[The sound of the water is a cushion, lulling him with its noises until Maruki's words float through. It's one peace traded for another, and Akira hums as he considers them.

A day like today, one filled with contentment and joy... He can't truly say that he's wanting for anything. Maybe if anything, he'd want for what he already wished for to have stayed even longer. But even so...]

Even if we could've, I'm not sure I would've wished for anything today. [The smile on his face is small but fond.] Days like today are already the type of thing I wish for.

[Tokyo had been full of several of them. But today is the first that he can say he truly spent with Maruki like this, a day that had both peace and joy, and that's what makes it even more precious.

Almost unconsciously, his hand drifts up to his neck, fingers brushing along his Adam's apple. Over a week ago, lines still marked his skin there, but now it's long faded.

Maybe it's wrong to miss it, just a little. But Akira has always been a sentimental person. It's why he wished for it in the first place, after all.]

Did you wish for anything, while it still worked?