Mihane Hozumi 

The lighting feels somehow dimmer, even though it should be the same as in my classroom.

The cabinets are crammed full of files I have no idea what they’re for.

There are two sets of desks and chairs facing each other.

That’s all there is to this room… This is already the second time I’ve been summoned to the Student Guidance Office.

Not even the buzz of lunch break reaches this far.

“Hozumi… You’re already in your third year, and your career survey form is still blank. This is a problem for me, too.”

“I’m sooo sorry, Teach’. But, y’know, I just can’t decide…”

“Why don’t you just go to college like a good student? Hozumi, you’re… a bit flashy and frivolous, but your grades and character aren’t bad. I’d feel confident recommending you.”

“Whoa, you’re praising me straight up! That actually makes me kinda happy!”

“Don’t make fun of it! Seriously… you don’t have much time left…”

My homeroom teacher scratched his head. Seeing that, my heart ached just a little.

I could tell he was genuinely worried about me.

I want to decide on my future path as soon as possible, too. There are so many things I need to prepare for, like studying for entrance exams and visiting schools I want to attend, and the other kids around me have already started them long ago.

But, for some reason…

I feel like if I write anything on that survey form, I’ll have to completely give up on everything else; so I just can’t bring myself to decide anything.

“Anyway! Think about this seriously. And make sure to talk it over thoroughly with your parents, okay?”

“Gotcha.”

“It’s not just ‘gotcha’.”

“Okay.”

Leaving my teacher, who was holding his head in his hands, I walked out of the guidance office and headed back to my classroom.

The meeting cut into my time a bit, but I still had about 20 minutes left of lunch break.

“Oh, Mihane… wait, no. Welcome back, Summoned Princess.”

“Don’t call me like that! And anyway, I’ve only been called in twice!”

“Hahaha, that’s funny. So, what were you called in for? Nails? Earrings?”

“Nope. Career counseling…”

“Huh, you haven’t decided yet!? Isn’t it about time?”

“It’s not about time, it’s already pretty bad…”

Mii is my best friend since high school, the one whose tastes in fashion, music, and everything else match mine the most.

It wasn’t until the end of our sophomore year that I found out she’d already decided long ago to go to vocational school to become a hairstylist.

I was surprised because we’d never talked about it before, but I thought it was the perfect fit for her, who’s so good at styling. Seeing Mii talk about her dream with her eyes sparkling was super cute, so I was really happy for her.

But because of that… I’m feeling a little panicked.

Sitting with my butt perched on the desk, I kicked my legs out and shouted.

“Aaah, I wanna go to Spo-cho! I just wanna let loose!”

“Sure, sure! Let’s go next time, we’ll get the whole Class C crew to join us too!”

“Full karaoke package, huh? Whoa, I’m getting so hyped!”

“Whoa! We’re seniors, but we’re partying way too much!”

To be honest, I was just putting on a brave face.

But since Mii was keeping up with me at my usual energy level, I managed to cheer up a bit.

As the two of us were chatting like that, I noticed a boy reading a magazine across the desk from us.

I can’t believe I didn’t notice him even though he was this close. I feel bad.

“We were loud, weren’t we? Sorry.”

“Huh!? Hozumi!? Why!? Um, well, no, I…”

For some reason, he’s really flustered.

Mii’s saying from behind me to not bother him, but I’m the one at fault. I have to apologize properly.

“See, I was making noise while you were reading, so you couldn’t focus, right? Sorry.”

“Ah, uh… It’s fine. I wasn’t bothered by it at all…”

“Really? It’s amazing you can focus that much at this distance! Hey, what are you reading?”

Saying that, I walked right up to him and peered at the cover of the magazine.

His hands were shaking so much it was hard to read, but I could at least make out the big letters on the cover.

“Clairvoyance, precognition, postcognition… a special feature on psychic powers…?”

“Y-yes! I-it’s that kind of… occult-themed magazine…”

“Ah, so it’s one of those magic or fantasy kinds of things!”

“N-no, that’s not it! Psychic powers actually exist in real life!”

I couldn’t help but shrug at the sudden seriousness in his voice.

Without ever making eye contact with me, he kept firing off a barrage of passionate explanations.

“I-it’s said that every human being naturally possesses psychic abilities! It’s just a matter of whether the limiter placed on them has been removed or not! Most are innate, but it’s also possible to acquire powers later in life due to some trigger… f-for example, “Postcognition”… Apparently, people with the ability to see into the past had their powers activated by an accident! There’s actual data from a U.S. research institute in 1975 about this person, who could read the past memories of anyone they touched-“

“W-w-wait! Stop, stop! I can’t understand that when you dump it all at once!”

“Ah… s-sorry!”

“It’s okay, don’t apologize. But I get it. So these kinds of psychic powers really do exist!”

“Y-you believe me?!”

“Hmm… I wouldn’t say that, but I do hope it’s true! Thanks for telling me!”

“Hozumi…”

Psychic powers… huh.

When I said I hoped it was true, I wasn’t lying at all.

If only some mysterious power could read my true feelings, feelings even I don’t understand…

I almost laughed at myself for thinking such a self-serving thought.

After classes ended for the day, I left the school building.

Before passing through the school gate, I noticed a professional contractor installing a new, large banner on the school wall.

The banner read, in characters that looked as if they’d been written with black and red brush strokes:

“Congratulations! 2nd Place at the Inter-Scholastic Swimming Championships!”

Our school excels in sports, so this isn’t unusual.

Judo, table tennis, and even sailing. There are plenty of similar banners hanging around.

They had last year’s achievements. And the names of the students who excelled.

“Asuma… I think she’s in the sports class… So she got second place? That’s amazing…”

She’ll surely continue to excel as an athlete from here on out.

To do that, she must be training incredibly hard, watching what she eats, and putting in a ton of effort.

Even though she’s the same age as me, she’s not just deciding on his future; she’s already taken action long ago.

