Part 2
Above the High Sky
This chapter was set two weeks after the end of WtSMtO, few months before Key to Her Heart. It was set to be a past story where Eli and Umi haven't started their dating life and the whole date was a nostalgic experience for Umi. Eli gave one of the most memorable dates for Umi because it would be the day Eli and Umi stopped being just friends.
...
Welcome to the Family
Chapter 2: The One Where I Said Yes
...
It was the day that pinned everything else on the board of our relationship. Everything else were somehow connected through it, though it didn't mean that it be the start. Each failure, all the flaws, every faults, had to happen for it to happen. Decisions were made, arguments were thrown, conclusions evaluated, that made me come to it. It was a day to remember. It was a true serendipity. It was the day I finally said yes.
Long had Umi waited and so had I.
The night before I went to see Umi, I went to see Nico and Nozomi because the night even before then I just received the news that I got accepted by my dream university with the major of my dreams, at the same time I was drafted by the well-known idol agency that held the name for the highest number of records sold a year. The three of us got to the same University, though we chose different majors, and we shared the same agency, though we would be debuting solos. We spent the night together celebrating to express our gratitude and enthusiasm for our grand adventures, while Umi waited for my call. That night I shared with two of my best friends the plan I had for Umi, right before I called her. It was fun to see someone's face not knowing what they would go through the next 24 hours.
...
I came to Umi's door at 15:40 in the morning. It was similar to the summer Umi and I had for the walk on the beach the year before; but that morning was cold I could feel the air pierced my lungs with fresh air as well as it was on my skin. The street had its lights off but I could still see the path I walked because the sky started to light up. I rang the bell quickly so I could put my hand back on my arm to rub against. She didn't take long but Umi came and opened the door surprised.
'E-Eli!' Umi called at the same time her eyebrows lifted. Umi didn't expect that at all and she looked adorable by hiding half of her body behind the door still in her pyjamas, I liked it. 'W-what are you doing here so early?'
'Well,' I tried to explain with a trembling jaw. I kept scraping for heat from the friction between my hands and arms. 'I told you I would be here early, didn't I?'
'I know you did,' Umi quickly replied as she stepped outside her door. She didn't even wear any slippers to grab me by the arm and pulled me in. 'I thought early morning, not dawn. It's barely today yet. Anyway, come in, Eli. You'll catch a cold!'
'Thank you for having me,' I addressed as soon as my feet entered her well-lit house. I hopped on the spot to relax my muscles and burn a little calorie to warm myself up. I hopped like a rabbit or perhaps a young child – I began to doubt what Umi saw in me that made her confess because I was not at all attractive that way. 'Where are your parents, Umi?'
'Oh, they're in the kitchen,' she replied as she closed the door behind me. 'Why do you ask?'
'Okay. Let's go see them!' I suddenly stopped being the rabbit and ran away like a fox.
'What? Eli! Wait!'
...
Umi soon caught up right behind me as I entered the dining room where I found Umi's parents sitting opposite of each other while they drank tea and were reading the newspaper. I greeted them in a friendly manner as I was familiar with them, unlike the first time when I sweated my socks off. In my bag was a meal that my mother and I prepared the night before, for Umi's family to enjoy for complementary on my behalf and I gave it to Umi's mother. We proceeded to the kitchen as I explained what the meal was and how mother and I cooked it. We talked further in the kitchen for a moment before we returned. When I did, I pulled out a bag of coffee my Mother got while she travelled, it was a Kenya AA coffee beans. He gave a tilted smile like admiring an exquisite gift, which he then breathed the aroma of the beans. Only then I sat next to Umi. I then explained that my early visit to her house was so that I could learn archery from the master herself which she soon agreed to do, even more excited than I was. Surprisingly her parents too, were excited.
In her room, Umi promised to help me put on the kyudo uniform and she would bring them to her room as soon after she had changed. In her excitement she told me to take my shirt off – I never thought I would be the first one being asked to remove a piece of their clothing, I felt like it was too direct for Umi to asked that.
'Um, Eli,' she called as she entered the room tying her obi on herself. I was already half way on unbuttoning my shirt. 'Why do you want to learn kyujutsu?'
