PROLOGUE The Story I Heard from You Beneath a rainy March sky, the long whistle signals that the ferry is leaving port. As the ship’s enormous hull plows through the seawater, the heavy vibrations travel through my seat to the rest of me. My ticket is for the second-class cabin, the one closest to the bottom of the ship. The voyage to Tokyo will take more than ten hours, and we’ll be arriving at night. This is the second time in my life that I’ve made this very trip, on this ferry. I stand up, heading for the stairs to the deck terrace. The first time was two and a half years ago. After what happened while I was in the city, rumors about me had started circulating at school: They say he’s got a record and I hear he’s still wanted by the cops. Being the subject of gossip didn’t bother me (in fact, I’d be more surprised if I wasn’t), but I hadn’t told anyone on the island about what had happened in Tokyo that summer. I’d said a few things here and there, but I hadn’t told a soul—not my parents, not my friends, not the police—about the really important stuff. Now I’m headed for Tokyo again, with everything that happened that summer inside me. Now that I’m eighteen, I’m going to settle there for good. And I’m going to see her again. Those thoughts always create heat behind my ribs. My cheeks are flushing, little by little. I want to be out in the sea wind as soon as possible, and I start climbing the stairs faster. Up on the deck terrace, the cold air strikes me full in the face, bringing rain with it. I draw a deep breath, trying to drink it all in. The wind is still chilly, but it’s filled with the promise of spring. I’ve finally graduated from high school—and the reality of it belatedly strikes home, like a notification coming in late. I rest my elbows on the deck railing, gazing at the receding island, then shift my focus to the windswept sky. Countless raindrops dance Page 1 Goldenagato | mp4directs.com