked us over here. Your commander, Miwa was it? We're going to her place first."

Huh, he knew about Miwa?

"You've me Miwa already?"

"Ehh…kind of. She's who edged me to go off and see you, so while I did meet her, I kinda haven't gotten to talk to her properly."

"I see, I'll introduce you then!"

"That'd be nice, thanks."

We then made our way to Miwa's place, and were greeted by a troop of people in heavy gear and suits.

"I assume this is the rescue team?" I asked Noboru.

"Yeah. Brief me on the situation, what did I miss?"

"Noboru, welcome back. We're making preparations to head back to base for now, although Captain told us you should head in, he needs to brief you."

The man Noboru talked to glanced at me.

"I assume she's the one?"

He randomly said that.

"Huh?"

What was he talking about?

"Ahaha, yeah…it's what you think."

"Heee, well I'll be damned. You crossed the universe and actually did it, that's insane."

I slowly put the pieces together myself.

They must know the reason Noboru went on this expedition was for my sake.

"Thanks for the update, I'll go talk with them directly then."

"Right, I'll see you later Noboru."

He then turned to me.

"—And uhh, Miss Nagamine?"

"Huh! Yes?"

"Do stick with the man yeah? Dunno what he'd do if he were ever to lose you again."

"Ah—!"

He said that and ran off.

"That guy…"

What he said made me feel really embarrassed.

"Ahaha, you can ignore him, he's kind of a casual prankster of the group." Noboru casually stated.

"Shall we?" He asked me.

I nodded and knocked on Miwa's door.

"Pardon the intrusion, I'm back from today's farming—"

When we entered her house. I saw a familiar face sitting on the couch.

Like Noboru, she was older, but that face…those eyes…

I still recognised her.

My dear friend.

"Hisa…!"

"Mikako, aaah!"

Hisa quickly got up from her chair and ran into my arms, tears in her eyes.

"Mikako, it's been so long…"

"Hisa…ah, I'm so happy…it's so nice to see you again…!"

This warmth, being surrounded by loved ones.

I had missed this feeling dearly.

I heard a cough from the side of the room.

Miwa was looking at us with a bemused expression.

"Ah, sorry!" Hisa scrambled back where she was.

Ah…I think we interrupted something.

"Captain!" Noboru said behind me.

"Ayy, there ya' are Noboru! Perfect timing!"

The rough-looking man with a heavy accent casually addressed Noboru.

So this was the captain of the rescue team? He certainly gave a fitting aura.

"Y-Yes sir! I was told to talk to you for an update on the situation? I've been told we would be heading back to base"

"Ah, that's right! Miwa and I here were just sorting the details out."

"Ah, I see…"

Noboru turned to Miwa next.

"You must be Miwa, we haven't been able to talk to each other properly."

"That I am. It's nice to meet you Noboru, I've heard many, many things about you."

Miwa glanced over to me, and I could feel myself blush a little.

"Ahaha…I see…" Noboru seemed a little awkward around her.

"Ohhh! Ya' must be that girl I heard so much about! Ahh what was it again…"

"A-Ah…! I'm Mikako Nagamine, n-nice to meet you!"

"That's tha' one! Gosh, ya' really gone and done it huh? Ya' found her safe n' sound!"

"He sure did Sir!" Hisa chimed in, "Look at them! They've been smiling so much ever since they came in."

Ah…I realised that everyone here knew about our relationship…

…I suddenly felt so embarrassed.

Noboru blurted out "U-Umm…I apologise for speaking up, but I'd like to be debriefed on what we'll be doing here on out?"

"Right, you should know what me and your captain have been planning." Miwa spoke up.

"So to get everyone to speed. A few months after the battle in Agharta's atmosphere, the damaged Lysithea had been slowly drawn in by the planet's gravity, and we crash-landed about 20 kilometres away from this point."

"Right, we assumed that much, but why would you guys come here then?" Noboru asked.

"I can explain." I decided to join the explanation.

"Basically, the reason we came here was because of guidance from the Tarsians."

"The Tarsians?" Noboru seemed surprised.

I nodded.

"The Tarsians actually shielded the Lysithea during reentry. That's why when it crashed, there weren't any casualties. The Tarsians saved our lives."

"I see, I guess that's why the ship managed to stay somewhat intact despite its size." Hisa said.

Miwa continued to explain the story.

"After the crash, the Tarsians took us to their village where we healed the injured. The Tarsians don't eat organic food like we do, so we had to take the rations we needed from the ship, however we decided it would be better if we found a way to use the planet's natural resources in order to survive as well."

