‘You can give me your answer when we go back through the mirrors, but will you think about it and let me know? Even … even if you don’t remember, it will feel like a drama where two people are fated to be together and one of them spies the other in a crowd. If you see me, something will click.’

‘Yeah, but …’

They lived in different times.

Seven years apart, to be exact. In Ureshino’s time, while he was in junior high, Fuka would have already graduated.

‘I’m so much older than you – plus, we’re going to forget everything anyway.’

‘But even so, I still like you,’ Ureshino said. He was dead serious, squeezing his balled-up fists with such force they turned a porcelain white.

Fuka smiled. She was simply extremely happy.

‘I understand,’ she said. ‘If I see you somewhere, and fate tugs at me somehow, I’ll call out to you. Though by then you might be head over heels for someone your own age.’

‘No way! I like you! I like you so much, Fuka!’

They were still talking in the doorway when someone joined them.

‘Yeah, yeah, yeah … I like you, I like you. Give me a break!’

It was Aki, who’d apparently just emerged from her room. She rapped Ureshino on the back of his head. ‘Ow!’ he cried, rubbing it. Behind Aki were Rion and Kokoro, who was looking flushed, and holding her hands out in a gesture of apology to Fuka.

‘Sorry to interrupt,’ she mouthed.

‘What are you saying?’ Ureshino said. ‘From my perspective, Aki, you’re an old woman, so there’s no chance I could fancy you.’

‘Try saying that again?’ Aki grimaced and she yanked at Ureshino’s ear. Fuka couldn’t help but smile again.

‘Ureshino,’ Fuka said, ‘if I bump into you, I might not remember you, but you’ll understand why, won’t you? If you remember me, then you can tell me the whole story and convince me to go out with you. I can be a bit stubborn sometimes, so I might not believe you.’

Ureshino looked stunned for a second.

‘Whaaat?’ he exclaimed, exaggerating his question. ‘Is that how you answer me? So cool, so disdainful?’

‘God, you really are so annoying, y’know?’ Aki said.

And Fuka just felt content that they could all chat like this.

IN THE GRAND FOYER, THE seven mirrors were each cracked and falling apart. But they had at least been moved back to their original line-up and nailed to the wall. The Wolf Queen had evidently prepared them for their return.

‘I had so much fun,’ Fuka said, as if speaking for them all. Fuka seldom said what she thought, and Kokoro was happily surprised. She felt exactly the same way.

‘Yeah,’ she smiled.