Curiousity.

...

Miyu : How old are you again?

Koutani : 22.

Miyu : Ahh...

Koutani : You? Ah~ let me guess... 17?

Miyu : Good guess.

Koutani : You're in highschool... So it's easy to figure out.

Miyu : Okay, I get it, *Tensai-san.

(*Mr. Genius)

Koutani : (amused) But you look younger than your age. If it weren't for that info, I would've guessed you're 16.

Miyu : Flatterer.

Koutani : (chuckles)

Miyu : Where do you live..?

Koutani : ... Just in the neighborhood.

Miyu : I've lived here since I was born... How come I've never seen you before...?

Koutani : Ah... I just moved here recently.

Miyu : So, you don't originally live here? With your family?

Koutani : No.

Miyu : I see.

Koutani lies down on the grass and looks at the sparkling light coming through the leaves of Wonder Tree.

Koutani : Ne. I... I really want to remain as an honest person...

Miyu : What's with the sudden....?

Koutani : But... Sometimes... I don't know... People are put in a situation when you have to keep the truth.

Miyu : Doushite? You think you're not honest...?

Koutani : ... I don't really know... But I've always tried to be... Always...

Miyu : Then I guess you are an honest person.

Koutani : (looks at her)

Miyu : I think you are.

Koutani : ... (chuckles and looks away) Demo shikatanai na... there is no perfectly honest person. Everyone, at some point, had lied to someone... Or kept the truth from someone.

Miyu : True. But... As long as it is done with a good reason.. Then maybe it is considerable.

Koutani : Sou ka na...

Miyu suddenly noticed he turned silent, like he was in a deep thought.

Koutani : Na, for example... You are faced with a situation in which someone had to keep the truth from you... And saying its for a good reason... Would it be alright then if you won't know the truth...?

Miyu : .... Eh?

Koutani : ... (takes a deep breath) If you say, it can be considered... Then, is it like saying, you are allowing that person not to be honest to you. Isn't it?

Miyu : Son'na koto... (Well, that...)

Koutani : If anyone can just come up with a good reason to lie... Then get accustomed to it... If you allow it... Then it would be your fault that people will keep lying to you... Ne?

Miyu : ... Chotto! Son'na wakenai deshou! (... wait a sec! That's not it!)

Koutani : Eh?

Miyu : People don't want to be lied to. So I think it really just depends on the person when he or she prefers to tell the truth or not. Whether a person wants to be honest or not. Its nobody's fault when people lie or get lied to...

A moment of silence.

Miyu : ... I think that... It doesn't matter if the person will think of not being honest... But he should think of the consequences after... Regrets always comes last.

Koutani : ..... Regret.... huh...?

Miyu : That's just my opinion...

Koutani : ... Sou da na... (smiles faintly) You're right. Yeah...

He was really serious.

Koutani : Iyaaa..! (starts chuckling) Did I surprise you?

Miyu : ?

Koutani : Did I?

Miyu : What?

Koutani : Suddenly becoming serious like that. (chuckles) I'm also surprised.

Miyu : Eeehhh.. Hen'na otoko. (Weird guy.)

Koutani : Yeah. I am, aren't I? (stands up) Okay, enough with that.. Where do you want to go today?

Miyu : I don't know...

Koutani : Are you going home already?

Miyu : I was thinking of dropping by at the shop to see my mom.

Koutani : Want me to take you there?

Miyu : It's quite far.

Koutani : It's okay. I have my bike, remember? Shall we go now?

Miyu : Okay...

On their way...

Koutani : What shop is it?

Miyu : ... flower shop.

Koutani : Aree~ flower shop? Really?

Miyu : Why?

Koutani : You told me before you weren't that interested in plants.

Miyu : Not me.. My mom is. She's good with plants... I'm not.

Koutani : (chuckles) Sou?

Arriving at the flower shop, Fukuda-san comes out to greet them.

Fukuda : Miyu!

Miyu : Konnichiwa, Fukuda-san. Okaasan wa?

Fukuda : She's not here. She went to the funeral service to deliver flowers.

Miyu : Oh... She didn't mention to me... I thought she was here...

Fukuda : But she'll be back later. Your brother's here too.

