The next day, Monday, April 3rd.
Sakuta gripped the steering wheel of the rented car, driving at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour on the Tomei Expressway, heading towards Nagoya. An hour ago, he passed the border between Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures and was now driving through Fuji City. It had been almost two hours since they left Fujisawa.
The reason Sakuta didn't feel bored after driving for two hours was the beautiful view of Mount Fuji outside the window and the presence of the high school girl next to him.
"How's Nasuno doing?"
Shouko, who reunited with him the day before, asked while nibbling on a Pocky stick. She then offered a stick to Sakuta, holding it up to his lips.
Sakuta chewed and answered, "He's doing great. Wakes me up every day by stepping on my face. How about Hayate?"
"He's doing well. He's grown so much. I'll show you pictures later."
After answering cheerfully, Shouko looked at the blue sign with white letters.
"Oh, we're almost at Makinohara Rest Area."
She pointed at the characters "Makinohara" on the sign and smiled proudly.
"Can we stop there on the way back? I want to buy some gifts for my parents."
"We can… but shouldn't you tell me where we're headed first?"
Although Sakuta was driving, he didn't know the destination, as Shouko hadn't told him yet.
"It's a secret. I'll tell you when we get there."
The only one who knew the destination was the playful Shouko, who was covering her lips with a Pocky stick. Since they left Fujisawa Station, Shouko had been navigating using the GPS on her smartphone.
Sakuta glanced over at her phone, but from his angle, he couldn't clearly see the destination on the map.
"Can I ask why you're wearing your school uniform?"
"Because I think it has a great effect on you."
She smiled as she answered.
The more Sakuta looked at Shouko in her Minegahara High School uniform, the more she resembled his first love, "Shouko-san."
"It's more like it's confusing me. After all, the older 'Shouko-san' is now younger than me, becoming 'Makinohara-san.'"
He couldn't help but chuckle. This was truly how he felt.
The high school girl who was once older than him should logically have already entered university and society before him, but now she was still sitting beside him in a high school uniform.
She still looked at Sakuta, who was driving, with the same gentle eyes and the same smile as back then.
"Sakuta-senpai has matured quite a bit."
"Well, I can drive now."
"By the way, the reason I'm wearing this uniform is because it's the formal attire for high school students."
"So, we're going to a pretty important place then. You did tell me yesterday to dress somewhat appropriately."
Following Shouko's advice, Sakuta wore a casual jacket over his T-shirt, making him look presentable, though not as formal as he would for a university entrance ceremony.
"You look very handsome in that."
"We're going to see Kirishima Shouko, aren't we?"
"Yes."
"And we're bringing a gift."
Sakuta checked the rearview mirror. On the back seat, there was a bag of pigeon cookies, which Shouko had prepared as a gift for Touko Kirishima.
"That's right. Oh, take the next exit."
It seemed like they were getting closer to their destination.
After exiting the highway, they continued south on a national road.
For the first ten minutes, the surrounding scenery was filled with lush green tea fields dotted with farmhouses, giving off a peaceful and calming vibe.
About twenty minutes later, they passed a large factory-like building.
Five minutes after passing a factory of a famous tea beverage brand, the scenery gradually changed from rural to urban.
"Turn left at the next intersection."
Shouko looked at the map and gave directions.
"Understood."
After making the turn, Shouko straightened up and opened the car window. She soon spotted their destination.
"Stop by that flower shop over there."
She pointed to the flower shop's sign and told Sakuta.
Sakuta checked to make sure there were no cars behind or ahead of them before reversing into the flower shop's parking lot.
He pulled the handbrake and turned off the engine.
"I'll be quick, so please wait for me."
Before Sakuta could respond, Shouko got out of the car.
He turned his head and saw Shouko greeting the shop staff as she walked into the flower shop. She spoke with the staff for a moment and, true to her word, returned quickly.
"Thanks for waiting."
Shouko returned to the passenger seat, holding a bouquet of flowers.
It wasn't surprising that she came back with flowers, having just visited a flower shop.
However, the type of flowers caught Sakuta's attention.
"The orange ones are marigolds, the white, elongated ones are violets, the light purple ones are sweet peas, and the yellow ones are freesias."
Shouko explained the flowers to Sakuta in a calm tone. Each flower was vibrant and beautiful, but when combined, they carried a clear message.
Many Japanese people would recognize these flowers as those meant for the deceased.
Naturally, Sakuta shifted his gaze from the flowers to Shouko's face.
"Turn right at the next intersection."
Shouko looked ahead and gave another instruction.
"Got it."
Sakuta didn't ask any more questions and started the car.
They drove in silence for about fifty meters—
"We're almost there. Once we arrive, I'll explain everything."
Shouko spoke softly.
"Since we're almost there, I'm not in a rush for your explanation."
Sakuta kept an eye on the distance between his car and the one in front while pressing his foot slightly harder on the gas pedal.
"This is the place."
About five minutes later, Sakuta parked the car in the lot of an old, weathered temple.
Sakuta and Shouko passed through two thick gates and entered the temple grounds. The area was empty, creating a serene and solemn atmosphere.
First, they went to the main hall and offered their prayers.
"—It's said to be over here."
After that, Sakuta followed Shouko further inside.
Ahead of them was a graveyard.
They stopped at a water source nearby to fetch some water. Sakuta carried a bucket of water as he continued following Shouko. Amidst the neatly lined gravestones, the only sounds were their footsteps and the gentle sloshing of water in the bucket.
There was a noticeable tension in Shouko's figure as she walked ahead.
Sakuta instinctively took a deep breath, trying to calm his uneasy heart.
