The sun rose the next day, another chance to apologize to the young man next door.

As Yumeko woke up, she immediately opened her window to peek the room of her neighbor and sadly it was still closed.  She heaved a long and deep sigh. 

Yumeko being down first thing in the morning, moved to do her morning routine. Then suddenly, she heard a sound of a window opening and she immediately ran to the east corner. She saw the window finally opened. She glanced a figure of a tall guy in dark clothes leaving the room. She was not sure if it was Kengo, however, if it was him, the hopeful young heart was happy knowing he was not dead.

She instantly sat on her table, grabbed on her fountain pen, and took a pink colored origami then wrote:

Please let me know you’re okay.

Yumeko’s handwriting was very messy as she speedily wrote her message then she folded the origami into a crane in a very fast speed. She had become an origami crane expert after folding a lot yesterday. 

She then ran towards her window and quickly let the crane flew to the other side.

“Lady Yumeko, I’m going in.” Koharu saw her and she immediately thought that unlike yesterday, today’s young lady was somehow ready to seize the day.

Like everyday, they prepared and went to school together.

Yumeko’s eyes were locked on the hour and minute hands of the clock hanged inside her classroom. She looked at the sun waiting for it slightly shines in the west. She was intently waiting for the class to finish and for the afternoon to take place. 

As soon as the school bell rang at three, Yumeko dashed to the entrance and could not say bye to Yui. She was restlessly waiting for Koharu as if she would miss something if she could not go home immediately.

“Koharu… What’s taking you so long? He might close the window again!” she whispered to herself.

Then a few minutes later, a bicycle rang and it was Koharu. Before she could stop fully, Yumeko jumped on the carrier and told her,

“Let’s go! Quick!”

Koharu, with no idea why her lady was on a rush, just pedaled as fast as she could, as if her short legs would give up any soon.

“What is it, my lady? Are we being chased?” she asked as she caught her breath up.

“The sun will set soon and I might loose my chance!”

Finally they arrived in front of their house. Droplets of moisture began to drip from the leaves as heavy rain fell. They quickly went in and Yumeko ran upstairs remembering she left her windows opened. Koharu followed her lady behind. 

They arrived in her room and quickly closed all windows. 

“It’s raining. I wonder if the sky wants me to give up,” she said as she saw Kengo’s window closed as well.

Her hope to meet him today was shattered into pieces as the sun went hiding. 

“It is an NG today, my lady,” Koharu shook her head in dismay.

Hearing this, Yumeko chuckled and thought that Koharu was really a funny girl. 

“My lady, you should go and take a bath now or else you might get sick. Your clothes are a little bit soaked. I will warm the bath for you. Please come down soon,” said Koharu as she gently closed the door. 

Meanwhile, Yumeko was silently listening to the sound of the rain thinking of her neighbor’s whereabouts.

The raindrops faded slowly as darkness veiled the sky.

She rolled on her bed as soon as she finished all things she had to do that night.

“How can saying an apology this difficult?”

The guilt was greatly haunting her and would forever be until she would be able to talk to Kengo. She was suffocated with these thoughts and she got off of her bed as her feet led her to the east window.

“I need some fresh air,” she said as she gently opened her window.

The cool breeze of after rain passed by and that very moment Kengo’s amber eyes met hers.

She was stunned as if her mouth was locked and could not utter a word. 

“Ken...Keng...” she stuttered.

“I shouldn’t call him by his first name.”

The young man slowly walked away. 

“Wait!” Yumeko shouted. 

Kengo turned around as he was shocked of Yumeko’s loud voice, in the silent evening. He put his index finger in between his lips. 

“Shhhh!” he silently hushed.

The young lady instantly covered her mouth, realizing it was already late night. 

Yumeko then mumbled, “I am sorry.”

“Wait,” she continued. 

Kengo then gently smiled and nodded his head.  He only observed her as she made rattling noises inside her room.

Are you feeling better?

Yumeko quickly wrote on an origami then folded it into a crane and threw it at Kengo. Once it reached him, he gently unfolded it and saw her sloppy handwriting. He glanced at her restless stature before he moved to his table where his fountain pen and origami were lying. He slowly wrote something on it, folded it into a shape of a plane, and let it flew to her side. 

She watched as the paper plane slowly flew and as soon as it reached her, she immediately unfolded it. 

Everything suddenly moved slow as she saw his neat penmanship. His strokes were very clear. It was a really beautiful handwriting, she thought. Word by word slowly sinked in that read:

My stomach still hurts.

Her expression changed as she looked at him. Her brows furrowed in worry. Then suddenly another paper plane landed on her room’s floor.

Just kidding.

As she looked at him, she saw him silently laughing. Though faint, his laugher was like music to her ears. She wondered if it was daylight, would he laugh more since he would not bother sleeping people. She wanted to hear more of it.

She then threw another crane.

Thank goodness! I was really worried thinking I poisoned someone! I came the other day to your house to say thanks but your servant said you were not well because of the anpan! She told me that you can’t eat beans! Did she tell you I came? Also, I learned that the anpan I made was very salty! And you ate five of it! Since then I have been so restless! If there is anything I could do for you, don’t hesitate to ask!

As Kengo read Yumeko’s lengthy message, he realized that Yumeko was a very talkative lady. He did not know how to answer all her questions. 

She then threw another crane that said:

I’m sorry.

Kengo smiled as he read through it letter by letter. That was what she only wrote but he felt through the message that she was deeply apologetic. 

It’s okay.

It’s late now. Let’s talk again tomorrow.

This was the last paper plane that landed in Yumeko’s room. She shyly waved at him as she tossed her last crane.

Okay! Good night!

Meanwhile, Yumeko, who was also on her bed, could not stop smiling. She was happy to finally talk to him and realized that he was not a bad person. Once again, she thought of how neat and beautiful his handwriting was.

“He said we’ll talk again tomorrow.” Yumeko giggled as she closed her eyes.

She was never been excited for tomorrow.

To be continued.