Sakurave Return signal

I opened my contacts after a long time
Staring at a name that hasn’t changed
The words I never sent
Just kept increasing

I knew it all along
That either of us could have made the first move
But that “first step
Was always too frightening to take

I always thought
You would come first
But you were probably
Just watching in silence too

Return signal—at a distance that never connects
Only time keeps passing for years
If our eyes met, it felt like everything would end
So neither of us moved

Return signal—just one simple word would have been enough
Even “hello” was something I couldn’t say
Maybe you were the same
Just afraid as well

I saw you at the station platform many times
You always felt a little far away
Every time I tried to speak
My heart ran away first

What if I’m wrong?
What if I misunderstood?
I kept losing to that single thought
And nothing ever began

Did you notice it too?
Or was there really nothing at all?
Maybe I was the only one
Creating meaning where there wasn’t any

Return signal—the silence from that time
Still remains in my chest
I never said I liked you
And time turned me into an adult

Return signal—even if I went back
I would probably do the same thing again
Both of us, the same way
Just too afraid

Maybe the most selfish thing
Was that we did nothing at all

And maybe the kindest thing
Was that we didn’t break anything

But what I realize now is
That even just once would have been enough

I should have just said “hey

Return signal—I was waiting for you
But maybe you were waiting for me too
If one of us had been brave
Everything could have been different

Return signal—but now I understand
We were both just afraid
More than being rejected
We were afraid of nothing ever beginning

I close the screen

Your name remains

And in the quiet night

I finally understand

You and I

Were always in the same place