It was already noon when Toshiki finally left Tokyo with Hitoha. However, they weren't alone. Sitting right behind them was his two daughters, who demanded to follow their grandmother to Itomori. There was no arguing with Mitsuha, who was already waiting with her bags packed for the trip when he arrived, although he was certain Yotsuha was just tagging along to skip a few days of school. Between him having to write an official letter of excuse for Yotsuha and her packing, it was already too late to link up with the rest of group headed to Itomori as well. This also meant he could drive a lot faster since he wasn't part of a convoy, which he took full advantage of.

As the sedan cruised past the sprawling countryside, Toshiki realised with a start that his entire family was currently in this vehicle. Glancing at the rear view mirror, he noticed Yotsuha fast asleep, the textbook she promised to be studying nowhere to be found, probably on the floor somewhere. Beside her was… It was Mitsuha, who was gazing out of the window. She had been very reserved the entire time, speaking only to check on her grandmother and occasionally on himself. Her mind was obviously on something else, something related to that time…

Toshiki checked the GPS as the Hida mountain range came into view. The rest of the surveillance group had already arrived and were already starting preliminary work on the site. They would arrive just before sundown at this rate, Toshiki thought as he stepped on the accelerator.

"Obaa-chan?" came Mitsuha's voice as she too recognised the mountains.

"What is it, Mitsuha?"
"I think we're arriving soon, are you doing alright?"
"I suppose, seeing these mountains after so long, it's like seeing old friends again. You?"
"I'm… I don't really know, I never thought I'd ever come back to Itomori again."
"Don't worry, Mitsuha. I certainly don't expect you to return, neither does your dad, even if he does manage to rebuild it."
"Yeah... Otou-san, why do you want to rebuild Itomori?"

Toshiki, who was checking the GPS, did not quite hear her the first time.

"Sorry, what was that?" He replied, glancing at her through the mirror.

"Why Itomori?" Futaba repeated through the mirror.

!
"To be with you, of course." I replied. I can still remember her expression as she leapt into my arms...

"TOSHIKI!"
"OTOUSAN!"

Toshiki blinked and realised that he had missed a minor bend, and that the car was driving off road straight towards a field of crops. He quickly slammed on the brakes as he pulled on the steering wheel, causing the car to drift several meters before he regained control and brought the car back onto the road.

"Everyone OK?!"
"Owww, my head..."
"Grandma?"
"I'm fine, Toshiki! What are you doing?! Concentrate!"
"I…"
"He must be exhausted after driving non-stop for so long, let's take a break. I think I see a restaurant up ahead."

For a moment there… No. Focus on the road.

Toshiki pulled into an empty parking lot, his mind still reeling from the shock. Yotsuha decided to check out the nearby restaurant with Hitoha, while Mitsuha stayed behind to keep an eye on him, who was inspecting the contents of the boot.

"Everything alright? You spaced out there for a bit."
"I'm fine, just a little tired from all that driving, that's all."

Toshiki opened his travel bag and pulled out a bulky object wrapped in a fine purple cloth, inspecting it closely for any damages. Mitsuha, who was pretending to be looking through her own possessions, turned to look at the object as well. Both the cloth and the shape of the object was vaguely familiar, although she could not place a name on either. Noticing her gaze, Toshiki unwrapped the cloth, revealing the ceramic bottle underneath it as he held it out before the both of them.

"Recognise this, Mitsuha?"
"Is… Is that… mom's?"
"Yes. I've always kept it with me ever since… since a long time ago, really."
"Why do you have it with you?"
"She gave it to me shortly before her death. I was always teasing her about the ritual, so…"
"I see… And that's your old kimono, right?"
"Heh, you remember this? You're right, it's the old outfit I used to wear for the ceremony."

Toshiki tenderly re-wrapped the bottle and stowed it away before locking the car. Beckoning Mitsuha to follow, he started towards the restaurant.

"You asked me why did I want to rebuild Itomori? That was why."
"But.. you hated the traditions. Why keep all that?"
"I never hated it, I was a folklorist, remember? I just… needed to get away from all that when she left."
"But why rebuild Itomori then?"
"Because we both loved Itomori. It was where we were happiest. Why else would I ever stay in that town in the middle of nowhere?"

Mitsuha suppressed a giggle. So she did have something in common with her father.

"And now I return, hoping to rebuild Itomori. Not because I am its mayor, but because it is how I want to honor Futaba."
"I see… so that's why you became the mayor."
"Well, there was you and Yotsuha too."
"You abandoned us, remember?"
"Well… yes, and for that I am sorry. I still owe both of you an apology."
"It's alright, at least you still footed the bills."

They both stepped into the restaurant, where Yotsuha and Hitoha were already placing their orders. The kindly owner turned to welcome the new customers.

"Ahh, welcome… Eh? Mayor Miyamizu?"

