Along with such an atmosphere, they could feel their hearts beating as one. It's like the two of them were meant to be in such a scenery.
Eli then smiled and decided to break the ice, "By the way, I did tell you that I still have one more surprise to you, right? Actually, I got someone I want you to meet."
Umi blinked in curiosity, "Really now?"
Eli nodded and then gently led them back to the ranch.
A male worker then rushed towards them, "Eli! Platinum has arrived!"
"Perfect timing! Bring her here!" Eli grinned and helped Umi hop down from Silver Heart, "You stay here." The blonde told her and Umi nodded. Eli then looked at Silver Heart with a smile before she led the mare back into the stables.
Eli then walked out a few minutes later and moved towards to where Umi is. She then stood behind Umi as they faced the entrance of the small forest that led back to the mansion. The blonde then covered the blue-haired's eyes with both of her hands and Umi yelped a bit, "W-Wha— Eli!?"
Eli chuckled, "Shhh, no worries! I want to surprise you!"
"F-Fine.." Umi replied and just stood still.
Umi could feel the warmth coming from Eli's body and if she leaned closer, she'd get to completely feel that warmth.
'I hope she won't notice this...' Umi thought as she slowly and secretly leaned her back against Eli's body. Umi just hoped that if the blonde gets to feel her body leaning against hers, she'd thought that Umi was just readjusting herself.
Unfortunately, Eli felt that that was not the reason. Even if that's the case, she just let the blue-haired lean against her.
Eli had to admit that she liked it.
Back to Umi, she was blushing madly, not because of the warmth but she felt something bumped on her behind.
'It feels... big?' Umi thought but she smiled.
'It doesn't matter...'
Eli raised an eyebrow as she stared down at Umi, she could feel her crotch bumping against Umi's behind. She blushed slightly but she has to control herself. Eli mentally sighed and decided to shrug it off before looking up at the entrance again.
The blonde's eyes began to sparkle once she saw the male worker, leading Platinum towards them. Platinum looked exactly like Silver Heart but its skin is silver in color, and its mane and tail are dark silver in color, matching the color of platinum.
After a few more moments, the male worker and Platinum finally reached them. He and Eli then nodded at each other before the blonde removed her hands from Umi's eyes, "Here's your surprise."
Umi then opened her eyes and upon seeing Platinum, she let out a gasp and covered her mouth with both of her hands, "E-Eli... This horse.. It looked like Silver Heart.. And its mane is pure dark silver.. Eli, don't tell me that this horse is..." Umi then turned around to face the blonde who nodded.
"Meet Platinum, Silver Heart's daughter."
Umi's eyes widened and then looked back at the horse, "Silver Heart's daughter... No wonder she looked like her."
The blonde nodded with a soft smile as she observed the blue-haired walking near Platinum and caressing the horse's muzzle, "Eli... This gift is wonderful..." Umi then turned to the blonde and happily threw her arms around Eli's neck, "I love it! Thank you!"
Eli yelped a bit at the sudden action that it made her stumble back but she let out a chuckle and regained her balance before she wrapped her arms around Umi's waist and torso, pulling her to a warm embrace, "You're welcome." She then looked at the male worker and nodded, signaling him to leave.
The male worker smiled and nodded back before he turned his heels and walked away to give them some time alone.
Umi buried her face on the crook of Eli's neck and just let herself get indulged to the blonde's warmth.
Eli softened her eyes and secretly planted a soft kiss on Umi's side of the head before they stayed silent for a few moments. After that, Eli spoke, "Do you want to ride Platinum?"
Umi then pulled herself back, her eyes were sparkling with excitement and with a beautiful smile, she answered, "Of course!"
The blonde nodded, "Alright then. Let me get the equipment." She then turned around to go to the tack room while the blue-haired watched Eli before turning to look at Platinum and gently caressed its mane, "You know... Platinum... Even though we just met, I immediately felt that I could trust you." Umi smiled as the horse just looked at her as if it was listening intently, its ears flickered a bit and it wagged its tail.
The blue-haired softened her eyes, "Did you know that I love the woman who planned to bring you here as her surprise gift? Yes, that blonde woman."
Platinum just stared at her, as if telling her to go on.
