December 27 became my favorite day among my stay in Hakone despite the bad headache I had in the morning and the embarrassment that accompanied it. My head throbbed as I opened my eyes, sensing a weight against my waist. Akira's serene sleeping face greeted me.
His bangs were brushed to the side, and his lips were slightly parted. Then the onslaught of memory of last night assaulted me. I slapped a hand over my mouth as I recalled the fiasco I created in the middle of the night when Akira tried to get up.
I clung to his arms and then to his waist, begging him not to go. I groaned and cringed as I thought hard whether I followed him to turn up the heater. I did not know I was capable of that. I must have been drunker than I realized.
My stomach sunk. Akira was going to hate me now.
He moved and tightened his embrace, distracting me from my thoughts. I watched his chest heaved in and out in a constant rhythm. The trepidation from the rush of memories subsided. I lifted a hand in wonder and began to trace his eyebrows, sliding a fingertips to his nose down to his cheek. How could he be so beautiful?
But then he stirred. I stilled, removing my hand. His lips twitched, and his eyes cracked open, glittering with a reticent smile.
"Good morning, senpai. How's your head?" He brushed away my hair.
I groaned, snuggling closer to him. "Don't remind me."
"I'm not going to leave you know." His tone was teasing.
"Shut up." I shoved him.
Akira laughed, pulling me closer again. "I don't want to leave this bed."
"Me too," I whispered, swallowing a sigh.
Those turned out to be nothing but sentiments. His stomach growled, and I needed to go to the bathroom.
After having breakfast with his cousins, the two of us walked towards the station. The wind was biting, but the sky was blue and bright. My headache faded. My worries disappeared. I felt lighter as Akira held my hand for the entire fifteen minutes. We talked nonstop until we got onto the bus.
But the feeling of contentment continued throughout the day. I was opening up to him, revealing more and more of myself. I even had the guts to admit that I was 'a little' afraid of heights when we were the next ones to ride the ropeway.
Akira chuckled but held my hand tighter. "We can decline."
I frowned. "No. We waited long enough for it."
He stared at me with pursed lips as if to say you could have said so before we got in line.
"I said a little." I crossed my arms over my chest. "I can do this."
Akira sighed. "Sure you can. You can stare at my face the entire ride."
"What?" I chortled.
"Come on." He took my hand. "I'll lend you my handsome face."
"Handsome?" I repeated, my voice rising as he jostled me inside.
It was a ride I would never forget. The day itself was remarkable as well. It was like waking up on the first day of spring. It was still cold yet excitement coursed through me, warming up my every sense. I hadn't felt this way in years.
Sparkly little stars littered the sky when Akira and I left the restaurant. When we returned home, we found his cousins along with his brother and sister-in-law in the living room at the house at the back. They grabbed me and interrogated me about my day.
I amused them, enjoying the attention and reliving my perfect day. When all the excitement died down, Akira caught my eyes and nodded towards the door.
"Bath," he mouthed.
I flushed even though he hadn't said together. But I nodded. Akira stood first, inched towards the door, and waited for me. Trying to be subtle about it, I scanned the room when I met Mayuki-san's eyes. I gulped. They were shining.