[Naoki Aiba POV]
Leaving the crepe shop, we headed toward the general goods store Mikage had mentioned wanting to visit.
The shop, facing the avenue in front of the station, was packed wall-to-wall with tableware, stationery, hair accessories, and all sorts of items. Mikage paused before the shelves time and again, picking up things that caught her eye and happily sharing her impressions with me.
When she found a pale blue trinket case, she held it in her hands and gazed at it for a while before quietly murmuring, "Wait, I have something like this at home," and setting it back down. Seeing her glance back at it once more, she seemed to have liked it quite a bit.
Right beside it was a display of milky-white ceramic mugs, each featuring a cat's profile drawn in delicate, fine lines. Only the rim was accented in pale blue, creating a design that was charming yet understated and sophisticated.
Mikage stopped in front of them and picked one up.
"This is so cute. The cat is great, but the subdued color makes it really chic."
She raised the mug to eye level, admiring the cat illustration before letting her gaze wander to the pale blue trim along the rim. It was cute without being overly sweet, and I felt I could understand why it had caught her eye.
"It really is. It's cute, but the design is mature. If you used it, Mikage-san, it'd probably look even more stylish."
The hand tilting the mug froze. Mikage turned toward me and blinked.
"...You really just say things like that out of nowhere, don't you?"
She looked back down at the mug and stared at the illustration for a few moments. This time, instead of putting it back on the shelf, she carried it straight to the register.
I worried for a second that I had overstepped, but as we left the store, Mikage occasionally peeked into her paper bag, happily humming a quiet tune.
From the goods store, we made our way to a bookstore a short distance away.
We browsed the aisles while chatting about the books we normally read, stopping whenever an intriguing title caught our eye. Every time Mikage leaned in from beside me to look at a book I was holding, a faint, sweet fragrance drifted from her hair, easily derailing the concentration I was supposed to have on the printed words.
Oblivious to my distraction, Mikage finished reading the promotional blurb on the wraparound band and cheerfully remarked that she wanted to read it too.
By the time we stepped out of the bookstore, it was just past noon. Since not much time had passed since our crepes, we decided to drop by a cafe inside the station building for a light lunch of sandwiches.
Sitting across from each other, we chatted about trivial things—the books we had just been browsing, or how we usually spent our lunch breaks at school. Mikage happily shared stories about her friends, occasionally checking in with, "What about you, Naoki-kun?" Our conversation flowed effortlessly even after the food arrived, and as we gradually learned more about each other's day-to-day lives, our plates were empty before we knew it.
Even after finishing lunch, we had no set destination in mind. Whenever we spotted an intriguing shop across the street, we would wander over, take a stroll through the aisles, and figure out our next move as we walked. When we grew thirsty, we bought drinks, sat down in an open seating area, and talked about school and the things we liked.
It also made me quietly happy how many times she called me by my name throughout the day.
Whether pausing in front of a storefront or turning back to speak to me, Mikage addressed me as "Naoki-kun," with just a hint of shyness still lingering in her voice. Every single time, it truly sank in that our promise had finally been fulfilled.
Neither of us had lost track of time. We noticed the sun sinking lower every time we stepped out of a store, and we saw the faces of the crowds shifting with the evening rush, yet neither of us suggested heading home.
When one topic concluded, one of us would naturally start another. Walking a little further down the street brought another new shop into view, and our feet would instinctively carry us toward it.
Before we knew it, the crisp white light of the morning softened into a warm amber glow, and the buildings around the station cast long shadows across the pavement.
"...Look at the time."
Looking up at the large clock in the station plaza, Mikage murmured in surprise.
I followed her gaze to the same clock face. It had still been morning when we entered the crepe shop, but the hands were now nearing six in the evening.
"It's almost six already."
"And it was still before noon when we went into that goods shop."
"Then the bookstore, grabbing drinks... Looking back, we really covered a lot of ground."
"Yeah. We went to so many places, but the day just flew by."
Mikage lowered her eyes as if mentally retracing our day, then looked back up at the clock.
"...It still doesn't feel like it's time to go home."
"I feel the same way."
When our eyes met, Mikage offered a faint smile. Eventually, she turned her gaze back to the clock, watching the second hand sweep across the dial for a long moment.
As much as I wished this time could last a little longer, the sky was unmistakably beginning to darken. We hadn't made plans to have dinner together, and her family was likely waiting for her.
"We should probably get going soon."
"...Yeah."
Mikage gave a small nod, though she didn't turn toward the station entrance right away.
