Before the sun sets (pt 1)

On another dreadful day in class, Haru's thoughts drowned out the noise of chalk dragging over the blackboard. His eyes pierced through the back of Mia, who was seated in front of him. The girl raised her hand and tried her best to answer every question the teacher might throw at her. The fact that she seemed to have next to no knowledge about Japanese calligraphy didn’t seem to bother her. In fact, she appeared completely captivated by the dreadfully boring subject matter.

I guess this subject must be quite interesting to a Japan-obsessed foreigner.

Haru’s thoughts, however, were captivated by the blonde girl. The girl he was slowly falling in love with. The girl who would only be here for one month. Even though Haru wasn’t the romantic type, he realized all too well that he couldn’t procrastinate on it forever. If he wanted to experience that coveted teen romance the movies can’t stop talking about, he had to act. Thoughts weren’t just merely enough.

“Had we but world enough and time,” Haru softly whispered, ending his sentence with a sigh. Marvell really knew what he was talking about.

Mia, who must have heard him say something, turned around. Her blue eyes questioning, her teasing glimpse covering the lower half of her face. “Were you trying to say something?”

Haru frantically shook his head, his heart beating faster.

“It’s nothing,” he responded, staring into her eyes. “Please focus on the lesson.”

Mia turned back and immersed herself in the lesson like she did earlier. She asked questions, answered others, she made jokes we didn’t understand, and most importantly, she wasn’t afraid to explore untrodden ground. Just like in the forest, she wasn’t afraid to explore the unknown. Mia was different… but in a good way. Her presence lit up everything she touched. She had the rare ability to make the mundane feel interesting again.

Mia is so awesome… the swooning Haru thought. He already dreaded seeing her chair empty again next month. His conviction grew, remembering her whisper.

I am not letting go of you.

This meant that she liked him too, right? The only thing he needed was the right moment. It didn’t have to be perfect, there was no time for that. But he also couldn’t ask her out right now in the middle of the class. He needed to find a moment alone with her… like the last day in the forest. He had to ask her out, forcing her to spend more time with him. Even though seemed a bit selfish, occupying her precious hours she had in this place, he couldn’t help himself. He had to make his move and claim a little piece of her heart.

Not long after, the classmates were startled by the echoing ring of the bell. Haru and his classmates got up from their chairs, ready to get some fresh air and embrace their lunch break. He patiently waited in the hallway for Mia to join them, but she seemed caught up in a deep conversation with their teacher.

“Ah, there you are!” Daichi told. “We were looking for you!”

Daichi grinned and moved his head close to Haru’s ear. “You haven’t told us about your date yet!”

Haru nervously chuckled, hushing his friend.

I won’t get any alone time with her, won’t I?

Daichi stepped away and pointed to the end of the hallway. “Let's go outside, Mia will find us when she’s done.”

X

Outside, Haru found his other friends hanging on a picnic bench.

“There we have him, our lover boy,” Renji said with a smug face, casually lounging.

Ayaka bumped the slouching boy with her arm, her face showing her displeasure.

“Ouch! Calm down,” Renji responded to the annoyed girl.

Daichi plopped down next to the others on the bench and folded one leg over the other. He stared at Haru in anticipation.

With three sets of eyes staring at him, Haru rubbed the back of his head. “What do you guys expect me to tell?”

“Everything!” Daichi responded, clenching his fist.

“Just the juice parts,” Renji glimpsed.

“Whatever, just start already”, Ayaka added.

Haru sighed. “Well, I showed her the waterfall in the forest.”

Daichi looked at him with excitement. “And then…? Did you two smooch?”

“I told you, Ayaka, our Haru is secretly a romantic lady-killer.”

Haru’s cheeks turned a bit red. “Guys, nothing like that happened. We just had a nice walk, we took a different route than usual and discovered an abandoned hut, Mia took some photos there… that’s it.”

He stopped and quieted his voice. “We might have held hands…”

Daichi’s eyes lit up. “Ahhh! How cute! You are totally in love with her!”

Renji gazed down at the ground. “Only that? You guys are surely taking things at a snail's pace. You remember she’s only here for a month, right?"

Haru sighed. “I know… I know… I want to find the right moment to ask her out,” he looked in the air, his head running. “Maybe we can do another ghost hunt?”

His friend’s eyes lit up. “Look, now we are talking! Do you have any locations in mind?”

“Mmm…” Haru pondered, his mind drifting. “Maybe that abandoned shrine outside of town?”

Renji grinned, his eyes lighting up, “That sounds perfect! Don’t worry, we’ll help you make it epic.”

Ayaka frowned, her tone uncertain. “Don’t you guys think it’s a bit… disrespectful?”

A short silence fell among the friends before Daichi smiled, “Well, think about it, Ayaka. It’s a nice chance to appreciate the shrine's history. If we are respectful and don’t treat it like just another haunted building, we might learn something new about the past. There is a lot of story and beauty left behind, not just some ghost.”

The girl shrugged her shoulders. “Whatever you guys want…”

"Omg! Did I just hear you all talk about ghosts?” Haru turned, his face meeting Mia’s enthusiastic glance. Feeling startled by the girl’s sudden presence, Haru froze, unsure of what to do.

"That's right! We might have caught your virus!” Daichi cheerfully responded.

Mia grabbed Daichi’s hands, stared into his eyes, and started jumping. The jovial Daichi joined in. Haru awkwardly laughed at his friends being silly.

“After my big scare the other day, I think I am ready to meet the Weeping Lantern again!” Mia said with a big smile, “Any idea what other places we could meet her?”

“Well, we were just talking about that with your smoochy lover,” Daichi added with a wink.

“My lover? Does Haru call himself that? That’s a bit embarrassing…” Mia chuckled, holding her hand before her face. “Not that I would mind…” she quietly whispered.

Haru’s head grew red as a tomato. Did he hear that right?

“Give poor Haru a break, please!” Ayaka snorted out.

“Look at little Ayaka, feeling a bit jealous?” Renji responded with a smug smile.

“Stop being so stupid!” she responded, crossing her arms. Ayaka turned to Haru. “Please tell Mia your plan, get over with it.”

Haru took a breath and regained his composure. “There is an abandoned temple outside the town-” he scraped his thoughts trying to create a connection to the myth, “It is said that the town’s ghost visits it every-”

“Full moon!” Daichi added while holding up his phone, “And we are in luck, since it is a full moon tonight!”

“I am so excited, guys! Excuse me, I'll have to record a video to keep my fans updated!” She said while wandering off, fumbling with her pink phone.

Daichi turned to Haru. “What an amazing girl, isn’t she! You are such a lucky guy!”

Haru grinned. “I guess I am.”

Renji smirked, rubbing his hands together. “Alright, where are we meeting after school? I've got some killer ideas for pranking her.”

“One of us has to occupy Mia so she doesn’t get too suspicious,” Daichi said, hovering his pointing finger over each of his friends, “I think it should be… Ayaka!” he said while pointing at her.

“Me? Why?” She responded with a raspy voice.

Renji laughed, “I guess the day our dear Ayaka gets a female friend has finally arrived!”

Ayaka crossed her arms. “What am I supposed to do with her?”

Daichi leaned in to her. “Gossip, talking about boys, painting nails, you know, girly things!”

“Maybe she can give you a makeover,” Renji added, while winking at Ayaka.

“Gross!” she added, after which she rolled her eyes. “You know what, I’ll babysit her. But not for too long, so you guys better be quick!”