Finally, they stopped in front of a certain gravestone.
"..."
After confirming—
"It seems this is the place."
Shouko whispered.
"'Seems'? Does that mean this is your first time here too?"
"Yes."
The gravestone in front of Sakuta bore the inscription "Grave of the Ancestors," without specifying who exactly was buried there.
But at this moment, the answer was easy to guess.
Sakuta understood why they had come here today. Shouko had said they were going to see Touko Kirishima together, and this was the place.
That was the answer.
So, Sakuta didn't ask any more questions. He simply pressed his palms together and bowed toward the gravestone, just as Shouko did.
Then, in silence, they cleaned up the weeds around the area, washed the gravestone with the water they had brought, offered the bouquet, and filled the water basin. Shouko took incense from her bag and lit it, and they each placed half of it on the incense burner.
After that, they closed their eyes again, clasping their hands together in prayer.
"..."
"..."
Sakuta opened his eyes and looked up, only to find Shouko still in her prayer position. The emotions reflected in her serious expression were too complex to be summarized in a few words.
There was gratitude, certainly.
But it wasn't just simple gratitude.
The long silence conveyed this fact clearly.
Finally, Shouko opened her eyes and lifted her head to look at Sakuta. At first, her expression showed a relieved smile, but then her face turned serious again as she looked at the epitaph next to the gravestone. Sakuta also looked over.
The names of the family members buried here were inscribed on it.
From right to left, the years became more recent.
And at the far left... in the newest spot, there was a name.
Age at death: 16.
The date of death was December 24th, four years ago.
The name was... "Touko Kirishima."
"It was said to have happened on Christmas Eve four years ago."
Shouko spoke calmly.
"She was in a car accident on her way to meet her friends..."
"..."
"She was quickly taken to the hospital by ambulance, but she fell into a deep coma and never regained consciousness."
"..."
"They found an organ donor card among her personal belongings."
After hearing this, there was no need to continue.
So, Sakuta kept his gaze fixed on the name "Touko Kirishima" on the epitaph, waiting for Shouko to finish speaking.
"Touko Kirishima is the person who donated her organs to me."
When he was brought here, he had already expected this outcome.
"..."
However, when Shouko personally confirmed this fact, he didn't know what to say. His mind was in turmoil, unsure of how to process this new reality.
They had come here to meet Kirishima Touko today, only to discover that she had already passed away. And, moreover, she was the one who had saved Shouko by donating her organs, indirectly sparing Sakuta and Mai.
Sakuta had assumed Kirishima Touko was just a stranger with no connection to his life. But it turned out she was deeply linked to him, to Mai, and to Shouko.
The sudden revelation left him feeling overwhelmed.
"I mentioned this to you before, didn't I?"
"..."
Sakuta looked at Shouko, unsure of what she was about to say.
"I once told you that in all the futures I experienced, I never heard of an artist named 'Kirishima Touko.'"
She had indeed said that.
"It was before you moved to Okinawa, right?"
Shouko nodded.
"I believe it's because, in all the futures I experienced, it was either you, Sakuta-senpai, or Mai-senpai who donated your heart to me."
Sakuta gazed into her eyes, which were filled with meaning. He understood exactly what she was implying.
"So, because we changed the future, that's why someone named 'Kirishima Touko' appeared on those video-sharing platforms...?"
"That would make sense, right?"
"But Kirishima Touko died. Four years ago, on Christmas Eve."
The dates engraved on the gravestone couldn't be wrong.
"Didn't 'Kirishima Touko' only become popular around two years ago? Isn't that strange? Could it be a ghost?"
"That's why I brought you here today. I wanted to understand who Kirishima Touko, the person who gave me my future, truly was."
Shouko looked at Sakuta with sincerity.
Her eyes held not only gratitude but also guilt. Her expression was a mixture of peace and loneliness, a smile tinged with sadness.
"I think you feel the same way as I do."
"You're even starting to sound like that 'Shouko-san.'"
Shouko smiled briefly at Sakuta's comment, but the smile soon faded—she looked toward the entrance of the graveyard.
Sakuta, hearing footsteps, turned around and saw a woman in her forties carrying a bucket filled with flowers.
The woman noticed Sakuta and Shouko, giving them a polite nod. Sakuta and Shouko returned the greeting.
"Are you Makinohara Shouko?" the woman asked courteously.
"Yes, that's me."
"Thank you for coming all this way to visit Touko. I'm Touko's mother."
Once again, the woman bowed respectfully to Shouko.
"It's me who should be thanking you... for replying to my letters."
Shouko also bowed deeply.
Her words of gratitude carried immense weight and significance.
Because of that, Sakuta didn't feel the need to interject. A subtle tension hung between Shouko and Touko's mother, as they carefully navigated their interactions, fearing to offend one another. However, a warmer sentiment seemed to overshadow the tension.
The "distance" between them was born out of kindness.
"Thank you for bringing such lovely flowers. I'm sure Touko would be happy."
After Touko's mother finished her visit to the grave, she invited Sakuta and Shouko to visit Touko's home.
Sakuta followed the small car driven by Touko's mother as they headed to her house. In the car, Shouko explained the events that had transpired before today.
"After I had the heart transplant surgery, I wrote letters each month to the family of my donor through an organ donation support group. I told them things like how I successfully entered my second year of middle school, went on a trip abroad, and how I was growing taller... all sorts of updates."
"But at that time, you didn't know the donor's name."
"That's right. I also didn't know if the family even wanted to receive my letters. After all, you have to consider the family's feelings as well..."
"And yet, you kept writing every month. That's really admirable."
Sakuta spoke with genuine admiration.
