Chapter 2

Continued Flashback (Yup, this is probably gonna take awhile)

The first thing Nozomi did when she woke up was to jump out of her futon and run all the way to the shrine. Yup, she didn't really care about telling her grandparents. Anyways, she was on her way debating to herself if Eli was really gonna show up or if she was just playing a cruel joke on her. She ran with all her might. (She didn't really need to. It was like a 5 minute walk from her grandparents' place to the shrine but whatever)

Once Nozomi reached the shrine, she saw the mysterious blonde from yesterday. Sitting on the steps of shrine. For some reason, Nozomi felt really happy that she showed up.

"You actually showed up huh?" Eli said once she noticed that Nozomi had arrived. "I didn't think you were actually gonna show up though." Eli said once again. "Pfft, I thought you weren't gonna show up..." Nozomi replied. For a moment they just stared at each other...1….2….3…...a total of 10 seconds until Eli broke up the weird atmosphere and said, "You know, there's actually a much cooler place inside the forest if you want to check it out?" Nozomi just looked at her with an eyebrow raised as if she was questioning if she was serious or not. "Yeah yeah. I'll remember to bring you back here when it's time for you to leave." With that said, Nozomi followed Eli back into the forest once more.

"You know….It kinda looks like we're going on a date…." Nozomi said with an idiotic grin. Eli just looked at her and said, "Pfft, you're kinda small to be going out on dates..." They continued walking deeper and deeper into the mysterious forest. With each step of the way, Nozomi felt as if something was watching over her. Maybe it was the spirits? Nozomi wasn't sure of it herself, but she was sure something was there.

Once they arrived at their destination, Nozomi saw that it was a wide clearing atop of a cliff that had a waterfall. Nozomi had her breath taken away at the sight of this view. She wondered if the blonde actually saw beautiful scenery like this every day. They then spent the rest of the day just doing random crap like eating bugs? Okay, not that random...But like the climbing trees and jumping from tree to tree that kind of random. But maybe Nozomi will admit that she ate a bug….Okay maybe accidentally….Or maybe she ate it purposely….I don't know…...You know Nozomi...She won't really admit to anything...

Once they both felt tired, they sat down on the grass. Just doing random things like looking at clouds 'n stuff. Nozomi was making a flower crown made of lilies and a bit of sunflowers. Eli on the other hand, fell asleep while she was looking at the clouds. "Eli? Hello?" Nozomi tried to get the blonde's attention but failed. Since Eli never really took off that mask she always wears, Nozomi was dead curious on what Eli looked like. And with that, Nozomi secretly crept over to Eli's side. "It'll be alright if I only touch her mask right? I mean...it's not really touching her.." Nozomi thought to herself as she hesitantly place her fingers onto the mask…..Nothing happened. Nozomi quickly thanked the Lord and took the mask off Eli.

Eli….What is there to say about her appearance? Well...The first thing Nozomi thought about Eli's appearance was that she was beautiful. With her light and flawless skin to match her stunning beautiful eyes that were wide open….WAIT! WIDE OPEN?! Nozomi quickly screamed like a hundred apologies before she slammed the mask back onto Eli's face. "Oww...What was that for?! And what on earth were you trying to do with my face?!" Eli said as she sat in an upright position while rubbing her face. "Ahh...I'm sorry..." Nozomi said as she began to cry. Eli immediately noticed that and tried her best to comfort Nozomi. "Ahh...I'm sorry too… I didn't mean to scare you..." Eli said as she tried to put on her "Sad Face". "Okay how about this: I forgive you and you forgive me. So that in the end everyone is happy. Is that okay with you?" Nozomi asked. Eli nodded and simply said, "I forgive you." "Well then I forgive you too." Nozomi said back with a smile.

"Why do you wear a mask like 24/7 anyways?" asked Nozomi as she continued making the flower crown that she was making earlier. "Well….If I don't wear a mask then I won't really look like a spirit will I?" Eli replied back. "Look! The sun is going to set soon!" Eli pointed over the horizon and Nozomi saw that the sky was starting to give off warm colors, the type to make your insides feel all fuzzy. "Hey Eli? You know…..I still think that this is sort of like a date…." Nozomi said as she twiddled her fingers. It was actually quite rare to see Nozomi like this. "Why do you want to date me that badly?" Eli said as she let out a small giggle. "I don't know...I kinda just had this feeling?" Nozomi said. Nozomi's face was kinda like the color of a tomato (I'm so sorry Maki). "Well maybe when you're older I'll take you on a date." Eli said as she just smiled. "REALLY?!" Nozomi felt pure shock as she realized what Eli had just said. "But for now...Just enjoy your time.." the blonde said as she pointed at the sunset. "Mhm!" Nozomi simply said as she sat next to Eli. Both enjoying each other's company.

"Eli...You know how when we met I said that I was only visiting my grandparents' place? Well...This is my last day of my summer holiday and I need to go back to the city..." Nozomi said as they both watched the sun go down. "Well…I know you can't stay here forever...But...Is it okay if you come back next summer? I'll be here like….. always..." Eli asked. Nozomi couldn't contain her happiness because of the invitation to hang out with Eli next summer. "Yes! I promise I'll come back next summer!" Nozomi was smiling like she just won a million dollars or something. "Oh! You're probably gonna get lonely or something while I'm gone….Here! Have this!" said Nozomi as she handed over the flower crown that she had been working on for so long. "Is it really okay if I keep this?..." Eli said as looked down at the flower crown that was placed in her hands. "Of course! Just don't forget about me!" Nozomi said. Eli and Nozomi just enjoyed the rest of the evening before Eli had to bring Nozomi back to the shrine. They both said their farewells and parted ways.

"Don't forget about me huh?" Eli thought to herself. For some reason Eli knew that somehow this happy story that they were creating together was going to have a bad ending. But she also knew she was going to enjoy the process of making it too. "Don't worry..I'll never forget you.." Eli said to herself as she went back into the forest. Not even wanting to count all those months before she could see Nozomi again.