Chapter 26
She Remembers You.
Aira stared at the name in her notebook.
Mika.
She had never heard it before.
She turned the page.
Nothing.
She turned back.
The name was still there.
Ren leaned over the table.
“Who is Mika?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why is her name in your notebook?”
“I don't know that either.”
Ren studied the page.
“Maybe the story isn't finished.”
Aira shook her head.
“We ended it.”
“Maybe we ended one story.”
He pointed at the name.
“And started another.”
Aira closed the notebook.
“No more mysteries.”
Ren smiled.
“You don't believe that.”
“I really want to.”
Before they could say anything else, someone approached their table.
A young woman stood there.
She looked nervous.
“Are you Aira?”
Aira looked up.
“Yes.”
The woman swallowed.
“My name is Mika.”
Aira froze.
Ren slowly sat back.
Mika looked at the notebook.
“I think you have something that belongs to me.”
Aira opened it.
The name was still there.
“Mika… how do you know me?”
“I don't.”
Mika paused.
“But I remember you.”
Aira felt a chill.
“From where?”
Mika looked toward the café window.
“The station.”
Aira's heart tightened.
“That station is gone.”
“I know.”
Mika sat down.
“But before it disappeared, I saw you there.”
“When?”
“I don't know.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“I know.”
Mika looked frustrated.
“I remember being there with you, but I can't remember when.”
Ren leaned forward.
“What do you remember?”
Mika looked at him.
“You.”
Ren frowned.
“Me?”
“You were holding Aira's hand.”
Aira exchanged a look with Ren.
Mika continued.
“You were telling her not to be afraid.”
Ren went silent.
Aira felt something move inside her memory.
A scene.
A place.
A moment she couldn't quite reach.
Mika suddenly grabbed Aira's hand.
The moment they touched, Aira saw a flash.
A white room.
A hospital bed.
Mika standing beside it.
Aira lying unconscious.
Ren is sitting beside her.
Someone was crying.
Then everything vanished.
Aira pulled her hand away.
“What was that?”
Mika looked frightened.
“You saw it too.”
Aira nodded.
“What happened to me?”
“I don't know.”
“Who was crying?”
Mika shook her head.
“I couldn't see.”
Ren looked at the notebook.
The name had changed.
Under Mika's name, another sentence appeared.
She remembers what you forgot.
Aira stared at the words.
“What did I forget?”
Mika whispered,
“The seventh day.”
Aira's heart stopped.
“There was never a seventh day.”
Mika looked directly at her.
“Yes, there was.”
Ren stood.
“What are you talking about?”
Mika's eyes filled with tears.
“You already lived it.”
Silence.
Aira shook her head.
“No.”
Mika nodded.
“You don't remember because you chose to forget.”
Aira felt the room spinning.
“Why would I choose that?”
Mika looked at Ren.
“Because he was going to disappear.”
Ren froze.
Aira turned toward him.
“What?”
Mika stood.
“You saved him.”
Aira's voice trembled.
“How?”
Mika looked at the notebook.
“You gave up the memory of the seventh day.”
The café became strangely quiet.
Aira looked at Ren.
He was staring at her.
“I don't remember.”
“I know,” Mika whispered.
Then she walked away.
Aira stood.
“Wait!”
Mika stopped at the door.
Aira rushed toward her.
“Tell me what happened.”
Mika turned around.
“You don't want to remember.”
“Maybe I do.”
Mika looked at her sadly.
“Then you need to decide whether you're willing to lose him again.”
She walked out.
Aira stood frozen.
Ren came beside her.
Neither spoke.
Then Aira opened the notebook.
The page had changed again.
Under Mika's name, a final sentence appeared.
The seventh day is waiting for you.