Synchrony

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Tokyo Street - Day

The sun shone brightly over Tokyo as Taki walked to school, his mind drifting back to the strange dreams he'd been having. The city buzzed with its usual energy, but Taki felt oddly detached, as if something—or someone—was missing from his life.

Tokyo Metropolitan High School

Later, in the classroom, Taki idly sketched architectural designs. The chatter of his classmates filled the room, but Taki's mind was elsewhere. He turned to Tsukasa, his expression troubled.

"You ever feel like you're stuck between worlds?" Taki asked, his voice trailing off.

Tsukasa noticed Taki's distracted demeanor. "What's on your mind?" he asked, genuine concern in his tone.

"Just some weird dreams," Taki replied, trying to shake off his unease. His eyes scanned the room, searching for something he couldn't quite name.

Itomori

In Itomori, Mitsuha rummaged through her bag, pulling out materials for the kuchikamizake ritual. The weight of her responsibilities felt overwhelming.

"I can't do this forever..." Mitsuha muttered, frustration evident in her voice.

Yotsuha, sensing her sister's distress, approached gently. "You're not crazy, just... different," she said, her tone reassuring.

Mitsuha let out a small, bitter laugh. "Different is a curse in this town," she replied.

Yotsuha wrapped her sister in a comforting embrace. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean you can't change things," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth.

Mitsuha felt a flicker of hope. As they stood together, the wind rustling through the trees, Mitsuha sensed that change was imminent—though she couldn't yet grasp its full magnitude.

Tokyo - Evening

After a long day, Taki returned home. The familiar sounds of his father's voice drifted from the living room, but Taki walked past it and headed straight to his room, closing the door behind him with a weary sigh.

"Just another day," Taki muttered as he sat at his desk, surrounded by scattered sketches. He noticed the dark red braided ribbon on the floor, the same one from this morning. He picked it up, examining it closely.

"I shouldn't dwell on this," he said to himself, tossing the ribbon aside. But as he tried to focus on something else, the strange ringing in his head returned, louder this time. Taki clutched his head in pain, feeling a sense of disorientation.

Mitsuha's Dream

In the stillness of the night, Mitsuha stood at the shrine, bathed in starlight. She looked up at the comet streaking across the sky, a mix of fear and hope in her eyes.

"If I could just swap places..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the breeze.

Taki's Bedroom

Back in Tokyo, Taki jolted awake, his palms sweaty and heart racing. Disoriented, he looked around his room, trying to shake off the remnants of a dream he couldn't fully remember. He raised his hands to his face and felt something strange—something different.

"What the hell?!" Taki exclaimed, rushing to the mirror. To his shock, the dark red braided ribbon was once again in his hair.

"No way," he whispered, taking a step back. It felt like pieces of a puzzle were falling into place, but the overall picture remained elusive.

Tokyo Metropolitan High School

In Tokyo, Taki wandered through the bustling streets, still perplexed by the recurring ribbon in his dreams. The city felt even more chaotic than usual. As he walked past a store window, his reflection caught his eye. For a moment, he could have sworn he saw a different face—a girl with dark hair and a braided ribbon—but the image vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"What's happening to me?" Taki wondered aloud, shaking his head. He felt a mix of fear and curiosity.

Itomori

Mitsuha sat alone in the classroom, her gaze distant. She found herself clutching the ribbon tightly, her mind racing with the feeling that her dreams and reality were becoming intertwined. Sayaka noticed her distraction once again and approached with concern.

"Mitsuha, you're not yourself today," Sayaka said gently. "Is something wrong?"

Mitsuha forced a smile. "Just trying to figure things out," she replied. "Sometimes, it feels like I'm living in two worlds."

Sayaka looked at her with a mix of sympathy and confusion. "Maybe you just need to talk about it," she suggested.

Mitsuha nodded, her thoughts swirling with the enigma of the ribbon and the dreams she couldn't shake. As she glanced out the window, she sensed that something significant was about to change—though she couldn't yet grasp what it might be.