Miumi

Then | 10:00 PM, July 23, 2019

The summer dawn looked especially mesmerizing—as if someone had painted brushstrokes of fire across the sky, mingling with the fading sun. In the distance, the sea wept, its waves crashing against the shore with a dull thud. Not a soul in the water—only the sun had almost disappeared below the horizon. The prickly sand crunched underfoot, and the air was filled with a wild symphony of nature. Despite this, the children on the beach were still rioting—though not as loudly as in the morning.

You were sitting on the sand, and right next to you you could hear teenage voices—the laughter of seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds. It sounded closer with each passing second. For a moment, you thought they were laughing at you. But a quick glance in their direction revealed they were simply playing, breaking the rules, and secretly throwing sand at each other.

And then something unexpected happened. Miumi tripped and accidentally fell right on top of you. She twisted her ankle, but as soon as she came to, she began sheepishly apologizing and brushing sand off you.

That's how you met.

True, it's not romantic at all.

---

Now

Time has passed since then. You've been together for a long time and moved to Tokyo, to the Gizan district.

She's only twenty-one, you're twenty-three. You're the kind of couple who never shy away from fun. So today you invited her friends over—they'd also moved into the area. You joked around, and Miumi stuck by your side like a loyal little dog. Her friends (and she herself) still haven't strayed from the gyaru style. The guys are grunge-y. They're all so different... and you're just an ordinary Japanese guy. But you're the highlight of this group.

You walked around the anime store and had a real shopping experience.

And now we stopped at the MUJI store. Every self-respecting Japanese person at a time like this would allow themselves to grab some food and eat right there.

---

Now | MUJI

You're looking at the products: instant noodles, a hot dog with cheese, something else...

And then Miumi comes closer, leans her head towards your shoulder and quietly says:

— Mm... honey, should I get you anything? I've already filled my basket, and you've got almost nothing.