"It's quite chilly out here, we should head inside." The person infront of me nodded in agreement.
A gentle breeze surrounded the area. It's that time of the season after all, the season of growth and changes.
We sat down and relaxed ourselves for the meantime. Coming back from the province was quite the hassle, many people were coming back to their hometown in preparation for the next season to come.
After relaxing for a bit, I got up and went to the kitchen to prepare our meal.
"Are we going to the harvest festival tomorrow?" She asked.
"Do you want to go?" I asked, before giving her a cup of coffee. "You don't usually ask to go to such events, because their too crowded. So, what's the reason?"
"Well, it's just that...I'm going abroad next month and we won't be spending that much time together, so I thought that we could do something fun and different."
Thinking about it, it's not that bad anyway so why not give it a try. What's the worse that could happen? "Hmm..."
"So can we?" The girl clasped her hands together and asked me again.
"Alright, we can go. But remember to bring the things you need for tomorrow okay?"
"Okayyy, got it!" She saluted as if trying to be a sergeant.
Do you really though? I'll help in preparing so that there won't be any problems.
The day of the festival is here.
"As expected of a festival, there are a lot of people." We brought only the things that are important to us like: the house key, phones, and our wallets.
"Right!? There are a lot of things here too and a lot of food stalls, look over there, they have a takoyaki stand." This girl beaming with energy even though she isn't used to crowded places is really something.
She's like a puppy excited going to an unfamiliar place with many interesting things, and food.
We went to stalls one after another and some games and won only little. It was enjoyable. We also had a lot of takoyaki, and sushi. That was a delight!
Everytime something caughts her eye we go there and try it, just like this candy apple for example. I've tried this when I was little, it really is sweet and delicious. It's a neverending run with her.
"Oh, right." There's one more event that hasn't happened yet.
"Hwm? Wua ish ik?(Hmm? What is it?)"
Seriously this girl.
"Can you not speak while eating, please. Here have some water."
" *Gulp– Ahh, refreshing~ Anyway what is it that you were saying?"
"Haahh...There's still something that hasn't started yet. It's always there at the end of a festival or an event."
"Ohh!"
It's–
"Fireworks."
"FIREWORKS!"
"We'll watch them right? Right?"
"Yes we will, after we find a good place to watch it from. There are a lot of people so it might be hard seeing them from here. We would get to see it, in exchange of getting in the sea of people."
That's why I prepared a lot for this and found a place that no one usually goes to.
"Your smiling~ does that mean you know somewhere to see it, away from all these people?"
"Yeah, so come on." I gestured her to grab my hand. "Here, so that you don't get separated from me."
"Hey! I don't get lost that easily, you jerk."
"You're red as that candy apple right now."
"I am not..."
"Okay, okay, I was just teasing you. No need to be so silent." Maybe I was a bit harsh.
"Are we there yet?"
Oh, you finally spoke. "Almost....Aand we're here. A great place am I right?" I searched for this place last night just so we could have a good time, you know?
"It's quite a sight, we can see all the people here and the sky also."
"The skies view is only for us to see here and nobody else. We should sit, the fireworks won't be starting yet."
"R-right! Say, when did you find the time to find this spot?"
"Uh...I never expected you to question me about this. But, I found it last night."
"Last night....???"
I can hear her disbelief at me dropped. And here comes the blow. I covered my ears expecting to be told off, because I was out late last night and she didn't knew.
"What! Are you crazy!? Have you gotten a proper sleep last night? We got home in the evening yesterday, when did you even got the time to find this place? And we went out so early today and...I didn't even notice... I'm the worse..."
"Ahh..." I'm glad that she got mad at me because she was worried for my health and not anything else.
"It's not your fault, I didn't want you to know, because I wanted to surprise you, And you know me, I'm not really the type to sleep at the right time. So please don't be mad at yourself."
"Okay...but when we get back be sure to get some sleep. Don't worry about anything else just go to sleep after we're done with the festival. I'll take care of everything."
"All right, you're really reliable Miele." I rested my head on my arms.