She took a sip of her drink.

"So, we did a bit of searching and came here. It was the perfect place, there was a lake for water and aquatic life, a forest with plenty of game, and it was still close enough to the Tarsian village that it wouldn't be too much of a pain to get back."

"Mhm, it was a paradise in the making!" I confirmed Miwa's explanation.

"Eventually, we created this village for humans to live in. It's a bit primitive, but it's honestly kind of relaxing in its own way."

"I see…"

Noboru seemed lost in thought absorbing the information.

"Well, that's basically what these guys did until now, so let's tell you about what we're going to do!" Hisa spoke up.

"Yes, I was getting to that." Miwa continued, "Noboru, our utmost priority right now will be working with your rescue team in order to set up proper, state-of-the-art communication between this settlement and planet Earth."

"Communication? So does that mean…"

"Mhm! No more eight-year long phone messages! It'll take a while, but we predict we can just about set up a station here that'll let us contact home in real time!" Hisa said with excitement.

"E-Eh?!" I blurted out in surprise.

I was surprised to hear this news to be sure.

"So…does that mean…I could talk to my parents again?"

"That's the plan!" Hisa confirmed.

"Our rescue group's gonna have ta' prepare a lotta gear for it, but with what we got, it's just about possible. So, we'll be regroupin' tonight, and we'll begin work tomorrow."

"I'll try to share this information with others in the village." Miwa spoke.

"I'm sure the ex-members of the Lysithea would be happy to help. Once we set up communications, we can begin sorting out other things, like heading back to Earth."

Noboru sighed. "I see…looks like we got a lot of work ahead of us."

Ah, since Noboru was also part of the team, he would have to return to work too.

"D-Does that mean you're leaving…?"

A bit of sadness flickered on Noboru's face, but he grinned again right after.

"Just for the night, I gotta report and stuff anyways. Don't worry, I'll come back as soon as possible."

"I see…"

Well, I guess it can't be helped…

"Then…I'll be waiting for you."

"Mmm. I'll be sure to arrive again, believe in me."

Ah…

His eyes…

They looked so bright and reliable…

His eyes…they're from the experiences that he's had like mine.

"Okay okay okay, you guys, please get a room! I feel like such a third wheel here!" Hisa exclaimed suddenly.

"Ah, Hisa, sorry about that, it's just…ahaha…"

Noboru seemed to have trouble explaining.

Ah, that's right…

"Wait, Hisa…umm…I…"

Great, now that she was here, I didn't know what to talk about at all.

Hisa suddenly put her finger on my lips.

"Shhh…"

"We've got a lot to catch up on Mikako, but we can save that for tomorrow. Just know, I'm really happy I've gotten to see you again."

Hisa smiled warmly.

"Ah…that's right…I feel the same way!"

I hugged Hisa again.

I had too much I wanted to say to her.

Too much I wanted to convey.

But…all of that can be saved for tomorrow…

A tomorrow that we could all look forward to after so much time…

A tomorrow where all of us were together.


"Hey, Noboru, can you check if this sensor is calibrated?"

"Sure! Give me a bit!"

I stretched my arms.

It's been a couple of days since we had arrived on Agharta, and the past few days have felt like an absolute whirlwind of events.

The day after I reunited with Mikako, our rescue team was immediately put to work on the communication station, and a few former crew members of the Lysithea also decided to volunteer and help.

Obviously, not everyone was available, as people still had their own jobs to worry about. Jobs such as procuring food, trading resources, and a few crew members even had their own families to take care of.

On the other hand, for the members of the rescue team, this was our only current job, so we had to constantly spend time on it.

The past few days, I've been spending time working with some of the Lysithea's former crew, getting to know these people slowly.

Hisa and Mikako also had a lot of time catching up, to a point where I almost felt jealous.

Obviously, Hisa deserved to catch up with Mikako, but the amount of time I was able to talk to her was drastically less than how much I saw the two hanging together.

The truth was, outside of our initial reunion, I never really found the time to talk to Mikako myself.

There was still a mountain of things I wanted to discuss with her, but here I could barely spend time even seeing her, and when I could, she was always going off to do something else with Hisa.

I guess it couldn't be helped, there was work to be done after all. Hisa wasn't the physical type, so she was delegated to communicating with the locals and learning what they've been up to, while someone like me was chosen to do hard labour.

I checked the sensor that my crew mate asked me to, and re-adjusted it accordingly.

"aaand…that should do it."

I wiped the sweat off my brow after a day of hard work.

Once the communication station was working, we'd be able to coordinate with Earth and figure out what to do from there.

