April 13, 2018; Friday.

I can’t believe that this is already the thirteenth day of our stay in this country. The early mornings have gotten more usual and typical, and I wake up just like normal.

Today is not an exception. This year’s spring is truly a pleasant season. The weather is nice and the sun shines brightly while the cold weather makes us a prison in our blankets. In a way or another, the mornings are similar to the first spring at home, but this experience is just indescribably different.

So, another day is about to start with the usual scenario.

I lifted my upper body up, stretched, yawned and blinked my eyes. For the rest of our mornings waking up, there was not a day when Rin woke up earlier than me. It always turns out that I will have the role of waking her up.

Really, this girl is just spoiled. Just the other day, she proudly told me that she’s now used to sleeping on ground level but never distanced our futons ever again. I’m not really against it so I did not make a fuss over it but it sometimes pose a problem to my roommate.

A few days back, I regained my habit of sleepwalking and tossing and turning around. She told me that whenever I sleepwalk, I always bring a glass of water for myself to drink and went back to sleep. Thankfully, I don’t run wild like a beast anymore.

So much for that, I just realized. Well, let’s just continue.

“…”

And yes, my beginning of the day is always filled with silence and peace.

Just like this one beside me. Look at her while still having her peaceful slumber. She is like an innocent child sleeping soundly.

There’s one thing that I learned with being together with Rin. The little things about her are the ones that captivate me the most. I might sound weird, but that is how I truly feel.

I don’t even know if I will ever be like this when I still had my quasi personality. I always wonder if this little relationship of ours will ever bloom if I am still just a fake existence.

Over the course of the recent eventful months of my life, I realized that the things that we might think was unpleasant can be a way or a reason to what lies in the future.

There are fixed tomorrows and there are those which are not, theoretically. The future is ever changing, and that is due to our acts. And it may just be that the ever changing future led me to the present.

“Ahh… Just one look at you and you made me think a lot. You’re really amazing, Rin.”

I removed my blanket and stood up. After a decent stretch, I took a pen and a piece of paper and wrote a note that I dropped on my futon and went out of the room silently.

~ ~ ~

Fifteen minutes later…

“Yawn~”

I (Rin) finally woke up.

It does feel like I have slept for quite longer than usual.

I opened my eyes and got up just to see that Gin woke up earlier than me.

“Uhh… Did he not… wake me up…

Yawn~”

I subconsciously felt an aroma wafting on my nose and it automatically made me stood up as my stomach silently rumbles from hunger.

Just as I was making a sense that this is a new morning, I stepped on something and I heard something rustle.

“Paper…?”

I picked up the piece of paper and noticed that there are things written on it.

“Didn’t wake you up so please fold my futon too. I’ll make breakfast so I’ll wait for you!

Much love from your Gin-kun.”

“Hmm…

What’s up with him, I wonder…”

…

‹Gin›

I have been in front of the kitchen for quite some time now and I just realized that this is my first time making breakfast for us two.

Kamichi-san will be away for the most of our time here starting today, so it will be our turn now to take care of the house we were lent with.

It has been a while since I last felt the pleasant air of making our own meals with a new variation of ingredients compared to what I mostly make. This is Japan, indeed.

Just the thought of having a lovely start this morning and me making house meals again makes me smile in happiness.

“Good morning, 'Potato.'”

“Good morning, Rin.”

“You’re really cheerful today, which is a rare sight.”

“Well, it’s nice to be on a good mood sometimes, and I enjoy this change of pace.”

“Oh, right. Kamichi-san won’t be around. What are you making by the way?”

“Smoked salmon and fried rice with a whole egg as a topping.”

“Not even holding back, Gin?”

“Seizing the time while I’m still in this mood.”

“…

You’re totally out of character but seeing you like this cheers me up too,” she graciously spoke with a bright and refreshing smile.

At that time, I thought to myself:

“Oh, how I love this chapter will be.”

~ ~ ~

“Thank you for the food.”

The two of us just finished eating and we are just sat, watching the news in the television.

“I’m myself am amazed that I can understand what’s on the news. I wonder if I can get better grades if I study with you at that pace. Though, I wonder if my brain can keep up, Potato.”

“Ahahaha. So you’re calling me that now?”

“You don’t like it? I’m starting to wonder if I should call you with something different from what the most people call you. Just like how you call me ‘Rin.’”

“Nah. I like it. It has a unique feel to it when I’m called that. I was just surprised earlier, that’s all.

