The Tokyo Skytree—also known as the Tokyo Sky Tree, or sometimes referred to as the New Tokyo Tower—stood before them, a breathtaking lattice of steel and glass piercing the dusky sky. It held the title of the world's tallest self-supporting broadcasting tower and was the second-tallest structure on the planet, surpassed only by Dubai's monolithic Burj Khalifa.
It soared to a height of 634 meters. Its main attractions were two vast observation decks: the Tembo Deck at 350 meters and the Tembo Galleria, a spiraling, glass-enclosed walkway at 450 meters.
Kasumigaoka Touji and Kani Nayuta's destination was the first stop: the Tembo Deck. After purchasing their tickets at the counter on the fourth floor of the complex, they entered the sleek boarding area and were ushered into one of the high-speed elevators—the 'Spring' elevator.
There were four passenger elevators in total, each themed around a season. The one they boarded was adorned with a serene, digital backdrop of a pale pink sky filled with gently falling cherry blossoms. It was undeniably beautiful, a touch of traditional Japanese aesthetics fused with cutting-edge technology.
The elevator's speed was its most impressive feature. As the doors slid shut and it began its ascent, a distinct, powerful force pushed up from the floor. The LCD screen inside displayed the altitude, the numbers blurring as they skyrocketed.
In a mere 50 seconds—less than a minute—they had rocketed from ground level to the observation deck at 350 meters. It was a ride that left one breathless and exclaiming, "Sugoi…! That's insane!"
"…There are so many people!"
Stepping out of the elevator and into the vast, circular observation deck, Kani Nayuta couldn't help but voice her surprise again, this time at the sheer volume of visitors. The crowd was denser than she'd anticipated.
"Hai, this is the peak time," Kasumigaoka Touji explained, his hand finding hers amidst the flow of people. "Everyone's smart—they come now to see the city transition from day to night. You get two views for the price of one."
The collective wisdom, however, did somewhat compromise the atmosphere. The space was lively, bordering on noisy, with the murmur of countless conversations and the shuffling of feet echoing off the glass and steel. Undeterred, Touji gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and led her on a clockwise exploration.
The primary reason for being here was simple: to behold the view. Standing before the towering, five-meter-high floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the panorama that unfolded was nothing short of breathtaking.
It was just past five o'clock—the golden hour. The sun hung low in the western sky, a brilliant orange orb slowly descending. The heavens were painted in a gradient of faint tangerine and rose, which bled seamlessly into the still-blue expanse of the eastern horizon. Set against this majestic canvas, the city of Tokyo lay sprawled in all its intricate, geometric glory.
Skyscrapers of silver, blue, and green formed a jagged, magnificent skyline. The glass facades of countless buildings caught the dying sunlight, transforming into giant, shimmering canvases of reflected fire. In the distance, structures blurred into silhouettes, their edges softening until they seemed to melt into the very colors of the sky, creating a living, breathing painting of immense scale.
The initial sight struck with a force that momentarily hollowed out the mind, silencing even the ambient noise. It was a view that commanded awe. And even after that first shock faded, the vista remained profoundly soothing, a sight one could drink in for hours without tiring.
"So beautiful…" Kani Nayuta whispered, her eyes wide and unblinking. Her blue irises seemed to capture and reflect the brilliant light of the sunset, sparkling with an inner radiance. Her tender, pink lips were slightly parted in wonder.
"Kazuko is even more beautiful," Kasumigaoka Touji murmured, leaning close. He inhaled the rich, sweet fragrance that clung to her hair and skin—a scent that was uniquely hers now, mixed with the hotel's lotion. Then, he pressed a soft, affectionate kiss to her smooth, fair cheek.
The simple gesture sent a wave of molten sweetness straight to Kani Nayuta's heart. A soft, delighted chuckle escaped her as she instinctively leaned her weight back against him, seeking his solid presence.
Kasumigaoka Touji tightened his arm around her waist, holding her snugly against his chest. They stood like that, a single silhouette against the vast, painted sky.