Realizing that I was envying other kids like that, I gave my cheek a light slap.

“There’s no point in just looking at other people! I’m me! I need to think things through properly!”

I tried telling myself that, but of course, it wasn’t going to solve anything so easily.

Even after getting off the train at my local station, I just couldn’t bring myself to go straight home, so I kept wandering aimlessly, lost in my thoughts. Before I knew it, my feet had carried me right up to the front of a familiar shop.

It’s a budget-friendly accessory shop. They carry not only hair clips and barrettes, of course, but also plenty of really cute earrings.

I’m not really interested in brands, and best of all, it’s cheap. It’s the shop I always turn to for everyday accessories.

I went inside to look around, but actually, I’d just been here last week. There weren’t any new arrivals, and I’d already checked everything out, so my gaze was unfocused and I couldn’t really take in the goods.

Feeling exasperated with myself for wasting time like this, even if it was just to take my mind off things, I started to head for the exit.

That’s when it happened.

Amid my hazy vision, a single item suddenly caught my eye, standing out in sharp relief.

“…A silver ring?”

A double ring with a chain. Usually, rings like this tend to be chunky, but this one was just the right thickness and really cute.

Above all, the tiny turquoise stone set into just one of the two rings hit my sweet spot so hard that I couldn’t help but stare.

“Wait, this is so cool… How could I have missed something this cute…? And is this really the last one?”

I’m buying it. I’m definitely buying it.

My mind was made up, but rings have to fit.

There have been so many times before when I couldn’t clear this final hurdle and had to give up, crying. Plus, it’s the last one. There are no other sizes available.

I slip the double ring onto my fingers, feeling as if I’m praying.

One on my ring finger. Then one on my index finger.

Not too tight, not too loose. The ring slides on smoothly, as if it were made just for me.

“Just… Perfect…!”

All that was left was to pay. Just as I thought that and turned toward the register…

The turquoise-blue stone set in the ring suddenly began to glow a pale blue, and in an instant, it turned into a blinding light so bright it filled my entire field of vision, causing me to instinctively shut my eyes.

Though startled, I slowly opened my eyes, trying to adjust to the glare.

In my field of vision, not a single shelf from the jewelry shop was visible.

All that existed was darkness like the night sky and countless butterflies glowing with the same light as before.

“Huh? What is this!? Where am I!? Is this a prank!?”

There was no one around to answer my voice.

I kind of knew there wouldn’t be anyone.

I couldn’t quite explain it myself, but I had this feeling that this wasn’t reality; it felt just like when I’m dreaming.

Something out of the ordinary was happening. Just as my mind processed this, a sense of fear began to well up from deep within my chest. That’s when I noticed someone standing behind the swarm of butterflies.

“…Who’s there?”

I strained my eyes to see through the gaps between the butterflies. There, I saw the back of a woman who didn’t seem much older than me.

Beautiful, long hair. And… a black satin jacket. A large tiger was embroidered on the back.

She gave off a somewhat mismatched impression, standing with her chest puffed out and her hands stuffed in her pockets.

Perhaps she didn’t notice my voice right away, because the woman in the satin jacket slowly turned to face me.

Her face emerged from beneath her flowing bangs.

Her eyebrows were furrowed in a scowl, and her gaze was sharp and piercing.

I’d never seen anyone like that around me these days, but I recognized the look from manga and TV dramas.

Without thinking, I blurted out reflexively.

“Oh… it’s a yankii.”

“…ss.”

“…”

“…Miss! Hey, Miss!?”

“…Huh?!

I was in a space that felt like a dream when the shop clerk’s voice snapped me back to reality.

No darkness, no butterflies, and no yankii woman. Just the familiar interior of the accessory shop.

…Oh no. Did I pass out?

How long was I out? Or rather, am I sick or something?

“Miss, are you okay? You seemed a bit spaced out, so I was worried you might be feeling unwell…”

“Ah, ah! I’m fine, I’m fine!”

“I’m glad to hear that… but if you really aren’t feeling well…”

The kind saleswoman, who looked to be of motherly age, said that with concern and took my hand.

In that moment, I thought I saw those pale blue butterflies flit past my eyes again, and suddenly… unrecognizable “memories” that weren’t mine flooded into my mind.

It included the scenery I could see, the smells, the textures, and even the emotions.

It was as if I’d experienced it myself, yet it was definitely the memory of someone else.

It was someone’s home, filled with warm air.

In the living room, illuminated by warm-toned lighting, a family I didn’t know was gathered, enjoying a cheerful get-together.

Right in front of me was a boy, about elementary school age, shifting uneasily while smiling shyly.

On the wall were handmade decorations and a piece of paper that read, “Congratulations on your karate promotion!”

That “moment” was a fragment of memory with no beginning or end.

That scene flooded into my mind in an instant.

Even though it was clearly an extremely unusual experience, I remained surprisingly calm despite my surprise and, on a whim, decided to ask.

“Um… mind if I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any children, by any chance?”

“Uh, yes… I have a son in elementary school.”

“Does he play any sports? Like… Martial arts?”

“He takes karate lessons… but, um, have we met somewhere before?”

“Oh, no, never mind! It’s nothing!”

Having hastily brushed it off, I avoided the clerk’s highly suspicious gaze as I paid the bill, then hurried out of the store.

Walking briskly toward my local train station, I muttered to myself under my breath.

“Wait, is this real? But there’s no way… No, no, no, that could not be true. It’s way too far-fetched.”

Yeah. It’s definitely impossible.

But what if, just what if, by some miracle, it were actually, truly real?

I have a hunch.

That’s why I asked that question in the first place, to confirm it.

“Is this… what they call “postcognition”!? Do I have psychic powers!?”

“Just when I was finally enjoying a night alone… That stuff isn’t trendy these days!!”

I opened the front door and took off my loafers in the entryway, where the only shoes there were my sneakers.

