Before the Stairs

[Shinjuku – Haruto]The evening had turned colder. Haruto and his friend walked out of the record store carrying bags of vinyls and a couple of unfinished jokes. The sky was beginning to darken.

[Akihabara – Nozomi]

Elsewhere, Nozomi held a small bag with a keychain she had just bought. She stopped in front of a retro-themed café and snapped a photo of its glowing sign.

[Shinjuku – Haruto]

“Stay a little longer, or should we head out?” his friend asked.Haruto checked his watch and thought about the homework waiting for Monday.“Better if I go now,” he replied.

[Akihabara – Nozomi]A friend she had bumped into by chance said to her:“It’s getting late—want to head to the station together?” 

“Sure,” Nozomi answered.

[Shinjuku – Haruto]

On the train ride home, Haruto managed to get a seat. He leaned his head against the window, and the gentle rocking soon began to lull him to sleep.

[Akihabara – Nozomi]

On a westbound train, Nozomi stood near the door. She held her phone, but her gaze drifted toward the window, watching as the city lights blurred into fleeting streaks.

[Shinjuku – Haruto]

The train stopped at an intermediate station. Haruto woke up just as an announcement played:

> “Next stop: Nishikawa.”

[Akihabara – Nozomi]The loudspeaker on her train announced the same:
> “Next stop: Nishikawa.”Nozomi blinked, recognizing the name.


[In Parallel]

Two different trains arrived at the same station, but on opposite platforms. Haruto stepped off on one side, Nozomi on the other.

[Inside the Station]

Unaware of each other, they walked down parallel corridors, both following the signs toward the north exit. The crowd enveloped them like two streams of water about to merge.

On the escalator, Haruto lifted his gaze… and there she was, three steps above, her golden hair glowing under the artificial light.

Nozomi turned her head, sensing his eyes on her. A flicker of surprise lit up in hers.

“Again, huh?” she said with a faint smile.

Haruto didn’t reply right away. The only thought in his mind was that somehow, the city was having fun with them.