Epilogue

When she arrived, she didn't land on the floor of a dusty attic. Instead, her fall was cushioned by a soft mattress in a bright room. It was morning and she loved mornings, loved the panels of light that came in through her bedroom window, because, she was—and she was very sure about this—in her bedroom. She opened her closet—her second year Gen Ed uniform was in its usual spot and all the dresses she had worn to the concours were arranged in chronological order. She was back, she was home, and she was going to become a third year student very soon. Anticipation of this future filled her head as she went downstairs and greeted her mother.

"Kahoko," Mrs. Hino said, "why aren't you in uniform?"

"Eh?"

"It's Friday dear. If you don't change now, you're going to be late."

"Eh?!"

Kaho scrambled to her room, showered, changed, brushed her hair and grabbed her bag. She slid down the banister (something she wished she had done at the Tsukimoris') and walked out the door. She'd gone back a day before…

And Lili said that it was give or take a few hours so…

A day before…

This means…

It was the day of Len's arrival. She stopped in her tracks and placed a hand on her chest. That hand went to her lips.

Len, she thought. Her Len. The Len she had just kissed. "My Len," she said, testing his name.

"Len," she said aloud. She'd already opened the gate and was on the street. She had just kissed him…what, less than an hour ago? And now she was going to see him again. She had no idea she could be so happy until…

"Len?" she said. Saying a person's name aloud couldn't make them magically appear in front of you…but there he was. He was leaning against...It was a silver blue Chevrolet. One of the cars they'd seen in 1958…

"You're back from Vienna," she said. She recognized his shirt as the same one he had worn during…

Well…during that day…this day. The day of his arrival.

He smiled. "I am," he answered. "So, how is this going to happen?"

"I…well…I…" she stammered.

"We haven't seen each other for a long time."

For him, that was true. "Those were your words exactly," she said.

"And, I hope, I won't be saying the same to you about your reply."

"Oh no. I'd never…that is…I wouldn't."

It wasn't going to be like the last time. In fact, that 'last time' was already lost—as if it had never happened. This was their new reunion.

"How are you?" he said, closing the distance between them.

"Fine. And you?" She hadn't moved. She knew they had been separated by months in his calendar but, for her, it had been less than an hour.

"I'm doing ok," he replied. "I came to pick you up. I wanted to ask if we could have lunch later too…I was thinking we could drive somewhere."

"Eh?"

"We have enough time. I brought a car."

She guessed that that was what he'd planned to do. He's going to drive me to school, isn't he?

"You learned how to drive," she said, still in awe.

"Yes. I remembered our conversation and if you still want to, I can drive you to Seisou...and other places too."

She had to ask. "And the car?"

"A Chevrolet. My grandfather's actually. Borrowed just for today."

"It looks like the one we saw…"

"I think it's the exact model."

"Who knew," she said. "It's a really flashy car, though." She thought that maybe he didn't want to attract too much attention on his first day back from Vienna.

"I know, but it had to be this car."

"Ah…" Monosyllables again, Kaho? What had happened to him that she didn't know about? All that time they were apart, she wanted to know if he'd been thinking of her.

"This feels like fate," she said.

"Yes, it is," he said, taking her hand.

"Kahoko," he said, "I'm back. Like I said, you can ask me anything."

"Do you still love me?" she blurted. "You know I…"

She had just kissed him barely an hour ago.

He held her close and touched her hair. "I have to tell you," he said. "You can believe in me too, right?"

He cupped her face. "I love you. And I've been waiting longer than you have."

"That's true," she replied. "I've never told you but, do you know…I love your eyes. They're so beautiful…golden and clear."

"I love your voice," he replied. "It's kind and gentle."

"Len," she began, "will you run away with me?"

"Huh?"

"You have your grandfather's car from 1958. We're both sixteen. We should run away."

He laughed and shook his head. "According to my grandfather…"

"Right, you will be the one to convince me," he said.

"You said I could ask for anything…" She trailed off. Her shoulders were starting to shake, she tried but she couldn't stop from giggling.

"My grandfather would be amused."

She laughed and he joined in her laughter. "I love you, Len Tsukimori."

"Then will you come with me later? We can still run away."

"Where to?"

"To 1958. To the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum."

"It'll be so nostalgic."

He tucked her hair behind her ear. "And maybe after school, we can drive around town?"

She couldn't stop smiling. "Ok."

"We'll go the beach, the park, what do you say?"

"Will it be like this…with you?"

"Hasn't it always been?"

Past. Present. And Future.

"Yes," she answered confidently.

Yes.

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Fin

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It's the end of an era for me. I will always love Kaho and Len. They are my favorite couple. There are no words, really. I hope, dear ff-netizens, that the person you love (wherever he is- if he's already in your life or if the day you meet is still pending and you don't know where under the sky he's been placed) inspires and challenges you.

Here's to you and yours!

-Leigh