Then, in a quiet voice, not meant for anyone else to hear, I muttered just for the sake of it.

“I’m home.”

Me and Dad are supposed to be living together in this apartment. But Dad spends most of the month flying all over the place for work, so I basically live alone.

When I was little, I did feel lonely sometimes, but I’m a senior in high school now. I got used to it a long time ago, and honestly, I’m just so grateful that he works so hard for me.

“…I’m home.”

This time, intending to make sure he actually heard me, I murmured it again.

There were rows of photo frames filled with pictures of me when I was little. In one of the slightly larger ones, Mom was there.

She’s wearing a white blouse with puffed sleeves, and though she looks quite worn out, she’s smiling gently.

Unlike me, she’s a beautiful woman who looks every bit the “demure” type.

That’s the only image of Mom I’ve ever known.

“I guess” she must have been kind.

The reason I can’t say for sure is… She died before I even started elementary school.

They found out she had a serious illness while I was still in her womb, and she fought hard even after giving birth to me… but it wasn’t enough.

Mom was in the hospital the whole time, so I rarely got to see her, and I think I must have been sad, too. Maybe I subconsciously tried to forget her, since I have almost no memories of her.

Dad is kind, but he’s incredibly tongue-tied and quiet, so whenever I asked him about Mom, all he’d say was that she was like the sun. So, even though I know it’s wrong, I guess it’s inevitable that I’ve forgotten… yeah.

“Aaaaaah~”

Squeezing out a voice that conveyed zero motivation, I flung myself face-down onto the sofa, still in my school uniform.

On my way home after that, I tried out my “postcognition” ability.

The power manifested the moment I touched the store clerk’s hand. So I tried to touch someone else again, but… touching people is surprisingly hard. In the end, I came home without being able to do anything, and now here I am, just lounging around like this.

“…Oh yeah. I wonder if I can use it on myself.”

I slowly placed my hand on my forehead.

…Nothing happened.

“Ugh. Guess it doesn’t work on me.”

Still lying down, I held out my palm toward the ceiling and saw the double ring on my fingers.

“This is what triggered it… right?”

That super-passionate talk about psychic abilities we had at school earlier today.

They said it could be something you’re born with or triggered by something, but in my case, I think this ring is what it’s all about. Like, maybe it’s some kind of magic item or something.

It sounds just like the fantasy novels I loved as a kid, but thanks to having even a little bit of knowledge about this, I’m managing to stay pretty calm.

But… still…

“I wish I could see the future instead~~!!”

If I could see what my future self would look like, deciding my path would be so easy.

Actually, can I be honest?

Right now, deciding my future is way more important than seeing the past~~~~!!

“…If Mom were still alive, maybe I could talk things over with her.”

I mutter that again, looking at Mom’s photo.

My teacher told me to talk to my parents. Dad’s busy, but it’s not like I can’t talk to him. In fact, he’s always telling me to do whatever I want.

He’s not very good with words, but he’s kind, and even when he’s not around, he really cares about me.

That’s exactly why there are some things I “can talk about, but can’t bring myself to say.”

I quickly finished my homework, ate the hamburger patties I’d frozen yesterday, binge-watched short animal videos on social media, watched a comedy show on TV, and before I knew it, night had fallen as I was lounging around on the sofa again.

All that’s left is to take a bath and go to sleep. But for some reason, I just can’t bring myself to do it.

All the things I need to think about are swirling around in my head, and I know that if I stay like this, I won’t be able to sleep anyway.

“…Alright! I’m going for a walk!”

I’m a pretty simple person, so at times like this, the best thing to do is get my body moving, even just a little. Besides, if I still can’t sleep after going to all that trouble, at least I’ll be able to accept it!

With that in mind, I dramatically jumped up from the sofa, slipped my feet into my well-worn sneakers, and headed out the door.

As expected, the streets were completely bathed in the glow of night.

If I were near the station, the shops would probably still be open, but over in the residential area where I live, it’s dim even with the streetlights on.

It was a nighttime walk accompanied only by the soft patter of my sneakers and the rustling sound of the nylon shorts I’d thrown on instead of pajamas. Suddenly, a warm spring breeze blew, and the sleeves of my oversized long-sleeve T-shirt billowed as they caught the wind.

I actually kind of like nighttime walks.

Of course, I love hanging out with friends at school, shopping, and going to karaoke, but I also love moments like this when it feels like I’m the only one left in the world.

It’s not like I’m depressed or anything; I’m just thinking that it’s okay to pretend to enjoy solitude every once in a while.

I find myself thinking things like that, but since it’s really just an act, I get bored of it pretty quickly. My throat was starting to get dry anyway, so I decided to buy a drink and some ice cream on my way home and headed for the convenience store along the route.

After walking for a few minutes, I could see the bright lights of the convenience store up ahead.

As I kept walking, drawn by that light, I touched my commuter pass in my pocket and thought, that I should have about 3,000 yen left on it, when…

“Hey.”

Just as the automatic doors were right in front of me, I heard someone calling out to me.

Startled, I stopped in my tracks without thinking. Oh no… I messed up.

The neighborhood isn’t bad, but there are still weirdos around. I thought I was being careful, but I reacted anyway. I should’ve just ignored it.

Ugh, this is the convenience store closest to my house… I really don’t want to get into any trouble…

“Heeey!”

The voice called out again. There was no doubt it was directed at me.

…Phew.

I let out a single breath.

If it comes down to it, I can always dash into the convenience store. So instead of cowering, I should act tough!

“…What is it?”

I turned my face toward the voice and answered, trying my best to act nonchalant.

In the parking lot in front of the convenience store, there was a dim spot that wasn’t lit by the lights. I could see a figure slumped rudely against a curb stop. The figure slowly stood up and began swaying toward me.

“H-h-hey, I’ve got three self-defense certifications, you know!”

As I said this while tumbling over and striking a clumsy, half-baked fighting pose I’d copied from somewhere, the figure didn’t flinch at all and kept coming closer.

