3 The Vanished Memories

"So, Mitsuha, may I call you that?"

"Do whatever you like."

"I am quite certain this is our first time meeting. Why do you seem so familiar with me? And calling me a delinquent, of all things?"

"Do you really not remember?" Mitsuha Miyamizu asked, looking aggrieved.

"Hey, don't cry. It's not that I don't remember; could there be some other possibility, like you having the wrong person?"

"Impossible! It’s you, Kyosuke Hojo. You live at 701 Single Apartment, 49 Sendagi, and attend Tojo Junior High. You’re the biggest delinquent in the school..."

"Wait, wait, wait! I’ve been trying to say this since we started: I am truly not a delinquent."

"How could you not be? The first time I swapped bodies with you, I opened my eyes to find the room full of delinquents in special attack uniforms listening to your lecture. It scared me to death."

"Swapped bodies? What is that? Besides, today is my first day of school. Even if I were a delinquent, I couldn't possibly have gathered a gang of followers this quickly, right?"

"First day of school...?" She stood up abruptly, slamming her hands onto the table. "How is that possible!"

"I did indeed give a speech as the freshman representative at the entrance ceremony today."

"That can't be! You’ve been in school for ages! I’ve even attended classes for you using your body."

"Could you please explain what you mean by 'swapping bodies'?"

Mitsuha’s mind was struggling to grasp how things had reached this point. Faced with Kyosuke’s persistent questioning, she replied somewhat mechanically:

"The two of us swap bodies in our dreams. My consciousness enters your body, and yours enters mine, allowing us to experience each other's lives."

"Is such a thing... really possible?"

Though he feigned disbelief, Kyosuke believed her immediately. After all, he was the protagonist; it was only natural for him to have some extraordinary trait.

"If what you say is true..."

"Of course it’s true! Why would I come all the way to Tokyo just to lie to you?"

"Alright, alright, it's true. We swapped bodies. But according to you, I’ve been attending Tojo for a long time. Is it possible that the future me, who swapped with you, is the one you know, and the current me is still completely in the dark?"

"How could that be?"

"If body-swapping can happen, adding a bit of time travel isn't such a stretch."

"Haha, I suppose you’re right."

As they talked, Mitsuha’s mood improved. After all, the person in front of her was someone she knew very well; even without his memories, that sense of familiarity could not be wrong.

"Excuse me, here is your order."

Mr. Matsuyama and his wife arrived carrying trays.

The "Beef Set Meal" was a beef-centric dish. Kyosuke’s portion included a massive bowl of rice topped with a "volcano" of slow-cooked, thinly sliced beef, drizzled with a secret sauce and crowned with three egg yolks. It also came with a large serving of grilled beef—charred on the outside and thinly sliced with sea salt—and a large bowl of vegetable soup.

Mitsuha’s portion was identical but in miniature. The landlady’s tray also held the ice cream, cake, grilled fish, and iced coffee she had ordered, with plenty of room to spare. Kyosuke’s special version, however, was so large that Mr. Matsuyama had to carry a tray in each hand to bring it all over.

"Finished with school for the day, Kyosuke?"

"Yes, sorry to trouble you again, Mr. Matsuyama."

"Trouble? Not at all. It makes me happy to see you eat my cooking with such gusto. I’ll leave you to it."

Once the owner left, Mitsuha stared, dumbfounded, at the massive spread occupying three-fifths of the table. "Why didn't I know you could eat this much!?"

"How would I know? You’re the one who swapped bodies, not me. I have to eat this much to satisfy the body's needs. Hearing you say that, I’m starting to pity my future self. I bet he screams in hunger every time we swap back."

"Impossible. I'm the one using the body; I’d feel it if I were hungry! I’m not an idiot, you know."

Mitsuha realized now that when Kyosuke had asked if she ordered enough earlier, he had truly been worried about her.

"So, it’s safe to assume we swapped bodies, but it was the future me and you from a few weeks ago?"

"Not a few weeks ago, it was... how long was it?" Mitsuha trailed off. What was happening? The memories were so profound, yet she couldn't recall them. She hurriedly pulled out her phone, which contained the diary Kyosuke had left for her. "Look, this is the diary you left on my phone. We promised to record everything that happened so the other wouldn't be lost. We even made 'Body-Swapping Rules.' Here, look!"

She unlocked the phone and opened the memo app. The blue text turned into garbled characters and then vanished before their eyes.

"How is this happening? The diary is disappearing, look!" She held the phone up to Kyosuke’s face, desperate for him to see it before it was gone forever.

"Mitsuha, there’s nothing left on the screen."

"What? How can this be?" She slumped back into her chair, the chocolate lingering in her mouth suddenly tasting bitter.

"If body-swapping is real, a phone glitch isn't that big of a deal, right? Besides, you still remember, don't you? You can just tell me," Kyosuke offered, fumbling for words of comfort.

"Right! I'll tell you starting from the first time we swapped. That night..."

She stopped. A profound sense of emptiness washed over her, and tears began to fall involuntarily. *My memories with Kyosuke... how could they all disappear?*

"Mitsuha, what's wrong?" Seeing her turn pale and start to weep, Kyosuke moved to the bench beside her and gently patted her shoulder.

