Overwhelmed by sorrow, she could hardly catch her breath.

A burning heat flared up in her throat, blurring her vision even more.

"Finally, do you have anything else you want to say?" Dubian Cat appeared.

"Of course!" Xiaoquan Aonai revealed a brilliant smile.

She flung open the window covered in droplets, facing the sky that was about to clear, and yelled out to the courtyard:

"In my next life, please let me be a handsome guy in Tokyo!"

She gasped for air fiercely.

The school building erupted in noise, with hallways, classrooms, and passages all buzzing with discussions about her.

Xiaoquan Aonai was finally able to speak.

"Be careful on your way," she said.

"Yeah, I'm off!" Even until the end, Xiaoquan Aonai kept a radiant smile.

Dubian Cat slowly disappeared.

The bright smile on Dubian Che's face slowly faded.

Through the thick clouds, the sky shone directly down, leaving Shinjuku District gleaming anew after the rain.

Dubian Che turned to look at Xiaoquan Aonai.

Tears streamed down from Xiaoquan Aonai's eyes.

Those past, once distant dreams, like a layer removed, at this moment, finally became her own experiences.

Crossing over a long decade, a boy named Dubian who briefly appeared in her youth for a month, re-entered her life.

"I'm back," said Xiaoquan Aonai, her face wet with tears and smiling brilliantly.

Dubian Che paused, then smilingly responded:

"Welcome back."

◇

Behind the school building, there was a corridor covered in climbing ivy.

The ground of the corridor had just been wet by rain, a thin film of water coating it.

Walking on it, the soles of shoes would create tiny ripples in the puddles.

Here, Xiaoquan Aonai handed over a letter to Dubian Che, left to him by Little Koizumi.

To prevent Dubian Che from knowing the content of the letter in advance, Little Koizumi had conceived it in her mind, entrusting her future self to write it.

[Dubian:

Life in Tokyo is great, isn't it?

I already miss everything about Tokyo before even leaving.

The delicious food, the fun places, too numerous to count.

Right, there are always airplane clouds in the sky.

Whenever there are airplane clouds, you, the cat, always stare at the sky.

At those times, I'd secretly watch you.

Haha, if we were facing each other, looking at each other, I could never say these cheesy words.

But, just like now, when I will no longer come to you, through writing this letter, I have enough courage to convey all my words, my true feelings to you.

Tomorrow, I will embark on a journey through time, in the hope of meeting you again ten years later.

I won't miss you; I will turn all my yearning for you into action.

Strive, and strive hard;

Make sure to go to Tokyo;

Then, before that spring arrives, in February, I will appear in a classroom on the second floor of the Goda Teaching Building.

I will ask you:

Mr. Dubian, please state your reasons for your aspirations.

You will answer me:

With excellent grades, of course I want to attend the best school, to be with the top students.

Thus, we will meet again.

The sky is covered with sunset clouds today, will it rain tomorrow?

That's it, goodbye.

Ah, I was supposed to end this, but I really can't help but want to ask one more question:

The Dubian I will always fancy, have we met again?

If we have met, could you give me a hug?

If possible, that would be wonderful.

Xiaoquan Aonai from ten years ago]

◇

Dubian Che hugged Xiaoquan Aonai.

"Goodbye, and here we are hugging, Little Koizumi."

◇

May 2nd, Wednesday, heavy rain.

This is the last memory of that girl with rolled-up school uniform sleeves, Little Koizumi.

— Dubian Che

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