217 The Disaster Drill

"A few days ago, Mitsuha went to Tokyo to see you, didn't she?" Miyamizu Toshiki asked in a low, steady voice.

"Yes, she did," Kyousuke replied simply.

He didn't bother explaining that for him, it had been two years ago, not just a few days.

That kind of conversation would only open a can of worms. There was no point.

The two of them were seated in Miyamizu Toshiki's private car, which he had just summoned.

Knowing that he, his family and the entire town of Itomori were doomed to be destroyed by the comet, there was no way he could remain as calm and composed as the young man next to him, who acted like they were just out shopping for groceries.

In the past, disaster drills had always been just that, drills.

Everyone came empty-handed.

But this time, a real catastrophe was looming.

Since they had foreknowledge of the disaster, they had to take the opportunity to rescue as many valuables as possible.

That way, the townspeople might at least have something left to rebuild their lives with.

"Then why haven't you called her even once since she came back!?"

A father's frustration, full of contradictions.

His daughter had been staring at her phone all the time.

He knew that look all too well—it was the same look he had after meeting Futaba for the first time and counting the days on the calendar until their next meeting after returning to Nara.

It was painful enough knowing his daughter had fallen in love, but what truly enraged him was that this guy hadn't even bothered to call her—not even once! Leaving his daughter to wait in vain!

"Well…" Kyousuke scratched his head. He didn't want to make excuses.

He'd seen for himself how deeply Mitsuha had missed him that night, after drinking the kuchikamizake, her feelings had been laid bare.

"Are you sure the school field is safe?" Miyamizu Toshiki didn't press further.

Matters of the heart needed to be approached gradually.

"Yes. The outer edges might take a hit, but all things considered, it's the best possible evacuation site."

"Good." They were still a distance away from the town hall. Miyamizu Toshiki closed his eyes.

———————————————————————

"Everything in this world has its rightful place. That includes you."

———————————————————————

The face of his late wife appeared in his mind—beautiful, serene—her gentle voice echoing like a prophecy.

'So... did you foresee all of this too, Futaba?' He clenched his teeth.

His eyes stung unexpectedly, and something inside him felt like it was about to break loose.

After losing his wife, he had left the Miyamizu Shrine and entered politics, becoming mayor of the town.

It gave him the authority to mobilize the entire population and perhaps more importantly, the perspective to accept the unbelievable story Kyousuke had shared.

'Is this... the role I was meant to play?'

"Well, Uncle, looks like your wish is finally coming true. Itomori's about to be wiped out," Kyousuke joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Miyamizu Toshiki hadn't said a word for a while, and Kyousuke figured he must just be nervous.

The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror, opened his mouth as if to say something, then silently turned back to the road.

"…Yeah." Toshiki was momentarily stunned, then smiled as if something heavy had lifted from him.

'At long last, the curse on Mitsuha and Yotsuba would be lifted.'

Once they arrived at the town hall, Miyamizu Toshiki sent Kyousuke off with the driver to the broadcast station and called a full staff meeting.

"Why are we moving valuables during a disaster drill? That's never been part of any drill before!" someone protested.

"That's Mitsuha's request," Toshiki said plainly, cutting to the heart of the matter.

"Mitsuha-san?"

"Why would she ask for that?"

"A disaster? Could it be...?"

"Something big's about to happen to Itomori, isn't it?!"

Someone recalled the founding purpose of the Miyamizu Shrine: to seal away the rampaging star god using sacred braided cords.

The Miyamizu family had held such an exalted place in Itomori not just because their shrine had stood for a thousand years, or because their priestesses were known for mysterious powers.

It was because they bore a sacred duty to protect the town and its people.

"Mitsuha's here too, right? Let's go talk to her!"

"Yes, let's go!"

The room erupted into chaos.

Watching his once-respectful staff now all frantically chanting Mitsuha's name, Miyamizu Toshiki felt an inexplicable sense of sorrow.

Maybe it was for the best that Itomori was about to be destroyed.

Maybe only then could its people finally become whole.

"Mayor Miyamizu—is it a comet?!" someone familiar with the town's history finally dared voice the fear.

