‘No wonder you kept it a secret. This is amazing.’
Hotaka sucks in a breath, trying to stay calm.
‘I thought you’d be impressed,’ Sakura replies.
‘Oh, I’m impressed. Can’t say I like the idea, but I’m definitely impressed. It’s not at all what I expected.’
‘Sure, but it’s what you need. It’s what you have to do.’
‘That’s easy for you to say.’
‘Hey, I’m doing it too. I told you: we jump together.’
Hotaka stands at the edge of the cliff that he and Takeshi used to come to all those years ago, Sakura beside him. They’ve already changed into the thick wetsuits they’ll need in the sea below. He looks down. It’s a beautifully calm day, the sea almost still. A small motorboat bobs about like a toy in the clear blue water.
‘You’ve even got Uncle Yori in on the act.’
‘I had to ask him. He’s my lifesaver. He’ll throw me a buoy once we’re in the water.’
‘Of course! I forgot. You can’t swim. You are nuts!’
‘Don’t worry, I can dog paddle.’
‘I don’t believe this. You must be scared.’
‘No. I’m terrified.’
‘Then why are you doing it?’
‘Because I have to.’
‘Why would you have to?’
‘Lots of reasons. I’m not sure which is most important, but I know that when you told me about Takeshi the other day on the beach, I couldn’t get him out of my head. Remember how you said it seemed as if he was talking through me?’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Well maybe he was. Who can say? But what I do know is that when you told me those things that afternoon, I realised then that you had to do this. You had to jump. You had to get it over with once and for all.’
‘Unfinished business, eh?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Okay, but that still doesn’t explain why you have to jump.’
‘It’s my way of thanking you.’
‘Thanking me? For what?’
‘For being such an amazing friend. You’ve stood up for me, stood with me, by me, given me strength.’
‘So has Osamu. How come he’s not jumping?’
Sakura laughs. ‘Are you serious? He’d talk all the way down. Anyway, this is about us. You don’t realise how good you’ve been for me. Your support has meant more than anything. This is my way of saying thanks – by helping you resolve this Takeshi thing. See, I don’t think you’d do this by yourself, but I know you will if we go together. That’s why I have to jump. It’s my leap of faith, if you like, in you.’
Leap of faith. Takeshi’s words again coming from her lips. Hotaka stares into her eyes and wonders if it is only Sakura talking.
‘So?’ She is close to him now. ‘Is it on?’
He nods. ‘Yeah, it’s on.’
She takes his hand and they step backwards in slow, even paces, counting aloud. At ten, they stop.
‘We’ll never forget this, you know?’ she says. ‘Whatever we do in life, wherever we end up, we will always remember this. Even when we’re old and wrinkled, we’ll remember our—’
‘Our leap of faith?’
‘Yes,’ she replies. ‘Ready?’
‘No.’ Hotaka shakes his head. ‘Not yet.’
Sakura frowns. ‘What do you mean?’
Hotaka grins. ‘I have a surprise for you as well. I received an important visitor this morning, with a very important request.’
‘Go on.’
‘Principal Hashimoto came to our house. I’ve never seen him so polite. He came to ask about you.’
‘Why didn’t he come to me?’
‘Who knows? Because of your fiery temperament? Arrogance? Stubbornness? Uncompromising attitude?’
‘Ha, ha.’
‘He probably thought you’d have slammed the door in his face.’
‘Yeah, and I probably would have.’
‘Anyway, he asked me if I’d apologise to you on his behalf.’
‘Really?’
‘He also said he’s writing you a formal letter of apology. He insisted he’d been misled by the mayor and others, and that he should have given you a proper hearing. He sincerely hoped that – and I quote – you would forgive him and consider the whole affair an unfortunate mistake.’
‘Of course I will.’ Sakura gasps. ‘That must have been so hard for him.’
‘It was. I felt embarrassed for him. But that’s not all. He said he would be extremely honoured if you would agree to give the closing speech at the Memorial Concert.’
‘What! How come?’
‘Your speech the other day at the marina blew him away. He said it made him feel very emotional.’
‘Old Hashimoto, emotional? Get real.’
‘It’s true. He called you powerful and inspiring, and begged me to persuade you to agree to give the speech.’
‘But what do I speak about? And for how long?’
‘You decide. He said you’d know better than anyone. Pretty trusting, eh?’
‘But—’
‘Enough! You’re the one sounding like an old motorboat now. Cut the buts! Isn’t that why we’re here? Just say yes.’
She gazes at him for a moment, then smiles. ‘Yes,’ she whispers, stepping closer. ‘And you?’
He sighs. ‘Oh yes!’
They turn together and face the horizon.
They breathe in together, long and deep.
‘The Great Ones are calling us,’ Hotaka shouts. He reels off a list of sea gods and water spirits: ‘Ryo-Wo! Watatsumi! Suijin! Isora! Mizuchi! We come!’
Sakura shouts as well. ‘We come!’
And they run.
They run as one, as fast as they can, past the point of no return, inexorably towards the edge of the cliff, where they throw themselves at the sky.
The vast unquestioning silence of the sky.