And well, you know that I love eating potatoes.”

“Hmm…

Now that we’re on the topic, where did ‘Rin’ come from? At that time, you were out of it when you suddenly said that.”

“So you still remember our first meeting, huh.

Truth to be told, I don’t clearly recall but it suddenly popped up in my mind and said it unconsciously.

I’m still trying to grasp it from my head but I can’t seem to remember it, although I know that there’s something about that that is in my memory.”

“So that’s how it is…

Wait, do we have something to do for today?”

“Oh? Now that you think about it, we’ve cleaned the whole house yesterday and restocked our inventory… Hmm…

No, there’s nothing on our list for today, I think.”

Three days have passed since the last time we went and work to Giotto’s and since then, we’ve been hung up on just staying in this house and giving ourselves shares of duties around here.

What we did not realize is that we have blitzed through everything because of being excited and all.

“That’s superb… We really did that much?”

“Y-Yeah…”

We’ve made some thinking but nothing came out from it. Just as we are about to fall in despair and boredom, my current mood kicks in once again as I suddenly remembered something from our early days in this place.

“Hey, Rin.

You know, it has been five months since the last time…”

“Umm… Huh?”

“Want to go on a date today?”

…

After what I have just said, she just sat with her eyes wide open while looking at me with a slight surprise painted on her face.

“What’s with that all of a sudden?” on the contrary, she was unfazed.

“Reflecting the question right back to you.”

“Huh? I’m confused…”

“Yeah, I guess you’ll be very confused since you first asked me out whilst sleep talking and then you suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me down back to my futon.”

“When did that…”

“Our second day in here. And you even had a big smile with you.”

“Ehhh…! That doesn’t count if I was asleep!”

“But it did seem like you were having a good dream.”

“…!”

“What? Are you having dreams of us on a date because we haven’t been going out a lot?”

“I get why you can say that… but it’s kind of unfair that I didn’t even know that I asked you out.”

“So you’re guilty?” slightly annoyed, she said.

“Yeah, right.

But… do you have any idea to where we can go?”

“We should use the whole day, I suppose. And I know great places for lunch and dinner. I asked Ryuu (Hiro’s student) for good spots since he goes off wandering around Kyoto whilst trying out food from many places.”

“Oh, so that’s why I don’t see him a lot in the resto.”

Well… he hasn’t made his appearance yet, actually.

“Should we head out at 10?”

“Hmm… Sounds good. We still have a lot of time.”

And just like that, an hour passed like the wind.

“Ohhh… Your coat suits really well in black. That look really good, Potato.”

I decided to bring and wear the red coat I received from the clothing shop from the Capital. Surprisingly, it looked well with a black shirt under it and the same color in the bottoms.

“I figured gray won’t be a really good pairing to it which is too bad.

Wait… That’s the first time I’m seeing you wear something like that.”

Setting mine aside, I was a little astonished seeing Rin wear a long coat which is very unusual for her to wear as a layer. It looks like she’s well prepared on her wardrobe and her dislike with skirts is just so very characteristic.

“Shall we head out now, Gin?”

“Yeah… Who would’ve thought that we’ll have our second date on a different country?”

I seriously cannot imagine ourselves wearing these layers at this time of the year if not for coming to the North. Sometimes it just makes me think that it feels like we are escaping the heat of the summer while I imagine Nagi collapsing from the heat he totally abhors. Well, that season will persist until June and the same fate will just land upon us once we get home.

Swiping that away, my thoughts came back to reality and I found myself walking to the station with this rather excited girl beside me. The time is 10 in the morning and I do hope that the crowd will be less in the carts now that it is past the rush hour.

I am by no means a resident here so I will repeat, I do hope.

“Oh, thank goodness this cart is practically empty…”

“I wonder if this is really the right way as to where we are going… not like I have any idea where, Gin.”

“How’s the arcade, firstly? I heard that game centers here are different from ours.”

And I am sure that someone will ask: 'A date in the arcade, Gin?! Would you even call it a date? Are you dumb?!'

The answers for that are a yes and a big yes. I am and will always be dumb.

“We never get to go to the arcade back home, huh.”

“I guess it really slipped on our minds. All we do when we have free time is either do art or binge watch anime.”

“Now that you’ve said it, that’s all we only ever do.

Well, let’s go anyway.”

“Alright.”

…

Wait, how come we only ever stayed home when we have free time? Wow, I’m seriously asking myself.

