The taxi stopped in front of Shiina's house.

Get out of the car, open the door, and walk into the entrance.

And the driver rarely met a special passenger, and did not leave immediately, but stopped the taxi and waited quietly.

As soon as Narumi entered the door, he went straight to Shiina Mio's bedroom, and when he knocked on the door, no one answered.

When I opened the door, I saw a quilt that had not been arranged in the corner of the bed, and a nightdress that had been thrown on the quilt.

The girl left in a hurry, not only did she not make up her bed, but she also forgot to close the wardrobe.

There's just no way to know for sure when they left.

but

If you've just left......

Narumi touched the pillow and didn't feel the temperature.

The body temperature that remains in the bed will be longer...... After a moment's hesitation, he lifted the quilt and touched the sheets.

There is still a slight body temperature left, and it looks like he has just woken up.

On the bedside table, there is still a thermos cup filled with hot water and pills that have been opened, but the shoulder bag that I usually carry to school is gone.

“……”

Although the person was not found.

But at least one thing is certain - this is indeed Shiina Mio's "painting", that is, the scene in the girl's memory.

At that time, the girl must have known that she was sick, and probably took sick leave, at least she would not risk going to school.

But if it's a year later, she'...... There is no need to if, a year later, she may have already taken the tram to school.

Narumi Yu has a headache.

The cash had run out, and the driver gave him a free one-kilometer ride.

If you want to catch the train to Mikagehama High School, you can only take a faster taxi.

While thinking about how to win the sympathy of the next driver, he walked out of Shiina's house.

"What's wrong? Why are you the only one who comes out? Just as he was still thinking about it, the driver who brought him got out of the car as soon as he could, and asked as he ran.

"I'm not at home, I'm already on the tram."

"One step too late?!" The driver took a deep breath and eagerly pulled Narumi Yu to the taxi position, "Then what are you doing here!" Get in! ”

The door slammed shut, and the middle-aged uncle, who had been driving a taxi for more than 20 years, started the engine and asked for the location, looking even more anxious than himself.

"Line 2 Mikagehama Station."

"Mikagehama?" The uncle was stunned for a moment, a little disappointed, "Went to school?" What...... I thought the girl you liked was going to change schools, so I came to fight against the water. ”

“…… She had a high fever, her parents were not at home, she didn't take the fever-reducing medicine on the table, and she probably fainted in the tram. Narumi ignored the uncle's fragmented thoughts and briefly explained the situation.

"Tsk...... Although there is no excitement of life and death, it is enough to make people's blood boil. When the taxi finally started, the uncle smiled and looked up at the young junior in the rearview mirror who was more handsome than when he was younger, "Boy, sit tight!" I'll take you to her. ”

As soon as the words were spoken, the speed of the taxi quickly exceeded the speed limit on the streets of Tokyo.

“…… Slow down a little and stay safe. ”

"What are you talking about? I've been driving a taxi for more than 20 years, and I'm sure of safety. ”

Narumi Yu, who was sitting in the back seat, couldn't laugh or cry.

It's just that the middle-aged uncle who is a taxi driver is more passionate than him.

In fact, after confirming that he had entered the "painting", he was not in a hurry.

The next thing to do is to find Shiina as soon as possible and end the dream, so that it will not affect the morning exercise the next morning.

Dreams are just dreams after all.

If you don't have time to find Shiina Miyo this time, when the dream returns to the original point, you can do it again.

The second time, Shiina Mio might be waiting for him at home. Even if you don't wait for him honestly, you should be able to run out of the examination room directly as soon as you come again, and you should be able to get in time before the girl goes out.

"Thank you."

"Ha...", the driver shook his head noncommittally, "When people reach middle age, if they don't find something meaningful for themselves to do, then the rest of their lives are really just aimless repetition day after day." ”

"That's ......"

Yuu Narumi also smiled.

The driver's words resonated with him a little.

He believes in the primacy of energy conservation, but not in the conventional sense of the word "don't do what you can." If you have to do it, you can do it as soon as possible, but only do what you feel is meaningful.

He doesn't stand outside the playground and say to Muraichi Konda, who is sweating in the playground, "Salute to the energy-consuming lifestyle." Something like that.

Because in his opinion, sports are meaningful to Kinda Murakachi, so the sweat is worth it.

In life, he just wants to live more freely and be as little constrained by various rules and regulations as possible.

Uncle Driver's serious posture also drove his emotions.

"Can you give me a contact information?" Narumi sat up straight and asked.

"What? When you get married, are you going to treat me to a meal? ”

"Married or not, please."

"Hahaha...... You're a real funny kid. ”

The driver's infectious laughter echoed in the taxi, half-jokingly announcing his phone number.

The taxi sang all the way, and I don't know if it was too lucky, but it didn't encounter a single red light at more than 20 intersections, and it drove smoothly to the entrance of Mikagehama Station.

"Go ahead! I'm still waiting for you here. ”

It was past ten o'clock, and there were few people on the tram, which made it easier for him to observe.

He bought a random ticket and went in, and every time the tram stopped at the station, he ran to find all the cars.

Luckily, after the third train arrived, Narumi finally found Shiina Miyo, who had fallen on the row of seats.

The girl's eyes were closed, her brows were furrowed, her little face was red, and fine beads of sweat were already on her forehead.

The doors closed automatically in just twenty seconds, leaving him with little time to hesitate.

He stepped forward, put one hand behind his head and the other on the base of his thigh, picked the girl up from her seat, and got off the tram before the doors closed.

Outside the station, the driver's uncle answered, and watched with envy as Narumi Yu hugged the girl and sat in the back seat of his taxi.

"Damn...... Suddenly I don't want to give you a waiver of the fare. The uncle complained, but the action of starting the car did not stop, "Such a cute girl, you are really cheap, you kid, you have to take good care of it." ”

"Hmm." Narumi Yu's attention was all on Shiina Mio, who didn't care what the forty-year-old uncle who was in charge of driving said.

"I'm going to send you back."

"Thank you."

"Tsk."

Back to Shiinaya.

Yu Narumi used the same hug to pick up Shiina Miyo from the taxi, send the girl to the bed, and quietly stay by the bedside, waiting for her to wake up from her coma.

……

I don't know how long it took.

The sun was already at noon, and because there were a series of phone calls from the teacher, Narumi Yu only briefly explained the reason to Natsume-sensei, and then turned the phone to silent.

"Hmm......"

The girl rolled over, and the towel on her forehead fell off.

Narumi lowered her head to pick it up, only to find that the scenery in front of her suddenly became blurry.

The girl facing him sideways opened her eyes in a daze, whispered a question, and closed her eyes again, her eyebrows gradually stretched, and the corners of her mouth gently pursed a smile.

"Narumi-san? So you've been here all along......"

Before the weak voice reached Narumi Yu's ears.

The entire dream suddenly dissipated, turning into a sky of light like fragments of memory.