Ascending the stairwell Passing through the shrine as though it were a doorway. A part of the island opened up to her, and a boy sat alone across the corner of her view.
―????
She instantly recognized the young man.
The University Kid she met at the Cafe, Kazehaya Shouta. Black hair is a mess, and his eyes are the color of the sea. His gloomy look remained the same as it had been since that day.
She lacked the courage to approach him. She decided that it was best to stop Kazehaya after what she had done. "oh?!, Kazehaya!?"
She gasped.
"How did you end up here all by yourself?"
It is preferable to apologize than to ignore him.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
"Hey… about that day"
"Mmm…? What about it?"
"Sorry, I felt bad that you…"
"... me what?"
The girl stood up from the bench in a hurry, running away from Kazehaya and said.
"Ne-never mind―! See you later―"
But something stopped her. His voice was right behind her. She felt something touching her hands. It was warm. It was soft.
"―I'm not gonna let you go before you explain everything!"
Takanashi turned around, looking directly at the eyes of the gloomy Kazehaya.
"You know… your eyes doesn't suit you when your sad"
"...and what does that mean…?"
"I mean… your eyes were shining when you and I were walking together!"
"――why does it sound like we're both in some kind of relationship?"
"―eh? Uhmm… N-no, we're not! Anyways, the reason I left you back then… is…" she was nervous. Her eyes went everywhere, looking at the surrounding grounds. She wasn't even looking at Kazehaya properly.
"Is what?"
Finally, she bowed down in front of Kazehaya and explained.
"Sorry, I'm sorry that I have to ask you about that broken umbrella!"
"―eh"
She clenched her fist and then made a dash and ran back down the stairs. All while Kazehaya was watching her hair as it flew in the wind.
She's beautiful.
It was like looking at an angle flying right across his vision.
Kazehaya, just knowing the reason why a girl he just met left him with no reason at all. It was relieving.
"Now… where are those tw―"
He turned around, seeing both of his friends were watching him from behind a tree. Why does anyone not think they're suspicious? Kazehaya's mind questioned.
"Hey! You two, what are you doing!"
Kazehaya waved his hand. Then, the two of them walked out of the tree and went to Kazehaya.
There wasn't anything big going on currently but Kazehaya was surprised to see both of them were wearing Kimonos. Sara was wearing a dark blue and white Kimono, while Koharu was wearing a grey Kimono.
Kazehaya scratched his head, wondering why they were wearing such magnificent things.
"Why?"
"What? You mean these Kimonos?"
"Yea"
"I had unused Kimonos back home. When Sara came to visit me, I told her to try one of them on! She looks like a doll!"
Hearing the statement from the person beside her, she puffed up her cheeks and said.
"Hey! Stop acting like I'm your daughter!"
"Ah, I'm sorry Sara but it's true that you look cute in the Kimono, right Kazehaya?"
Sara turned around. There was a pause between Koharu's question and Kazehaya's answer.
Sara was ready to slap at whatever Kazehaya's answer was. It wouldn't hurt for her, because Kazehaya left her two times before, so it was natural that she needs to do something about―
"―cute"
―eh?
Her hands were ready but when Kazehaya voiced out his praise about Sara's look, she couldn't move her hands. A strong feeling has struck her in her heart.
Lowering her head, she hides her red face.
"I-i see…"
It was a feeling of warmth and happiness. She was surprised a feeling such as that would come from a person who left her.
"Anyways, what do you guys want? New clothes? Food? Drinks?" Kazehaya raised up his hand and began to count, like he was counting how many things his friends wanted.
The two of them looked around to see what was best to buy at that time. They already ate a one hundred thousand yen cake, they wanted something more normal.
A stand was selling rice buns. A stand was selling ice cream. And there was also a stand, selling accessories. The two of them wondered what they should decide.
They looked at each other in the eyes, and nodded. Looking back to Kazehaya, ready to say what both of them wanted.
"―Takoyaki!"
"―Meat buns!"
Both fell in silence, hearing both desires are different. Both turned at each other.
"Wha-what?! I thought you were looking at the Takoyaki stand!"
"I tho-thought you were looking at the old man who's selling meat buns!"
Both continued to talk about the things they wanted. Despite both of his friends being noisy, he waited for them to finish with their little argument.
Can't these two be quick?
After a long 30 minutes of arguing, the two of them settled on Takoyaki.
The three of them were sitting on high chairs in front of the Takoyaki stand. Kazehaya ordered only a drink and both of the girls ordered 2 Takoyakis for each of them.
Kazehaya sips his cup of coffee and notices the difference between the coffee the stand brewed and his. It was―
―bitter!
The girl beside him turned her head towards Kazehaya.
"What's the matter, Kazehaya?" The girl tilted her head as she looked to the emotionless face of the boy sitting beside her.
"The coffee's bitter…" Kazehaya said as he stuck out his tongue.
"Well… what coffee did you order?" Koharu asked, then giving Kazehaya a small smile.
"...black coffee"
"No wonder it's bitter" Koharu let out a small giggle. "Aren't you going to order food? Aren't you hungry?" she asked as she ate another roll.
"I'll probably eat later… tonight…" Kazehaya lowered his head. "I'll try being nice to my friends…"
Words that are unbelievable from Kazehaya. Koharu, surprised, nearly fell down from the high chair. Sara overheard what Kazehaya said, she nearly choked from eating the roll.
Both of them slammed the table in front of them out of happiness.
"Are you serious!?"
Koharu smiled, her eyes were sparkling in front of Kazehaya's nearly dead eyes. He was pushed back because of the way Koharu leaned to him, making him unstable and…
"Wooh… that was close…"
He managed to grab the nearby wall to support him from falling.
"I'm glad… but… are you really―!"
