Even if it was impossible to see each other again.

At that time, Zhou Lang thought it was another grandfather's joke.

However, it turned out that the grandfather was really dead.

And so it goes.

Therefore, he always believes that as long as he practices the last game with his grandfather, he can reconnect with each other.

When he mentioned this idea, Lin Xiaoya said to him gently-

"Don't worry, you'll see each other."

Seeing the smile she showed for herself, Zhou Lang was determined again to open the hand-drawn map.

“...... What a thing? ”

Maps are very vague and abstract.

The more I looked closely, the more I felt that it was a crude and crude map that was difficult to understand to the extreme.

Speaking of which, I remember that when he was in elementary school, he once asked his grandfather to help him draw a picture of his summer homework.

Zhou Lang is responsible for the background coloring part.

As a result, he realized that he might have been better off drawing without asking his grandfather for help.

Even though he was quite good at playing electricity, fishing, and craftsmanship, my grandfather was very bad at painting.

"It's all my fault...... Clumsy."

The funny picture of Grandpa Zhou Lang imitating the movie actor came to mind.

「…… I can't stand grandpa...... It's—"

I suddenly felt like laughing.

Unfortunately, now is not a good time to dwell on memories.

"No other clues or hints?"

Lin Xiaoya's gaze turned from the helpless map to Zhou Lang.

"Well, I don't know. Anyway, let's ask around first, and we might be able to find clues related to the map."

The two decided to search for people before they went on a treasure hunt.

Whether it was an accident or a coincidence, in short, there were no passers-by at all.

The so-called densely populated phrase does not exist in this village at all.

No, it should be said that the existence of Zhou Lang and Lin Xiaoya at this moment may already be regarded as densely populated.

Finally, I found an old man working in the field, and the answer I asked was also-

"I don't know."

There is only one sentence.

To put it bluntly, a state of despair.

The people in the village have their own pace of time, which is completely beyond Zhou Lang's comprehension.

And the more anxious Zhou Lang is, the faster time flies.

If you go this way, can you really find it?

In this place where the memories of my grandfather slumber.

What can you find?

What will happen?

What can be found?

If you were alone, you might be discouraged, but Lin Xiaoya was by her side.

I'm really glad to have her by my side.

However, I must not spend another night with her.

Although Lin Xiaoya seems to be the same as Zhou Lang, she told her parents that she was going to school to participate in a cram camp, and told the school that she had something at home to ask for leave. But—

I can't sleep at all......

Compared to his anxious mood at the moment, the surrounding scenery, the residents, and even the rays of the sun seemed particularly peaceful and peaceful.

We have to think of a way......

You can't just be in a hurry.

- Suzu.

Is this sound ......?

"Ah......!"

At this moment, the young man, as well as the red-haired girl, reappeared in front of him.

Zhou Lang and Lin Xiaoya were sitting under the shade of the tree for a short rest, while the young man and girl were standing not far away, as if they were looking in their direction.

The boy has a pair of large limited eyes, very kind eyes, giving people the impression of a kitten.

And the girl hiding behind the boy has a very beautiful face.

The red hair faintly visible under the straw hat is even more impressive-

Well? Redheads?

Redhead with straw hat......

A sentence shook in Zhou Lang's mind as an image.

- The girl always wears a straw hat, probably not wanting to be teased about her red hair, but she's actually a very beautiful girl.

"I am, so I am......!"

Digging out the conversation from his memory, Zhou Lang immediately looked at the pair of teenagers and girls.

At this moment, the four eyes of the young man met.

"Huh——?

Immediately, the boy opened his big eyes even brighter and smiled at him as he had done in the hallway of the inn last night.

As if to say to him, come with us.

"Xiaoya, chase after you!"

"W-what, what's going on?"

"I remember what Grandpa once said! That boy must be grandpa! You can't go wrong! And it's not the boy who keeps me haunted—it's actually the girl!"

That girl was the "girl" that my grandfather had mentioned.

In fact, not to mention his grandfather when he was a child, he has not even seen a photo of "that girl". However, after Zhou Lang listened to the story. The girl who had been in the imagination stage was appearing in front of him.

My grandfather used to have a childhood sweetheart.

