"I like fall."
"You like everything!"
"No, I do not!"
"Tell me something you do not like then?"
"Hah, easy! I do absolutely not like eucalyptus flavoured sweets!"
"Really, that is it?"
"Yeah." said Shion, and laughed.
The small park itself was gloomy, not much was there except the old banks, two swings and a worn out seesaw which have now left behind by the kids ever since the rains began, and giant poplar trees surrounded around. The boys were only occupants of this lonely place, and the chains of the swings were creaking.
"Shion?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you —", Nezumi stopped. What do you like most?. "Never mind!"
"Huuh, what is it?"
Nezumi shrugged his shoulders, and averted his eyes.
Shion gave a little speed to his swing. "I like fall, but more than that I like Septembers. There is always something special about them. Don't you think so?", asked Shion.
"Why, I never thought about that."
"Every year as long as you are a student, you start a whole new life in September. No matter how old you are, you always feel like you mature a little under the summer's long hot gaze. It is like you leave your old yourself in the summer, and wear a new skin and emotions when september comes. Not only you, but also weather changes as if to praise your new self."
Shion turned his head to see Nezumi's expression, but he seemed spaced out. "Nezumi?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you listening?"
"I am." said Nezumi. He crushed a pile of leaves under his feet. "Then these leaves, they are falling for to say good-bye to old selves?"
Shion got a little surprise to hear him go on where he left. "Hmm, Let me think.", Shion said. It was a short pause, and then he went on smiling, "No. They are falling to greet our new selves, to show a path for us." So, he was listening.
"You know, there will be days when Septembers will be no longer have the same meaning." Nezumi said. There were dreary shadows on his mist coloured eyes.
"You mean, when we graduate?", asked Shion.
"Yeah, something like that."
The pause this time was much longer than the previous one. Nervous leaves on the nearest poplar shook with fear as the light wind played with them naughtly.
"Then we find a new September together when the time comes." Shion said finally.
Together. Dark embraced the city, and the boys sat on their swings without speaking till the first lamp in the park was lit. Then Shion jumped suddenly, "I want to dance."
"What, here?"
"Yes, is it wrong? Nobody's here."
"Like I care even if there is!"
"Well then.". Shion made an exaggerated curtsey and reach out for Nezumi's hand, and he gave in.
As they turn around and around, the whistle of the wind grew stronger, and the leaves crushed under their feet danced like cozy sparks. One could say, despite the whole lonesomeness of the place, the warmth spread from the waltzing bodies was crowded enough to fill the air. A very familiar tune was vaguely heard from faraway, and it was when Shion leaned into Nezumi's ear, and said,
"I like you the most."