In our first year of high school, I met you like it was destiny. If I remember correctly, I fell for you at first sight and followed you around. After about a month of chasing you, we officially became a couple.

In our third year of high school, we broke up as if that, too, was a predetermined fate. I still loved you so much, but I can't forget the sight of you sobbing as you told me we had to break up because you were moving to a different region.

I don't know how I lived after that. I probably cried every day for half a year, and after that, I just lived drifting along with the flow. Lately, I feel like I've been living a fairly normal life. Of course, I haven't been able to date anyone. I've been asked for my number plenty of times and set up on several blind dates, but I turned them all down. It wasn't that they weren't beautiful, nor was it that they had bad personalities. It was just that my heart kept screaming that it didn't want them, that it had to be you, and so I haven't dated once since becoming an adult.

Maybe it's because I've lived without a break, but I was given a month of unwanted vacation, told that I needed time to recharge my body and mind. I only kept myself busy so my heart wouldn't have room for other thoughts, though.

On the first day of my vacation, I just walked for a long time. I started walking wherever my feet led me as the sun began to set, and before I knew it, the sun was gone and the moon was up. When I looked up, I was in front of our high school. Why here, of all places? Am I perhaps still stuck in that time? I raised my hand and slapped my own cheek. Only then did I snap out of it a bit.

As I came to my senses, I felt the creeping chill and stepped into a nearby convenience store. After warming up for a moment, I grabbed a random drink and left. I just wanted to go home quickly. Looking at it now, even this drink is one she used to like.

I left the store and headed toward my house. Walking with my head down and sighing deeply, I bumped into someone. Ah, I should have been paying attention. I hurriedly turned around to apologize.

I'm so sorr—

It's her. The girl I was thinking about to the point of exhaustion just now is standing right in front of me. Her hair is longer than back then, her face more mature, and she's grown a bit taller. Seeing you for the first time in five years, many things have changed, but I recognized you instantly.

I don't know what to say. I feel like if I miss this moment, I'll never see you again, but my mouth is frozen and no words will come out.