Before long, it emerged from the shadows and was illuminated by the convenience store’s lights, shedding its shadow and becoming a person.

Now, I could see them clearly.

Right into my eyes, which had widened in surprise without my even realizing it.

“Certificates? The heck are you talking about?”

Beautiful, long, lustrous hair. A black satin jacket. Furrowed brows that looked annoyed and a sharp, glaring gaze.

It was none other than that rough-looking woman from that strange space…

“What are you doing?”

“What? None of your business. Are you trying to blackmail me or something?”

“Nope! I’m just asking what a young woman is doing wandering around late at night! It’s dangerous, isn’t it!”

“H-huh~~~~!?”

…Wait a second. Why am I the one getting lectured?

After scaring the crap out of me, this makes no sense at all!!

“It’s my business, isn’t it! Or rather, what about you!? From your looks, you’re only two or three years older than me! You’re a young woman too!”

“I’m fine. If needed, I’ll take ’em down with this.”

Saying that, she flashes a smile, just the corners of her mouth, and shows me her clenched fist.

…This is bad.

Bad, bad, bad, bad!!

It’s not even that I’m scared!!

It’s just cringy!!

And it’s so lame!!

“Ugh… That kind of stuff is so cringy these days… That’s the yankii look, right? That fashion… so lame.”

“W-what did you just say!? What’s so lame about it!?”

“It’s not just the clothes. You’re trying too hard with your speech…”

“I’m not trying too hard!!”

“That kind of thing was trendy a really long time ago, right? Like something my grandpa would wear.”

“You… how dare you say that!?”

Before I knew it, I was having a back-and-forth with this yankii that felt like a comedy routine.

She seemed like a dangerous gal in more ways than one, and I probably shouldn’t have angered her. But for some reason, I got the feeling she wasn’t as bad as she looked, and words just slipped out as if I were talking to a long-time friend.

“…So, why’d you go out of your way to stop me? Miss Yankii.”

“Don’t Miss Yankii me. That’s not my name.”

“Then what’s your name?”

“…Torako.”

“Torako!? Is that why you’re wearing a tiger-print jacket!?”

“…Any problem with that?”

“Yeah, yeah. So you’re not gonna tell me. Whatever.”

“Hmph.”

“I’m gonna do some shopping and then head home. Don’t get into any trouble, Torako.”

“…Coming with you.”

“Huh?”

“I’m walking you home. It’s dangerous out here at night.”

“Walking me home…… You? All the way home?”

“Yeah. So hurry up and finish your shopping.”

Leaving Torako behind, who turned her back on me after saying just that, I went into the convenience store.

After buying a bottle of black tea and some vanilla ice cream as planned, I stepped outside to find that Torako was apparently serious about what she’d said earlier; she was standing along the road in front of the store, waiting for me.

“…Let’s go.”

Torako said only that, then strode ahead without a care in the world, even though she’d said she’d walk me home.

Her hands in her pockets, her shoulders squared.

Seriously… what the hell is going on today?

I’ve awakened to some kind of psychic power, met an old-school yankii I saw in my dreams in real life, and now she’s walking me home.

There’s been such a string of baffling events that I feel like I’m about to forget all my worries.

“Hey. You’re just walking ahead on your own, but you don’t know where my house is, do you?”

“…If I take a wrong turn, you’ll correct me, right?”

“I might just leave you there without a word.”

“Are you the type to do that?”

“…No, but-“

I don’t know what makes her trust me that much.

But when she says it so straightforwardly, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, it doesn’t make me feel bad.

“…Mihane.”

“Hm?”

“My name. It’s Mihane.”

“Oh? Is it okay to tell me that? You’re still suspicious of me, aren’t you?”

“It’s fine now. I dunno if Torako is your real name or not. It’s weird not to tell you my name, and I don’t have any reason to lie anyway.”

“Haha, you’re so honest.”

“I hear that a lot~. I don’t think I’m like that, though.”

“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter what people think of you. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Hmm. So you wear such lame clothes because you don’t care what people around you think?”

“They’re not lame!!”

I walked down the night street, chatting with Torako, whom I’d only just met, with such enthusiasm that it was hard to believe we’d only just met.

Maybe because I wasn’t alone, I definitely felt a sense of security.

It feels nice to be all alone in the world, but being with someone isn’t bad either. That thought even crossed my mind.

Or rather, I just couldn’t bring myself to dislike this weird girl who was dressed strangely and kept saying weird things.

No matter how bizarre a night I have, the usual morning always comes around.

I wake up, go to school, and attend my morning classes. Before I know it, it’s lunch break, and I’m chatting with Mii.

The scene is so typical that I almost start to wonder if everything that happened yesterday was just a dream.

But… It wasn’t.

“Y-your nail polish looks great today. Lemme take a closer look.”

“I’ve been using this since last week! Oh well, whatever. Here you go!”

Even as I thought to myself how bad an actress I was, I made up an excuse to touch her.

Pretending to look at her nails, I took Mii’s hand.

“Huh!?”

For a split second, a faint electric shock ran through my body, and a pale blue butterfly appeared right before my eyes.

That feeling, like I’d gulped down a compressed lump of scenery and time all at once.

I can see it after all. I’m actually seeing it.

Mii’s past, a past I’m not supposed to know about.

Mii’s house, which I’ve visited a few times.

She scurries over, fluttering her feet, and hurriedly slips on her loafers.

On top of the shoe box is an LED calendar clock. The date is today; it’s morning.

Stepping out the front door, Mii turns around and pulls out her keys.

The sensation of her pocket trembling. A notification on her smartphone. The screen seems to show an email saying she won some kind of ticket. I can even feel Mii’s joy coming through along with the memory.

Then she simply put the key back in her pocket and started walking…

“…It really is a nice color, isn’t it?”

“Right? I was being stingy with last year’s Christmas set, but I finally opened it.”

