Chapter 12
Tsuyoshi and Aya peacefully laid in bed together. Sleeping,they enjoyed each others company. Slowly,but surely, Tsuyoshi stirred,opening his eyes to the semi-dark room he was in. Looking down,he saw Aya sleeping,clinging to him. He smiled,watching the beautiful girl dream.
Tsuyoshi rested his head against the pillow and closed his eyes again. As he began to slip into sleep,Aya scooted closer to Tsuyoshi,her right arm snaking around his chest. With both of them completely unaware,Aya's right hand gently grabbed Tsuyoshi's injured right shoulder,instinctively squeezing it in her sleep.
"AAAAAAAHOOOOUCH!" Tsuyoshi yelled and sat up as pain shot through his system. His quick movement,and not to mention his scream,woke Aya from her slumber. Jolting awake,Aya nearly fell out of the bed. Looking around,she saw Tsuyoshi sitting up,pain etched on his face.
"Ts-Tsuyoshi." Aya said,her voice sounded surprised and scared. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
"M-my shoulder." Tsuyoshi answered,breathing deeply as the pain eased. "I'm alright now."
A nurse and a doctor rushed in to check on Tsuyoshi. After telling them he was fine,they left him and Aya. The nurse came back with food and water. Aya sat on the chair next to the bed,looking guilty.
"I-I'm so sorry,Tsuyoshi." Aya said.
"It's alright." Tsuyoshi assured her, "It wasn't your fault. You were asleep."
"But," Aya started. "Does it still hurt?"
"Hmm." Tsuyoshi moved his arm around. "Just a little. But it isn't anything I can't handle."
A moment of silence passed,then Tsuyoshi said, "Come on,Aya. I don't like seeing you like that."
"W-what?" Aya asked,confused. "What do you mean?"
"I-I think you look c-cuter with a smile." Tsuyoshi said,a small blush appeared on his face as he did.
"R-really?" Aya said,an involuntarily smiled spread on her face.
"That's better." Tsuyoshi said.
The clock tower chimed 7:00 for the whole town to hear. Aya looked outside,and slowly stood up.
"Is something wrong?" Tsuyoshi asked.
"No,not wrong." Aya said. "It's just that I remembered that I promised to help prepare for the festival tonight."
"Oh." Tsuyoshi said. "Well,you should get going,huh?"
"N-no!" Aya said. "I want to stay here with you."
"It's fine,Aya." Tsuyoshi said. "I'm stuck here all day. It's gonna get boring real fast. No point in you getting bored."
"But I can stay and keep you company." Aya said.
"Eventually,we would run out of things to talk about." Tsuyoshi smiled. "Go on,Aya. I'll be alright."
"O-okay." Aya agreed. "But I'll be back every now and then to check on you."
"I'll be waiting." Tsuyoshi said with a smile. Also smiling,Aya walked out the door. As she passed his window,she waved at him.
/
Sana was worried. The festival was that night,so she should have felt excited. She was,but looking up at the sky brought her spirits down. If it rained,the festival couldn't happen. The festival took place outside,since there wasn't any place big enough inside. Everyone would get wet if the sky opened up. And nobody liked to get wet. Sighing,she hoped beyond all hope that tonight stayed dry.
Arriving at the festival sight,Sana greeted all the volunteers. They greeted her back,and Sana began to help out. Soon after,she ran into Aya.
"Good morning,Sana." Aya said.
"Morning Aya." Sana said. "Not that good though. See the sky today."
"Yeah." Aya said. "But look at the bright side. If it does rain,we could always but up some tarps."
"I guess." Sana agreed. "But there aren't any tarps big enough to cover the entire dance floor."
"Oh,yeah. Well,lets just stay positive."
"Right. Positive." Sana agreed with a smile.
Sana and Aya worked,giving everything they had into helping make this years festival great. They carried (small) pieces of lumber,they painted,and they worked on building the main stage. Before the two of them were aware,the clock tower chimed 12:00 noon.
"Wanna...take a...break?" Sana asked,breathing heavily.
"Sure." Aya said. "Let's eat...lunch."