'Well, I figured that I've known you for a long time now and we've been very close.' I started to recall the times we had by looking at the framed pictures of Umi and I. 'Yet I don't know anything about what you enjoy the most. You were always alone when you were in the dojo at school, and I know it's too late, but I'd like to be there to shoot your arrows with you.' I started to blush as I tried to confess my regret.
'Okay, then.' The girl replied with a smile on her face after I checked her. She had blushes on her cheeks too.
I guessed it was the appropriate warm-up before I took my clothes off in front of Umi.
'E-Eli…' Umi suddenly gasped but she didn't look away after I exposed my body with the sleeves of my shirt still hung on my arms. I felt embarrassed as she stared at me – she wasn't looking at my eyes anymore.
'Umi, you're staring,' I complained softly as it was hard to speak because I was choked by oxygen itself. I never had removed my clothes this close to her before, especially had them slowly taken off, because often I changed in front of her for at least three feet away and the worst she could do was glancing but never staring – there were incidents where I had taken off so close in front of anyone I had, but that was for another story. 'I'm…still not used to it if you're this close, Umi.'
'W-what are you doing, Eli?' The girl flushed.
'Aren't you…going to help me put them on?' I felt uncomfortable with being the only one with minimal clothing on while we talked.
'You mean,' she tried to look around as if she remembered bringing them, but it was missing. "Oh no. I'm sorry! L-let me… get them first, okay?'
'Umi!' I whined. 'You don't have it with you! I thought you brought it!' I flinched and tried to close myself again but I failed as my shirt didn't climb high enough to go over my left shoulder – I still had the left side of the bra and chest exposed. I pulled myself away until I reached the edge of her bed and I sat down. I was embarrassed to show my own face.
I was too embarrassed; to had my shirt removed and thus showing my almost-bare self to Umi. Umi and I were close, we were comfortable with each other, even went to the beach in our swimming clothes but none of the µ's knew that I never stood with such exposure three feet close with anyone else except Umi and I actually played only with her on the beach. Not only I was embarrassed because I just flashed myself, but I was also ashamed by myself.
I became sensitive that I concealed myself when Umi tried to approach me. Not long, however, Umi approached me again but she didn't say anything. She had the uniform with her this time and spread them across the bed as she sat next to me. I still had my body faced away from her. As sensitive as I was, Umi still approached me by sliding closer and slowly removed my misplaced shirt. My heartbeat raced fast as I realised I had my back closer than a foot to Umi. I became paranoid. The hook of my bra was so exposed to Umi and I was afraid in my disturbing thoughts that she would unhook them.
But she didn't. She gave me the uniform. To put them on she held my hand which I didn't notice until she pulled me up to stand in the middle of the room so it would be easier, and it was. She helped me put the rest of the uniform as well. Then she went behind me and slipped her hands through to tie the trousers on me, then again for the sash or belt, then again for the hug – it was a bonus from the uniform.
'Eli…' she called as she pressed her body on my back and tightened her arms that were wrapped around, where at least I was fully clothed. 'Are you okay?'
'I'm fine…' I replied by finally making a sound since I shouted at her. 'Also, I'm sorry, Umi. I didn't… mean to shout like that.'
'You don't have to be embarrassed in front of me, Eli,' Umi suggested with the voice that always calmed me whenever I feel sorrow. 'I mean, I went to great lengths in front of you I don't mind them now. I got embarrassed and I got shy by a lot of things. But I was glad I had them. Otherwise I won't be here, doing this. It's not like anyone else could do the same.' Umi paused as if she were waiting for a response but I wasn't ready to give one. 'Aren't you glad, Eli?'
Yes, I would never had let anyone do this so casually… yet I did… so much worse…
'I am,' I happily and truthfully, as I could, replied as I was smiling although I knew she couldn't possibly see it. 'Thanks, Umi.'
Although she did it slowly, she suddenly wanted to take her arms back. Firstly, I didn't want Umi to look at me yet while I blush. Secondly, I felt so comfortable with Umi around me that I wanted her to stay so badly.