After a few days of hard work, today we're finally finishing it all up, so I hoped to god that everything would work properly.

I quickly made my way back into the house where we had decided to set up as our base of communications.

Once I got in, I was greeted by my captain.

"Ayy Noboru! Ya' done with the calibration?"

"Yup, everything's accounted for."

"A'ight. Well, I don't got anythin' else left for ya' to do for now, so why don't ya' spend today as a well-deserved break?"

I was surprised by that statement.

"Really, a break? Isn't there still more work to be done though?"

"Not much, ya' did more than yer' fair share of work. We'll be fine."

My captain gave me a pat on the shoulder and saluted me.

"R-Right! Thank you sir!" I saluted back and exited the premises.

"Well, now what to do…"

I had no idea where Hisa and Mikako were at the time, nor did I really had anything else to do.

Not having anywhere to go, I decided to go to Miwa's place for now, and potentially get a lead on Mikako.

I walked through the city and arrived at her house.

Gently, I knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

I heard Miwa shout from the inside.

Taking the approval, I walked into the house, where I saw Miwa with a stack of papers.

"Ah, Noboru, it's good to see you."

She spoke as she continued working on the paperwork.

"Good afternoon, Miss Miwa. I hope I'm not being a bother."

"Oh, not at all, it's nice to have someone to talk to, all of this gets really boring after a while…"

"Oh I bet, this makes my reports seem like a primary school essay."

We both laughed.

"So? What brings you here Noboru?" Miwa asked me.

"Nothing much actually, the Captain told me to take the rest of the day off."

"Ah, I see. So I assume progress is planned to finish by the end of today like planned?"

"Yeah, although I don't have any plans, which is why I'm laying around here."

"I see. Well, there's not much to do here, unless you want to help me with his pile."

I chuckled worriedly

"I think I'm good."

Miwa smirked knowingly.

"Are you getting used to life here?" She suddenly asked.

"To be honest, not really." I said honestly, "I don't feel like I've really spent much time here on my own, I've been too busy with my jobs that I haven't really become familiar with it"

"I see…that's right, you have been quite busy, it's natural then." Miwa said with a sigh.

"Why ask me that?" I asked curiously.

"Well, it's something I've already discussed with your captain. I might as well tell you since you're part of the rescue operation, it'd be better for you to know this anyways."

I wasn't quite sure where she was getting at.

"You know, these past couple of years, us crew members have created this settlement on a foreign planet all on our own, and we've had to struggle so much to survive on this land."

"I guess that's true, it has been eight years."

"That's right, it's been a very long time, yet, in that time, we've built an entire village, created a working society, and for plenty of people, this planet has been their home for the past eight years. Some have even fallen in love, had children, and started brand new lives by the time the rescue team came."

"Ah…that's true…"

I began to realise where Miwa was going.

"You're saying…for some people, this is planet is their home?"

Miwa nodded with a smile.

"Obviously, some people do still want to return back to Earth, and absolutely nobody is ungrateful for the support and efforts that you and your team have put into coordinating this rescue operation. We are thankful for your work, and am happy we received support like this."

Miwa took a sip of coffee before she continued.

"But…for a lot of people, this planet won't be a place they'd want to leave. There's a lot of people who want to stay, and continue the lives that they've built up."

Of course, Agharta is like a second home for plenty of the crew members.

It has been eight years, plenty of time for lives to change drastically.

The former Lysithea crew members have essentially created a new culture and livelihood on this planet, and even if Earth was their home, it would be hard to imagine everyone would be willing to abandon the lives they created here.

"I've been informing everyone in the village about our potential plans, and while some people are happy to go back, others seem to have conflicting feelings on whether or not they want to leave."

"I guess that makes sense, this is a real home now isn't it? It's not like this village is truly uninhabitable."

I recalled the sights I saw when I came here for the first time.

The clean atmosphere. The beautiful scenery. The peaceful environment.

It was essentially untouched by man, and felt so peaceful.

"In a way, this place does feel like some sort of a paradise. You lead a simple, yet relaxing life, in a tightly-knit community of trusting individuals. It's a wonderful place."

Miwa then turned to me again.

"So…what do you think you would pick?"

That question caught me off guard.

"Hm? You're asking me?"

"Of course, nobody else is here is there?" Miwa joked, but a part of her expression carried an air of seriousness.

"Mikako, you know, has gotten quite attached to our settlement. She's become a reliable member of our community, takes charge of many responsibilities, and is well-liked by a lot of people. I can tell, she's been having a lot of second thoughts about leaving."

