He sat up. ‘I’ve been thinking about it. In 2013, the year you live in now, I’ll be, what, forty-three … or forty-four? Hard to believe, but a decent age, I was thinking, though to you I’d be an old guy. An adult, in other words.’ Subaru laughed. ‘That’s why – that’s what will be my goal from now on. To become a game designer. Then you can say, “A friend of mine designed this game,” and it’ll be true.’

Masamune did not know what to say.

He felt like he couldn’t breathe, as if an unseen force was pressing down on his chest. He felt a sharp twinge in his nose, his eyes began to fill with tears, and he looked down quickly.

‘What’re you talking about?’ he managed to say, his voice cracking. ‘We’re all going to forget anything we’ve said here, so what’s the point? It won’t stop me boasting.’

‘You think? Still, don’t you want to believe that some things will change, that this is all somehow meaningful? Because I’ve never had anything I really wanted to aim for, until now.’

He spoke so casually it made Masamune wish he could be a bit more serious.

‘So if I can find something I’m really keen to do, I’d be so excited. I think I can remember that much when I go back through the mirror, if I will myself to. I promise you. So even if you and I forget each other, you won’t be lying. You do have a friend who makes video games.’

Masamune bit his lip to stop the tears.

‘Masamune?’

‘Thank you, Subaru,’ he said quietly, before Subaru could look too closely at his tear-stained cheeks. But Subaru looked relieved.

‘Um,’ he said, nodding. He rested his eyes on the wrecked devices. ‘Great,’ he murmured.

FUKA CLOSED THE LID TO the piano.

She trailed her eyes around the room with a thankful heart.

Taking her handkerchief out of her pocket, she gave the lid a good wipe.

As she tidied up the rest of the room, there was a knock at her door.

‘Yes?’

‘It’s me. Ureshino.’

They’d all decided to come together for one last time in the grand foyer, so why was he now outside her door? She opened it just wide enough to see the side of his face.

He was standing in the hallway alone.

‘What is it?’ she asked quietly.

‘Well … there’s something I wanted to tell you.’

His face was flushed and he was clutching his hands in front of him. Before she could even think what it might be, he said, ‘The thing is …’ and looked directly at her. ‘Fuka – will you go out with me?’

He said it so boldly it surely echoed through the whole castle. Fuka opened the door wide in astonishment. Ureshino looked totally serious.