This morning, on our way to the crepe shop, I had caught myself wishing the walk would take just a little longer. Even after fulfilling our promise, we had drifted from one shop to the next, talking endlessly, and now evening was already upon us.
And now that the moment to part had arrived, I realized how desperately I wanted to prolong it.
I didn't want our day to end so abruptly here.
"Mikage-san, let me walk you home."
"Huh?"
"It's getting dark. If you don't mind, I'd like to walk you back to your house."
Mikage blinked in surprise and looked down at the street bathed in the sunset. After a brief pause, she lifted her head and met my eyes without hesitation.
"I don't mind at all. In that case... would you?"
"Yeah. Of course."
Mikage nodded happily, and we walked side by side toward the station building.
Passing through the ticket gates, we headed down to the platform for the line Mikage usually took to school. When the incoming train pulled up shortly after, we boarded to find the cars filled with the typical weekend evening crowd, many carrying shopping bags.
We found two open seats and sat down together. As the train smoothly pulled away from the platform, the familiar scenery around the station flowed past the window, gradually giving way to a quiet neighborhood of houses and low-rise apartments.
Her stop was only a few stations away.
Chatting about the shops we had seen, the things we had bought, and where we wanted to go next time, the train rolled past the stops one by one. The conversation never faltered, but as we drew closer to her station, the moments spent looking out the window quietly grew longer.
When the chime signaled our arrival, Mikage glanced outside once before standing up. I followed close behind, and the two of us stepped off onto the platform.
Exiting the gates, the area was much quieter than the station near our school. The warm lights of local diners and small neighborhood shops were just beginning to flicker on for the dinner hour.
Following Mikage's lead, we walked into the quiet residential streets.
After walking for a bit, Mikage picked up her pace slightly. Stepping half a stride ahead, she leaned forward slightly and glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes dropping toward my right arm.
"Naoki-kun, how was your shoulder today? Did it hurt at all?"
"No, barely a twinge. Thanks for worrying about it."
"...Good. I'm glad."
Mikage nodded softly, her expression relaxing as she turned back forward.
Even after spending the entire day together, we never ran out of things to say. Still, as her house drew nearer, the pauses between our words stretched out a little longer.
It wasn't an uncomfortable silence.
We were simply both painfully aware that today was coming to an end.
Once the lights of the station had faded into the distance and the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees of the neighborhood, Mikage turned toward a park surrounded by greenery.
Though tucked inside a residential block, it was a spacious park, complete with a wide grassy lawn and large playground equipment further back. An old clock tower stood near the entrance, and several benches lined the walking path circling the grounds.
It was a place I recognized.
Back in elementary school, my family and I had come to play in this very park a few times. The colors of the playground structures were more faded than I remembered, but the scenery itself remained almost entirely unchanged.
"...Would you mind if we stopped by for just a minute?"
"Not at all."
I followed Mikage into the park, and we sat down together on a bench near a streetlight.
She placed her bag on her lap and looked up at the fading sky. Rather than resting her tired feet, it felt more like she just wanted to savor a few more minutes out here before going inside.
Without pressing for a reason, I quietly watched the sky alongside her. After a moment, Mikage broke the silence in a soft voice.
"I used to come to this park all the time in middle school."
Saying this, she slowly let her gaze sweep across the grounds.
The last rays of twilight filtered through the canopy, casting long, slender shadows from the benches across the earth.
"Some days I came by myself, and other times I came with Miu."
"Miu is the friend you mentioned at lunch, right? The one who was in the infirmary the other day."
"Yeah."
"The one who helped Koharu."
"That's her. We've been friends since middle school, and we still hang out all the time."
Mikage said, her eyes drifting toward the back of the park.
"Whenever something bad happened and I didn't want to go straight home, I'd sit here until I calmed down."
Still looking into the distance, she rested her fingertips against the bag in her lap.
I had no intention of prying into what had happened. The subtle weight in her voice made it clear that it wasn't my place to ask.
Yet Mikage didn't leave it there. Watching the leaves rustle in the evening breeze, she continued in a gentle tone.
"It wasn't just on bad days, though. I'd come here when something great happened at school, or when Miu and I hadn't finished talking."
She lowered her eyes to the ground in front of the bench, speaking slowly as if retracing old footprints.
"Sitting here for a little while, whether it was a rough day or a happy one, gave me the space to sort through my feelings before heading home."
"It's a really special place to you, isn't it, Mikage-san?"
"Yeah."
This park held more than just the unspoken hardships of her past; it held memories of time shared with her best friend and the warmth of happy days.