'Can… we stay like this for a minute?' I requested as I grabbed her arm in place and finally overlapped her arm. 'I'm not ready to show my face.'
Umi giggled and leaned her head again on my shoulder.
...
I thought if my future self could write a note addressed to the younger Umi whom was hugging me then, I would have it said:
...
My dear Umi,
You're about to have one of the most memorable day of your life. So please, take care of me.
And I love you.
Best regards,
Ayase E.
...
With care and devotion Umi showed me her bow, the traditional yumi, carved out of wood and bamboo bounded by leather too. Its grip was on the lower half close to the bottom limb. She also showed the different parts of the bow from the names of the body parts, the different joints, and the string parts. Compared to a modern recurve bow it was different, it was asymmetrical. The method too was different, where I only had seen from the Olympics – team Russia by the way – she held the bow on her left hand with the arrow on her right and they were above her chin with arms almost extended to the front at the centre of the body. Her head was facing the left where the target should be in the distance. She pushed the bow to her left that made her arm extend while her right stayed at the centre. Then she brought the bow and the arrow closer to her body and drew the arrow back with her right. At the final position, her left index finger was flexed pointing at the target while there was still a distance between her body and the bow – unlike modern archery where the right hand was placed under the athlete's jaw. I paid attention to her chestal area for lung and diaphragm movement, and took notes of it.
At 15:19 she then gave me a bow for my own, not hers, because it was taller. I knew that size mattered accordingly to the user's height but Umi and I were almost the same height with only a few cm difference. I thought it didn't matter but she thought it was. At first, I didn't know the difference between the one I was holding and hers. So I tried to pull on it. It was slightly heavy to draw that I didn't fully nor successfully pull. So I inhaled a larger volume of air before I exhaled while I drew it the second time, and I did it. I peeped on Umi and she seemed impressed.
'Eli,' Umi called for attention. 'Do you do a lot of push-ups?'
'I guess you could say that,' I answered while I retracted the draw slowly, because there were no arrow and it would break the limb if I released it. 'The first few classes at the agency was all training, so I do a few but often. Why do you ask, Umi?'
'That yumi is quite heavy to pull, you know. I was testing how strong you can pull on the strings, thinking I might have to give you a lighter one. Since you could fully draw it, I suspect that you have a strong back and arms. And a muscular one at it.'
'Am I blushing?' I tried to clarify. Umi was never good at complimenting thought I kind of knew where she was going with; I knew so much sometimes I shied away when she poorly complimented.
'I mean, you're already strong, Eli. You can handle your bow so you just need to practice your aim.'
'Really? Can you teach me how to shoot then? I'll learn in seconds flat so we could start shooting arrows together.' I smiled while I pulled on another the draw.
After she had taught me on how to shoot, we went our ways. She took her spot and I took mine on the dojo. She was on my right about five metres away. It was quiet and the only sound made were from the arrows being released and arrows penetrating. Since we controlled our breathing our heartbeats were low and the breeze helped with the calming atmosphere. Her rate of shooting was constant while mine was still inconsistent as I was still taking my time aiming. She looked so calm, like how she always was in the dojo at school. I fell for her over and over when she drew one and released one. We didn't say anything to each other because we understood we needed our space and time. I smiled when she looked at me and she replied it without a word. (if Umi ever told you about any of this, she lies, I made only two shots on target while others found their way to the ground or behind!)
Then we sat together near where we were before, looking at the targets across the small patch of grass. We rested as if we had already slain the Jabberwock.
'Thanks for teaching me, Umi. I finally understand what you meant all these times. I felt really free.'
'Yeah. It's relaxing, isn't it? You… you learned fast, Eli.' Umi looked at her hands as she played with her fingers, having trouble talking and controlling her facial expression; she looked adorable. 'You looked so focused when you shoot your arrows. And… l-looking at you, made me relaxed too…'
'Aww, Umi. Now I'm blushing.' I tried to get her attention but I was only lying because I wanted to see her reaction. She then looked at me but she flushed even further. Adorable as she always was. 'Let's do this again. Tell me whenever you want to go for a relaxing time at the dojo, okay?'
