Autumn

The leaves of the trees change their color filling the scenery with a variety of yellowish, orange and reddish tonalities that signalize the arrival of autumn.

This also marks the perfect time for a school trip to Kyoto to visit and see the majesty of its temples and shrines while eating some roasted potatoes wearing knitted jerseys.

Nozomi smiles contentedly, closing her eyes to enjoy the smell of moistness and the coolness of the breeze that caresses her face gently. Then, she opens them again to gaze up at the cloudy sky, imploring the skies to hold a little longer until they finish visiting all the temples.

- We should hurry up – Eli whispers in her ear before leaving a soft kiss on one of her cheeks. Nozomi blushes lightly at the gesture, sending her a quick smile back.

- Is Elichi impatient? – she teases Eli in between giggles.

- That's not-

Nozomi takes Eli by the hand to quickly intertwine their fingers and cut Eli off, laughing quietly at the blonde's cute pout who blushes and looks away embarrassed.

Nozomi smiles at how embarrassed yet stubborn the blonde next to her is, and pulls her by the hand obliging her to follow her. They, indeed, need to hurry up if they want to visit a fair amount of temples and still have a little extra time to buy some souvenirs and charms to the girls, prior going back to the inn and before it also starts to rain.

Not that Nozomi cares about it since she really loves the rain, but she still doesn't want it to ruin her plans for the day.

Eli sighs but gladly complies and follows her girlfriend wherever she's taking her to, enjoying the happy sparkle in her emerald eyes and the soft smile on her face.

They just visited the last temple on the purple haired girl's list, making an offering and asking for the best and also good health for their loved ones, when Nozomi's stomach growls.

Eli sees how the purple haired girl's cheeks get tinted in red in embarrassment and laughs at her, finding her endearing cute. She opens her mouth to tease and embarrass her further like Nozomi always does, but decides to have some mercy upon her and lets it go.

- Should we eat something? I saw a roasted potatoes stand nearby – Eli says softly, to which Nozomi happily agrees with.

- Please, I'm hungry.

- I've could hear it just now.

- Elichi! – Nozomi yells with fake indignation, slapping her girlfriend's shoulder playfully yet laughing along with her.

- Can we go to the omamori booth too? I think I also saw one close by.

Eli smiles and nods at her.

- Of course. We can always buy the girls some luck talismans for their exams.

- And remember that we also need to buy a health amulet for Nicocchi – Nozomi reminds Eli.

- True – Eli sighs – I still can't believe she got sick just right before coming to the trip. It isn't the same without her here.

- Ooooooh.

Nozomi looks at Eli with a smug smile on her face, making the blonde blush.

- Oh come on, don't put that smug smile on your face, you also miss her.

- Haha I certainly do, she makes trips more entertaining.

Nozomi ends up admitting, a tender smile on both of their faces as they think about their petite and grumpy friend, who is at home recovering from her cold, sneezing and shivering as they think on her.

- Oh, we should also buy her a love amulet– Nozomi says mischievously, confusing Eli.

- A love amulet? Why?

- You know why silly, so Maki and she can finally be together – Nozomi says winking at Eli, making her roll her eyes yet smile amused at how nosy her girlfriend can be.

- You're impossible.

Nozomi giggles and drags Eli by the hand, running towards the roasted potatoes stand. Once there, Eli pays for a couple of them, inviting Nozomi before they start walking together to the omamori booth holding hands and eating the hot roasted potatoes.

Eli smiles at the happy sight of Nozomi choosing the best amulets and talismans for their friends and turning around to show the blonde her purchases every now and then. The blonde giggles, making the purple haired girl pout before she quickly joins her, buying some other things for their friends and family and sneakily, a health amulet for Nozomi, before a raindrop falls on her forehead.

Soon, more raindrops start to fall, following the solitary raindrop and obliging them to run back to find shelter under the roof of the last temple they visited.

They both end up panting hard under it, catching their breaths before Nozomi starts to laugh suddenly, infecting Eli with her laugh.

- That was so funny! – she says still laughing and Eli can't help but smile beamingly at her, a happy glint in her eyes seeing her girlfriend so lively and carefree.

She squeezes Nozomi's hand to gain her attention back and get lost in her sparkling emerald eyes looking into hers happily.

Eli smiles at her tenderly before she bends slightly down to capture her lips with hers, not caring about whether the rest of people sheltering from the rain with them sees them.

Nozomi quickly kisses her back, letting her taste the flavor of the roasted potatoes they had been eating minutes ago.

They pull away, a goofy smile appearing on Eli's face that makes Nozomi blush and hide her face into her girlfriend's chest, letting her hug her tightly.

- Elichi silly – she murmurs embarrassedly, pouting against the blonde's chest which only makes Eli laugh wholeheartedly and hug her even tighter.

Nozomi sighs contentedly and snuggles up more into her warmth, hearing the calm beating of her girlfriend's heart against her ear with the rain still sounding in the background. Then, she feels Eli's lips leaving a soft kiss on her temple.

- Today was really fun.

She hears the blonde confessing quietly, making her smile and hug her tighter, enjoying her warmth as they're surrounded by the mesmerizing sight of the temple and the vivid colors of the fallen leaves drenched by the rain.

- It really was... – Nozomi whispers quietly.

This trip will forever be etched in her memory...

Author's note: Last chapter in winter, see you guys by then! :3