Day 18: Heading with friends to a hanami party, Yugi began to realize that he had no time to muse on his feelings for Anzu as she would be leaving soon for the states to study dance. But upon meeting a new face, his advice made Yugi consider the closeted meaning of the sakura blossom.
Life is too short. Perhaps now was the time to let go.
0
The sakura were in bloom and hanami in full swing. Yugi was gathered together with his friends, all dressed in their casual wear and enjoying the amusement that was the picnic gathering for the locals. Stalls were set up to sell food if you didn't bring your own and people were scattered in choice places with their blankets and meals out to enjoy the beauty of the pale pink blossoms that filled the senses. Yugi was delighted to be there, loving to see the sakura blossoms and enjoying the food delicately prepared by his mother, who always made sure to make an extra box for his blonde friend and eager appetite. "I'm going to go look for a spot, guys!" Ryou called, leaving the other to do their own thing while he looked for a place where they could set up. Yugi nodded before turning to the rest to decide on what they would do.
"Imma raid the stalls fer somethin' good! I know yer mom makes the best but I wanna see what they got here too." Jounouchi spoke, immediately followed by Honda who was there to make sure that all his money wasn't spent on junk food before they had their picnic. Anzu waved to them before smiling down at Yugi. "Guess that leaves us to walk around. Come on, I'm sure there's some trees we can view until it's time to search for Ryou." Yugi blushed softly and nodded. He knew it wasn't a planned decision once they were all scattered but to be alone with his childhood crush was a feat that he had to muster up the courage for. This was their last hanami together as she would be heading to America soon to see to her dancing career and Yugi still hasn't told her how he felt.
They walked along, passing many families or small corporate parties enjoying their time and as they walked, Yugi tried to articulate how he wanted to start the conversation. When it came to normal conversation, this wouldn't be such an issue but to talk about something so intimate, it was hard to decide on how he wanted to present it. Should he get straight to the point? Perhaps start with small talk then get right to it? Kami this was so hard for the smaller teen, a light sigh leaving him as he drew his gaze downward. This left him unaware of the body he was about to run into until it was too late.
A yelp came from him, hitting the ground softly and Anzu turned back in worry for her smaller friend before turning to who he ran into, giving a light gasp as she did a double take between the two. So similar yet so different in many ways. Tawny skin and lean muscle made up his form, a light cotton shirt partially unbuttoned at the collar and acid-washed denim jeans his choice of wear. A couple bracelets around his wrist and a small, silver necklace with a cartouche hanging from it decorated him while sharp scarlet eyes looked down into violet as Yugi was left speechless to the sight as well.
"A-ah, excuse me. I wasn't watching where I was going..." Yugi whispered, seeing a hand reach for him and took it, jerked up to standing and hummed. The other murmured it was no trouble though he was trying to look for a spot to settle. "I know many are here for the hanami as I read in the small pamphlet to get myself acquainted with things here but I was looking forward to the night viewing, yozakura. There is supposed to be a nice place where they have the area lit up with lanterns." Yugi blinked before clapping his hands in delight. "Oh! I think I know of the spot you're talking about! If you'd like, you can join us until nightfall and I'll take you there." The other smiled a bit, thanking him for his assistance and Yugi returned it. With the new addition, they continued on their way with Anzu asking questions left and right of the other male.
He was Atemu Sennen, born and raised in Egypt and moved to Japan for further studying. Yugi was interested in his story but also felt just slightly a third wheel with Anzu asking most of the questions. Was she...interested? The thought of such brought a bitter feeling into his heart but it was wrong of him to feel that way. They just met him and to even think that way of Atemu was being selfish. It wasn't as if Anzu was his girlfriend but the fact he was trying to ask her made it seem like a pointless effort. And...perhaps it was when he took the idea into consideration. She would be leaving soon and Yugi didn't know if she was prepared for a long distance relationship. The teen had all of high school to ask but his fear kept him back and now, thinking on it, he was surely too late.
"Hey Anzu, take Atemu to the others. I'm going to do something on my own for a bit."