As the morning already came late I invited Umi to finish the session so we could get some shower.
...
I took the first turn in the traditional bath – the soap bottle that I left a long time ago was still there and I admitted that when I stood close to Umi I could almost smell the same scent from her now and then. As soon as Umi went to the shower I was bored – I had already checked her drawers and everything around. I could smell food being cooked and stove exhaust turned on. So I came down to meet her mother in the kitchen and we talked. I insisted on helping her make breakfast, I put on an apron and minced the garlic and the red onions.
'By the way, Mrs. Sonoda, thank you again for sharing.'
'Oh, don't worry about it, Eli. You might not know this, but after she came home from Kyoto she was very happy she smiled the whole night, and the night after, and the few weeks later.' She shared as she stirred the soup so the paste would dissolve into the heated water.
'Is that so?' I clarified as I paused my cuts because I didn't want to cut my finger.
'She couldn't stop talking about her trip and what she found on the way. Then she read a few of the historical books again.'
'Did she?' I slowly continued to cut. 'Umi never told me that.'
'Yes. She even called her sister too,' she said with elevated tone as if she was also excited about the trip.
'Ah, that's very cute of her. Now I'm kind of embarrassed.' I swept the sliced garlics and onions into the pan that had olive oil preheated.
'You should be, because she's not usually lively like that. And I couldn't imagine how she would be like after she comes home to where you're taking her. Are you sure there's no room for me and her father?'
'I wish there were, Mrs Sonoda,' I cracked the eggs on the pan after I smiled at her. 'Maybe Umi and I can take you in a year.'
'Like anniversary? I can't wait, Eli.'
We both laughed.
'However, Eli,' she continued before silence took over, 'if you are really going to take her, partially, today, remember what my husband and I said to you. It is all fun and games now, but be mindful when you take her hand, or she takes yours, because there will be a lot of hardship on the road a head of you. Not a lot of people will take your side in this, not in Japan, and not anywhere. There is no perfect world for you out there but be sure you see through it all, even in this house. Do not give her hope where there is none.'
'Yes.'
'But then, again,' she came over to cook next to me, 'if you are willing to do this, and that the both of you will fight for what you believe in, you have our blessings – her father and myself. Let me warn you ahead, Eli, that there won't be a lot of things we could help you with since we had to maintain the honour of this family name. Which name you should adopt, is a very serious matter, and we will let freedom for your decision.'
'I understand.'
She reached her hand around my shoulder and for a moment brought our heads together – and since then I felt the warmth of a mother and father irradiating from her and Umi's father.
'Mom.' Suddenly voiced so familiar that I could tell whom it belonged, whether she was on the phone, or a hundred metres away, or even an inch close to my ear. 'Have you seen… Ah! Eli. I've been looking for you.' Umi entered the kitchen as I was done with the eggs and about to make the second.
'I'm sorry, Umi,' her mother quickly replied before I could even crack another egg. 'I've been keeping her here. She's been helping and accompanying me. It's nice to have her around, don't you think so, Umi? I'm sorry for troubling you, Eli.'
'Oh no. Not at all, Mrs. Sonoda. If you like me around, then I'll stay around.' I tried to lighten the atmosphere.
'Ha ha. You're always welcome here, Eli.'
'Thank you.' I smiled and looked at Umi who no longer stood near the doorway but so close she could see how I was cooking the omelette.
'Okay, let's have breakfast,' Her mother called out at 12:38.
And we did as soon as Umi's father entered, we talked, never touching the topic on what I would be saying to Umi at the end of the day – the simplest word in every language. Having breakfast with Umi and her parents only brought memories, she looked so happy that I bonded with her parents.
Though I thought she bonded with my parents better than I was with hers. She was smitten when she first met them. She worried how she looked and whether my parents would like her appearance. I didn't know why she was so nervous then but I too. Umi asked what colour my parents like and how she would look in a shirt and blazer – she found it was the most comfortable way to dress and would give her a formal ambience. Then I was nervous to introduce her to my parents because the way we looked, with me wearing a dress made us look like a couple and she had come to ask permission for marriage. Alisa then shared that Umi helped her with literature and history – that peaked my parents' interest. They began to share stories and my heart pounded every second because Umi bonded so well with them, afraid I might be the one to screw things up. My mom, as a matter of fact, liked traditional songs as well as the instruments of Japan. She also shared how she went to festivals with my dad. Then I told Umi that I took her to Kyoto because of the stories my parents told me, adding the fact the night my parents went to Kyoto was the night they fell in love. Umi looked at me, and she had been looking at me differently since.