At that, everyone who had already rushed to the door paused and turned back to look at him.

"Mitsuha will be making a broadcast shortly. Just follow the instructions," Toshiki said, leaning back in his chair with a blank expression.

Regardless of what people suspected, he couldn't officially confirm it.

If he did, the fallout for Mitsuha would be immense.

The evacuation drill had been ordered by him as mayor.

Mitsuha was just helping as the broadcaster.

He represented official authority. Mitsuha's charisma ensured the people would follow.

———————————————————————

"Good morning. This is Miyamizu Mitsuha."

Her voice rang out from the town hall's loudspeakers.

By clearly stating her name right away, she ensured people who usually ignored the broadcasts would actually pay attention.

"Today's festival has been canceled. Please follow the town hall's instructions and participate in the emergency drill."

She kept it simple.

Mitsuha was now practically a local celebrity worshipped like an idol.

Even young children, under the guidance of their parents, would do as she said.

As soon as she stepped away from the mic, Sayaka's older sister stepped up and began giving detailed instructions about evacuation zones, fire safety, and law enforcement procedures.

Kyousuke opened the door and was immediately startled.

For a second, he wondered if he'd stepped into a zombie apocalypse instead of a comet disaster.

Every single town hall staffer was standing in the corridor, completely surrounding the broadcast room.

"Morning, everyone," he said with a smile and a polite nod. Both he and Mitsuha were used to being the center of attention by now.

A balding older man stepped forward, wringing his hands nervously. After a deep bow, he asked:

"Mitsuha-san, is this drill happening because the comet is going to hit Itomori again?"

'Smart bunch, huh?' Kyousuke thought with a smirk.

"Do you all know how Lake Itomori was formed?" he asked, smiling but not waiting for an answer.

"Get the townspeople and their valuables to safety as soon as possible or bad things will happen. I have other matters to attend to. Please, everyone, get moving."

Still smiling, he pushed past the stunned crowd and headed for the main entrance.

From here on out, it was Miyamizu Toshiki's show.

Kyousuke had no idea how to coordinate an evacuation or command emergency services.

"Itomori Lake was formed by a meteor, it destroyed the town once before!" the bald man cried out. He had been the one to mention the comet earlier too.

"Why does it have to be Itomori again?" someone moaned in despair.

What would happen to their house, their land?

"But why isn't Mitsuha staying to help us?" someone else asked.

"You idiot! Mitsuha-san must have something even more important to do! She's already given us a divine warning. Don't be greedy!" the bald man exploded.

"Alright, everyone back to your positions!" Miyamizu Toshiki clapped his hands and called out.

'And what was Kyousuke rushing off to do?'

Obviously to find Yukino Yukari.

Just as he'd hoped, when he stepped out of the town hall, the people of Itomori had already begun moving into action under Mitsuha's leadership.

An elderly woman her name unknown to most, but someone Kyousuke had already counseled twice hurried toward him, her face full of fear.

She clutched his hand tightly and said in a trembling voice:

"Miss Mitsuha said it herself… This isn't just a drill, is it? A real disaster is coming, right? The Miyamizu Shrine will still protect us, like always, won't it?"

Japan, being a country prone to natural disasters, had long since trained its citizens to submit to such inevitabilities.

Shikata ga nai—"It can't be helped." You can't fight it. All you can do is prepare for it.

But in the isolated town of Itomori, things were different.

Though the people were behind the times, even ignorant by some standards, disasters rarely touched them.

They believed this to be the divine protection of the Miyamizu Shrine, which is why they had worshipped it faithfully through generations.

Now, hearing the divine medium Miyamizu Mitsuha herself speak over the broadcast, the devout instantly believed.

Panic set in for some overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.

"Don't worry. As long as you follow the evacuation instructions, everything will be fine," Kyousuke said with a calm smile.

Along the way, more residents came to him, seeking reassurance.

He gave the same answer each time.

Thankfully, the Japanese were well-accustomed to spiritual matters so the less Kyousuke explained, the more convinced they became.

"Miss Mitsuha must have paid a huge price to bring us this divine warning!"

People said things like that. Some even knelt and prayed in front of their homes in gratitude.

