In a beautiful neighborhood overlooking a river lived a little girl full of life. Every morning, she woke up to a clear view of the river from her bedroom window. She would watch the people on their morning walks, and those sitting by the river—coming and going—never failing to fill her with wonder. She heard her mother call from downstairs. Still with her disheveled hair and oversized nightdress hanging off one shoulder, she heard.

“Hikari, are you up yet? Breakfast is ready. We need to hurry!”

 “Okay!” Hikari shouted back. 

She made her way down from her window frame and out of her room. Just a step away from her door, she entered the bathroom, dragging her footstool out from under the basin so she could reach the tap. She squeezed some toothpaste onto her toothbrush and began cleaning her teeth, foam quickly forming around her mouth. Then she rinsed her mouth, pinned back her front hair, and washed her face. Some soap got into her eye, but she washed it away. She dried her face with a towel and returned to her room. We only see her step back out again, now fully dressed—almost in an instant. Happily, she went downstairs. Her grandfather was reading the newspaper. (He is the same traveling old man from Summer Stay.) Her father was eating breakfast, and her baby brother was in his baby seat, being spoon-fed by their mother. Her father looked up and said.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?

“Yes, the best,” she replied with a smile and a thumbs-up.

“Good morning, Grandfather,” she added. 

 “Good morning, little one,” he said 

Naturally, leaning over for her to kiss his cheek, not once turning his gaze away from his newspaper. She sat down and began dishing up some scrambled eggs, the smell of caramelized butter still rising from them. At that same time, her father asked his wife.

“What time will you be picking them up at the airport?” 

While he said this, Hikari teased her baby brother with a piece of egg, saying.

“Good morning, little Saburo."

In that same moment, his wife replied, now placing the baby’s food bowl into her husband's hands, 

“As soon as I drop Hikari off at preschool.” 

Then she glanced at her watch and said.

 “Speaking of which, we have to go now, Hikari. Get your bag, we're leaving!”

 “But I didn’t even eat anything yet!” 

 “You can eat in the car. Just bring your plate.”

Hikari reluctantly got up, took a piece of toast, grabbed her bag, and shouted: “Bye, Daddy! Bye, Grandpa! Goodbye, Saburo! Her father replied, “Bye,” while still feeding the baby. Then we see the grandfather lower his newspaper, glancing judgmentally over his shoulder to watch his daughter and granddaughter leave. He looks back at his son-in-law feeding the baby, gives a grumpy grunt, and lifts his newspaper to his face again to keep reading. Now we see Hikari in the backseat of the car, buckled up, looking out the window at the river and all the people walking over the bridge above it. Later, we see Hikari being handed over to a preschool teacher. Her mom gives her a quick kiss before dashing off, leaving a trail of smoke behind her. Hikari, watching the car drive away, says to herself.

“I wonder why Mommy’s in such a hurry.” 

She says this as she walks into preschool, waving at her friends as they pass by.

We see her mother at the airport, waving to someone while on the phone. A woman sees the wave and walks toward her, holding the hand of a small girl. The girl, shy and quiet, clings to her mother’s leg. She’s wearing a knee-length white dress. Her hair is short and black, with a red hairpin to hold her bangs to the side—her eyes looking like the night sky. The two women meet and hug.

 “Where’s Kurai?” Hikari’s mom asked.

"He had some work to finish. He’s taking the evening flight tonight—he’ll be here tomorrow morning," her friend replies. 

"That’s okay. It’s your family’s vacation, after all. I’m just happy you’re staying with us," she says, the two women now sharing a warm smile.

In that same breath, Hikari's mom looks down at the little girl. She squats down, now face to face with her, and says:

"It’s so nice to finally meet you. Your mommy, daddy, and I were best friends in university."

 Hikari’s mother now stretches out her hand to the little girl in greeting. The girl looks nervously up at her mother. Her mom gives her an encouraging smile and gently nudges her.

Now with the little girl more relaxed and acquainted with her host, the two women walked toward the exit. We are now back at Hikari’s family home. Her grandfather is sitting on a single-seat sofa, reading his newspaper with a clear view of the front entrance. The front door opens, and her friend and her daughter step inside. The grandfather lowers his newspaper and gives them a funny look—first eyeing the woman next to his daughter with sharp eyes, then slowly shifting his gaze downward to the little girl. "The little girl met his intense gaze, then timidly hid behind her mother’s leg once again." "Hikari’s mother’s friend glances at her with a worried look. Hikari’s mother responds with an embarrassed, nervous smile as they stand awkwardly by the door." Evening came, and the three adults were now enjoying dinner with the children at the living room table, clicking red wine glasses together. 

Hikari clinked her juice cup against the baby’s bottle. "All evening, the grandfather sat in his chair, reading the newspaper in silence." "Later in the evening, Hikari’s father stands up, and we see the two little girls looking at each other from across the table—Hikari looking intently at her, and the other shyly acknowledging her." Hikari’s mother says, “Why don’t you show Kinko your room, dear?” "That’s a good idea," Kinko’s mother said. "Would you like that, Kinko? The father, now carrying the sleepy baby, says, “I’ll be back down in a minute.” As he passes, he kisses his wife on the head while she remains absorbed in the conversation. Hikari jumps up and, with excitement, pulls Kinko out of her chair and up the stairs, racing past her father and baby brother. 

 “Not so fast up the stairs,” her father says. “Sorry!” Hikari calls from the top of the stairs. She opens the door to her room. From outside the window, we see both girls looking in the direction of the river—the moon shining on the lake, and the energy of people coming and going. The faces are full of wonder. They walked to the window, and Hikari began explaining all the things they were seeing. 

Kinko watched her with awe and a quiet smile. A little while passed like this, and the two mothers opened the room door and gestured for them to come. 

The two girls got up and went, and the door closed. Later that night, the door opens again. Now in their nightgowns, Hikari rushes to the window. Kinko, holding her bear, follows slowly. 

 As they sit on the window frame, looking out, Kinko asks Hikari, “So, what’s that over there?” Hikari turns in shock. “You can talk?” Kinko giggles. 

“Of course , silly.” Hikari bursts into laughter at how silly she sounded, then continues, “You mean that? That’s…” She goes in depth about the thing they’re seeing while Kinko listens with wide eyes. After the evening had settled in, the two girls start to slowly drift into a deep sleep, hikari mumbling with arms crossed and head rightly placed in them, fast asleep. Kinko half hanging over the window frame, with her head placed gently on her one arm.

Downstairs, Hikari’s father walks up the stairs while looking down at his wife chatting happily with her friend. The grandfather glances over at his daughter from his reading corner and mutters, “Ahh, I need a holiday.”

Her father, now at the door of her room, opens it and finds the two little girls asleep on the window frame. He switches off the room light. The bright moon lights up the room. He gently picks up the girls, one by one, and tucks them into bed. 

After sliding the window closed, he takes one last look at them and smiles in satisfaction before slowly closing the door. The two girls are now sleeping peacefully in bed. Hikari lies with the light of the moon shining on her face, looking almost exactly like her grandfather, as he was intoxicated in his hotel bed in Summer Stay.

The end.

Please subscribe if you liked the story.