Dear Shinsuke, I do not wish to keep distracting you with my letters, but I found this gorgeous paper and I simply had to use it. I haven't received any of the letters you may have written in the past three weeks, but Jenny said that the post here is terrible and they are probably either late or lost. I really hope they didn't lose them, because your letters fill me with happiness, and I keep them all. [newpage] My new friends took me out for my birthday yesterday! We had a picnic, went to the Natural History Museum, went punting, and also visited the botanic gardens! The sun was warm, without burning our skin, the breeze was cool and soft and pleasant, its sound soothing to our ears as it danced through the leaves, and the food, which the girls prepared themselves, delicious. [newpage] Nick tried to help too but his cooking skills left much to be desired. After Jenny mentioned something about food poisoning, we decided to remove Nick from the kitchen. They got me a birthday cake too! Even though I am not a big fan of sweet things, I appreciated the gesture and even enjoyed a slice. They are all very funny, sweet people, with kind hearts; I am sure you would get along well. [newpage] I have told them about you, and how good a friend you are - don't worry, I haven't mentioned the *** or the *** and definitely not that we have *** - and they are all keen to meet you. Too bad about the distance; perhaps sometime in the distant future. The Natural History Museum was small, but it was still a pleasant visit. It makes you think about how ephemeral life is. [newpage] One moment you are roaming the earth, king of terror, free to do as you please and eat whomever you want, and the next you are history, irritating teenagers making fun of your short hands - they were not that short, they were as long as they needed to be, okay?! - and the fact you couldn't use them to hug anyone. Ah, such is life. How beautiful, wondrous and bitter at the same time. [newpage] Punting was the most fun I'd had in a while! The guys kept splashing each other, and we almost tipped our boat over, trying to fight for the best seats! My hair got wet, but I didn't even mind! The scenery was beautiful, even though the waters were brown, though I didn't take any photos, since I did not trust my camera out so close to the water, with everyone splashing, pushing and giggling. [newpage] Last but not least, the botanic gardens were calm and peaceful, the perfect end to the day. There was something rather nostalgic and romantic about them. Nick told me a story about them, where two lovers are separated after their long and perilous adventure together, forced to live in parallel universes, which both have the same botanic gardens, despite the many differences between them. [newpage] Once a year they would sit on the same bench and silently spend some time with each other, knowing that even though they shall never be able to touch, hear, or see one another again, they would always be close, always there. Even in different universes, they would never be without each other. After that we returned to the halls, and went to our rooms, exhausted. [newpage] I watched a few episodes of 'Women who ask what's more important work or me deserve a German suplex' and then went to sleep. I dreamt of you, I think. How is your summer going, Shinsuke? I wish you would tell me how you have been spending your days. I try not to wonder why you have been avoiding that one simple question of mine, yet I can't help but worry. [newpage] I am a little upset, I must admit, at the lack of contact. I know that I shouldn't be and I should just focus on the course, and I have been, but I can't control it. Before I left I felt close to you. I got used to your presence, maybe more than I should have, and now I feel restless without it. I apologise, it was my mistake to drop my defences like I did. [newpage] I understand you are busy, I just… I suppose I hoped that… you are my friend… my dearest friend… and… to me, a little more than that too. Anyway, you must have other things on your mind, I do not doubt you, and I do not want you to feel obliged to communicate with me. If you are indeed so busy, I shouldn't be pestering you with all these letters. [newpage] For that reason, unless you say otherwise, this will be the last letter I write to you while I am here. I want you to know that you are on my mind, and that I miss you. Yours truly, Kotaro