16 13.

We spent the night in a small shed by the elds. Amongst all the farming equipment stored

inside the wooden shed, Akari and I found an old blanket in the shelves and taking o our wet

shoes and coats, we wrapped ourselves together in it and talked quietly. Underneath her coat,

Akari had been wearing a sailor suit uniform while I was in regular uniform. We were no longer

lonely and were overjoyed.

As we talked underneath the blanket leaning against each other, every now and then Akari's

tender hair would brush over my cheeks and neck. Every time that happened, the smell of her

sweet aroma would excite me while the warm touch of her body kept my senses satised. Akari's

speaking voice would gently make the front of my hair sway while my voice too would sway hers.

The snow outside was growing light and occasionally, the shed would be lled with light from

the moon that made it all feel like an illusion. Before we knew it, we had fallen asleep.

When we woke up it was around six o'clock in the morning and the snow had stopped. We

drank some of the still slightly warm Houji Tea that was left then put on our coats and started

walking to the station. The sky was blue and the rising sun was shining over the ridge of the

mountains, making the snow covered elds glitter in its light. It was a dazzling world.

On the platform that Saturday morning, I was the only passenger. The train painted in

orange and green had arrived, its carriages on the Ryouke Line shining underneath the rising

sun. The doors opened and as I got on, I turned round towards the platform. The thirteen year

old Akari stood there, the buttons of her white coat unbuttoned, revealing part of her sailor suit

uniform.

Yes, I had realised it. From that moment on we had to be alone again and return to our own

places in the world.

Even though we had talked so much with each other last night, even though we had been so

close to each other we were suddenly going to be split up again. I remained silent, not knowing

what to say. It was Akari who spoke up.

"Hey, Takaki-kun."

"Huh?" I replied in a voice as if I found it dicult to breathe."Takaki-kun. . . " she said once more, hesitating. The snow elds bathed in the rising sun

behind her were shining like the surface of a lake and Akari looked ever so beautiful as her

gure stood against the scenery. She suddenly looked straight at me and continued as if she had

gathered up all her strength.

"Takaki-kun, I'm sure you'll be alright! I know you will be!"

"Thanks. . . " I managed to say before the train doors began to close.

I couldn't leave it like this. I had to tell her more. I shouted with all my strength so that my

voice could reach her through the closed doors.

"You take care too, Akari! I'll write! I'll call you!"

At that moment, I felt I heard the shrill cry of a bird. As the train began to move, our right

hands touched the same spot on the door's window. They were separated almost immediately

but just for a brief sure moment, they touched the same spot.

As the train moved, I continued to stand there by the doors.

I couldn't tell Akari that I had written a letter to her nor could I tell her that I had lost it. I

had thought we could meet again someday but I felt the whole world had changed after our kiss.

I gently put my hand on the spot where Akari had touched.

"Takaki-kun, I'm sure you'll be alright", Akari had said.

It was as if her words had struck something within me  something that even I didn't know

about myself  they had a mysterious feeling about them. I had a feeling that someday in the

far distant future, Akari's words will become a precious source of encouragement for me.

But at that very moment of time I could only continue to gaze out the window at the passing

scenery and think to myself. . . If only I had the power to protect her.