CHIZURU

The summer festival was always a feast for the senses. Colorful booths lined the wide avenue in front of the sea wall. You could see the amber-tinted ocean as you walked from one to the next. Delicious smells emanated from some of the stalls, while others hosted noisy carnival games or sold items crafted by local artisans. Folk dancers performed on a stage further down, and there were even a few rides set up in a lot across from the warehouses by the pier. With the sun sinking quickly, the paper lanterns connecting the stalls would be lit pretty soon, bathing the area in pools of color.

We stopped every few minutes so somebody could purchase his or her favored treat and we all tried our luck at the fishing game. Kazehaya was the only winner, but he insisted Sawako choose the prize. She was so embarrassed that her face looked like a tomato, but he patiently waited for her while we all moved on to the next booth.

"Ooohh! I haven't tried this since I was a kid!" Hiromi cried, tugging on Ryu's shirt. Grrrrr.

It was the classic goldfish-scooping game. A couple kids were playing at it already. As Hiromi paid for her turn I stepped up beside her. She shot an irritated glance in my direction. I ignored it and got a net for myself. When the children cleared out, the two of us knelt before the goldfish pool.

I kept my eye on the colorful fish. Hiromi splashed away next to me. Her excited voice called to the others. "Look, I got one!"

I steeled my resolve. Just as her congratulations were dying down I called out. "Hey! I got two!" I stood up and gave her a smug look. Oh, she was annoyed all right, but tried to hide it. The shopkeeper bagged up Hiromi's pet. When he turned to me, I said, "Actually, can I just put them back? I'm not very good at taking care of them. Last time I tried this, they were dead within a week."

I heard a low chuckle behind me and caught Ryu's amused expression. No doubt he remembered the sorry incident.

The next game up for grabs was a ring toss. Somehow I ended up side by side with Hiromi. I punched the air and whooped when I scored a five-pointer. Hiromi soon celebrated as well. "Ten points for me!" Grrrr.

Back and forth we went as we engaged in every contest we could find. Sawako wanted to see the folk dances, so after a while she and Kazehaya headed over to the performance area. The rest of us continued on, finally nearing the section that had rides. Their gaudy lights of every color looked festive in the darkness.

"Oh, that's my all-time favorite!" Ekko declared, pointing to a popular spinning ride.

"Yeah," Ayane seconded. "I like that one too." She was already opening her change purse.

Kento and Tsuru were agreeing, but I knew Ryu didn't have the stomach for spinning rides. There was no way I'd let myself be paired up with Hiromi on it and definitely no chance I would leave her to sit it out alone with Ryu. "I'll pass," I said.

Hiromi pretended to adjust her clothing while she waited for Ryu's verdict.

"Me too," he told the group. "That kind of ride makes me puke." The guys laughed.

"I think I'll wait as well," Hiromi said. "I want to stop by the candy stall."

As the foursome headed for the ride we could hear Kento's teasing. "Ayane-chan, is there any chance you'll get sick? 'Cause if you might, I suggest you ride with Tsuru here. He's a true gentleman and won't mind at all…" The sound of Tsuru's protest faded into the crowd.

Hiromi was already headed in the direction of the candy stall. "Help me choose, Ryu," she said, pulling on his wrist. I was seriously about to karate chop her hand off him when I spotted a favorite game.

Without thinking I blurted out, "Hey, Ryu, look! The dart game!" It had been our game of choice in our younger days. I wondered idly when it was we'd stopped coming to the summer festival. Probably when Tohru started bringing dates and leaving us home.

Ryu's smile no doubt mirrored mine; he was already heading for the booth. Hiromi trailed behind, looking put out but not ready to give up. We all purchased enough darts for several tries and lined up to try our luck—with Ryu in the middle of course. The board held balloons of every hue, and you had to pop three to win even the smallest prize. Ryu had a weird habit of trying to hit balloons that shared the same color, so his shots were all over the place and he only managed to hit one.

Hiromi and I were more careful, and each had two balloons popped when our last try came around. From the corner of my eye, I could see where she was aiming—at the easy spot directly across from her where most of the neighboring balloons were already cleared out. I gritted my teeth and aimed carefully. My dart hit the target a few seconds before hers, popping the balloon and rendering her shot useless.

"Whooo! I win!" I thumped Ryu on the back "Did ya see that?" I asked proudly.

"Ow," he complained.

I was about to boast about my prize when Hiromi cut across us both. In a caustic tone she hissed, "That's it. I'm going home." She spun around and tramped off into the crowd as fast as her little yukata-clad legs could move.

"Hiromi," Ryu called after her. She didn't even hesitate. Didn't look back. He exhaled a weighty sigh as we watched her disappear into the crowd.

Suddenly I felt terrible. I should have been ecstatic to be rid of her, but instead I just felt ashamed of myself. Tears stung the corners of my eyes and I wanted to run away, to escape the memories of my outlandish, jealous behavior tonight. I whipped around and began striding briskly back toward the rides. I realized a major torrent was coming, so I ducked into an alley between warehouses where I could hide my breakdown in the shadows.

