The Healing Principles of Water

Rin requested a slight change of plans, which everyone agreed to. Even though all of them were ready to leave the shadow of the mountains, Rin had always wanted to see the hot springs onsen town in Yamagata. Everyone excitedly agreed with numerous remarks made about looking forward to the picturesque streets lined with aged establishments. Open-air baths called to them, so the next few days were spent in quiet luxuriation within the mineral waters of Obanazawa’s Ginzan Onsen.

The group entered the waters together and collectively exhaled. Arata helped Riku with the steps and Kureha found herself admiring both of their undressed bodies as they slid into the pool’s shimmering welcome.

“I’m feeling so many things right now,” Rin said from behind Kureha.

Kureha let out a fatigued chuckle.

“Yeah, I’m shocked we as a language don’t have a word for ‘relieved, exhausted, sad, happy, and aroused all at once’. Seems like something we would,” grinned Kureha.

“Yūgen?” asked Shiona as she stepped into the water.

“Maybe? God, your boobs are incredible,” moaned Kureha as she cupped water in her hands and let the drops fall onto Shiona’s skin.

“Furusato? No, that's for like hometown and stuff. Can you just like… shimmy… or bounce up and down like an anime girl real fast?” asked Rin, who was cupping her chest in envious comparison.

Kureha nodded in desirous agreement and pouted her lip in a fake beg. Shiona blushed and smirked as she let out a small shoulder shimmy that caused the exact desired result for her avaricious audience.

“Wow, you really did that juuuuust as I was taking my robe off?” laughed Kai as he stepped past them and jokingly covered his hips.

Shiona splashed some water on his back.

“Why are you covering it up? We’ve seen you in all your glory by now,” Rin joked as Kai submerged.

“True…” he said as he thought it over and lowered his hands, to the cheers of all three girls.

With that, he joined the other boys. Kureha followed his dripping fingers as they rose from the water and carefully came to rest on Riku’s lower back.

“I would watch those three go at it for hours,” Rin purred in a husky voice.

“Yeah,” said Kureha and Shiona in unison.

The three of them seemed to forget that voices carried on water, and unbeknownst to them, the boys heard and started snickering among themselves.

“Don’t worry, we’d watch the three of you go at it for days,” replied Arata as he turned to the girls with a devious smirk.

"Literally forever, like I would not watch anything else," agreed Kai.

"Yes, please," agreed Riku with a smirk.

“YOU HEARD THAT?!” screeched Rin as she splashed beneath the water in embarrassment.

Riku let out a laugh. Everyone stopped. In the time since they’d left the mountain, he’d been rather quiet, even by Riku standards. Kureha felt a pain in her chest that was simultaneously joy and sorrow, and she wondered what word would best describe the feelings cascading in her mind as that laugh echoed across her heart. It had been weeks since he’d laughed. As she thought about it, she realized she hadn’t laughed since the Shards and Shimmers arrived. The others seemed to be having the same realization. Arata’s arms wrapped around Riku in a hug of relief. Riku’s gaze met Kureha’s, and his head bowed slightly.

Kureha sank slightly into the water and drifted over to the boys. The water stopped around their waists, but she did not feel embarrassed to stand once she reached them. Cool evening air caught the beads of water that clung to her body as she rose. Something liberating whispered in her thoughts as she felt their eyes flicker downward for the briefest of moments before returning to respectful focus.

“Can I interview you next? And take your photo? Like Kai and Rin?” Kureha asked

“Sure,” Riku said with a tired smile.

Bags were under his eyes. He seemed more frail than before, but his color was returning.

“Whenever you’re ready, and wherever you want,” said Kureha as she turned to leave.

Riku thought it over as he watched her float back to the girls. His focus stayed on the movement of her shoulders, and the subtle flexing of her back as her arms pushed the water aside. Next to her, Rin and Shiona were whispering to one another. Rin’s full, vibrant lips parted and curved with unheard words. The tendons of her neck tensed and released as her head moved closer to Shiona. Shiona’s chest rose and fell as she laughed. Her hands were small.

Beside Riku, Arata was stretching. His torso was long, pale, and lean. Veins rose from his hips up to his abs as his arms elevated to extend his spine fully. Kai cupped water in his hands and let it run down his neck as he closed his eyes. Rivulets of water streaked along the contours of his shoulders and collarbones. Standing there watching all of them, Riku realized how beautiful they all were. Their bodies were all different. All unique. And so was his. It had taken a lifetime, but for once, he felt comfortable with himself now that he was fully exposed to those he cared about the most.

All around him, ripples ebbed and danced into one another as they emanated out in rings from each of his friends' movements. He was still, and the water was calm at his waist. Ripples collided with one another, yet each of them found its way to him, eventually brushing against his skin.

“We can do it now,” he said to Kureha, who paused and blushed.

“Heeeeey!” grinned Kai.

“Not that!” Riku chuckled.

“Well, I mean, yes, that, certainly that. Let’s all, for sure, yeah…” Riku tried to speak, but he was flustered as the three girls faced him with overwhelming memories of a few weeks prior.

“I meant we can do the photo and interview now if that’s okay with you. I’d like that,” said Riku to Kureha.

Kureha smiled.

“I’d like that. My camera’s right there in my purse. Where do you want to take the picture? And what were you thinking?” Kureha asked.

Riku looked at Kai and Arata, who partially understood as he held out his hands for support. Each friend took a hand and Riku slowly made his way to the steps. His friends paused at the edge, but he inhaled and nodded. With that, they slowly made their way up the steps till they were out of the water and fully exposed. Riku turned and faced the girls as Arata handed him his cane. Kai stepped back and let out a whistle of approval as Riku forced himself to stand in full confidence.

He did not hide or hesitate. Even though he was not wearing his platformed shoe to offset his leg length difference, he allowed his body to lean down and accept the awkwardness. His stomach tensed with the lean, and his chest pulled up as he balanced himself. With that, he was ready.

“Stay just like that,” said Kureha as Arata and Kai returned to the water.

Arata’s arm wrapped around Rin’s waist as Shiona pressed against Kai from behind and wrapped him in her arms. The four of them marveled at their friend as he stood before them in all of his true figure.

“You’re divine,” Rin said to Riku.

“Thank you,” Riku said with a smile as Kureha snapped the first photo.

The first shot was agreed to be perfect by everyone. A black box graphic was strategically edited into place to censor the photo for social media, and an interview was held between the two friends, with everyone listening. Riku's story was shared with the world, and it was noted he was still there with them, to their great happiness.