"Last month, after I finished the high school entrance exams, I wrote to them saying, 'I got accepted into the high school I wanted,' and added, 'I became a high school student, something that would have been impossible without the heart transplant.'"
Shouko's tone was peaceful, filled with warmth and gratitude. Hearing this, Sakuta felt a gentle warmth in his heart, his eyes almost welling up with tears.
"And then, you finally received a reply?"
"Touko's mother responded. She said she had read all the letters I had sent over the years... and told me that the person who donated her heart to me was a high school girl named 'Kirishima Touko.'"
Everything made sense after that. After receiving a response, Shouko began corresponding with Touko's mother, which led to today's visit.
The small car in front of them turned off the national road and onto a narrow lane. Sakuta also turned on his blinker and followed.
In less than five minutes, they arrived at a large, traditional estate with a courtyard and detached rooms.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, the scent of tea filled the air.
"What a strong tea fragrance," Shouko remarked.
"It was mentioned in the letter. Our family makes a living from tea farming," Touko's mother explained as she led Sakuta and Shouko to the main house.
"Please, make yourselves at home."
"Thank you for having us."
"Thank you."
Sakuta followed Shouko into the spacious entrance hall and walked across the polished wooden floors to a large living room, about 20 square meters in size. The room had an elegant alcove, and through the windows, they could see the courtyard connecting the main house to the detached rooms. The courtyard looked spacious enough to park several cars without feeling cramped.
"Please accept this."
Shouko handed the bag of pigeon cookies to Touko's mother.
"Thank you very much. Touko loved these cookies, so I'm sure she'll be happy too. I'll make some tea; please wait a moment."
"Would it be alright if I paid my respects to Touko-san?"
"Of course."
After Touko's mother left the room, Shouko and Sakuta knelt in front of Touko's memorial, lit a candle, and placed incense in the burner. Shouko rang a small bell before closing her eyes and pressing her hands together in prayer. Sakuta followed suit.
This time, they spent even longer in silence than they had at the gravesite.
Gratitude for the person who had saved Shouko naturally led Sakuta to do so.
When Touko's mother returned, she placed the pigeon cookies in front of the memorial.
She brewed tea for Sakuta and Shouko.
"Thank you so much for traveling all this way to visit her."
Touko's mother bowed her head several times in thanks.
"No, I'm the one who wanted to meet Touko-san. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."
Shouko bowed repeatedly as well.
"I'm also sorry for being slow in responding to your letters."
Touko's mother looked down apologetically.
"No, just receiving your reply made me so happy. I was always worried that my letters might have been a burden to you."
"I wasn't sure how to respond at first. It was difficult to find the right time to write back... Even now, I sometimes still think about the past... But I'm glad that someone as kind as you, Shouko, has Touko's heart."
Tears welled up in Touko's mother's eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry for being so emotional."
Touko's mother turned her face away and wiped her eyes.
Sakuta could only watch in silence. He didn't have any words to offer. Shouko remained quiet as well, both of them simply waiting.
"I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong, Shouko. I'm the one who should be sorry... Oh, please, drink the tea while it's still hot."
Touko's mother smiled through her tears and urged them to drink the tea.
"Thank you for the tea."
Shouko took a sip.
"It's delicious."
"Is it? I'm glad."
Touko's mother smiled again and wiped her eyes once more.
Sakuta also took a sip. The tea had a rich aroma, with a slight bitterness and a lingering sweetness.
"Did Touko-san drink this tea every day?"
It was the first time Sakuta had spoken since entering.
"She didn't really like it much," Touko's mother answered with a hint of humor.
"Whenever I asked her if she wanted some tea, she often said 'no.' So her father would scold her, saying, 'How could you refuse tea that your mother made for you? What's the meaning of that?' Oh, by the way, he isn't home today. He went to check on the tea fields. I'm sorry about that—especially since you came all this way, Shouko."
Although Sakuta couldn't claim to fully understand her father's feelings, he could easily imagine the awkwardness of facing Shouko, who had received his daughter's heart. As Touko's mother had just said, Shouko wasn't at fault for anything. But seeing Shouko would naturally remind him of his deceased daughter, of all the things she had experienced. It was possible that it would hurt both him and Shouko, which is likely why he chose not to meet them.
"I feel like I've been talking too much about myself. I'm sorry."
"No, not at all."
Shouko shook her head.
"I came here to learn more about Touko-san. Please, tell me more about her."
"Would you like to see her room? It's still just the way she left it."
Touko's mother spoke with a mix of happiness and sadness in her voice.
"—After all, her room will have to be cleaned out someday."
It was as if Touko's mother was giving herself an excuse as she stood up.
Sakuta and Shouko followed her down the hallway, up the stairs, and to Touko's room at the far end of the second floor.
"Please, go ahead."
With Touko's mother's encouragement, Sakuta and Shouko stepped into the room together.
The room was fairly spacious, about 10 square meters.
Aside from a desk and a bed, there wasn't much furniture—it was a simple room.
Just then, Shouko let out a small gasp when she noticed the small bookshelf on the desk.
She pulled out a Blu-ray disc of a movie.
On the cover was a person Sakuta knew all too well.
It was Mai.
Middle-school-aged Mai.
Sakuta also knew this movie well—it was a classic.
In the film, Mai played a girl with a heart condition.
"It was after watching this movie that Touko became her devoted fan. She bought so many fashion magazines with Mai in them."
Touko's mother opened a large drawer under the desk, revealing several magazines with Mai on the cover. The magazines were all neatly stored, showing how much Touko cherished them.
"And she really loved music."
