Soft Breeze

As I walked through the market with Suguha, I found myself mostly preoccupied with the noise and chaos around us. The smell of sizzling food and the lively chatter of vendors were a backdrop to my wandering thoughts. It's so deafeningly loud that I wanted to crawl into an empty space and stay there until the noise died down.

Suguha, however, seemed completely absorbed in the experience—her eyes lighting up at every new stall with palpable excitement. She eagerly sampled different treats, one of each. Of course, that came at the expense of my own wallet, since she had forgotten hers.

What's that? No answer was enough to draw her back, because she ended grabbing one anyway. What's over there? The question served no purpose, because Suguha would simply drag me by the arm to wherever she pleased.

After bumping into many shoulders, we finally emerged from the bustling street market, stepping into a beautiful park that stretched out before us. The scene was alive with people lounging on blankets, basking in the sun, their conversations mingling with laughter and the rustle of the grass. Given how popular the street market was, the park was always a hive of activity.

"Whoa!" Suzu’s eyes lit up with pure delight as she dashed ahead, her excitement palpable.

Her gaze swept eagerly from left to right, soaking in the lush, green expanse that surrounded us. She darted over to a serene little pond where ducklings paddled about, their tiny quacks adding to the peaceful afternoon.

In the blink of an eye, she was leaping through the tall grass, her laughter ringing out like a melody of joy. She tumbled to the ground, rolling playfully and then lying back with her gaze fixed on the drifting clouds above, a look of unrestrained bliss painting her face.

"Just smell the grass, the dirt, just like I dreamed they'd—"

"Knock it off," I quickly dismissed.

"Uck..."

"You seem to be enjoying yourself. Maybe too much."

"Of course! I've never been to the park, or anything even close. The earthy smell of the grass and dirt, the warmth of the sun even in the cold wind, and just... people. They're everywhere, talking, having fun... living a normal life."

That's right. I almost forgot. The reason why we're here right now is because I'm showing Suguha a small piece of the normal life. That's all there is to it, and yet... I felt a strange, sinking sensation weighing me down on the inside.

I let out a heavy breath and sat down next to her. "The normal world isn't really all that, you know. Trust me. I've lived it for nineteen years, and it's nothing like what the adults said it was. It's... Hah. No, never mind. I'm not gonna get into it. At the very least, I'm glad that someone seems to be enjoying it."

"Who, me?"

"Who else but you? Over here, dancing around like a child who has never touched grass before."

"Awfully funny coming from a literal nocturnal creature. I bet you sit in front of a screen all day."

"Hah. Can't argue with that."

For a while, we sat there like everyone else. In total silence, no thoughts or worries, just living in the moment.

I never thought I'd be spending a day like this with anyone other than Nae, but here I am... Just like how I never imagined being Sunayomi's assistant. What has my life become?

Suguha sat up from the grass and yawned. "I'm feeling a bit tired now."

"We've been eating a bunch of things all afternoon. I'm starting to feel the food coma hitting me as well. I could use a nap right about now."

"Eh? Who said anything about a nap?"

"...Wasn't that what you were hinting at? That it was time to go home?"

"What?! Absolutely not. The sun is still high in the sky! I just need a short walk, and I'll be back to my original self."

"Wait... We're gonna be here for how long exactly?"

"Hehe. For as long as I want! Now, get up!"

As I watched her bolt away, I couldn't help but think... Yeah, this is just crazy.

"Whoa... Look at the trees," Suguha gasped.

"They're just cherry blossoms," I said. "Never seen them before?"

"Hey! I'm not that much of a hermit, okay?! I just... never stopped to admire how beautiful they were up close. I guess I never had the time when my schedule was always so packed."

"Makes sense. But... don't you have at least a little bit of time to relax? Like your weekly shopping runs that I'm, for some reason, obligated to attend as a bag carrier."

"I mean, we do, but even those moments are short-lived. An hour each, no time in between. We were always going in and out, place to place, one event to the next. It's like each day of our lives are planned from start to finish, so... Nothing ever felt... genuine."

She bit her lips, barring any more words from escaping. There was a certain tone in her voice that I never would've expected from someone as cheerful and positive as her.

"Sorry," she smiled. "I brought the mood down again, didn't I? I've been doing that a lot recently, which isn't normally the case."

"It's fine. Just get it all off your chest."

"Nah, I think I'm okay now. It's a good day today. I don't wanna spend it by moping around and thinking about the bad stuff. Hey! Wanna race?"

"Eh? Wha—"

"Three, two, one, go!"

Suguha darted ahead, her laughter trailing behind her like a melody in the air. She tilted her head back to see me slowly tailing her.

"Hey, why aren't you running?!" she shouted back.

"Hah. I don't feel like it. Like you said, it's a good day today. I don't wanna sweat and tire myself out more than I already am."

Suguha stopped in the middle of the path, right under the sprawling branches of a cherry blossom tree. As the petals drifted down around her, she stood there with her hands playfully tucked behind her back, that same brilliant grin lighting up her face. For that moment, I didn’t see the idol that everyone else knew; I saw just Suguha, someone who, as she wished for, was completely normal.

The sunlight, mingling with the delicate shower of pink blossoms, seemed to frame her in a halo of soft light, making her look almost otherworldly. Our eyes met, and in that instant, the world seemed to fade away. With my breath caught in my throat, and for a heartbeat, it was as if time itself had came to a halt.

"Hehe. It is a good day, huh?" she giggled. "I already knew it was going to be, but... being here with you made it even better. For once, I got to experience what it was like to be normal, and it's all thanks to you, Yozora. So... Thank you for agreeing to come with me. Really."

Something about the way she looked at me, so genuinely happy, made my chest tighten, but I pushed it down. There wasn't a response I could give to justify this moment, so I simply nodded my head. Today isn't about me. It's about her, and right now, I'm just glad that she enjoyed it.

"Anyway! Do you know what time it is, Yozora?"

"To go home?" I asked.

"Is home all you think about?!"

"Maybe."

"Tch... You're such a hermit. But no! It's time for bubble tea! Wooo~! Let's go, let's go!"

Once again, she ran off. and I quickly locked my gaze on her, determined not to lose her in the growing crowd.

Seriously... Where does she get all that energy? I feel like with each passing second, my eyelids were gaining weight, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stay upright. I think my drowsiness might win this battle. Nothing new there.