Anzu looked to him with a bit of worry in her eyes but nodded as she turned to Atemu and went to take him along to find Ryou while Yugi wandered off among the rest of the picnickers. Atemu had glanced back curiously but when his attention strayed too far, Anzu tugged on his sleeve. "Don't tug so hard." he mumbled as they continued on their way though his mind yearned to figure out what tanked Yugi's mood so hard. Even if he just met him today, Atemu hated to see such sorrow in his eyes.
0
Yugi walked along, hands laced behind his back as he thought over things. He was sure his friends would worry about where he was but he just needed the time to himself to think. Think of what he wanted to do. Was it worth telling Anzu how he felt now? Or leave it as unrequited feelings? No matter what the case may be, there was not a single doubt that Yugi knew the answer he'd be given. It wouldn't be a pleasant one. "Maybe I should cut my losses and just be happy I had such a good standing with her as a friend." he murmured to himself, reaching a spot where a small riverbank cut through the park, trees gathered at its shoreline and multitudes of tiny petals decorating the water, carried off with the flow of the stream. He watched the petals dance and swirl in the water, smiling a little as he relaxed, closing his eyes and letting his thoughts take a break from overthinking.
"Hey." The sudden baritone to pop up behind Yugi startled him, making him turn to see Atemu standing there and was quick to ask why he wasn't with the others. The others were asking about you and he offered to come looking was his reply, stepping up beside him. Yugi thanked him, knowing that Atemu didn't have to offer so readily for someone he didn't know too well. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that." Yugi murmured, glancing towards him then back down to the stream.
"I did because I also noticed you seem to have a lot on your mind. Would you permit me to ask if you wish to talk about it?" Yugi hummed in thought for a moment. Atemu was too nice towards someone he met and to have an ear to listen to his troubles sounded like a good idea. Sure he could've had this talk with any one of his friends, excluding the blonde. As much as Yugi appreciates Jounouchi, he also had a motor mouth to go with his quick witted personality. It wouldn't hurt, Yugi thought finally as he looked to Atemu and agreed to his offer.
0
Anzu was growing worried when the two didn't return for a good thirty minutes . When Atemu offered, she was relaxed enough to trust the other male to bring back Yugi but they had been gone too long. The others felt the same as she did and Jounouchi was the first to jump up with a cry that he'd go looking for Yugi and sick the other male should he be up to anything inappropriate when amber eyes caught sight of them coming back and ran over. "Where were ya?! Ya had us worried!" Jounouchi exclaimed. Yugi smiled and calmed the blonde down, telling him he needed a moment before looking towards Anzu and asked to speak with her privately. "We'll be back." Yugi spoke, walking with her in tow once she agreed to come along. Atemu went to sit with them, getting a skeptical look from the brunet. Atemu was much too calm, like he knew something and wasn't planning to say a word.
To pry was an option but decided to stay quiet. If something had happened between him and Yugi, he would only allow Yugi's word to decide his future action and whether this foreign stranger was asking to be punched after being invited to their hanami picnic out of kindness. With Yugi and Anzu, the two stood from the other groups on their blankets enjoying their hanami, the brunette girl watching her smaller friend before asking what was wrong. Yugi rubbed at his arm, remembering the discussion he had earlier and looked to her. When their gazes met, he spilled everything, of his feelings for her and how long they have festered for the girl. But he also told her that the timing to tell her was a fault of his own knowing that she would be leaving Japan and was sure that neither would be able to handle a far relationship.
"You have your dream and I'm in full support of it. If I could, I would happily join you but there are things I have to do for myself here. Dreams of my own that I wish to achieve. I just wanted you to know before you go how I felt and I expect no answer about feeling the same. Atemu told me that this was the best option rather than to be quiet about it." Anzu blinked at the sudden confession but was also concerned that Atemu had given Yugi advice on how to handle it when they only knew each other for a little over an hour. She was charmed that Yugi felt that way for her but also felt that he was brushing away the matter too readily. Did he really think she didn't care for how he felt?
