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Everyone was where they were supposed to be.
Sophia and Yuuri were at Northern Base as always. When Touma arrived, Rintarou was there too; working on a newsletter for all the hereditary members of Sword of Logos who weren’t swordsmen. He excitedly talked about having a date with Mei that evening, and having to leave early to get changed, because Mei expected him to dress up for her or else. In fact, Mei had already told Touma over LINE that Rintarou would be in huge trouble if he showed up wearing his uniform. Touma listened anyway.
Just from hearing him talk, it wasn’t obvious which Rintarou this was. The mysterious stranger Touma had met almost ten years ago, riding into Fantastic Bookstore Kamiyama? Or the little boy who had grown up with Mei, and Touma, and Kento and Riku (Mamiya) and played for hours by the tree with them? He was happy, so maybe it didn’t much matter who he was or what timeline he had come from.
Reika and Ryouga were at Southern Base, their home, which they were determined not to let fall into disrepair. Daishinji was out, but he’d evidently been in his workshop. A sign in his neat handwriting advised any visitors that he’d be back in a couple of hours. Ogami texted to say he was running after school club today and would catch up with Touma soon.
Ren was still on his travels, so it was surprising that he answered his phone. He seemed breathless, probably from training, and the background noise sounded as if he were in a jungle. Would he even get a signal out there? Touma’s fingers closed around the Amazing Siren book. It seemed to know what he wanted, even though he had no intention of ever letting it be used again. Perhaps it had influenced Ren to answer the call from so far away.
“Where are you?” asked Touma. “Did I just hear parrots?”
Ren chuckled and said “Taking the day off. I’m at the zoo.”
That left two more people.
It wasn’t time to see Mamiya, not yet. Sooner or later Mei would give Touma a manuscript, and he’d realize the author was none other than their old childhood friend, the novel’s plot based on their memories of playing together all those years ago. Then there would be drinks and laughter and tears (Touma’s, probably) and they’d be friends forever. Touma knew it would be wonderful, and yet he still had other memories. He’d called the orphanage just to confirm that Riku Mamiya wasn’t there. Not the lonely young boy, nor the vengeful man, or the childhood friend Touma hadn’t met yet. They would meet, soon enough, but he still longed to see twelve-year-old Riku one more time. It wasn’t easy being a father without a son.
That left one person. Touma had messaged him, and he was coming through the door, right now -
“Touma?”
“Kento! I missed you.”
This time it took a moment for Touma’s mind to catch up with the changes in his timeline, like waiting for ripples on water to reach him. Kento was still on the bookstore’s payroll, but part-time, because he worked as a translator now. He had recently been on a publicity tour for a book he’d worked on, and that was why he and Touma hadn’t seen each other for a while. No longer eight years, but eight weeks.
"When did you get back?" said Touma.
“Last Wednesday,” Kento said. He seemed brighter than usual. Touma knew why, but he’d have to wait and let Kento share first. "What are you reading?"
"This?" Touma picked up the book on the counter, "It's about dogs. I thought I might get one." He was already in touch with a shelter. In a couple of months' time, they would call him to ask if he wanted to meet Lucky.
Touma closed the shop for lunch, and he and Kento drank hot chocolate together in the back. Kento told him all about visiting different cities and meeting famous names in the world of literature. He even had a stack of business cards for Touma from people who’d asked him to put them in touch with the prizewinning author. A couple of days ago, Kento had met the most amazing woman –
(Touma didn’t know how that story would turn out. It hadn’t been written yet.)
She’d been reading 1001 Arabian Nights, one of Kento's favourite books. He’d asked if she wanted to discuss the book, and then they’d gone to a café. He really liked her. Kento had wondered if he might have made a bad impression on her; she’d seemed a little reserved. But she’d agreed to go out for lunch with him this weekend. Kento was pretty excited for it.
“That’s great,” Touma said.
“Well, it’s nothing serious. Maybe she won’t even show up,” Kento said.
“I’m sure she will.”
Touma hoped she would eventually open up to Kento about her past, and they’d work it out, and be happy together. They might finally get their wedding in the beautiful church one day. Yuina might be fine with Touma’s current role in Kento’s life, or maybe she wouldn’t, and then he and Kento would go back to being “just” friends. Touma was looking forward to meeting her. He bet she could recommend some great books.
Kento reached across the table for Touma’s hand, “Thank you.”
“It’s just hot chocolate,” Touma said.
Kento lightly swiped at Touma's shoulder, “I’m not talking about that! I meant … Yuina.”
“She sounds lovely.”
“Yeah, but you’re quiet. Are you sure this is OK?”
“I missed you, that’s all,” Touma said. “But now you’re back.”
“It hasn’t even been two months! And we talked pretty much every day,” Kento said. “Feels like longer, though.”
It had been almost a decade. Touma was glad Kento wouldn’t remember that, “I like it when you’re here."
“Well, let’s not be apart for too long again,” said Kento.
He came over to wrap his arms around Touma. They leaned against each other for a couple of minutes, breath mingling in the frosty air; and then Kento’s lips brushed against Touma’s. Touma had definitely missed that. His and Kento’s story together would continue, no matter what happened next.
“What time is it?” said Kento. “Shouldn’t we open the shop?”
“You only just got here. You don’t have to work today,” said Touma.
“We have after school story hour at 3:30! I’m not going to miss it!”
Touma went to change the sign on the door from closed to open again.