The two girls entered the nearest restaurant. Taking their seats,they ordered their food and sat waiting. Then Sana asked how Tsuyoshi was doing.
"Oh,he's good." Aya said. "Except when I hurt him this morning."
"What? How did that happen?"
"Well,I was sleep and I accidentally squeezed his shoulder. It's not funny!" Aya said,as Sana started laughing.
"I-I'm sorry." Sana said. The food they ordered arrived and the two hungry girls started eating. As they ate, Akito walked in. Spotting him,Sana waved him over to them.
"E'o Agido." Sana said with her mouth full of food.
"Well that's attractive." Akito said sarcastically.
Sana swallowed her food,then took a drink. "Shut up." she said. Akito sat down at their table,sitting closer to Sana then to Aya. "Where have you been all day?" Sana asked.
"Walking." Akito answered simply.
"That's sounds fun." Sana replied sarcastically.
"Why don't you come and help us with the festival preparations." Aya suggested.
"Yeah." Sana said,pointing at Akito. "If you're going to enjoy the festival,you should help set it up."
Akito was silent for a moment. Then he said,"Fine. Whatever."
Sana and Aya left when they were done eating. Akito stayed to eat some lunch himself. The two girls arrived back at the festival site,and had been working for about ten minutes when Akito showed up to help.
With Akito's help,and the other people who showed up later,everything was finished as the clock tower read 2:38. Feeling good with herself,Sana started laughing. Akito looked at her like she had lost her mind.
"I'm feeling kinda tired." Aya said as she yawned.
"Well,the festival doesn't start until six,so maybe you should go home and rest until then." Sana recommended.
"But I promised Tsuyoshi that I'd check up on him." Aya told them.
"You won't be coming to the festival,will you?" Akito said. "You're going to stay with Tsuyoshi?"
"Of course." Aya replied. "I don't want him to be by himself when so many people are having fun."
"Alright." Akito said. "Tsuyoshi will like that."
As they talked, Sana suddenly let out a long yawn. Akito's 'she's lost it' look increased. "Maybe you should take your own advice." Akito told her.
"No,I'm f-f-f-fine." Sana said as she yawned again.
"No,you're tired." Akito grabbed Sana's arm and began dragging her.
"What are you doing?" Sana asked.
"Taking you home." Akito answered. "You need rest."
Sana looked back at the confused looking Aya. "See you later,Aya." Sana said. She and Akito continued down the road. Turning down an alley,he led her to the street her house was on.
"Hang on,Akito." Sana said. "How do you know where I live?"
"I don't know what house you live in. But I know the street."
"How do you know that?" Sana asked.
"It's a small town." Akito replied. "You always walk this way when you walk home. I just assumed."
"Well you assumed right." Sana told him. "It's almost creepy."
"You creeped out by me?" Akito asked her.
"No. I'm just saying." Sana said.
Sana and Akito arrived at Sana's house. It was the last house of the last row. It was a simple,one story home that looked cozy enough. Sana walked to the door.
"Thanks for the,uh...drag home,I guess." Sana said.
"Not a problem." Akito said. "Don't sleep too long."
"I won't." Sana said. "And don't forget. "You promised you would come,Akito."
"I know. I'll be there." Akito told her.
"Good. See you there." Sana opened her front door and went inside. Akito turned and walked toward the hotel.
Sana watched Akito walk away through her window. Feeling drained,she went into her room and collapsed onto her bed. She fell asleep right away.
She dreamed she was walking down an endless hallway. In front of her,it went on for miles. When she turned around,she was facing a dead end. As she continued,she started to feel...anxious? Sana began to run. She ran and ran down the ever extending hallway. Suddenly,the floor beneath her feet vanished and Sana fell toward a black void.
Then a hand reached down and grabbed her wrist. Suspended in midair,Sana looked up at her savior. It was Akito. He pulled her up to safety. Sana stared at him for what seemed like forever. She noticed he was still holding his hand. When she tried to say something,Akito pulled her against him. Sana's face felt hot as he brought his closer towards hers,their lips centimeters apart.
Knock,Knock,Knock.