Standard disclaimers apply
The next few days before Christmas break for Izumiko and Miyuki could be summarized in one word . . . tense. While their friends could tell something was off, they were unable to get either teen to talk about it. The tension was like a steel wall; impenetrable and unbreakable. Sadly, it was in this way that both Izumiko and Miyuki left for their winter vacation at Tamakura shrine.
"Miyuki! Izumiko!" Sawa's voice rang out in the air, a joyous welcome to their returning guest and tenant.
"Hello Sawa." Izumiko greeted Sawa pleasantly as Miyuki sprinted to his room in the lodgings separate from the shrine proper; "How have you been doing while Miyuki and I were at Hojo?" Sawa brightened at Izumiko's use of Miyuki's first name but wisely stayed quiet on the matter.
"Oh, you know . . . same old-same old. But enough about how things have been at Tawakura . . . how was the beginning of your second year?" Sawa's happiness faded as she noted a look of . . . pain cross Izumiko's face.
"It wasn't . . . pleasant. At least not at first." Izumiko smiled in recollection of Miyuki's many kindnesses to her; "But . . . Miyuki helped make it better. At least . . . a little bit." Sawa's expression practically glowed at these turn of events; Yukariko is most definitely going to like this recent development.
"Well Izumiko;" answered Sawa to the girl glowing from her own internal happiness; "its' like I said before Miyuki transferred to your old middle school; he's becoming a fine young man." Izumiko couldn't help agreeing with Sawa's assessment of the younger Sagara monk.
While Izumiko continued chatting with Sawa in the temple residence, Nonomura happened upon Miyuki notching an arrow to shoot at one of the hay targets set up in the Tawakura archery range. The older mountain monk noticed how Miyuki's normally impeccable aim was skewed; what's bothering him so much? Yukimasa wasn't kidding when he said Miyuki's mood is reflected in his archery . . .
"Do you plan on actually hitting the target? Or do you just want to fill the paper with holes?" Miyuki turned to face Nonomura with a neutral gaze, as if his question wasn't worth his time. Now I'm really worried. Just like Yukimasa, the more neutral his expression, the deeper the conflict.
"Nonomura;" Miyuki said as he sat down on the edge of the archer's shooting porch; "have you ever wanted something that was . . . forbidden?" Nonomura, shocked at the direction of this conversation, asked Miyuki a question of his own.
"Does your question have to do with Suzahara?" Nonomura jumped in shock as Miyuki groaned and covered his face, as if ashamed of himself.
"It has everything to do with Izumiko!" Miyuki whipped his head violently toward Nonomura, who was startled at the normally stoic boy's violent emotional maelstrom; "I can't get her out of my head!? Every time we're together I . . . I feel like . . . UGH!" Nonomura jumped at the frustration clearly visible in Miyuki's voice as he aired out his feelings.
"I get jealous of any attention from guys around her . . . even Manatsu, who I know isn't interested in her! I've been losing sleep because I can't stop thinking about her!" Nonomura, realizing what Miyuki was trying to say, forced himself to stay quiet as Miyuki yelled out in response to his own sheer desperation.
"Why did I have to fall in love with her!?" Nonomura, as a firmly established bachelor, knew he was way of his depth but that didn't mean Miyuki wasn't in need of some guidance.
"I know I'm the least qualified person to offer advise right now; especially on women." Miyuki, as if suddenly remembering Nonomura's presence, turned to face the elder monk; "But don't you think Suzahara deserves to know what you just told me? Don't you think you're presuming much by assuming how she feels on the matter? Or;" Nonomura paused to allow the conflicted teen to meet his gaze; "are you simply a coward?" Before Miyuki could protest, Nonomura continued his lecture as if he hadn't noticed his attempt to interrupt.
"You know, I had a love when I was younger. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever met; a fellow mountain monk, if you will. Though of course, her title was that of a shrine priestess. I felt just as conflicted as you do about Suzahara." Miyuki gazed at Nonomura, transfixed at his unknown love story.
"I was such a coward. Instead of letting her know how I felt, I allowed her to marry another man." Regret settled on Nonomura's face at his bittersweet memories of Ai; "Trust me when I say that not a day goes by that I don't wish I'd had the courage to let the woman I love know how I felt." Nonomura, locking Miyuki under his piercing gaze, gave the young monk a warning.
"Don't make the same mistake I did Miyuki. Like my Ai, Suzahara isn't going to wait forever."