After closing the drawer, Touko's mother glanced at the acoustic guitar leaning against the full-length mirror. In the otherwise simple room, it was one of the items that stood out to Sakuta and Shouko.
"She used to compose her own music on the computer."
"But there's no computer in the room."
As Shouko pointed out, there was no computer in sight. There were speakers on either side of the desk, and it seemed like a computer had once sat between them, but now the space was empty.
"One of Touko's close friends borrowed it after her death. It's still with that friend."
Hearing this, Shouko gave Sakuta a meaningful look.
"Oh, by the way, we have a photo album here. Would you like to take a look?"
Before they could ask about the friend, Touko's mother continued. She pulled a photo album from the bookshelf, which was filled with textbooks and dictionaries, and laid it open on the desk for Sakuta and Shouko to see.
The first page showed a picture of Touko as a young child, likely taken during her kindergarten entrance ceremony—a cute, lively little girl in a uniform holding her mother's hand.
The next page featured more photos from her kindergarten days, showing Touko with another girl in the same uniform. Touko was proudly showing a paper-folding craft to the camera, while the other girl intently looked at a paper crane she was holding.
"That's the 'friend' I mentioned earlier. They became friends in kindergarten and stayed together through elementary, middle, and high school."
As Touko's mother flipped through the album, they saw photos from her elementary school entrance ceremony, where Touko and the girl stood side by side at the entrance, both wearing backpacks.
From then on, Touko and that friend appeared together in almost every photo.
They had pictures from their trip to the aquarium, likely taken during an elementary school field trip.
There were photos from their school trip, and smiling faces at their graduation ceremony.
In middle school, they posed together at the entrance ceremony, and during the cultural festival, they dressed as ghosts. They even had matching face paint during the sports festival.
Each page of the album was filled with photos of Touko and her friend.
As the pages turned, showing their faces growing more mature, Sakuta's sense of surprise only intensified.
He found himself paying more attention to the 'friend' than to Touko. He stared at her intently.
She looked a lot like someone he knew.
At first, he thought it was just a coincidence.
—There's no way it could be her, he repeatedly told himself in his mind.
But as their faces matured in the photos, Sakuta began to abandon that thought.
Touko's friend looked far too much like that person.
"..."
His hand, turning the pages, began to tremble.
His mouth felt dry.
When he saw the photos from their middle school graduation ceremony, Sakuta was almost certain that he knew Kirishima Touko's friend.
"This is insane..."
Unable to handle the shocking realization, he muttered under his breath. He could feel the blood draining from his face.
"Sakuta-senpai?"
Shouko looked at him with concern and confusion.
"I think I've met her before."
The girl who was always by Touko's side.
Sakuta's words left Shouko startled.
Even someone like Shouko, who had experienced various futures, hadn't imagined such a coincidence.
And in this moment, Sakuta himself could hardly believe it.
So, even though he was 99% sure, he still used the word "think."
To turn that certainty into 100%, Sakuta flipped to the next page.
There was a photo of Touko and her friend as high school students.
This picture was likely taken at the front entrance of this very house.
Touko, in her new high school uniform, happily posed for the camera with a peace sign, while her friend, though slightly reluctant, accommodated her.
That expression, Sakuta knew well.
That half-up ponytail hairstyle, Sakuta knew well.
The beauty mark under her left eye, Sakuta knew well.
Her face was a little younger than the one he knew.
But after seeing this photo of her as a high schooler, Sakuta was absolutely certain—
"Mitou..."
He involuntarily said the name of the girl he knew from university, a girl he had become friends with.
"Huh? You know Mitou?"
Touko's mother was just as surprised.
"We go to the same university. Mitou and I."
At that moment, Sakuta was engulfed in a shock far greater than what Touko's mother could have imagined. It took all his effort just to respond with those words.
After that, Touko's mother probably said something, and Sakuta likely replied, but he didn't remember any of it. None of it registered. He was completely swallowed by the whirlpool of his emotions.
Because the true identity of 'Kirishima Touko' was far beyond what he had expected…
Because she was right there, close to him all along…
Because her true identity was Mitou Miori…
4
As it turned out, Touko's father hadn't returned from the tea fields by 3 PM. Considering the time it would take to drive back, they left Touko's house around 3:30.
"I'm terribly sorry for my husband... really..." her mother said, wrinkling her brow with an apologetic smile.
"It's okay. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to come visit Touko-san again."
Shouko smiled kindly.
"Yes, of course, you're welcome anytime. Oh, please take this."
Touko's mother handed them a small paper bag filled with tea leaves from their family farm.
"Thank you very much."
"And also..."
She handed Shouko a notebook.
"This is...?"
"It's the diary Touko and Mitou used to write to each other. I think reading it will help you understand Touko even more."
"Can I really take this?"
Shouko was visibly hesitant, her voice filled with uncertainty. Even Sakuta could sense her apprehension.
The diary was an object that carried Touko's most intimate emotions, and it was undoubtedly a treasured keepsake for her mother.
"Of course. As long as you don't mind having it."
"I'll take good care of it and return it once I've finished reading."
Sakuta took charge of the paper bag filled with tea leaves, while Shouko accepted the diary. Though the diary seemed small and light, it felt incredibly heavy.
"Well, it's time for us to go."
After bowing respectfully, Sakuta and Shouko got into the car.
Shouko gave a polite bow to Touko's mother, who waved from outside the car. Once their farewells were complete, Sakuta started the car.
After checking the surroundings, Sakuta slowly drove away from Touko's house.
Gradually, he increased the speed until they reached the legal limit.
For a while, he drove in silence on the empty road.
During that time, Shouko, sitting in the passenger seat, gazed intently at the cover of the diary Touko's mother had given her.
