Nagisa
She lead me out of the door and into the world that have ended. Somehow, it looked different, so different, and so magical, from the first time I stepped out of the empty classroom. There is a tingling feeling in the air around us and the fluffy ball of lights seems to glow brighter than ever. The sun warmed the field of grass, straightening them. It slowly sipped the morning dew which sparkled like a million diamonds. There is neither a clock nor a watch in sight, and I have not recall seeing any at all. However, by the angle of the sun, I think it's about 9 in the morning. I wonder what time I woke up. Slowly and with care, we made our way through the grass field. It was extremely hard keeping up with her. She seems to know exactly where to step to not disturb the grass. I was, on the other hand, trying my best to avoid the delicate grass-bulbs. Soon, I was a short distance behind her.
"Ushio-" First time calling that name. It sound lovely. She turned back, from the distance, I still could see that her eyes have turned watery. Mine have too. But for a completely different reason. Ushio...Tomoya... The memory hurts. For the first time, I regretted giving her the name. It have not come to me, then, every time I'm going to call her, it will reminds me of the two people I dearly love. That's why, for them, I will have to stay strong. I wiped away my tears with determination. For them...
"-wait for me..." She slowed her footsteps.
There was silence, except for the whistling of the wind and the sound of our footsteps. I wonder what's the exception of the grass. Where did the grass come from? How can there be here, in the world that has ended? Then, again, How did I end up here in the first place? I longed to ask her that as we trod through the ever-lasting greens. Something in me told me not to. I was scared that she might break down, like the time when I asked her for her name. Something inside me stirred. I can't hold it any longer. I needed to ask her. I decided to break the silence.
"Where are we going?" I asked, telling myself to not mention anything i have previously thought of.
"The junkyard" She replied, without a hitch.
The junkyard?" Why are we going to the junkyard? I thought we were going back to the real world?
Ushio(In the world that has ended)
She looked so confused... Maybe I didn't phrased my sentence correctly.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, we would be going to the junkyard first to pick up some necessary items for our journey."
Her doubts were erased. What I didn't mention to her, yet, was the duration of our journey. I, myself wasn't even sure of it. I predicted the shortest time was about a year. Nonetheless, I didn't wanted to tell her that. I'll break the news to her sometime later...
Nagisa
The sun have now rise above our heads. Our shadows was just dangling beneath our shoes. Strangely, we did not sweat. I remembered not eating since I first gained consciousness, and yet, I was not at all, hungry.
"When are we having lunch?"
She stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes darted left and right, avoiding mine.
Ushio
I'll have let go of one of my dark secrets I kept from her, since... just now?
Scanning for a shaded place, I ushered her behind a huge rock. I mustered all the courage I have and looked into her eyes. Will she be mad at me for keeping her in the dark? I took a huge breath.
"You see..." Here goes nothing!
"...before you went into here, almost all living things characteristics are ripped from you. Hunger, memories, thirst... Only the ability to breathe and talk and your emotions remained. However, you are special, when you saw me, you must have gained back your memories... so, better pray that you have not gained back the rest of the living things characteristics as there is nothing to eat here..." I dare not looked into her eyes, fearing for the worse.
Nagisa
So, that's why during the period when I lost conscious, I saw wisps of my memories... The explanation sound so simple, I wonder whether it's that simple going back to the real world... A little birdie told me there's more secrets that she have not revealed to me. I wouldn't blame her so. After all, I just met her today.
I figured that I better do as she said. Crossing my finger, I prayed that I will not gain back the rest of the living things characteristics. After all, there is nothing else to eat except grass. I simply can't picture myself eating grass.
After resting for a while, we continued walking. The heat was not as unbearable as the mid-day heat. My legs were sore and tired, many times, it had felt like giving up for the day. Many times, I had stirred my legs to walked on. By now, I was relived that I didn't gain back the rest of the living things characteristics. The sky was getting darker by the minute. I noticed that our walking pace increased tremendously. My legs were already numb. I couldn't feel it at all! The only things to keep it moving was the will to keep moving. We have not rested since that time, upon the shade of the rock.
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. I bumped into her as i was one step away from her. She stumbled, but, managed to keep her balance. From my view, I could make out a huge junkyard. Way high above the junkyard was a glaring, circular shinning light. It looked as if the fluffy, beautiful globs of lights have connected and formed a massive big, circular one. It was a beautiful view! As I stared in awe of the light, my eyes caught something, something else far more beautiful than that. It has somehow escaped our notice just now. The sunset. The sunset was so bright, glaring, yet, so warm. It was like the day when Tomoya asked me out. Tomoya. Tomoya...I feel totally miserable without him...
