"You're late, onee-chan."
"I had to get - obaa-chan!"

Mitsuha pulled her beloved grandmother into a warm hug. The matriarch of the Miyamizus returned her embrace with equal enthusiasm. Age has not quite taken its toll on her, and she still spent her days as if it was 8 years ago - namely making Kumihimo and otherwise simply enjoying her silver years. She had made it a point to visit all the shrines in Tokyo for reasons she kept to herself, a pilgrimage of sorts as Yotsuha observed.

"Mitsuha! It's been too long!"
"She comes over every week, obaa-chan."
"Huuhuu, I know, but I still miss her all the same. Come, let's eat before it gets cold."

The family stepped over into the living room, where Yotsuha had already begun preparing the table. Mitsuha looked over at her old room, the one she stayed in ever since they moved to Tokyo eight years ago. It was empty, but remarkably spotless, without a hint of dust.

"I want to move to Tokyo."
"Ooh, me too!"

Hitoha smiled to herself as she watched Mitsuha, who was helping Yotsuha prepare the table. 8 years ago, while surveying the remains of Itomori, Mitsuha had blurted out her desire to move to Tokyo. Hitoha did not need to question why - the look in Mitsuha's eyes were enough to convince her.

"Itadakimasu!"

Mitsuha relaxed as she chewed on a piece of salmon. There's no need to tell them about Taki just yet...

"I often wake up wondering if I'll live to see my great-grandchildren. I'm not getting any younger, you know~."
"Ahh, actually…"
"Sorry obaa-chan, you're going to have to wait just a little longer. I'm still in high school, and onee-chan isn't likely to get a boy-"
"Yotsuha!"
"Now Yotsuha, Mitsuha has simply not met the right man, has she?"
"I think she'll never, ever find him. It's not Tessie, is-"
"No!"
"I guess it's up to be then. Hmm, maybe she's looking for-"
"I met a guy, alright?!"

Yotsuha dropped her chopsticks in shock. Hitoha simply smiled as she drank her tea.

"No way!"
"How nice."

Mitsuha slowly started blushing as she started twisting her hair.

"I met him a few days ago, actually…"
"Show me!"
"I don't have any pictures…"

That was a lie. I could feel the atmosphere change as Yotsuha put her bowl down and began to make tense up. I followed suit, my dignity on the line.

"What's his name?!"
"I'm not telling you!"
"Why not! Is he that ugly?"
"No, he's actually quite cute!"
"I don't believe you! Give me your phone! Hiyaaa!"

The sisters engaged in a deadlock over Mitsuha's phone, their grandmother calmly sipping tea as they waged open war.

"I didn't think you could talk to guys!"
"Am I that antisocial to you?"
"Yes! You're really weird!"
That one hurt a little. Also, stop pulling my hair like that, it really hurts.
"You used to feel yourself up in bed!"
"HUH?"

The anger wasn't directed at Yotsuha. Instead, I felt annoyed at Taki for some reason.

"Aha! It's the same guy you went to Tokyo on a date with!"

!

Yotsuha took advantage of my momentary shock and tackled me to the ground. In the same move she pulled my phone out of my back pocket, but not before I swiped hers as well. She rolled off me and retreated behind grandma. I retaliated by keying her passcode, namely her birthday. She'll never guess my-

"Ahhhh! Is this him?!"
"Oh? You have good taste, Mitsuha. He seems like an honest fellow."

I could only look on in despair as their eyes scanned through my wallpaper. It was a picture I took of him trying the Truffle from yesterday. Her phone remained locked in my hands. She had changed her passcode. Damn it, why did I not set a better password!

"Woah, he's really cute!"
"AHHLALALALA CAN'T HEAR YOU"
"Hey, he paid for the meal? At a place this classy? He's a keeper!"

I didn't want my sister's approval! What if she finds out he's younger than me?

"He looks kinda young though…"

"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" I screamed internally.

My phone started ringing in her hands. My tears started flowing as my world came crashing around me.

"Tachibana Taki…"

She flashed me a smile of pure malice. I charged her in desperation.

She dodged me flawlessly and escaped into her room, slamming the door in my face.

"Hello, Taki-san! 3"

"Eh? How did you know my name…?"

"Oh, my sister did? Hmm…"

"Oh, she's busy at the moment! By the way, Taki-sama…"

My attempt at picking the lock didn't work, largely because I had no idea how to pick one in the first place, and because I was more focused on trying to listen in.

"YOTSUHA! COME OUT THIS INSTANT!"
"She'll be out soon, Mitsuha."
"Not soon enough! I'm so embarrassed!"
"Tell me about him then."
"Not when she's on the phone with him! YOTSUUHHAAA!"
"Oh, there she is! Take good care of her, Taki-sama! Talk to you soon!"

Yotsuha unlocked the door and handed me the phone with a content expression on her face. She then casually returned to the table to continue her meal. Pushing away any thoughts of revenge for the time being, I focused on the call.