On the cover were the handwritten names "Touko" and "Mitou."
Even though she had permission to read it and had accepted the diary, Shouko hesitated to open it.
Finally, they reached the national road, and the next goal was to get onto the highway.
As they drove, the number of houses began to dwindle, replaced by vast tea fields.
"Touko's mother entrusted you with the diary because she trusts you. I think it's okay for you to read it."
"You're right."
Although Shouko agreed with Sakuta, she still didn't open the diary. Instead, she carefully placed it in her bag, making sure not to crease the cover.
"I'll read it thoroughly once we get home."
"That's good enough."
For Shouko, these were the words left behind by the person who had given her a future. She definitely needed to read them carefully.
"Touko's mother is a really kind person."
Looking at the road ahead, Sakuta changed the topic.
"Yes, she is."
Though she had shed tears several times while talking about Touko, it was clear that she had tried her best to remain cheerful for Sakuta and Shouko's sake.
Because of that, Shouko, sitting next to Sakuta, seemed to be feeling conflicted.
"..."
That's why Shouko remained silent, sitting upright.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"...I wouldn't say that."
Shouko gave a troubled smile in response, but Sakuta pretended not to notice, focusing on driving.
"Sakuta-senpai, do you know the story about how a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a tornado far away?"
Shouko asked softly.
"The butterfly effect, right? Futaba told me about it once."
"Even the smallest change can accumulate and lead to a huge difference later on..."
She turned her face toward the passenger-side window as she continued. Her reflection in the window showed a thoughtful expression.
"But since we're not Laplace's demon, we can't reverse-engineer the outcome to figure out the original cause. So no one really knows which event was the catalyst... That's what Futaba said."
Although Sakuta had a "Laplace's little devil" by his side, her expertise was in simulating futures.
"So, you didn't do anything wrong."
Sakuta repeated, merging onto the highway.
Shouko didn't reply.
As he accelerated on the merge lane, Sakuta's car blended into the flow of vehicles traveling at 100 kilometers per hour.
"Sakuta-senpai, are you alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"Regarding Mitou Miori."
"It was so sudden, it really shocked me."
That was the truth.
"But now we know for sure that Mitou is 'Kirishima Touko.'"
"Yes."
Shouko nodded in agreement.
"Although she did once say she wasn't a fan of karaoke."
That was the first time he met her. During the social gathering, the second part involved going to karaoke, but he and Mitou had left early.
"That's probably why she doesn't like karaoke, right?"
"Yeah, though that sounds like an excuse she'd make."
—Because if she sang, her true identity might be revealed.
So, she brushed it off with a vague excuse and a smile.
"If the one rewriting reality is 'Kirishima Touko'... then it means that the current situation was caused by Mitou."
Based on the message from another timeline, that was likely the case. But even if the blame fell on Mitou, they still didn't understand the connection.
"What exactly is Mitou Miori trying to do?"
Shouko voiced the question that had been lingering in Sakuta's mind.
It was entirely unclear what Mitou's true intentions were.
"Using her friend's name and singing her friend's songs—that, I can understand."
"To ensure that Touko-san's existence isn't forgotten, so that the name 'Kirishima Touko' can live on and be remembered, even if it's just the name."
Sakuta agreed with Shouko's theory.
"But now, Mai-san is being seen as 'Kirishima Touko,' and she herself has publicly claimed to be 'Kirishima Touko.'"
"Could it be that since Touko-san was a fan of Mai-senpai, she rewrote reality this way?"
"It's not impossible to explain it like that…"
But somehow, the explanation didn't feel entirely satisfactory.
"You don't seem very convinced."
"Because I never felt a strong will or conviction from Mitou."
So, even if someone said, 'Mitou rewrote everything,' Sakuta wouldn't easily believe it.
"What kind of person is she?"
"She feels somewhat elusive, like it's hard to get close to her—like someone living in a world of their own."
"Like a mirage?"
"Exactly."
Shouko's description was so fitting that Sakuta couldn't help but laugh.
"But through this conversation, I think I've figured something out."
"What's that?"
"Mitou Miori is the kind of girl you like, isn't she, Sakuta-senpai?"
"I wasn't talking about that at all. And for the record, I like girls like Mai-san."
"And also someone like me, right?"
Shouko gave a mischievous smile, and Sakuta responded with a wry grin.
"Oh yeah, we were supposed to stop at the Makinohara rest area."
—Sakuta turned on the left signal.
First, they took a selfie in front of the 'Makinohara Rest Area' sign, then browsed for souvenirs in the shop. Since tea was a local specialty, there were many tea-related products, and they weren't sure what to choose. Shouko bought a roll cake, while Sakuta picked up some pudding for Kaede, who was home.
"Hey, let's go eat that—"
—Shouko then pulled him over to get some ice cream. She got a mix of cream and matcha flavors, while Sakuta chose roasted green tea flavor.
The rest area even had a dog park, where several dogs were happily chasing each other under the evening sky.
Watching them, Sakuta voiced a thought.
"There's no way we can redo everything like we did before, right?"
Even if they could go back and save Touko… Shouko's future would become uncertain. There was always the possibility of ending up in a future where Shouko died.
"As long as this moment is the 'present,' we can't return to the 'past.'"
"True."
Just like Shouko said.
The reason they had been able to redo things before was that those events happened in the future. They could return from the 'future' to the 'present.' But people couldn't return to the 'past' from the 'present'—as Rio had once explained.
"Given that, I can't just go see Mitou empty-handed."
Sakuta took another bite of ice cream, the roasted green tea flavor spreading through his mouth.
"Sakuta-senpai, why don't you read the exchange diary?"
