Hey! This is a bonus chapter for Holiday: Puzzles!
We made this one a little short. :p
~Sora
January 10; 7pm
~Walking outside~
Kaoru's POV:
The ground is completely covered in snow…it snowed a lot last night, huh? I looked up at the night sky, and though it is usually mysterious…tonight, it seemed a bit sinister…maybe I shouldn't have watched that horror movie earlier…
Anyways…ever since New Year's Eve, I couldn't stop remembering the time from October…
I wonder why? Why can't I stop remembering it?
I lowered my head into my scarf to make myself warmer…I was walking around Tokyo to clear my head because…staying at the house just made the memories all flow back so vividly…all so suddenly too…
"Hello there, young man. Would you like to try some steamed dumpling? They're only 280 yen (around $3)"
The old man from the food stand smiled kindly at me…I just gently smiled back at him, and since I wasn't that hungry, I just gave him all of what I had on me, which was 450 yen (about $5).
"Don't you want dumplings? At least let me give you something in return," the old man looked grateful and surprised at the same time. I just smiled back at him and said, "Kindness does not need reasons," and walked away. He thanked me a million times and I bet if I didn't stop him, he would've done it for hours…seriously.
…why did I do that?
I usually don't do those types of things…maybe it's because from that time…
I buried my head deeper into my jacket, remembering that summer day…
Flashback:
~Food market~
Mizuki: "Kaoru! Hurry up!" (Smiling and laughing while pulling Kaoru along through the market)
Kaoru: "Okay, okay. Calm down, it's not like we have to catch a plane or something."
Mizuki: (Laughing) "Come on! I really want you to taste this before the line gets even longer!"
Kaoru: (Laughs) "Okay, but what is this 'thing' you want me to try?"
Mizuki: (smile) "It's a secret."
~Ice cream stand~
Kaoru: =_=! "this is why you rushed here?"
Mizuki: (Big smile) "Yup! Their ice cream is the best!" (Turns to vendor) "One strawberry please!" (Turns to Kaoru) "What flavor do you want, Kaoru?"
Kaoru: (Shrugs) "Choco, I guess."
Mizuki: "Okay!" (Turns to vendor again) "One chocolate please!" (Pays vendor then turns to Kaoru) "Here ya go!" (Hand ice cream to Kaoru while walking off with Kaoru)
Kaoru: "Why'd you pay for it?"
Mizuki: (Confused) "Why not?"
Kaoru: "I was going to pay."
Mizuki: (-.-) "…hmmm…then…" (^.^)
Kaoru: "What?"
Mizuki: (Whispers) "Come closer."
Kaoru: "Yeah?" (Leans in)
Mizuki: (Kisses him on cheek) "there~!"
Kaoru: "H-hey."
Mizuki: "Now, we're even." (Grin)
Vendor: "Miss! Miss!" (Chasing after Mizuki and Kaoru)
Mizuki&Kaoru: (Turns around confused)
Mizuki: "Yes? What is it?"
Vendor: "You left 550 yen (about $6) on my stand." (catching breath)
Mizuki: "Oh, yes. I know…but…are you okay?"
Vendor: "What?"
Mizuki: "I left it for you on purpose. It's for you to keep." (Gentle smile)
Vendor: "W-why?"
Mizuki: (Smile) "Kindness does not need reasons. You look a little pale, take care." (Waves while walking away with Kaoru.)
Kaoru: "You're really nice, you know that?" (smiles at Mizuki)
Mizuki: "Haha, I'm sure everyone does something to help one another once in a while. Compassion and being at least a little altruistic is what makes humans, humans. Right?" (Big smile)
Kaoru: (Pulls Mizuki in closer as they walk) "Not everyone is like that."
~Back to Reality~
…she's so innocent and sweet at times…
I walked a little more and I unconsciously stared at the night sky…no stars during winter nights…kind of sad…
As I walked further down, I heard laughing, but just faintly. Since I was curious to where it was coming from and to whom it belonged to, I kept walking towards the laugh. I kept following the sound, until I came to an entrance to a neighborhood park…I recognize those laughs…
I tilted my head just a bit so that I was able to see, and as I knew it, I saw Mizuki and Hikaru laughing while chasing each other around and throwing snow at each other…
I smiled to myself and sighed ever so slightly at the sight…it made me happy and yet a little sad at the same time…
I pulled myself back and turned around to go back home, but right then…
"Kaoru?"
"AH!" I got scared and lost my footing, which made me slip on an invisible sheet of ice somewhere underneath my feet…did I not notice it before?
Mizuki smiled apologetically while helping me up, "D-did I surprise you?"
"Y-yeah." I got back up on my feet.
"Sorry, here let me help," She's helping me dust off the snow on my shoulders…
"Mizuki!?" I heard Hikaru's shouting in the back ground, haha, he's still a little panicky without Mizuki? "Mizuki, what're you-"
I finished dusting the snow off, and right as I looked up, my eyes met Hikaru's. We stood there staring at each other for moment before breaking into smiles.
"Sorry I interrupted you two," I said.
"No, it's okay. Want to join us?" Mizuki asked…
I waved my hand to let them know I couldn't…or more like I didn't want to…not yet…not now, "Sorry, I'm kind of cold right now. I should go back home before I get sick. You two have fun, okay? I'll see you when you get back, Hikaru."
"Yeah, okay." Hikaru responded.
I turned to leave and started to jog away when Mizuki shouted, "Be careful!"
Then Hikaru followed after, "Don't slip and fall on your way home!"
I turned my head in their direction and smiled, "Don't worry! I won't!" and faced forward again…those two, I smiled to myself.
Mizuki's POV:
Hikaru and I watched Kaoru disappear into the distance of the dark, winter night…I stood there, rooted to the spot wondering if Kaoru was really going to be okay.
As I was lost in my thoughts, Hikaru gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders and whispered in my ear, "You're going to make me jealous of Kaoru if you keep staring after him like this."
"W-what!?" I couldn't help but blush…he was so close his face was right there too…I could feel his breath on my skin and it tickled my neck.
"Are you blushing?" Hikaru asked.
I was embarrassed so I reflexively denied it, which in turn made me blush harder.
"Ah, your face is getting redder. Ahaha, you're so cute, Mizuki." Hikaru hugged me even tighter.
"D-don't say that…it's embarrassing," what was so embarrassing about this? I don't know, but it made me suddenly shy…
"Anyways, where do you want to eat?" Hikaru asked as he let me go and hand my hand in his…did his hands get bigger?
"Hmmm, I don't know. Where do you want to eat?" I asked him. He just smiled back and patted meon my head as he responded, "You choose, I want to treat you tonight."
I smiled at him as we started walking towards the city and said, "Well, let's see…how about…"
Kaoru's POV:
I slowed down to a walk little while ago to catch my breath…
Because I ran, my cheeks felt a little hot, and I felt something cold and soft land on my face.
"Snow…" I said to myself. I looked up and sure enough, millions of tiny water crystals were falling gently from the sky that seemed sinister earlier…but now seems mysterious, elegant, and beautiful all at the same time.
...we finally have our own puzzles to complete...
What's the story behind your puzzle?
We really had an awesome time writing this story.
Hope you enjoyed this series as much as we enjoyed making it! :) (or even more if that's possible)
Well, this is the end...Thank you for reading this series! :D
~ Sora & Akira