...
Until afternoon we talked and played around her house. We spent the time in the study room as she explained which book she had been reading and what it was about. She also showed some of the writings she had been planning to write keep her mind busy, and they were beautiful, it was called The Girl who Sails the Seven Seas. We spent some time in her room too and watched a series she had been meaning to see. Until finally we got ready for our date. I held a note in my pocket with all the approximate times that I had to kept in mind for those details would tell me how long we had to stay on one spot and when to move on to the next.
At 06:56, we went to Honoka's family bakery as it was close to where we were. Not a few minutes earlier Umi had been a little quiet and it would only mean that she either had been feeling sleepy, or hungry, or when she was in the shower and she wouldn't talk to me through the door because I tried to open it. And it was unlikely that she was showering in the middle of our stroll. We were greeted by Mrs. Kousaka and she soon called for Honoka.
'Welcome, Eli-chan, Umi-chan! What brings you here?'
'Hi, Honoka,' Umi first replied on our behalf. 'We were around so we decided to visit.'
'Yeah, and I thought why not buy some of the manjuu because Umi was hungry.'
'E-Eli!' Umi whined.
'Oh, Umi, would you like some? They're over here.' I pointed at the ones she liked. While Umi had her eyes locked, I slipped by her and snuck to talk to Honoka in private.
'Hey, Eli-chan. Have you decided… you know…' She whispered.
'Hush!' I gestured. 'I'm taking her to Tokyo Tower later to tell her.'
'Really!' Honoka gasped and loudly.
While Umi no longer had her eyes locked, I saw her slight movement of hair that indicated she was meaning to turn around. I quickly hooked my arm around Honoka. I gripped on her shoulder as if I was rock climbing and it was the only thing I could hung onto.
When Umi finally turn around we put up a smile so wide we could fill the whole store.
'Umi, have you picked which ones you wanted?' I asked after she had turned her head back to the sparking manjuu so close to her face again.
'Ouch. Ouch. Ouch! I'm sorry, Eli-chan!' Honoka whispered and erased her smile away with painful tears.
'I'm sorry but you can't keep things a secret, can't you?'
'I'm trying my best though. But I'm happy for you!'
'Well, that's good enough I guess. And how about Kotori?'
'She's… gone. Kotori-chan went into hiding. I can't contact her, and her mother swore that everything would be alright – just that she wasn't home whenever I went there. It's been three days and I'm a little worried.'
'Is that what she said?'
'Yes. Eli-chan…'
'It's alright, Honoka. I have an idea where she is and I know she'll come back. You just have to wait.'
'I see. Then, can you contact her? Tell her I'm looking for her and to send me a message.'
'Then I'll pass on that message. And thank you again, Honoka.'
'I should do the same, Eli-chan. So good luck today, I hope everything went well.'
'I'll let you know how it goes, okay?' I turned to Honoka and turned back to Umi. 'Yes. Today it's on me.' I took the tray from Umi's hands and headed to the counter to buy them and coded with a wink to Honoka.
Honoka was always bad at keeping a secret and through her facial expression anyone could tell she felt so touched and happy for Umi. She even hugged her almost giving away my plan, but Umi was too focused on taking the paper bag from the counter, she was puzzled what Honoka was doing.
It was 06:45 we left the store and Umi had already munched on her second.
...
It was at 06:14 that we reached the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Our visit was delightful. I still remembered what Umi's mother told me earlier about which displays attracted Umi since she was younger. As we walked around the museum Umi talked so much about it and it amazed me how much she had remembered despite it was a long time ago since she stepped inside that museum. It must had been a really memorable day for Umi and to revisit her childhood must be marvellous. She even had her own favourite displays, just as her mother said. Seeing Umi walked through her memory lane was so adoring and she looked so cute, I had to take a picture of her. She caught me doing so without her permission and her punishment was to take some of mine and some together. I shied away when she stared at me while I was fascinated by the displays – it was my first time visiting that museum.