"Taki?"
"Mitsuha, what was that about?"

Aware that I was the in the center of unwanted attention, I entered Yotsuha's room and locked the door behind me. I could barely make out her shouting something about privacy which I thought was pretty hypocritical coming from her, but nevermind that now...

"Sorry, I let my guard down. Wait, how did you know Yotsuha's name?"
"I guessed."
"...really?"
"Well, I just knew. Kinda like how I knew you were the one."
"That's too cheesy, Taki."
"Nah, that was the pizza yesterday."

Mitsuha flopped onto Yotsuha's bed. She already missed him.

"Anyway, what's up?"
"I was thinking if we could meet up later."
"Oh? Did you find a clue?"
"Actually I just wanna spend some time with you."

Mitsuha was glad there was a currently a solid wall between her and her family, because the look on her face when he said that would have killed any chance of moral superiority over Yotsuha.

"But if you're busy-"
"I'll come! Where and when?"
"Maybe 7pm? I'll meet you at your place."
"Actually, I'm closer to yours, I'll meet you by the station?"
"Sure, no problem. See you later, Mitsuha."

Mitsuha let the phone drop into the bed. She then proceeded to have a mini freak out.

"What do you think, obaa-chan?"
"Hmm? I'm glad she's finally found someone she can open up to. She was starting to worry me."
"I'm sure he'll be fine! Ooh, let me see if I can find his profile."

Mitsuha left the room confident in her poker face. It didn't last long, Yotsuha was leisurely browsing through a whole gallery of Taki on her phone, grandma beside her nodding in silent approval. She seriously considered running away, but instead returned to the table ready for the incoming interrogation.

"Is he the one?"
"I don't know... Maybe? We just met a few days ago."
"I mean the one who broke your heart in Tokyo."
"He didn't break my heart!...! Eh?"

Wait a moment, I came to Tokyo 8 years ago alone to see him! But… That can't be Taki! That doesn't make sense? My head started to spin.

"Yotsuha, why did I go to Tokyo?"
"Eh? You had a date, but it wasn't yours. Something like that, I think. You were being really vague about it."
"Ahh, that's why you asked me to cut your hair? I always knew it had something to do with the boy from your dreams."

!

"Dr-dreams?"

I stared at my grandmother. She was gazing out of the window, her eyes nostalgic rather than melancholic, as if basking in the aftermath of a pleasant dream she could no longer remember, rather than frustrated at fragmented pieces of a broken dream.

"Yes… your dreams."

I prepared for the incoming mental attack, but it never came. That's because I know what she meant. I've been having those dreams for the past eight years. I was disappointed enough to sigh out loud, which brought her back to reality. She turned and looked at me with a look I couldn't identify.

"Mitsuha, aren't you going to introduce us? I'll settle for meeting my grandson."
"Obaa-chan!"
"And my onii-chan!"

I shot her a look. When you get into trouble next time, I will definitely remember this…

"How'd you meet him?" Yotsuha inquired.

Sigh…

"I saw him on another train while going to work, ran all over Tokyo trying to find him, we crossed paths looking for each other and hooked up."

"..."

"..."

What? I told the truth.

"You could have told us the truth, we wouldn't judge you…"

They totally think I used a dating site or something.

"It's true!"
"Uh, okay then. Uh-huh."
"She's totally using an online dating site, obaa-chan. I'm not surprised, given her ag-"

I grabbed Yotsuha by her sides, her weakness, and tickled hard. Revenge!

"HAHAHA, SORRY! NO, PLEASE, STOPPPP- HAHAHAHA"

That last comment about my age hit me harder than I'd like to admit. As I considered my options for extending her suffering, she managed to grab me by my sides. Unfortunately, I too share the same weakness. It runs in our blood, I guess.

"NOOOO AHAHHAHAHAHAHA"
"STOP!"
"YOU FIRST!"
"NO YOU!"

Hitoha simply smiled as she watched her granddaughters. It was good to see they still shared a deep bond after all this time. Looking at the clock, she realised she was running late for her appointment. She reached for her stick.

"Mitsuha, do come by more often, will you?"
"Eh?"

The sisters immediately called for a ceasefire as they watched their grandmother moved over to the door with her walking stick in hand.

"Going out, obaa-chan? I'll come with-"
"No need, I'm simply dropping by the shrine."
"Eh? You didn't tell us you had plans, I wou- Ahh, it's already 4?"
"Wash the dishes first, onee-chan."
"Fine, you sure you don't want us to-"
"It's fine, I'll only be a while. You should get back to studying too, Yotsuha."
"Awww…"
"I'll try to be back for dinner. Do bring Tachibana-kun along next time, alright? I'd love to meet the man who can bring you happiness."

Mitsuha nearly dropped the dishes as Yotsuha's laughter echoed through the house, while Hitoha made her way towards a certain Suga Shrine.