Blissful Memories to the End of the Road

Naoko leaned back against the wall and let his mind wander. It would be good to see Midori-chan again. It had been so long. He tried to remember the last happy moment he had with her. The mouse boy ended up looking from the beginning.

That crowded and isolating party. He had to help her to get out. Her warm smile drew him in. They exchanged e-mails and phone numbers.

Their first date was at the beach. They had been talking to each other for three weeks. She made the first move. He hesitated, but said yes.

They saw the fireworks. He could remember hearing the waves in a distance. She looked like an angel in the moonlight.

Valentine’s Day, they got closer. She didn’t want to spend the day alone. He didn’t mind staying with her. They didn’t do much that day. They watched TV and cuddled on her couch.

On her birthday, they celebrated at her house. It was a private party between the blooming couple. He bought her a little white chocolate cupcake. She ate it with a smile on her face.

On his birthday, he hadn’t expected much to happen. Imagine his surprise when there was a knock on his door. She stood outside with her own cupcake in her hands. He didn’t know how to react.

Summer was the time they finally got together. It took their friends to push them together. They seemed sheepish at first, but love tied them tighter together. The couple decided to give romantic love a try.

By autumn, they were official. They were almost never seen apart from each other. She finally perked up and he became a little more sociable. Their friends believed that they could make each other better people.

By winter, love grew, but more in an innocent way. He didn’t want to sleep with her yet. Part of him still wanted to keep her innocence in a way. She didn’t notice it herself. She was only happy to be with her boyfriend.

One year passed.

Two years passed.

Then three.

Then four.

Then five.

By year six, he wanted to fully commit to her. It was winter by the time he came to that decision. They went up to Sapporo, Hokkaido for a romantic getaway. He had everything planned out. The couple would take in the snowy sites, enjoy the onsen in the inn, embrace each other with love and intimacy, and on the last night, he would pop the question. They went through with all of his plans. But, what was her answer? That part had been lost ever since the crash of the train. He remembered kissing her goodbye, but not her answer. Would he get that second chance to hear it from her? The mouse boy figured that he would have to see.

There was a ping sound and the doors opened wide. A warm breeze pulled Naoko back into reality. His heart jumped in his chest.