*Shinjuku - 5:30AM*
*Doorbell rings*
*Knock knock knock!*
"Hmmmmmmmmm..."
*Doorbell rings*
*Knock knock knock!*
The sound of unlocking coming from behind the door.
"Oh...Ohayo Taki-kun!"
"Ohayo Mitsuh...Eh?!"
"What's wrong Taki-kun?"
"Ah...etou...I think you should have been prepared before opening the door." - Taki tries to look at the nothingness.
"Eh?"
Mitsuha slowly looks down to find her body in a full sleeping mode.
"Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" - She realized it.
"Told ya..." - Taki slightly replies that scream.
"Taki-kun you pervert! Stop staring at me!" - Mitsuha screaming, covering her body and kicking Taki at the same time.
"Hey! I'm not staring!"
"I don't care, you boys are all perverts!" - Mitsuha pushes Taki far away from the door and slams it.
"...sorry" - Taki says that while thinking that he did not make any mistake.
Mitsuha half-opens the door and looks outside while having her full body behind the door.
"You are not going anywhere, aren't you Taki-kun?" - Mitsuha warns Taki.
"Ah...hah, yeah, sure, I'm not going anywhere, just take your time and finish your business." - Taki smiles.
"Hmmmmmmmm." - She looks at him while narrowing her eyes then slams the door again.
*A few minutes later.*
Mitsuha opens the door. She's in a blue shirt with short sleeves and a pair of trousers.
"Ahem...Taki-kun, under my authorization, you are allowed to step into my apartment." - Mitsuha says while closing her eyes and crossing her arms.
Still silent from Taki.
"Oy Taki-kun, are you going into my apartment or not?" - Mitsuha opens one of her eyes and glances at him.
Taki still stands still and stares at Mitsuha.
"Oy...OY! Taki-kun!" - Mitsuha yells at him.
"Ah! Wh...what? I'm here, what's up Mitsuha, you done?" - Taki finally got himself together.
"Taki-kun, are you being lost or something?" - Mitsuha interrogates Taki with her hands on her hips.
"A reh? No, I'm totally fine."
"Hmmm? First time seeing me in informal clothes?" - Mitsuha asks.
"I guess..."
"Anyway...you better get into my apartment, otherwise I will catch a cold and the next place for our date would be in a hospital...A CHOU!" - Mitsuha tries to finish her words and then sneezes.
"Oh, oh I see, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." - Taki walks into her apartment.
Mitsuha closes the door and her face is against the door for a while.
Taki removes his shoes and starts looking back at her.
"Mitsuha...what's wrong? you get cold?"
"No..." - A small reply from her.
"Are you okay?"
Mitsuha turns back and stares at him.
"This...this is the first first and first ever time I allowed a guy to be inside my apartment, even a close friend of mine like Tesshi couldn't have this chance before. So you better behave worthy with the privilege I gave you Taki-kun." - Mitsuha says to him while covering her body.
"Heh? Okay okay, I'm not going to do anything on you, don't worry."
"Hmmmmmm, hard to believe."
"If you are still skeptical about me, maybe I should go."
Mitsuha moves from covering her body to covering the door.
"Ah...no, no, It doesn't mean I told you to leave you dummy." - Mitsuha says while standing in front of the door.
"I had been so curious about how crazy she was and I'm now experiencing it with my own eyes and ears...such an interesting girl..." - Taki's thoughts.
"Okay, okay, I'm listening to your command ma'am, whatever you tell me to do." - Taki says while showing his blank hands.
"Hmmmmmm..." - Mitsuha slowly walks towards Taki with her arms crossed.
"Okay Taki-kun, I'm sorry for going too far, you can have yourself some rest."
"Well...that's a relief." - Taki takes a breath.
"But! It doesn't mean you are now allowed to do anything to me, you are still under some restriction and...just because you are my soulmate doesn't mean you can show your pervert side now." - Mitsuha points at his nose.
"Hmmmmm, I mean you are still young, It wouldn't be good for you..." - Mitsuha says.
"Hey, wasn't her the one who even tended to rape me in 2013? She has been showing much more lewd things than me, just wondering what is coming through her mind now."
"Okay, I promise, I won't do anything, I will just be here and leave when we are done planning things, okay?" - Taki accepts the warnings.
"Eh? Wait...why...why doing nothing?" - Mitsuha shows regret on her face.
"Huh? What now?" - Taki is confused by her reply.
"Ah...nothing...nothing, yeah, yes, you better be, just leave when we are done." - Mitsuha tries to be formal.
"Mitsuha...you are once again making me so confused, just like that time on the train." - Taki narrows his eyes.
"Aha...forget it...Ididn't know you hadn't known me yet, okay?" - Mitsuha explains and then crosses her arms while turning her face away.
"Okay...so, are we gonna plan things in this entrance way or something?" - Taki asks.
"Of course not you idiot, It's because you are standing on my way to get inside my living room, step aside and I will lead the way."
"Taki-kun is here, Taki-kun is with me, two of us, alone, in an apartment! I'm so happy" is what is inside her mind.
"What a weird girl, hah, still a weird girl, but I love it." is what is inside Taki's mind.
Taki steps inside her apartment's living room which is decorated with Itomori style.
"So...welcome to little itomori!" - Mitsuha smiles.
"Wow, this is...this is incredible, so nostalgic." - Taki was surprised.
"Since my town was completely destroyed, all I could do to replica it was just trying to collect some stuffs that are close to my town's culture and I also had to do some handmade stuffs, it's still not perfect, but I tried my best to replica them from my memories and it's still enough to feels like I'm still living in Itomori." - Mitsuha tells about her room's decorations.
