Work Text:
Nagara doesn’t count how many days has been passed since he came to this current world. The only one thing he’s sure that it has been a week since he met Nozomi for the first time here. No, she isn’t Nozomi who he knew before. She’s Nozomi of this world, his ex-classmate, and Asakaze’s girlfriend.
Nagara was having a hard time when they met on the station. Her physical appearance is exactly just like when they drifted in that floated school, the only difference is her uniform. But Nagara knows that this Nozomi is different. This Nozomi doesn’t know him, this Nozomi doesn’t approach him friendly just like before, this Nozomi isn’t his friend, this Nozomi is Asakaze’s girl—
Nagara catches the compass that almost slipped from his hand. Today is the last day before summer’s holiday started. If he can, he wants to take a day off from work tonight. His work hasn’t get improved much and his manager’s still scolding him every day. But life must go on, so does his.
This is his choice. He chooses this world and this life. He cannot run away just like his past self did.
Nagara steps out from the train on Shiratodai Station. His eyes start to stare at the empty bird nest on the station wall. The bird has been saved by Nozomi four days ago. Though this Nozomi doesn’t know him, but he’s sure, her personality is still completely same. He’s kinda grateful.
“Hey.”
It’s Nozomi’s voice.
Nagara shifts his gaze to side, just to found a smile he never knew he could see anymore. She, Nozomi, is standing beside him, smiling at him just like when they got drifted back then.
“Are you still worrying about that bird? You stare at that empty nest too much.”
Nagara averts his eyes a bit from her. It still feels hard on him. “Yeah ... a little.”
“Don’t worry too much. She’s getting healthier now,” said Nozomi with a wide smile like she usual does.
Nagara glances at her. Nozomi’s personality doesn’t change at all. She’s still the same. She's still kind toward everyone though she only knew him a brief, just like he thought. It feels like she’s just forgetting about him and not being someone completely different.
Ah, suddenly he remembers something.
“What do you want to do first after you go back?”
“I never thought about that. Because we might not remember anything. There’s no point in thinking about that.”
“Do you mean I’m a fool who overthinks?”
“Anyway, it’s not important.”
“Let me tell you. I want to eat omelet rice from Soleil, cake with lots of strawberries from Grace, and noodle soup from Hatsune.”
“Haha~ See, I knew it. It’s boring.”
“Then, if I see a scowling boy sitting in the corner of the staffroom, I’m going to grab him by the collar and ask if he wants to be friends with me again. I’m curious to know his answer.”
“We won’t be high school students by the time. I don’t know how to answer. Because the fact that you and I were friends would be gone. You’ll tear up the textbook again. And I’ll do nothing to save the bird, again.”
“Well, let’s do this! The one who remembers will say it. ‘Be my friend once again’. All right? I promise you. I will never turn you down.”
Nagara’s eyes flicker as his mind replays the one conversation he had with Nozomi, the deal, and the promise she made if they could go back to their original world.
But this Nozomi isn’t that Nozomi. That Nozomi wouldn’t ever came back, as much as he wants it to be happen, as much as he wants the compass he’s holding now turning back into that girl.
“... Nozomi.”
However, it’s not hurt to try. This is his choice after all. His choice to change, to start his new life.
“Ah, you know my name! Oh—but what’s your name once aga—”
“Please, be my friend once again.”
And move forward.