Chapter III: Together
"Okay! I'm done!"
"…Finally…"
Today's check up was longer than any before. But I always knew that at the other side of that door, Kiba would be there, waiting.
"The doctor said that I'm looking much better!"
"Oh, that's good"
It was low, but I heard it perfectly. Kiba, you were really worried, huh? I think that just made me feel more affectionate towards you…
"And so! She said I didn't have to come here tomorrow! Yay!"
"That's great. Now all we have to wish for is the weather to be clear"
"Haha, yeah. I hope it will be sunny"
"I believe it will"
"Eh?"
"You just brightened up yourself, so…"
"K… Kiba…………"
Tomorrow would be that special day that god gives us. That one magical day where Kiba and I would spend that time with each other at the beach. All day long… with him…… That's all I need, and that's all I need to fill my gratitude.
"……Yeah, it will"
This feeling for you, Kiba, is not lie.
---
We go home and immediately turn on the TV to look at the weather report.
-----Tomorrow's weather is……
Cloudy skies.
"………Cloud…"
"That's only going to be for a while. Even if it's cloudy at start, it's going to clear up soon enough"
"Yeah, you're right"
Tomorrow will be sunny out. Let's believe it and wait for it. Because that's what Kiba said, and I believe him. Well, if one said which would you believe more in: Kiba or the weather report? I would say Kiba. No second thought there. But… that bad feeling overwhelms in me. The inside of my heart is raining…
---
And so, the next day comes around. I woke up early just to open the curtains and see outside the window. The leaves hanging on the tree has drops of water dripping down. It looks like it rained last night…
"Kiba… The weather report was right. It's cloudy"
I can just feel it. The feeling of where the rain will soon take over the sky again. I was going to say that we could schedule it on another time but…----
"We're going today"
"Eh?"
"You promised me yesterday, right? That's why we're going today"
Ah… but… look at the weather, it's all wet and dark… And besides, it's not like today is the only day I can go…"
"Today is going to clear up. It's going to be sunny. Sakura, since when were you such a pissemist?" He looks at me with that sarcasm look.
"Kiba…"
That's right. Since when was I so down enough to make a weather make me go further down? (Does that make sense?)
'The heart of believing'
That's the most important thing, yes? It feels like I've told so many times by Kiba. 'To believe'…------
"……I'll go get ready now! Wait for a moment, okay?"
"Okay"
I can't get depressed now! We promised! We promised for a day like this, through a bad weather or not!
He waited for me, smiling.
---
"I'm ready!
I'm not wearing anything that's going to just make me look like I've gain weight. Today is only a white T-shirt and black shorts! …………Is the shorts a bit TOO short…? Whatever, and I carry a bag full with a towel, and swim suit----
Yeah! I didn't forget anything!
"Okay then, lets go"
"Okay!"
We walk to the beach. It's not that far away. Look, there's even people who are just here taking a short walk. There's a forest we have to get through in order to go to the beach though. It's awfully quiet. …Almost like death. All I can hear is our footsteps.
"……It's quiet……"
The sky is still filled with clouds. The birds aren't coming out to sing. They must still be sleeping…
"Just a little bit more"
"Yeah"
We hardly talked on our way to the beach. And it felt so long just to get there. But momentarily, we arrived.
"Ah…"
In front of us was a beautiful world of blue. Even though it might be cloudy, the ocean's beauty will never get erased.
"It's so pretty"
"Yeah"
"It looks like we're the only ones out here"
"Looks like it"
"The breeze is so nice, I want to stand here all day long…"
"Don't joke like that. I'm not wasting my day with you just to feel the wind" He chuckled, and I rolled my eyes to give a sign of annoyance, but that all failed when a smile crept to my face.
And that was it.
The ocean started to shine its life out. That little glimmer of light came through the clouds.
------The sun.
"…………………Ah……………"
"…See---"
It became clear.
"That's so…"
So awesome. It's like magic. It was all cloudy and sad feeling a second ago, but now…… ………I think the only person who believed the sun could shine its best was you, Kiba. The light from the sun started to multiply here and there. And gradually, the clouds were swept away, and the sun's shadow came into view. It seems like that light… was lining up with Kiba… His prize for believing the sun.
"The world is so pretty… I didn't even notice"
"Of course! Where have you been, Sakura?"
He grins at me once more, and smile back. It was wonderful, so elegant. The things around us may change from time to time, but the world itself will never change.
The ocean is a person. A mother to all living things. And the sun is the encouragement for all of those who have been depressed.
"I feel like.. I just got more strength to live………"
"You too?"
This color of many emotions, I wanted to show it to all people of the world.
"…Thanks for today, Kiba. If it weren't for you, I would have never seen this scenery"
"………Well, then I get a reward, right?"
"Huh?"
"Like…-----"
-------That smile.
He laughs as he said his words. I'm always giving rewards to him… but this reward is… different… So I gave him two rewards that day. Both special rewards that could not be bought with money, only from heart.
Kiba will always be with me. I can feel it. In reality, in dreams… That's what I liked about him in the past. But… this feeling, it's not the same from the past. It's not the same 'love'. What is it? I can't even express this into words kind of… 'love'.
That's why I have to say to him.
I………-------
"Kiba, even if I sleep, everyday I will always keep a smile on my face. I promise!"
These words are coming out from the bottom of my heart.
"I'll always smile, even if death takes over me"
"…Then I'll promise too"
"?"
"Even if I'm asleep, I'll never rest my smile on you"
I'm so happy. I'll never forget this day. This promise…---
------------I'll always remember.