Although I had kept a schedule on my right pocket, I couldn't let it disturb the fantastic time Umi was having. Only until she had quiet down that indicated she got a little tired, and her pupils no longer dilated, I took her to the café nearby where they served an astounding meal. It was a little pricy but I had saved up on money to take her there. While she talked I only had a smile on me. It was 03:43 that we started eating but Umi hadn't stopped chatting about all the things she did with her sister back then.
...
As the clock struck 03:10 we had already left the café and arrived at the Zōjō-ji. Umi gasped and almost dropped her bag which I quickly caught. She didn't care about it, she quickly ran and left me behind to enter the temple. I was trying to catch the energetic White Rabbit in the wonderland although I was sure my name was not Alice – I had to make sure of it because we had the same set of hair, and I was wearing white and blue. Umi led me inside and out and in and out again – I was glad I had eaten a lot because here was where the calories from the food brunt off. When she finally stopped in which I thought she had found the tea party with Mad Hatter, she pointed out at the park where she used to play and enjoyed the sunset.
...
It was not like me to be lost in time, because it was the Rabbit who was late even though he had a pocket watch. It was already late and the hands on my watch said it was 02:17 – I couldn't believe I had wished that it lied a few minutes faster. But I finally took Umi to the grand finale of our date, I took her to the Tokyo Tower. I was worried because Umi's pupils were wider than ever, as if the kid was on sugar rush. Frenetically hyped, Umi pressed the button of the lift multiple times that I had to stop her by holding her arms and hoped some of the energy would be transferred to me. Umi was being playful. She had a Cheshire Cat smile on her – a playful smile stretched from ear to ear. Until we reached the top, she started to run around the deck for a lap before she stopped and pointed out every detail she saw through the looking-glass. Umi had dragged me around about the second time before I could take a breather. She hadn't let go my left hand since the temple. We stopped for a while to watch the sunset, and Umi calmed down. But when the sun had set she towed me again. If I had a car, with the number of laps we had looped, we would almost complete a formula one race and the sunset was just a pit stop.
...
Suddenly the Rabbit manipulated my timing; it was fast forwarded.
00:04:42, my heart pounded, like a glass of water in a Jurassic Park movie. My breathing was not at all proper and was short, though I tried to control it like how Umi showed me when we handled a bow.
00:03:11, I stood still, that made Umi stopped on her step almost pulling her back. There were not a lot of people around. Her expression was still unchanged, and she only looked at me in wonder. She didn't say anything to me nor I had said anything yet.
00:02:05, I took a step forward to place myself so close to her that the only gap could fill it was a sheet of paper. I brushed Umi's hair to the tail with my other hand. Then I tidied her clothing.
00:01:00, I placed gently my hand on the side of her neck, with my thumb climbed high to reach her cheek. I gave a wider smile that I could feel the muscles stretched on my cold cheeks. Then I gave Umi gentle strokes on her blush with my thumb.
The Rabbit messed with me even further; time was slowed down.
00:00:03, I gave her the first stroke. I appreciated all the times that we had been though: from the first date I took her, to the kidnap to Kyoto, then the time we first met and the second time we first met, the arguments, to the trip we took to New York, until she confessed, and until the last 3 seconds Umi and I were only friends, and nothing less since.
00:00:02, I gave her the second stroke. I looked forward to the times we would spend together as long as we would have each other: to have our first kiss, to have further wonderful dates, to have double dates, to have our firsts taken by the other, to have dinner parties with µ's, to have our own place to move into, to have our wedding, to have a family of our own, to the time we would grow old, to the time we would have to part ways, to the time we would have to spend rest of eternity together.
00:00:01, I gave her the final stroke. I thought of how I lucky I was to have found the love of my life.
00:00:00, I said yes.
Umi was silent at first. Her curious expression removed her smile and slowly I felt her hand tightened.
