"When Memories Cross"

Kaito (monologue):

Rin said she didn't want to see me again, I stopped looking at her or talking to her, but I kept hoping to return to my life and wake up until things calmed down.

But why have I been here for a week and haven't woken up yet? Why?

---

Park: Kaito, did something happen between you and Rin?

Kaito: Nothing.

Park: Did you do something on the day you asked Rin out?

Kaito: I said nothing, we just disagreed.

Park: So?

Kaito: Don’t worry, we’ll make up.

Park: I trust that, although I have some doubts.

Kaito (in his thoughts): Which one?

---

I tried to sleep a lot, but I keep waking up in the past.

(Above, a handshake, Misaki is also there)

---

Kaito: Park, do you know where Misaki is?

Park: Why are you asking this time?

Misaki (suddenly appearing): I'm here, I went to deliver something to the teacher’s room and came back. What’s up?

Kaito: Misaki, please, shake my hand.

Misaki: What?

Kaito: Just shake my hand.

---

Suddenly, I found myself being slapped.

---

Park: Misaki is Rin’s friend, she wasn’t supposed to talk to you at all, what’s she doing?

Kaito: Even though she agreed to the plan.

Park: What plan?

Kaito: Nothing... I have to go eat.

---

(In the library, Kaito sits next to Misaki)

Kaito: I knew you’d be here.

Misaki: What do you want?

Kaito: Aren’t you the one who agreed to that plan?

Misaki: Yes, I agreed, but I was waiting for you to make up.

Kaito: So, you used me?

Misaki: You have a brain, after all. Rin is my friend, and I’ll do anything for her.

Kaito: So if I make up with Rin, will you shake my hand?

Misaki: I don’t understand why, and this situation is strange, but I’ll think about it.

Kaito: Okay.

---

(At the train station)

Kaito (monologue): Do I really have to go to my grandfather?

My grandfather was always with me in elementary school, but in high school, he moved to Kimbo. I don’t know why he went there, but I have to visit him because he suddenly asked to see me.

Well, let’s board.

I was standing, no empty seats, but there was one next to Rin. The train was slowing down, I saw Rin coming closer to me, but I moved away because I know that when Rin says something, I have to respect it until she talks to me.

I don’t want to make things worse.

I moved away, but sometimes our eyes met.

It continued like this until we reached her station and she left.

Then I arrived at my grandfather’s.

---

Grandfather: Kaito! Welcome, I haven’t seen you in a long time, you’ve grown taller!

Kaito: Hello, Grandpa.

Grandfather: Come in, let’s have dinner together.

Kaito: I see you’ve prepared everything.

Grandfather: Of course, my grandson is coming, just like she would have done.

Kaito: Grandma, right?

Grandfather: Yes. Kaito, do you have a girlfriend?

Kaito: What made you ask that?

Grandfather: Because that was her expectation. She said she dreamed of you with a beautiful girl, but she said her heart was carrying a heavy burden.

She told me that a year before she passed away and asked me to ask you this question when you reached this age, and take you to her grave.

Kaito (in his thoughts):

Grandma was always like this.

She passed away when I was young, but she was the kindest person I turned to.

---

(In the morning)

Grandfather: Here we are, this is your grandmother’s grave.

Kaito: Hello, Grandma, I’m Kaito.

I’m not little anymore. I can rely on myself now, so don’t worry about me.

I study well.

But I miss you...

I miss the days when I hid my secrets with you, or asked you to make me food in the middle of the night...

I miss so many things.

Grandfather: So, Kaito, you were the one who woke her up for dinner those nights?

Kaito: Yes.

Grandfather: Because of those days, your grandmother used to get mad at me!

Kaito: And you only knew now?

Grandfather: I knew, but I’m complaining to you now.

Kaito: Oh my God, we’ll never end this conversation.

Grandfather: Kaito, you asked me why I left you and went to Kimbo.

Kaito: Yes.

Grandfather: Because I met your grandmother here.

