After their heartfelt confession to each other, Nemuri asked Maki what his channel's name was.
Maki told her the name, and Nemuri laughed, knowing that Maki had quite literally fallen from the sky.
That day, Nemuri helped with the recording of Maki's first solo. It was Saturday, so Nemuri was free.
Maki set up the background naturally—no floral setup, just him sitting on the sofa with his black guitar and a microphone lowered to his seated level.
Nemuri held the phone horizontally to record Maki's upper body while he played the guitar. Maki suggested putting it on a camera stand so Nemuri wouldn't get tired, but she refused.
"No," she said. "I'll record it myself."
Maki smiled at her and said, "Then don't shake, too much, honey."
Nemuri pouted. "Who do you think I am?"
Maki smirked in defeat. "Alright, let's do this."
Just like before, he counted to three while tapping his foot.
"One… two… three."
He strummed his guitar.
The song that kept reminding him of his original world was a country song. Every time he heard it, the sea, the mountains, and every familiar scenery from his hometown resurfaced in his mind. He planned to cover it slower, giving it more grief and longing.
The song was "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
His left fingers pressed firmly against the neck of the guitar.
The chords (Capo 2):
G and Em
D
C
And lastly, F.
As he strummed, a melodious sound like flowing nature flooded the room. It was soothing and gave off a warm, home-like feeling. Maki's voice rang out clearly through the room.
With a slower pace and a more longing tone, he sang the lyrics:
> Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
All my memories gather 'round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eye
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
I hear her voice in the mornin' hour, she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
Drivin' down the road, I get a feelin' that I should've been home
Yesterday, yesterday
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Oh....Take.....me....home
♡
Instead of the joyous version, his rendition felt like a plea to be taken back home. It was a sorrowful version, sung by someone who was lost and longing to return.
Nemuri stayed quiet the entire time. She knew little about the man before her or the past he carried. Usually, she acted normal, teasing and playful—but this time was different. As he sang, his voice sounded different. It was shaky, and small sobs escaped between the lines. His long hair covered most of his face, but Nemuri could still see tears flooding his eyes.
She stopped recording as soon as he finished and hugged the crying Maki. His tears weren't loud; Nemuri didn't hear a single sound from him. He cried silently in her arms.
After Maki released some of the tension weighing on his heart, he slowly drifted to sleep in Nemuri's embrace.
And of course, Nemuri stayed right there by his side, gently patting his shoulder.
♤
After some time, he opened his eyes and could feel Nemuri was still hugging him.
Slowly, he loosened himself from her embrace and looked at her. Nemuri was sleeping, her head leaning against the sofa.
Maki carefully put down his guitar, placing it on the other side of the sofa. Then he gently lifted Nemuri in a princess carry, entered her room, and laid her down on her bed.
But when Maki tried to place her properly, he felt her arms wrap around his neck again. His face was pressed against Nemuri's chest. He could barely breathe and turned his head to the side to take some air, but the hug only tightened.
Maki sighed in defeat. He lay down on the bed as well, with Nemuri beneath him and himself on top.
Slowly, his sleepy eyes took over. He fell asleep against Nemuri's chest, her arms wrapped around his neck, while Maki's arms rested around her waist.
The two of them slept like that, holding each other, neither willing to let go.