The Night We Will Always Remember

1 year ago

"So late..." Mitsuha groaned with an exasperated tone as she looked at her watch. Next to her on the public bench, Michiko looked around, confirming they were the last two students left. They were outside the Mito Koutou Juku* building, with the last class over two hours ago. Now with the setting sun casting long shadows and coloring everything into orange hues, what was once a throng of exiting students was down the two of them sitting alone on a park bench facing the street.

*Private school to prepare for college entrance exam

"You know what probably happened?" Michiko suggested with a playful tone as she pantomimed shooting a pistol. "That airsoft hobby shop just opened in the mall shopping square. Tsuyoshi-sempai probably got your parents to swing by there first before coming to pick us up."

"D-don't even say that...!" Mitsuha stuttered. "We'll be here for hours...!" No, he wouldn't do that. Tsuyoshi-oniichan would have our parents pick us up, then drag us with him... I'm not sure which would be worse...

Michiko paused for a moment and sighed. "I think you're letting the pressure get to you. I'm sure it's just traffic. And besides, everyone knows you're a shoo-in for a passing grade. Even my dad has more confidence in you than you do in yourself."

Mitsuha laughed nervously. As the last year of high school was drawing to a close, both girls were facing the pressure that their achievements had earned. Their teachers and principal made it no secret that, with their academic performances, they fully expected both girls to pass the University exam almost as a formality. And while it might seem nice for everyone to be rooting for you, Mitsuha never ceased to be a worrywart to her very core.

"We're at the half-way mark of the Juku session," Michiko pointed out. "Let's set the books aside just this weekend and go shopping. We'll eat out at that fancy department store restaurant we've been wanting to go... we'll get our hair and make-up done... buy some new clothes... everything! We can talk about all the wonderful things we're going to do and people we're going to meet once we go together to college in the big city before coming back refreshed next Monday!" she said with excitement.

Mitsuha finally smiled. "Yeah... it sounds like it'll be wonderful!"

Both their families had worked out a deal and agreed that, if both girls got admitted, they could share an apartment near whichever college they chose. What was it that Tsuyoshi-oniichan told her? "College would be the time of your young life! You'll get to meet people who will shape who you'll become as an adult. Maybe even that special someone!" He was already starting his third year and had even taken an overseas trip with some of his classmates once, even though he still lived at home. "Can't leave my Imoto-chan alone of course!" he promised, "at least not until you've started your college journey!" with his trademark patting of her head. Gee, thanks Oniichan... she had grumbled at the time, though secretly she did love that he stayed home instead of moving out. The truth was she adored having him around; he always knew what to say and while he could be kind of a smart-assed sometimes, he was also whip-smart in every sense of the world. Can't actually let him know that of course; his ego doesn't need to grow any bigger...

"Just remember... we'll always have each other...no matter what..." Michiko declared and reached out to Mitsuha with her pinkie finger. A child's promise, both girls knew but it broke the tension, nonetheless.

Mitsuha reciprocated, linking her pinkie, "... no matter what," she agreed and both girls began to laugh at their own cliche. Their laughter began to fade as the streetlights began to flicker on. Just then, a police car slowly pulled around the corner and came to a stop near their bench. A disembodied voice called out from the car, as the emergency red-and-blue hazards came to life. "Excuse me, are one of you Yamano Mitsuha?"

Both girls turned towards the car, the previously optimistic feelings of a hopeful future coming to a rapid and foreboding halt. Mitsuha stepped forward with trepidation. "Yes officer, that's me..."

The driver's side door opened, and the officer stepped out slowly and approached. His manner was reluctant, and the increasing gloom of the evening did nothing to hide the grim expression on his face. "Your neighbors said I could find you here. I need the two of you to come with me to the station. There's been a terrible accident. I'm afraid... I have some very bad news..."