For the first time she could remember, Mitsuha woke up without the deep sense of longing or sadness that has plagued her since the Itomori Meteor Incident. In fact, she woke up feeling perfectly content with the world. Of course, it could also simply be the fact that it was Saturday. She was a notoriously heavy sleeper, and loved sleeping in. This time however, she didn't take the opportunity to retreat under her comfortable bedsheets, but excitedly groped around the bed for her phone. Another message from Taki - open!

No way, Tessie's working there too? You think he'll help me out here? I'm swamped with work - 2:34 AM

"So that's when I fell asleep…" She murmured to herself as the events of the previous day unfolded in her mind.

Taki sent her home at midnight yesterday. She wanted to stay with him for a little longer, but it was getting late, and Taki had to catch the last train home. For some reason, he was really easy for her to open up to. Mitsuha never really had many friends due to her duties as a miko back in Itomori which, coupled with her natural shyness as well as her father's reputation, caused no end of misery for her social life. Speaking of misery...

Her second date with Taki was a complete disaster at the start. As they walked together in complete silence from the train station to the restaurant Taki recommended, Mitsuha cursed herself for still being nervous around guys at the age of 25. Her thoughts drifted to their first meeting, then she realised just how ridiculous Taki's pick up line was, and giggled to herself. Taki stopped and turned to look at her, concerned.

"Hey Taki."
"Hmm?"
"Just what kind of pick up line was that?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, 'have we met'?"
"I - well - I thought we had! I mean, I still don't know, but you seem to think so too…"
"Haha, the look on your face!"
"Hey, you were crying when I said those lines!"
"We-well so were you! And I was crying at how bad they were!"

Their bickering continued until they reached the restaurant she used to work at…!

Memories of a busy dinner came rushing back, albeit distorted and hazy. Mitsuha could clearly recall the insanity that was the daily life of a waiter in such a prestigious restaurant, but she had never entered the industry, ever. For some reason she caught herself scanning the faces of the waiters, as if looking for someone, someone she was trying to get close to for some reason, but all the faces were unfamiliar. Looks like they've all moved on…!

They?

She had a feeling Taki brought her here on purpose, but he too was unsure why. She had an urge to confirm a theory.

"You used to work here, right?"
"Yes actually… wait, have you been stalking me?"
"Maybe. I don't know…"

She trailed off as she headed towards the employee entrance.

"Where're you going?"
"Eh?"

I had just walked towards the back entrance and had begun to mentally prepare myself for the shift, like I always had…!

The attack came in force this time. I stumbled onto the wall, holding onto it for support as my mind tore itself apart. A name resurfaced. A beautiful senpai with a smile that could light up a room. Oku… What was it?

It left as quickly as it came. Oku? I tried in vain to remember, but nothing came. Taki, who I hadn't realized had moved front of me, ready to catch me if I fell, placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

He knows what I'm going through. He planned this.

In response, I placed my hand over his. I didn't care that we barely met, and that he was probably freaking out. I needed to know what was real or not, and his warmth was proof that he was real. He had to be. He's the answer to all this confusion.

"Mitsuha?"
"I'm sorry…"
"...Take all the time you need."

She took a few deep breaths to regain her composure. Falling down is not an option, no matter how tempting it may be to give in.

"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Guess I was just hungry, that's all."

She tried for a smile. A smile I knew she always hid her true feelings behind. A smile that could fool most into believing anything she said. I tightened my grip ever so slightly.

"Mitsuha."

I couldn't find the words. I could only settle for her name. It did the trick. Her smile changed, and her eyes began to shine again.

He's real. Nothing else matters.

I thought as he led me towards the entrance, our fingers still locked together. It really wasn't because of anything special, it just took us this long to realize we're finally together. What separated us, I don't know. I don't remember why either. Maybe I didn't want to know. I didn't care.

Thankfully we didn't cause too much of a scene in the alley, because holding her hand while waiting to get seated was embarrassing enough. Thankfully the old crew had moved on, so nobody was there to gawk, least of all her. Ugh, the last time I went on a date, it was a catastrophe. Now really isn't the time to think of her though, as he flipped through the menu.

"Ooh, I always wanted to try the truffles here."
"Ugh, i never knew why people put so much value on them. They keep going out of stock when I worked here, but they look and smell terrib-"
"I knew it!"
"What?"
"You have no taste!"
"You're the one eating a giant ball of fungi!"
"Hmph, and what are you having? A PIZZA?!"
"It's an Italian restaurant!"

They were nearly face to face, barely holding back their laughter. This was too much fun.

"No wonder you've been single your entire life!"
"Well you're not doing much better now, are you?!"

!

Their eyes met. Neither blinked.

This is it!

It's finally happening!

10 seconds passed. Nothing happened.

Do something! Anything! Please!

"Can I take your order?"

The interruption brought the both of them back to earth. Whatever chance they had at discovering each other died as quickly as it came. Looking at Taki, Mitsuha realised he was on the verge of tears. She shifted her focus onto the waiter.

"A Truffle Special and a Seafood Pizza, thank you… Oh, warm water will do."

Taki hung his head in complete shame and defeat. Everything he tried was failing. Nothing made sense. Even when the moment was perfect, he was unable to stir up any memories of the woman sitting on the opposite side of the table. Even though the headaches have only gotten worse, the dreams getting vivid enough to hurt, it was all for nothing. It was obvious - He had nothing do with Miyamizu Mitsuha. She had simply mistaken him for someone else, and him the same with her.

"Taki-kun."

He looked up at her.

"I think we've been going at this the wrong way."

As the words left her lips, his felt his heart drop. So she felt the same way. I'll just apologize and pretend nothing ever happened.

"Close your eyes."

Taki did as he was told. Was she going to ditch him right there? Instead, he felt a shock when she grabbed his right hand and pressed something against his palm."

"You can open your eyes now."

Taki opened his eyes, and looked down upon his right palm, but Mitsuha had curled it into a fist and had enclosed it with her own hands.

"I wrote a message in there. I wrote the same one for someone 8 years ago. I think you know the answer."

With that, she closed her eyes and relaxed her grip on his fist. Taki then realised that she had placed a sharpie in his hand as well. His heartbeat quickened. His breaths became shallow. He opened his palm.

一

On it was a single solitary horizontal stroke. His vision tunneled as he recalled the day he spent on the mountain in vivid detail, waking up with no idea what on earth was he doing there.

He grabbed the sharpie, but his hands fumbled and he dropped it onto the floor. He tried to grab it, but his fingers simply wouldn't work. He needed another target. There it was, laying on the table.

Mitsuha was wondering how would she react if she got everything completely wrong and he simply wrote "二" on her palm. Probably just apologise and run for it. She did not expect him to grab her palm so suddenly. Her eyes flew open in surprise; her palm was still empty, but Taki was holding on to it with a face that was redder than her hairband.

"I love you!"

It was her turn to turn red. She did not fully think this plan through.

Mitsuha buried her face into her pillow and screamed. It was easily the most embarrassing moment of her life. At least the rest of the date went well. She still had no idea who he was, other than the fact that he met her at Itomori 8 years ago.

But wouldn't he be in middle school then?

That was merely one of the many loopholes in this theory. They spent the entirety of last night's date discussing possibilities over Truffles and Pizza, not a bad way to spend a Friday night all things considered. But Mitsuha had a theory of her own she neglected to share with Taki. She thought he would bring her the warmth and happiness she craved. So far, she has not been wrong, she mused as left her house and headed towards the current residence of Yotsuha and Hitoha Miyamizu.