"I see, I have never been to Itomori...I mean in my own body and sure old Itomori. But from my memories, I can tell you you did all of these so well, kinda accurate."
"Haha, I'm glad you like it. By the way, did you eat something? If not yet, let me do some for you." - Mitsuha realizes that she forgot this formal question for so long.
"Not yet, but don't worry Mitsuha, I have also planned to make breakfast for both me and you, I prepared something, so, just tell me where the kitchen is, I will have things done in a flash."
"Oh, so that's what the packages you have been holding are for?" - Mitsuha realizes it.
"Yes, that's what these packages are for." - Taki smiles.
"Hmmmmmmmm, usually, I would refuse the offer as a courtesy, but for you...hmmmmmmm there, the kitchen is right over there, I would like to see If you are worthy to be along with me, Taki-kun, you better not turning me down." - Mitsuha points at where the kitchen is and then crosses her arms.
"Ah, yeah, sure, It will be done soon." - Taki says.
"Why do I feel so like being introduced to her relatives even though It's just her? Anyway..." - Taki thinks.
Taki places the stuff on the kitchen table then prepares things.
Mitsuha approaches him, stares at him for a while.
"Hum? What's wrong? Mitsuha?"
"Nothing, just, how can you be so adapted to this kitchen even though this is your first time being here?"
"Ah, you forgot that I'm working part-time in a restaurant? I have learned how to adapt with a new kitchen at first sight. Some good senpais taught me this thing." - Taki says while his hands are still at work.
"Senpais? Oku..."
"Of course not, Whenever I say "senpai" it doesn't always mean her, plus she isn't mainly working in the kitchen, how is she supposed to teach me something she doesn't even work at?" - Taki narrows his eyes at Mitsuha.
Mitsuha says nothing and feels so embarrassed for that awkward question.
"And, this is also my chance to cook something for you for the first time, since your gran and your sister already tasted my cooking skills." - Taki explains.
"Oh, I see, back when we were still swapping, I heard from my gran and sis that sometimes when I act weird, I can cook western food, I have always been hoping to try foods that are made by your own hands."
"Yeah, I'm giving you that chance now." - Taki smiles.
"Hmmmmmm, what are you making for me?"
"Carbonara, for breakfast."
"Italian food?"
"Could be what else? Funny how by working for that restaurant for quite long, I kinda start to forget how to make some Japanese dishes."
"Oh, so before you forgot my name, you already forgot Japanese cuisine?" - Mitsuha mocks.
"Hey, Mitsuha, that doesn't count." - Taki replies.
*3 minutes later*
"Hmmmmm, Mitsuha."
"Huh, what, Taki-kun?"
"Why are you staring at me for so long, what's so fun on me?" - Taki narrows his eyes.
"Hmmmmmmmm, I would say, you seem to haven't grown up since the last time we met, your height is still the same and I'm now as tall as you." - Mitsuha finds interesting things about the height of each other.
"What do you mean Mitsuha? The last time we met was just a month ago for me. I wouldn't change much in just a month. While you had the whole 3 years to grow up."
"Oh, sorry I forgot that the Taki-kun I met 3 years ago was also you a month ago." - Mitsuha teases.
"What's so fun about that?"
"Hmmmmmm, nothing."
"You seem to love teasing me, don't you?" - Taki asks.
"Sure, I'm having you beside me now, I never had a chance to tease you like this when we were swapping."
"I'm wondering If I should consider this a good or a bad thing."
"Come to think of it, you are 3 years younger than me, aren't you Taki-kun?"
"Yeah, obviously."
"So you should have called me senpai." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Huh, what?"
"Ah...nothing, did I just say something weird?"
"I'm not sure, but that "senpai" would indeed be a weird one."
Mitsuha blushes.
"Hmmmmmmmm, okay, the Carbonaras are done. So Mitsuha-senpai, could you help me a bit here?"
"Ahhh~~ don't call me that, Taki-kun!"
"I thought you were jealous of the "senpai" title of Okudera senpai, weren't you?" - Taki narrows his eyes and chuckles.
"Of course not, why would I...actually...it was kinda right." - Mitsuha heavily blushes and slowly decreases her volume.
"Okay, let's fill up our stomachs first."
"Ah...yes."
"Itadakimasu!" - they both say.
Mitsuha forks a roll of carbonara and delivers it to her mouth.
"mmmmmmmm, this is delicious Taki-kun!Not bad! This really tastes good."
"I'm glad you like that."
"No wonder why Yotsuha usually praised my cooking skill whenever I was in "weird" day. Sadly It took me 3 years to taste what both my sis and my gran already tasted 3 years ago."
"You know, best for last." - Taki smiles.
"Oy, where did you learn that sweet way of talking?" - Mitsuha being skeptical.
"From the swapping I guess, I tried to control my tone so I wouldn't say anything I shouldn't say as well as avoid offending someone."
"Wasn't it because you tried to flirt around with some older women?" - Mitsuha teases.
"If there was one, you would be the one." - Taki replies.
Mitsuha blushes.
"Hahah, checkmate!" - Taki teases back.
"Wasn't fun at all, Taki-kun." - Mitsuha softly protests while eating.
"It reminds me, I haven't had a chance to taste your cooking skill yet, when we ended swapping, my dad told me he would love to have some boiled sweet potatoes from me again. I bet you made him something, huh?"
