Whispers After Lanterns

The hum of the car's AC resonated with the road noise as they drove along the dark mountain highway. Nitsuki sat quietly next to Tachibana, her eyes fixated on the passenger window. Her gaze drifted across the passing trees and distant twinkling stars that painted the night sky. It felt so serene in comparison to the chaos that had happened just a couple of hours earlier.

After helping Mr. Miyamoto off the ground, she'd handed him back his tanzaku that'd gotten loose in the scuffle, but not before accidentally glimpsing at what his wish was for.

Nitsuki hugged her knees to her chest. She could still see the words etched into her memory as clear as crystal:

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

Please let my sister's soul rest amongst the stars.

≻───── ⋆✩⋆ ─────≺

She sighed heavily as a wave of melancholy washed over her. They'd gotten to talking afterward, and it turned out, he wasn't really a bad guy. Sure, he always came off prickly, but once they'd started talking, it was obvious—he was just painfully shy.

Apparently, he'd been struggling with a lot of personal issues after his younger sister had died about six months ago. And while they didn't live close to one another—she'd been living far north in Hokkaido for the past decade or so—he'd still taken it hard since they'd constantly kept in contact.

Nitsuki traced the outline of the valley below them on the window's glass.

He'd even told them that he'd been having a lot of trouble keeping his shop afloat these days because of his grief. Every week she used to send him a little haiku to hang up by the register, so now, every day he saw the same one still there… well, she didn't have to go into detail.

All she knew was that discount he'd given her back then was really packing on the guilt now.

"…Guess that's what I get for judging a book by its cover," she murmured, hugging her legs closer and resting her head against the car seat. "Maybe if I'd talked to him sooner, I would've realized."

Tachibana glanced over at her from behind the wheel. "You talking about Mr. Miyamoto?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I feel awful for thinking so poorly of him… it kind of makes me feel sick."

"It's fine, Nia. You didn't know. Besides…" He smiled softly. "It's nice to have a good surprise every once in a while."

"I mean… that's one way to look at it I guess."

She smirked as her mind replayed the recent memory of Mrs. Aiko standing up for them. "We've been having more of those than I'm used to recently, haven't we? When did life decide it wanted to be this good to us?"

The headlight from a passing car made Tachibana squint before it faded. "When? Probably when we finally started to be honest with each other and ourselves. It feels like I've lived an entire lifetime of happiness, introspection, and growth just in the last few weeks with you."

Nitsuki snorted at the sudden sappiness. "Didn't we just touch on this topic the other day? And I swear, with the amount of cheese you spout, one day you're going to say something like, 'Nia, I wish I could rearrange the stars to spell out your name.'"

He chuckled as he slowed down for a turn. "I mean, technically yeah, but that was more me commenting on your positive changes." They both instinctually leaned into the momentum of the car. "This time around… I was referring to us as a couple."

"O-oh." She felt her face burn hot. "You mean, well…"

"Yeah. You've made me so incredibly happy—I'm not ashamed to say it. I can't imagine a world without you." His voice became softer, and his grip on the steering wheel seemed to tighten a bit. "And well… I'll be repeating this same sentiment until I die, but… thank you for not leaving—for giving life another chance."

Nitsuki's chest fluttered as a passing streetlamp illuminated the sincerity on Tachibana's face.

"…" Warmth spread from her cheeks to her entire body, and she found herself smiling despite the tears that were threatening to leak out from her eyes. "You dummy…"

They continued on their drive down the mountain, the winding road stretching out before them. The night was quiet except for the occasional passing car and the dim lights from the town below. There was still a good fifteen or so minutes left in their drive.

Tachibana rested one of his arms on the gear stick as he reignited the conversation. "Circling back to Mr. Miyamoto for a sec, do you think he'll take us up on our offer? You know, the support group?"

"Huh? Oh, that." She thought about it for a moment. "Maybe? He seems like the type to keep to himself though, so I wouldn't count on it. He also made that comment about not wanting to be the old fart of the group if he did join."