After thinking for a moment—
"...I think I'll pass."
"Maybe you'll find some clues if you read it."
Shouko was only trying to help Sakuta.
"It's fine."
Sakuta replied without hesitation. He wasn't sure what exactly was 'fine,' but what surprised him was how clear his own feelings toward Mitou were.
"Because I feel like I'm finally able to become 'friends' with Mitou."
"Even though Touko-san died because of you?"
"Even if Kirishima Touko died because of me, I still want to be friends with Mitou."
After saying that, Sakuta stuffed the rest of the ice cream cone into his mouth.
After 4:30 PM, the western sky was tinged with a soft red. Sakuta and Shouko left the rest area.
Driving at a steady 100 kilometers per hour along the Tomei Expressway, they made it back to Fujisawa in about two hours.
Before returning the car, Sakuta stopped in front of his place to drop off Shouko and the various souvenirs. At that moment, he noticed a white van parked in front of the apartment building across the street. The van looked familiar—it was Mai's manager, Ryoko Hanawa's car.
"Oh, looks like she's just getting back."
After the music festival, they had parted ways in the talent's rest trailer, and he hadn't seen Mai since.
Sakuta got out of the car, just as the rear sliding door of the white van opened, and Mai stepped out, walking briskly toward him. She didn't look surprised, likely having spotted him while still in the car. However, there was a slight hint of displeasure on her face, and Sakuta quickly realized why.
"Why is the first girl sitting in the passenger seat Shouko, and not me?"
She complained while pulling at both of Sakuta's cheeks.
"Sakuta-senpai didn't do anything wrong. I was the one who asked him to come with me today."
Before Sakuta could explain, Shouko proudly spoke up.
Naturally, Mai's gaze shifted to Shouko.
"..."
"..."
They locked eyes in silence, a tense atmosphere surrounding them.
"Welcome back, Shouko."
"Mm, I'm back."
The tension quickly dissipated.
"That Minegahara High School uniform looks really good on you."
"I think so too. After all, this is the uniform that captivated Sakuta-senpai."
"You're starting to sound more and more like the 'Shouko-san' from before."
Mai was visibly surprised by how much Shouko had grown.
At that moment, someone behind Mai spoke.
"Mai-san, I'll take the luggage up to your room."
It was her manager, Ryoko, who was carrying a suitcase toward the apartment entrance.
"Oh, I'll handle it from here. Ryoko-san, you can head home and get some rest."
Mai took a few steps toward her apartment, then turned back toward Sakuta and Shouko.
"Shouko, let's talk more next time when we have time."
—She said to Shouko.
"Sure."
"And Sakuta, make sure you get Shouko home safely, okay?"
"I was planning on it… wait, are you mad about this?"
"Of course I am."
Mai said with a smile, then took the suitcase from Ryoko, waved to them, and walked into the apartment. Before long, she disappeared from sight.
After watching her go inside, Ryoko got into the driver's seat, waved to Sakuta, and drove off, turning left at the intersection and disappearing into the distance.
That left just Sakuta and Shouko.
"Sakuta-senpai, you're quite adored."
"Seems like it."
"Mai-senpai seems pretty normal."
"Aside from calling herself Kirishima Touko, everything else seems normal."
"That's why it worries you, right?"
"It feels like she's Mai-senpai, but not really Mai-senpai."
"And it feels like she's not Mai-senpai, but she actually is."
Shouko accurately described what was going on in Sakuta's mind.
"Anyway, what happens next depends on Mitou Miori."
Shouko was spot on with that comment.
"Exactly."
So, Sakuta responded simply.
5
Thursday, April 6th.
Clear skies.
That day, the university campus, located just a three-minute walk from Kanazawa-Hakkei Station, was filled with the unique freshness that accompanies the arrival of new students.
First-year students who had just finished their entrance ceremony the day before were being actively recruited by various clubs and student organizations along the ginkgo-lined street.
"It felt like this last year too."
Sakuta didn't pay much attention to the lively street and walked quickly toward the main building.
Today was the first day of his second year. The only thing on the schedule for second-year students in the School of Statistical Sciences was an orientation meeting.
As he entered the classroom on the third floor, someone approached him from behind.
"Good morning, Onii-chan!"
The cheerful greeting made it easy for him to guess who it was.
So, though surprised, Sakuta turned around—
"Let's have another energetic day today!"
The person smiling brightly at him was Uzuki.
"Why are you here, Uzuki?"
"Because it's the orientation meeting!"
"You 'graduated' from university ahead of me, didn't you? To balance your activities with Sweet Bullet and your solo career."
"What I told you was that I would balance Sweet Bullet, my solo career, and university studies, right?"
That was absolutely not the case.
Uzuki had dropped out of university last fall, just as Sakuta said.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Ignoring the confused Sakuta, Uzuki greeted the other students and mingled with a group of girls gathered in the front. No one seemed to question her presence—they all accepted it as completely natural.
Sakuta, now alone in his bewilderment, decided to enter the classroom.
"Oh, you're here," Takumi greeted him as soon as he spotted Sakuta.
"Fukuyama—"
Sakuta sat down next to Takumi for the time being.
"Hm?"
"What do you think of Hirokawa?"
Sakuta glanced toward the group of girls at the front, including Uzuki.
"I think she's cute."
The same indifferent response from Takumi, completely unaware of Uzuki's strange situation. Just like the other students, Takumi accepted Uzuki's presence without question.
In this reality, it seemed, things had also been rewritten. The world was now different from the one Sakuta knew.
"Fukuyama—"
"What now?"
"Apparently, having a girlfriend means you shouldn't comment on other girls being cute."
