How Well Do You Know Me?

After a few hours of sailing, they had safely reached the mainland. After parking the yacht neatly in its designated spot, they walked to the car.

"Before we head home, should we get something to eat in Niigata? It's been a while since breakfast," Hana suggested.

"Sure, I'm pretty hungry," Mika said.

"I don't mind," Saya replied. Both of them were rather quiet today. They all got into the car together. Mika felt more comfortable than before. He had expected Saya to hold his hand, but this time she didn't. The feeling of his empty hand made him feel even worse.

After a few minutes of driving, they finally arrived at the restaurant. It was a glass fronted restaurant right in front of a small canal that ran through the city. They walked in together and sat by the window.

"Wow, it's been a long time since I've been here," Hana said as she looked outside.

"Have you been here before?" Saya asked, surprised.

"Yes, when Mika was younger, there was an event on Petron's big yacht. We had dinner here during that time."

"It's been a while," Ren added. Everyone ordered their meals, but suddenly the weather outside changed. It seemed like rain was on its way. The gloomy atmosphere caused everyone to look outside in silence.

Mika, on the other hand, was lost in thought as he looked at the building and the canal view in front of him:

We're going to eat, then we're going to go home, and we're going to be separated. For some reason, I don't want the day to end.

Everyone finished their meals in silence. Hana and Ren looked at Mika and Saya from time to time, then exchanged glances with each other.

The meal was over. Everyone sat in silence for a while, and then Hana began to speak.

 "We're going to stay here a little longer, young ones. Remembering the past has made us miss it. We'll sit for another hour. If you like, you can hang around nearby. There was a parking lot nearby when we came."

"Yes, go and talk - I mean, hang out as you wish," Ren said, panicking and agreeing with Hana.

"That's okay... What do you think, Saya?"

"O-okay..."

"But it might rain soon. If it does, come back right away," Hana added.

"All right." Mika said.

The two of them started walking towards where the parking lot was. They walked in silence, keeping a distance between them as they made their way to the park. When they reached the park, they each sat on separate benches and just watched their surroundings. The sky had become grayer, and the sounds of the city, people, and cars were audible. The wind had also picked up, relieving the oppressive heat.

Mika had often thought about talking. He had made countless plans, thought about what to say, but it didn't work out. He just couldn't bring himself to tell Saya those things, to influence her future. Since he couldn't feel emotions, staying at Saya's side would only cause her more pain, and he didn't want that.

"Today is our last day, huh..." Saya suddenly started to speak.

"Y-yes, I guess... Maybe we'll see each other at school."

"It's unlikely that anyone will come in the last semester; everyone will be studying for exams," Saya said, looking at the river.

"You're right... Will you come?"

Saya was silent for a while.

"I don't know," Saya said. She didn't even look away from the view.

There was a long silence between them.

"Since the school is quite prestigious, I'll have to study a lot. I won't have time to spare. But that way, I won't have any references," Saya said.

"What? But if you quit the committee, you won't have anything for a recommendation."

"Otherwise, I might just fail the exams outright," Saya said, her voice firm and determined.

"I don't think that's the right way."

"What?" Saya turned to him in surprise.

"If I know you, you can work this out somehow," Mika said. He said it very seriously.

Saya looked at Mika for a moment in surprise, then turned her head back to the river.

"How well do you know me?"

"Well enough to know that you suffered because of me, that you took my secret letter and read what it said, and then you talked to me again," Mika replied.

The wind had picked up. Saya's hair blew in the wind, and after Mika's words, they both stood in silence.

"To be honest, if I hadn't read your last notes about your old self, I don't know if I would have come on this trip. I only came because I read about your past self. Otherwise, being with you still hurts a lot. When I leave, I'll probably be the only one who feels sad. You, on the other hand, will go on with your life without feeling anything," Saya said as she stood up.

Saya's words made Mika feel very strange: 

She'll be the only one who feels sad. And she equates feeling sad with forgetting. Maybe I don't understand and feel it, but logically I can't find anything between her leaving and my not feeling anything. So what if I don't feel anything? Why should she be the only one who feels sad? It shouldn't be like this...

Mika wanted to say everything that was going through his mind. He had refrained from saying it before because he had noticed Saya crying after he had spoken and because he didn't want to change Saya's future. He just sat there, he just sat there and accepted what Saya said.

"I'm glad we're on the same page," Saya said. Her face was turned toward the river, but her voice sounded very sad. She didn't turn her face to Mika; instead, she wiped away tears with her hands.

"I..." Mika began. He couldn't hold it back any longer. 

"Still, thank you for everything, Mika. Even though I knew it would end like this, it was my fault. Please don't blame yourself." 

A fire burned within Mika. His entire body was electrified. He wanted to say something, but just then the rain started pouring down. Without realizing what was happening, they hurried back to the restaurant.

"Hey kids, did you get wet?" Hana asked worriedly.

The sudden rain had made them both quite wet.

"Let's get in the car, we'll put towels on your seats," Ren said understandingly.

"Mom, where's my sleeping pill?" Mika asked. 

"It should be in my bag, just a second. Here it is, take it," Hana replied.

"Thanks." Mika swallowed one of the pills in his mind as soon as he received it.

Since I can't say what I want, then I don't want to see her anymore either.

They got into the car, and after a short while, Mika began to feel drowsy. 

Meanwhile, at the other end of the car, Saya looked dejected.

 This is probably the last time I'll see her... I'm sorry, Saya. I won't be able to be with you and for so many other things... 

His head leaned against the window and he fell asleep. It was raining outside and a thick fog had settled everywhere. His mind became blurred... He didn't want to sleep, but he couldn't resist the effects of the pill. Before he lost consciousness, he felt something cold and wet in his hand. 

It was soft and cold, but it was soft.