'Eli…are you…' she took a pause before saying every one of her line, yet I replied very quickly.
'Yes.'
'R-really?' She made sure she heard the same answer was coming out of my mouth and if it were indeed my answer.
'Yes!'
'You're really saying…' She clarified again as if she couldn't believe what I was saying.
'Yes, Umi. Yes!' I clarified the last time as I held on her closer.
Umi suddenly threw herself at me and put her arms around my neck, quickly putting mine around her body. It was never like a hug we had done before because there was nothing in my mind that we only hugged out of pure love.
'Why…didn't you say it earlier, Eli?' she asked as her face was on my chest so close to the locket on me.
'If I said it this morning, the rest of the day would be just boring.'
'No, it won't,' she replied with a soft tone. 'I mean why not days earlier.'
'I only needed one last thing before I could answer, your parent's permission.'
I slowly let her body lose and so did she for my neck, though we didn't let go of ourselves. I stared at her yellow jade eyes – she didn't sneak and rob them but she did lure and steal my heart with those gems. Our faces were really close and we didn't move away as if Umi had permitted me to be so near. We looked at each other as if we were saying, "what are we going to do?"
Since we hadn't decided on what to do, I took the first step but only my head moved forward. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. So, I didn't waste any as I went for her lips. I knew it was a big deal for Umi as it would be an embarrassing thing to do, but it was also a larger deal because it would be her first kiss too, I had to make it great though there would be no frame of reference.
With the same thing that happened in the masquerade ball, I made sure she did fell in love with the same girl.
I understood if she didn't want it, but I let her complete the rest of the kiss. I would understand whatever decision she would make as I paused in front of her, it would be the best she could think of. But she moved in anyway and thus we kissed.
I kissed her… I felt so honoured to have her trusted me with her love, as well as this kiss, her first kiss without any doubt from her end. As our lips touched we were frozen. I held her even tighter once I realised I finally kissed the girl I had fallen for, the girl of my dreams, the girl whom I would turn to in times of need and any other time too. Umi had become my girlfriend, and I had become hers.
Her lips were soft and a little cold, but they were smaller than how I had thought.
We finally ended our kiss, she dropped to her heels again but she was still close and I was still drawn to her light peach lips, that I was sure had some of my lipstick on because they looked a little glossy. I had made my mark on her lips, rubbing mine, I sensed that she did the same to me. She hadn't closed her mouth even after we had our eyes fully opened. Her eyes began to collect water. Umi finally closed her mouth to make a smile but it didn't go well with tears on the side of her cheeks. I removed my hands from her body to take care of her eyes.
'There's one more place we have to visit before heading home, Umi.'
...
I looked at her watch on the wrist of the arm that I was holding, it had been 34 minutes since I said yes, and 32 minutes since we kissed. We walked on the park and we talked. The first conversation we had was about introducing me to anyone she knew as her first girlfriend, especially to her sister – she tightened her grip on my hand as soon as I mentioned it. We then reached our bench on the park as we would be writing more stories on it.
'Eli… s-should we make something like a… like a promise? I heard my sister did something like that.' Umi had been talking nervously as if I were a stranger since we kissed; it was only normal because she had never met her girlfriend before.
'You mean vows? Like what couples do in wedding?' Umi clenched on my hands so tightly that I had to remove them off of her hands. 'Ouch! Umi!' I whined. 'That hurts.'
'S-sorry, Eli!'
I giggled while I massaged my hand. 'How about this. We make something similar, a relationship vow.'
'What do you mean?'
'I'm just going to say it' I turned my body towards her and held both of her hands on her lap.
I took a moment before I could say the line, but I had written a letter that I wished I could send to every version of Umi out there who hadn't met me yet, who still hadn't realised her true feelings for me, who hadn't noticed I was the girl from that party, who took her time thinking about confessing to me, the girl who was about get her first kiss:
...
My dearest Umi,
I hope you are well.
You may not know me yet, as the version of me standing next to you still was childish with her own feelings. You would know me better once you took that leap of faith.