Umi smiled, "I love her but she is with someone else... It's hard, I know. But I couldn't help it. Every time I see her, she just makes my heart beat like crazy and she became the only person that I always wanted to see..."
The mare just let out a soft neigh, as if understanding her.
"You understand me don't you?" Umi giggled, "I wish I could have figured out what to do by talking to you like this but I just couldn't. What do you think? Should I just give these feelings up or fight for it?"
Platinum just stared at her and Umi sighed, "I know you won't be able to give me answers but thank you for listening. I just want to get this off of my chest."
After that, Eli walked towards them with a smile, "Hey!"
Umi then turned to look at her and smiled, "Ahh, hey, Eli."
Platinum then neighed and placed its muzzle on the blue-haired's back, eventually pushing her towards the blonde.
Umi yelped and stumbled towards the blonde, landing on her body.
Eli looked down at her and chuckled, "Jeez, Platinum sure likes teasing too much."
The blue-haired blushed and immediately stood erectly while looking up at her, "S-Sorry about that."
"No worries! Platinum usually does this to me when she just wants to play around."
"Huh, I see." Umi then raised an eyebrow and the both of them walked near to the mare, which neighed happily.
Umi then let out a giggle, "She sure is lively hmm?"
"You are goddamn right." Eli smiled at the blue-haired before she turned to the mare and walked towards its side, settling the saddle on its back. She also arranged the reigns and once she is finished, she then turned to the blue-haired with a smile, "Alright, come here."
The blue-haired then nodded and went towards the blonde who then placed her hands on her waists, "Alright, same old routine. Jump or you want to change clothes first?"
"I'm fine with this, Eli, it feels more refreshing whenever I wear a skirt." Umi replied then jumped while the blonde lifted her up and successfully placed her on Platinum's back, "There you go." Eli then grabbed Platinum's reigns and leads them towards the vast field in the ranch once again with Platinum walking beside her.
The blue-haired softened her eyes and looked around; a sudden nostalgia has crept up within her soul and it was something that she wanted to feel for a long time. She could clearly remember that day when it was exactly like this. Eli, having to have her roam around the whole ranch and the next is her own request to have Eli ride Silver Heart with her. Both of them had a lot of fun back then before Umi's father burnt the barn down, along with abandoning the ranch entirely.
Aside of long lost memories that have been found once again, Umi wanted to add something more into what they are doing now to satisfy that nostalgia.
"Say, Eli..." Umi sooner broke the ice and it made the blonde turn her head up at her, "What is it, Umi?"
"I was wondering if..." Umi bit her lower lip, mustering up her courage, "If you can ride Platinum with me?"
Eli blinked as stopped walking and the mare did so, too. The blonde then faced the blue-haired and stared up at her eyes. Umi didn't faze and stared back at her.
The blonde softened her eyes, how can she resist those eyes? Umi's sepia-colored eyes are welcoming and warming enough to convince and grant her little request. Throughout all those years of being childhood friends, Eli couldn't help but feel glad that Umi was still acting such a cute child.
And it just drives her heart in pure joy that she just wants to carry Umi down from Platinum and give her a soft and loving kiss on the lips. A kiss that Eli will cherish forever and a kiss, which touch would never be wiped off.
The blonde let out a smile, she wants to clutch her chest to stop her palpitating heart from losing control but she has to remain her cool, she then answered Umi, "Of course."
Umi's eyes sparkled in delight and let out a gentle smile, releasing off this relaxing vibe around her aura, "Thank you..."
"But what made you ask for it?"
"I just want to ride a horse with you again. It has been a long time since we last roam around the ranch while riding a horse together."
"Nostalgia ey?" Eli teased with a grin and the blue-haired blushed furiously, who then looked away, "I-Is it weird?"
"Not at all." Eli answered before she hopped and landed on Platinum's back, placing herself behind the blue-haired, "Actually, I missed it, too."
Umi's cheeks became redder and smiled.
"I remember..." Eli then spoke.
The blue-haired then looked up at her.
Eli let out a smile before she dragged the reigns up and down in fast-paced, making Platinum neigh and gallop forward.
Umi yelped and held on to the saddle and Platinum's mane tightly with her eyes closed.
Eli laughed, "Come on Umi, open your eyes!"
