I Love You

 “Just where did she drop her phone?” Akari found himself whispering under his breath as he meticulously combed through the area in search of Himeko’s missing phone. His gaze was fixated on the ground, retracing the path they had taken when they had stopped to admire the graceful ducks gliding across the water.

Taking off his hair clip to ruffle his hair out of annoyance, Akari’s mind raced while he approached the spot where they had last marveled at the group of ducks.

As he neared the place, his eyes lifted from the ground, and he was unexpectedly captivated by a figure standing at the railings, their silhouette backlit by the vibrant nocturnal attractions.

Ayano, her body leaning slightly against the railing, was absorbed in the spectacle of the illuminated surroundings. The sight caught Akari off guard, and his heart skipped a beat.

As Ayano seemed to notice Akari, she turned her head, surprised by his appearance.

“Aki,” she muttered, taken aback.

“Ayano,” he responded, a mixture of astonishment and warmth in his voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Nanami invited me out today,” she explained. “She said she had to go to the bathroom so I’m just waiting for her. Though it has been a while… even Chiaki and Momo haven’t returned from their ride…

“What about you?” She asked, trying to change the subject.

“I’m… on a date with Himeko,” Akari confessed.

“Then why are you by yourself?”

“Himeko said she dropped her phone here,” Akari said before receiving a message.

“Found my phone! Goro found it for me. Also sorry but we will have to cut our date short. I have to go! Something came up!” Himeko texted him.

“I guess I am by myself now.” Akari took a deep breath as he returned his attention to Ayano. “She had to leave just now.”

“I see…”

An awkward silence filled the two as they didn’t know what to say. It had been a while since they last met. Ever since Ayano moved out and returned with her mother, the two had barely spoken to each other. Even at school, their interactions had dwindled to mere greetings, the depth of their connection fading into the background.

“It’s been a while since it was just the two of us, hasn’t it?” Ayano said, breaking the silence. “Especially at night.”

“I can only think of that time when you got caught up in that brawl,” Akari chuckled, a trace of fondness in his voice. “Poor thing, I had to carry you back.”

“P-please stop bringing that up,” Ayano begged, embarrassment apparent on her face as she recalled the event. “If only my mom didn’t force me to live there in the first place.”

“Hey, it wasn’t all that bad.”

“No but who knew I would be living with a teddy bear gangster in the first place?” Ayano giggled.

“As if I would have thought I would be stuck with a paper girl class president,” Akari rebuked. The two stared at each other before suddenly laughing loudly.

“I’m sure you must have missed me terribly,” Ayano joked with a teasing smile gracing her face.

“I’ll admit it… it has been more lonely in the house without you,” Akari confessed with a calm demeanor. The reply caught Ayano off guard causing her to glance away with a red tinge on her face. The silence settled in once more, the two of them standing side by side, gazing over the railing at the tranquil expanse of the lake before them.

The remnants of the awkwardness stemming from Akari’s confession to her in the past still lingered between them. Though unspoken, the weight of his confession hung palpably in the air, a silent presence that neither could ignore.

Mustering up his courage, Akari gathered his resolve, recognizing the significance of the moment. No matter how awkward it might be, he had to get it out of the way if things were ever going to be normal between them again.

“Ayano, I—”

Before Akari could say any more, a reverberating boom echoed through the air, captivating their attention. His gaze instinctively lifted, locking onto the breathtaking spectacle unfolding before him. Against the inky canvas of the night sky, a solitary firework burst forth, its vibrant crimson hue blossoming like a romantic whisper.

Like a symphony of magic, the night sky soon ignited with a wondrous display of fireworks, each explosion a mesmerizing dance of light and color. The stars above seemed to bow in deference to the celestial spectacle below as if nature itself had decided to paint the night sky in its most enchanting hues.

Turning his gaze toward the source of this enchantment, Akari’s heart swelled with gratitude and surprise. In the distance, against the backdrop of the ethereal display, he could discern the figures of Naoki and Ryoichi.

Their silhouettes moved with purpose, like puppeteers conducting a symphony of luminance. The command desk in front of them became a conduit of magic, where their hands orchestrated each explosion, each burst of radiance. Akari could have also sworn he saw Shinji there, standing to the side.

The cascading sparks traced intricate patterns, resembling delicate lace embroidered upon the fabric of the night. Fiery blossoms of red, gold, and sapphire erupted, leaving trails of brilliance in their wake. It was as if the universe had gathered all its secrets and dreams, releasing them in a cascade of wonder.

“Aki,” Ayano’s voice echoed.

“Hmm?” Akari turned his head to meet Ayano’s gaze. Before he could react, he felt a soft sensation upon his lips. Time appeared to halt as the world dissolved into a blur around them, leaving only the sensation of her touch.

Ayano’s eyes remained closed, her countenance bathed in the radiance of fireworks. As she slowly leaned back, her eyes fluttering open, a warm smile curving her lips as she fixed her gaze upon Akari’s.

With a graceful motion, Ayano brushed aside his hair and produced a white hair clip, carefully securing it in Akari’s hair.

“Akari Inmura, I love you.”