People in special moments, in extraordinary places, often find themselves reflecting on the paths that led them there. Kani Nayuta slipped into such a reverie.
"You know… it really was the right decision to ask Eriri Spencer Sawamura about Winter-sensei's school and class." One of her hands came to rest atop his, which was wrapped around her waist. Her other hand reached back, her fingers gently brushing his jawline. A surge of profound gratitude washed over her.
It was precisely because she'd mustered the courage to ask that sharp-tongued, blonde-haired illustrator for his information, because she'd pushed for the transfer, because they'd begun to interact in the real world at school… that their relationship had accelerated and deepened so rapidly.
Without that, they might still be stuck in the playful but distant limbo of online flirtation, with an in-person meeting still a hypothetical "someday." After all, the distance created by the internet could feel as vast as an entire world…
"Mmm… Hearing you say that makes me want to thank her, too," Kasumigaoka Touji said softly, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head.
Kani Nayuta tilted her head to the side, looking up at him with curious eyes. "What would Winter-sensei want to thank Eriri Spencer Sawamura for?"
Kasumigaoka Touji's answer was simple and heartfelt. "For sending you to me."
And just like that—
Kani Nayuta's gaze liquefied, becoming so warm and adoring it felt almost tangible, as if it could stretch out and wrap around him like golden thread.
"To properly thank Eriri Spencer Sawamura for her… matchmaking services," the silver-haired girl declared, a playful, mischievous glint in her starry eyes, "from now on, she shall be known as… Nakōdo Eriri Spencer Sawamura!" (Matchmaker Eriri).
"Hai, hai," Kasumigaoka Touji agreed with an amused chuckle. Let us all congratulate Eriri Spencer Sawamura-chan on her glorious new, completely unbeknownst-to-her, nickname!
"..."
After lingering by the glass for a while longer, soaking in the view and taking a few commemorative photos, they continued their slow circuit of the Tembo Deck. Their next stop was in front of an installation called 'W1SHRIBBON.'
It was a wishing station, somewhat reminiscent of the ema wooden plaques at shrines. Here, visitors wrote their wishes on special paper strips and tied them to a large, artistic metal structure composed of two interlocking spiral semicircles. Each wish strip cost 1,000 yen.
A nearby placard explained that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to the non-profit organization 'PeaceWindsJapan' for medical aid. It also claimed that, after a period of time, all the wish strips would be sent to Kashima Jingu shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture to receive the gods' blessings.
Whether that was entirely true or just clever marketing, Kasumigaoka Touji didn't bother to scrutinize. Seeing the interested spark in Kani Nayuta's eyes was enough. He joined her in the short queue to participate.
After paying, they were each given a pen and a long, narrow strip of high-quality paper. Touji thought for a moment, then penned a simple, all-encompassing wish: 'May all your wishes come true.'
He set his pen down and glanced over at Kani Nayuta. She had deliberately wandered to a writing table a little distance away and was bent over her strip, writing something with intense concentration, her silver hair forming a curtain around her face. He was intensely curious but respected her privacy, not moving to peek.
When she finished, they handed their folded strips to a staff member together. Only then did he ask, "So, Kazuko, what did you wish for?"
"Fufu~. Should I really say?" she teased, clasping her hands behind her back and adopting a coy expression. "They say if you tell your wish, it might not come true."
"How could that be?" he retorted, though he didn't press her further. Some mysteries were meant to be kept.
Next, they queued together to try the high-definition, coin-operated telescopes, zooming in on distant landmarks now twinkling with early evening lights. With that, they had experienced all the main attractions of the Tembo Deck.
A glance at his phone showed it was nearly six o'clock. True to the forecast, the sky outside had fully darkened, transforming the panoramic view into a breathtaking sea of glittering urban stars.
Hand in hand, Kasumigaoka Touji and Kani Nayuta took the internal escalator down one level, their destination now 'Sky Restaurant 634'—promising not just a meal, but dinner with a view suspended among the clouds.