Kokoroyomi had been surprised many times in his life, for example when his parents had gotten him a horse for his tenth birthday or when he'd been accepted into university. However, none of them could even compare to seeing his childhood best friend on the wedding of his current best friend. It was proven to him, yet again, that the world was small.
Her name was Sumire Shouda. They used to live close to each other when they were children and they would always play together. They used to have a lot of fun but he hadn't seen her ever since they moved when he was fifteen. More than ten years had passed since then and meeting her like that was a bit awkward. However, none of them had time to look surprised or feel awkward- he was the best man and she was bridesmaids and both of them had work to do. But Koko knew that he'd have to talk to her after the wedding and he didn't know if he was looking forward to it or not.
''How do you like the wedding?'' Koko asked.
Sumire looked at Kitsuneme and Nonoko who were dancing slowly, the latter resting her head on the former's shoulder. ''I'm very happy for them.''
''So am I.'''
No one said anything for a while. Koko couldn't find the right words and knowing her, Sumire probably just didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Eventually she sighed and looked at him.
''I didn't expect to see you here though.''
''I was going to say that, actually.''
''Then why didn't you?'' Sumire raised an eyebrow and Koko shrugged. ''How long has it been? Ten years?'''
''Eleven, to be precise.'' Koko stated.
''I see you're still the same smartass.'''
There was no way Kokoroyumi would ever forget the first time he met Sumire Shouda. Before that he had been a gloomy kid and had no friends. She had been his first friend and had changed him for the better. Soon after he met her he befriended many other people but for him Sumire was the one and only, his best friend. That was why he had been very sad when she had to leave. Honestly, he had never expected that to happen, he had thought their friendship would last forever.
But maybe, just maybe, fate had given him a second chance.
''Hey, Sumire, do you want to go horse riding tomorrow?'''
At first she looked a bit taken aback but then she nodded. ''Sure. I have nothing better to do anyway.''
But truth to be told, she would have said yes even if she had and he knew that.
Both of them had stayed in London with Kitsuneme and Nonoko for quite some time. When it was time for them to leave, they would always come up with reasons to stay. After a while the whole thing became very obvious but their friends didn't mind at all. In fact, they were happy Koko and Sumire were getting along.
However, one day a silent realization hit Koko. It happened suddenly while they were lying on the grass under an apple tree and she was reading out loud. Although he hadn't realized it, he had been staring at her for quite some time and hadn't been listening to a word she was saying. She noticed that, looked up at him and pouted.
''If you aren't listening, there is no point in me reading out loud.''
He shook his head, as if he had been woken up from a trance, and that made her laugh. And it was then, when he saw her beautiful smile, that he realized it- he did not want Sumire to be only his friend. Before they had been only children and had known almost nothing of romance. Now they were adults and he could not stop his feelings for her.
Kokoroyumi was a man of action and for that reason he did not like waiting at all. He sent his proposal in a letter the next day. He decided on a letter only in order to annoy her. And that it did. He knew exactly when she had read it because a minute after that she yelled his name. Koko burst out laughing and didn't notice her running down the stairs until she reached him and hit him on the shoulder.
''What in the world is that?!'' She glared at him and showed him the letter.
''I think that's pretty obvious- it's a proposal.'' He said matter-of-factly.
That seemed to annoy her even more because she hit him again. ''Is that the right way to propose to a woman? Didn't your parents teach you anything?''
''But proposing in the usual way would have been such a waste. You are so amusing when you're angry.''
Sumire huffed, handed him the letter and left the room. Koko couldn't help but smile when he saw she had written 'yes' on the back.
This was written for the Koko/Sumire week on tumblr. I'm not all that happy with the way it turned out, I think it could have been better but at the time I was in a hurry. It takes place right after the previous chapter.