"You ungrateful fool! Didn't you hear what Miss Mitsuha said? A disaster is coming soon and you're still drinking?!" a sharp voice rang out ahead.

Kyousuke walked over to find the source it was that same sharp-tongued old woman who had once given Mitsuha a hard time, calling her disrespectful.

Yukino had once pointed her out, and Kyousuke had even thought about standing up for Mitsuha back then.

In the end, he hadn't needed to after Mitsuha's announcement, the old woman hadn't made peace with her son, but she had become Mitsuha's most devout follower.

"It's precisely because I love my father and mother… that I chose to stay here. To serve my grandmother in place of my late mother and absent father."

"So they would not bear the sin of filial failure."

Anyone with a sound mind would be moved by words like those.

It was an old wooden two-story house. The front door stood open, revealing the scene inside the tatami room.

The old woman, dressed in a gray kimono, sat collapsed on the floor, shrieking like a scolding bird, fists pounding on the legs of the man next to her.

The man didn't react just kept drinking from a large bottle of cheap sake.

"Mitsuha-sama!" When she noticed Kyousuke at the door, the old woman rushed over.

Her face already thin with age now streaked with tears, making her look even more unsettling.

Kyousuke kept his professional smile, reaching out to steady her.

"Mitsuha-sama! There really are unfilial children who don't love their parents!" she sobbed, clinging to his hand.

'Yes, of course there are. And the opposite too,' Kyousuke thought to himself, still smiling.

"Ah, then it just means you didn't hit him enough."

He picked up a wooden stick lying nearby and stepped into the house without hesitation.

'Filial or not, I don't care.'

'But we agreed on zero casualties today so don't mess that up, you bastard.'

'Normally, I'd sit you down and talk some sense into you. But today, I don't have that luxury.'

Raising the stick, Kyousuke brought it down hard across the man's back.

The sharp pain snapped the drunk out of his stupor.

He leapt up, pointing at Kyousuke and shouting, "What the hell are you doing?!"

'What am I doing? I'm hitting you.' Clearly, you're still too drunk to even recognize Miyamizu Mitsuha's name.

Without replying, Kyousuke raised the stick and struck again.

The man, still groggy, couldn't dodge in time and took another blow—this time, rage flared up in him.

He raised the brown glass bottle and hurled it toward Kyousuke.

But Kyousuke, a licensed practitioner of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū sword style (not some backyard thug), twisted his wrist and swung the stick upward.

It cracked against the man's forearm, making him lose grip on the bottle.

Kyousuke sidestepped the stumbling drunk, then reversed the stick in his hands and drove it hard into the man's stomach.

The man folded forward with a groan and Kyousuke calmly caught the falling bottle.

They'd need that bottle later, after all.

Shards on the ground would just get in the way.

Besides, he needed the drunk sobered up so he could do some real work later.

That's why the blows had been so heavy.

The man collapsed, face first, and promptly began vomiting.

"Ma'am," Kyousuke said, bending slightly and smiling at the old woman, "once he's done puking, get him to help you pack."

"If he still won't listen, just call someone from public safety."

Leaving to the sound of her tearful gratitude, Kyousuke looked back at the aging house.

No one in Itomori would ever buy this dilapidated old home.

There wasn't a single decent piece of furniture inside, yet it was everything that old woman had.

If she lost the hometown she'd lived in for decades, had no family support and had to deal with an ungrateful son, how could she possibly find the will to keep living?

Just thinking about it gave Kyousuke a headache.

Fortunately, this wasn't his problem.

He'd let the town's guardian, the divine medium Miyamizu Mitsuha, worry about that.

From what he knew of the future, she'd manage just fine.

He checked his phone.

Not even 9 a.m. yet. Nearly twelve hours remained until the comet hit.

Sigh… Kyousuke, oh Kyousuke… You can't keep thinking only about women. Time to learn how to carry some social responsibility!

Chastising himself, he decided to put off visiting Yukino Yukari's house for now and instead headed toward another commotion nearby.

He texted Yukino to let her know he'd come by later.

Thankfully, no one outright refused the evacuation drill.

But plenty of people were still trying to pack their entire houses including the rocks in their gardens.