"Ah, yes, I did make some for him on the days when It was your turn to make breakfast. I'm so happy to know that your dad loved it."
"I sure couldn't make such dish, I guess you had some unique cooking skill on that dish as well, I'm so hoping to taste some from your own hands."
"Hehe, maybe next time." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Hmmmmm, It seems you already had your own introduction to my dad since you already made some dish for your future husband's dad." - Taki chuckles.
"Ah, Taki-kun, that wasn't fair, why was I the first one to be introduced to your parent?" - Mitsuha puffs her cheeks.
"Hahah, okay, okay, at least you have done that before me, now I'm the one to prepare for that." - Taki says.
"Well...I did have my own introduction to her dad...a grab on his collar..." - Taki remembers.
"Taki-kun."
'Huh?"
"You seem not so close to your dad, don't you?"
"Hmmm, I don't know, maybe we are too busy to spend time with each other since I and he only meet in the evening when we have dinner then I usually spend most of the night inside my room. I haven't talked to him much since I entered high school."
"Taki-kun, you have a good dad, you should treasure him more, he's caring and warm, just he didn't have much chance to show it since you guys don't have much time to spend with each other." - Mitsuha says.
"Hmmmm, you seem to understand my dad more than me." - Taki replies.
"I'm not sure, but I did have a chance to visit your dad's work place."
"Huh? You mean Kasumigaseki?"
"Yep, It was nice seeing your dad working with my own eyes. Your dad has paper work in the cabinet of this country, that was awesome to know. It's ironic how though both your dad and my dad are working in political environments, I still felt warm and caring from your dad." - Mitsuha smiles.
"You're right, me and my dad were close when I was a child, I do realize the distance between me and him is widening through the years."
"Yeah Taki-kun, try to spend more time with your dad, don't let your relationship with him become cold."
"Okay, I will try...so...how about yours?"
"...this...my dad...I still can't accept him now."
"Mitsuha...I don't want to be a talkative guy, from what I knew, maybe not much, but I think your dad has his own suffering, yeah he is corrupt and he doesn't seem understand his child and usually yelling, but he isn't that bad, all the things he did are just for you guys interests."
"I don't know Taki-kun...it's just...not now."
"Okay, I won't say anything more, just take your time, whichever way you go, I won't object."
"Thank you."
*A moment later*
"Okay, let me wash the dishes since you were already cooking, at least leave me something to do, can't just let my honored guest do anything, Hehe." - Mitsuha quickly picks up the plates therefore Taki won't have a chance to take charge.
Taki stays silent and lets Mitsuha do her job.
He just sits there and silently watches Mitsuha washing things.
"Taki-kun..."
"What's up Mitsuha?"
"About the greeting earlier, I'm sorry for putting you in that situation."
"I don't get it."
"I mean,...I was aggressively guarding myself from you, I showed my heavy skepticism towards you and said such strict things."
A silence from Taki.
"I think...I shouldn't have done that. I didn't treat you like a person I have waited for 3 years. The greeting should have been much better than that."
Taki still stays silent.
"and...since we had seen each other's bodies...for millions of times before when we were swapping, I shouldn't have overdone things like earlier..."
"Taki-kun...why do you say nothing?" - Mitsuha turns her head to look back at where Taki's supposed to be and sees nothing.
"Heh? Taki-kun?"
"Teme Mitsuha..." - A creepy sound suddenly came from Mitsuha's right side.
"AHHHH! Taki-kun! What are you doing here? You scared me!" - Mitsuha splashes a bit of water on Taki's face.
" Heh? You told me not to stare at your body in any form and now you are saying we have seen each other's bodies for millions of times. What do you mean by that "millions of times"? " - Taki says while narrowing his eyes.
"Ehhh...etou...I...I..." - Mitsuha's eyes are dizzy and she's confused.
"And...what was so fun on my body for that "millions of times"? Just what did you see from my body?" - Taki crosses his arms, narrows his eyes, leans his head towards Mitsuha while interrogating her.
"Ehh...ehhh...EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I don't remember! Don't ask me such questions!" - Mitsuha's mind is out of control, her face turns into a tomato.
"Kya~~!" - Mitsuha waves a plate towards Taki multiple times to avoid such a hard question.
"Agh! Stop it Mitsuha, the plate might..." - Taki tries to take the plate from Mitsuha's hands.
Then the plate bounced off her hand, landed on the kitchen surface and started breaking up.
Taki tried to use his left hand to catch the plate when it was falling and ended up catching all the sharp things from it.
"Taki-kun! Are you oka...AHHHHHHHHHHH...It's blood on your left hand and arm!" - Mitsuha screams by seeing Taki's red left hand and arm.
"Mitsuha...sure It's blood...what do you expect after that? Tomato ketchup?" - Taki replies while gnashing from the pain with his eyes still narrowed towards Mitsuha.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Taki-kun, let me care for your wounds." - Mitsuha apologizes profusely while leading Taki by hand to the sofa.
She reaches her Medical box to find the first aid kit.
She removes a fragment on his arm and starts bandaging while still crying and apologizing.
"I'm sorry Taki-kun, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Does that hurt? Just what did I do? I'm so bad, how could I do such a thing on my dear one?" - She is out of her mind.
"Don't worry Mitsuha, sure It's hurt, but not so much, you are caring for my wounds anyway, so you don't have to keep blaming yourself." - Taki says.
Mitsuha is still crying while taking care of his wounds."
"Not a big deal Mitsuha, I work for a restaurant, things like this sometimes happen, I'm kinda used to it, don't worry."
