Summer Pockets

Ever since the parent volunteer day at school, Shiroha-chan's barely left her room.

An all-too-quiet house...

I'm familiar with this atmosphere.

It really impresses upon you that you have nowhere you belong.

Not every day of this long summer has been fun.

But I've already known a summer that was like that.

I remember a brilliant summer that the three of us spent together as a family.

Precious memories that are all mine.

I need to share them with Shiroha-chan.

And to that end, there's something I have to know.

Coming!

Oh my.

Hello there.

So, about what we were talking about before...

Uh-huh.

There's something that's been bugging me.

You said the woman becomes a butterfly and gains the ability to fly free,

but that she loses everything in exchange.

Why is that?

Say you have wings that can take you anywhere.

Even into the past and the future.

What do you think happens when the boundary

between the past, the future, and everything else disappears?

Is that really freedom?

Or does it just mean you're stuck?

For me, I envision being trapped inside something invisible.

It's no different from summer.

Summer break starts in late July and ends in August.

That makes it special.

But what if I told you that summer break would go on forever?

You might think you were free,

but it might not be any different from being locked inside a giant cage.

Say you lost someone you loved and you had the power to go back in time...

If you were desperate to see them

and you'd give up everything to be able to do it...

What would I do in that situation?

I'd go.

I know I'm kind of contradicting what I just said.

But I'm sure I'd go.

Not that I have that kind of power, sadly.

Thank you for having me.

It's strange.

You're suffering from amnesia,

but you're more curious about the island than yourself, huh?

Nah...

I just thought I might learn something if I found out more about the island.

Yeah?

I'm sure you know everything already, though.

This isn't the first time we've had this conversation.

We did just the other day, remember?

Sorry to keep bothering you.

It's fine.

Well, I'll be going.

Summer break's almost over...

Hitomi.

Kyouko-san is right.

I don't think anyone could resist using that power if it meant seeing someone they missed.

There's no denying that.

Maybe I don't have the right to stop anyone from using such a power.

Still... I learned so much repeating that summer over and over.

And I know that there isn't just one future.

But Shiroha-chan's power will sew the future shut.

Look at all the stalls.

Your grandpa gave us some spending money.

We can get whatever you want.

Yay!

Then I want grilled squid.

Thank goodness.

She's in better spirits.

Like it?

Yeah.

It's good.

Maybe if we could keep having moments like these,

Shiroha-chan wouldn't be tempted to use her power.

She was supposed to spend this summer alone.

If my being here and spending time with her can help her stay strong...

If, after all my summers, I've saved someone...

If that someone is Shiroha-chan...

I'll be satisfied.

It would mean that my long, long journey had a purpose.

Nanami?

I'm okay.

Don't mind me.

Let's go.

Getting to walk together like this must be the last little bit of happiness I'm granted.

What's wrong?

When Dad died, I cried every day.

That's when I heard a voice.

A voice?

It told me I could have the power to meet him again.

So, um, I could go see him.

I told Mom about it too.

That we might be able to go see Dad.

She was really shocked.

She must have figured it out and gone by herself.

To see Dad again.

I've been thinking about it all the time these days.

So what should I do?

Sorry, Nanami...

I have to go.

Wh-Where?

I'm going to see Mom.

To see her?

See? It's here to take me.

Shiroha-chan, that's...

I'm going now.

Wait!

Shiroha-chan!

Sorry, please let me through.

Shiroha-chan!

Wait!

Shiroha-chan!

Shiroha-chan!

Shiroha-chan!

What...

Shiroha-chan!

Nanami.

Why did you come?

You can't go any further.

You have to have the special power to go.

Special power?

Yeah.

I think Mom came here.

And she went to see Dad.

By seeing your dad, you mean...

She went into the past.

Mom and I shared that power.

If I make a wish, I can go back.

You did it too, didn't you?

You came here from another time, right?

Well...

Thanks for playing with me.

I wish we could play more, but I have to go to my mom.

And where is that?

It's taking me now.

No!

You can't go!

I can finally have the power.

And with my power,

I'll go see Mom.

Don't!

Don't.

You can't go.