She looked at Kazehaya as he got up from almost falling down. His eyes, even though still dimm and colourless, she could read that he was being serious.
"You're… really…"
"Yea, I am. Am I still not clear?"
"N-no! You're the only one who's the easie―"
"Okay okay, I get it"
"So, with this goal of yours, what're we going to do?" Sara put her arms and slanted her slim body over the table.
"...where ever you two want to go"
Sara returned to her seat, sitting properly. She opened her flip phone and checked what time it was. It was 09:59 Pm but the next second, it hit 10:00 Pm.
"Well… I've always wanted to go to the aquarium…"
"Sara"
The sudden call of her name made her body reflect and she turned her body. Right beside her, lies a face full of sadness.
"Uhmm… Kazehaya, isn't this too close…?"
It was like a kiss scene from a romance movie. Kazehaya was close enough to feel the breathing of Sara.
"You know, your breath taste terrible"
"―eh?!"
With full force and energy focused on her arms. She swung her arm and hit the face of Kazehaya out of flattery. The slap was hard, strong. Kazehaya fell on the pavement in front of the stand.
It was all on purpose for Kazehaya. Though, it still hurt and his cheek was red from the slap.
"Ah! I'm sorry Kazehaya…" Sara immediately got down from her chair and offered help to Kazehaya, grabbing his hand and getting him back up and putting him on the side.
"Yea… I'm alright" Kazehaya touched his cheek. It felt hot. "Now, I heard you wanted to go to the aquarium. Want to go there now?"
"W-well…" Sara looked behind her. Koharu was watching them both. Giving Sara a small smile and nodding her head.
She got down from her chair and walked to the both of them.
"I too want to go to the aquarium. I've never been to the aquarium with a friend before"
Kazehaya turned his gaze to Sara. But something. No. Someone was behind her. She was watching him and the others from behind a tree, like how the two of them watched Kazehaya talk to Takanashi.
This girl. Who was watching him…
Takanshi?
Kazehaya got up and started walking to the tree. The girl was still behind the tree but noticed that Kazehaya was slowly walking to her.
Kazehaya noticed the silhouette running away but then he heard a thump then someone screaming because of pain.
He ran in the direction of the scream that was right behind the tree…
"Hmm? what's this?"
He noticed something. Something made out of metal. He crouched down where the light behind him shined through.
"I-is this…?!"
He looked up at. In Front of him was a girl who had fallen.
"Mmm... Takanashi..."
The girl―Takanashi Ichika―was a disabled girl who only had one leg. The metal thing Kazehaya felt on his feat was her prosthetic leg.
"Oooww… tch… AAaah"
"you okay?"
"Huh?"
Takanshi rolled her body and watched Kazehaya bring her her prosthetic leg. The feeling of someone knowing your secret was embarrassing. Her face turned red and her heart was beating fast.
"I didn't know that you're―"
"Say, Kazehaya…"
"Huh? What is it?"
A cold breeze blew between them, making Takanashi's long black hair waved in the wind. Her turquoise eyes were shining like the ocean water.
"Do you… hate me…?"
―huh?
Why? Why does knowing someone's disabled make them think you hate them? Because they're different? Doesn't belong in any group? A world that can both accept and disagree with the disabled.
It's hard to live as a disabled.
"Why are you asking such a question?"
"Well… all of my friends left me because they knew that I was disabled and when someone tried to befriend me, the others would make fun of them. To the point where they also left me"
"Mmm… is that so?"
Kazehaya sat down on the grass, getting to Takanashi's level.
"When I graduated High School, I went to a University where my 'friends' doesn't go…"
"And, did you make new friends?" Kazehaya tilted his head in curiosity.
"I… didn't…" Takanashi lowered her head with a smile on her face. Giggling for a moment.
"I see..." Kazehaya crossed his arm. There was a moment where both of them doesn't speak but it soon disappeared when Kazehaya said words that...
"How about starting now? with me as your first friend"
...that sparked couragement inside Takanashi's heart. It was like an angel was offering help to a poor soul. Kazehaya's face lit up with the light shining on him. The once lifeless eyes were now starting to have life.
It was the point of starting something new for Takanashi and Kazehaya.
"A-are you sure? Won't your other friends hate me if I become your friend?"
"I highly doubt that"
Kazehaya gave the prosthetic leg to Takanashi, helping her put it on again. From the fall, some of Takanashi's belongings fell from her purse.
"Mmm——"
"Mmm——"
Two people were watching them from behind Kazehaya. Their faces were full of suspicion. Looking at Takanashi's face, Kazehaya realized something.
"Oi! don't you think that's a bit rude?"
"Kazehaya… who is she?" Sara whispered behind Kazehaya's ear.
"Don't you remember?"
"No, I d—?! Y-you! you're the one who has been ordering our signature coffee!" Sara shouted and pointed her finger at Takanashi out of surprisement.
Meanwhile Koharu walked up to Takanashi and lifted her up.
Kazehaya turned around, looking at the impatient Sara. She was pouting, her face was easy to read at that moment. Someone wants to go to some place.
"Hey, it's okay. We'll still go to the aquarium".
"Then hurry up! I don't want to be late!" Sara ran down the stone stairs. Koharu soon followed behind Sara, keeping her safe while Kazehaya—
"Takanashi, mind joining us?"
"Eh? Me…?"
"I mean…" Kazehaya scratched his head then continued to pat his legs twice. "The more the merrier, right?" Kazehaya gave Takanashi a small smile.
The night sky was beautiful. The moon was shining brightly and the Enoshima Torch was lit up. The gentle cold breeze passed by and both of them walked down the stairs together.
—Beautiful ocean blue eyes... sure, it is beautiful when it's full of life.