"Really, Taki-kun?" - Mitsuha asks him while still crying.
"Yep. Instead I think this is a good chance for me to be close and touched with you without being yelled at. Hahah" - Taki laughs.
"Taki-kun you dummy...how can you still even tease me while in this situation...and weren't we even hugging while on the staircase?" - Mitsuha blushed and tried to look away.
"Okay, but, It was also my fault, I do have my fault in this whole situation, I shouldn't have teased you when you were dishwashing."
"Hah~ you sure realized your fault." - Mitsuha says.
"Yep I did, particularly when I realized that you are still a dangerous one even when doing such things like dishwashing."
Mitsuha violently tightens the bandage on his wounds.
"Aggggghhhhhhhhh! Mitsuha, It hurts, It really hurts!" - Taki screams.
"Taki-kun you idiot." - Mitsuha murmurs.
*A moment later.*
"Okay, it's done, how do you feel?" - Mitsuha was done bandaging Taki's wounds.
"Much better, hey, the way you bandaged my wounds looks nice."
"Hehe, not much, not much." - Mitsuha smiles.
"This is what? Looks like a braided cord but on a much larger scale."
"Hah? How could you make such a comparison?" - Mitsuha drakens her face with a drop of sweat beside.
"But It reminds me..." - Mitsuha slightly removes the red braided cord on her hair and then sits down to wear it on Taki's right arm's neck.
"Heh? Why Mitsuha?"
"You keep it now, It was your mistake Taki-kun, you shouldn't have handed it to me, since this is our connection, I think It's better If I let you keep this. I don't want to lose you any more time."
"Wait, so how about you? You won't have any." - Taki asks.
"Don't worry, this cord was passed down for me from my mom, I already have a strong connection with my mom, now I need you to have the same connection with me, so as long as you are still with me, the cord is still with me." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Hmmmm, so this is back with me anyway, hello old friend, we're together again." - Taki talks to the cord.
"You could say, this is representative of my mom's appearance beside us, so...you better not mess with it or you will be messing with your future wife's mom." - Mitsuha teases.
"Hey, that's creepy, are you saying your mom has been observing me for a straight 3 years?" - Taki goosebump.
"I guess, maybe she wants to inspect If this guy matches her daughter." - Mitsuha chuckles.
"Am I suitable to be with you?" - Taki asks.
"What If I say no?"
"Then I have to say you will have to be together with this unsuitable guy for your whole life."
"Hmmmmm" - Mitsuha plucks Taki on his forehead.
"Ouch! Mitsuha, what was with that?"
"You are a dummy, Taki-kun, are you still even being concerned about that? Whether you match me or not, I just don't care, you are mine and I'm yours, I'm not gonna let you out of my hands once again." - Mitsuha sits beside him and places her head on his left shoulder.
"Well...who tried to match me with some senpai?" - Taki replies.
"Hey, that was in the past, I didn't realize my strong feelings towards you and not yet mentioned that I didn't know you enough. Are you still mad at me because of that?"
"I don't know...hmmmmmmm...I guess It was kinda disturbed by having my relationship decided by a country bumpkin girl."
"Taki-kun, It was because you had a crush on her in the first place, I just wanted to help. I even saw you sneak several photos of Okudera-senpai."
"Hey, digging someone else's private gallery wasn't so nice." - Taki protests.
"What could I do, I thought It was a dream, so I just simply freely did anything I wanted."
"Thank god you didn't do something overboard such as robbing a bank."
"'C'mon Taki-kun, what kind of person am I in your mind?"
"Hmmmmm, well, we're on the topic, I would say, I didn't really have that strong feeling towards Okudera-senpai as you thought."
"Heh?"
"You know, I'm at that age, kinda easily attracted by beautiful and sweet women like Okudera-senpai. I did have a crush on her, but not much, could easily be redirected."
"So you are a flip-flopper?"
"Of course not, that was why I told you to leave my relationship with Okudera-senpai alone, because I myself couldn't even figure out my exact feelings for her. I wanted you to let me handle my love life myself, but it seemed like a single soul like you love messing around with someone else's love life."
"Hey, you are the one to say, you did mess up my relationship, even a girl from lower grade confessed to me, what was with that, huh? And don't talk like you had a girlfriend as well." - Mitsuha protests.
"but I have one now." - Taki replies.
Mitsuha blushes and her face starts turning into a tomato.
"that...That was because you were the one who confessed first, I just accepted it." - Mitsuha crosses her arms and looks away with a red face.
"If It wasn't me who confessed first, would you?" - Taki asks.
Mitsuha stays silent for a while.
"Hmmmmmm, hmmmmmmmmmmm, hmmmmm YEAH, sure, I would do that anyway, If it wasn't because your silly "name writing" wasted our time." - Mitsuha says.
"Hahah, I knew it. But thank you, you really make me so happy after saying that." - Taki smiles.
Mitsuha looks at him with her red face and starts placing her head on Taki's left shoulder again.
"Taki-kun, why were you changing the topic so fast..."
"Well, I just want you to know that, regardless of what I thought in the past, who I used to have a crush on, I just know that it's now, right this time, I have you beside and only you, forever." - Taki assures.
"Taki-kun...you are such a charmer..." - Mitsuha's face turns more red.
"A charmer wouldn't go almost 300 kilometers from Tokyo to Gifu just to say pointless sweet things."
Mitsuha smiles in happiness.
"Hmmmm, but, I think you were right, Okudera-senpai is a sweet and beautiful woman, I would say she is such a standard Tokyo girl. I even got myself into her so I kinda understand why you had a crush on her."