My vision turned into a blur. I poured my sorrow out. Nothing could comfort me.
I sat on the grass, exhausted from crying. I could now cry no more. Around me, was a puddle of my tears. My eyes were as red as ever - I couldn't be bothered anymore. I wanted Tomoya back. Immediately.
Ushio
She wept on and on for a long time. I felt helpless. I would have lent her my shoulder but I was too shy. I wanted to comfort her but I just can't find the right words to tell her. I waited and waited for her to calm down... The sun had already gone down, so have her crying. We lingered there for a moment.
The cold, chilly wind started to blow. Slowly at first, then, it picked up speed. It came in huge wave, from all directions, like a tsunami minus the water. It was freezing cold!
Without wasting another second, We hurried down the hill, speechlessly.
"Go get some poles!" I screamed above the roaring wind. Nagisa nodded and we split up.
Nagisa
Poles... Where can I get some? I scanned around the junkyard. My sight was hindered by the dark. I could see almost nothing. But I knew one thing for sure. I must find the poles, quickly. I saw something, long and straight. Maybe it a pole? I rushed forward. In my excitement, I almost tripped, twice. When I came closer, I realised that it was only a broom. Nevertheless, I picked it up and continued searching. The results were poor. I went back with only the broom.
Ushio
I was shivering. I knew that our lives depends on this search. My hand came across something sharp - Ouch! Blood gushed out my wound. I took my handkerchief and wrapped around my injured hand. I felt around the object, carefully. It felt cold and jagged. Curious, I pulled it out and examined it under the moonlight. It was a saw. Finding it useful, I took it and continued searching. The pain was unbearable! I found a canvas sheet sandwiched in between two heavy boxes. With all my might, I tugged at it. The canvas sheet came loose as one of the heavy boxes tumbled down, missing my foot by inches. It was a close call! The box opened faced down. I found two blankets and a picnic sheet underneath the box. It was my lucky day! I smile, despite the pain in my left hand. Satisfied with my findings, I dragged the canvas sheet, clung the blankets and dangled the saw on my pinkie. I found that I could not take along the picnic sheet with me. I shoved it under the picnic sheet under the heavy box and make a marking with my feet.
Nagisa
I waited for Ushio. From a far, I saw her. She looked like she was struggling to walk over. Hurriedly, I grabbed the broom and ran toward her. As she unloaded the stuff, I felt useless. She had brought back with her so much things and yet, I only brought back no more than a broom.
"I couldn't find any poles...I only found this broom." I said embarrassedly.
"That's good enough!" As she said it, she produced a saw.
The moonlight shone at the saw, at that moment I saw that the saw was stained with blood. Whose's blood? Hers? I glazed my eyes at her left hand. It was bandaged with a handkerchief. The handkerchief was streaked with blood. Her blood. I grabbed her hand and looked at her eyes. Her eyes avoided mine. Her hand pulled itself away from my grab and behind her.
"your...hand..."
"It's...nothing...Now, saw out the wooden handler, would you? I need to get other items..."
"But...but..."
"No buts!" Ushio said to me as she ran off towards the junkyard.
I watched her disappeared in the darkness before starting work. It was getting colder and colder. I laid the broom on two rocks and started sawing. Every now and then, I stopped sawing and rubbed my hands together. I wished I had my winter clothing on. After a exhausting battle, the wood grumbled and give up. Finally!
Ushio
I went back to the place where I left the picnic mat. Thank god, it's still there. I picked it up. On doing so, I accidentally 'disturb' the heavy box on top of it. It came pouring down it's content. I backed away with the picnic sheet. I tripped on something rubbery and fell on my bottom. I felt the thing. Rubber bands! Just the thing I was looking for! Today must really be my lucky day! I picked up the rubber bands and the picnic sheet and hurried back.
Nagisa
It was so cold...so cold. The roaring wind never seems to die down. I was shivering so much that my vision was blurry. I gritted my teeth at the cold wind.
Ushio...Ushio...when are you coming back?
As if to answer my question, Ushio appeared. Together, we tied the wooden handler with the canvas sheet with the rubber bands. We went inside and lay the picnic sheet. The difference in temperature was so great! I felt instantly warm. Then, we snuggled in the blankets and fell into deep sleep...almost immediately...