She laid down the white lilies, and looked up at the tombstone. They had only been married for three months, when a car crash took away her husband's life.

Akari blinked back the tears in her eyes, and walked away quickly, wanting to get away from the graveyard as soon as possible.

The setting sun gave out a fiery light, the last beams of sunlight landing on the buildings of Tokyo. Takaki pulled up his coat's collar as he shuffled along the crowded road, reflecting dully on his work.

Everyday is like this, everyday...If only, if only...Takaki's mind flashed back to that day when he glimpsed Akari for a second...

Takaki was packed with a huge mob of businessmen when he was crossing the road. It was when Takaki was halfway through, that he sensed something, no, someone's presence beside him, a person whom he hadn't forgot for the past 12 years.

Takaki stopped in his tracks, and looked back. There she is. Akari. Takaki knew she also sensed him (or saw him), but somehow Akari refused to turn back, to look at him.

He thought back at the last time he saw Akari at the railway cross. If he had summoned up his courage at that time, he would have run after her immediately. But no, he didn't do it, and once again, Akari slipped out of his grasp.

Not this time. Takaki clenched his fists. Not this time. I won't lose her again!

Akari also clenched her fists, but in frustration. Every instinct told her to look back, where she knew Takaki must be there. But Akari forced herself not to look back, because she is already...

“Akari!” She halted. Turned. A faint whisper escaped from her lips.

“Takaki.”