Night had fallen over Itomori, blanketing the town with stars. The stillness was disrupted by the brilliant streaks of a comet slicing through the sky, casting fleeting glows over the landscape.
Mitsuha's voice, tinged with longing, echoed in the quiet. "If only I could switch places..."
Morning
Taki woke abruptly in his bedroom, his palms sweaty and breath uneven. Disoriented, he looked around and noticed something strange—a dark red braided ribbon in his hair.
"What's going on?!" Taki muttered, stumbling back, a sense of confusion washing over him.
Itomori High School
Mitsuha walked through the school gates, her head bowed to shield herself from the teasing voices and laughter. She felt a heavy longing to escape. Reaching up, she removed the braided ribbon from her hair and held it tightly, her gaze distant.
"Just one day, I want to be someone else," Mitsuha whispered, her words heavy with yearning. The school bell rang, jolting her from her reverie as she braced herself for the day ahead.
Tokyo's streets bustled with people rushing to their destinations. Taki Tachibana navigated the crowd on his way to school, his thoughts preoccupied. When he accidentally bumped into someone, he mumbled an apology, barely registering the encounter.
"Tokyo, busy and full of life. Where dreams are made," a voice seemed to narrate his surroundings.
In the chaotic classroom of Tokyo Metropolitan High School, Taki sat at the back, absorbed in his drawing. His notebook was filled with architectural designs as he lost himself in his own world. His friend, Tsukasa Fujii, leaned in, breaking the silence.
"Always drawing, huh?" Tsukasa asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Just working on my portfolio," Taki replied, still distracted.
"You want to be an architect?" Tsukasa inquired, genuinely interested.
"That's the plan," Taki confirmed with a nod. But as Tsukasa continued chatting, Taki couldn't shake the odd sensation of being watched.
Itomori
Back in Itomori, Mitsuha stood at her family shrine, her school uniform contrasting with the serene mountain backdrop. Her mind was tumultuous with thoughts.
"Itomori, where life feels stagnant and memories linger," the narrator's voice echoed in the stillness.
Mitsuha sat alone in her classroom, her gaze unfocused. Her best friend, Sayaka Natori, approached with concern.
"You okay, Mitsuha? You seem off," Sayaka asked, her voice gentle.
Mitsuha forced a smile. "Just thinking about the festival," she said, though her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
Sayaka tilted her head. "You always think about that. It's like you're dreaming of something more."
Mitsuha glanced out the window, her gaze filled with longing. "Sometimes, I wish I could see beyond this town."
YOU ARE READING
Synchrony
القصة القصيرةIn the vibrant cityscape of Tokyo and the serene town of Itomori, two lives are about to collide in ways neither could have imagined. Taki Tachibana, a high school student working at a bustling Italian restaurant, finds himself haunted by strange dr...
