It was a busy lunch hour at the ramen shop. A couple of young men, one sporting a glorious half stubble, the other wearing a suit without a jacket were seated at a table having a serious discussion over the delicious noodles.

"What's your secret, man?
"There isn't any, I told you!"
"I see, she just likes younger men then. I never stood a chance..."
"I really don't think age had a part to play here…"
"Or perhaps it's magic! You believe in the occult, right?"

As their discussion became more intense, the younger of the two had a sudden thought.

"Tessie-san, you were close to Mitsuha, weren't you?"
"Yup. Our fathers were tight. We kinda just stuck together because of that. Also, stop with the formalities already, damn it."
"Can you tell me about her life in Itomori?"
"Oh? Did you get into trouble with her?"
"Not-nothing like that… I just thought I'd hear your perspective."
"Well, tell me what you know."
"She just said it was a boring town with no real consequences."

Taki did not expect Tessie to start laughing, "AHAHAHA!"

"Ah, some things never change. Well, that's really how she felt about Itomori. Did she ever tell you why, though?"
"Not really, no. She told me her family was important there, but it's all in the past now."
"Well, that's a slight understatement. Mitsuha is essentially the star of the town."
"...Wait, what?"
"Mitsuha was to be the heir of the Miyamizu shrine. It's the cornerstone of Itomori's traditions, so everything was centered around her. As you might expect, she hated it."
"I get that being a Miko is a little lame-"
"Oh, you don't know the half of it. Because Itomori was so small, Mitsuha basically knows everyone. That also means everyone knows about her duties."
"Oh, I see. For someone as reserved as her…"
"What really got to her was making Kuchikamisake."

!
It tasted… funny. Wait, I drank that?! ...Drank what?

"...in front of the whole town."

"Yeah well, it was traumatising for her. She kept begging me and Sayaka not to go."
"But you went anyway?"
"Yup. We had nothing better to do anyway."
"Well, I'd go too."

Both men exchanged a smirk. They finished their ramen, paid for their meal and made their way back to their office.

"You know, that got me thinking."
"Occults again?"
"No, but something like that."
"I knew it."
"Wait, hear me out. You know Mitsuha was a Miko, right?"
"Yeah…?"
"I think she's practicing black magic in private!"

Taki simply stopped and looked at Tessie. This guy...

"What?!"
"Well, just before Itomori was destroyed, she had this weird phase where she acted like she had a split personality. One day she'd be full of confidence, being all assertive. The next day she's back to her usual self."

!

That sensation again. That ever present tip of the tongue sensation.

"I've done some research, and I'm sure she was doing some confidence boosting ritual, but it was too effective!
"Too effective? This I gotta hear."
"Well, the best way to put it is that she grew a pair."

The mental image almost caused Taki to black out.

"That's… dude…"
"I'm just saying man. You wouldn't believe half the stuff she did... Scaring her hell out of her bullies, dancing smooth criminal in front of the class... Hell, she even got some girls and guys to fall in love with her. She usually forgot the next day though, after getting her grandma to exorcise her."

For some reason, Taki felt really proud while listening to Tessie rattling off Mitsuha's antics.

"Oh yeah, don't tell her, but I think she wasn't wearing a bra on the weird days. I got really scared of her clinging on me to because of that."

!
They're hard to put on! Wait, I tried wearing a bra? Why do I keep on getting weird images? Damn it, brain!

"Either way, I liked the weird Mitsuha. She was so much easier to talk to."
"Hey, weren't the both of you close before that?"
"Yeah, but she was so different! Damn, we even built that silly cafe together!"

!
A roadside bench. Some tools we "borrowed" from the nearby construction site. An umbrella we bought together at the store.

"The cafe! Does it still exist?"
"Huh? Dude, it was just a table and some-"
"A table, 3 chairs and an umbrella stand-!"

I couldn't have built that! But why do I remember building it so vividly?

"-that you guys bought from the nearby store, right?"
"Ye-yeah! ...You seem know quite a bit about it."
"Yeah, Mitsuha showed me a photo of it. I like to appreciate fine craftsmanship when I see it."
"Damn, thanks! Guess all that construction work paid off, huh?"

That was technically true. Mitsuha did take a photo of the finished cafe.

"Hey, do you think it survived the meteor?"
"Eh? I have no idea. I don't think it was meant to last anyway."
"I see… I hope to see it myself one day."
"It's just some furniture man, don't put me on such a pedestal!"

I want to see it because I have to confirm something. I need to see it.

As they arrived at their office building, Taki returned to his department to continue working on his drafts, while Tessie grabbed his equipment and prepared to leave for the work site. It has only been a week, but Taki hoped he would be able to work with Tessie together on a project soon. He really was a great guy to hang out with.

"Is it ready yet?"
"No. And I'm still angry at you."
"What did I do?"
"I don't know, but I still am."
"That's unfair…"

Once again, Taki found himself seated at her home enjoying a conversation with Mitsuha. The only difference this time is that his suit that was lacking a jacket as well some pants.

"You are sure you can finish the trousers today? I really don't want to go home looking like this."
"Hmm, maybe I'll kick you out right now."
"Please don't… these shorts don't match my tie."

Mitsuha laughed as she put the finishing touches on the jacket. Why did it feel so natural to talk to him? As she set the jacket down and prepared to work on the trousers, she heard his voice.

"Mitsuha?"
"Eh?"
"...Do you remember anything?"

Mitsuha froze. Her eyes locked onto his. She instinctively knew the deeper meaning behind his words.

How should I respond? Do I say yes?

"I'll start first. I don't." He continued.

Taki's voice was clear, just like his eyes. It was also painfully sharp.

"I… I don't either." Mitsuha replied as she averted her eyes.
"I see." Taki's sounded equally defeated.

It has been close to a week, and still nothing. Even though she had found Taki, she still felt as if she was missing something very important to her. Right now, Taki was voicing out loud her deepest fears - that they were merely replacements for the loneliness in their hearts. That he wasn't the one she was looking for.

"Mitsuha, your dreams… Are they getting better?"
"A little… but still nothing."

Taki desperately wanted to tell her, but he couldn't. Not when he was still putting the pieces together. He had to find the missing link before they can truly open up to each other. A crucial element explaining everything. It was time to use his final trump card.

"Mine too. Hey, are you free tomorrow night? There's someone I want you to meet."