For those folks, Kyousuke didn't waste words—he just swung the stick again.

This was an evacuation, not a moving day.

And while the Japanese were well-trained in disaster preparedness, they still had all the same quirks as anyone else.

As for local businesses like fish farms and livestock operations he'd left those to Miyamizu Toshiki.

Within half an hour, with the fire brigade and public safety on the scene, the evacuation finally got on track.

Kyousuke was able to slip away.

From a distance, just past the train tracks, he could already see Yukino's house.

Its old dark-green tiled roof was patched with red shingles repairs he had helped with himself.

The mismatched colors looked awkward but oddly endearing.

Crossing the tracks and the hardy, ever-growing brush that lined them all year round, he arrived at the cedarwood pavilion in the yard.

The timber had only been lightly charred to preserve it, giving the whole structure a rustic charm.

There she was, a woman in a simple white T-shirt and jeans, carrying a tray from the kitchen to the pavilion.

Her head bowed slightly, she carefully watched both the tray and the path, making sure her long hair didn't fall into the food.

Her long legs, graceful and strong, were taking tiny, cautious steps to protect what she carried.

'That is unfair', Kyousuke thought, smiling to himself. 'How can anyone be that cute?'

Seeing Yukino like that, Kyousuke couldn't help but think of Yotsuba.

That little girl was the same—whenever she carried a big glass of ice slush, her eyes wouldn't know whether to look at her hands or the path ahead.

Her whole body moved like it didn't belong to her. Clumsy, fidgety… and undeniably adorable.

"Yukino" he called out gently, careful not to startle her.

Yukino Yukari, who was watching the path intently, looked up at the sound of his voice.

Kyousuke could've sworn—even her delicate, almost translucent ears twitched slightly at the sound.

"Kyousuke-kun!" Her voice, sweet and youthful, was brimming with joy.

In her excitement, Yukino Yukari made to run toward him only to freeze when she remembered she was still holding a tray.

She looked stuck, unsure whether to walk over with the tray or put it down first.

The delight on her dainty, porcelain-doll face quickly turned into flustered hesitation.

Chuckling quietly to himself, Kyousuke walked over to her.

"Here, I'll take it."

"Okay!" Yukino agreed obediently.

They walked into the wooden gazebo and took a seat.

The air carried a faint scent of the wood around them.

On the tray were golden, crispy waffles drizzled with a glistening layer of honey.

Wait… Could it be that Yukino didn't hear the announcement because her house is too far out? Why hasn't she started packing? And she's still making snacks?

"Yukino, didn't you hear the announcement?"

"I did," she said, resting her chin on her arms and gazing up at him without blinking.

"Then why haven't you started packing?"

"Hmm~ I figured something like this would keep Kyousuke-kun really busy, and that would make him tired and hungry."

"So I thought, I have to make something to eat. You can't get anything done on an empty stomach," she said seriously.

"And how did you know I'd come right now?" The waffles were still steaming—just at their most delicious.

"I didn't."

"Then—?"

"If you didn't come, I'd just eat it myself. And then make another batch."

"And if I still hadn't come by the next one?"

"Then I'd make another one, of course," Yukino said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Looking at her sweet, earnest face, Kyousuke felt his breath catch.

Even in the face of the end of the world, the only thing she worried about… was whether he was hungry.

He used to wonder what kind of weight a love like Ishigami's could carry. But today, he felt it—twice.

"Yukino, the comet is going to hit Itomori soon."

"Mhm, I know," she replied calmly. Yukino had always been a clever girl.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Nope. As long as you're here, I won't be afraid." She gave him her usual soft smile and turned to the side.

As she tilted her head, the sunlight caught her long, thick lashes, making them shimmer like threads of gold.

Kyousuke picked up a piece of waffle and took a bite, following her gaze.

"It's apple season already, huh."

To the left of the house, the apple tree he'd planted had grown tall.

A few bright red apples hung from its branches.

"Shall I pick one for you?" Yukino asked with a smile.

"Absolutely," he replied, swallowing his bite.

There wasn't a single weed around the apple tree.

