Before You, Fall in Love With Me: Part Two

The town's main street was relatively quiet. For a town the size of Takachiho it normally doesn’t get busy unless there is an event or festival happening. The town never had any reason to expand upwards, so it sprawled out along the Gosake river. But even then, its extent wasn’t very great.

White cumulonimbus clouds rolled over the horizon, reaching upwards into the blue sky. One could almost mistake the sky that day for a painting.

Walking side by side, Katsumi and Mayumi wandered down Kodono-Dori street. It was unremarkable in most ways. A street you could see in almost any small town in the countryside—but it’s where they were.

A few cars went up and down the street along with people walking on each side. Stopping at a crosswalk, the crossing guard made eye contact with Katsumi then stepped out into the street with his red-flag. As they crossed, the crossing-guard gave a friendly smile which was reciprocated by Mayumi.

“I have always liked smaller towns better.” Mayumi said.

“Better than what?”

“Big cities.”

Katsumi glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Why’s that?”

“Because of that.”

“Could you be a bit more general in your vagueness?”

“The crossing guard smiling at us like that. I don’t think they’d do that back in Kashiwa.”

“I don’t know what you mean, I'm pretty sure crossing guards everywhere would smile at people.”

“Yes, but this felt more personal. In a good way.”

Katsumi looked at her with confusion on his face.

“Didn’t you get that feeling? In smaller towns like this everybody knows each other. People feel closer to each other.”

“I don’t think everyone can know everyone. That would be impossible.”

Mayumi smiled. “It’s just an expression, Murakami… What I love about these smaller towns is that people want to help each other more, because they feel closer. You know a lot of the people and are even related to a fair amount.”

An idea Katsumi never really considered ever, because he never lived in a small town. This idea led him to wonder if Mayumi grew up in a small town like this, or often visited one. However, it wasn’t something he felt like bringing up.

The sound of rushing water grew in volume, soon becoming unignorably attention grabbing. The density of the town had decreased, giving way to forest. However, the amount of people in the area increased, being there for the same reason as Katsumi and Mayumi.

Takachino Gorge.

The land suddenly gives way to water—a cut across the land where the water forged its path through hundreds of thousands of years ago. Hard stone faces are encroached on by the dense forest growing on top of it—vines and moss covering the cliff-faces.

Almost like a scene out of a painting.

“Murakami, where do we go from here?” Mayumi looked to her side, but he wasn’t there. “Murakami?” She turned around. “What are you doing back there?”

Katsumi stood motionless a few meters behind Mayumi.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think I’ve been out of the city since I was really young… The forest is mesmerizing…”

She joined him in gazing at the forest.

“I suppose I never thought much of it. When I was younger I spent a lot of time around the woods.”

This comment drew Katsumi’s attention onto Mayumi. He felt that now was a good time to ask about her childhood.

“Seriously? You used to be outdoorsy?”

The pair continued walking.

“Yes, before high school I used to always be outside. It was me, my grandpa and my—”

Katsumi waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. “And who?”

“...And my dad… I used to help them on the farm.”

Why’d she pause so long? Does she have trouble remembering…? “Seriously… you? On a farm? I could never imagine that.”

“Yes seriously, why would I be lying to you? And I think I am much stronger than you too.”

“Alright, you’re lying about that. I don’t believe you at all.”

“I’m not. Do you not remember the window latch?”

Katsumi stuttered for a moment after hearing this. “Y-yes, but I mean— I probably loosened it for you.”

“Of course.” Mayumi smiled.

The two came to the head of the main hiking trail. It gave a view over the gorge, showing the true scale of its enormity.

Mayumi asked, “Where do we go now?”

“From here we can either hike the trail and visit a shrine or we can kayak through the gorge. What do you prefer?”

“Hmm… I’ve never gone Kayaking so maybe the hike.”

“You don’t want to try something new?

“No… It’s just… well—”

“Are you afraid?”

“...”

Her silence was Katsumi’s answer. “It’s not so bad. In high school I went twice with my dad.”

Katsumi got an unexpected reaction from Mayumi. A distant look, like she was remembering something. However, he continued on.

“I can teach you how. It’s really fun.”

Mayumi still wore a cautious expression.

“Alright, how about we do the hike and you make up your mind while we’re hiking?”

She remained apprehensive, but agreed to these terms. “So we just follow this path?”

Katsumi nodded and the pair began the Takachiho Gorge hike.

Due to the rainpour from the previous day, the world around them was drenched. The wood of the trees was a darker color from the rain, making the green leaves look so much more vibrant and alive. Water dripped from the canopy onto the ground, forming puddles everywhere.

Greenery covered everything, not simply rising into the sky but sprawling itself across the entire forest floor. Almost every rock and inch of dirt had a green covering. A living world around them, one that was completely interconnected in its life.

She’s just making it so much harder for herself… Do I still have to do this…?

He remembered short glimpses of the past few months.

Yes.There is a reason we’re here in the first place.

Katsumi eyed Mayumi in the corner of his vision.

I feel like this is selfish.Truly acting like nothing is about to happen. Acting like things are getting better… But it feels nice. It feels nice to live in that world for a little bit. I can’t stop. I feel so stupid admitting it myself after everything that’s happened between us so far. I know that I’m addicted and I can’t stop. There is no quitting whenever I want. That’s why I can’t have this with Arata.

I don’t think I’ll be able to quit.