"Yugi..." She began, trying to decide how she would proceed when a gust of wind blew across the park, taking a number of sakura petals along with it to swirl around them and it was then she realized she was seeing Yugi in a different light. That he wasn't the shy, insecure boy that became her friend in their youth. That he was a mature and respectable young man and she never would've thought of something like this before. Has she lost her chance before she could explain and offer him one in return? Knowing he was waiting on something, anything, from her, Anzu began to speak that they could try it. Have a shot at his wishes. "We could even wait til I finish schooling and become a professional. I'll come back and visit and if you still feel the same—"
"I won't." Yugi whispered and Anzu was left silent. It hurt to hear but she supposed she couldn't expect Yugi to wait for her. That would hurt him too. And he waited long enough, that much was clear. She smiled sadly and nodded. It was a shame Anzu never noticed how Yugi felt for her but he was sure it was all about consideration of her dream. He would never make her decide between him and that dream and kept quiet until now, coming to the realization that even if Yugi wished for it, the chance to make time to actually keep to it would not be as easy. The brunette thanked him for telling him and felt terrible that nothing could possibly pan out from it but was content that in no way they would lose their friendship over it. The two gave each other a warm hug before returning to the rest with a renewed outlook of things, Yugi moving to sit beside Atemu who looked to him with a warm smile, something shared between their gaze that she had caught onto.
No, she would be crazy to think that the decision was made so quickly. Not on the first meeting. Even she had to doubt on the words "love at first sight". But there was some sort of connection between them, something that practically bonded the two to have an understanding that they couldn't. Anzu hummed in thought before taking the offered cup of tea Ryou was handing out as they continued their hanami party. As it was getting late, they packed up and were ready to head home when Yugi told them that he was going to take Atemu to the nearby shrine path for the night viewing. "Don't wait up!" he called as he and Atemu left with a wave to the group. They waved back before the blonde crossed his arms. A curious character that Atemu is, he mumbled and Honda was inclined to agree. Ryou piped up that Atemu wasn't so bad.
"He'll fit right in, I'm sure. He has that air about him that knows just the right kind of advice to give to any sort of situation as if he lived it himself." Ryou finished, folding up the blanket and Jounouchi shrugged, mentioning that as long as no one wasn't mistreated when in his presence, he can see it being a wise fact and Yugi was never shy about making new friends. Anzu hummed in agreement before they all made their way out of the park along with others who were ready to leave as well. With the duo, they reached the straightaway lit with hanging lanterns strung carefully on the trees, their golden glow illuminating the area. Atemu smiled as he walked along the stone pathway, glad that it wasn't so crowded at this time, and looked towards the blossoms on the trees. Yugi watched with a smile of his own as he walked over to the other male. "I talked to Anzu. It was hard to get that all out but we understood each other."
Scarlet hues looked down to Yugi before smiling. "That's good. I know for sure it wasn't my place to be offering such when I only met you today but something in me just couldn't bear to see you stress over it. To be in love is always a rocky slope and to decide on something when you know you'll be far apart is always the hardest decision of knowing whether it will work or leave you pining for something that could develop differently." An iron railing wasn't too far from them and Yugi moved to sit on it, looking up to the blossoms. "True, but you did give me advice that I know the others wouldn't give. They would nag me to give it a try, to not quit so easily. Being realistic sounded like the better option and I'm not losing anything from it." Atemu nodded, a single blossom fluttering before his face and reached to catch it gently in hand.
Yugi looked to the delicate blossom in his hand then up to Atemu, pondering for a moment before reaching to pick up the blossom. "You know, Atemu, sakura always had a meaning that we always take to abiding by." Atemu hummed to show he was listening, Yugi twirling the blossom carefully by its stem. "Sakura was always respected as a flower that is a sign of renewal. That life's too short to miss. I wouldn't say this was a sign but maybe it was for me. Not so much in the stance of finding a new love but a new friend." Atemu took the blossom into his own hand, gazing upon it before giving a small smile.
"I can believe it. I hope that we will become good friends in due time. And if I would be so bold to say so and if you'll allow me in the future once we are comfortable enough, perhaps we could try a chance between us." Yugi closed his eyes in contemplative thought.
"Perhaps. We can never be sure of the future or whether we could work. But if you think you can wait long enough for that opportunity when I feel ready enough, we'll give it a shot."
Atemu smiled. "I can wait. I won't be going anywhere anytime soon. But first, let's wish your friend safe travels and to her future of becoming a renowned dancer."