However, the war broke the two apart.

Zhou Lang's grandfather was drafted into the army, and "that girl" went with her mother to join a relative's house.

After the war, Grandpa returned to his hometown, but the whereabouts of "that girl" were unknown, and no one knew where she had gone.

So, Grandpa began to search. As best he could, he ran around asking her whereabouts.

It's a pity that she couldn't grasp her whereabouts after all.

"Grandpa's 'that girl' is exactly the same as the girl running in front of me now!"

While chasing the footsteps of the boy and the girl, Zhou Lang explained to Lin Xiaoya what he had heard from his grandfather.

"Girls? Running ahead? Zhou Lang, what are you talking about? We haven't met any children since we came to this village, have we?"

Lin Xiaoya's voice has begun to be hoarse due to her lack of exercise.

"You're talking about something. Haven't they all appeared on the train, on the beach, and in hotels? And now it's clearly ......."

No way......

Could it be that Lin Xiaoya couldn't see those two people all along?

How is that possible, it's outrageous......

Although he thought so in his heart, Zhou Lang could almost feel convinced.

So, only I can see those two people, right?

If this is what Grandpa calls a game-

You're supposed to be a grandfather, right?

You're grandpa, aren't you?

Zhou Lang called out to the young man's blurred back in his heart.

Immediately afterward, he suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity.

- Have I been here on this road?

I was chasing the footsteps of those two, but I found that I knew the streets I had never visited.

Impression...... Turn right in front of this bodhisattva...... There will be a small pond......

「………… That's right......

As he expected, a small pond actually appeared in front of him.

Zhou Lang stopped.

Don't...... This is the legend -

Super-energy-power~?

I, I, I, I'm really- that's amazing——!

Original, it turns out that I'm actually a superpower......

It's—it's an amazing discovery......

After a while, Lin Xiaoya caught up from behind.

"Whew, whew...... Zhou Lang ......"

She opened her mouth to speak, but she was out of breath and couldn't speak. I had to take a deep breath and adjust my breath desperately.

The sunlight reflected on the water surface was gently blown by the wind and projected into Zhou Lang's eyes.

Scene after scene of images came to mind.

The gaze of these images was kept low, and Zhou Lang guessed that this should be his grandfather's childhood memory.

At this moment, Zhou Lang is intersecting with his grandfather.

He still remembers the warmth of his grandfather's palms that day.

"Lin Xiaoya, this way!"

Zhou Lang held Lin Xiaoya's hand and began to run again.

"Ah, wait, wait—"

Lin Xiaoya, whose physical strength had not yet recovered, squeezed out the only remaining strength to follow him.

Follow him unto the end.

I have already made up my mind.

Lin Xiaoya also has a heart.

Same heart as Zhou Lang.

Equally wholeheartedly.

Led by the images that kept pouring out of his mind, Zhou Lang came to a place.

A field full of chrysanthemums blooms.

Red and purple flowers.

Flowers that bloom at the end of summer.

The boy and girl stood right in front of them.

The young man stared at Zhou Lang directly, and then stretched out his finger to compare.

If you look in the direction of your finger, it's a very rare tree.

"Lin Xiaoya, that's over there!"

As Zhou Lang's gaze looked at the big tree, Lin Xiaoya also noticed it.

"Could it be that the ...... is drawn on the map?"

On the map, there is a tree with a red "X" on it.

The two stared at each other and nodded vigorously.

Then they took hands and started running forward.

Zhou Lang quickly looked back and said to the young man-

「…… Thanks, Grandpa."

Express gratitude.

The big-eyed boy, as well as the red-haired girl, watched Zhou Lang's back go away.

Then, the two looked at each other and smiled.

- Suzu.

Running on mountain roads.

Two people.

The trail to the big tree.

Guided by an incredible miracle.

It's as if the past has also come.

A path that winds up.

Take her by the hand and run forward.

This feeling, this warmth.

It seems to have been felt, déjà vu.

When and where?

Ahh

It was that day, grandpa's warm big hands-

A wide field of view unfolds before your eyes.

The whole world looks like a movie playing in slow motion.

The wind caressed his cheeks.

Look up at the sky.