"Can you keep this a secret from Nene?"
"Only if you buy me lunch."
As they exchanged this meaningless banter, Sakuta could feel the curious gazes of other students. It was easy to guess why—the incident from the music festival on April 1st.
"By the way, you must've known, right, Sakuta?"
"I didn't know."
"Huh? Didn't know what?"
"You're asking if I knew ahead of time that Mai-senpai was Kirishima Touko, aren't you?"
"You can read minds!?"
"Come to think of it, I did have a similar experience before."
"Yikes! That's scary."
Takumi exaggeratedly flinched, covering his chest as if protecting his heart. It seemed he thought his 'heart' was literally inside his chest.
"I'm joking."
"I figured."
Takumi laughed in relief.
At that moment, a white-haired professor entered the classroom. The chatting died down, and the students took their seats.
The professor didn't say anything out of the ordinary; he simply began the orientation for the Department of Statistical Sciences, giving advice on the mindset for second-year students and what to focus on academically.
"As you'll be taking more specialized courses, those of you who failed any basic courses during your first year should make sure to catch up this year."
"Did you fail any classes, Sakuta?" Takumi whispered.
"I'm not you; I didn't fail anything."
"For the record, I didn't either!"
The orientation, which was supposed to last 90 minutes, ended in about 30. As a result, Sakuta was free just after 11 AM.
Other students began leaving the classroom one by one, discussing which courses they should take next. For the next ten days, they had to figure out their schedules for the first semester. Unlike high school, university students had to plan their timetables themselves—something that often felt like a battle with the complex and confusing course selection handbook.
Even though Sakuta had experience with this after his first two semesters, it was still never easy. But today, course planning was the last thing on his mind.
There was something far more important to deal with.
"What are you doing for the rest of the day, Sakuta?"
"Are you going on a date with your girlfriend around campus?"
"Got it, you've got plans too, huh?"
Takumi gave Sakuta a knowing look, clearly misunderstanding something, but Sakuta didn't bother correcting him.
"Well, I'm off then."
Takumi grabbed his bag and left the classroom first.
Soon after, Sakuta stood up, slung his bag over his shoulder, and muttered a quiet "Alright!" to psych himself up.
After leaving the classroom, Sakuta wandered through the other classrooms in the building. Most of the other department orientations were wrapping up around the same time, but there was no sign of Mitou anywhere.
As he descended to the second floor, he ran into someone familiar.
"Ah, senpai!"
It was Tomoe, looking surprised to see him. Beside her was a familiar face, her friend Nana Yoneyama.
"Yoneyama, you got into this university too?"
"Huh? Senpai, didn't I already tell you? Nana and I got in together."
"Oh, right. I guess you did."
Sakuta played along, even though he had no memory of that.
"By the way, senpai, can you recommend something good to eat in the cafeteria? Nana and I are heading there now."
"Try the Yokohama Katsu-don."
"Alright, that's what we'll have."
Tomoe consulted Nana, who nodded in agreement.
"The cafeteria gets super crowded in the spring, so you should head there quickly."
"Got it! Let's go, Nana!"
"Wait for me, Tomoe."
Nana gave Sakuta a polite nod before hurrying after Tomoe down the stairs.
Once they were out of sight, Sakuta muttered to himself.
"So, Koga really did come to this university."
In Sakuta's memory, Tomoe had taken the internal recommendation exam for a women's university in Tokyo, and she had passed… but now the reality in front of him was completely different.
"This is Mitou's doing too, isn't it?"
"And what exactly did I do?"
A voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
Startled, Sakuta slowly turned around—and there stood the very person he had been looking for.
"Mitou, can we talk for a bit?"
"Just a bit?"
"Then how about a long chat?"
"As long as it's not a confession, I'm all ears."
Just then, a rumbling sound came from Mitou's stomach. She was hungry.
"Seems like it's time for lunch. Let's talk over food."
"The cafeteria is crowded right now. Let's grab something from the convenience store and eat in the courtyard."
Mitou casually led the way forward.
The courtyard of the main building had a few people scattered around, but they managed to find an empty table and benches where they could sit face-to-face. After placing the sandwiches and canned tea they bought from the convenience store on the table, they sat down.
Sakuta took a bite of his sandwich, while Mitou ate hers eagerly.
Spring sunlight streamed into the courtyard.
A large turtle basked lazily on the rocks of a pond, under the small bridge that crossed it.
It was a tranquil afternoon.
"Mitou."
"What is it?"
"How about we rent a car and go for a drive this weekend?"
Mitou blinked twice in silence at Sakuta's suggestion. Then, a mischievous smile spread across her face.
"Isn't that something you should be saying to your girlfriend?"
"Mai-senpai is busy playing the role of Kirishima Touko, so she's not free."
"Everyone's been talking about that lately."
Mitou glanced at the nearby table, where four girls were gathered, staring intently at a phone in the center. Sakuta could faintly hear Kirishima Touko's music playing. Their conversation seemed to be a mix of 'Kirishima Touko' and 'Sakurajima Mai.'
"If your girlfriend's not available, that means you'll have to ask your friend who got her driver's license the same day as you, huh?"
"But aren't we still just 'almost friends'?"
Mitou laughed as she said that.
"So, what counts as 'friends' to you?"
"To me, inviting another girl for a drive when you already have a girlfriend doesn't qualify."
"I wasn't asking about the boundary for cheating; I was asking about the boundary for friendship."
"Sakuta."
Even though Sakuta hadn't finished speaking, Mitou casually changed the subject.
"What?"
"Have you ever killed someone?"
She asked the question in the same calm tone as before.
"..."