I was surprised to hear that.

"She has?" I asked. "Well, she was always an adaptable person, but I thought she would've wanted to see her family and friends back at home again."

"Oh, that's definitely the case, which is why I don't think she's going to have an easy time choosing between where she wants to end up. She must be torn, choosing between her family and friends on Earth, and the community she's built on this planet."

Miwa had a point, I couldn't deny that.

"That's why…" Miwa continued, "I think, you need to help her decide."

"Me? Choose for Mikako?"

"Yes. You're unbelievably precious to her are you not? So I think, she'll simply choose to be with you, no matter what other reservations she may have."

She'll choose…to be with me, huh…?

"Whether she leaves back to Earth, or stays on Agharta, I don't think she would mind as long as she's by your side."

I was at a loss for words.

Yet at the same time, I couldn't deny that it would be the likely result.

After all, our wishes and trust in each other were what let us go on for so long until we were reunited.

"That is why I asked you that question earlier, Noboru. You'll have to make a decision yourself, whether you want to stay on the planet Mikako now calls home, or return to Earth where your family is."

"I see…"

That did add more weight to that kind of decision.

If I was responsible for Mikako's future, I had to decide for her sake as well, and not just my own interests.

"I'll think about it, thanks for the advice, Miwa."

Miwa gave me a gentle smile.

"Don't mention it, anything for my student's happiness."

I was taken aback.

Even now, it seemed Miwa was always looking out for the people she cared about.

I thought to myself that I could truly understand why Mikako relied on Miwa so much.

She was an amazing person.


After the day ended, I returned to our ship, and as per routine, would be given a debriefing of our current situation on Agharta from our Captain.

But tonight, we received different news than the usual.

"We've successfully established connection?!"

I shouted out inadvertently.

"Mhm! All of ya' made some fine work out' there. We tested out the communications station, an' we were able to contact Earth! 'Took us 'bout an hour to get it all connected, but once it was established, 'was smooth sailin' from there."

"That's great news!" Hisa said beside me, "we can start coordinating plans for a proper rescue now right?"

"Tha's right!" Said our captain. "An' ta celebrate, Hisa n' I arranged somethin' pretty nice for y'all!"

Something to celebrate? This was the first any of us heard of something like that.

"What is it?", I asked.

"Well, we're gonna be havin' a celebration party!" Exclaimed the captain.

In seconds, the team broke out into conversation.

"A party?!"

"Woah, right now?"

"Aww yeah! Time to finally kick back after all that hard work!"

Cheers soon erupted in happiness.

A party, huh? That actually sounds really nice.

I looked over at Hisa, and she seemed to be grinning at me for some reason.

"…What?" I asked her.

"Oh, nothing. Just looking forward to the party." She said offhandedly.

Suspicious…

"The party 's gonna be tomorrow night, so get ready!"

Our captain made one final announcement before the entire rescue crew erupted into cheer again.

It was certainly an occasion to be merry.

Later that night, as I was resting in my room, I thought about what Miwa said.

What was best for Mikako?

I'm sure Mikako would want to see her parents again.

See her friends again.

Return to the city that she hasn't seen in years.

But…she's created a new home to live in, and now has a responsibility on this planet too.

Would bringing her back really bring her happiness?

I wanted to give her the best of both worlds in this situation…

Wait…

"The best of both worlds…"

…I had an idea.


Next in the morning, I immediately told my captain about my idea during debriefing.

"Hmm, itsa' possibility, but we'll hafta' see how the higher ups think about it. We plan ta' establish communication this afternoon, so tell ya' what. I'll mention that lil' request of yours."

It was the best answer I could've expected, if he was willing to talk with the military about it, that was all I could possibly ask from him.

Today, however, since we had finished most of our work, we were told to take it easy, so I chose to use the day in order to explore the landscape of Agharta.

I spent the entire day walking around the fields, forests, and mountains.

When I traversed the fields, I saw wildlife running across the plains, feasting on grass, and avian-like creatures flying overhead.

When I explored the forests, I could hear the leaves of the planets' trees rustle from the cool Aghartan breeze.

When I hiked up the mountains, I saw a river that led to a massive, beautiful waterfall, that rushed down with intense energy.

A cool wind blew through as I stood by the side, as I realised something obvious.

I really hadn't taken the time to appreciate how beautiful this planet was.

I could see why Mikako fell in love with this planet.

I didn't want to tear her apart from such a wonderful place myself.

By the time evening came, I returned to the village, just in time for the party to begin.