"Yeah, I mean, as you could see, all my colleagues like her, so I was no exception."
"I think she actually liked you."
"Well, I would say she did spend much more time with me than the other and she was much closer to me than the others, so yeah, maybe she liked me, but I don't think I like that "like" from her."
"Huh? Why?"
"Think about it, all of those just happened after a few days you and I switched bodies. That means you were the one who she was interested in, not me. Stuff like fashion I didn't even bother, but you two do, so I don't think she liked me because I was I, she liked me because you was me."
"So you mean..."
"Yeah, like even If that date was successful, our relationship wouldn't be long since I'm not showing my "feminine" anymore. She would soon get bored."
"Yeah, you are right, I didn't even think of it."
"Hmmmmm, but she is really beautiful don't you think?" - Mitsuha continues.
"Sure, I wouldn't argue that."
"Hmmmmm, do you still find some interest in her appearance?"
"It was not until I woke up and found myself as a beauty with a pair of boobs."
"Ahh~~ Taki-kun! You are showing your perverted side again." - Mitsuha's face is completely turned into a tomato and she's hitting Taki.
"Hahah, okay, sorry, sorry."
"Well, at least you feel guilty." - Mitsuha crosses her arms and looks away.
"But like I said, from my own point of view, you are the most beautiful girl I ever met in my life, I would even say more than Okudera-senpai, I'm not trying to adulate but I'm telling the truth from what I'm really thinking. I don't care If anyone says something else, that's just my own point of view and I'm sticking with it. You really have a unique beauty of your own, Mitsuha." - Taki smiles.
Mitsuha slightly places her head against Taki's shoulder.
"Just how much honey did you eat, Taki-kun? You are saying so many sweet things." - Mitsuha says.
"Well, what else can I say? Those were just from my vision."
"Hmmmm, Taki-kun."
"What?"
"You are so handsome too." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Heh?"
'I mean, you are kinda hot for being a guy in Tokyo, I did wish to be a hot Tokyo boy but I didn't expect this much."
"Etou...I'm not sure If I'm considered hot or not but I don't seem popular to girls in my school."
"So you decided to become popular when you were inside me, huh?"
"Well...I couldn't help it, the feeling was so different, I felt like I could express more when I was in you, actually I didn't express that much when I'm in my own body."
"Hmmmmm...hmmmmmm..." - Mitsuha leans her head towards Taki with skeptical eyes.
"Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm totally straight. It was just that I felt more active and easier to express myself when I was in your body in Itomori."
"Well, I mean, I'm actually happy to know that you aren't popular with girls in Tokyo, you are handsome and attractive in my eyes, that's it, I don't want anyone else to see that the same way as I do."
"Hmmm, what is this? Monopoly?" - Taki narrows his eyes.
"Yep, you could say so." - Mitsuha smiles while leaning her body against his.
The both stay quiet for a while.
"umm...weren't we supposed to plan and map out something?" - Taki breaks the silence.
"Ah...ah yes, I almost forgot it."
"Didn't even mention that you were so close to me and touching me after all that defensive welcome you showed me earlier." - Taki mocks Mitsuha.
"Hey, give me a break, I'm a girl anyway, must be defensive from you boys."
"Well...not a bad thing huh? At least I know that you are not gonna be easy-going with any boy else."
"Yeah and you better learn that from me as well, you can't just go messing around with the girls by pulling out that "popular" advantage you got while you were me." - Mitsuha warns Taki.
"Etou...what can I say, like what I told you in the cafe, I was acting like that only when I was you, I never had a chance to freely express myself like that before. And in fact, I'm not a popular boy in my class and not many girls show their interest in me as well."
"Hah? Really?...Mou~~ hard to believe that." - Mitsuha closes her eyes while turning her face away.
"C'mon Mitsuha, that's true, you can ask a random one in my class, or directly ask Tsukasa and Shinta If you want." - Taki assures.
"Hmmmmmmmm." - Mitsuha looks at Taki with her skeptical eyes.
"But don't worry, as a courtesy, I will be harsh-going with the other girls, you can have your mind at peace."
"Well...that "harsh" doesn't really needed." - Mitsuha says.
"So, what do you want me to do?" - Taki asks.
"Hmmm, just keep a distance from the other girls and be as defensive as me, no need to be a rude dummy." - Mitsuha replies.
"Hahah, sure ma'am." - Taki laughs.
"So, what is the plan again?" - Mitsuha asks.
"Bring them here by telling them you have a small party as an introduction for your boyfriend...well...a younger boy just known for 3 days, I guess." - Taki shows Mitsuha the basic cover of the plan.
"I don't think they would buy that "3 days"."
"That will be the problem, they would likely just think that we are joking or such." - Taki says.
"Yeah, so, do you think you have any strategy to convince them to buy our story?" - Mitsuha asks.
"Sure, I do,I have some solid evidence for them."
"What's that?"
"One of them will be my sketches, my artworks about Itomori, and the picture which has your room on it would be the most badass evidence we ever had. Like I promised you in the cafe, I'm bringing them here, wanna see some?"
"Yeah, sure, I've been waiting for this."
Taki reaches for his backpack, pulls out a clipboard with a load of artwork.
"Here, these are what I have been mentioning, here you go Mitsuha." - Taki hands the clipboard to Mitsuha.
"Oh.." - Mitsuha receives the clipboard and starts having a look at it.
Mitsuha was stunned for a while when looking at the sketch of the Shrine gate.