The tall, big, sun-facing tree was just ahead.

- Here it is.

The image that comes to mind is completely overlapping with reality at the moment.

"Whew, Whew......"

The two of them gasped and approached the tree step by step.

It is as if you feel the fragrance of the trees, conveying gentle thoughts.

"Kanta, look at this!"

Lin Xiaoya seemed to have discovered something.

Zhou Lang followed her line of sight.

It's grandpa's name......

At the base of the tree, two names are engraved.

It is a trace left decades ago, blurred to the point of being difficult to recognize.

The other name is unrecognizable.

However, it must be the name of the long-lost lover.

They agreed to meet again and make a wish.

Engraved here.

A sign that connects the past with the future.

- Memories of me and her are buried here.

「…… Grandpa......

It was at this moment that he did hear his grandfather's voice.

"Okay—"

Zhou Lang began to dig down from the roots of the tree.

Lin Xiaoya felt his thoughts and started to help without saying a word.

Replace the shovel with branches and rocks and dig down gradually.

Dig deeper and deeper.

Constantly digging for the time of sedimentation.

Find out the buried past.

Intersection with the present.

Pick up the connection of time.

Suddenly, through the gap between the roots of the tree, something appeared.

The two looked at each other and immediately struggled to dig something out of the dirt.

It was a metal box.

"—Found it! Treasure has been discovered! Have you finally broken the barrier?"

Zhou Lang couldn't help but shout.

Boxes, which could have belonged to valuables in wartime, have corroded quite badly.

Zhou Lang opened the lid.

The contents are wrapped in layers of cloth and paper.

"By all means...... It's right here......

Lin Xiaoya stared with bated breath, and Zhou Lang carefully unwrapped the outer package layer by layer.

Result –

Boom.

Suddenly, something fell out of the gap in the package and rolled to the ground.

Take a closer look.

"It's ...... What......?"

"Marbles ......?"

Lin Xiaoya said, picking up a round glass ball from the ground.

That's what Zhou Lang has been playing since he was a child - glass marbles.

Immediately, the packages in his hands were like springs, and a large number of glass marbles fell out one after another.

"—this—this?"

No way?

Countless glass marbles.

He didn't know what it symbolized and what it meant to his grandfather and lovers.

But he knew that it must be a very important memory between the two.

Zhou Lang picked up the tumbling marbles one by one.

Memories belonging to lovers, one, two. Three......

Memories keep increasing.

Happy, sad, lonely, warm.

That rainbow sky after the rain.

In the evening when the sky was full of red clouds, puddles of water were accumulating on the ground.

Reach for a marble.

Under the light of the setting sun.

Refracted with colorful light.

Take a deep breath.

What was found?

What was found?

On the days that keep repeating, inhale the air.

Exhale, then inhale again.

In a hurry, in a hurry, just repeating it over and over again.

Lose, gain, and lose again.

A hoarse throat that raised questions.

What exactly was found?

What exactly was found?

I've found it, you see-

Lin Xiaoya walked up to Zhou Lang, put her cheek close to his shoulder, and looked at the marbles in his hand.

"It's so dazzling, it's almost impossible to see."

She smiled. Say that and then smile beautifully.

When you close your eyes in the brilliant light, in a trance, you feel like you're praying.

Perhaps at that time, the lovers also faced the other side of the sun and prayed sincerely.

- I hope we can see each other again.

It's a pity that no matter how much they miss each other, fate still separates the two after all.

And yet, even if all are false, even if all are phantoms,

Even if it's just a matter of course,

Even on days when bubbles disappear at the touch of a button,

Even if you let go of your hand, there is still warmth......

Even so, Grandpa must have said it with a smile at the time.

It must be, said with a happy smile.

"-It's good to meet you."

It's game over.

The message left by his grandfather, he has indeed received.

"Hey, what is this? It didn't seem to be in the box just now...... Isn't that right?"

Lin Xiaoya found a white envelope at the bottom of the metal box containing marbles.

It looks very new, as if it has just been put down.

The envelope is exactly the same as the message "Let's play a game with grandpa" written by grandpa.

Could it be—Zhou Lang thought, took the letter and immediately tore open the seal.

There was a piece of paper in it.