“Oh, okay. Changing topic, but this morning… did you make sure to lock up the doors and everything?”

“Huh? Why are you asking that out of nowhere?”

“Oh, um, well… just a hunch? You know, your mom works part-time in the mornings. I’m on my own too, so I figured we both should be careful.”

“Hmm, now that you mention it… wait… you’re right…”

As Mii desperately tried to recall what had happened that morning, her phone started vibrating.

It seemed to be a message from someone. As she read it, her expression shifted to a mix of surprise and fear.

“No way… This is so bad…”

“What’s wrong?”

“It was from Mom. She’s totally furious because when she got home, the door was left unlocked… Hey, how did you know? How, how, how!?”

“J-just a coincidence, duh.”

“That’s not a coincidence! Tell me the truth!”

“Even if you ask me that…”

Maybe I could just tell her. I thought that for a split second, but immediately put on the brakes.

“I’ve awakened to psychic powers!” …If I said something like that, I’d just come off as a total weirdo.

Besides, that book I saw yesterday had an old monochrome photo.

A senior with psychic powers was covered head to toe in weird, clanking machinery, being used as a test subject for some experiment. If my powers get out there, I might end up just like that.

“F-fortune-telling!”

“Fortune… telling?”

“Yeah! I’ve been really into it lately, and the other day I went to see a famous fortune-teller who told me I’ve got talent!”

“…Is that for real?”

“T-the realest of real.”

“…That’s insane!!”

…It worked.

I know I’m the one who said it, but what kind of fortune-telling lets you check if your doors are locked?

“Whoa! You’re Christine Mihane!”

“W-what’s that?”

“Don’t you kinda look like a fortune-teller?”

“U-um?”

“Amazing… I had no idea you had that kind of talent…! It’s a treasure!!”

Mii exclaimed excitedly.

I knew she’d always been into fortune-telling. That’s partly why I used it as an excuse in the first place.

But I never expected it to go this far.

Her excitement seemed to far exceed my imagination, and I would soon come to regret that day.

A week has passed since then… Lunchtime wasn’t the same as usual.

My desk had completely transformed into “Christine Mihane’s Fortune-Telling Parlor,” and today, a line of clients had finally formed all the way out into the hallway.

“…Probably back in middle school… you tried to let go of a stuffed animal you’d cherished since childhood and put it away in the shed, didn’t you?”

“Y-yes! You’re spot on!!”

“Pull it out and give it some love again. If you do that, your luck will definitely improve.”

“Got it! Thank you so much!!”

With absolutely no ill intent and purely out of a desire to see me happy, Mii had told all sorts of people about me.

Thanks to that, the rumor spread in an instant, and before I knew it, things had turned out like this. Even students from other grades were starting to show up here and there.

As for me, back when I first started, I thought I had to live up to everyone’s expectations, so I used my psychic powers to predict past events, which wasn’t a good idea.

Now, even though I can’t possibly do any fortune-telling just by peeking into the past, I’ve turned into a fake fortune-teller who keeps up the act so I don’t disappoint anyone. Deceiving everyone like this… is seriously awkward.

“…Next person, please.”

“I’d like to have my fortune told…”

“What would you like me to read for you?”

“Um… I’m about to start a serious acting job. I wanted you to tell me if it’ll go well…”

I know her~! She is the daughter of that famous actress~! A celebrity has come to our school~!

It’s not just serious, apparently she already had a small role in some movie the other day~!

This is way too intense~! The stakes are way too high~~~!!!

“…Alright then, please give me your hand.”

“Okay.”

As I took her hand, a memory from her past came into view.

Judging by the eye level, it seemed to be a memory from when she was quite young.

When did this start, anyway? At first, I could only see the most recent memories, but gradually I’ve been able to see older ones like this.

There she was, singing and dancing her heart out in her own childlike way.

Watching her was her mom, an unbelievably beautiful woman with a tiny face, who clapped her hands happily.

When I’d accurately describe the past I saw like this and say something that made it sound like their luck would improve, everyone was happy. Up until now, the people who’d come to me for advice had all been half-joking, asking for things like popularity or wealth, so all I had to do was say something like “Good luck!” Even so, it still hurt my heart enough.

But… this time, it was just too…

“I can’t… see anything…”

“Huh…”

“It doesn’t mean there’s no future… it’s just that this is a world of true skills, where fortune-telling can’t do anything to change things… I guess.”

“I see.”

“I’m sorry…”

“No, thank you for being honest with me. To tell you the truth, a friend just really urged me to get my fortune told here. I know this world is all about your own ability. I have to do my best on my own, right?”

The moment she stood up, saying that with a shy smile, the bell rang. The students who had been lined up also looked disappointed as they returned to their respective classrooms.

I had decided in my heart that today would be my last day pretending to be a fortune-teller…

“And that’s what happened~ An epic fail~”

“You brought it on yourself. You were a total liar.”

“Ugh… Don’t say that… I know it myself and I’m already feeling guilty…”

“But hey, it’s not like you did anything that bad. People just want a reason to get a reading, after all. All the people who consulted you before were happy and felt encouraged. You quit once you realized you couldn’t say irresponsible things to certain people, right? You’re safe, you’re safe.”

“T-Torakoo~~~!!”

“Stop faking tears! It’s annoying!”

The only thing that had changed in a week wasn’t just that I’d become a fake fortune-teller.

Ever since then, every time I went to the convenience store at night, I’d run into Torako for some reason, and we’d trade snide remarks every single time.

Before we knew it, it had become a sort of unspoken rule between us, and even without making plans, we’d always end up meeting at 10 PM.

Since hanging out in front of the store was too conspicuous, we’d meet at this little park instead.

“Postcognition, huh… I dunno, it’s a power with a pretty limited use, isn’t it…”

“Yeah, indeed. It would’ve been way more useful if I could see the future.”

“Though I feel like that would be pretty lousy too. Knowing what’s coming ahead of time would just take away the fun.”

