A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy - Chapter 11

…From that day on, we played together every day with pure excitement.

If there was a big festival in the east, we’d go and try every snack at the stalls. If there was an event at a museum in the west, we’d spend the whole day wandering around.

If a trendy cafe opened in the north, we’d go take photos together. If the sea to the south was beautiful, we’d go at night and light fireworks.

We became that kind of people.

“Hey, Kana! The candle is lit!”

“Yes! Can we start the fireworks?”

“Of course!”

I touched the tip of my sparkler to the candle Kenji had placed on the sand.

The fire caught, and suddenly, with a “whoosh!” sound, the firework came to life.

“Wow! It’s lit, it’s lit!”

With the lit sparkler in hand, I waved it around like a magic wand. The dark night and quiet waves turned bright in an instant.

The firework shifted colors from red to yellow, then to lime green. The colors reflected off the sea, changing vividly with each shift.

Whooosh!

I noticed Kenji lighting his own firework, standing right beside me.

His sparkler only glowed blue, but the flame was bigger than mine, and it was dazzling in its own way.

“Hey, Kenji! Look, look!”

I took off my beach sandals and stepped into the sea. The night sea felt chilly, lapping up to my ankles.

“See? The sea is shining! My firework is lighting it up!”

“Wow, you’re right! I can even see past the horizon!”

“Amazing, right!? Fireworks are so bright! Hey, Kenji, come here too! Let’s light up the sea together!”

“Yeah! Just a sec!”

Kenji took off his sandals, rolled up the cuffs of his pants, and joined me in the water.

Our fireworks illuminated the sea far and wide. It felt incredible, like the two of us had done something grand together, and it made me happy.

The sea breeze blew in from the ocean, tousling Kenji’s and my hair. The sound of the wind echoed around us, whooshing past.

Kenji’s laughing face and my excited one were both lit up by the fireworks.

Those fireworks were the most fun I’d ever had in my seventeen years of life.

—

August 23rd, 2:30 p.m. It was a drizzly day, and we were at the art museum.

In the quiet gallery, Kenji and I walked side by side, gazing at the paintings on the walls.

“Hey, Kenji, don’t you think this painting is a bit…risqué?”

I whispered to Kenji’s ear. The painting was of a naked woman striking an artful pose.

Her arms were behind her head, elbows raised, and her body was twisted slightly. I didn’t really understand it, but it felt artistic.

“Uh…yeah, it’s a very…sensual pose.”

Kenji seemed uncomfortable using words like “erotic” or “risqué,” so he’d always substitute them with “sensual.”

I found that so amusing that I’d tease him a little.

“Hey, Kenji.”

I struck the same pose as the woman in the painting.

“Who’s more risqué, me or the painting?”

“Ka—Kana, please! Th-that kind of thing…it’s…”

“Come on, who’s more~?”

“W-well…o-of course…y-you, Kana…”

Kenji was blushing like a tomato, sweating profusely, and it was so adorable, I couldn’t resist.

—

By evening, we had seen all the exhibits and were walking home side by side.

“Wow, that was fun!”

“Yeah, there were so many paintings, it was interesting.”

“Oh, sorry, Kenji. I don’t think I remember most of them.”

“What? Really…?”

“Ha ha! Don’t be so down! I had fun just being with you!”

“O-oh…there you go again, Kana.”

Despite his words, Kenji looked pleased, a slight smile tugging at his cheek.

“Hey, Kenji.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know what day tomorrow is?”

“What day, huh…”

“If you don’t know, I’ll be sad~”

“Uh…let’s see…oh, is it our one-month anniversary since we started dating?”

“Yes! You got it! Good job, Kenji! Here’s a head pat as your reward.”

I said that and ruffled Kenji’s hair, making him chuckle, embarrassed.

“Since it’s our one-month anniversary, I thought maybe we could go out for a nice meal.”

“Sounds great! Let’s splurge!”

“But actually, I have to go to school tomorrow.”

“Oh right, you have a makeup class?”

“Yeah, a makeup class for my failing grade! It’s in the morning, so we can meet in the afternoon. Is that okay?”

“Of course, no problem. Actually, I’ll come to school.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll come to pick you up around the time your class ends. Then we can head into town together.”

“Really!? Thanks, Kenji! You deserve more head pats!”

“Ahh, no more head pats~”

Kenji gave a weak little squeal as I messed up his hair again.

—

Chirp-chirp, chirp-chirp…

The sound of cicadas seeped into the evening scenery. Our shadows stretched longer than before.

“By the way, Kana.”

“Yeah?”

“I think it’s great you’re attending makeup classes. It’s a responsible choice.”

“Hehe, I just don’t want to repeat a year. I want to graduate with you, so I’m doing my best.”

“Y-yeah…that’s…kind of…embarrassing.”

“Hehe.”

“…Oh, I have to turn right here at this intersection.”

“Right.”

“And you go left, right?”

“…Yes.”

“So, I guess this is where we part.”

“……………………”

“See you tomorrow. Tomorrow’s special, so I’ll bring plenty of money. You don’t have to bring any.”

“Nuh-uh, I’m bringing mine too. Let’s split the bill.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I know about your family situation, and I don’t want to be a burden. Plus…it’s our anniversary. I want us both to celebrate together.”

“Thanks, Kana.”

Kenji gave me his usual gentle smile.

“…Well then, Kana, see you.”

He waved, looking a little sad, reluctant even, and I waved back. Kenji smiled warmly, looking happy, and then turned away quietly.

“……………………”

I kept watching his back as he walked away.

Truthfully, I felt so lonely, I wanted to run up and hug him from behind.

But we’d meet again tomorrow. Tomorrow would be our anniversary, a happy day for sure.

“…See you tomorrow, Kenji.”

Though he didn’t notice, I waved to his back.

“…No, that’s not right, Kenji. Tomorrow and beyond, let’s stay together forever.”

That night, I believed it.

I truly believed that Kenji and I would always meet and laugh together, no matter what lay ahead.