"You have the tickets right?"
"Elicchi they're here see, we won't miss the train."
"Are you sure? I should check the time."
Eli pulled back her shirt sleeve and stared down at her wristwatch. Her brow was bent, her head hung. The time read 15:45. Tightening her grip on the woven basket clutched under an arm, she bit her lip. Peering over Eli's shoulder, Nozomi quietly put a hand over the numbers. Reaching into her messenger bag, she revealed two slips of paper. She waved them between her fingers and lifted Eli's chin. Her smile was gentle.
"It's alright. Relax."
The hand brushed once across Eli's cheek. Nozomi discreetly brushed back her golden hair. Dropping her arm, she stuffed the tickets into her bag. Nozomi turned her back. Looking over her shoulder, the smile had grown wider. Eli's heart pounded in her ears as she followed closely behind. A light blush colored her pale face. Nozomi parted her lips to speak. Eli's ears perked up. The voice fell like rain as gentle as the smile.
"I know you want everything to be perfect. It wouldn't be you standing next to me otherwise. But I don't want to see you killing yourself. I'm not worth that. Nothing is."
"But you-"
"Elicchi. Anymore of what I think you're about to say and I'll get angry."
They walked side by side toward the ticket booth. Ahead of it were lined rows of turnstiles. Background chatter was few and sparse to match the small crowds in the station. Nozomi's words bit with extra force into Eli's brain. She cast her head slightly down, her eyes wandering anywhere but next to her. From the corner of her eye she watched as Nozomi slipped their hands into her grip. Silent, she tenderly guided Eli along and held her hand as they approached the stationmaster. She grinned despite herself watching Eli's entire face dye bashfully red when she rubbed her thumb over Eli's. Lightly disheveled and sweating, the near dozing officer suddenly startled herself upright at their footsteps. Fanning herself briefly with a gloved hand, she straightened her bow tie and dress shirt. Pressing a secluded button, she leaned forward and spoke into a mic. Through the plexiglas the whirling of a fan tickled their ears. The woman's nameplate read Amezora.
"Tickets please."
"Right here."
Amezora's fingers reached for the tickets as Nozomi slipped them onto the tray slot. Examining them closely, she quickly punched holes into them with a manual machine. Passing them back, she again spoke. Her tone was rehearsed, almost mechanical in its courtesy.
"Thank you and have a pleasant trip."
They nodded and continued on to the train platform. Their hands never separated. Sitting together on a nearby bench, Nozomi stared up toward the still blue sky. The clouds were fluffy and drifted in no rush. Eli adjusted herself and placed her basket atop her lap. She looked at Nozomi. Her mouth frowned as she heard her sigh.
"I'm sorry. You were right I was being too stubborn."
"It's alright darling. Hearing anything against you simply snaps something in me."
She pat Eli's hand and glanced up and down the platform. Three strangers spread apart and the song of cicada were all she found. Nestling her cheek against Eli's shoulder, she rested her head. Her eyes closed as she felt Eli lay her own head atop her's.
"The train might come soon you know."
"That's fine."
The ride was uneventful, passed mostly in shifts of sleep. One would awaken and then there would be trees one minute, a plain field the next. They'd sat roughly at the middle of their car; and when it was time to depart they were soon sandwiched in the departing crowd. Looking up, Nozomi found the sky had been tinged orange and purple. Tapping Eli, she pointed toward the horizon. Dying rays of sunlight highlighted the setting sun. Eli smiled, a wistful nostalgia rising in her eyes.
"Brings back memories doesn't it?"
"Clear as day."
"I almost wish the others were here. Though today, I'm feeling rather greedy."
She hugged Eli as the other departing passengers finally disappeared into the distance. Pressing their lips together, her kiss was delicate; it only hinted a dash of fear as her blood pounded in her ears. Sweat broke on Eli's forehead, her eyes darting for trespassers when they separated; almost as if she were once more a nervous schoolgirl. Nozomi put a finger to her lips.
"Already ahead of you darling. It's just us."
They trod down the beaten paths, past sparse buildings. Like the tortoise and hare if the hare had been removed, they gradually shifted from paved roads to dense sand. Above them an overpass stood a quiet sentinel. The sun cast the ocean in a mellow gold. Wave after wave calmly lapped back and forth, swallowing the shore with steady strokes.
"This place really hasn't changed at all."
"The dreams we swore on this beach have made it it's own world."
"I wouldn't doubt that for a moment."
Eli set her basket on a mound of the lid, she lifted out a folded cloth. After it'd been unraveled, they grabbed opposite ends. Laying it down outstretched, it was soon adorned with wrapped sandwiches. Two slices of strawberry shortcake under a clear plastic case were placed beside a pair of thermoses. Flopping atop what free space was left, Nozomi kicked her legs up in the air. Nuzzling her face into the warm cloth, she smiled and laughed giddily. Eli followed suit, sitting cross legged beside her. They watched the fading sun, the gulls crying overhead. The salt of the sea made the air subtly sting.
"Which one do you want first?"
"Ham and Cheese!"
"I'll take the turkey then."
The food was slowly disposed, Nozomi squealing at the flavor in between bites. Eli ate with a dignified patience. They sipped their barley tea at equal pace. Gold became purple, the waters slipping to a shade black as night. The cakes were consumed in silence much as before. When they kissed a strong wind blew and ruffled their hair.
"You taste like icing."
"So do you, though someone definitely ate their strawberries last."
"Elicchi."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"Happy birthday, Nozomi."