“If you say that, it means we don’t even need psychic powers.”

“Well, I guess that’s true. You got unlucky, Mihane.”

“Whaaaat~! I’m gonna see your past~~!!”

Riding the momentum from sliding down the slide, I started running toward Torako.

She looked so desperate that even her usual stone-faced expression cracked, and she ran away from me.

“Stop it, seriously, stop it!!”

“Hey hey hey~! I’m gonna catch up to you~!!”

Torako is the only one who knows about my power.

When we met for the second time, I just told her.

For some reason, I felt like she would believe me, and I didn’t think she’d do anything about it anyway.

Since she’s clearly not into it, I haven’t looked into her past.

I’m joking around like this, but I don’t really want to see it either.

I don’t have a hobby of peeking into people’s pasts for fun, and it would be bad if I accidentally saw something they wanted to keep secret.

So, in other words… um… to put it simply…

My power hasn’t been of any use at all so far…

“Haa, haa… Seriously, cut it out already… You’re a little too obstinate, you know…”

“If I had to choose between S and M, people do say I lean more toward S!”

“I don’t wanna hear that…”

Torako, looking annoyed, gazed up at the sky.

Laughing, I mimicked her and looked up at the night sky.

It’s not exactly a big city, but it’s a fairly large regional one. Maybe the lights on the ground are too bright, because I can’t see any stars.

“Speaking of which, have you decided your future plans yet?”

“Oh, that… not yet.”

“It’s getting seriously tight, isn’t it? Is your dad… the type who won’t give you any advice?”

“No, no, no! He’s not like that at all! Dad takes it seriously and thinks about it with me… It’s just that I can’t figure it out.”

“Why not?”

“Well, you see… there are things I wanna do.”

“Then that’s great, isn’t it?”

“But there are sooooo many things I wanna do! I could try any of them… but there’s definitely a number one. Dad knows me inside and out, so if I tell him, he’ll figure it out right away and he’ll support me with everything he’s got.”

“Hmm… I don’t get what the problem is at all. What exactly do you wanna do?”

“That’s a secret. Or rather, I’m still figuring it out myself. I’ll tell you once I’ve made up my mind.”

Torako raised an eyebrow, perplexed, but didn’t press the issue any further.

However, after a brief silence, she said, almost as if muttering to herself.

“…Whatever you decide is fine, but it’s okay to have regrets, you know.”

“Huh? You’re not saying that I shouldn’t regret it?”

“That’s impossible, right? Choosing a path you know for sure you won’t regret before you even start? There’s hardly a moment when you won’t think you messed up or you should’ve just quit. Well, I guess if you had the power to see the future, you might be able to manage it.”

“That’s so sarcastic!”

“Haha. Well, sure, deciding your path is important, but there’ll be plenty of moments ahead where you have to decide the course of your life. If you fail, regret it, and become resilient each time… then you won’t be defeated by just anything.”

“Hehe… Is this about winning and losing? You’re really going on and on today.”

“Sh-shut up! This is advice from someone who’s been there before!”

Life advice from my senior. But it’s not annoying at all.

Torako is my senior, but she is… different from a friend or a best friend. She’s more like a close older sister.

She doesn’t just give me the comforting words I want to hear; she lights the way a step ahead of me.

I can’t see the whole future, but I can take that first step with courage. That’s just the right amount of support for me.

“So, Torako, what are you doing these days? I don’t know anything about you at all.”

“It’s fine, you don’t need to know about me…”

“Ehh~ Why not~! Tell me~~~!!”

“I said it’s fine!”

“Isn’t it cheating that I’m the only one talking? Isn’t that unfair? Doesn’t that make any sense!?”

“Guh…”

“Are you a part-timer? Or have you already landed a job? You don’t really look like the type… who’s going to college…”

“Hey. You’re judging me by my looks, aren’t you?”

“I have no other info, so what can I do?! You could at least tell me a little bit~!”

“Hmm… I’m not going to college… There’s something more important than doing what I wanna do…”

“Something important!? What!?”

“To be with the guy I’ve liked for a long, long time…”

“…Huh? Whaaaat~~!? You mean a boyfriend!? You have a boyfriend!?”

“Boyfriend… Well, I guess you could call him that…”

Stories like this really get me fired up. Especially when it’s Torako.

I thought about digging deeper and getting her to spill even more details about her love life, but I decided against it.

Watching Torako smile with her head slightly bowed, perhaps out of consideration for the other person, I felt like I might come across as someone who couldn’t read the room.

“You really love him, don’t you?”

“…Yeah. I love him.”

As she said that and looked up, our eyes met.

Then, smiling but with a slightly troubled look in her eyes, she repeated it as if savoring the words.

“I do love him.”

Another week has passed since that night when I got to know Torako just a little bit.

I haven’t seen her even once since then.

I always go to the park ten minutes before 10 PM and wait for about an hour, but she doesn’t show up.

I don’t know her contact information. I don’t know even where she lives or her real name.

All I could do was wait.

Maybe she caught a cold. Or maybe she doesn’t like me anymore.

No. Maybe she’s just feeling shy and finds it hard to show her face.

She’s not the type to just disappear without a word. I’ll try to stay as positive as possible. I try to think that way, but I still can’t help but worry.

“I’m home!”

It had started raining just as I got home from school.

As I opened the door, wiping the rain off my uniform with a handkerchief, I immediately noticed something different.

Dad’s leather shoes were in the entryway.

I roughly kicked off my loafers and rushed into the living room.

“Dad! Welcome home!”

“I’m home. I was able to come back unexpectedly, so I’m sorry I couldn’t let you know.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay! You must be tired. Have you eaten yet?”

“I haven’t had dinner yet… but let’s talk a little first.”

I immediately understood why Dad seemed different from usual.

On the dining table lay a blank career survey form.

