Chapter 11

She set Saburou down on the ground and strolled with her hands tucked behind her back. Saburou trotted along, staying close. In her canary yellow flare skirt and white blouse, she looked radiant, like a vision. “Yochi, you looked into my eyes and saw the future, didn’t you? You saw that I was still alive and realized that fate had decided one of us would die. So you swore it would be you and that you’d find me, somehow restrain me.” She had figured it all out. There was no point in lying to her. I couldn’t find the words to speak, so I simply nodded. She turned, her eyes meeting mine. “Why?” We looked at each other. Eye to eye, through the wall of time. The evening light and the sensations of her brittle humanity flickered in her jewellike eyes. My heart felt as if it was about to fly right out my mouth. But I had to tell her. “Miri, I love you. With all my heart.” My cheeks flushed, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Her lips trembled. “Even though we’ve never met?” “But it’s almost like we lived together.” “Yeah, kind of.” Miri chuckled. She turned away from me and began walking. I chased after her. “Why do you have to die?” She was silent for a while as she continued. Then she finally said it. “Because, Yochi, I love you, too.” “You mean—?” “Yes. I love you, Yochi.” She faced me again and then smiled, her cheeks flushing as if she were about to cry. Happiness swelled from the depths of my soul, but sadness balanced it out, making my heart ache. “But why do you love me?” “That’s a secret,” she said, pressing a finger to her lips. “I’ll tell you all about it another time.” We continued walking along the banks of the Arakawa River toward the Goshikizakura Bridge. In my time, it was summer, with leaves covering the cherry trees. But in Miri’s time, it was spring, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their petals dancing in the breeze. “This world is so beautiful,” she muttered softly, grief lacing her voice. “Miri, I should be the one who—” “Stop.” Her voice was firm, final. “I’m the one who’s going to die. There’s no way you can find me.” I clenched my fists, biting back the words I wanted to say.