The soil was rich, mixed with compost made from fallen leaves and plants. Yukino stepped onto it without hesitation, her white sneakers dusted with dirt.

"Even if it's the end of the world, plant an apple tree."

That's what Yukino thought when she saw Kyousuke planting it.

Back then, she'd come home every day, weed the garden, tend the soil, then sit quietly on the porch.

Watching that apple tree sway in the wind, growing strong and free, filled her with joy.

'That tree was planted by Kyousuke-kun. That tree is a gift he left for me.'

To Yukino, it was a ray of light in her bleak life.

As the tree grew, so did her hope.

A life that once felt stuck, hopeless, now had flavor again. Now she could savor life once more.

Yukino reached out and carefully picked the best apple, cradling it gently in both hands.

After washing it, she walked back through the vine-covered archway now laden with clusters of green grapes and returned to the gazebo.

She handed the apple to the person who had already polished off every last waffle.

Kyousuke wiped his mouth, then looked into Yukino's large, dark eyes.

There was something expectant in her gaze that made him pause.

He reached out with both hands to accept the apple.

It gleamed with rich color, full of promise. Yet in his hands, it felt like he was holding something much more precious.

"Yukino…"

"It's really sweet, Kyousuke-kun."

It was the first time, in his memory, that Yukino had interrupted him.

He stared for a moment—then took a big bite.

Crisp texture. Juicy. Perfectly sweet. It was a truly exceptional apple.

Grown with Yukino's devoted care.

"Big sis~~" a child's voice called from the distance.

The two of them turned to see Yotsuba, Teshigawara, and Sayaka approaching.

Teshigawara was pushing a small moped—brought at Kyousuke's request to help Yukino move.

"Ah! You greedy sister!" Yotsuba cried out the moment she saw Yukino eating the apple.

She'd been eyeing those apples for ages, but Yukino had never let her have one!

Kyousuke just chuckled.

Yukino's cheeks flushed red as she quickly tried to soothe Yotsuba, then went over to pick the remaining apples.

"Alright, Mitsuha. Now can you give us a real explanation?" Teshigawara asked as they sat around the gazebo.

"The comet's going to crash into Itomori," Kyousuke said, still munching on his apple.

"See! I told you, Sayaka!" Yotsuba huffed.

She couldn't believe Sayaka hadn't believed her earlier!

"But that's just… insane," Sayaka replied. "How would you know something like that, Mitsuha?"

"Because I'm from the future," Kyousuke said casually.

Not because they were friends, but because he trusted that mysterious power the one that had allowed him and Mitsuha to switch bodies would eventually change Teshigawara and the others' memories too.

"From the future!?"

———————————————————————

As Kyousuke explained, Yukino quietly brewed coffee with beans she'd been saving for a long time.

"You've really kept them looking great," he said, sipping the coffee while gazing at the garden he once planted.

"Dummy sister. All your plants died ages ago. You kept planting out of season like a maniac! The flowers you see now are the ones Yukino replanted properly when the time was right," Yotsuba said mercilessly.

———————————————————————

Kyousuke turned to look at Yukino in shock, but she only smiled gently at him.

'This is what you left behind—how could I let it disappear?'

Breathing in the scent of the flowers, hearing Kyousuke-kun praise them, Yukino's heart felt full.

Sometimes, she felt just like those blossoms.

Not because of their beauty but because, like them, she quietly hoped to be there for the one she cared about.

To be the warmth and rest he could find in times of exhaustion.

疲（つか）れた君がひたすら海（うみ）を見（み）るための小さな白（しろ）い椅子（いす）でありたい

I want to be a small, white chair—just something for a tired you to sit on while watching the sea.

After they finished eating, Kyousuke, along with his two friends and Yotsuba, began helping Yukino pack up her things.

He wasn't worried about the shrine he knew the townspeople would help clean it up.

He'd only said that to tease Yotsuba a little.

Both Sayaka and Teshigawara came from big families in Itomori, with more people than they knew what to do with.

In other words, they had plenty of free time.

By noon, the small trailer packed with luggage was hitched to the back of Teshigawara's motorbike.

Yotsuba and Sayaka followed behind as the group headed toward the school's sports field.