"Mitsuha...are you okay?" - Taki asks.
Mitsuha still stays silent.
"Mitsuha, Mitsuha." - Taki uses his finger to poke her head.
"Hah, what, what Taki-kun?"
"You seemed lost for a while. Are you okay?"
"I'm okay, It's just...this gave me a very nostalgic feeling. I guess I was so emotional about it, sorry for making you worry, I'm okay. Just...I haven't seen this gate for 3 years, and likely I will never see this gate again. Ironically how this was one of what I was really bored of."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know that the sketch will give you this bad mood."
"No, don't worry, I'm really happy to see these kinds of pictures once again in my life, I'm really enjoying it. Thank you Taki-kun." - Mitsuha smiles while tears are still rolling down on her cheeks.
"Was that where you shouted out that you wish to be a "hot Tokyo boy"?" - Taki narrows his eyes.
"Eh? Wh...what? How do you know that?" - Mitsuha blushes.
"Yotsuha told me, she was worrying about her big sis acting weird recently." - Taki says.
"Ah...etou...well...It was because I was extremely bored of life as a country girl..." - Mitsuha explains.
"But what was with that "hot" anyway?" - Taki making skeptical eyes.
"Eh...ah! But, I didn't wish to be a perverted dummy, someone took that wrongly." - Mitsuha crosses her arms and turns her face away.
The both stay silent for a moment then suddenly laugh out loud.
"Hahah, so I'm now a hot perverted Tokyo dummy? Hahah."
"Well...I guess...hahah."
"Oh, hey, you even sketched the cord braiding tool. So memorable. Let me guess, you were asked to braid the cords, right?" - Mitsuha chuckles.
"Ah...yeah...If I remember correctly, It was on Monday when we switched for the 4th time. I didn't see that coming."
"And what happened then?" - Mitsuha being curious.
"Well...could be what? I simply told Gran and Yotsuha that I forgot everything and did not remember a single thing about that stuff." - Taki scratches his nape.
"What? Hahahah, so how was their reaction?" - Mitsuha asks.
"Both Gran and Yotsuha were surprised about that answer...well...I bet that Yotasuha saw something wrong with her big sis, she was always skeptical whenever her big sis started to act weird, I would say she saw that even more clearly than anyone else. "
"I guess since she's the closest one to me but...just what have you done to make her see things that clearly?" - Mitsuha narrows her eyes.
"Nah, nothing, just normal weird things like we have been telling each other since." - Taki explains.
"Hmmmmm, when did "weird things" have its own "normal" level?" - Mitsuha does her skeptical eyes.
She flips to another sketch.
"Oh, a street, this is where I usually walked past when going to school or going out everyday. And also where I usually met Tesshi and Saya-chin while on the way to school. This is so nice."
Taki smiles.
"Oh my god, you even sketched Goshintai?" - Mitsuha's surprised.
"Yeah, I got my impression of that place the first time I came to it with your gran and Yotsuha to place the Kuchikamizakes. So, after the we ended switching, just like all of the sketches, I drew that purely from my memory"
"Really? This is outstanding Taki-kun! Wait...how did you get this bird point of view? You weren't on a plane or something, were you?" - Mitsuha asks.
"Well, you could say it's my artist instinct, hehe. Just by looking around, I got the basic arrangement of the whole area, mostly from my imagination."
"Well, you love architecture, don't you?"
"Yeah, how do you know that?"
"If It wasn't because Saya-chin told me about my secret ability of being an Architect." - Mitsuha does those skeptical eyes again.
"Ah hah...well...yes...I once told her that I love constructions and landscape while I was you...I forgot that." - Taki laughs softly while scratching his nape.
"Yeah, what was I? A country girl with multi-ability?" - Mitsuha jokes.
"Hahah, I guess It wasn't so bad for you, huh?"
Mitsuha flips to another sketch.
"Oh...the bridge..." - Mitsuha says with tears welling up.
"Uhm, also a place where you and I went to school everyday. It was so memorable.
She tries to hold her tears and flips to another sketch.
"This...thi...this was my..." - Mitsuha can't hold her tears now.
"Well, If you want to cry, just do it, you may find yourself more relieved after that." - Taki says.
"Ughhh...waaaaaaaahhhh." - Mitsuha weeps profusely and noisily.
Taki attempted to cover his arm on Mitsuha but then held it back.
"Taki-kun...did you just attempt to do something?"
"Ah...nothing, you must have imagined." - Taki says while sweating.
"Hmmmmmmmm, lying isn't good, you shouldn't, you naughty boy."
Mitsuha lays her body on Taki's lap.
"Uh...Ah! What? Mitsuha...what are you doing?" - Taki's confused.
"Hmm? Could be something else? Do you really love me Taki-kun?
"Ah...yes, I guess." - Taki says while scratching his head.
"Mou~~ you again, I want a serious statement." - Mitsuha puffs her cheeks.
"Hmmm...yes, I love you, really." - Taki smiles.
Mitsuha grabs Taki's right arm and wraps it around her waist.
Taki is extremely blushing.
"Etou...If you really do, don't hold it back..." - Mitsuha bows her head with a red face while saying.
"Well...is this...kinda way too close?" - Taki faltered.
"Hmm? You don't like it?" - Mitsuha looks at Taki.
"No...it's just...after all that defensive earlier...this is just a bit creepy..." - Taki scratches his nape.
"Hey, It's not like I'm going to hit you with a bat or something. And I'm currently just allowing you to do this, the others are still heavily restricted, what were you thinking of, huh?" -
"No, I'm not thinking, carry on with the sketches." - Taki tries to redirect the topic.
