which I’ve never seen in reality, an entirely different thing from familial or sexual love.” “I’m still dubious about the actual existence of that “thing,” myself. But if the “love” you speak of doesn’t exist, then someone must have come up with it, which is a stunning thought. For many ages, love has been the cause of many beautiful paintings, songs, and stories. If it’s only made-up, “love” may be humanity’s greatest invention, or perhaps the world’s kindest lie.” Etcetera. In everything we talked about, our opinions were as close as if we were long- lost twins. Kiriko described that miracle as “like a class reunion of souls.” That description really stuck with me. A class reunion of souls. ---------- At the same time my relationship with Kiriko was deepening, I was finding myself unable to get used to my new elementary school. And when I graduated from there and moved on to middle school, then began a truly lonely existence. Not a single person to talk to in class, only minimal conversations in clubs, and naturally no one to talk about personal things with. Relatively speaking, I actually had it better before I changed schools. For Kiriko, though, everything seemed to take a turn for the better once she entered middle school, and her letters proved again and again that she was living very happily. She told me how she’d made countless wonderful friends. How she’d stay late every day with her club friends talking about something or another. How she was chosen for the culture festival executive committee and could go into normally inaccessible rooms at the school. How she’d sneak onto the roof with her classmates and have lunch, then get scolded by the teachers. Etcetera. I felt it would be awkward to respond to these letters with plain descriptions of my miserable circumstances. I didn’t want to cause her any worry, and I would’ve hated to be thought of as weak.