Tachibana's brow raised. "He's not even forty though, right?"

"Probably not. Granted, his attire is something a fifty-year-old might wear."

Tachibana shrugged as he skillfully maneuvered around a pothole. "Fair. The sweater vest is pretty distinctive. But I think it looked good on him."

"Eh, agree to disagree." She hummed as her fingers drummed on the door's armrest. "Joking aside, I do actually hope that he'll come to the meeting—I feel like he really needs it. Also, while this might come off as self-serving, having a 'normal' adult on board might help convince the rest of Hoshimura that the group's not just a bunch of crazy youths."

"Heh, yeah, it might."

The car came to a stop as they arrived at an intersection, and Nitsuki sighed as she recalled something.

"…There was that one last thing he mentioned that has me worried though. You remember?"

His bottom lip quirked up. "Mmm… Oh. About Inoue and her group?"

She nodded, feeling a little uneasy at the memory of the conversation. "He said he's heard some things floating around town. Apparently, they've been talking a lot about the support group, and not in a positive light."

"I see…" Tachibana's voice drifted off as the car lurched forward again. "Sort of makes sense though. I mean, the entire debacle with that old codger and the two other ladies at our last meeting? That definitely didn't seem like it was just a spontaneous event."

Nitsuki frowned, thinking back to it. "Yeah, it felt planned. Like they were trying to squish our group before we even really had the chance to get it running." She fidgeted in her seat as she stared out at the night sky. "Pardon my language, but I absolutely want to knock something into those shitstains for trying to pull that crap—especially with how Yamaguchi was there."

Tachibana made a small coughing sound as he focused on the road. "W-wow, Nia. You really are turning a new leaf, aren't you? You're asking me to pardon your language? But em, on a less jokey note: I'd recommend just trying to focus on the positives for now. Rather not have you turn into some yokai out of spite."

She sighed, leaning her cheek against her palm. "Look, it's just—how could I not be angry, you know? Especially after seeing Yamaguchi's reaction in that situation and after reading her wish tonight."

Her eyes drifted to her reflection in the side-view mirror. "I just… I want her to have an easier time of things than I did. She deserves it; she really does."

"I know." His free hand reached out to pet her head and give it a little rub. "You're a good person, Nia, and you're doing a good thing. Don't let them ruin your efforts, okay?"

Her face curled in sudden embarrassment. "M-my goodness Tachibana. Look, I appreciate the comment but keep your hands on the damn wheel! Don't just start stroking my head like some coddled pet!"

He didn't seem to listen, just hummed a little as he continued. "Mhm, speaking of, I've been thinking. You sort of remind me of a cat sometimes."

"…"

She glowered at him in silence, and Tachibana immediately sensed he'd overstepped, quickly retracting his hand before clearing his throat.

"Erm, well, I meant that in the sense that, um, cats can be independent, yet fiercely loyal, and are often misunderstood, and uh, also have very soft and fluffy hair." He gulped. "A-also, they are very beautiful and graceful, and they can have a strong sense of justice and can get easily angered, but—"

Nitsuki interrupted him, firmly grabbing the hand that had been previously petting her and quickly replaced it back on her head.

"Idiot. Just shut up and continue. We're almost home."

His breath hitched. "R-really?! You sure?!"

She didn't say anything, just closed her eyes and harumphed in reluctant approval for his antics.

That might as well have been an affirmative 'yes' coming from the heavens. Tachibana's eyes began to sparkle as he resumed the affectionate petting, and the two of them soon were back to their familiar comfortable silence.

Nitsuki took in the moment, feeling the firmness of his touch, and the lulling vibrations of the road. The only notable sounds were Tachbana's giddy noises, and the soft ruffling of her head.

'Eh he, this is nice' her brain vacantly noted.

Nitsuki felt the sudden urge to rebuke the rogue thought but stopped once she realized an uncomfortable truth.

"…Crap," she near silently mouthed.

It really was nice.