If you haven't met me yet, please find me. If I had asked for a dance, please give me your hand. If I had told you to stay put and close your eyes, please open them and chase after me. If I had asked you for a date on our second time we met, please go. If you were angry at me because I kept things from you, please, please forgive me. If you had just figured out the girl in the red dress was me, please, again please, forgive me. If you had just figured out how you felt about me, please don't doubt it. If you were about to confess, please do.
Because with all those things, I found true happiness. And I promise, and I will bring true happiness and satisfaction to you too.
I will be waiting.
Your beloved,
Ayase E.
P.S. I trusted a version of myself to you, please take care of her.
...
'Sonoda Umi, I promise to always be truthful to you. Whether I'm happy or sorrowful… and whether I adore or despise… that I will always tell you the truth.'
Umi hadn't replied but she was flushed and gasping. I saw her lips twitched as if she was citing something in her mind, like a vow to herself as did I.
'Was that good enough, Umi?'
'I promise that too, Eli Ayase. I promise to always tell you the truth…Even if I feel happy or sorrowful…Whether I adore or despise…that I will always tell you the truth.'
'Now, the first truth I'm going to tell you: you're beautiful, and I love you, Umi.' I smiled and had my hand tucked under Umi's dark and smooth hair behind my ear, then also her warmer cheeks that fitted perfectly.
'You look…good, Eli. And I love you too.' She held onto my sleeve.
'I don't know if I'm blushing, Umi. But we'll work on your compliments. Should we inform the rest of the group?' I removed my hands from her.
'Wait. N-now?'
'Well, don't we want them to remember this date too?' I reached into my bag looking for my phone.
'I guess.'
I took it out and started typing a message to inform the others. Despite my excitement on being a couple with the extraordinary girl I so loved, Umi was quiet and almost silent that she looked down and she gave an expression that I knew she was thinking about something heavy and concerning. I knew what it is, because it wasn't the other. So, I revised my idea on my own head, that maybe I was moving too fast for Umi.
'Here,' I said as I handed my phone to her. 'How about you do it, Umi. If you're not ready, it's okay. We can tell hem another time.' Umi held my phone and I set back on the bench as I started to play with a few strands of her hair as I looked at the skyline across us.
Not long Umi joined me that made me stop playing with her hair. She rested her head on my shoulder while she still had the phone faced up and lit. I looked over without disturbing her, the message was sent. We continued to talk that night, until it was 01:18 since I said yes and 01:20 since we first kissed.
'It's been a long two weeks for us, hasn't it?' I smiled even though she couldn't see it.
'It felt like a lifetime to me, Eli. But thanks for everything.'
'Well, I only talked to your mother about the temple and the tower. That museum was a coincidence.'
'No,' Umi lifted her head with a silly smile. 'I meant everything. It would be a very long list, but everything you've done for me even before I confessed, thank you. You've made a great playground for me to experience all, about love and finding myself in this world, a purpose. I don't know how I could return the favour, of such life-lasting.'
'You've given me this, Umi. Its more than enough.' I dug my locket out.
'The necklace?'
'No,' I kept stroking her head – she seemed to enjoyed it. 'I mean what's written inside. You've given your heart, Umi – the love you promised to give forever.' I stop stroking her hair and I leaned in to give another kiss. It was our second kiss. It was something special too, because she delayed on opening her eyes after we were done. She looked adorable as she was light-headed from the kiss.
'Oh, Eli…can we not kiss in public?' Umi smiled but flustering quickly that she tried to hide her face with the sleeves of her jacket.
'Wait, really? I'm sorry. But how about in the tower just now?'
'T-that was you! Your hands were muscular I couldn't escape.' Umi tried to give a pout that I often did to her.
'Am I still blushing?' I really asked this time because her cheeks puffed and I tried so hard not to pinch them. But I gave up and actually squeezed on those red cheeks. 'I'm sorry. Next time I'll let you kiss me first, just like in the tower, okay? Well then, should we go somewhere private?'
'No! that's not what I meant!' She protested with my hands still pinching, which I responded with a hug and a giggle before replying.
'Come, let's get you home.'
...
That night the rest of the µ's received the text:
"Umi and I are dating!"
...
...
...
Except for one.
