Your smile stays awhile in my heart

The reminiscence of last spring whispered gently in their hearts. The impressions, the friendship, the growing feelings. All of them started then, the beginning of beginnings. Once again there she stood. Quite plain and and simple as her exterior reflects, but through those shining eyes, brimming with excitement and joy, a impression of compassion once again buried itself into his heart.

It was almost as if it were a dream. With the cherry blossom petals surrounding her, trying to steal her attention towards his face. Oh how sweet the smell of those flowers, gently moistened from the spring rain that had caressed them moments earlier. The beautiful dark locks he wished to brush his fingers through. No. Such inappropriate thoughts. He must be safe to continue protect her purity and innocence; the thing he most coveted of all.

The two shortened their distance, falling into step with one another, his right foot, her left, reaching out to one another in perfect harmony. Her vestige held the slightest hint of color, rivaling the color of the falling petals. His heart began to thump more rapidly inside him. Was she aware of his quickened breath? The trail of sweat trailing down his neck from the nervousness of the scene?

Both stopped. No words were spoken between them. Their eyes did all the talking; it wasn't necessary to use breath when all was conveyed through their familiar gazes laid upon each other. His eyes did the talking, giving her a smile, wrinkling the edges of them in the process. Her eyes glistened ever so widely upon his face, twinkling as gently as the stars of the night sky he so adored.

A stifled phrase, caught under his tongue. The shift of the mutual understanding shifted to a moment of concern. Would he be able to get his implicit feelings to connect with hers? Would they reach her? The light breeze, pushed the young girl encouragingly, causing her to take another step closer to him. She curled her locks behind her ear in embarrassment at his misstep and set her undivided focus upon him once more. His eyes brightened even more, any new moment he had with her always remained carved into his sacred place of memories. And there will be many more to come.

"It's been some time. Welcome back, Sawako."

"It has been...Shouta."

Those gentle and audible words escaped her lips, which contorted into a graceful and genuine curve. Nothing ever done by her was fake, it simply wasn't her character. Her fingertips glided across her rosy lips, which were still not use to mentioning him by name.

The contagious facial gesture reflected itself on his own visage. A small muffled laughter emitted under his breath. His happiness at this moment could never be measured by anyone. This was their secret memory that both held so dear. What luck and amazement to have the same event repeated twice in a lifetime.

They walked together, he in front of her. Habitually, almost hoping the same thing would happen as it did the spring before, he casted his gaze over his shoulder.

And there she was

smiling.