The Radiance of Those Days: A One-Color Exhibition

—What remains vividly in my memory is the sheer brilliance of the light and that playful expression. And that atmosphere, which seemed mature yet appeared nothing but innocent.

I am not sure why I remembered such a thing now. I have no intention of bringing it up as a topic of conversation over drinks, nor is there any reason why I should need to recall it.

Even so, it appeared in my mind quite naturally—so naturally, in fact, that the word "suddenly" feels appropriate.

That said, as long as it caused no particular trouble, there was no need to trace my memories. Thinking that, I stopped pondering it.

—I truly thought that, but it was four days later that I realized it might have been a divine revelation.

“Ah, long time no see! Remember me?”

I was startled first by someone peering into my face, and when I turned to look, I was even more surprised.

There she was, the girl I had remembered the other day.

I stopped in my tracks from the shock, and as I stood there unable to say a word, she took my hand with her usual innocent air and invited me for tea without even waiting for an answer. Unable to think clearly, I simply went along with it, accepting it without resistance.

More than ever, the word "lovely" suited her perfectly. Her innocent, carefree aura, which seemed like it could roll along forever, remained unchanged, and now that I thought about it, her voice was also the same nostalgic, familiar tone I remembered.

Yes, that she remained unchanged was the entirety of the impression she left on me.

As I talked with her, a feeling began to well up in me that reminded me of my younger self. At the same time, it also brought to mind my hometown, which I hadn't visited in a while...

That was, by no means, a good thing.

I didn't want to remember my hometown, which I still didn't feel like returning to, nor did I want to recall my feelings from those days, and the things that had piled up were certainly not good. I didn't want to intentionally turn my gaze toward them.

However, as we talked, I realized that was also slightly different. Yes, that's right. That's it. It is certainly not a good thing. It is not *only* a good thing. However,

there were, of course, good things too.

It is the same even now. It is not only good things. But, there are certainly good things as well.

What I saw through her presence were those fun, brilliant days of the past. I was reminded that such days had indeed existed.

It was like picking up fragments of sparkling memories, just like that game where we used to search for marbles hidden in a sandbox.

And as I tucked those fragments back into my jewelry box one after another, I felt as if my own heart was filled with a radiance like hers.

When we parted, I honestly told her, "Thank you," and she looked blank for a moment before breaking into a beaming smile.

"Yeah, you too. It was fun! Thank you."

That is how she replied.

As I watched her shining back as she walked away, I felt as if I were watching my own back from those days.

I had the pleasure of participating in Asami Ishino's project!