We were celebrating in the area of the settlement that had been built on top of a large lake. Apparently it was an experiment since they wanted to try to expand the town onto the lake as well, and it was surprisingly easy to build with how sturdy the natural materials of Agharta were.

I admittedly had never visited this area before however, and the sight of it was honestly impressive.

There were large paths built on stilts that held the roads and buildings above water. The paths were polished to the point we didn't have to worry about splinters, and there were rope fences to keep everyone in.

The reason we were celebrating here was because the above-water atmosphere was apparently extremely popular with residents, so the settlement's only bar was built here.

Granted, there wasn't any real alcohol, but people could still enjoy various tropical-style drinks created from Tarsian fruits.

Although, according to Miwa, some people were trying to find a way to create alcoholic drinks using tarsian resources for leisure…

The bar was an open-air bar with various tables, and tonight, there were a bunch of exquisite-looking dishes prepared on multiple tables, as well as various barbecues and grills.

I had to admit…this seemed less like a settlement, and more like a holiday paradise…

"Yeah…I can see why people would want to stay here…"

Although I did have to wonder, where was Mikako?

I felt that she should've been one of the first people to have arrived, because apparently, she also lived in this area.

Maybe I should look for her?

I walked around the barbecue, trying to look for a sign of Mikako.

"Ah, Noboru! There you are!"

I heard someone call me from behind me, I turned around expecting it to be Mikako, but it was apparently Hisa.

"Good evening my friend, and how are you faring during this fine banquet?"

Hisa held a tower of freshly-grilled food on a single plate.

"I'm fine…although pardon me for asking, but are you gonna be able to finish all of that?" I asked.

"Hmm? It's fine, isn't it? We've got so much food, we might as well take advantage of it.

She said before she took a bite out of a skewer.

"You seem a bit down, are you perhaps looking for a certain short-haired girl with an athletic build?"

I sighed exasperatedly, "You know, instead of teasing me, you could just tell me if you've seen her or not."

Hisa laughed in my face.

"I'm sorry, it's just too easy."

She gathered herself before continuing, "As for where she is, don't worry about it, I think she just needs a bit of time to prepare herself, don't worry, you'll see her eventually."

"Prepare herself?"

I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Prepare herself for what?" I asked.

"You'll see. Trust me."

Hisa left the conversation at that before plopping down at the nearest table and began making work on her pile of food.

Well, she was definitely taking it easy.

That being said, Hisa had been spending a lot of time with Mikako recently, so if there was one person who knew what she was doing right now, it would've been her. I guess I'll take her word for it.

I decided to take a walk around the area, exploring the bridges that connected the various platforms and houses that were raised above the water.

I guess with eight years of pure isolation, it makes sense that they'd want to try and make more daring architecture, if only to pass the time.

"Still, sure doesn't make it feel like they need rescuing."

Maybe it's because the crew of the Lysithea were some of the most talented people from our planet. But it's undeniable that this planet was a paradise.

The lives people could lead here might be physically demanding, but maybe that's better than the stressful, mechanical lives of modern society.

On a world so far from humanity, that they've been able to construct a newer, simpler society that wasn't as complicated as the one on Earth.

This planet wasn't a bad place to live at all.

"N-Noboru…!"

Whilst I was in my own thoughts, I heard a familiar voice call from behind me.

When I turned around, I immediately stopped in my tracks.

Mikako was there, wearing a beautifully woven tan sundress.

"H-Hey, Noboru…do you like how this looks…?"

"I…I…think it's…uhhh…"

Any words I was preparing to say immediately spilled out of my tongue as I took in the sight in front of me.

The Mikako in front of me had a very different impression from how I normally saw her.

The Mikako I knew was an athletic, confident girl, but in this moment, she felt far more delicate and beautiful.

"U-uhm, can you say something, Noboru…?"

"A-Ah! Yeah! You got a new dress Mikako? It looks really good…! R-Really good…!"

I stumbled upon my own words trying to gather my bearings.

I wasn't prepared for her to wear something like that, she was very pretty…

"You think so…? Ah, I'm glad then! I spent a lot of time with Hisa trying to make some clothing that you'd like more." Mikako said, relieved.

"With Hisa? Is that why the two of you have been spending so much time together lately?"

"Partially…we wanted to keep it a surprise for you. Sorry if you've felt left out…"

Ah, I see. That explained why they were gone together a lot of the time. Making a dress like this in a few days couldn't have been easy.

"It's fine," I replied, "although, you're going to have to make it up for me."

I reached out my hand to her.

"Shall I take you out for the night?"

Mikako seemed surprised for a moment, before she took my hand in her own.

