[Japanese Wagakki intro - koto, shamisen, shakuhachi - brighter and warmer than Mata Ne]
[Verse 1] Six cities deep and something starts to pull me through A frequency I couldn’t name, I just knew The stage crew called the sound check, but somehow i felt you Took the long way past the konbini, followed the pull in my heart
The platform felt familiar like it knew the promise i made that day The vending machines were right there like they waited I couldn’t say what brought me, couldn’t reason it away Just something warm and invisible and certain it said: Today!
[Pre-Chorus] Today was my choice I know what I’m feeling March - the sakura was in full bloom I didn’t know why I felt it, I just know this feeling’s true So I looked around the corner, in this place where I last saw you
[Chorus] (Hisashiburi!) I’m by the vending machines again (Hisashiburi!) I see you - you’re standing there like then We had the same idea We followed the same pull (Hisashiburi!) As the Sakura started to fall We didn’t need to say a word at all The years faded between then and now Hisashiburi - my oldest friend
[Verse 2] You still know every lyric to the City Pop songs I still had the photo strip I kept so carefully - so long We split the last onigiri like we never missed a day The purikura machine was right there - what else could we say
You said, “Don’t let the world change what you know is real” I laughed and said “you said that once before” You said “I know” Turns out mata ne was never really closure It was just the word we used until we found the door
[Pre-Chorus] Showed you the playlist we saved for grey days Our school uniforms and anime collections You smiled coz this is something neither one of us forgot Like my song you sang “We’re by the vending machines again”
[Chorus] (Hisashiburi!) We’re by the vending machines again (Hisashiburi!) I see you - you’re standing there like then We had the same idea We followed the same pull (Hisashiburi!) As the Sakura started to fall We didn’t need to say a word at all The years faded between then and now Hisashiburi - You’re still my friend
[koto, shamisen, shakuhachi Solo]
[Bridge] Obon season’s coming - I’ll see you again Let’s light up the lanterns together We couldn’t do it back then Warmth that travels through the air We’re not strangers, yes we’re friends You’re the song I wrote and sing I know how it started and how it will end
[Final Chorus - key lift] [Chorus] Time passed but here we are No matter how near - no matter how far We’ll be who we are Through every season no need for reason (Hisashiburi!) As the Sakura started to fall We didn’t need to say a word at all The years faded between then and now Hisashiburi - my only friend
[Outro] Infrared - you were always in my spectrum Infrared - in range since then, always will Infrared - I’ll see you again My only friend Hisashiburi - my only friend