Kaito: She lived here?

Grandfather: Yes.

Now we’re in Kimbo, the boundary between the south, water, and fire during their conflict.

Your grandmother came here because of difficult circumstances. She worked multiple jobs to support her disabled father.

I worked everywhere she worked, and once I tried to talk to her, she said that love is for those who have time, and she didn’t have any.

One day, I saved a man who was about to fall, and I found a treatment paper with him.

I took him to his house, and it turned out he was her father.

I felt embarrassed because I didn’t know what she was going through.

After that, I decided to help her.

We worked in opposite shifts, and I took care of her father at night while she worked during the day.

Her only condition: that she cook for me.

Her meal was the best part of my day.

One day, her father asked me when I planned to confess to her, then he told her, and she blushed, and we laughed... and we got married.

---

(Kaito is on the train, reflecting on his grandfather’s words)

---

Rin: Why did you call Misaki?

Misaki: To ask you about Kaito, why did you do that to him?

Rin: So, you were the one hiding behind the tree?

Misaki: If you know?

Rin: I told him that because I was scared...

Misaki: Scared? Why?

Rin: Because he knows everything about me, about my grandfather, my fear of the dark, and other things.

I wanted to test him, to see what he would do.

Misaki: And what did he do?

Rin: He did nothing. He respected my words.

Even on the train, I would get closer to him involuntarily, but he moved away.

So... I’ll try talking to him.

Misaki: Are you going to talk to him like before?

Rin: Yes.

Misaki: Good luck.

Rin: Thank you.

---

(At school)

Kaito: I know what you said to me, but will you come after school? I have something to tell you.

Rin: Okay.

---

(After school)

Kaito: Listen, I did what I did because...

Rin: Follow me.

Kaito: What?

Rin: Do you know where we’re going?

Kaito: The doll shop?

Rin: Yes. Let’s make one, come on.

Kaito: Okay.

Rin: Let’s add a souvenir.

Kaito: I don’t understand.

Rin: This lake...

It was my habit to go to the doll shop, then to the souvenirs, then come to this lake and sit before nightfall, then return home.

This was my routine on my birthday... before someone changed it.

Only two people know this.

So how did you know?

How much do you know?

Kaito: I know some things about you, but not everything.

All I know is just to help you when needed, nothing more.

Rin: And how much do you know? Tell me something.

Kaito: I know your first love.

Rin (in surprise): What do you mean?

Kaito: Grandma, I am.

Rin: How do you know her?

Kaito: Never mind...

If something is going to hurt you, it has to hurt me first.

Rin: Stalker!

Kaito: What? Why did you assume that?

Rin: Because no one knows this.

Then, you’ve known me since kindergarten, you must have been following me.

Kaito: Really? Your imagination is vast.

Rin: Yes. So, as punishment for you, you have to accompany me to where we used to go on my birthday.

Kaito: Okay.

Rin: We’re not done yet.

Kaito: Not done?

Rin: Yes, follow me, stalker!

Kaito: Are you still saying that?

Rin: This is the last place... my grandfather’s grave.

I was afraid of this place, of seeing my grandfather like this.

It wasn’t my fear of a childhood accident, but of seeing him in this state.

Kaito: You swear what?

Rin: That you’ll keep following me.

Kaito: Are you still on that?

Rin: I’m joking...

Promise me we’ll be friends.

Kaito (with a smile): I promise.

Rin: Good, and don’t follow me, even when I’m beautiful!

Kaito: Stop.

Rin (laughing): Hahaha.

Kaito: I love that smile.

Rin: Umm...

Okay, let’s record today’s date, it’s the first of March.

... Rin said those words, and I remembered the date... and what happened on it.

---

(At school, during break)

Misaki: Let’s finish this.

Kaito: So, will you keep your promise?

Misaki: Only because you helped Rin...

Come on, hurry up, I have my things.

Kaito: I’ll back off, I have my things too.

And thanks for keeping your promise