The next morning, Hodaka wakes up before the sun even rises. He checks his watch. It says 4.30am. He goes into Hina's and Nagi's room, and gives them one last look and places the letter on the dressing table. He is exactly on schedule. Putting on his raincoat and shoes, he walks out of the house.
The train ride there is agonising and long, like a prisoner on a death row walking to the execution chamber. Hodaka cannot keep himself from letting tears of sorrow flow, and before he knows it he is screaming like a mad man. But he knows that he has to do it, it is for Hina, the love of his life, after all.
Before long, he arrives in Ginza. Dragging his legs and wiping off his tears, he walks towards the shrine, taking his time to admire the morning scenery. When he reaches the shrine, the staff had already prepared all the necessary items. There is a circle mat on the floor with a weird design and a few men, presumably kannushis are kneeling around the mat. It looks like something that comes out of an occult movie. As Hodaka takes a sit in the middle of the mat, the old kannushi starts to walk around him, chanting verses and words that Hodaka doesn't recognise.
At this instant, Hina wakes up from a nightmare. Her forehead was sweating profusely, her eyes opened in a sort of wild and anxious look. She had just dreamt that Hodaka was floating up into the sky, his body glowing. She doesn't know what this means, but she has a feeling that it isn't something good.
"Hodaka! Hodaka! Where are you?" She shouted as she opens her door, tears welling up in her eyes. She half expects Hodaka to jump out from his room, embracing her again, comforting her, but he isn't there. Then she spots, on her dressing table, a letter addressed to her.
"My beloved Hina,
By the time you're reading this, it will already be too late. I'm sorry for not telling you this decision of mine, but I knew that you were going to violently object to it. I'm sorry for leaving you behind. But please, try to understand that I'm doing this for the best. Remember that day, as we were falling from the sky, I said that I would choose you over the blue sky? Well, I would choose your life over mine any time as well. Please, forget about me and move on with your life, full of opportunities and potential. Find a good husband and settle down. Thank you for all the wonderful memory, short as they were but they are the sweetest things in my life. Thank you for staying by my side, short it may be. Tell Nagi that I treated and respected him like a real senpai. I love you.
Sayonara, Hina"
Hina stays motionless. She doesn't dare to believe the letter. Her hands are numb, and the letter flutters out of her fingers. Then, her whole body goes numb with sadness, and she collapses on the floor, bawling her eyes out.
"Hodaka... Hodaka..." she sees the kind face of Hodaka again, and more tears explodes out of her eyes. She wears her shoes, ignoring the fact that she hasn't put on proper outdoor clothing and her umbrella, and dashes towards the train station.
Meanwhile, Hodaka's body is lying on the floor. Hodaka can feel something pulling him, as though he is a fish that was hooked by a rod. He knows that his soul is being pulled by god, and he keeps on praying. He tries not to think of anything else, except for the success of the ritual. After about half an hour, he feels himself being lifted up, and he looks back down. In front of his eyes is his very own body, appearing to be asleep. Am I now dead, Hodaka asks himself. A moment later, he hears the door to the room slam open, and standing there is Hina.
"Hodaka!" She shouted and jumps up at Hodaka, trying to pull him back down. Her hand goes through Hodaka's. It is too late. Hodaka looks down at Hina, his mouth opened but with no sound coming out. Hina is able to, however, make up what he was saying.
"Sayonara, Hina."
