Inside the trainer's office, Fujiwara Chiya stared blankly at the training schedule, tapping his pen rhythmically like a stopwatch.
Memories were like a broken dam. Once a small crack appeared, everything would start pouring out uncontrollably.
Yesterday, Fujiwara Chiya remembered the name Nase Fumino.
He had met her when he was very young.
That single realization became the trigger, and everything else followed.
Back then, Nase Fumino had bangs covering one eye, with a pink hairpin clipped to the side. Unlike now, she had been very cheerful as a child. Every time he spoke to her, she would smile brightly.
Aside from frequently visiting his house, Fujiwara Chiya also remembered dragging her out to play. On a rainy day, he accidentally stepped into a puddle. Nase Fumino laughed at him, and out of spite, he splashed water back at her.
Thinking about it now, it was incredibly childish.
He even remembered teasing her for being "flat," even though he didn't really understand what it meant at the time. He had just picked it up from older kids talking nonsense.
In the end, she beat him up while blushing furiously.
They had spent less than two years together before Nase Fumino's father had to move abroad for work. She transferred schools, and the two of them were separated.
Fujiwara Chiya recalled the words she said that night.
If she left, she would never come back.
Just as she said, after she left, there had been no news of her at all.
Until last year, the day Fujiwara Chiya joined Tracen.
"Nase Fumino, right? Nice to meet you. My name is Fujiwara Chiya, a new trainer this year."
He introduced himself to the cold and composed woman in front of him.
She opened her mouth, paused for a few seconds, then replied.
"…Nice to meet you, Trainer Fujiwara."
At that moment, had she already recognized him?
Probably… no, definitely.
Because when Fujiwara Chiya left the room, he noticed her gaze remained fixed on him.
At the time, he thought she was just observing him out of curiosity.
Now, it seemed that gaze carried something more.
What kind of feelings had she been holding when she said "nice to meet you" after so many years apart?
Meeting a childhood friend again after more than a decade, only to greet each other like strangers.
There was probably nothing more painful than that.
Fujiwara Chiya had completely forgotten her.
The changes over those years were simply too great. He had gone from a clueless kid to a busy working adult, while Nase Fumino had grown from a lively, slightly spoiled girl into a calm and distant woman.
And yet, traces of his old playful self still remained.
In contrast, her personality had completely reversed.
That cold, distant attitude made it impossible to connect her to the little girl who once clung to him and refused to let go.
What had she gone through during those years?
Why had she changed so much?
Fujiwara Chiya wanted to ask her.
But was now the right time?
That fleeting and shallow connection from so long ago… could it really be picked up again?
If he had said "long time no see" instead of "nice to meet you" back then, would things be different now?
Fujiwara Chiya looked out the window.
The clear racetrack shimmered under the sunlight.
He remembered that race, the moment she pulled him back into the stands without hesitation.
That wasn't something someone would do without any feelings at all.
Whether he was overthinking or not, Fujiwara Chiya made up his mind.
He would go talk to Nase Fumino about the past.
With that decision, he left the office.
He remembered her office was on the west side of the third floor corridor.
After finding the door labeled "Nase," he knocked.
"Come in."
Nase Fumino's voice came from inside.
Fujiwara Chiya opened the door.
Her blue-green eyes looked at him in surprise.
"Trainer Chiya?"
"Morning."
"…Mm." She seemed caught off guard by his sudden visit. After a few seconds, she gestured toward the sofa. "Please, sit."
"Sorry to intrude."
Nase Fumino poured him a cup of tea.
"What brings you here, Trainer Chiya?"
It was the first time he had ever knocked on her door.
"Do you remember what happened last night?" Fujiwara Chiya asked.
Nase Fumino recalled being carried back by him. When she woke up, they were already at the school gates, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Heat rushed to her face.
Suppressing the disturbance in her heart, she answered calmly.
"…More or less."
"On the way back, I heard you muttering something. Because of that… I remembered a few things."
"Remembered… what?" she repeated.
"Things from a long time ago. About you and me."
Hearing this, Nase Fumino's eyes widened, her pupils shrinking sharply.
"We met before, didn't we? Back then, you used to come over often…"
As Fujiwara Chiya described scene after scene from his memories, Nase Fumino's body began trembling slightly.
He didn't notice.
He continued recounting everything he remembered.
When he finally finished and looked up at her, her expression had already returned to its usual calm.
"So you still remember all that."
"It just came back suddenly." Fujiwara Chiya took a sip of tea. "Sorry for forgetting everything."
Nase Fumino brushed her hair back.
"You came here just to say that?"
Her tone was unexpectedly calm.
"Yeah."
She let out a soft snort.
"That was all a long time ago. I don't blame you for forgetting. And… even if you remember now, it won't change anything."
"I guess you're right." Fujiwara Chiya smiled bitterly. "But I still felt like I should tell you."
"Fumino," she said. "Call me Fumino."
"Trainer Fumino?"
"Just Fumino… that's what you used to call me."
"…Alright, Fumino."
For a brief moment, Fujiwara Chiya thought he saw the corner of her lips lift slightly.
Maybe she was smiling.
Or maybe it was just his imagination.
Nase Fumino took a small sip of tea.
"Anything else?"
"No."
"Then I'll get back to work."
"Alright. Sorry for disturbing you, Fumino." Fujiwara Chiya stood up. "By the way… if you have time, want to grab a meal together?"
"We'll see."
Fujiwara Chiya nodded and left the room.
After he was gone, Nase Fumino stared at the half-finished cup of tea he left behind.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she slowly picked it up, brought it to her lips, and drank the rest in one go.