The late spring sunlight was gentle, gradually growing brighter. Fresh air rode in on the wind after the rain, while puddles on the streets reflected blue skies and white clouds.
Old rock played exuberantly on the radio behind the open doors of the department store.
Everything seemed just like that summer decades ago. Those youthful years were etched into dreams, leaving old men who woke from midnight dreams of the past wandering about in melancholy loss.
Searching for traces of their former youth, lingering within this dream.
Until, at last, he saw her profile amid the crowd.
So clear.
After so many long years, she still remained in his life, quietly keeping him company in this corner of the dream, never having left.
By the time he came back to himself, the old man in the dream was already weeping tears of age.
He could not help but take a step toward her.
Reaching out, he called her name.
At that moment, she finally turned back, looked at him, and revealed that familiar smile.
She took his hand.
Boom!
A shattering roar seemed to erupt from within his heart and the dream itself, thunderous echoes resounding.
A rampaging Mud Truck sped past on the street beside him, flinging up brilliant sprays of water like fireworks rising into the night.
Like a wild horse galloping madly, it crossed the boundary between time and reality.
Like him, without reservation, fiercely, it spread its arms wide.
And embraced the person before it.
He closed his eyes in contentment.
Amid the thunderous crash, a bedraggled figure was launched into the sky like a ceremonial cannon amid the eruption of lost love, roaring and tumbling as it flew into the distance.
It smashed out a dazzling shower of shattered light.
That hit seemed to ram