Find a Spark

The new summer day hit Yamada like a freight train. Vacation has come, and the first few days he has done nothing but lay in his bed and relax by himself. But he knew that since next week has come, he had to do something about the confession he promised to make. It was going to be hard, he had to brace himself somehow and even if he knew how to do it, he still had to go out with her somewhere.

“Maybe I’ll ask Hiraya out to lunch or something…” He talked aloud to himself; still hasn’t gotten rid of this bad habit of his, although Hiraya and Tetsudo always found it cute. “No, that feels too casual, maybe the park… Ugh, that’s too romantic…”

He sprawled on his bed, with his eyes fixated on the white and static ceiling. He just couldn’t think of a good spot to set up this date. Was he overthinking it? Would she be just fine with any place? That was the usual Hiraya for you, but he still felt like she could be somewhat disappointed. Somehow. He just didn’t want to screw up. And suddenly, he rose up from his bed. A revelation came to his mind.

“Maybe if I keep it vague,” he thought still out loud. “And plan for some place, which Hiraya likes, she won’t question it as much…” He sat for a minute with a blank stare at his wall.

…

“Where does Hiraya actually like to go?”

Even if they knew each other for more than a year, he actually did not know her activities outside of school. The weekend or holiday Hiraya was a total mystery to him.

“Maybe some attraction in Nagano or some hiking, or going camping, or just the park, or a nice restaurant, or a cozy café…” Yamada sprint-walked across his room, thinking of every possible place her could take Hiraya on a date. “Aughhhh, why am I like this?”

The morning was sluggish; all of Yamada’s thoughts were bringing an anxious daze to the already flimsy beginning of his day. But hopefully he would have to guts to ask her out today… But maybe not for today, since he wasn’t ready at all. He would have to prepare certain things, but he felt like he could manage.

He nervously picked up his phone and started typing out drafts of messages.

“Hey Hiraya! Would you like to come with me-” Deleted.

“Hi Hiraya! I was wondering if-” Deleted.

“Hiraya, how are you? Are you free on Wednesday?” Yamada stopped at this message. He liked it – it said enough, but not too detailed or vague. And so, he went to her contact and tapped message. He hesitated again, but braced himself and send the exact same message.

Yamada then sat by the window and awaited Hiraya’s reply. She was often on her phone, so hopefully she would see it quickly. He felt like his stomach had loosened and his lungs allowed him to breathe. His hands, however, still trembled, so he tucked them into the pockets of his home trousers. Even there he could feel them vibrating. His heart was still going fast – that he couldn’t simply stop. His breathing was deep and slowing down as he observed the street outside.

The trees on the pavement looked heavy, like they bared fruit on their old, but flexible branches – some wild plums, others - small and green apples. Some wild plums had already escaped from the trees’ hold, but all that they received was death, with the pavement below welcomed each and every one of them as they fell down. The wires, tangled in the leaves, looked hot and buzzing with worry. The nests Yamada could see in-between the gaps in the crowns of the trees were filled with sleeping little baby birds, who probably will be singing songs when the twilight and dusk come.

Suddenly, Yamada’s phone buzzed. He immediately picked it up and saw what he waited for – Hiraya’s message:

“Hi Yamada! Yes I’m free, do you want to go out that day?” A sigh of relief came out from his mouth. He started to type.

“Yes I do”

“Alright, where do you want to go?”

“I have no idea yet ahahaha”

“I have no idea either ahahaha”

The clacking of Yamada’s fingers against the phone’s screen was driving him nuts.

“If you want, we can decide that when we go out”

“Sounds like a plan!”

“Okay! I’ll come to your house at 10, that sound good?”

“Yup, see you then!”

Yamada breathed a sigh of relief and fell on his bed. The butterflies in his stomach had flown out, but they will probably come back for the actual date. He smiled. The sweat on his forehead had gotten in his eyes. The door was mumbling something to him; he couldn’t tell what exactly, but it was something about lunch.