Kimi no Na wa. Rediscovering the Future

8. The bridal dress

Around eleven o'clock in the morning, Sayaka was waiting for her friend outside a store with large windows. Two glamorous, flowing white wedding dresses drew the eye from the window. Sayaka looked at them, thinking they were beautiful, as if they were made for princesses, but she couldn't see herself wearing them. Since she wasn't that tall, she thought she would look almost lost in dresses that wide. She really needs her friend to help her make a good choice.

Suddenly, through the reflection of the showcase, she saw her friend approaching.

"Hello Sayaka, sorry for being late! Have you been waiting for me for a long time?"

"Hello Mitsuha, don't worry, I arrived not to long too. And we have an appointment with the counselor at a quarter past eleven, so we're on time."

"Oh, great, then we could go into the store and see what dresses they have. You told me they had some for me too, right?"

"Sure, they have gala or formal dresses that are beautiful, I know you'll like them. Let's go in."

In the store they were received by a saleswoman. Sayaka asked about the executive they had the appointment with. She was still busy with another client. They kept looking at dresses while they waited.

"Look at this, do you like it?" Sayaka asked, her eyes sparkling, in front of a tight, low-cut red dress. "I think it would match your..."

Sayaka unconsciously glanced at the hairstyle of her friend, who had her back to her, and she was surprised to see that Mitsuha was wearing a blue accessory to tease her hair, different from the braided cord she had worn all her life. It was the first time she had seen her without her hair's cord.

"Hey? Don't you wear your red ribbon anymore?"

"Ah, that..." Mitsuha turned, as if a little embarrassed. "I think we can look for any other color, since I'm not using my cord..."

"Really? You are finally modernizing your style."

"Uh? What do you mean with finally?"

"I think it's good that you're open to trying new things, I guess, and letting go of the past."

Mitsuha looked down and smiled to herself, as if considering that suggestion, but the past had just found her yesterday and she couldn't be happier about it.

Sayaka suddenly felt that something different was happening to her friend. She was in high spirits today, more than usual. She was without her cord and laughing to herself. None of this had been usual with her for a long time. Was there something Mitsuha hadn't told her? They used to talk often on the phone and they had meet each other several times in the last few months. But Mitsuha never mentioned anything new, good or bad, that was happening to her.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Mitsuha jumped, as if she had been caught by a teacher doing something wrong.

"Oh, yes, yes, I'm fine, Saya. Look! I like that dress there too..."

Mitsuha walked past her, slightly flushed. Sayaka couldn't help but feel that her friend was trying to change the subject and distract her attention.

At that moment, the saleswoman they were waiting for appeared, a woman in her 50s, elegantly dressed. The woman gave them a kind smile upon seeing them.

"Hello. Good to see you again, Miss Natori. And you must be Miss Miyamizu, right? I'm Aiko Nakamura, I'm going to be your hostess for your dress selection."

Mitsuha breathed a sigh of relief at the good timing of the saleswoman's appearance.

"Thank you very much for receiving us, Aiko-san. Mitsuha and I are very happy that you help us."