6

The monorail ran straight through the center of town, going from the southwest to the northeast. That same light could bring someone into the town, or take that person away.

Mio learned a long time ago that she could see the entire town at a distance atop the hill behind her middle school.

It was her favorite view of the city. Her favorite place in the world.

That was why she told Eita to meet her there in her LINE message. She wanted to tell him everything right in that spot.

It was already March, but the temperatures were low, and the wind was freezing.

Mio straightened her hair with hands that had long since lost all feeling.

She looked at her phone again. It was still hanging on the LINE app. Still displaying the message she’d sent to Eita.

If you see this, come to the hill behind the middle school. I want to talk to you about something.

It still hadn’t been marked as read. He still hadn’t looked at it…

“Maybe he’s not coming…”

Just as she was ready to give up, her phone rang with an incoming call.

But it wasn’t from him. It was Sanae.

“Hello?” she answered, pulling her phone up towards her ear.

“Mio? Everyone’s already here. Listen.”

Mio could hear all her classmates singing karaoke on the other end. A chunk of them had decided to throw a big graduation afterparty.

“C’mon, get over here, Mio!” Momoka’s voice cut in excitedly.

“We’re all waiting for you!” said Mayuko.

“Mhm.” Once Mio replied, she heard, “Later,” and the call ended.

Mio stood alone on the hill behind her middle school.

There was no sign of anybody coming.

The arrival of the next monorail was a good enough cue for her to leave. Mio walked away from her favorite place in the world.

Her white breaths were all that lingered behind.

End of Chapter 7