"Hah—" Honoka Kosaka took a deep breath, then patted her cheeks, as if she had decided something.
At the same time, as the day of departure drew closer and closer, Minami Kotori sat by her bed, her phone in her hand. From time to time, she glanced at it, as though she were waiting for something.
Senba Gari, who had also come to Minami Kotori's room, looked at her gloomy expression and asked with somewhat complicated feelings.
"Have you really decided, Kotori?"
"..." Minami Kotori did not answer Senba Gari. Instead, she stared fixedly at her phone screen.
What had to come had still come. Two weeks had passed since the day Minami Kotori told everyone she was leaving, and today was the day she left.
—Rumble.
The tremendous roar of an airplane's engine sounded in front of her. Then the plane left the ground and flew into the sky.
Minami Kotori stood on the observation deck of the terminal building, watching an airplane depart.
Once she boarded, there would be no chance to turn back.
That was what Minami Kotori thought. But for her, since she had already come this far, there was probably no chance to turn back anyway, was there?
"You really don't need to go say goodbye to everyone?"
In front of the departure lounge, Kotori Minami asked Minami Kotori.
"Mm. If I see them, I'll definitely start crying again."
"I see."
"Mom, you can see me off here. Once I get over there, I'll contact you right away."
Then, just as Minami Kotori turned to leave.
"Kotori." Kotori Minami called out to her. "Take good care of yourself."
Hearing her mother's final farewell, feelings of gratitude and reluctance tangled together inside Minami Kotori, and tears welled up in her eyes. But so her mother