Another chapter, and another author's note!
Disclaimer: RahXephon and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 35: A PicnicI look one last time at the contents in the first bag. Mishima said that she would make lunch for us, and I said that I would bring drinks and dessert. I had bought ramune and soda, Pocky, and cookies, and put them in a bag with my sketchpad and pencil. I realized neither of us had planned to bring anything to sit on, so I brought a small blanket from home in another bag. Satisfied, I leave and make my way to the park.
When I arrive at the playground in front of the park, I see Mishima. She is wearing the yellow dress and is standing beside a bike with a basket in front of the handlebars.
"Hello, Mishima."
"Hi, Kamina-kun!"
I walk closer and look at the bike.
"I decided to ride my bike here and keep the food in the basket."
"That was a good idea."
I watch as she takes the containers with the food out.
"Here, Mishima, I'll carry that."
"Are you sure, you're already carrying two bags."
I smile and say, "Don't worry."
"Ok!"
She hands the food to me and we walk across the open field.
"Is there somewhere you'd like to sit, Mishima?"
She stands still as she thinks, and responds, "There's a pond not far from here, why don't we go there?"
"Sure."
I'm not sure where it is, so I follow Mishima. As we walk, her hair and dress move with the wind, like the first time that we met.
"Here we are, Kamina-kun!" Mishima says as she outstretches her hand and smiles.
"Great. Why don't we put the blanket near that tree there?" I say as I point to the left.
"Ok!"
I put down the bags and take out the blanket, which I unfold and place on the ground.
I place the other bags on the ground and start to take things out when Mishima says, "Oh, let's wait a little bit and admire the pond, don't you think, Kamina-kun?"
I smile and stop as I say, "Sure, Mishima, that's fine."
We both sit down on the blanket with our legs outstretched and leaning back with our hands to support us as we look out at the water.
"Look, Kamina-kun, a family of ducks!" Mishima says as she points.
I look where she is pointing and see them. She looks at me and smiles.
In a more serious tone, Mishima says, "Kamina-kun?"
I look at her and say, "Yes, Mishima?"
She pulls up some grass as she continues, "I just wanted to say that, that these past few months with you have been the happiest I've ever had, I'm so glad that we're together."
I move closer and place my arm across her back and rest my hand on her shoulder.
"Mishima, I've never been this happy before, either, it's wonderful to have you in my life."
I look at her face and see tears streaming down. I wipe them away and smile.
"I have an idea, Mishima."
She looks at me surprised and says, "What is it?"
I reach into the bag that has my sketchpad and pencil and take them out.
"Would you mind if I sketched you at the edge of the pond?"
She shakes her head yes excitedly and says, "That would be fun!"
"Ok, then."
I stand up and offer my hand to help her up, which she accepts. After she stands up, she runs to the shore. When she reaches it, she takes off her sandals and wades into the water slightly and waves at me as I approach. She puts her arm down and smiles.
"How would you like me to pose, Kamina-kun?"
"The way you are now is fine, Mishima."
"Ok!"
With her trying her best to remain still, I sketch, and show it to her when I finish.
"Wow, that's great, Kamina-kun!"
I smile in response, pleased that she likes it.
"Can I have it?"
"Well, actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to have this one."
She smiles as she says, "Ok, Kamina-kun."
Mishima walks out of the water and puts her sandals back on. After she finishes, we return to the blanket.
"Shall we eat now, Mishima?"
"Sure!"
Mishima takes out the food while I remove the drinks and the desserts.
"Ooo, ramune, Pocky and cookies, thanks Kamina-kun!"
"Of course."
As she hands me a tray, Mishima says, "Here's the lunch that I made for you."
"Thank you."
I open it and say, "It all looks great, Mishima."
She grins and says, "Thanks!"
With her chopsticks raised, Mishima says, "Let's eat!"
I laugh as I say, "Ok."
I try some and, noticing its good taste, I compliment her, "It tastes delicious, Mishima."
"I'm glad that you like it, Kamina-kun."
We eat our lunch in a content and calm silence, often looking at each other and the pond.
When we finish, we clean up and I fold up the blanket after shaking grass out of it.
We walk back to the playground and I put the containers back in Mishma's basket. As I do so, I notice she has climbed up on top of the slide, where she is waving to me. She laughs as she goes down.
As she gets up, she says, "I haven't done that in years!"
I watch silently and happily as she continues to enjoy the playground.
After a little while, she moves towards and stands in front of the swings and says, "Kamina-kun, let's go on the swings together."
I smile as I respond, "Sure, Mishima."
I walk over and we sit down. I grasp the chains and use my feet to propel myself so that I swing slowly in a small arc. I notice Mishima has used much more force and is laughing as she swings up high.
As she descends, she says, "C'mon, Kamina-kun!"
I stop myself and use more force so that I go as high as Mishima, realizing how much I'm enjoying this.
We continue, and Mishima says, "Isn't this fun?"
"Definitely."
Soon after, to my surprise, Mishima jumps off as her swing as it is ascending. I stop my swing and get off.
"Is something wrong, Mishima?"
"Oh, no, I realized it was getting late, and that we should probably go home."
I clasp her hand and smile as I say, "Let's just stay like this for a little while."
She looks at me and smiles in response.
As I gaze in Mishima's eyes, I think how happy I am to be here today.
We break apart and Mishima starts to walk towards her bike. I quicken my pace and put my sketchpad and pencil and the blanket in the basket with the containers before I get on the bike, much to her surprise.
"Kamina-kun?"
I grin as I say, "I have another idea, I'll bike you home."
She grins and runs to the bike and gets on behind me, encircles her arms around me, and rests her head on my back. I smile back at her and start.
As I bicycle, Mishima says, "This is nice."
"It certainly is."
Author's Note
The scene in my story when Ayato and Haruka are in the playground after the picnic is an extended version of the scene in the opening where Ayato and Haruka are shown holding hands near a bike in a playground.
Next ChapterAt the Beach