"Kyosuke! I can't remember! All those memories involving you... they've all vanished!" She buried her face in his chest, her tears turning into a flood.

"Mitsuha, calm down. Listen to me." She looked up, her hair—no longer tied with its cord—matted against her face by tears, looking heartbreakingly beautiful. Kyosuke racked his brain. *Say something, anything.*

"Have you heard of the Grandfather Paradox?"

"What’s that?"

Seeing her attention shift, he pressed on. "It’s the idea that if you go back in time and kill your grandfather before your father is born, it creates a contradiction: no grandfather, no father, no you. So who killed the grandfather?"

Good, she wasn't crying anymore.

"The one who swapped with you was the future me. If you tell me what happens in the future, will the events still unfold as you remember them?"

"That makes sense, but why are my memories disappearing?"

"That... right! Space-time correction!" Kyosuke blurted out.

"Space-time correction?"

"Yes! To ensure the future me and you meet correctly, your memories were erased." He spoke with conviction, feeling like he was turning into Sakura Yamauchi. Was it contagious?

"But even if the future you meets me as before, my memories won't come back, will they?"

"..." Kyosuke felt a headache coming on. *What kind of plot is this? How do I keep this up?*

"Like you said, we write a diary when we swap. I'll show you my entries, and we'll piece it together. By then, the time loop will be closed, and my memories shouldn't disappear. Maybe you'll remember everything by then."

"I suppose that's all we can do. You have to record it carefully! Don't be like before..." She stopped again, clearly unable to remember what she meant.

"Eat up, your ice cream is melting." Kyosuke quickly changed the subject.

"Ah, my ice cream!" She gasped and looked down.

They ate in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

"You really finished it all? Are you a pig, Kyosuke?" She stared at his empty tray, curious about his stomach. *If I had known, I would have eaten more dessert when I was in his body.*

"I do kendo training every day. It consumes a lot of energy," he retorted.

"Oh no, I have to get to the station. The last train is almost here." She glanced at the wall clock and stood up abruptly. "Ouch." She sat back down; her feet, rubbed raw during the day, were starting to throb.

"Maybe don't go back tonight?" Kyosuke suggested.

"No way! What are you thinking, you pervert!" Her face flushed red.

"Me? You don't even remember me, do you?"

"I... you must have done something! I said that without even thinking, so you definitely did something bad."

"Fine." Kyosuke didn't bother arguing. *Future me, I condemn you. You enjoy the perks, and I take the heat.* "Come on, I'll carry you to the station."

Mitsuha didn't refuse this time, just lowered her head.

"Don't squirm."

"Mhm," she whispered, her blush spreading to her ears.

Kyosuke scooped her up into his arms, bridal style, and navigated carefully out of the restaurant. Her cheek pressed against his firm chest, and she felt a faint heat. This was a completely different experience from when they were swapped. Fragments of memories surfaced: her—in his body—fondly stroking his chest, or striking poses in the mirror...

"Are you okay?" He felt her face burning against his chest.

"Shut up! Just watch where you're walking." She was embarrassed, and her right hand, pressed against him, couldn't help but gingerly touch his abdominal muscles. *I'll touch them enough next time we swap!* she thought.

Kyosuke wasn't doing much better. The sensation of the girl's soft skin and full thighs against his arms provided an unparalleled tactile experience. Both of them, faces flushed and minds racing, arrived at the subway station.

At Sendagi Station, Kyosuke carried her all the way into the carriage. Fortunately, the rush hour had passed, and they found two empty seats.

"You can leave me here."

"Forget it, it's not far, and I'm worried about you like this."

"Then... thank you for the trouble." She carefully leaned her head on his shoulder.

"If you're tired, sleep a while. I'll wake you when we get there."

"Do you think we'll see each other again?" she asked, her eyes closed, as if dreaming.

"What are you saying? I'll come to your place this weekend. It's in Itomori, Hida, right?"

"Yes! It's not much, but the scenery is beautiful. I'll treat you to Hida beef when you come!" Hearing his words, her lethargy vanished, and she happily described her hometown in a soft, husky voice.

"Is your foot really okay? Should I take you all the way home?" Kyosuke asked at the station, watching her limp.

"Taking me home is too much! Who'd want to bring you to my house?" She blushed, thinking of something. "I asked my uncle, who volunteers at the shrine, to pick me up. Don't worry."

"That's good. Send me a message when you get home." He shook his phone; they had already exchanged contact info.

"Mhm!" She clutched her phone to her chest. She had already tested it—it rang! This time, she wouldn't lose him.

"Oh, right, don't forget to watch the comet on Thursday night."

"What's so great about that?"

"No, you must watch it! I'll be watching it with you in Itomori! I'll even pray for you at the festival," she insisted, hands on her hips.

"Alright, alright, I'll watch it."

"Then... goodbye."

"Yeah, goodbye."

With a satisfied smile, Mitsuha stepped into the train. Before the doors closed, she waved her phone at Kyosuke, signaling that they would talk soon.