It wasn't a place defined solely by painful memories.
Mikage looked down at her lap, tracing the strap of her bag with a finger, before glancing over at me with a shy smile.
"Today, though, it wasn't about sorting through my feelings like usual... I just stopped by because I didn't want today to end yet."
A quiet warmth blossomed deep in my chest.
Even knowing it was time to go home, I hadn't wanted our day to end here either. Knowing that she felt the exact same way made me overwhelmingly happy.
"...I'm really glad we stopped by, too."
Mikage lowered her gaze, nodding with a bright, genuine smile.
After a brief pause, I looked around the park once more. It felt almost surreal that Mikage knew this place where I had played as a child—that she had spent so much time here during years I knew nothing about.
"Actually, when I was in elementary school, I used to come here with my family a few times too."
"You did, Naoki-kun?"
"Yeah. With my dad, my mom, and Koharu. Looking at the playground equipment brought it all back."
"So we spent time in the very same park."
"Years apart, most likely."
"Even so, it feels kind of magical. To think I had no idea you were playing here back then."
Mikage looked toward the playground equipment in the back as she spoke.
I had never known the middle school girl who used to sit on this bench, either. Yet the exact same park had been part of our separate lives all along.
And now, those two separate timelines were intersecting right here on this bench.
Looking up, the last traces of the sunset had vanished, giving way to a rich, deep indigo overhead. The park's streetlights cast pools of soft light, while the silhouettes of the trees and play structures dissolved into the gathering night.
Catching sight of a faint point of light in the deepening blue, I pointed up toward the sky.
"Look over there. You can already see a star."
Mikage followed my finger, looking up and squinting at the tiny light.
"Oh, you're right. It's so bright."
"That's probably Vega."
"You can tell just from that?"
"Yeah. It's part of the Summer Triangle. Once it gets a little darker, we should be able to see Altair and Deneb, too."
Mikage shifted her gaze from the star to me, her lips parting as if to say something. But she held back, turning her eyes back to Vega instead.
"You really know your stars, Naoki-kun."
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
"...My dad was the one who knew a lot, actually."
Surprised, Mikage looked back at me from the sky.
"When I was in elementary school, my dad and I went stargazing on a family trip. That's when he taught me about the Summer Triangle."
"That sounds like a wonderful memory."
"It is. Ever since then, whenever I look at the summer sky, I catch myself looking for those three stars."
Tracing the broad triangle my father had shown me, I slowly swept my eyes across the sky. The heavens were still too pale to pick out the other two.
Mikage followed my line of sight, searching the expanse around Vega.
"Though it's been a long time since I've really taken the time to look for them like this."
At my offhand comment, she turned back to face me.
"Then... can I help you find them tonight?"
She tilted her head slightly, searching my face for an answer.
"Of course. Once it gets a bit darker, the other two should show up."
At my reply, Mikage looked back up at the sky, letting her gaze drift slowly outward from Vega.
"When we find them, you'll have to tell me which is which, okay?"
"Leave it to me. The first one we found, Vega, is in the constellation Lyra. In the Tanabata story, that's Orihime, the Weaver Girl Star."
"Then what about Hikoboshi, the Cowherd Star?"
Hearing that question instantly brought my own childhood voice echoing back. When my dad had told me Vega was Orihime, I had asked the exact same thing: "Then what about Hikoboshi?"
"Altair. It's in the constellation Aquila, and that's Hikoboshi."
"I see. Then let's try finding Hikoboshi first."
"I don't know how much more detail I can give you, though."
"Whatever we don't know, we can just look up together."
Her words brought back the memory of heading to the bookstore with my dad and Koharu the day after our trip to buy a constellation guide. Just like the three of us gathering around that brand-new book at home, the thought of looking up unknown stars together with Mikage filled me with a quiet, genuine joy.
"Sounds like a plan, then."
Mikage chuckled softly and looked back up at the sky.
Around the solitary light we had first spotted, smaller stars that had been invisible moments ago were beginning to surface one by one.
After gazing upward together for a while, Mikage pointed to a spot slightly away from Vega.
"Is that... could that be it?"
Leaning closer to see where she was pointing, our shoulders brushed together. Mikage leaned in as well to show me the angle. Caught up in the search for a single speck of light in the vast sky, neither of us noticed how close we were right away.
"That bright one, just a little ways from Vega."
Following her direction, I spotted a star shining with distinct brilliance against the dark backdrop.
"Spot on. That's Altair."
