Fireflies Serenade

The truth was, I still hadn't fully grasped everything. This new relationship with Kurokawa still felt like a dream to me, even though we had been together for some time now.

At school, little by little, we were adapting to this new reality. During lunch breaks, we continued to meet with Airi and Haru, as usual, but our behaviors, conversations, and even the way we looked at each other had changed.

Despite all these shifts, I felt happy. There was a special joy in sharing moments with Kurokawa without the weight of worry, and her smile only reinforced my feelings for her.

As we shared lunch on the school roof with Airi and Haru, I already had the sense that they found our sudden behavior change pretty intriguing. It was inevitable that at some point, we would share this with them. I just wasn't exactly sure when the right moment would be. However, something inside me told me that their curiosity would eventually lead us to reveal everything.

"You two have been acting really strange lately," Airi said while chewing her rice.

"I know you two are usually more reserved, but this is beyond that," Haru added.

"It's like you've turned into a shy couple after making your relationship official," Airi joked while playing with her chopsticks.

Accidentally, Kurokawa and I spit out the food we had in our mouths.

"Don't tell me..." Airi exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

At that moment, I knew it was time to reveal the truth. It's not like we wanted to hide anything anyway.

"Well, yes, we actually started dating recently," I said, feeling my face turn red.

"I already knew something weird was going on. When was this?" Haru leaned in, interested in our story.

"It was last Sunday, at Tanaka's house..." Kurokawa answered, avoiding eye contact.

"It seems like you two are doing more than just playing the guitar together," Haru said with a mischievous smile, and Airi laughed along.

"Hey, it's not like that!" I protested.

"But then, who confessed first?" Airi continued, ignoring my complaint.

"It was Tanaka. He thought I was asleep... and ended up... confessing," Kurokawa replied.

"Classic Yuuji move, not having the courage to do something like that face-to-face," Airi shook her head disapprovingly.

"You know what that means, right, Airi?" Haru said excitedly.

"Yeah... yeah..." she seemed a bit disappointed.

Airi took out her wallet and pulled out a thousand yen note, handing it to Haru.

"Great doing business with you," Haru said, pocketing the money.

"Wait a minute! Did you two make a bet on who would confess first?" I exclaimed.

"Of course! Everyone knew you two would soon become a cute couple. It was just a matter of time," Haru replied.

Even though Kurokawa and I were getting closer, I had no idea that was the impression we were giving.

"You two are quite the pair," I laughed, teasing them.

"But I'm glad it worked out for you. You make a really beautiful couple," Airi affectionately hugged Kurokawa, and she smiled shyly.

Sharing the news of our relationship with friends turned out to be easier than I had imagined, maybe because Airi and Haru had this relaxed and friendly aura.

In the end, a weight was lifted as we shared this with them, and we continued to enjoy our lunch until the start of the next class.

♪ ♫ ♪

After another day of classes, Kurokawa and I walked back home together. For some reason, Airi and Haru didn't accompany us this time.

The streets were bathed in the gentle light of the setting sun, illuminating Kurokawa's face, accentuating her beauty. As we walked side by side, I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to have her as my girlfriend.

Actually, calling her that still felt a bit strange, but it was a title I hoped to get used to over time.

During our walk, we experienced moments of serene silence interspersed with casual conversations about random topics. It could be the peculiar architecture of a house we observed or even the unique color of a car. It was as if, upon realizing the silence that surrounded us, we sought any topic just to hear each other's voices. Reflecting on this, the idea seemed almost comical.

As we walked, my gaze often landed on her hands, with a latent desire to hold them. However, I never seemed to find the right opportunity or the necessary courage to do so.

Halfway through our route, we passed a park where a stall was selling taiyaki, catching Kurokawa's interest.

"Can we stop for a bit to eat?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

It was impossible to resist her request, especially when accompanied by such an adorable expression.

"Sure, I'll get one too."

She gently pulled me by the arm, leading us to the stall. After choosing a taiyaki filled with red bean paste, I offered to pay for both, but after a series of denials and insistences, she wouldn't let me pay for hers.

We chose to sit on a park bench as we savored our taiyaki, positioned close to each other. We watched people strolling by, birds flying over a nearby lake, and children playing happily.

The tranquil and relaxing atmosphere of the park surrounded us, and being next to Kurokawa only intensified this sense of peace.

As the sun set, the hustle and bustle of people gradually decreased, until only a few remained visible in the distance.

When the night settled in completely, we decided to continue our walk home before the hour grew even later.

"Look, Tanaka, there are fireflies," Kurokawa exclaimed, running toward the small luminous dots near the lake.

The fireflies created a magical and twinkling spectacle, like Christmas lights. They danced through the air, creating a choreography as harmonious as a theatrical performance.

My eyes fixed on Kurokawa as she approached the fireflies, beginning to dance alongside them. Instead of being startled, the little creatures seemed to delightfully welcome her.

She looked at me and made an inviting gesture, suggesting I join her in this luminous festival. I approached somewhat timidly, but as I immersed myself in this magical environment, I felt more and more a part of that wonder.

Kurokawa wore a radiant smile, and soon I was smiling too, absorbed in the contagious atmosphere. Almost unconsciously, we found ourselves amidst the fireflies as if we were the stars of a light show.

"I've never been this close to them, Yuuji," she commented, a mix of enchantment and surprise in her voice.

"I can feel the gentle breeze of their wings when they pass by us, Akane," I responded, capturing the magic of that moment.

The scene was so magical that we ended up calling each other by our first names, almost unknowingly.

Finally, we lay down on the grass, exhausted from the dance and the joy, simply watching the firefly lights intertwine with the stars above.

"It's a shame this moment can't last forever," Kurokawa said, catching her breath.

We stayed there, immersed in the sounds of the fireflies and the caress of the breeze on our faces. Then, we got up, preparing to move on.

We shook off our clothes and straightened up, ready to continue. Looking at her with those enchanting eyes, I realized that the bond between us was growing stronger each day, filling me with happiness.

As the moonlight bathed us, we walked in silence through the streets. This time, I didn't hesitate to hold her hand, and I could feel all the comfort and warmth she radiated.

Kurokawa didn't complain or say anything, we just continued our way, and I felt with each step she squeezed my hand a little tighter as if wanting to hold it securely forever.

Our faces were flushed, not from embarrassment, but from a deeper emotion. As she had said before, I also wished that moment could be eternal, but I knew we don't always get what we want.

As we walked, silently sharing the feelings that bound us, I realized I was the only one who knew this authentic side of Kurokawa. It was a wonderful and intimate feeling, and as we grew closer, I knew I was witnessing something special and unique.

However, as we shared this magical moment under the night sky, a subtle shadow of concern sneaked in, reminding us that life is never made up of only moments of light and enchantment. There was a persistent sense that this brief, intense joy, like the fireflies, might soon give way to unexpected challenges that awaited on the pages of our shared destiny.