"…Yes!"

Mikako and I joined the celebration. The sound of grilling food and laughter filled the night.

As we walked through the bar, we encountered Hisa again, as well as a few other friends of Mikako. It seemed that Mikako had become a very well-connected person in the time she spent here.

I learned that my relationship with Mikako had actually spread throughout their entire network as a result.

It turned out that a handful of people have actually asked Mikako out, but she turned them down each time.

I felt a few of her friends were silently judging me too. Ah, I guess Mikako really had become popular.

Mikako and I eventually got some food and drink, before settling down at a table. We talked about pointless things as we ate, such as my impressions on the planet and the kind of tasks Mikako would often do.

People talking about their lives, both on this planet and how Earth had progressed since the Lysithea left.

About the time that had passed, and the future we wanted to build onwards.

After an hour of eating had passed, we sat together silently at the table before I spoke up again.

"Pretty impressive place all of you made. It's amazing."

"Yes, I think so too." She replied. "It's a shame I'll have to leave it…but it'll be fine."

I could hear a bit of uncertainty in Mikako's voice.

"You've stayed here for eight years already, you don't need to force yourself to go back if you don't want to, you know."

"Mmm…but, Agharta's not really my home, is it? I'm still a human from Earth in the end."

Mikako said something unexpected.

"Why do you say that?"

"Isn't it true though? I'm from Earth. My family is on Earth, all of my old friends are on Earth too…this place isn't where I belong…"

As she spoke, I could tell from her tone that she wasn't confident in her words. It seems she really was having second thoughts about leaving.

"Really? I disagree." I said outright.

"Eh?"

Mikako seemed surprised.

"W-What do you mean—?"

I took a sip from my juice, which was very delicious I might add, before giving her an explanation.

"Mikako, that might've been the case when you just got on the Lysithea. But I know you better than anyone. You've managed to open up to the people here, and you've helped build this community over time. I'm not that ignorant, you seem really happy here."

Mikako was silent upon hearing me.

After a moment of silence, she spoke up.

"But…don't you want to go home?"

She asked me.

"Kind of, I admit I'm definitely not as used to Agharta as you are, Earth was just a few months ago for me, while I've only been on this planet for a couple of days."

I had to admit, I did feel like Earth was my proper home, but that didn't matter to me.

"Still, I just want you to be happy, Mikako."

That was all I wanted.

"But…I am happy." She said. "I'm the happiest I've been in years, I mean it."

She looked at me.

"When you're by my side, there's no way I won't be happy. I just want to be with you, Noboru."

I smiled, it made me happy hearing her say those words.

"It's the same for me. Being with you has made me feel the most complete I've felt in ages. That's why I never want to part with you again."

"Right? So then I'll—"

"That's why I'll stay here."

I interrupted before she could continue.

"You'll…stay here?"

I nodded.

"B-But…why?"

"You said it yourself, didn't you? I just want to be with you. You seem happier here, so naturally, that means I'll stay with you, doesn't it?"

Mikako had a priceless look of surprise on her face.

"But…you still have a life on Earth, don't you? Your family and friends still expect you to return one day, don't they?"

"Well, of course, I don't want to leave them forever either." I said plainly.

"Then…wouldn't it be better if we returned to Earth?"

"But that would mean taking you away from everyone and everything here, and I don't want to do that either."

"I don't mind that though! I just want…"

I put my finger on Mikako's lips.

"Do you mind if we go on a little walk?"

Mikako seemed confused, but nodded slowly.

I took her away from the bar, and onto the pathways.

The bridges were lit by large torches, of which their heat mixed with the cool oceanic wind as it blew past us.

I stopped at one of the bridges, which had a beautiful view of the ocean, as well as the rest of the settlement.

"It's a beautiful planet, isn't it Mikako?"

Mikako didn't reply, so I continued.

"Not even just that, it's basically a paradise. It's not nearly as stressful as Earth's daily life, the scenery is beautiful, and it's full of resources. Honestly, I can easily see myself preferring this place over Earth."

"Noboru…you don't have to stay—"

"That's not what I'm saying, let me finish."

Mikako seemed confused, but let me continue.

"That being said, it's not Earth. Nothing can replace Earth, Earth is our home, where we were raised, and where our families still live…it's hard to choose between the both of them, isn't it?"

"Not really…I just want to be with you, Noboru. That's really all, you don't need to do all of this for me."

I smiled at her.

I knew she meant those words, and was all the more touched by them as a result.

But it's also because of those words that I wanted to make her all the more happier instead.

