I blinked once in an attempt to give myself time to process the words that had flown out of my mouth.
"There's no way you're serious."
I could hear Kumiko's worried smile from behind me somehow. While struggling to keep my face neutral, I continued. Everything seemed to spill from my lips. My words were enunciated by the sharp pain on the heels of my feet. The hem of my dress swished quietly in the wind. It almost seemed to be hushing me, telling me that Kumiko would be scared off. My mouth stubbornly continued its rampant confessions as our long hike continued. I could feel my heart thumping insistently in my chest, urging me to continue. The moon's stolen light filtered through the leaves where we stopped.
The lights from the festival and beyond glittered prettily before my eyes. My panicking conscious numbed felt as I continued to gaze at the scene. My heart, however, did not still.
It's a confession of love. (I love you.)
You have a terrible personality. (I love you.)
(I love you. I love you. I love you.)
I looked at Kumiko and again came to realize that she was beautiful. The glances she threw at me had always made me want to kiss her. The way she smiled had always made me want to embrace her and never let go. No matter what I said, Kumiko always seemed to at least try to understand me. She made me feel safe. I turned my head back toward the town.
"K-Kousaka-" she began.
I interrupted her by lightly touching her forehead with the tip of my index finger.
"Rei-na," I corrected.
Before I realized it, I'd began to speak again.
I absentmindedly ran my finger down to Kumiko's lips, then flicked downwards. They were soft. I laughed at my own stupidity, my own unmitigated temerity. Love truly could drive one mad.
"What are we playing?" Kumiko asked, moving her mouthpiece to the side of her face.
I stared at her as she licked her lips.
"The one we played in middle-school, third year, at the farewell party,"
"That one?" Kumiko said, surprise at the edge of her tone.
I tugged my hair out of my ponytail and nodded.
"I like it."
Kumiko smiled; I felt my heart skip a beat. Taking a deep breath, we began our duet. We met eyes, and to my great relief, Kumiko mouthed words during her rest that made me want to drop my trumpet to kiss her.
"And I like you."
She was the place where I found love.
A/N "Ai wo Mitsuketa Basho" is the title of the song that is played by Kumiko and Reina at the end of episode 8. It means "The place where we found love," which is so... *squeals loudly* Anyway, excuse me while I rewatch that episode 50 more times.