Mitsuha flips to the last sketch, here she sees the pictures that heavily touched her heart, she doesn't try to hold the tears back, it's just coming out from her eyes.
"Ugghhhhhh this..."- the tears are pouring down from her eyes.
"Uhm, I know." - Taki pats her head, tightens his right arm on Mitsuha.
"...you are such...a talent of this...I'm just like...admiring a famous painter's works." - Mitsuha tells Taki with tears and a smile on her face.
"Nah, you are highly overrating me, I'm just an amateur guy who loves sketching, and I was just struggling to remember what I could remember from the experience of being you."
"Struggling?" - Mitsuha asks.
"Well, I had started forgetting things about that experience, not completely at once but slowly at times. Some of the sketches, like the Itomori landscape, I even had to refer to some similar mountains images just to recreate the blur pictures from my memories on the papers."
"I see, when did you start forgetting me?"
"I don't really remember the exact time. But I think it slowly happened after I came to the library in Hida. First I started assuming that you aren't real and I was just dreaming."
"Heh?"
"Yeah, I know, and then I wasn't even sure If Goshintai is a real location or not. I did all of that just by my fading memories about everything."
"Hmmm?" - Taki looks at Mitsuha.
Mitsuha is sticking her eyes at Taki and saying nothing.
"Oy Mitsuha...what are you thinking?" - Taki asks.
Suddenly, a pain came from Taki's waist, Mitsuha pinches Taki right at his waist.
"OUCH! That hurts Mitsuha! What was with that? - Taki startles.
"Hmmmmmm, just to let you know that you aren't dreaming now, I'm here with you." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Uhm, I see, I'm very happy to have you beside me now." - Taki smiles back.
"But It doesn't mean you can do that again." - Taki catches Mitsuha's hand attempting to pinch him again.
"Hehe...you saw that...hehe." - Mitsuha just laughed.
"Why not this?" - Taki assertively put his lips against Mitsuha's.
Mitsuha was shocked, but she didn't resist and just let him ardently kisses Mitsuha for a short while and then releases her.
"well...that was rude.." - Mitsuha stares at Taki with a bullet eyes.
"As If your previous pinch wasn't." - Taki replies with the same eyes.
"Hmmmmm, okay, I will skip it." -Mitsuha blushes.
Mitsuha looks at the sketch of her room for a while.
"Taki-kun."
"Huh?"
"Just how could you recreate my room so accurately? Even I myself couldn't really remember this much detail, your sketch really reminded me of many things."
"Well, I guess waking up as you too many times made me remember the shape of your room. You know, the first place where I opened my eyes to start a day as you was your room. The unique image of it really stuck in my mind, something was really new for me."
"I see, hmmmmmmmmm, the place where you expressed your dirty mind on my body, such a memorable place for you, huh?" - Mitsuha mocks.
"Hey, I wasn't thinking of that." - Taki protested.
"Hahah, okay okay, who knows?" - Mitsuha looks at Taki with skeptical eyes.
"Hmmmmm, I think this would be the most unique evidence we could use to show the ones we want to convince them. This would work well since your sketching ability on these was so great."
"Yeah, like, there are a bunch of pictures about Itomori on the news, in the library and the internet, by seeing these landscape sketches I made about Itomori, they would likely think that I was recreating them from the media and just trying to fool them. In other words, almost no one knows what your room was like except you, your sis, your gran and Saya-chin, right? If I never saw your room, I wouldn't have recreated a sketch of it accurately, even with your help by telling me."
"Which means this is one of our most unique and solid pieces of evidence, you should preserve It carefully." - Mitsuha says.
"Don't worry, with all the memories back from the help of that pinky guy, I'm now able to recreate the pictures that I saw in Itomori anytime."
"Wow, great."
"Hehe."
"Hmmmmm, I think the pictures of the outdoor cafe would be great evidence too. Because It was made near the impact day, I think this is also something kinda unique as well, not many people have seen this and not many of them could remember this much details." - Mitsuha says.
"I do think so, so this will be our second most solid evidence." - Taki replies.
"The remains will depend on our improvisation. Since this is about my relatives and friends, everything will mostly rely on you, I will support you with anything I can."
"Yeah, I will."
"So what about the meeting?"
"Like I have said earlier, this would be a small party for you to introduce me as your boyfriend to them. So, we better have food and set up."
"I see, leave it to me, I know how to create a comfortable atmosphere for them." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Great, so, I'll count on you for that. About the time, we should make it match the time when they declare the result, the result of the election is also one of our most solid pieces of evidence."
"Do you know what time the Americans usually announce the result?" - Mitsuha asks.
"I don't know, that election isn't like the kind of stuff I usually watch or something. Let me search it on the internet, there might be an answer." - Taki says.
*A moment later.*
"How is it?" - Mitsuha asks.
"Well...I found a lot of them, the last two elections, the result usually came out around 4:00-5:00PM in Tokyo timezone."
"Oh, so that means we will hold it in the afternoon?"
"Yeah, kinda, but, in the 2000 presidential election, the result was delayed for nearly a month, because of the argument in ballot counting." - Taki goes on with what he read.
"Wait what? A month? We can't wait that long, do you think this election will be as long as the one in 2000?" - Mitsuha worriedly asks.
"I don't know, from what I heard, the time period of the election is kinda unpredictable, depending on many factors."
Don't worry, everything will be good, the result will be announced around 4:00-5:00PM, I can assure.