"I believe you, but I could say the same thing right back at you too, which is why I wouldn't be satisfied with myself if I tore you away from this planet without trying anything else."

"But what's even there to try?" Mikako asked.

I laughed.

"Mikako, how many people live with their family for their whole lives?"

I asked her a rhetorical question.

"Not a lot of people…I guess…"

"That's right. Lots of people move out of their original home, sometimes to different countries or even continents. They form their own lives for themselves based on what they want to do, yet despite all of that, they can always come back home for a visit during a holiday or trip."

"Noboru…are you suggesting we live here and…occasionally take a trip back to Earth?"

It seemed she finally caught on.

"I don't see why not."

Mikako had another priceless expression on her face.

"W-What are you talking about? Do you know how far Agharta is from Earth? A single trip would take ages, not to mention, it'd take a lot of work just to go from one planet to another."

"I'm not sure. You've underestimated how far both transportation and communication has evolved in these eight years. You realise that our team arrived here on what was essentially armored freighters, right?"

"So…you're suggesting of a way to move from both planets conveniently."

I nodded.

"I had an idea, a shuttle system. Connecting this planet to Earth. I talked to my Captain about it. He said that he'd explain the situation of this planet's settlement, and bring up the request as a step to making this official human territory outside of Earth."

Mikako went quiet. Leaving enough time for another ocean breeze to blow through the bridges.

After a few moments of silence, she finally said.

"But…is that even possible?"

"I don't know." I replied honestly, "but it's worth giving a try."

"If it doesn't work, I'll find another way." I said with a smile, "I won't give up until we find a way to get the best of both worlds. So that both you and I can be as happy as we can be."

Mikako seemed to be at a complete loss for words, and wasn't replying at all.

It seemed she was taking it all in.

I waited in anticipation for her reaction for what seemed an eternity.

She took steps toward me and took my face in her hands.

I could barely process what was happening in time.

Before I realised it, she had put her lips on mine.

I stayed still for a few moments trying to comprehend what had happened, before taking her into my own arms, and reciprocating her actions.

We stayed together for a few moments, not moving, as we shared our first kiss together.

After what seemed to be an eternity of feeling her closeness, we separated.

I stared into her eyes, and she stared back into mine.

She was so beautiful.

"…I couldn't think of anything to say…" Mikako finally said, "…so I chose to show how I felt instead…was that okay?"

I nodded as I held her closer to me.

"Of course, I couldn't be happier."

I felt my cheeks flush red as I continued to feel her warmth.

"Thank you, Noboru. It really means a lot."

Mikako said those words to me with a smile.

In that one moment, I felt like the dream of connecting the two planets couldn't be anything less a success.

It didn't matter how much I had to work for it, I wanted to do this for the girl I loved.

This party might've not had any alcoholic drinks, but I had regardless, gotten drunk for the night.

For this one moment, I had nothing but bright hopes for our future.

For the grand happiness we could finally obtain.


"Waaah, waaah!"

A cry signalled the beginning of the new morning.

As I slowly awoke, the yellow sun rays began to stream through my heavy eyelids.

"Mmm…ugh."

Waking up was never an easy task, and even moreso now that I had someone to take care of before that.

I walked over to the crib and took out a familiar, little life into my arms.

"Good morning, Misao. Yes, yes, I know you're hungry, give me a moment."

I walked over to the armchair on the edge of the room, before feeding Misao.

It was another peaceful morning today.

Soon, the bedsheets ruffled, and the other person occupying it finally woke up.

"Ah…good morning, Mikako."

"Good morning, it looks like Misao woke you up too, huh?"

He chuckled.

"Yeah, unfortunately."

We both had a little laugh for a while.

Once Misao finished his feeding, we changed out of our sleepwear.

We were currently on vacation in our hometown on Earth, and were staying in a hotel during our visit.

The hotel was serviceable, but we didn't pay for any breakfast meals, because we wanted to visit the local restaurants in the area together. However, as a result, we had to get up and change earlier to account for the travel time.

We finished changing fast enough, so I put Misao into a stroller, and we began walking through the streets of our hometown.

"Five years, huh." Noboru said next to me. "It doesn't feel like it's been that long since I'd left."

"Five years for you, but it's been thirteen for me. If anything, it doesn't feel real to me that I'm able to see this scenery again."

Not long after the rescue team arrived on Agharta, the planet was able to establish stable communication with Earth not long after.

Once officials on the planet learned that a self-sufficient settlement had been created on the planet, they began to take interest in making Agharta part of human territory.

