1 THE SKY OUTSIDE THE WINDOW

Miyuki Ogawa is a junior high school girl who lives in a high rise flat with her two parents. Due to a typhoon one morning in June, Miyuki decides not to go to school. Her parents soon leave the apartment to go to work. Left all alone in the living room, everything around Miyuki reminded her of the heavy rain outside. She began to imagine what it was like outside. The crowded train she usually took to get to school in the morning is probably filled with the same rainy atmosphere. Someone's soaked umbrella soaking someone's skirt and legs. Businessmen cramped together with their clothes smelling of insecticide. And the air conditioner that's turned on too high, making all the damp clothes even colder…

After having only a yogurt that morning for breakfast, Miyuki returns to her room to resume her work. She was writing a novel that she hasn't told anyone about. It wasn't complete yet and even if she did finish it, Miyuki didn't know what she was going to do with it. Miyuki stretched a little and began manicuring her nails. "I probably want to leave a trace of myself behind in this world."

Miyuki soon noticed the wind had picked up outside her window as it howled through the gaps between buildings and sirens could be heard. Pressing her ear towards the window she could hear the trees violently waving in the wind, trucks running through water and a sign being thrown onto the ground.

Scenes of the raging rain outside made their way into Miyuki's mind again. Roofs exposed to the roaring typhoon winds, the rusted cable cars, the empty crossings, the deserted buildings, creaking lights and her classmates taking lessons quietly in class…

Staring at the white notepad before her, Miyuki thought about the possible future ahead of her. She'll be taking her final exams, wearing a new uniform and if it all goes well, she'll attending a private senior high school that only takes 40 minutes to get to by train and she will probably join the basketball club again. She'll be working part-time and maybe go out with a few boys. "After graduating from high school, I'll go to university," thought Miyuki.

"Hmmm, university life… After that it'll be a career and marriage, something that I can't really imagine. In any case, the novel I'm writing now shouldn't have any effect on my future. But then what am I writing this for?"

"…No, my novel has nothing to do with all that," thought Miyuki. "There's nothing I want to be just now. I haven't done things I want to do yet. First I'm going to write this novel because I want to know more about myself. I'm sure there will be a world that I'll be able to reach out to afterwards."

Miyuki noticed the wind had stopped now. Silence hung peacefully in her room. Looking up she could see how bright outside suddenly was. Rays of sunlight were bursting through the clouds… Opening the window, the sound of Miyuki's sandals echoed as she stepped out onto the veranda. And what a world that laid before her eyes!

Just moments ago the town was drenched in rain but now, it was glowing brightly as it reflected the dazzling rays of sunlight. The clouds above were breaking up and dashes of the blue sky could be seen. Small black clouds were being whisked quickly away by the strong winds overhead in the sky.

"It's the first time I've seen anything like this. Yes, this must be the eye of the storm…"

Looking at the sky from the high veranda, Miyuki thought the blue colour was a sad one. It was so far away and so high. Even though she knew she couldn't reach out to touch it, Miyuki stretched out her hands. She didn't know why but, under that powerful moment of time, she broke down in tears.

It was a bright sunny morning the next day. Miyuki was taking a side lane in between buildings as she made her way to the station. Stopping, she turns round to see the town hidden away by the blue sky. "I won't be able to tell anyone about what I saw yesterday probably," thought Miyuki. "It's impossible for me to leave any traces of my life behind in this big world. I don't know why but it's been bothering me for a long time…"

"So yet why do I continue writing my story?" Miyuki looked away from the sky and continued to walk again.