"I-I don't want to! It's scary!" Umi shouted while shaking.
"Aw come on! Which was why I placed myself behind you, right?! No worries! You won't fall off while I am behind you!"
"B-But still!"
"Trust me! I won't let you fall! Come on, you're missing the best part!" Eli reassured the blue-haired who then stopped.
Umi then opened her eyes and they sparkled in admiration when she gets to see the landscapes in front of them. They are running fast but she enjoys the cold but welcoming wind that stroke their faces, clothes and hair.
Eli grinned, "See?! If you kept your eyes closed, you wouldn't be able to enjoy the wind along with watching the landscapes here!"
"W-Well, it was scary!"
"Same old! Same old!"
"I know!" Umi blushed in embarrassment and looked down a bit before she looked up at the landscapes once again with a soft smile on her face.
Eli then took a glimpse of the blue-haired before she looked at the landscapes again, "You know, this looked exactly like how we were back then."
Umi's eyes widened, of course she remembers, as well as those exact same words that they had said at this point of time. She could feel her heart palpitating again.
'It's like how we were back then... We said those exact same words... I wonder if that is just our subconscious speaking or it is just a coincidence...' Umi's mind spoke.
Eli knew that Umi's silence meant that she was thinking something and she just let that be. She just let out a smile as she let Platinum run around the entire ranch.
And back in front of the barn.
"I told you to not forget about the equipment, jeez..." Thea said as she and Seth reaches the entrance of the barn.
Seth chuckled nervously, "Sorry, I was too busy staring at your face while we were heading here."
Thea just chuckled, "Jeez, teasing me again? This is the 15th time."
"How can you even count that!?"
"Well, I just like counting." Thea answered and Seth pouted, "Jeez, like counting huh?"
"Yep, counting days so then I can know when will be the time to marry you." Thea said.
Seth halted and her cheeks reddened up, "W-W-W-What!? W-When did you learn to—"
Thea just grinned, "Thought I won't fight back? Of course I had to fight back." She winked at the black-haired who began to blush furiously.
"Now, go get the pitchforks so we can start." Thea said and Seth just nodded vigorously like an obedient child, still surprised to what Thea just said to her.
They sooner heard distant laughter and the two of them turned their heads to the far side of the whole ranch, their eyes widening when they saw Eli and Umi, who seem to be having fun as they rode Platinum.
Eli and Umi looked so happy together and Thea could immediately sense that romantic atmosphere that had been surrounding them.
The sun rays are gently hitting the two of them along with Platinum as they run the horse around, it made them look like shadows.
Seth then blinked, "Hooh, didn't know that Eli and Umi were here. They sure look like they are having fun huh?"
Thea nodded, "And romantic."
"You said it.." Seth softened her eyes as she watched Umi and Eli.
"But..." Thea narrowed her eyes as her smile dropped, "Eli is being idiotic."
"Ehh?" Seth then turned to her with an eyebrow raised, "Why so?"
"Eli was too dense to even realize Umi's feelings from the start." Thea replied.
"Ms. Umi's... feelings...?" Seth blinked in curiosity and the brown-haired just released a soft chuckle, "You could say that Eli chose Honoka because her dreams said so. When in fact, the one she has been looking for has always been by her side." Thea explained.
Seth just focused her gaze at Thea, "The SoulDream Phenomenon huh?" She then looked at Eli and Umi again, "Following your dreams... are they really necessary?"
"The SoulDream Phenomenon's purpose was to help the people find their spouses and it bases on the person's character. Not the human heart. If that was the case then we would meet immediately." Thea then looked at Seth with a smile, "Right?"
Seth blushed when she remembered who they were before and just nodded, "You're right about that."
Thea then sighed and then walked past by the black-haired, "Come on, let's go get the equipment and let them have their own private time. We don't want to be in their way right now."
"R-Right! Coming!" Seth said as she immediately followed the tall brown-haired back to the mansion.
A/N: Heeey guys! Sooo soorry guys if this chapter was not properly published and I accidentally replaced it with a copy of Chapter 15! Thank you so much for Xannn who informed me about it! You rock fam! How's it going? Good? Good! Bad? Relax for a while and listen to some music! High five!