"Oh what the heck!?" - Taki jumps.
"Did you hear that voice too?" - Mitsuha asks Taki.
"Yeah, me too, was that the pinky guy?" - Taki replies.
Yare, yare, Yes, I am, I'm talking straight into your mind.
'Hey man, you really freaked us out, don't just suddenly talk like that and c'mon, leave us some privacy, don't tell me that you have been spying on us since." - Taki says.
Nope, just peace your mind, I haven't.
"Good, that's a relief."
Mind control works so well.
"Anou...from what you have said, is that true? So we just need to set everything to match that time?" - Taki talks to the nothingness.
Yes, just go on with your plan and everything will be good.
"Okay, so, Mitsuha, what time do you think we should bring them here to match the result announcement?"
"Well, I think 3:00PM would be nice, we will have 1 hour to do extra stuff and we won't have to wait for so long until the result."
"You mean, we will tell them our story after the result of the election?" - Taki asks.
"Yep, with that being announced, since we already put a strong evidence material inside their mind, and the story that comes after that will be easier for them to believe." - Mitsuha replies.
"Sounds sensible, okay, so be it."
"Uhm."
"So, your job is to tell them about the party and your "new boyfriend", I can't help you with this, you will have to do this alone, can I count on you?"
"Sure, leave it to me, I know exactly how to deal with this." - Mitsuha assures.
"Thank you, this one must be tough for you, I'm not sure what would be their reaction after hearing this "new boyfriend". Well...not so "new", huh?" - Taki says.
"Don't worry, it will be fine, even though I'm not so confident that they will react to this in a positive way, but we must try our best." - Mitsuha affirms.
"Yeah, we still have a lot of ones to tell, your sis, your dad, your gran, my dad, my friends. The meeting with Saya-chin and Tesshi will be our test and then we will move on one by one." - Taki smiles.
"But It's not like we're gonna be on the frontline of a war or such. Just take this easy since it's just meeting and talking. Don't need to overpressure ourselves." - Taki chuckles while scratching his nape.
"Yeah, you are right." - Mitsuha replies.
"And, for the contents. I will go step by step."
"What do you mean?" - Mitsuha slightly rolls her head to one side.
"I will let them test my knowledge about you and them or whatever they want to ask or I will make the challenge myself. That would be the first stage, because knowledge isn't unique and solid enough, they would think you must have told me about all of that, but the stage is needed. Then I will move to the other stages, with more solid evidence, like my instinct, my behavior, my improvisation, my artworks."
"I see. I'll try to help you If you need."
" Thanks, but best I shouldn't receive help from you, it would raise their skepticism. Will depend on certain circumstances."
"Okay, I think the plan is good now."
"Yeah, let's start with it." - Taki smiles.
"Wait, the day will be on Tuesday, it's not a day-off for us, are you busy on that day?" - Mitsuha realizes something.
"Oh, you reminded me, yeah, I will be having classes on that day too."
Don't worry, I will make that a day-off for you two. Just stick with the plan. The next day after that will be a day-off as well, I make that for you guys to take a rest after a tough day.
'Wait what, you can do that as well?" - They both said.
Yeah, this is what I can do, but don't even think about that, I know what you are thinking. This is an exception, I won't be creating whole year days-off for you guys.
"Etou...we haven't even said anything..."
In case you are wondering how I will do that, just simple, I will be just making their teachers busy on those days and they will be free.
*After a while*
"It's late now, the sun is going down, I think I gotta be heading home now." - Taki tells Mitsuha.
"Well...actually, I want you to be here longer, but it's okay, you spent your whole Sunday with me after all. Thank you, I'm so happy today." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Hahah, with all that defensive from you that I had experienced, no problem." - Taki chuckles.
"Mou~~ Taki-kun, you are teasing me again." - Mitsuha multiply thumbs Taki.
"Hehe, okay, but that was a joke. In fact, I'm very happy too for being beside you this long today. Thank you too."
"Uhm, no problem." - Mitsuha smiles.
"Well, I think I should go now."
"Wait..."
"Huh, what?"
"Hmmmmmmmm...you idiot...don't you think you forgot something?" - Mitsuha shows her uncomfortable feeling.
"Heh?"
Mitsuha sighs.
Taki slightly approaches Mitsuha.
"It seems I finally knew what you said."
"Hmmmmm, hey, are you not gonna pull out something like "I know what I forgot, that's my bag." or such?" - Mitsuha looks at Taki with her skeptical eyes.
"No, I packed everything already. I was attempting to give you a goodbye kis..." - Taki is gagged by Mitsuha.
"Hey, don't say that out loud you idiot." - Mitsuha blushes.
"Ah...sorry."
"Hmmmmm, so, go ahead with what you said." - Mitsuha closes her eyes.
Taki slightly put his lips against hers, the couple having a goodbye kiss for a while.
"Hmmmmmmm, I would say, that was so-so..." - Mitsuha says while in a tomato face.
"Hey, just so-so?" - Taki protests.
"Yep, you should practice more...hey, don't even think about utilizing me to pull your pervert out, but If you practice it on some girl else, I'll definitely kill you." - Mitsuha warns Taki.
"Well...so strict..."
"What?" - Mitsuha stares at him.
"Hahah, nothing, will remember. Okay, I'm heading home now."
"Uhm, you take care, Taki-kun. Be sure to text me whenever you are home."
"Sure, goodbye." - Taki smiles then leaves.
"Uhm, goodbye!" - Mitsuha sticks her eyes on him with a bright smile on her face.