Hmm… Let’s see… it’s given that I have work… I dealt with a murder case of my classmates that shook up the school… got involved with faking the death of an old friend… trained Jean… Rin and I separated for a week… and lastly, we dealt with an issue where our lives as Exiles lied within our decision, which broke my arm in the process. And I'm also a clueless guy that don't know a thing about being in a relationship.

Oh… I actually have one heck of a history.

“Rin, we’re seriously starting with the grab machine, huh.”

“It’s clichéd and all, but hey why not?”

“Alright. I’ll take another booth too. Haven’t played this for a long time…”

…

“Nice! Got it from the first try!”

“Oh? What did you get, Rin?”

“A potato plushie, of course. This is for you, you know!”

“Uhh…”

In all seriousness, I really love Rin because of how I knew she is.

“Thanks.

Oh? There’s some DDR here.”

“It kind of reminds me of Nagi and Shiro.”

Now that I see it, there’s some guy that has been on the platform and the line behind him is getting pretty long. It also seems like this guy’s claiming to be a king of DDR. Oh, now I’m a bit ticked off.

“Want to play there, Rin?”

“I’ll just watch if you’re going. I don’t really want to get tired.”

”Ok. I’ll just give the guy a piece or two.”

“Don’t overdo it. You might break the machine.”

I think I’m having the gist of the situation now. He’s probably a regular here and it’s possible that he’s challenging people to play against him. And it also seems like he’s playing mafia here.

“**Excuse me, it seems like there’s a competition that is going on here. Can I join in?”

“**Yeah, sure! Just hop on and let’s have a blast! You okay with insane difficulty?”

“**Hmm… I’ll try to keep up.”

~ ~ ~

Basically, we chose the same song and compared scores. Well…

“**Woah…! This new dude trashed him easily in insane mode!”

That “new dude” that the people were talking about was me.

“Hahh… Not even worth a drop of sweat.”

“Congrats, Gin. That’s hilarious though… Hahahaha.”

“Well, time is over in the arcade. The crowd is getting thick.”

“Why not look for a café to stop by?”

“Oh. Sounds good, Rin. There should be a café… nearby…

Of course there’s a cat café here!”

What we did not even see is that there is a cat café just a few steps away from the arcade. This sure reminds me of a lot of things.

“The name of the place is sure is… Heh.

‘NYA—N.’”

…

“**Welcome.”

“O… K…?”

“Gin, are you a cat whisperer?” Rin's eyes twitched.

Just as we took our seats, two cats came near my feet, one on my lap, and a kitten just jumped on my head and oh my goodness THE KITTEN IS SO KAWAII.

“Gin…! The kitten might fall! You’re melting!”

Meow.

…

“**What would you like to order?”

“**I will have a cup of Cappuccino and we’ll both have a serving of Red Pasta.”

“**Strawberry latte, please.”

“That’s the first time I saw you react like that, Gin.”

“Well, kittens have a special place in my heart. But your place is way above.”

“It’s amazing that the things you say don’t embarrass you. Thanks, though.”

“I’m kind of not used to cafes that open early. Usual cafes in Cotona open at 1pm, right?”

"Yeah. But how about the one where you got Haku?”

“It opens after lunch.”

“**Here’s your order.”

“**Thank you very much.”

“Ohh… It’s really red.”

“Dear cats, I ask of you as to not drop fur on our food.”

And they all sat beside us. They’re so adorable.

We ordered “Red Pasta” because it’s no ordinary pasta. It’s like normal spaghetti at first because of the tomato as its sauce but the highlight is the pasta itself. It is literally red.

Though the only red pasta that I do know as of now are ones made from beets. It is however the first time I’ll get to eat one.

“W-Wow… The balance of the flavor of the pasta and the sauce are on point.”

“It has good texture too. I guess it’s rare to see cafes that make handmade ones. What a treat.”

“This so good I can eat this all day.”

Meow.

~ ~ ~

“**Thank you for coming.”

“Man, that was a nice lunch.”

“It sure is… I really can eat there every time.”

“So… I guess it’ll be time for the main part of the date, huh.”

“Mind telling me where we’ll go next, Gin?”

“Hmm… This is something I’ve dreamed of coming to—

Arashiyama.”

“Really…?! We’ll really go to Arashiyama?”

“I got so excited that I already planned this out before we even got here. I really just want to go there if I ever get the chance to fly here.

