When I finally woke up it was already dark. I let out a yawn and brushed flower petals off my face as I sat up; the wind spirit happily blew at my bangs, causing them to shuffle around gently on my forehead. I smiled and asked: "So you stayed with me this whole time?"
As if to confirm my question, the little breeze swirled around me, sending dozens of flower petals flying around me. Even though I couldn't see the little spirit, his company was refreshing as well as comforting.
"I should probably get going... grandpa might worry." I told nobody in particular as I lifted myself up and brushed more petals off my dress. In distress, the wind spirit swirled around me and blew my back gently; my sundress rippled around me like a wave.
"Don't worry, I'll come back tomorrow." I told him, feeling terribly nostalgic. Happily the breeze sent me off. A few stray green summer leaves floated around me as a farewell from the spirit when I exited the forest.
As I walked on the path to my grandfather's house, fireflies buzzed around in the crisp summer night air, and the cicadas were still singing as loud as ever. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by dozens of the luminescent insects. Their glow was an odd yellow-green, but at the time I didn't pay attention to it; I was enthralled by how they gathered around me, giving me this aura of light as I walked back.
It was almost as if they were seeing me home safely.
"Hotaru!" I heard my grandfather call out; with his words, the fireflies vanished.
I smiled sheepishly at his worried face, "Ah, I'm sorry – I fell asleep in the forest."
The old man exhaled deeply and patted me on the back lightly.
"You really love that forest, don't you?" Grandpa smiled, his eyes glistening in the moonlight.
"Yes."
That night I dreamed of Gin. I was sleeping on his lap peacefully as he gingerly moved stray pieces of hair out of my face; he looked at me with an expression that I could only describe as 'warm.'
He bent down as far as he could with me in his lap and whispered:
"I love you, Hotaru