The moment I answered, the warmth radiating through our sleeves registered in my mind. When I turned my head, Mikage was already looking at me. Our faces were closer than I had realized, and our eyes met.
We both looked back up at the sky almost simultaneously, yet our shoulders remained pressed gently against each other.
"That just leaves one more, then."
Without lowering her arm, Mikage traced her finger back and forth between Vega and Altair. As I searched for the final piece, a faint pinpoint of light emerged across the sky, forming the third vertex of the triangle.
"Mikage-san, right over there."
"Is that Deneb?"
"Yeah. That's all three."
With our shoulders still touching, Mikage moved her fingertip from Vega to Altair and then to Deneb, narrowing her eyes as if committing the shape to memory.
"It really is a huge triangle."
"When my dad showed me, I remember saying the exact same thing: 'It really made a triangle!'"
"Really? Then right now, maybe I'm seeing a little piece of the world you saw back then, Naoki-kun."
"Yeah. The exact same three stars I saw with my dad."
The three stars I had looked up at beside my father all those years ago were now being watched by Mikage by my side.
That night with my father wasn't just a memory locked away in the past; it had reached across the years to connect with this moment with Mikage. That simple realization filled me with quiet gratitude.
For a long while after, staying close enough for our shoulders to touch, we watched the points of light multiply around the Summer Triangle. When Mikage found a new star, I followed her finger to find it; when I spotted one first, I pointed it out to her. Most of them were stars whose names we didn't know, yet simply discovering the same faint lights together was peaceful and comforting.
Eventually, our hushed conversation settled into a comfortable silence, only to be broken by a short buzz from Mikage's bag on her lap.
As she reached down for it, our shoulders naturally drifted apart. When she checked the message on her screen, a warm, familiar smile touched her lips.
"It's from Miu. Asking what time we're meeting up to go shopping tomorrow."
"Miu-san, the friend you mentioned earlier?"
"Yeah. Apparently she wants a new bag, so we're going to look for one together. Miu isn't the type to browse around forever, though, so it probably won't take all day like we did."
"She might just buy the first one she sees."
"Honestly, knowing Miu, that could totally happen."
Mikage sent a quick reply with a soft laugh, locked her screen, and slipped the phone back into her bag. Then, she turned her attention back to me.
"Do you have any plans tomorrow, Naoki-kun?"
"A longtime family friend and his elementary school daughter are coming over to our place."
"I see. So you're busy tomorrow too, Naoki-kun."
"Yeah. Though I won't be out from morning till night like today."
"Hmm? Are you saying I dragged you around all day?"
"I didn't say I wanted to go home either, did I?"
Mikage blinked at my response, her face softening into a bright, happy smile.
"...True. Then we're both guilty."
I nodded in agreement.
Every time she used the word "both" or "same" today, it left a distinct warmth in my chest. Feeling nervous before meeting up, wanting our walk to last longer, dreading the moment we had to head home after fulfilling our promise—none of it was something I had felt alone.
"We should probably get going. Your family is likely waiting for you, Mikage-san."
"Yeah. I only meant to stay for a minute, but I'm really glad we got to stargaze together, Naoki-kun. Thanks for staying with me."
"Thank you, too. Being with you, Mikage-san, made all those old memories come back so naturally."
"...I'm really glad I got to hear them."
Before standing up, Mikage looked up at the sky one last time.
High above, the three stars we had found together shone with unmistakable clarity against the deep night sky.
We stood up from the bench and left the park behind.
The sky had fully settled into the dark hues of night, but the warm porch lights of the houses gently illuminated our path.
Leaving the trees of the park in the distance, we took a few turns down the quiet streets Mikage indicated, entering a peaceful lane bordered by low walls and manicured garden trees.
Before long, a house with its entryway light glowing warmly came into view at the end of the street.
Mikage's steps slowed just a fraction.
"...We're already here."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but walking right beside her, I heard it clearly.
This morning, I had wished the walk to the crepe shop would take a little longer. And now, Mikage was feeling that very same reluctance for our walk to her house to end.
Knowing that made me happy, but it also made the ache of our day drawing to a close all the sharper.
"Thanks for walking me home. You ended up staying with me the entire day, even after we got crepes."
"Thank you, too. I had a lot of fun today, Mikage-san."
"Me too. Checking out all those shops, looking at the stars in the park... I was really, really happy to spend the whole day with you, Naoki-kun."
Mikage made no move toward her front gate, and I couldn't bring myself to turn and leave either.