I messed up… Just because no one was home, I’d let my guard down and left it out…

“Okay…”

It’s not like he’s going to scold me. It’s something we’ll have to talk about sooner or later anyway.

But since I’d been putting it off by staying silent, I shrunk back and sat across from Dad.

“Haven’t you decided… Your future plans yet?”

“…No.”

“Mihane, you’re the kind of kid who can decide for yourself what you want to do, so I guess I’ve been taking advantage of that… Even though I’m working, I’m really sorry for being away from home so much. And I haven’t even been able to give you any advice…”

“N-no, that’s not it! It’s not your fault at all! I just couldn’t make up my mind…”

“You do have something you want to do, don’t you?”

“Yeah… but I just can’t choose…”

“Would you mind telling me what your options are? I’m sure I can help.”

“Well… right now… I can’t…”

“You can’t talk about it?”

“It’s not like I’m keeping it a secret! But…”

“…”

A heavy silence hung in the air, so unusual that it was hard to believe we were in our own living room.

Both Dad and I remained silent.

The ticking of the small hand on the wall clock, the sound of rain that had started pouring outside the window. And then, the sound of my own heartbeat.

All sorts of sounds I usually don’t even notice seemed to come through a speaker, amplified and loud, only serving to emphasize the silence even more.

It was Dad who broke that atmosphere, which felt like an early start to the rainy season.

“…you see, Mom said something once.”

“Mom…?”

“She said she’s happy that I’m worried about her, but that she’s not a doll…”

This was the first time Dad had ever brought up Mom on his own.

I think he really loved her. He hardly ever talked about her when I asked, and it hurt to see him look so sad every time, so I stopped asking.

So, realizing this was a very important moment, I stayed silent and waited for him to continue.

Dad, in his own clumsy way, slowly, slowly, pieced his words together as if scooping them up.

“Mom was, how should I put it… She has always been an active person. To a wimp like me, watching her always had me on the edge of my seat. She was strong, had a strong sense of integrity, and was kinder than anyone else, but because of that, I was worried she might end up getting hurt somehow.”

“…Yeah.”

“So, I found myself butting in more and more. I wanted her to stay within my sight. But one day, she told me that she wasn’t a doll. That no matter what mistakes you make, they’re part of your experience. That if you give up on something, you stop growing. And that we are supposed to be a relationship where we help each other take on challenges, not one where we’re locked up in a birdcage together. Hehe, she’s pretty blunt, isn’t she?”

“Yeah. I was a little surprised to hear Mom was that kind of person.”

“Hahaha. Those words really hit me hard. From then on, I decided to support her no matter what. Even right after she got pregnant with you… when we found out about the illness. Even when they said her life was in danger, she just laughed and kept going.”

“So… that’s how it was…”

“So, if you’re holding back or worrying about something, just go for it without caring about what others think. I will cheer you on with all my might. If you give up on something you’re capable of… hehe, Mom would definitely scold you.”

“Yeah… I get it.”

Dad’s feelings came through so strongly it almost hurt, and my heart felt warm deep inside.

I stood up, walked behind him, and gave him a tight hug from behind.

Mom may have passed away, but the way she lived has been passed down to Dad… and to me, too.

She will always live on within us.

Now that I’ve inherited that, I’m ashamed of myself for running away from the decisions I needed to make.

“I’m sorry, Dad. If you’d just give me a little more… just a little more time, I’ll get my thoughts in order and find the courage to talk to you.”

“…I understand. Go and think it over carefully.”

“Okay, thank you…”

I said that and hugged Dad even tighter.

It was at that very moment.

Pale blue butterflies fluttered up, seeming to cover the space right in front of my eyes.

Sweet, yet bitter. I want to forget, yet I don’t want to forget.

Memories fluttering and drifting beyond the night sky of the past.

That’s the signal.

It’s the signal that my ability is capturing fragments of memory.

(So these are… Dad’s memories…)

Memories of the past, seen through Dad’s eyes from long ago.

White walls. Clean air. A hospital somewhere. Busy-looking nurses and the cries of babies coming from all around.

Dad’s emotions are restless, excited. He’s almost tripping over his own feet.

Someone is coming down the hallway toward the lobby. Noticing this, his joy grows even stronger.

“Hey, how are you feeling?”

“I feel so good, it’s almost unbelievable. I’m almost forgetting I’m even sick.”

“That’s great. It’s a special temporary discharge, after all. As for Mihane… heh, she’s fast asleep.”

“And to think she was crying her eyes out just a moment ago. Ugh, she’s so heavy. Here, hold her for me.”

Saying that, the person gently hands the baby to Dad.

She has beautiful, long, lustrous hair. Her eyebrows are furrowed in a slightly sullen expression, but her gaze is incredibly gentle.

And then, draped over the sweatshirt she’s wearing instead of a hospital gown… there was a black embroidered jacket.

“Torako!!”

Before my mind could even process it, my body had already started moving.

I slipped my feet into my sneakers at the entrance, pushed the door open with such force it almost broke, and dashed outside.

I think Dad said something behind me, but I don’t remember what.

Heavy, large raindrops were falling relentlessly on the streets, instantly turning my uniform into a soggy mess as I kept running.

But none of that mattered.

She wasn’t just a friend, or even a best friend. She wasn’t even like an older sister.

Torako was… Torako was…

“Torako!! Where are yoooou!?”

I… I have to see Mom right now.

I wasn’t just running aimlessly.

I figured that if I were ever going to see Torako, this would probably be the place.

On the outskirts of a residential neighborhood, a small, desolate park that looked as if it had been forgotten.

Torako was standing on the damp ground, dotted with brown puddles.

Even though she wasn’t holding an umbrella, not a single drop of water clung to her hair or her clothes.

“…What? Did I get caught?”

“Haa, haa… Torako…”

“You should’ve at least brought an umbrella… You’re gonna catch a cold.”

“It’s fine. Never mind that. More importantly… You are…”

Torako gave a light laugh and began speaking, as if to cut me off.

