The narrator introduces us to a new character, hotako. She's a friend of ours's from middle school, and we learn that she's now a student at a different school district. She tells us that she and hotako used to be class mates, but they've been separated for the past four years because of their love for each other. Hotako tells the narrator that she doesn't know what to do with herself now, since she can't even talk to her new boyfriend by herself. She also tells him that she used to think that he was "some kind of creep" , but now she thinks he's just a normal guy who just wants to catch up with her. The narrator asks if hotako is around today, and she says that she hasn't seen her new crush around. She says that hotako has been picking her up like a "regular" person every day, and that he stopped by the shop to pick her up the other day. She asks him if he knows what it's like to fall in love with someone, and he says that he does. He says that at first, he wanted to spend time with her, and now he feels that he has lost all control over his feelings for her. He tells her that she shouldn't worry about him, because she has been feeling all right lately. He asks her why she never worries about him. She replies that she loves him, and it took everything she had to say, "I love you. It took everything I had . ." . to say "me, too" .