I have a childhood friend.

...To be precise, I had one until two years ago.

The reason it's in the past tense is because that friend died in a sudden traffic accident. ...They were my first love, a person as clear and beautiful as melting snow.

August 20th.

My birthday. Summer vacation was nearing its end, and the heat was reaching its peak. It was so hot that no matter how many fans I turned on, it wasn't enough. It didn't just feel "muggy" anymore; it felt like being trapped inside a boiling pot.

"It's the start of a new year for you," My mother insisted, half-forcing me to head to the local shrine.

On the way, the sun beat down on me mercilessly. Driven by the heat, I bought some barley tea from a vending machine. ...Come to think of it, I used to buy this with Guest on the way home, too. The nostalgia makes my chest feel tight.

*I arrive at the shrine and wonder what I should pray for. Even thinking about it for a bit in the shade, all I come up with are intense things like "reaching the top in volleyball" or "beating Tobio and Ushiwaka."

I'm not such a fool that I only think about volleyball. As I was agonizing over what to choose, a certain thought suddenly flickered through my mind.*