“There really are some mysterious things in this world… I don’t know exactly why I’m here, or even what I actually am. But I think I can make a rough guess.”

“Torako… are you a ghost?”

“Something like that, maybe. Probably… that’s why.”

Torako showed me the back of her hand and tapped it lightly with one finger.

“The ring. I bet the power has been active the whole time, right? Your hand, wearing the ring, projected me into this world through your own past.”

“Me… my past…?”

“I honestly have no idea how I’m able to move and talk freely like this. But look at me now… this is from not long after you were born. You only remembered me from around that time, right? It was actually kinda nice to be able to turn back the clock to when I was still pretty lively.”

Saying that, Torako laughed cheerfully.

To be honest, I can’t remember Mom at all. My image of her is just a familiar photo… The one they say was taken shortly before she passed away.

But maybe, deep down inside me, a faint memory of Mom in Torako’s form still lingered.

“…That… that doesn’t matter at all! Whether you’re a ghost or it’s psychic powers, I don’t care!”

I shouted, my voice loud enough to drown out the sound of rain pounding against the ground.

“Why didn’t you tell me!? You were… You were my mom! You knew that, didn’t you!?”

“Hmm, I can’t really call it anything but a hunch… but I just had this feeling that if I got found out, it’d be over. I figured that if I could be of help to you, it wouldn’t matter if I pretended to be a stranger. Besides, even if I’d said I was your mom, would you have believed me anyway!?”

“…Now that you put it that way… you’re right…”

“See? That’s why I had no choice but to do this. Well, keeping it a secret… I’m sorry.”

“No… it’s okay now.”

Mom was just looking out for me in her own way.

Hearing that, I couldn’t say anything else.

“…Have I grown up?”

“Oh yeah, you sure have. Almost to the point where it’s a little off-putting.”

“Haha… What’s that supposed to mean? Being put off by your own daughter’s growth?”

“What can I say? The gap between then and now is just too huge.”

“I guess that’s true. We don’t look anything alike, do we?”

“You take after Dad. I was relieved you didn’t end up with a prickly face like mine.”

“Anyway, what’s up with that photo? It looks totally different from how you look now.”

“That one… Dad asked me to get it taken at a proper studio, but… they said my face looked like I was on my deathbed, so the makeup artist and stylist just did whatever they wanted. It was the worst.”

“If that’s the case, that’s straight-up fraud!”

“Hahahaha! You’re so right!!”

I exchanged jokes with Mom… with Torako, just like we always did.

For me right now, talking about “my relationship with Torako” feels more natural.

Her tacky, old-fashioned fashion and the rough way she talks to me.

My favorite yankii girl.

“…Tell me what you wanna do, Mihane.”

“You’re asking me that now?”

“That’s exactly why.”

“…I wanna go abroad. I wanna experience a world I’ve never seen before. There are lots of things, but that’s the main one.”

“Oh, is that all?”

“Yeah. It’s just… that, I guess. But it’s not like I have something specific I wanna do. I just wanna experience it… I’m embarrassed to say that’s my reason. And besides…”

“And besides?”

“Dad would be all alone. I know he’d support me if I told him. He’d say to go for it. But if I did that…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, I told you, didn’t I? Even if you know there’ll come a moment when you’ll regret it-“

“Yeah, I know. I’ll be fine.”

“Oh, I see. You actually talked it through with him? Well then… I’m relieved.”

Beyond the rain, I could see Torako’s face as she squinted.

Even after she died, I’m still causing her so much worry. Maybe I really am a terrible daughter.

“Well then, looks like it’s time to say goodbye.”

“…Yeah. I had a feeling that was coming. My power is totally inflexible, isn’t it?”

“Haha, well, it’s bad luck, after all. Still, I should be grateful you went this far for me.”

“You’re right.”

We looked at each other and laughed.

Then Torako held up two fingers like she was making a peace sign and said,

“Option one: hug each other and cry our hearts out. Option two: high-five with a smile. Which do you want?”

I didn’t hesitate for a moment before answering her question.

“High-five. Doesn’t that feel more like us?”

“Yeah.”

We walked toward each other naturally and raised our hands slightly.

Then, like a familiar greeting between the two of us, we clapped our palms together.

The instant that dry sound echoed, I hugged Torako and pressed my face against her shoulder.

As if the rain could mask my tears and sobs.

So we could say goodbye in a way that felt just a little bit like us.

But Torako gently hugged me back and whispered in a tender tone I’d never heard before.

“I’m sorry for putting you through all this.”

“…Yeah.”

“Get along with Dad.”

“…Yeah.”

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

“…Yeah.”

“And remember… I love you.”

“…Yeah! I to-“

The warm sensation of her embrace vanished in an instant.

In its place, a swarm of butterflies that had appeared on my chest scattered and flew off, quickly disappearing into the distance…

…Seeing Dad wrack his brain over how he couldn’t possibly just let me wander aimlessly abroad, I made a request.

“Please let me study abroad at a university!”

I managed to convince him, and so I ended up applying to study at a university overseas.

I’d been studying pretty hard up to that point, but trying to study abroad starting in my third year was really tough.

But my hard work paid off, and even though it wasn’t a top-tier school, I managed to get accepted.

And now, here I am, walking through the airport.

The wheels of my shiny new suitcase click along the floor. On the hand gripping the handle, that ring is missing.

The ring is in my room back at my parents’ house. It’s in the top compartment of my jewelry box.

For now, I don’t need the ability to see the past. Because right now, I’m only looking toward the future.

I finish the check-in procedures and check my suitcase.

After passing through the departure gate, I kill time, feeling restless, and before I know it, it’s time to board.

Sitting in my seat on the plane and peering out the window, I see a vast, gray-brown airport spread out below.

“I’ll come back all big… You probably like lines like that, don’t you?”

If the day ever comes when I put that ring back on,

I’m sure that when it does… We’ll be able to meet again.