The café hummed with quiet conversation, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the soft clinking of cups and saucers. Hiyori sat across from the groom her parents had chosen for her to meet. Her thoughts felt like static—her mind caught in a tug-of-war between the future her parents wanted and the past she couldn't let go of.
The man was polite and engaging, his demeanor warm as he asked about her studies and aspirations. But Hiyori's responses were automatic, her gaze occasionally drifting out the window. A gnawing guilt tugged at her.
What am I doing? Is this right?
She stirred her coffee absently, her thoughts spiraling. Just as she opened her mouth to excuse herself, the man casually mentioned something that jolted her out of her reverie.
"By the way, I'm moving to Kamisaka next month for work," he said.
The name hit her like a bolt of lightning. Kamisaka.
The word echoed in her mind, stirring memories that she had buried—or perhaps memories that weren't hers to begin with. Her chest tightened as a flood of images filled her vision: a quiet park, a small shrine, and a winding street where she had—no, he had—once walked hand in hand with someone.
She sat frozen, barely hearing the rest of his words.
"Are you okay?" the man asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
Hiyori blinked rapidly and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your time," she said quickly, standing and bowing. "Excuse me."
She left the café without looking back, her heart racing as she tried to steady her breathing.
When Hiyori got home, she rushed to her room, her mind still reeling. She pulled out her diary, flipping through the pages with trembling hands. The memories were there—fragments of a life that wasn't entirely hers but felt inseparable from her soul.
Kamisaka. The name was the missing thread that tied so much of her past together. As Ansh, she had once taken Hiyori to that town. The landmarks came rushing back: the small shrine they visited together, the quiet café where they had laughed over shared stories, and the bench near the riverside where they had talked about dreams they never got to fulfill.
Tears welled in her eyes, but for the first time in months, they weren't tears of despair. They were tears of hope.
A smile broke through her trembling lips as a plan began to form. She couldn't abandon this now. There was still time to find him.
At dinner that evening, Hiyori surprised her parents with a bold declaration.
"I've been thinking," she said, her voice steady. "I'd like to pursue my master's degree before settling down."
Her parents exchanged glances. "You know we only want what's best for you," her mother said gently. "But why the sudden decision?"
Hiyori took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I want to make sure I'm fully prepared for my future. Once I've finished my degree, I promise I'll marry whoever you choose."
Her parents hesitated but ultimately nodded, their smiles returning. "If that's what you want, we'll support you," her father said. "But don't wait too long, Hiyori. Life doesn't stop for anyone."
As soon as her parents left the table, Hiyori returned to her room, her mind already racing. She had two years—two precious years to find him.
She began making a list of all the places she remembered from her dreams and the diary. Kamisaka was only the beginning. Her smile grew as she connected the dots, plotting a path forward.
This time, she wouldn't let the memories overwhelm her. She would use them to guide her.
With the diary in one hand and a map in the other, Hiyori whispered to herself, "Wait for me, Ansh. This time, I'll find you. And this time, I won't let you go."