“That’s all for today.”
Sakuta’s check sheet received a red stamp from the round-headed instructor at the driving school. It was their first day, so they’d learned the principles of safe driving and done some basic practice on a driving simulator. They’d be in a real car next time.
He was taking driving lessons in Ofuna, one station down the Tokaido Line from Fujisawa. A white Kannon statue overlooked the station itself, and the school was a five-minute walk north from there. The address was in Yokohama City, but the school’s name said Kamakura. The station was Ofuna, the address Yokohama, and the school itself Kamakura—a veritable smorgasbord of place-names.
“See you next time. Work hard, drive safe.”
“Thank you,” he said, bobbing his head to the instructor, and he headed to the lobby.
At the reception desk, he reserved his next lesson and was done there.
He must have been a bit nervous; once it was all over, he found himself letting out a long breath.
Then he muttered, “Now what?”
Not about the driving school. His mind was already veering toward other things.
To the major headache in his life.
Touko Kirishima…aka Nene Iwamizawa.
Finding out she’d been dating Takumi had been huge, but the results disastrous. Not one good thing had come of their trip to Haneda Airport two days back.
Perhaps it was best to admit he’d blown it.
He’d rushed back to the parking lot, but the compact Touko had driven was already gone, and the girl with it.
She’d ditched him and gone home alone.
He’d been forced to take the train home, carrying Takumi’s birthday present with him. It was now sitting in his apartment.
This was far from ideal.
Still, Takumi remained his one real hope. Sakuta could not see any other means by which to cure Nene Iwamizawa’s Adolescence Syndrome. Even if one existed, he didn’t have time to hunt for it. It was February 1. Mai would be put in a coma on February 4—too close for comfort.
What could he say to prod Takumi into action? Sakuta was coming up empty. No matter how true his words were, it would likely be a repeat of the debacle at the airport.
Even if Takumi believed what he said, that meant nothing if he couldn’t actually see Nene. Nothing mattered unless he could perceive her again.
Restoring Takumi’s memories of Nene Iwamizawa was the first order of business.
But where would he even begin?
That’s what he didn’t know.
He didn’t have the first clue.
And that had prompted his earlier “Now what?”
“You’ve got the cutest girlfriend in the world, yet you don’t look too happy.”
The voice came from right next to him.
He looked up and found a familiar face.
Miori, with a smile on her lips.
“You’re at this driving school, Mitou?”
“Already got my learner’s permit. You?”
“First day.”
“Aha! Feel free to ask me anything.”
She slapped his shoulder, acting like a helpful senpai.
“What’s your take on the miniskirt Santa?” he asked.
“I meant about cars.”
Miori shot him her “You know better” face. Naturally, he did. And had chosen to ask what he really wanted to know instead.
“You said anything, Mitou.”
“Fine, be that way. I had something to show you on that subject anyway.”
He had not expected that.
“Something to show me?”
No clue what this could be.
“You have time?” she asked, head tipped slightly to the side. Most men would take one look at that face and go anywhere with her, and Sakuta was no exception.
“I’m not working today, so I have all the time in the world.”
“Then onward!” Miori said, waving her hand as if it were a banner in battle. Like magic—the driving school doors slid open.