I heard someone follow me and looked back to make sure it wasn't a stalker or something. But of course, it was just Ryu.

I stopped and rested my back against the rough concrete wall, my head hanging. I wiped tears away. "I'm sorry," I said mournfully. "I'll stop acting like an idiot now, I promise."

He just stood there, watching me impassively. I swallowed hard and steeled myself for what had to come next. "You should probably go after her."

He shifted from one foot to another. Instead of leaving, he mirrored my position, leaning up against the building as well. We were shoulder to shoulder, but it felt like a wall separated us.

He grunted and kicked at the gravel under our feet. When he spoke, his voice had a bitter edge. "So you don't want me, but I'm not allowed to date anyone else, is that it?"

I stared at my hands, turning the beads on my bracelet round and round. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes and slid down my face. In a small voice I answered him. "I never said I didn't want you."

He seemed to stiffen at my side. "What?"

I realized it had slipped out, but I didn't care anymore. He deserved to know. "I never said I didn't want you," I repeated. Then a sob choked me and it all came tumbling out, a flood of words and tears mixed together. "I'm so stupid. I didn't realize until it was too late. All this time, all this time, I've been in love with you." Distantly I heard him gasp. "And I didn't even know it! And now you're in love with Hiromi, and it's just too la-a-ate." I ended on a sob, clutching his shirtfront and burying my face in his chest.

I wept against his damp t-shirt, the loss overwhelming.

His arms went around me and I wanted to die from how wonderful it felt. "Chizuru." His warm voice was right next to my ear. "I've loved you for as long as I can remember." A kind of hopeless chuckle escaped and he said, "I wouldn't even know how to love anyone else."

A stunned blankness swept through me. "Wh-what?" I sniffed and tried to pull back so I could see his face. He locked his hands behind my waist, preventing my escape. I could just raise my face to his.

"You heard me," he said. His dark eyes were serious.

"You…" love me?

"Yes, you dummy," he said with some exasperation. With a frustrated sigh, he dropped his forehead to mine. I closed my eyes. I can't believe it. Ryu loves me.

"Did you mean it?" he asked apprehensively. "What you said."

I knew what he was asking, knew that—of the two of us—he had the biggest chasm of disbelief to cross. I'd scorned his confession, chased after Tohru in front of him for years. But he loved me, and all of a sudden I couldn't wait to give him the gift he'd given me…the warm rush of happiness that was exploding inside me.

"Ryu, I can't believe this." He lifted his head, mutely asking for an explanation. I released my death grip on his t-shirt and cupped both sides of his jaw in my hands. My eyes caressed every inch of his precious face. Surprise and wonder filled my voice as I breathed, "I'm really in love with you."

I felt a huge smile begin to pull at the corners of my mouth. I was so happy; surely I was glowing.

Ryu was still in shock I think.

A self-conscious chuckle escaped my throat. "It's weird, isn't it?" I asked.

"No," he said suddenly. "No, it's not." His eyes searched mine, seeking confirmation of my jumbled confession. I watched as his stern expression faded and the most beautiful smile crept over his lips. His eyes were teasing as he said, "It's about time."

I chuckled in agreement. "For once, I'll admit you're right." We stood there grinning at each other like idiots.

Then I had one of those moments, and I became aware of how we were almost nose to nose and how if I just pulled his face a little bit closer….

So I did.

I felt the inadvertent brush of our lips, but he didn't kiss me right away; he hovered there, sharing my breath…waiting for me still. I closed the distance between us. His lips felt plump, yielding as I pressed closer. My world collapsed into a few inches of sensation, every nerve ending focused on his touch, his taste, the warmth of his breath, the slight scratch of his stubble.

We moved tentatively, both of us new to this experience. It was my first kiss. And his. And ours.

As one slow kiss gave way to another, I let go of his face and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pulled him closer, melting against him as we savored an intimacy we hadn't dared imagine. I wasn't afraid anymore. I was filled with joy and wonder and a sweetness so intense it made my heart pound.

I'm not sure how much time had passed when a loud group walked by the alley, their voices jolting us apart. I released my stranglehold on his neck and rested my head on his shoulder. I was a little too embarrassed to look him in the eye right at that moment.

His arms still encircled me. "What should we do now?" he asked against my hair. "Should we find everyone else?"

"Mmmm…let's find a good spot to watch the fireworks," I said, regaining my composure and taking a step back. He released me. "I'll text Ayane in a little while. Oh! And I want to get some ice cream," I said, my usual buoyancy returning.

"Didn't you have ice cream earlier?" he asked as we made for the main avenue again.

"Yes, but I was sharing with Ayane and she ate all the chocolate." I wrapped my arm through his, keeping him close. "And don't think I'm gonna share with you," I added with spirit. "You can get your own."

He laughed. I liked the carefree sound of it.