NANA

Hey, Nana.

Do you remember the first time we met?

I'm the type who believes in things like fate.

So I think it was fate.

You can laugh if you want.

WRITTEN BY AI YAZAWA

YOU HAVE A NEW MESSAGE 1

Dear God! Great Buddha! Demon Lord!

EMAIL FROM SHOJI. THE SAKURA HAS BLOSSOMED.

All right!

E... Excuse me, this...

Nana! What are you shouting for? You're working, remember?

Yay!

It's spring! Spring has finally come!

After the long wait, spring has arrived!

Now that I think back about it, it was like I was running away from home.

But apparently, my parents weren't really shocked.

I have a sister two years older than me

and a sister two years younger than me.

The family was already loud as it was,

but back then, whether awake or asleep,

I'd always nag

about how I "want to go to Tokyo" or "I want to live in Tokyo."

Perhaps my parents were more relieved that

they'd have to worry about one less noisy daughter.

When I left, I didn't feel any loneliness for leaving my family

or sentiment for parting with the city I had lived in for twenty years.

I was just so happy about going to Tokyo.

My heart was filled with hope and expectations.

I'LL PICK YOU UP WHEN YOU ARRIVE.

WHAT TIME? WHAT NUMBER TRAIN? CAN'T WAIT! FROM SHOJI.

From now on, under the skies of Tokyo, I'll be able to see Shoji every day.

TRAIN NUMBER SEVEN

I can finally talk to him, not by phone or email, but face to face.

Thank you for using the Tohoku bullet train today.

- Due to the snow, the train's departure... - What's this? It's packed.

...has been delayed by 40 minutes.

I wanna find a seat quickly...

- We apologize for the inconvenience. - ...so I can email Shoji.

Um...

Um, excuse...

What? Why did it suddenly stop? An accident?

Are you all right?

I'm fine. Sorry.

I'm sorry too.

You got flattened by this, didn't you?

I'm fine.

Er... by the way... is this seat open?

Go ahead.

What a beautiful person. More like, so cool.

She has an aura different from that of a commoner.

She's skinny and has a small face. Could she be a celebrity?

And such long eyelashes!

I envy how the loud makeup looks good on her.

Beautiful people look great, no matter what they do.

Wow, a well-worn Vivienne Westwood ring!

So cool!

Sorry. Is the smoke bothering you?

No, I'm totally fine.

It's not moving.

The train.

It's been running like this for a while now.

Is that so?

What am I gonna do? I'm in a hurry.

Really? That's a problem.

No, it's all right.

I'll send an email.

Okay!

Wow, you're really fast!

I'm amazed at what high school students can do nowadays.

But I'm twenty years old.

Sorry. Then I guess we're the same age.

She's so cute when she laughs.

What? The same age? No way, you don't look it. That's fraud!

The way you said "high school students nowadays"

makes you seem a lot older!

Yeah, it's a habit. I live in the analog world.

An announcement to our passengers.

Due to the snow, we will be proceeding at low speeds for a while.

- We apologize for the inconvenience... -No way!

- ...this delay is causing you. -When will we get to Tokyo?

What is the purpose of your stay in Tokyo?

Nothing in particular.

I'm moving there. I'll look for a job in Tokyo.

Really. Same for me.

-What, you're moving there too? -Uh-huh.

Really? I thought you were from Tokyo.

So you're not returning home from a tour around the country.

A tour?

Like concerts. You have a guitar, after all.

I figured you were a professional musician.

So, are you in a band?

Back in my hometown I was.

That's so cool! Where is your hometown?

An email. Or, no, it's a phone call.

Hello, Nana here.

Oh, Shoji? Yeah, that's right. The train has stopped.

I've got no idea when I'll arrive.

Huh? You sure?

But it could be around midnight.

You sure it's okay?

Mm, thanks.

Then I'll call you again when I know what time we're arriving.

Bye.

Is your boyfriend from Tokyo?

You sure are lovey-dovey.

I get it.

So you're chasing after a guy who moved to Tokyo.

You're wro...

-Well, I guess you're right about that. -Which is it?

Well, he's not from Tokyo.

We went to the same college in our hometown,

but he came to Tokyo a year ago to study art.

Why didn't you go with him then?

I told him that I'd go too.

But Shoji... he insisted I shouldn't.

Why's that?

Because I have no dreams or money.

He says it's not wise to make such a move without a plan.

I see.

So I tearfully stayed back and saved up money to make the move.

We made a promise that if Shoji passed the entrance exams to university,

then I'd move to Tokyo!

When I get to Tokyo,

I'm gonna find a job and make every effort

so he doesn't tell me to go home!

Say... What am I doing telling all this to a stranger?

A total stranger!

What's wrong with that? Tell me more.

From the look of things, we've got lots of time.

Yeah, you have a point.

Then, will you hear me out so we can kill time together?

To be honest, I was dying to talk to someone about him.

His name's Shoji, and he's kind, reliable, and pretty cool.

But when he talks, he acts like a fool.

Like a fool?

Hey, wanna have some beer?

Sure, I do.

Two beers please!

Okay, then. Let's make a toast.

A toast to what?

Well...

To Shoji passing the university exams!

No, that has nothing to do with me.

Then, can we at least drink to this unique moment?

Hey, I like that.

To two girls, the same age,

arriving in Tokyo at the same time on the same train.

That's quite a coincidence, don't you think?

And to one more thing.

My name is Nana too, Nana.

Do you remember the first time we met?

Before we knew it, there was a snowstorm outside.

The train was stop and go all the way,

and it took us five hours to get to Tokyo.

But I wasn't at all bored.

I kept talking about myself

and didn't bother to ask about you at all.

But knowing you,

you likely would've just changed the subject anyway.

Nana!

Shoji!

Why are you crying?

You're so mean to laugh like that!

You really had a tough time. Five hours, right?

But you know...

What's the matter?

I became friends with the girl sitting next to me.

Oh?

But she's not here, even though we got off the train together.

Has she already left?

I should've at least given her my cell number.

You didn't even do that? Then you can hardly call yourself friends.