Note: Yuru Yuri is an anime that was done by the studios Doga Kobo and TYO Animations and is based on a manga by Namori. This story is dedicated to Isao Takahata, one of the greatest directors of all time and one of the most influential and inspiring people in the entertainment industry.
Ayano Sugiura was outside of her house. She was laying on a field of grass and was staring up at the sky.
The end of the year was coming so she was reflecting on what had happened during that time. She had turned eighteen and graduated high school, but that seemed like small time stuff compared to her biggest accomplishment of the year.
What really made this year special for her was her new relationship with Toshino Kyoko. Kyoko had been her biggest rival for years, but deep down she had always cared for her. She had gotten over her petty rivalry with Kyoko and had started dating her. She was often in self-doubt about wether or not dating Kyoko was the right thing to do. She had a strong annoyance to Kyoko's antics, but she deep down needed someone fun loving to brighten up her overdramatic seriousness. Ayano continued laying down on the grass while thinking about Kyoko.
A few minutes Kyoko was going to visit Ayano at her house, but she saw that Ayano wasn't there. She looked around and saw that Ayano was laying on the grass so she laid down too.
Ayano gently turned her head. She said, "Hi Kyoko."
Kyoko replied, "Greetings sweetheart. What's going on?"
Ayano struggled to come up with a proper answer. It was hard to make laying down on grass sound like a strong emotional experience. She sighed and said, "I'm not doing anything that thought provoking."
Kyoko replied, "Good for you." She reached for Ayano's hand.
Ayano smiled and started holding hands with Kyoko. She looked at the clouds while talking to Kyoko. She said, "I was thinking about this year."
Kyoko replied, "It's been a big year."
Ayano said, "It sure has. There's been some rough things, but some brighter things have been rising up and letting me know that life's going to keep getting better."
Kyoko looked at Ayano and replied, "It's been a sweet year for us."
Ayano blushed and said, "I suppose so."
Kyoko replied, "We used to be friends, but now we're something even more special."
Ayano had a guilty look on her face while saying, "I used to not even consider you a friend. You were my main rival and I regret feeling that way about you."
Kyoko replied, "And I feel guilty about not realizing that you've had a crush on me since middle school. However, we shouldn't let the mistakes our past ruin our future. We're together and I couldn't ask for a better event to happen this year then to fall in love with you."
Ayano blushed. She said, "I love you too."
Kyoko replied, "The end of the year party is going to be at my house. I'm looking forward to spending it with my friends, but I'm most excited about spending that day with you."
Ayano said, "I think we'll have a good time." She and Kyoko kissed each other.
Kyoko got up and said, "I need to start shopping for the end of the year party. Goodbye honey."
Ayano replied, "Goodbye darling." Kyoko stood up and smiled at Ayano while walking away.
Ayano went and went into her bedroom. She got out her photo album and started looking at some old photos. She noticed that most of her photos were from the year that she was currently in. There wasn't that much from the previous years. She felt that she barely had anything worth taking a picture of in the previous years. The love that Kyoko had given her made this year something that Ayano wanted to remember. She was starting to realize that this year was better than she thought it was.
Ayano's parents opened her bedroom door. Mrs. Sugiura walked up to her daughter and said, "Greeting Ayano. What are you up to?"
Ayano said, "Um, just looking at some photos."
Mrs. Sugiura replied, "Let us see them."
Ayano nervously said, "They're nothing that great. In fact, they're hardly worth looking at."
Mr. Sugiura replied, "I'm sure that the photos are at least worth a quick look."
Ayano said, "Okay." She handed the photo album to her parents. The parents started flipping through the album. They quickly noticed that a majority of the pictures were from the year that they were currently in.
Ayano tried to take the photo album away from her parents before they saw the pictures of her with Kyoko, but it was too late. In those pictures, Ayano's parents saw their daughter smile harder than she had ever done before. They saw the blushes, the happiness, and the love that Kyoko had brought to their daughter. They knew that Ayano was embarrassed so they both hugged her and told her that they were grateful that she has had such a happy year. Ayano had an endless amount of embarrassment going on in her brain, but she also had an endless amount of love in her heart for Kyoko.
A few days later Ayano went to Kyoko's house for the end of the year party. She wore a purple dress. She thought that her outfit might be too fancy for one of Kyoko's silly parties, but she wanted to celebrate this special year with grace.
Kyoko opened the door. She and her friends were wearing casual t-shirts and skirts. Kyoko looked at Ayano and said, "Hi Ayano. You look so beautiful today."
Ayano smiled and replied, "Thank you."
Ayano and Kyoko sat down on one of the couches together. Yui, Chinatsu, and Akari were sitting on the other couch. Yui waved to her and said, "Hi Ayano. How are you doing?"
Ayano said, "Quite well."
Kyoko poured a glass of soda for each of her friends. She raised her glass in the air and said, "A toast."
Chinatsu asked, "What do you mean?"
Kyoko said, "This is the end of the year so we need a heartfelt toast."
Yui replied, "I might of been able to come up with something if you had told me in advance about this."
Kyoko nervously laughed and said, "I'm not a fan of schedules. Chinatsu, do you have any speeches to make?"
Chinatsu said, "I have nothing that special to say." Kyoko didn't bother asking Akari.
Ayano stood up. She raised her glass in the air and asked, "May I make a toast?"
Kyoko said, "Sure, but what's your toast about?"
Ayano answered, "You."
Kyoko asked, "What do you mean?"
Ayano said, "I spent several years ignoring who I really am and how I truly felt. It's not something that I'm proud of, but it's a part of my history. However, you've made this year something much more magical. You made realize how I feel and showed me how good life really is." Kyoko smiled at Ayano while she continued her speech. She said, "Kyoko, you've given me fun times, support, snacks, but the most important thing that you've done is given my heart more comfort and love than it's ever had."
Kyoko cried tears of happiness and hugged Ayano. She said, "You're the best. Thank you."
Ayano replied, "You're the one who deserves the thanks, not me." Ayano and Kyoko spent an hour partying with their friends.
After the party started settling down, Ayano walked outside and laid down on the grass. It was a little dark out, but she admired how beautiful the sky looked.
Kyoko walked outside and sat on the field of grass. She looked at Ayano and said, "Your toast was beautiful."
Ayano replied, "Thank you darling. You deserved to hear it, because I haven't done enough for me."
Kyoko said, "You've done amazing things for me. I'm grateful to have you in my life. I have five photo albums of us together."
Ayano jokingly asked, "Isn't that a little obsessive?"
Kyoko nervously giggled and said, "Yes, but I'm obsessed with the magical feelings that you bring to my heart." She kissed Ayano.
Ayano said, "This has been the best year of my life."
Kyoko asked, "Do you think that the next year will be even better?"
Ayano said, "If you keep dating me, my life will keep getting better."
Kyoko replied, "Then lets be together forever."
Ayano said, "Sounds like paradise." It was cold outside so Ayano and Kyoko cuddled with each other while staring at the sky. The love that they gave to each other's hearts made life more wonderful than they thought was possible. They couldn't wait for their next year of heartwarming magic.