"Nearly there. We're pretty early..."

"To meet that person?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about it, let's just see how things go."

"And if-"

Mitsuha's words were cut off as the train shook violently, a common occurrence she had gotten used to. What she didn't expect to happen was Taki grabbing hold of her and trying to help her stay on her feet even though she was standing perfectly still. It looked like he was trying to dance with a mannequin, Mitsuha thought as she felt his hands loosen their grip on her shoulders.

"...Now I'm getting really concerned about my well being around you..."

Taki tried to let go, but Mitsuha flashed him a sly smile before leaning forward to rest her head on his chest. She has been really aggressive recently, Taki observed. The old Mitsuha wou…!

Loneliness.

The ever present loneliness that has plagued Taki came in full force. The five years he spent desperately trying to piece together the reason he went to Itomori came crashing into him.

Longing.

All because Taki longed for the happiness he was certain he felt in his dreams. The happiness that always slipped away just out of reach when he woke up. In its place...

Pain.

The utter agony of never truly understanding any of these emotions, only the overwhelming pain that came along taunting Taki with the tiniest possibility of happiness. Apart from a unexplainable interest in Itomori, Taki had nothing to work with for the past five years other than his emotions to guide him. Watching as every lead turn up empty was as disappointing as it was painful. Taki always thought it would have lost its hold with time, but reuniting with Mitsuha had shoved it right back in, deeper than ever. It was every bit as vivid and intense as it had always been.

A ticklish sensation brought Taki back to reality. The source of it turned out to be Mitsuha's fringe gently brushing against his neck. Smiling, Taki realised he never once complimented her hair as he gently stroked her long, luscious black hair. Damn, she's attacking all my weak points.

"Did I ever tell you I love your hair?"

"Mmmmm"

That might have been a thank you, or a snore. Taki wasn't quite sure.

When Taki met Mitsuha, he thought he had finally rid himself of the dreams, but the flashbacks had only gotten worse, as if getting closer to her was physically painful. The harder he tried, the more it felt like a dream. The thought of everything he had done so far vanishing in smoke was too much. There had to be a reason why he felt so attached to Mitsuha, but if things continue the way it is now… He had decided - It was all or nothing.

Do I want to remember? ...Do I need to?
Do I even have to?

"Mitsuha…"

What if I got it all wrong? What then?

"Mitsuha…" A little louder this time, although still inaudible.

What if… this ends up like all my previous leads?

"Mitsuha." Taki's voice was still soft, but audible this time.

"Hmm?" Mitsuha looked up, her eyes half open, as if about to fall asleep right there and then.

"We… we don't have to go, you know."

"What?!" Mitsuha exclaimed as she pushed him away, her eyes still fixed on his. "Didn't you plan this? Why're you backing out now?"

"I just realised… maybe I-we don't want to find out what happened."

Mitsuha felt a chill running down her spine as his words registered. She could sense the unmistakable anxiety in his voice, the small but noticeable widening of his eyes. There was no doubt about it: Taki was scared - scared of the pain, the loneliness, the fact that we may have been wrong.

Scared of losing me. When Taki made the decision to confront our memories head on, he wasn't just forcing an ultimatum on me. It was on us, and he agreed to the terms.

"There has got to be a reason why we can't remember anything. I'm really happy I met you, but if tonight doesn't work out, Mitsuha, I-"

But when I accepted it, it was on my own terms.

Mitsuha cut off his words with a finger to his lips. They were a little rough to the touch - has this man never heard of lip balm?

"If tonight doesn't work out, what do you plan to do?" Mitsuha's voice was firm, her eyes unwavering. "Leave me? Pretend we never met? Move on?"

Taki offered no response, his gaze faltering under her intense glare. All he could manage was a mumbled "I don't know."

You may not be ready, Taki… But I am. I am ready to face whatever challenges awaits m- awaits us.

"Taki, we promised to get to the bottom of this, no matter what. Even if we're wrong, even if there really was nothing to it but weird dreams… I'm happy now."

"Mitsuha…"

"You too, right?"

"Yeah, happier than I can ever remember."

"We'll solve this. Together."

Mitsuha really must know some magic. All the fear was gone, replaced with a warm happiness. Her radiant smile, her hands wrapped around mine, this isn't a dream. Miyamizu Mitsuha is real, and we're really together.

By the time Taki and Mitsuha alighted from the train, the sky was already dark and the city lights bright. Walking down the familiar route towards certain Italian restaurant, Taki smiled as he checked his phone and saw a message from his final lead. This was it, he thought as he gently squeezed Mitsuha's hand. The reassuring squeeze he received in response told him everything he needed to know - It was time to meet Okudera Miki.