Paint my silence with your smile
The sound of her heels clacking against the concrete gets lost in the middle of the silence that envelopes her since a couple of months ago.
She raises her eyes to take a look at her surroundings, stopping for a brief moment to contemplate the way the foliage of the trees accompanying her in her walk wafts to the light summer breeze's liking, when far from enjoying such captivating sight, it only saddens her, making her realize of her own inability to capture the brilliance and beauty of their bright colors fading into an amalgam of black, white and grey tonalities.
A heavy sigh escapes her lips as her feet carry her through the streets of Tokyo, wondering since when she was deprived of such melodious sounds and beautiful bright colors in her life. But then again she would be lying if she wouldn't recall the exact moment when the sounds and colors filling her world started to fade away.
As hard as she tried to forget about that fateful day, about the person who caused it in the hope her world would return to be as lively as it used to be, she couldn't forget about the last time she saw her. The way Claudine looked so beautiful yet so sad as she smiled at her downcast, taking her hand in hers to hold it tight while letting her feel the warmth radiating off it.
Maya still recalls vividly the timid tears falling from her deep mesmerizing magenta eyes, before she caught them with her thumbs to wipe them away and prevent like they'd ruin her beautiful face, trying to give Claudine a reassuring smile that elicited a cute giggle from her.
She still recalls the feeling of the lingering of her soft lips kissing her cheek, the tight squeeze of her hand before she had to let it go to take her suitcase to go back to France.
A lonely drop interrupts her remembrance, followed suit by another one, and Maya can't help but gaze up at the sky to observe the clouds covering it as more raindrops begin to fall and wet her face, obliging her to run towards the cafeteria she was heading from the start to avoid getting soaked.
She soon finds shelter in it, being immediately greeted by the sight of the girls that slowly became her best friends sat not far away from the entrance she just went through.
- Maya-chan!
She hears Mahiru's sweet voice calling for her in the distance, observing her short companion whipping her head around to give her a smile and wave at her.
- Yo Maya.
She hears Futaba greeting her as well as a soft smile takes over her own features, walking calmly towards their table to take a seat across from them.
- Good afternoon girls – she greets them, seeing them smiling back at her.
- Did you get wet? – Mahiru asks her as she takes a small towel out of her handbag to try and dry the rebel raindrops still wetting her face, eliciting a giggle from her.
- It's okay Mahiru – Maya answers softly, trying to move her hand and the towel away as a light blush tints her cheeks given the attention of the sweet girl, hearing Futaba chuckling next to her.
- I guess it'll be the best if we order something hot to drink then, right?
Futaba chimes in and Maya immediately perks up upon the idea of ordering a mug of hot cocoa and her beloved baumkuchen, making the girls laugh at it.
And even though she can't hear such lovely sounds drowned by her silence, she's still happy she can distinguish a bit of their laughs, seeing the sweet smiles adorning their faces.
But her smile is soon replaced by a sad scowl as she takes in her hands the mug of hot cocoa she just ordered and that the waitress kindly placed in front of her to warm herself up, remembering about a certain ash-blonde looking at her with a sly grin on her lips ready to tease her about it.
Soon, the warm and comforting touch of her friends' hands over hers brings her back to the present.
- You're thinking about Kuro-chan, aren't you? – Mahiru asks her softly as her thumb rubs the back of her hand, and Maya can only give her a weary smile.
- I can't help it. I can't stop thinking about her nor forget about her as much as I'd like to.
She confesses softly, almost bashfully as she looks into her hot cocoa, a flash of Claudine's smile appearing on it bringing a fleeting spark of color back to her world before it fades into black once again.
Maya can't help but furrow her brow puzzled at it, before Futaba's deep voice pulls her out of her reverie.
- It's okay to think about Kuroko, you know?
She tells her in a comforting way, and Maya can only look at her conflicted.
- I know, I just... I thought that if I tried to forget about her, the colors and the sounds would return, but…
Maya trails off, and her friends don't need her to say anything else to understand her perfectly. They simply squeeze her hands once more, before letting her take a sip of her hot cocoa and start eating her beloved baumkuchen hoping it'll help to cheer her up.
- It's okay Maya-chan. Just wait and you'll see how they eventually come back.
Mahiru says reassuringly as a soft smile adorns both hers and Futaba's face, eliciting a bashful smile from Maya.
- Thank you girls. I hope you're right though – Maya thanks the both of them as she takes a bite of her beloved baumkuchen, humming in delight.
They stay in silence for a bit, enjoying their respective meals and drinks as the rain keep pouring down outside their shelter, before Mahiru clears her throat, a light blush tinting now her cheeks while she shares a knowing smile with Futaba.
- M-Maya-chan? – she calls for the brunette suddenly nervous, seeing the brunette looking up at her with both of her cheeks full of her dessert, causing both Mahiru and Futaba to laugh at such cute sight, before she swallows it timidly, paying full attention to Mahiru as she talks again – Futaba and I were wondering if you have any plan for your birthday.
Mahiru stutters timidly, seeing Maya furrowing her brow confused.