The main issue came in the forms of Tarsians, and whether or not some people considered them safe. According to Noboru, news had since gone out about humans orchestrating unprovoked attacks on Tarsians, which is what caused the attacks to begin with, and it created a conflict on the planet about whether or not the two species should coexist. This dispute is still going on to this day.

However, this has not stopped some nations from supporting the goal of interstellar travel, especially since Earth was already on the path to properly colonising Mars. So in spite of the complications with the Tarsians, Earth began developing methods for transportation between planets through advancements in warp technology.

Our arrival on Earth was the result of this.

Once the confirmation of the rescue was successful, most of the rescue team returned to earth, along with about half of the people on Lysithea's original crew.

The remaining people would instead stay on Agharta, both to continue monitoring the planet, as well as continue with the new lives they had already begun.

The people that remained on the planet included Miwa and I, and for the rescue team, Hisa and Noboru were of the people that decided to remain on the planet.

Afterwards was probably the happiest part of my life.

I was surrounded by friends and faces, cared for by a community that I helped build.

My best friends Noboru and Hisa were finally by my side, and we spent many days of bliss together.

Once Agharta had established proper connection with Earth a year later, I could finally contact my family after nine whole years, and I slowly began reconnecting with some of my old friends through the connections Noboru still had.

I promised them all at that point, that I would return to Earth one day, if only to visit.

Another year later, Noboru and I would finally get married.

We had our wedding at the side of the lake, I vividly remember jumping into his arms with so much force that both of us collapsed and fell into the lake beind us.

We came out with our hand-woven clothes soaking wet, but we were so happy that day that we didn't care.

It was a day full of joy.

Then, a year after that, the members of our little family would increase by one.

Our child, Misao Terao, would be born as a healthy young boy.

We lived a happy 2 years together on Agharta, helping the community sustain itself, as well as managing the process of approving interstellar trips between the two systems.

Once enough successful trips were done, and the system was streamlined, it was eventually deemed safe for usage.

As such, the government officials decided to approve doing final tests with volunteering civilians, to see if travel between the two systems would indeed work.

Sure enough, once we heard of the news, Noboru and I immediately requested to be part of the volunteers.

Not long after, we were able to board one of the newly created shuttle crafts, and in the span of a few weeks, managed to make it to Earth safe and sound.

I finally saw my family again, who welcomed my return with open arms.

I also managed to meet a lot of my childhood friends again, and catch up with them.

I cried a lot of happy tears that day.

A lot of them were also excited to meet Misao, who was apparently the fifth human child born outside of Earth.

It was a simultaneously hectic week, yet one that brought me indescribable joy.

I couldn't be happier.

On the way to the restaurant, Noboru and I strolled through the streets we often ran through in our childhood.

The familiar streets.

The train crossing, the road next to the station, the bus stop.

All these familiar memories from our childhood gave me a sense of nostalgia.

"We both used to take shelter here when it rained, do you remember?" Noboru said at the bus stop.

I smiled.

"Of course…there's no way I could forget those wonderful memories."

On the way to the restaurant, we went over a certain bridge to cross the road.

Here, I could see most of the town, stretching towards the distance. A beautiful town in the morning, that was covered in what seemed to be a golden light.

It was a truly breathtaking sight.

Even after our adventures and experiences on Agharta, I fully understood the saying, that "there wasn't anything like your hometown."

In the summer heat, our home from that time hadn't changed much.

Even though we no longer live here, it was nice to visit.

Seeing it after so long, it made me feel complete myself.

"Hey, Mikako."

Noboru spoke up again.

"Are you happy?"

As I looked across the town, I gave a simple reply.

"Yeah, I am."

Yes, I was happy.

Because after so many years…

I am here.


Author's Notes (?):

Looking down again, from the edge of his reality, the golden being witnesses something, before turning around and speaking.

"Yeah, I done it again. Granted, this time it was for an origin story that had a much more hopeful ending, all I did was illustrate the end result of that ending with as much hope as I could muster."

He jumped across, seemingly dancing around the infinite space.

"Honestly though, this one took a lot more effort. I had a lot of difficulting bringing the pieces together at times, and obviously compared to my last work, it sure as hell is a lot bigger. But honestly, I'm satisfied. I feel like I've not only concluded the story, but helped illustrate the world that this story takes place in in many ways. The reality here has been fleshed out a lot, and I'm quite satisfied with how it turned out."

The golden being then seems to smile.

"Protecting these souls is what I exist to do, and to those who seeked closure, this is what I offer. For those who dislike a story like this, I apologise, I guess? But for the people who enjoyed this new fragment of hope, I hope you too, found it worth your time."