Miyu : Yuki? Where?

Fukuda : In the other room, watching TV.

The woman notices the good-looking guy accompanying her.

Fukuda : Who's this?

Miyu : A~aah... Sore wa...

Koutani : Tanaka Koutani desu. (bows politely) *Tomodachi. (Her friend.)

Fukuda : A friend?

Koutani : H-hai. (looks at Miyu)

Miyu noticed the peculiar look on her mom's helper. The doutful look she was giving to Koutani.

Miyu : My classmate.

Koutani : Eh?

Miyu : ... We met awhile ago to... uh.... Talk about things... (glances at him)

Koutani : Math.

Miyu : Math! ... Homework...

Koutani : I was going to help her with our homework.

Fukuda : Oh?

Koutani : For every moment 'X' there will exist a moment 'X+1"

For every moment 'X' there did exist a moment 'X-1"...

Miyu and Fukuda : Eh?

Koutani : ... It is a formula I know.

Miyu : I'm really bad at math.

Fukuda : Okay. I understand. I won't get in the way with your studies then.

Miyu : We'll just go at the back. (signals Koutani to go ahead) and if my mom calls or comes back, please let us know.

Fukuda : Wakarimashita. Study well.

They headed to the back. It was actually a yard, rather, a garden. Different kinds of flowers were being grown.

Koutani : Sugoii. So your mom really loves plants.

Miyu : Un. Ever since she was young...

Koutani : Interesting.

Koutani looks closely at the plants.

Miyu : *Warui ne. We actually lied. (My bad...)

Koutani : Huh?

Miyu : About being classmates and all...

Koutani : (chuckles) Not really... It was rather... an excuse... No harm done anyway, right?

Miyu : I guess.

Koutani : Don't worry.

Miyu : Anou.. I was wondering. What was that formula you were saying?

Koutani : Ha? ... (remembers) Ah... that. It wasn't a math formula.. (chuckles)

Miyu : What was it?

Koutani : For every moment 'X' there will exist a moment 'X+1"

For every moment 'X' there did exist a moment 'X-1".

Miyu : What was that formula for then?

Koutani : ...

"Eternity".

Miyu : Eternity?

Koutani : Un. Sugoii desu ne? (Yeah. Isn't it amazing?)

Miyu : Where did you get that?

Koutani : I read it in a book... But I forgot which book. There is a simpler formula to it. One which does not require all those "X"... whatever..

Miyu : What?

Koutani : Eternity is simply adding Eternal and... Destiny.

Miyu : Eh?

Koutani : Eternal + Destiny. Eternity.

Miyu : (thinks)

Koutani : If two people are meant to be together.. If they are destined.. Then it doesn't matter when and where... Past, present or future it may be... They will be together. Destiny bounds them together through eternal time.

Eternal... Destiny...

Koutani smiles and looks at the sky.

Miyu : What are you thinking now?

Koutani : What?

Miyu : That look. It seems like you're about to say or ask something unpredictable again. (giggles)

Koutani : You just predicted. So its not unpredictable~

Miyu : Something "you" would say.

Koutani seemed amused again, as usual. That witty smile painted on his lips when he's about to say something interesting.

Koutani : Miyu.

Miyu : Nani?

Koutani : Do you think it's possible to fall inlove with the same person all over again?

Miyu : ...Mmm... Yeah.

Koutani : Yeah? ... Uwa... You really answered this time.

Miyu : For a person like you, it is possible, I think.

Koutani : Boku?

Miyu : For a person who believes in destiny, that is.

Koutani : (chuckles) Darou na..

Miyu : But I believe it would be great... if we fell inlove with the same person all over and over again... I think I would prefer that too... Someone would keep falling inlove with me again and again...

Koutani : ...

Miyu : It's like...

The two face each other with hopeful eyes.

"Eternity".

Koutani : Eternal...

Miyu : Destiny.

A sweet smile.

Miyu : Koutani... you won't probably believe me when I say this... but...

"I'm starting to believe in destiny..."

Koutani : Miyu...

Miyu : Funny. I can't believe it myself... but I am.

Koutani : ... Miyu.

Miyu : Eh? Nani-... (What-)