2July 14, Nagano Prefecture
My love,
I miss you terribly. Every day I do not see your smiling face is torture to me.
I had traveled a long way today when the rain began pouring, a far heavier rain than is typical for this time of year. Overcoming many difficulties, I was able to pitch camp. I am lying down right now, listening to the rain beating the roof of the tent.
Hopefully this storm will taper off tonight, so I can set off tomorrow and be by your side soon.
You are never far from my mind.
Love,
Ryoga Hibiki
July 15, Nagano Prefecture
My love,
Alas, the rain has been unremitting. It is beating down as hard as ever, if not harder.
It would be foolish for me to set off in such dismal weather, so here I will stay with my pen, my paper, and my thoughts.
How I wish you were here beside me, so we could listen to the rain together. If I were holding your hand and looking into your eyes, the sound of raindrops would be delightful, rather than dull and dreary.
Missing you dearly,
Ryoga Hibiki
July 16, Nagano Prefecture
My love,
This is starting to get ridiculous. This is the third day, and the rain has not let up for a moment (unless it has happened during my sleep). I'm actually starting to get a bit concerned. I can't stay cooped up in this tent forever. Eventually, I will need some fresh provisions.
If we were together, this interminable waiting would be a joy, but alone, it is the most monotonous experience of my life.
I am praying to every God I know of to let this weather change so that I can be freed from this place and rush to your side.
Your devoted,
Ryoga Hibiki
July 17, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
My love,
As you might guess from the address of this letter, some things have happened. Apparently this is not the Nagano Prefecture. I must have taken a wrong turn at some point. What I thought was Mount Hotaka turns out to have been the Swiss Alps. An easy mistake to make, as they look frighteningly similar.
I've been informed by the local authorities (who are very polite, and who make excellent tea) that I was camping directly beneath a waterfall. My understanding of English is not great, so I may not have understood everything they told me. When I suggested to them that the stream of the waterfall must have changed to land on my tent in the last two days, they seemed to agree with me. They didn't say so directly, but their uproarious laughter at my suggestion indicated to me that they understood the cosmic irony.
I'm in a van at the moment. They are being extremely generous in giving me a ride to the airport and buying me a ticket back home. I'm not sure exactly why they insist on calling it "deportation" and why they feel it necessary for me to wear handcuffs (which makes writing this quite wearisome). I do hope they'll let me buy a souvenir on the way. I don't want to show up empty-handed.
I rejoice that I will soon be by your side. Perhaps I will have the courage to give you these letters and tell you my true feelings.
I love you,
Ryoga Hibiki
