Note: The small, possibly unneeded sequel to Chapter 18 of Silent Feathers. So, Kei and Otoha make their first appearance in this collection! Plus Hisako. Here you go.
Sparkle 6: Jumping Around Like a Kid
In all the time I had been alive, puddle jumping wasn't something that was on my everyday agenda. But here I was anyway, glancing down at my first puddle before Otoha made the first jump.
"C'mon, To-To!" Their voice echoed the happy trills long before I even heard them vocalized. The loud splash was obvious too. "Join us!"
I couldn't help but glance at Kei, and she gave me a nonchalant grin before jumping forward too, distorting the nearest reflection with ripples as she landed in water. "Boots give good protection, Tomo." She raised her head to give me that same grin. "Live a little!"
"Live..." the word seemed a bit foreign to my lips. Before, living meant doing things for other people. Making sure they were happy, that they were okay. Never something so silly like this. But...
Hisako pushed at my shoulder. Go on, dear. You need to be you too.
I closed my eyes, swallowed my doubts, bent my knees, and leapt.
Otoha laughed loudly as soon as I hit water, and I could feel the rubber of my rain boots and some of my legs take the brunt of the splash. Thank goodness for shorts. But the fresh air, the sensation of flying in the air, for just a little bit.
I opened my eyes and glanced around.
Kei and Otoha were both smiling at me. And they were standing far away. When did they go over to the near end of the grass?
Time for you to be a kid for once.
I smiled back and waved. "Hey, hey, wait for me!"
The water couldn't even dampen my mood when all that my heart could register was warmth.