The Concept of Water and Encroaching Dusk

Weeks passed and the flowers began to fade as sprouts of green leaves began to appear. Hazuki and Naoe both knew their time was running out. Every day gained a weight of preciousness. Every sunset carried a warning. Even though Naoe assured Hazuki it was not yet time for her to vanish, he still found himself immediately rushing to her tree as soon as he woke. That morning, as he limped from his secluded grove to her tree, he felt a sense of dread within his chest that had not been there before. It was as though he was becoming more aware of her existence’s timeline, and the timeline was ending soon.

Still, when he turned off the path to cut through the trees and reach her faster, he saw her up ahead, still there, still sitting beneath her tree. Relief washed over him and she slowed slightly.

“Good morning,” she said over her shoulder as she heard him approach.

“Good morning,” he replied.

Hazuki realized he smelled as he sat down. He had not bathed yesterday. A nearby clinic had showers for those who needed it, but the fear of parting for even a single precious moment made him want to stay by Naoe’s side. That said, he became self-conscious as soon as he caught a hint of his sweat and dirt-laced odor. Naoe did not seem to notice, or if she did, she hid it well. He sat beside her and handed her a fruit packet he had grabbed the day before during a grocery run.

“Is this the ‘fruit smoothness’?” asked Naoe.

“Smoothie, yes,” replied Hazuki as he opened one for himself.

“You have fruit available whenever you want. What a fortunate time,” said Naoe as she put the packet’s tube into her mouth and swallowed a serving of mixed fruit.

“We are fortunate. I sometimes forget about it. Do you have a favorite fruit, or is it…” Hazuki asked in genuine curiosity.

Naoe blushed and nodded.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with my situation, but yes I always loved plum. I had plum wine once and it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted. I do remember that,” said Naoe with a look of pleasant remembrance.

“Oh, it was so delicious,” she sighed as she thought about it.

Hazuki couldn’t help but grin at the knowledge he was about to share. Instead, he stopped himself and decided to surprise her. He had seen a dozen offerings of plum wine in the stores nearby over the last few weeks.

The wind blew and Hazuki caught another hint of his smell. This time it was embarrassing enough to make him pause. He decided to at least return to his tent to spray freshener and rinse his mouth, but then a better idea crossed his mind. It would be a gamble, and he had only done it a few times, but never with Naoe.

“Naoe, can I ask you something?” he asked her.

“Certainly,” she replied.

He paused, suddenly embarrassed and wanting to phrase his request as delicately as possible.

“I… I need to bathe… But I don’t want to part from you…” he said.

His heart raced. Naoe felt her face warm and was surprised to find her eyes unintentionally darting to Hazuki’s defined neck and throat. It was quick, and she looked up to his eyes as soon as she caught herself.

“Bathe?” she asked.

‘Yes. I usually go to the shower facility nearby, but you wouldn’t be able to join me.”

Naoe’s fingers began to run through the end of her hair in embarrassed uncertainty.

“But there is a lake nearby, with a lot of spots tucked away where no one can see. It’s outside of the park but it’s very short to walk from there,” explained Hazuki.

Naoe glanced at him, realizing the multiple ideas he was about to propose.

“Would you want to come with me? Just so we can stay together? I won’t be indecent, and you don’t have to watch me or anything, I just want to be near you,” Hazuki explained in his familiar youthful rush of explanations.

Color was full in Naoe’s and Hazuki’s faces now. Naoe found herself very aware of her lips at that moment. Hazuki was shocked and embarrassed to feel blood flow to other areas that he genuinely had not meant to, and turned his hips slightly to hide his shame.

Naoe thought about the offer. Not only was it an intimate proposal, even if she didn’t watch him, it would also be the first time she had ever left the park as far as she could remember.

“Leave the grove with you?” she asked.

Hazuki nodded.

Naoe thought about the offer for a moment. In her heart, she knew their time was soon ending and had indeed not wanted to part from him either. Concerned for her safety and uncertainty if she’d even be able to leave the area mixed in with a feminine draw she suddenly felt for him. Images of drops of water running down his chest and shoulders flashed in her mind and she shook her head in embarrassment.

“No?” asked Hazuki.

“No, not that,” laughed Naoe, realizing she had been seen.

“Just, trying to not think on something…” she said.

They met eyes and Hazuki moved closer to her.

“It’s soon isn’t it?” he asked.

Naoe paused and slowly nodded.

“I think I can sense it. Or maybe I’m projecting, but it feels like it’s coming soon,” he said.

“It is,” she whispered as her fingers touched the top of his hand.

Acceptance settled over Hazuki like a sheet of smoke. Green leaves had already begun to overtake the fading blossoms. Spring’s arrival had transitioned into the hints of summer’s approach. Naoe made up her mind.

“Let’s try and see. I would like to be with you, too,” Naoe answered as she reached up to brush Hazuki’s hair out of his eyes.

“Plus I would love to see the water again, in any form,” she added.

Hazuki took her hand and helped her up. Multiple blossoms were collected to give them ample time credit. They made their way from Naoe’s tree and to Hazuki’s tent. As they walked through the grove, neither of them spoke. Once they returned to the path, Hazuki saw the familiar park employee who had been there when the officers tried to kick him out. Out of habit, Hazuki flinched to shrink himself as he walked.

“Can he see you?” Hazuki asked Naoe.

“No, you’re okay,” replied Naoe.

To Hazuki’s surprise, the employee smiled and waved at him.

“Good morning!” said the employee.

“...Good morning,” replied Hazuki.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” asked the employee as he clipped away at a bush with sheering nippers.

Naoe nudged Hazuki to respond.

“He’s being polite. You should chat with him,” she said.

Hazuki hesitated then stopped.

“...Are… are you… pruning? Pruning lavender?” asked Hazuki.

“Indeed! Best to do it now. The plant has started-”

“New growth. Don’t want to do it too early and damage the plant,” joined Hazuki.

The employee seemed surprised. Even Naoe smiled at his response.

“Very good! You know gardening?” asked the employee.

“You studied botany,” whispered Naoe as Hazuki smiled slightly.

“I studied botany when I was younger, and helped my grandparents in their garden,” answered Hazuki.

“Well, if you ever wish to join us, we are always hiring and looking for volunteers!” called the employee with a wave and bow before returning to his work.

Hazuki bowed and Naoe squeezed his hand.

“You did well. Is it hard to talk to others?" she asked.

“It’s fine when I’m just buying food or something, but regular conversation is lost on me,” answered Naoe.

“Well, you speak very well with me,” said Naoe with a supportive smile.

“You’re different. You’re you,” answered Hazuki, to which Naoe smiled to herself at the realization she was indeed a truly unique relationship for him.

Once Hazuki had gathered his belongings, the two of them made their way to the edge of the park. Grass ended and concrete for the parking lot stood like a molten barrier that Naoe had never dreamt of crossing. Her pulse intensified with genuine curiosity and a healthy amount of fear. Even Hazuki found himself concerned and intrigued to see what happened. His fingers enveloped Naoe’s hand as she clasped her petals close and inhaled deeply.

“Ready?” asked Hazuki.

Naoe glanced back towards her tree and then looked at Hazuki. Her eyes studied him and captured his image like a portrait artist eyeing a subject. Hazuki didn’t look away and after a moment understood she was memorizing the scene in case she vanished. This could be too much and might cause her to disappear for the year, but to his surprise, she didn’t back down.

“I’m ready,” she answered.

With that, she kept his hand on hers then stepped forward onto the concrete and off of the park grounds.