After the festival, Ayaka was feeling uneasy. Once more, she had walked to the Komore Tea House, simply searching for an excuse to not stay at home, alone with her own thoughts. She stared at the tea-cup carefully placed in front of her, while the ceramic, previously hot, started to cool down due to the not consumption of the tea.
Ayaka sighed.
- Well, what is done, is done. There is no way back and it's no use to be ashamed right now…
While she spoke, the scenes of the festival night flooded her mind, causing her pale cheeks to blush. She specifically remembered of that seemingly ephemeral moment when she showed her dance skills to Lumine, the way she felt so happy and free of any worries, as she haven't felt in a long while. Since this night, she barely had any news from her friend, not even a letter. Ayaka frequently felt really inclined to write for her, but every time she had a feather in hands she ended up returning it to its box, without even touching the ink. Although she had written more than a hundred letters for the Yashiro Commission, she didn't know how to express herself this time. After all, she had never experienced the feelings that now dominated her mind and made her heart pound.
- I cannot stay like this anymore! It's past the time for me to act with bravery! – she stood up, filled with resolve, leaving some Mora on the table as payment and wearing her clogs again while passing through the door of the reserved room she was in.
On her way back to the Kamisato Residence, Ayaka noticed that the Inazuma streets were flooded by sakura flowers, blooming with the life of spring. A gentle breeze blew, lightly levering the flowers in a brief fly around her ankles.
- The sakura blossom's season is almost ending… - she sighed, her vision vaguely lost in the horizon. – Maybe I should invite Lumine for a walk nearby the sakura trees before their branches dry.
Ayaka stopped in front of the Ogura Textiles & Kimonos, staring at the amazingly huge amount of prints and patterns, stunning in her eyes.
- Hello, Miss Kamisato! Can I help you with something? – asked Ogura Mio, with a smile in her face.
Ayaka was removed of her trance, smiling back to the young woman.
- Hello, Mio! You have quite a collection here, a lot of wonderful pieces! I was looking for something resplendent for a special occasion.
- Hum, let me see what I've got here. – she rummaged some stacks of fabric, until she found, at last, what she was looking for. – Just a few days ago, I've received this gorgeous silk straight from Liyue! I haven't made a single kimono with it yet, because I was certain the right occasion hadn't shown. However, this seems like the perfect opportunity!
Ayaka glanced at the beautiful fabric, dazzled by how the mild and organic patterns gave life to the lilac background where it belong.
- It… It's wonderful! Are you sure you wish to use it for my request? – she asked, timidly.
- Of course I am! Your family has always entrusted me to work on clothes for its members, and you are no exception, always coming to my stand to pick up something for yourself. Therefore, it'll be a great pleasure to be able to help with your special request! Besides, it is an honor for my business to have you Miss walking around the town with a kimono confectioned by myself.
- I wish you to know that I'm extremely grateful for this, Mio! – the girl said gently. – Do you think you can prepare it within a week?
- Sure can! Don't worry about it, I'll personally send word to you as soon as it's done.
They both parted with a cordial bow, and Ayaka proceeded her way, another idea starting to shape in her mind.
- Welcome back, Miss Kamisato! – promptly greeted one of the guards seeing her approaching the big wooden gateway on the residence entrance. – You came back early.
- Yes, I did, for there is an urgent matter that requires my utmost attention. I'll be in my rooms, but please, if possible, I wouldn't like to be disturbed.
- Surely, Miss! We'll ensure no one disturbs you.
- Thank you very much! – she bowed shortly as the guard bowed in an angle so obtuse that made she ask herself if someday he would be able to stand still again.
Ayaka removed her clogs on the entrance of her rooms and set her hair free almost immediately, enjoying the freedom she felt as it gently brushed her arms, tickling a little.
Quickly, she changed her clothes into a light silk robe, which fell long beyond her ankles, obviously too big for the young girl, but she didn't care. Her fingers roamed through the pictures of the herons, graciously embroidered along the sleeves. She wrapped her arms around herself in a lonely hug, breathing deeply. She could swear that, even after all these years, she still felt her mom's perfume in the garbs.
- Mom, please, help me to be brave right now, as you have always been in your life.
She kneeled over a cushion, standing at the ideal height for using the little table. Carefully, she opened the lid of the porcelain inkwell and grabbed the same feather with which she had been reluctant so many times in the last weeks. Now, however, the words were clear in her mind and, after soaking the feather in the ink, the letters overflowed like a waterfall in the paper, one after another.
Dear Lumine,
Ever since we parted, I still always think of you. Recently, I've discovered a trail that is colored by pink when the sakura blossom. I would like to invite you to come there with me in a week from now. With each passing day, our steps grow steadier and we get closer to our goals… And just because of that they will be reached. Meet me under the biggest sakura tree on the agreed date. The moonlight is beautiful this season… I long for the privilege to admire it by your side.
Until then,
Ayaka 🌸