And this is the perfect opportunity to walk in a path in the middle of towering bamboos.”

“But isn’t it a bit far from here?”

“We have the whole day, right?”

“So that’s why… Well? Let’s go!”

~ ~ ~

I may possess an extraordinary physicality and a mental state that greatly surpasses my age, but I am not different to any person. I am normal and at the same time I am not.

I am just like any other teenagers that have dreams of my own. May it be a meager or ambitious one, I have never stopped dreaming and trying to take it to reality.

And so, I am fulfilling one of the many dreams.

Unbelievable as it is, I am here setting my foot on a place I only wished of coming.

“Oh… my word…”

“Gin… It’s so beautiful in here.”

“I’m… I’m just so glad that I chose to pick this place for today. I… I just… I’m…”

“Potato…?

Gin?! You’re melting again!”

I won’t get to see this every day. There’s a rocketing feeling inside me as I walk in the center of the towering bamboos while the leaves sway and slowly fall on us from the gentle blow of the wind up above.

The light of the sun subtly crosses the small gaps of bamboos and eventually touches our skin that is hinted by the tint of green.

My heart continuously thumps over this breathtaking sight along with the never changing warmth of the hand that always holds mine whenever I need someone in times of my loneliness.

I have indeed dreamed of coming here, but I have never wished for this kind of a heartwarming experience. It still naturally levitated down to my palm, however.

Ahh… I am in bliss…

“Rin… you know, this somehow reminds me of our time in the Void. It’s so different and contrasting to that time, but just like last time, it feels like my emotions are uncontainable.

Hahh… I am so weird.”

“I’m not any different, Gin… I’m just as weird as you are.

Though it does not remind me of that time, I am just very glad that I am walking beside you while we slowly take a step and stepped and stepped forward to this path.”

“Ahahaha… Yeah, you’re really weird. Now you’re talking with a double meaning in your words.”

“It just came out naturally that I didn’t even know.”

“Well, that’s just how life rolls. We make actions that we unconsciously do in the course of our life.

It’s just like that time… I may not be straight on my head, but it was still me and I am still the one who did that to the late doctor. But I do not blame anyone for that; not even myself. I have already forgiven them for what they have done to me…

Really… those things just make me a very suitable Exile.”

“You’ve done an excellent job as being an Exile, Eiji.”

“Pfft… I didn’t think that you’d ever call me that…”

“…

You are Gin Sakato, you are 027, you are Eiji, you are Potato, and you are a No One.

But they are what make the whole of you, Gin. Ever since August, time felt like an eternity for me because you suddenly came to my life.

That is, I’m excluding the time when we were a first year.”

“Ahahaha…! You’re really amazing for destroying the mood you yourself made. Ahh… you’re just the best, Rin.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Hey, we never had a picture together ever since we came here, huh.”

“Well, let’s take a lot here today.”

O, how I wish this place to be a never-ending path.

~ ~ ~

A rather emotional stroll sadly ended and we traveled back to our area immediately after taking a walk on a street full of stalls.

“This day turns out to be really fun. Though I’m running out of ideas as to where we should go next. It’s easy to forget when you absorb yourself in the nature, you know.”

“Ahaha… I somehow get what you mean.

Ah! Is it okay if I use the time to go buy the camera my sister asked for?”

“Go ahead, Rin. I might also find something that I can use.”

“Hmm…”

“Is something the matter?”

“I was just wondering about how much is inside your bank.”

“Oh… You know that my card is supported in the banks here, right?”

“And upon withdrawal, it will automatically be exchanged in the machine?”

“Yep. I’m so glad that I transferred enough since I predicted that there will be a time where we will get to shop on our own needs when Kamichi-san isn’t around.

I made a grand grind around the end of the year, right? I think I saved up at least 90000 Laxes up until today.”

90000 Laxes approximates to nearly 2k in USD, and almost 200k in JPY.

“Ninety thousand?!”

“I immediately transferred it since I don’t like counting bills from my pocket… It’s quite a pain when I hold this much. I’m scared of losing my card.”

“Well… That’s to be expected from a minimalist.”

“That’s why I emptied out most of the house before we left. I’m not going to sell the carpet, though. It’s essential for winter.”

“You know, don’t text me a SOS when you just asked me to clean your carpet even though it really is a pain to dust off.”

~ ~ ~

Camera purchased.

“Oh? I think I hear someone playing piano. Wait… Rin, that’s Hik*ru Na*a by Goo*ehouse, right?”