*Laughs* "Of course, I'm the most reliable friend you'll ever have!"
*Fwooosh *Fwooosh
"It's starting!"
"Beautiful –" !!
"Truly are! The fireworks are really beautiful!
Haa...you dummy. You never really got what I was feeling all this time, even back then you were always like this.
"Kino! Look!"
You held my hand just like that. Anyways, the fireworks is definitely an amazing sight.
A spark started to ignite inside me since the first time we met, but you wouldn't know that.
The festival came to an end and when we got home you directly told me to take a bath and then sleep.
"I'll get the bath ready for you, so just rest on the bed for now."
"Okay, I'll lie for a while." The bed...it's soft. "––––––" I fell asleep.
The next day, I woke up when it was almost noon. I saw Miele preparing our food.
"Ah. You're awake. Go wash up first, I'll be putting the food on the table when I'm done."
"You could have woke me up to help you with lunch."
"You were tired, so I thought to not disturb your sleep. I did good~."
Really now. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Hey! I saw that!"
"You must be seeing things~ I'll be in the washroom if you need me."
"Jerk!" She threw the towel at me and hit the back of my head. It's fine, it didnt hurt.
"I'm done washing up."
"Then let's eat."
The food prepared was curry and last night's take out of sushi. And green tea.
"It's good."
"Heey! You say that as if my cooking is bad."
"It's a compliment."
"You jerk, pftt- haha....hahahahaha."
"What now?"
"I just remembered that we were so on bad terms in the past but, look at us now. Living together was absolutely not my plan when I met you."
"Yeah...I'm glad we're here right now."
"Don't be like that Kino, I'll put some green peppers on your food the next time, you act like this."
"Urkk- anything but that."
"Hahahahaha..."
This time that we have right now will soon be gone. That's why I'm glad we're here right now and nowhere else.
— 1 Year Later —
"You seem quite happy, Kino."
"I remembered the time when we were still living together, that was such an amazing time we had." I'm trembling, I'm scared. Why isn't it me?
"Kino, please look at me."
"Miele..."
You're caressing my face, just like you used to. But now, you're looking at me with pity.
"I'm glad that you were with me until the end, and even when I was at my lowest you were still there. I'm really really glad that you're here."
I don't want to do this...I'm by your side but not as much as that person will be.
"I'm fine, Miele. Come on, don't look at me like that. You're supposed to smile, it's you're special day, So please don't frown."
I want you to be happy more than anyone else but...
"Thanks Kino. I'm truly greatful that you're my best friend. And you being here is more than I could have asked for."
I wanted to be the one to make you happy. Be the one to make you the happiest person in the world. I guess I can't do that anymore.
"Yeah... You're right. You won't have anyone else to be a friend as loyal as me, I'm one of a kind~ haahahahaha! Come now, it's almost time."
The bells of the church are ringing, the birds are singing, a beautiful scenery is setting. And you, my beautiful friend is walking down that aisle gracefully.
"Congratulations, Miele...Congratulations on your marriage. May you and your beloved share new beginnings together as a family. And be it that no harm comes your way."
And just like that, new beginnings started for us all. Seeing that happiness is blooming with you and and him. I'll let go of the past and make amends with people and I'll also...let go of you now.
The two of us spended sometime together after the ceremony... I said things before I left.
"Thank you again Kino, I really appreciate it and I'm sorry that I didn't consider your feelings–"
" I told you already that I'm fine, but if you want to talk about it, then okay...Miele, If there was a chance that I could just take you with me, I would. And that fact won't change until the day I die. My feelings won't go so easily, even so, don't look at me with pity. You know me, I'm quite strong hehehe."
"Right...I'm sorry. And I certainly know that you're strong, we've been together for a long time, what do you expect? Hahaha."
New beginnings will start. And you'll have new beginnings with someone that isn't me. While I begin with nothing.
Miele walked inside the hall to greet some guests and I stayed outside for a bit. I watched as she greeted the guests with a smile.
I muttered
"Congratulations on your wedding my friend...My first love."
——END——