"I didn't realise you were that popular as mayor." Yotsuha commented as the car pulled back into the road.
"That couple? They asked for help with setting up their restaurant. Of course they would remember me."
"You helped?"
"Every business in Itomori goes through me. Conversely, my reputation as the mayor of Itomori depends on them. Naturally I would go the extra mile to help residents if it means boosting the fiscal health of the town as a whole."
"That sounds boring."
"Not as boring as your textbook, apparently."

Yotsuha gave a cheeky smile as she continued chatting with her father about his career. Mitsuha listened in, curious as she was discovering… no, rediscovering a side of her father she forgot existed. This wasn't the man who abandoned his family, this was a man working tirelessly to make his town a better place for everyone, his estranged family included. Like the man who once wore that ceremonial kimono with his wife and daughter.

The owners of the ramen shop were delighted to see Toshiki after all these years. It was through him that they were able their roadside store, after all. Upon hearing his plan to rebuild Itomori, the owner promised him their vote and presented the family with a bento each for the trip.

"He always gets so emotional about Itomori," his wife confessed as she sent them off. "He did the same thing for a boy searching for Itomori all those years ago."

As the car closed in on Itomori, the aftermath of the incident could still be observed 8 years later - massive roadblocks and signs indicating the location of a disaster, advising travellers to seek an alternate path. The sun had already begun to set, giving the road ahead an ominous look as the sedan made its way past deserted shop houses and streets. Finally, after many twists, turns and the occasional dead end, the Miyamizus finally found themselves headed straight for Itomori High School, one of the few structures left standing since the incident.

As Lake Itomori came into view, Toshiki pulled over to get a closer look. As he approached the cliffside on foot, the lake sparkled in defiance of the rubble surrounding it, reflecting the dying rays of sunlight as the short daylight hours of Itomori came to a close. He could just make out the remains of the town hall, the two competing pubs, and just over the other side, the point of impact: Miyamizu Shrine.

Yotsuha and Mitsuha came up beside him, staring at the remains of their old hometown. Hitoha chose not to take a look just yet, preferring to view the structures at her own leisure.

"The lake is beautiful, isn't it?"

Yotsuha, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. However, Mitsuha and Toshiki both knew they were thinking of the same thing - if he had not ordered the evacuation, there wouldn't be any Miyamizu here today.

"Yes, it is…" Toshiki murmured, pulling out his phone. It seems the surveillance group had managed to secure lodgings in a nearby town, and were currently setting up shop in the remains of Itomori High School.

"Let's go then."
"Hang on, let me take a picture!"
"You're taking a picture of our destroyed home?"
"It's supposed to represent a new beginning, sis!"
"You read too many manga, Yotsuha."

As the sisters bickered, Toshiki scanned the buildings in the distance. He can barely make out human movement over at Itomori High School, no doubt the surveillance group. They were already setting up their equipment, taking pictures and notes. All in preparation for the rebuilding of Itomori. Finally, it was happening.

Taki was having a weird day so far. A man came out of nowhere and was so captivated by his drawing that he insisted he be part of the New Itomori Team. Then he was ordered to pack 3 days worth of clothes for a trip to Itomori the next day. He was actually planning to introduce Mitsuha to his father that very day, but since things took such a drastic turn…

As he stretched, he turned to see his colleagues taking a break from all that moving. Meters, scales and several hundred thousand yen worth of computer equipment now lay across the floor of the abandoned gymnasium. It took the whole afternoon, but Taki was overcome with a manic energy the moment he stepped foot into Itomori. He couldn't help but feel strangely happy to be back, even though he has only ever been here once…

Once?

Taki was the one who suggested the school, the only structure still standing that was big enough to spot from a mile away as a base of operations. He was the one who had the idea to set up their equipment in the gymnasium, safe from the elements. As far as anyone could tell, Taki was weird. Still, he seemed to be dependable enough for everyone to defer to his judgement for the time being. Only he was familiar with the lay of the land, at least until Mayor Miyamizu arrived.

Mayor Miyamizu... Mitsuha's father... that son of a bitch...

I should probably stop calling him a son of a bitch... Not like I've ever met the man.

Right on cue, a white sedan rolled into the driveway. Tessie, who was supervising the crew, called everyone to attention as the driver stepped out.

Toshiki approached the crew and made a quick speech thanking the men for their hard work. It seems that he would be present throughout the rebuilding of Itomori, although his efforts would be focused on putting pressure on the government to increase funding for the rebuild. As he continued speaking about his great vision for New Itomori, Taki noticed as a very familiar looking teenager stepped out of the sedan and helped an elderly woman out. With a shock, he realised it was the same grandmother he helped about a week ago. Then, stepping out from the other side of the vehicle with her hair in a ponytail, was none other than Miyamizu Mitsuha.