The lantern burns low (pt 2)

Late in the afternoon, just before the darkness settled in, Mia filmed the lanterns hanging on the trees using her selfie stick. She captured the festival atmosphere, just as it was beginning. Underneath the trees sat a table where villagers wrote down their messages on little paper slips. Ayaka sat by the table, handing out the slips. Meanwhile, Haru and his friends were standing on ladders hanging the paper slips in the blooming Sakura trees.

The air started to get filled with the smell of delicious foods. A lot of families had set up their stands in the street, where they prepared their age old family-recipes. In the middle of the street, a few villagers had started playing their traditional instruments. The nostalgic plucking of the shamizen resounded through the street, combined with the bright sound of bamboo flutes and energetic booming of the drums.

More and more villagers started trickling in, some of them wearing traditional outfits, others donned in more modern attire. A villager asked Mia to take photos of him and his wife, which she happily did. Before she knew it, a line had formed in front of her of villagers of all ages eager to have their picture taken by the foreign blonde girl.

After Mia had taken everyone’s pictures, Haru strolled up to her. “You’re quickly becoming the most popular girl in town.”

She grinned, “Afraid of a little competition?”

Haru shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips, “Grandpa Fukuyama is no competition for me.”

He faced the girl, “Would you like to get something to eat?”

Mia rubbed her stomach, “Of course. "I'm starving!”

The couple walked by the stalls, trying to decide on what food to eat. As they pass by the first stall, serving three colored dango, the owner waves at them. “Please take these as a gift,” she said as she put two skewers in Mia’s hand.

Full of enthusiasm, because of the free food, she and Haru passed by the next stall where they were handed two grilled salted fishes. The owner of the next stall also noticed and teasingly offered a couple of rice crackers. As if planned before, each stall owner after that also gave the couple a free snack.

Overloaded, the couple plopped down at a table, laying down the enormous selection of food before them. They invited their friends to enjoy the food together with them. Daichi marveled over the mountain of delicious stacks, handing Mia one of the dango skewers.

He chuckled, “It’s said that eating all three in one bite will grant you a full season of love.”

Mia looked at the colorful sweets and then back at Daichi, “You must think I’m crazy if you think I’m trying that.”

Then a mischievous grin spread across her face, “So… here we go!”

With a big, dramatic gulp, she pretended to shove the entire skewer into her mouth at once. In shock, Haru watched the girl, afraid she might choke on it.

But then Mia winked at him and pulled the skewer back out, untouched.

“Just kidding!” she laughed, before taking a normal bite of the first dango.

Her eyes lit up as she tasted the treats' sweet, chewy texture. Mia took a small bite of each of the traditional Japanese snacks, giving the rest to Haru.

Satisfied, she slumped on the bench, her stomach now completely filled.

“I could cross a lot of food off my bucket list, if I had one,” she said with a smile.

Haru stood up from the bench and stretched. “Time to continue hanging the paper slips.”

He climbed the ladder and, together with his friends, he finished the job.

When darkness set in, the sale of the slips ended, and Mia seized the opportunity to spend some time alone with Haru.

“I wonder how this festival looks from above,” she told him.

Haru stared at the tree branches. “You know the lanterns will only be lit later tonight? The view will be a lot better than.”

Mia smiled, “We can go again then, right?”

“Sure,” Haru said, as he started walking uphill, Mia following close after him.

After a couple of minutes of walking, they found a ridge where they could sit and overlook the festival. From their silent spot, they watched the distant crowd of people, their cheers and the music now barely audible. The fairy lights and street lanterns lit up the scene plenty, although it would become even more magical when the lanterns were lit.

Mia’s eye met with Haru’s, her voice tender, “Haru, did you write something down tonight?”

He shook his head, “No…”

Haru paused, frowning his brow, “I did once… long before you came to Hanabusa.”

A curious twinkle appeared in Mia’s eyes. “So, what did you write down?”

Haru’s cheeks flushed red, “I can’t. It’s embarrassing.”

“Ahh, Haru… I won’t tease you, I promise…” the girl pleaded.

Haru stared at the huge grin on Mia’s face. “I don’t believe you,” he said. “But I guess I once wished for a girlfriend…”

Mia looked at him with a soft smile on her face.

“It’s embarrassing, right… and not totally in the spirit of the festival.”

After a brief silence, Mia spoke, “It wouldn’t be too weird for a guy to wish for something like that.” She grinned, “I have wished for a strong, half-werewolf / half-vampire boyfriend one thousand times.”

Haru laughed, “I hope I don’t disappoint… Who am I supposed to compete with fantasy creatures like that?”

Mia moved closer, “Oh, Haru,” she whispered. “You certainly don’t.”

She pouted her lips and closed her eyes, sharing a brief moment of intimacy with Haru.

Silently, Haru stared in the distance.

“Are you feeling okay?” Mia asked.

Haru nodded, “I’m fine,” he briefly replied.

But the creeping realization wouldn't leave him — the fact that soon, Mia would be gone.

And he would be left behind, in the same quiet, grey life he had lived before she came.

Everything had changed when Mia arrived.

Would everything simply turn back once she was gone?

He exhaled slowly, quietly murmuring another poetic quote, “How many loved your moments of glad grace…”

He thought of all the villagers smiling at her, of the festival laughter, of the light Mia had brought to everyone she met. He loved those bright moments too - but more than that, he loved her, his wonderful Mia.

Haru closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the bittersweetness settle in his chest.

But for now, she was still here.

And he wouldn't waste a second of the time they had left.