- My birthday?
She repeats slowly, clearly having forgotten about it.
- Please, don't tell me you forgot about your own birthday.
Futaba comments teasingly to then sigh deeply as she notices the brunette's silence and the light blush tinting her cheeks, complementing the guilty expression she sports.
- Unbelievable... – Futaba whispers under her breath almost about to facepalm herself while Mahiru simply giggles.
- I… uhm… I apologize girls. I might have been so focused on practicing that I seem to have forgotten about my own birthday – Maya confesses embarrassed before she clears her throat and continues talking – but to answer your question Mahiru, I do not have any plan for my birthday. Could I know why you two are interested about it?
Maya asks, observing both Mahiru and Futaba smiling at one another, before they look at her with a soft smile on their faces, infecting her with it.
- There's a festival going on this weekend and we were wondering if you'd like to come to it with us.
Mahiru tells her cheerfully, the brunette's expression softening upon seeing how excited her friends seem to be about it.
- I'd love to assist to the festival with the both of you.
She accepts, hearing them squealing happily before they high-five each other causing her to giggle.
- Then I'm going to tell the rest about it!
Mahiru exclaims happily, clearly forgetting where they are before she takes her phone out of her bag and quickly message the rest of the girls about the good news.
- The rest? – Maya asks aloud as she furrows her brow confused.
- Yep. The rest of the girls are also coming to the festival to celebrate your birthday all together, even Hikari, Junna and Nana.
Futaba informs her and Maya can't help but bite her lip, taking a deep breath as she gathers enough courage to ask.
- And Claudine? Will she also come? – she asks timidly, almost hesitantly observing her best friends' sad expressions.
- I'm sorry Maya-chan, but Kuro-chan can't come.
Mahiru tells her sorrowfully, giving a light squeeze to her hand as she sees Maya giving her a contained smile, shaking her head.
- It's okay Mahiru. I should have expected her to be too busy with the Théâtre du Flamme to come.
- But Kuroko wanted to come though.
Futaba quickly chimes in, causing a soft smile to appear on Maya's face as she looks down at her plate and the half eaten baumkuchen still resting on it.
- I'm sure she did.
She mutters under her breath, feeling Mahiru squeezing her hand once again in support, before she takes another bite of her beloved dessert to dispel the painful feeling settling in her chest.
A dejected sigh escapes her lips by accident as she keeps savoring her delicious baumkuchen unaware of the knowing glances shared between Mahiru and Futaba, a mischievous smile playing on both of their faces.
They keep enjoying their respective meals in silence, only interrupted by some light chitchat about classes and practices, before they watch the rain slowly beginning to stop and decide to run back to their shared dorm, laughing as they jump in the puddles they encounter on their way, their laughs slightly filling Maya's silent world.
As days go by, and while the girls plan together and behind her back her birthday surprise involving a certain ash-blonde French, Maya keeps practicing strenuously on her own trying keep herself occupy to not think about her.
That's how in the remaining days until the festival and therefore her birthday come, she keeps practicing trying to memorize and master her dance routine in the hope her movements can fit adequately the parts of the piece that sound drowned or that slowly fades into silence.
- It's useless.
Maya exhales tiredly one evening as she stops to rest on the floor for a brief moment, before she decides to call it a day and gathers her things to go back to the dorms to have a light dinner and then try to have a peaceful sleep to recharge her batteries for the next day.
When morning comes, Maya wakes up with her phone blowing up full of birthday wishes from all the girls, making a wide smile spread across her lips as well as timid tears fall from her eyes, yet the wish she yearns for the most isn't between them.
A bittersweet feeling surfaces, getting lost soon in between the whirl of preparations for the festival.
- Are you ready, Maya-chan?
Mahiru asks the brunette kindly as she fixes Maya's dark purple yukata.
- I'm ready Mahiru, but where's Futaba? I haven't seen her in the whole day – Maya asks her, looking around for their pink haired friend.
- Futaba-chan left early to go and get Kaoruko-chan.
- I see.
Mahiru then winks at Maya as she finishes fixing her yukata, and they begin to leave the dorms, quickly meeting the first ones of their friends.
- Mahiru-chan! Maya-chan! I've missed you two so much!
Karen quickly and excitedly greets them, hugging them tightly while Hikari stays behind with a soft smile playing on her face.
- You two look beautiful – she complements them softly, her gaze lingering on Mahiru causing her to blush.
- Thank you, Hikari, Karen, you both also look lovely.
Maya points out, smiling as she notices how only Mahiru and her are the ones wearing yukatas.
- Can we go!? I can't wait to see the rest! It's been such a long time since we haven't been all together!
Karen exclaims excitedly, looking at Maya with a wide happy smile and shining eyes, making her chuckle and nod, before she soon feels her hugging her arm like an excited puppy to walk like that together to the festival.
Maya can't help but smile infected by her high spirits, granting her wish as she observes Hikari and Mahiru walking together behind them hand in hand.
