I sit up on the bed and create an entry in his diary app. Then I start typing in everything I experienced today. About how I made a lot of mistakes but connected with Okudera-senpai at the end. About how, on the way home from work, we walked from the restaurant to the station together. I capture all of it in the entry, wanting to report it—or brag about it—to Taki Tachibana. Once I’m done, I yawn again. Then, out of nowhere…

Who are you?

For some reason, I remember the line scribbled in my Japanese notebook. Vaguely, I can picture Taki Tachibana in my body, writing that note in my room in Itomori before he falls asleep. What a bizarre idea. Still, there’s something oddly persuasive about it. I take a felt-tip marker from the desk, and on the palm of my hand, I write:

Mitsuha

Yaaaawwn…

That’s the third yawn. Unsurprisingly, today wore me out. It was a colorful, thrilling day. It feels as if I spent all of it getting pelted by a rainbow-colored shower. Even without background music, this world dazzled me from start to finish. I imagine how startled Taki Tachibana’s going to react when he sees the writing on his hand, and, smiling a little, I fall asleep.

“…What is this?”

I say the words aloud, despite myself. I’m staring at my hand.

Finally, I let my eyes drop from the letters on my palm down to my wrinkled uniform and necktie… So, what—I fell asleep without changing?

“—Wh… wh-what is this?!”

This time, I actually yell. We’re having breakfast, and my dad glances at me but promptly loses interest and returns his attention to his bowl. I stare at my phone, stunned. There’s a really long journal entry on it that I don’t remember writing.

…And on the way home from work, Okudera-senpai and I walked to the station together, just the two of us! It’s all because I’m in touch with my feminine side.

“Taki, want to hit another café today?”

“Uh, sorry, I’ve got work after this.”

“Ha-ha. You know where to go?”

“Huh? …Hey! Tsukasa, you jerk, was that you?”

I raise my voice without meaning to. Actually, I wish it was him. Tsukasa’s puzzled expression tells me it wasn’t, though. Even I know there’s no reason somebody’d go to all that trouble for a prank.

Getting up from my chair, I reluctantly excuse myself:

“…Nah, never mind. See ya.”

As I leave the classroom, I hear Takagi’s voice behind me. Dude’s back to normal today.

An uneasy shiver shoots through me, and my feet get cold. Something very weird is happening to me.

“…Wh-what?”

After I change into my work clothes, three of my senior coworkers are standing outside the changing room when I open the door, blocking my way. There’s one regular staffer and two college part-timers, all guys, and they’re glaring at me with eyes that look bloodshot or maybe teary… Either way, not good. I swallow hard, and the three of them start in on me in menacing tones.