“Yeah. That’s from Your Lie in Apr*l.”

“Agh. The bleeping…!” I covered my ears.

We made our way to the lure of our ears and found out that the music was coming from someone playing a piano in a music store.

We decided to take a stop and listen from the outside. That is, until something caught the eye of Rin.

“Waaahhh~! That violin looks so cool!”

“Hmm… Yeah, it indeed looks great.”

(!)

That reminds me… I sometimes hear someone from Rin’s house playing violin when I work upstairs.

“…

Should we take a look inside? Something might interest me there.”

“Yup!”

The store is packed with various instruments, as expected. There are also traditional instruments which is the first time I’m seeing.

And there are guitars, which I gave up playing because it gives callus on my left hand.

I shouldn’t really be surprised that Rin is ever so fascinated by the violins in display.

“Do you play the violin, Rin?”

“I don’t have the opportunity to play for a while now, though. But I still know a lot of songs.

How about you, Gin? It looks to me that you’re the type to play the piano. It kind of reminds of your piece in the Art Room.”

“You’re right. I play a lot when I get the chance. But it has been a year (three years) since I last played one.

Man, I realized that it was the only thing I did when I was on a wheel… chair…”

“Oh, yeah. I was on a wheelchair when I left the lab.”

And suddenly, a lot of images were “unlocked” in my mind.

I suddenly recalled that time at Zen Park: “I finally remembered everything,” I said. (NoFutsuu, Chapter 20)

It was the time where I finally got all of my memories back… but I guess I’m wrong.

“I’ll take care of this seriously later.”

“That’s the one we saw from the window earlier, right?”

“I wonder if I…

**Excuse me, can I try playing these?” Rin in her excitement had to ask.

“**It’s okay. It just got tuned too.”

“Ohh… the sound is really good too…!”

“You sure have some knowledge about that, huh.

Is it okay, all in all?”

“This is a nice violin.”

“Really?”

“Really!”

“Alright, then…

**Excuse me. I would like to get this one.”

“Wha-?! Gin?! You’re buying these?!”

“Yeah.”

“But… why?”

It is probably safe to say that she’s the one playing the violin in their house since I always saw it in the few times that I enter her room.

However, it was broken.

“That’s probably why she can’t play…”

“You old violin got broken, right? Let’s just say that this is a replacement.

And besides, there’s nothing wrong with giving my girlfriend a present, right?”

“…!

T-Thank you… Gin.”

And so, our blissful date ended and we went home.

“Kamichi-san…? Ah, good evening.”

“Good evening, Gin-san, Ringo-san.

What great timing… I was about to message you telling that I’m making dinner for us today. Did you two come to work again?”

“Ah, we went out for the day.”

“Oh? A date? Ahh… I realized that I haven’t been going out with Ryou-kun because of work.”

“…

’R-Ryou?’ Wait, Kamichi-san… you have another work aside from this?

And Ryou…”

“You do not know, Gin-san? I work in the Kyoto branch of Anew-“

“Woah, MY WORD!”

With that, sudden shout that brewed from my throat, Yuzuri Kamichi jolted from surprise while Rin’s left eye remained twitching because of some mind-blowing revelation.

Yuzuri Kamichi works in the Kyoto branch of Anew Company and-

“Seriously… that guy never fails to amaze me.” I facepalmed.

“K-Kamichi-san… may I ask your age…?”

“Hm? I’m turning 27 this year.”

“It’s fair to say that Yugare-san sure is an honorable man…”

“Gin-san? Did you just mention the name ‘Yugare?’”

“And Kamichi-san. You just mentioned the name ‘Ryou.’”

“So… you know Ryou Yugare-kun?”

“I guess you haven’t seen the logs of the Kanto branch extension's latest two subjects in Orio under the supervision of their team.”

“H-Huh…? I do know Ryuuya-san, though. Wait, how come you do know ab-“

“Kamichi-san. What Gin is saying that he’s a special case subject of Anew from Orio. He’s also under Yugare-san’s team and a key to Ryuuya-san’s development.”

“W-What…? Actually, let’s just talk about this at dinner… I’m more confused than you two.”

…

“You managed to see through Kaminari-san and Itori-san, but not Yugare-san…?”

“Well, Yugare-san doesn’t really look like a guy with a sturdy spine when you disregard his work,” I whispered.

“Pfft… Yeah. He really looked like that.”