As they're arriving where the festival is taking place and where they agreed to meet up with the rest of the girls, Karen can't help but let Maya's arm go to start running towards their friends as soon as she sees them.
- Junna-chan! Banana-chan! I've missed you two so much!
Karen exclaims energetic as she launches onto Nana who quickly catches her and spins her around, laughing the both of them while the rest simply looks at the scene developing amusedly.
- What? You didn't miss me too?
Kaoruko says teasingly with a playful pout on her face and her arms crossed across her chest pretending to be sad, and Karen can only smile widely at her.
- Of course I've missed you too Kaoruko-chan!
Karen perks up as she lets Nana go, ready to throw herself onto Kaoruko to hug her tightly, when the later shudders and quickly hides behind Futaba who clicks her tongue and accepts the auburn haired girl's hug in her place.
- Mo Kaoruko-chan, I wanted to hug you too – Karen whines, hugging Futaba tightly while horrifying Kaoruko.
- It's okay, there's no need to hug me and ruin my yukata.
Maya hears Kaoruko retorting to a still whining Karen, noticing how besides Mahiru and her, Junna and Kaoruko also wear their yukatas.
- Looking good Maya.
Futaba's deep voice brings the brunette out of her musings, eliciting a coy smile from her as she sees the pink haired girl letting Karen go.
- You're also looking good, Futaba.
Maya compliments her back, noticing Kaoruko narrowing her eyes at her while she's now grabbing Futaba by the arm.
- You too, Kaoruko.
Maya quickly adds, seeing Kaoruko giving her now a smug smile.
- Of course I look good, Maya-han. I always do.
She says conceited and Maya can only giggle, admitting she has missed her, and her witty comebacks, well, she has missed all of them and their antics after all these months apart.
Maya then bites her lip, scanning their surroundings hoping to find a certain ash-blonde in between the crowd, but it's fruitless. A heavy sigh escapes her lips, before Nana and Junna come by her side.
- Ready to start celebrating and having fun in your birthday, Maya-chan?
Nana says with a kind smile on her face, the rest of her friends sporting the same kind smile on their faces eliciting a soft smile from Maya, before she nods and together they walk into the festival, strolling calmly through the stalls part of it, before Karen finds a food stall and pulls Maya towards it. And even though it's not Nana's nor Mahiru's delicious cooking nor her beloved sweets, Maya being the gluttonous girl she is, still enjoys it, careful to not stain her yukata.
They keep enjoying the festival and the wide variety of stalls in it together, until at some point of the night Maya decides to get away from the girls unnoticed to go on her own, overwhelmed by such a fond attention from them, and also a bit jealous of seeing her friends spending their time in couples while she can't even spend a minute with her beloved ash-blonde.
As she's exploring around the place, she comes across a bridge, leaning on its handrail to watch the people and families around her enjoying the festival, when the first firework is launched.
Upon hearing a loud drowned explosion, Maya quickly gazes up at the sky to watch the traces of the first firework slowly fading. A bittersweet smile plays on her lips as she keeps gazing at the sky, seeing more fireworks being launched.
- So it's true what the girls said about you not being able to see nor hear colors and sounds, isn't it?
A soft voice says behind her, and Maya quickly whips her head around recognizing immediately the owner of such melodious voice.
- Ma Claudine… – she gasps upon seeing the ash-blonde in front of her giving her a tender smile – I've thought you couldn't come…
Maya trails off, confused upon seeing Claudine right in front of her, before she hears her clicking her tongue and sees her smirking at her, a spark of color bursting out of it.
- The girls wanted to keep it as surprise – Claudine says softly as she approaches her and brings a hand up to cup and caress her cheek – You look truly gorgeous, ma Maya.
She whispers softly, and Maya can see another spark of color flying off as she says her name so softly, hearing the fireworks above them sharply.
- You too, ma Claudine – Maya says softly as she leans into Claudine's soft touch, enjoying the warmth radiating off it and that she missed so much, before she notices the ash-blonde shortening their distance to rest their foreheads together.
A simple touch and Maya can see once again the deep magenta eyes she came to love so much shining brightly, getting trapped in them as more fireworks are launched.
- Bon anniversaire, ma Maya.
Claudine whispers against her lips, before she captures them in a tender kiss that Maya eagerly reciprocates, hearing the fireworks exploding louder than ever, before they pull away and she can see all the colors in the sky shining brightly and vividly as she once saw them, making her gasp and smile widely to then look at Claudine and see her smiling back at her tenderly.
- Thank you, ma Claudine.
Maya whispers moved, resting her hands on Claudine's neck to pull her close and close their distance once again and kiss the other girl deeply, enjoying her sweet taste and the feeling of having her back.
They giggle as they pull away and Claudine turns Maya around to pull her into her arms and hug her tightly, watching together like that the last firework being launched, the sounds and colors filling vividly Maya's world again as they once did.
Having Claudine back into her life, filling her world with such vivid colors and sounds, is everything Maya wanted for her birthday, knowing that even if the ash-blonde has to return to France to keep studying, this time it will be different, the colors and sounds that got back will remain until she comes back again.