For a moment, Sakuta didn't know how to respond.
"I have. It was during my first year of high school, on Christmas Eve."
Her tone remained unchanged.
Her expression didn't waver.
She gazed blankly toward the pond, where the turtle was sunbathing on the rocks.
"That day, I was supposed to meet up with a friend. While waiting at home, I got a message on my phone—'I'm stopping by the convenience store. Do you want anything?' I said, 'A curry bread.' Then I got a reply: 'Got the curry bread!' But after that, no matter how long I waited, my friend never showed up. Even when I messaged to ask where they were, I didn't even get a 'read' receipt. Later, I found out that my friend had been hit by a car that ran a red light."
Mitou's expression didn't change from beginning to end. Just like the turtle on the rock, she didn't move at all.
"Do you think that if you hadn't asked for the curry bread, your friend wouldn't have been hit?"
"That way, she could have paid faster and left sooner, right?"
Maybe, or maybe not.
Sakuta couldn't know for sure, since he wasn't there at the time. All he knew was that Mitou's friend, who had been killed in the accident, was—
"The friend you mentioned, that's Kirishima Touko, right?"
He stared directly at Mitou, speaking each word carefully.
"..."
Mitou didn't seem surprised.
"You're the one playing the role of 'Kirishima Touko.'"
If anything, she showed no significant reaction at all.
Mitou soon explained why.
"Yesterday, I received a letter from Touko's mother. She mentioned that a high school girl had visited, accompanied by a college boy. So, Azusagawa-kun..."
"What?"
"We can't be friends, after all."
She smiled at Sakuta—a smile so charming that most boys would have their hearts skip a beat. But to Sakuta, that smile felt fragile and distant. That's what made it beautiful, like fleeting cherry blossoms, a smile that rejected all redemption.
At that moment, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang.
"I have work soon, so I'm leaving."
With that, Mitou walked toward the main entrance.
"Mitou!"
Sakuta stood up a little late, trying to call out to her.
But she didn't stop, didn't look back.
It was as if she no longer acknowledged Sakuta's presence.
Still, Sakuta continued to say what he needed to say, regardless.
"Let's meet on Saturday at noon, in front of the ticket gates at Ōfuna Station."
Mitou didn't respond at all.
It was impossible to tell whether she heard him or not.
In the end, her figure disappeared behind the main gate, and Sakuta couldn't see her anymore.
6
After parting ways with Mitou, Sakuta went to the library. There, he printed out a list of the courses he needed to take and the relevant rules, then left.
Outside on the ginkgo-lined avenue, the student clubs were still energetically recruiting freshmen, creating a lively scene. But Sakuta remained unaffected by the bustling atmosphere, heading straight out of the main gate.
"Finally found you."
At that moment, an unexpected face appeared.
It was Saki Kamisato, glaring at him. She was Yuuma's girlfriend... or rather, ex-girlfriend.
"Hey, do you know what's going on with Izumi?"
Before Sakuta could say anything, she got straight to the point.
"What about Akagi? Also, isn't the nursing program supposed to move to the Fukuura campus starting in the second year?"
"That's why I made the trip here to find you. I can't get in touch with Izumi. She hasn't been to university either."
"Huh?"
"I've sent her messages, but they don't even show up as 'read.' When I called her, I got a message saying the number was no longer in service."
Sakuta remembered getting the same result when he had tried calling Izumi earlier.
"Since when?"
"Since the night of April 1st? That morning, she mentioned she was going to the music festival with you."
"The last time I saw her was that night too."
Less than a week had passed since then. Normally, it wasn't unusual for him to go a week or two without seeing Izumi, so he hadn't thought much of it. But it was hard to imagine someone as responsible as Izumi skipping class or ignoring her friends' messages.
"Are you seriously telling me you know nothing?"
Saki's expression showed a mix of unease and impatience.
"I really don't know. If I get in touch with her, I'll tell her you're worried."
"Alright, I'm counting on you."
With that, Saki turned and headed toward the station.
"Hey, Kamisato."
Sakuta called after her.
"What?"
She stopped, looking back at him with an annoyed expression.
"Why are you studying nursing?"
"What does it matter to you?"
"It's because of your ex-boyfriend who became a firefighter, isn't it?"
"...!"
Her eyebrows twitched noticeably.
"So what if it is?"
Saki glared at him, her eyes sharp.
"If you still like him, why did you break up?"
"Go ask Yuuma that!"
She answered coldly, then started walking again. She wasn't going to stop this time, and Sakuta didn't intend to call her back.
She was right—he should ask Yuuma himself.
After watching Saki's figure disappear into the distance, Sakuta walked over to the phone booth near the university's main gate.
He picked up the green receiver and inserted a coin.
Naturally, he dialed Izumi's number.
Saki had said she couldn't get through to Izumi.
Sakuta hoped it was just a misunderstanding. Maybe Izumi was just busy. Maybe it was all a false alarm—because right now, Sakuta didn't have the mental capacity to deal with more problems.
But his faint hope was quickly dashed by the mechanical voice on the other end.
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again."
Just to be sure, Sakuta mentally double-checked the number, then dialed again.
The result was the same.
There was nothing else he could do but return the receiver to its place with a clink as the coin he had inserted was ejected back out.
"So Izumi has gotten caught up in something too…?"
Was this another consequence of reality being rewritten?
He didn't know the truth.
But if that was the case, there was only one solution left in front of him.
Everything now depended on Mitou.
She was the only one who could fix this world that was falling apart.
So all he could do was hope that Mitou wouldn't cancel their meeting on Saturday.
With that thought, he pocketed his change and walked out of the phone booth.