Epilogue
THE GIRL I LOVE is in danger!
When Wasabi said those words to Yamashiro, it was Youko he was thinking of, not Hinako. How long had he felt that way about her? Well…he wasn’t sure. It just sort of happened.
“I wish Hinako-san were here with us.”
It was Christmas Eve, and Wasabi and Youko were eating dinner at a restaurant with a lovely view of the nightscape.
“She didn’t want to be a third wheel, duh. Oh yeah, have you seen this?”
Youko held up her smartphone to show Wasabi a news article. The headline read: FOUR MEN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ARSON AT ABANDONED BUILDING. Sure enough, it was the same men who had set off those illegal fireworks—all thanks to the video footage Youko had submitted to the police.
“Don’t pull any more crazy stunts like that, okay?” Wasabi pleaded.
“I know, I know!”
We’re both reckless idiots, but maybe that’s what makes this relationship work, Wasabi thought to himself.
“Hey, let’s give Hinako-san a call,” Youko suggested after they left the restaurant.
“Good idea.”
Wasabi seemed to recall Hinako saying she was making omurice tonight. Ever since she had been little, omurice had always been her favorite treat, or so she claimed. Wasabi dialed her number, and she picked up right away.
“Hey there, Hinako-san! Congrats on getting your lifeguard cert!”
“Thanks! Sorry I couldn’t join you tonight.”
“Oh, no worries. You know, it really seems like you’re riding your own wave lately,” he said.
“Yeah, I got tired of the ocean. These days I’ll ride whatever I can get my hands on!” she joked.
Hinako sounded like she was in better spirits, and Wasabi was glad to hear it. Tomorrow was the anniversary of Minato’s death, and they had made arrangements to visit his grave together.
“Here, I’ll let you talk to Youko-chan.”
“Merry Christmas, Hinako-san! Being single is for squares, you know!”
Hinako giggled, and after they wished each other a happy new year, the call ended.
“So, where to?” Wasabi asked.
“Oh, how about the Chiba Port Tower?” Youko suggested. “Hinako-san told me they have this place called the Lovers’ Sanctuary. You can write a message on a heart-shaped card or chain a heart-shaped padlock to the rail—all sorts of stuff.”
As Wasabi stared back in silent surprise, Youko scowled.
“What’s your problem?”
“I’m just surprised. It sounds like the sort of thing you’d call cringey.”
“W-well, I figured you might be interested, that’s all!” Blushing beet-red, Youko turned away.
Wasabi smiled and took her by the hand. Sure, Youko could be foul-mouthed and stubborn, but to him, she was adorable.
I’m glad I let them have the night to themselves.
Smiling, Hinako hung up the phone and looked up at the Chiba Port Tower. Soon they would turn on their Christmas tree illumination, and couples would flock to the tower in droves, just like last year.
At that moment, she happened to look down and notice a small puddle of water by her feet.
“I see you there, looking at the water,” she sang quietly, experimentally. But the water’s surface didn’t even ripple.
Bit by bit, she was starting to move on. But no matter how much time passed, it still felt like icy wind was blowing through a gaping hole in her chest…especially on nights with a lot of happy memories attached to it, like this one.
But right before the sadness could overwhelm her, the music started to play, the Port Tower illuminations flickered to life…and she heard a name she wasn’t expecting.
“We have a message from Hinageshi Minato-san to Mukaimizu Hinako-san. This one was submitted to us one whole year ago!”
What? Hinako stared up blankly at the tower.
“Merry Christmas, Hinako! From now on, let’s spend all our Christmases together…forever and ever and ever!”
Minato must have submitted it while she wasn’t looking. He’d always loved surprises… He must’ve been so sure they would visit the tower again this year…
Guess what, Minato? I’ve gotten really good at making omurice.
“Nnn…hnnnn…”
And I’ve learned how to write the kanji for Hinageshi.
“Nnhnn…aah…waaaah…!” Unable to hold back, Hinako broke down sobbing.
Meanwhile, amid the glow of the Christmas lights, the first snow began to fall.
✦ ✦ ✦
Spring had rolled around once more. But this time, Minato wasn’t around to enjoy it with Hinako.
When she arrived on the beach, surfboard in hand, she greeted the young male surfers hanging out nearby.
“Hey, guys! We’ve got a trench in the area, so stay safe, okay?”
Trenches were deep grooves carved into the ocean floor by strong currents in shallow waters. A less-than-cautious surfer could easily get trapped and drown.
“Yes, ma’am!”
The young men watched Hinako go with looks of admiration on their faces. You see, this college-age lifeguard was something of a celebrity at Kujukuri Beach…
“I guess there’s no more waves coming.”
“Maybe we should call it a day.”
The other surfers turned and headed back to shore…but not Hinako. She sat and waited, the wind silently ruffling her hair. All she could hear was the whoosh of the water—
Wave incoming!
“Hinako! Paddle, paddle, paddle!”
Hinako could hear Minato’s voice on the ocean breeze…
“Now get on your feet and ride your wave!”
But this time, she would ride it alone.
With her eyes on the horizon, Hinako plunged forward.