Even if today was over, it didn't mean our time together was at an end. Still, I desperately wanted to leave behind something to bridge the gap until next time.
While I hesitated over what to say, Mikage adjusted the handles of her shopping bag. She kept her eyes lowered for a moment before looking up at me, resolve clear in her gaze.
"Naoki-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Next time... can I be the one to invite you out?"
The unexpected question caught me off guard, delaying my response by a second.
Seeing the faint trace of anxiety flicker across her face, I nodded immediately.
"Yeah. Of course."
Mikage let out the breath she had been holding. A smile so radiant it was vivid even under the dim entryway light bloomed across her face.
"I'm so glad. Then I'll start thinking about where we should go."
"I'll come up with a few ideas too. So I don't freeze up trying to choose on the spot like I did with the crepes."
"Hey, seeing you agonizing over it so seriously was pretty cute, you know."
"It's not something you need to see twice."
"Hmm, I wouldn't mind seeing it again."
She flashed a mischievous grin.
I couldn't help but laugh, and the lingering weight of our impending goodbye lightened considerably.
Mikage turned toward the gate, but paused and looked back as if suddenly remembering something.
"Hey, Naoki-kun."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I was wondering... are you going to keep calling me Mikage-san from now on?"
Her words made me realize that even though she had called me by my first name all day, I hadn't changed how I addressed her once.
Yet, to me, "Mikage" had never been just a last name.
It was the name that had naturally torn from my throat as I searched for any sign of her through the thick smoke. It was the name I had spoken the moment I regained consciousness in the hospital bed, frantic to know if she was safe.
To me, that name was the thread that had connected me to the girl standing before me from that terrifying day until now. That was probably why the thought of changing it had never crossed my mind.
"...Is it okay if I call you by your first name, too?"
"Yeah. I want you to, Naoki-kun."
After casting her eyes down for a split second, she looked back up at me, a delicate tension in her expression.
I remembered the moment I had told her my name earlier today. Even though it was just a name, Mikage must have felt this exact same flutter of nerves when she said mine for the first time.
Taking a steadying breath, I spoke her name aloud.
"...Serina-san."
Mikage—Serina-san—stared at me, her eyes wide with surprise. A soft blush blossomed across her cheeks, and a smile she couldn't possibly hide spread across her face.
"Call me that at school, too, okay?"
"At school, too?"
"Yeah....Though,"
Serina-san stopped herself, her brow furrowing slightly.
"If we call each other by our first names, people might get the wrong idea and think we're dating. I'd hate to cause trouble for you, Naoki-kun..."
"Wouldn't the same go for you, Serina-san?"
"I don't care at all."
Her answer was instant, without a shred of hesitation. It turned out she hadn't been worried about her own reputation at all—only about how it might affect me.
"As long as you don't mind, Naoki-kun."
"I don't mind."
The moment the words left my mouth, the full weight of what I had just said hit me.
Even if people misunderstood and thought Serina-san and I were dating, I didn't mind. I had just admitted that straight to her face.
I could have walked it back or tried to clarify. But standing there looking at her, I found I had no desire to take the words back.
Serina-san stared at me with wide eyes for a long moment. As the true meaning of my words settled in, she looked down, an irrepressible smile breaking across her lips.
"...I see."
Her quiet response was laced with a shyness entirely different from before.
"Then at school, too... I'll call you Naoki-kun."
"Yeah. And I'll call you Serina-san."
Serina-san's eyes softened with pure joy. After looking at me in silence for a brief moment, she spoke softly.
"Naoki-kun and Serina-san..."
As if testing the melody of our names together, she gave a small nod.
"Yeah. For now..."
The rest of her words trailed off so quietly I couldn't catch them.
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"No. Nothing at all."
As she turned toward the gate, the profile of her face was still illuminated by a lingering smile. Looking at her, the loneliness that had weighed on my chest throughout the evening steadily gave way to a bright, eager anticipation for the next time I would see her.
"Well, see you at school, Serina-san."
"Yeah. See you at school, Naoki-kun."
Serina-san placed her hand on the gate latch.
I took a few steps back down the path we had walked, turning around once more before rounding the corner. Serina-san was still standing by the gate, watching me leave.
When our eyes met, we raised our hands in a wave at the exact same time.
High above, untouched by the neighborhood lights, the three stars we had found in the park shone clearly in the night sky. Among them, Vega and Altair burned with exceptional brilliance.
Under that canopy of stars, Serina-san and I shared one last smile, and I turned to begin the slow walk home, stepping onto the path that would carry today into tomorrow.