Translated from the original one in Thai.
###### Here And There - 1 Confession ######
"I'm going to America."
It wasn't something Sendoh didn't expect. Although Rukawa never mentioned it, Sendoh had already known that Rukawa had his plan to go there. It was just that the time they spent together made him forget about it… Or he just tried to ignore it.
In fact, in the next few months, he himself had to return to Tokyo. Either by distance or the busy university life, no matter what, they would no longer be able to see each other very often. However, Tokyo-USA was a whole different level compared to Tokyo-Kanagawa. He could travel from Tokyo to Kanagawa in about an hour, but it was a different story when it came to traveling to America. The distance and time difference was not something that can be easily overcome.
"... Congrats."
Yes, he should be congratulating this junior who was going to pursue his dream… But his heart felt like it was being squeezed mercilessly. He tried to lift his lips and smile at Rukawa, even though there was not the slightest hint of a smile in his eyes.
"When will you go?"
"End of March."
It was currently in the early of February, which meant that there were about two months left for him to meet Rukawa. He should make the most of this time. He wanted to make good memories together as much as possible, and do something he hadn't done yet.
When Sendoh was with the Ryonan team, he was a captain who communicated very well with words. But when he was with Rukawa, some words seemed to be very hard to say.
Coward?
It might be this word that suited himself well. The coward that couldn't express his heart.
But at least, he wanted to do something this time.
He reached out both hands to hold Rukawa's hand, and squeezed it lightly as if to say he was being serious.
"Rukawa… On my birthday this year, I want a present from you."
Sendoh had never once asked anyone for any birthday present. This was the first time. And it was the birthday gift that he wanted the most in his life.
"What do you want?"
"Would you go on a trip with me?"
.
.
.
Sendoh felt that he still had some luck somehow. February 14th this year was a Saturday, which meant that he could spend the whole day with Rukawa.
It was a date, on the last birthday before parting.
On the morning of his 19th birthday, on Shonan Beach, Sendoh turned his head to look at the face of another person walking together. It was the first time he was with Rukawa without a basketball or a fishing rod. He was not sure whether it was because of that fact, or whether it was the atmosphere of February 14th that caused his heart to uncontrollably flutter.
While crossing from the shores of Shonan Beach over to the destination at Enoshima Island, Sendoh could only hear the sound of the sea and the noise from people around. There was no conversation all the way. Rukawa said nothing, and Sendoh himself as well. But sometimes, just sensing that someone was beside him could make him feel good, especially today.
Enoshima was called Cat Island. Upon arriving at this island, you would see cats almost everywhere. Sendoh smiled as he looked at Rukawa, who was excited about the cats all around. He knew that Rukawa liked cats. And so did he.
He thought that Rukawa was like the cats here, stubborn and not very friendly. But they were so cute that you would finally fall in love with them.
After passing the market area, there were hundreds of stairs leading to Enoshima Shrine. It was a popular place of worship, and was also well-known for love blessings.
"Let's write a prayer."
Sendoh pulled Rukawa's hand towards the place where the wishing plates were hung. He handed Rukawa a palm-sized piece of wooden plaque before walking off to the other side. He didn't know what Rukawa would write on it. And he didn't expect anything… Or more accurately, he should not expect anything. That was what he tried to tell himself.
He meticulously wrote his and Rukawa's names on his wishing plate, and put a heart symbol in the middle, then hung it where similar wooden plaques were beautifully lined up.
Taking a few steps out, Sendoh turned to look back again. On his wishing plate, among many others, was actually not even a wish. It was just a feeling in his heart that he wanted to write down. And by any chance, Rukawa might accidentally see the message.
One of the popular tourist attractions in this island was a botanical garden not far from Enoshima Shrine. Inside the garden, there was a viewpoint on the lighthouse tower. As soon as they reached the top there, they could see the beautiful scenery of the island, even including Yokohama and Tokyo.
Rukawa picked up his smartphone and took pictures of his surroundings one after another. Sendoh laughed at him and then opened his own phone's camera in panorama mode.
"You have to take a picture like this."
Rukawa's gaze followed Sendoh who slowly turned around to take pictures, until the movement finally stopped right in front of him.
Sendoh lowered the hand holding the phone to look at Rukawa, who was also staring right back.
It was said that cameras couldn't capture some beauty. How well would his phone camera be able to capture the attractiveness of Rukawa that he sees through his eyes?
"Shall we take a picture together?"
Even before Rukawa could respond, Sendoh quickly raised his phone and opened the front camera. He wrapped around Rukawa's shoulder and forcefully pulled Rukawa closer. It seemed that he had to exert a little more force than expected because the other party resisted a bit. But at least, Rukawa didn't escape.
"You know, the picture will look better when we stand closer."
Sendoh turned his head to smile at Rukawa, then looked back at the camera again, preparing to press the capture button.
"Alright, Cheeeeeeeese"
Of course, Sendoh was the only one who opened his mouth wide to smile. But that was fine. He knew that Rukawa always had a straight face.
He hurriedly looked through the pictures taken one by one. Just thinking that it was the first photo together with Rukawa could make him excited.
Huh?
Sendoh focused his eyes on his phone screen. He saw Rukawa smiling there… It was just a slightly raised corner of the lips. Still, you could say that Rukawa was really smiling.
He pressed the menu of that photo. and set it as his phone screen background.
Even if it was just a smile in front of the camera, it was enough to keep him smiling all the way down from the viewpoint tower.
Enoshima Shrine actually comprised three smaller shrines scattered around the island. After arriving at the spot for wishing plates in the last shrine, the same message was rewritten a third time in the day.
Sendoh hung the wooden plague in his hand at one corner. His eyes followed Rukawa who was walking another way. While watching Rukawa tying a red rope to other wishing plates that were hung around, Sendoh's thoughts wandered. He wondered if, by any chance, his name would be written on the wooden plague in those two hands.
Not far from the shrine, there was another popular tourist attraction. It was the hill in front of Sagami Bay.
Sendoh shyly rubbed the back of his head with his hand while walking through the fence line full of locks and heart-shaped plates. Inside that fence line, it was the Ryuren bell, a bell that was created from an old famous tale that had been told in Enoshima about the love between a five-headed dragon and a beautiful angel.
And it was believed that couples who rang this bell together would have a long lasting love, everlasting love.
"I want to ring this bell with you."
Sendoh knew very well that the relationship between him and Rukawa could not be called lovers. And everlasting love sounded too fantasy. However, still, this was what he really wanted to do with Rukawa.
He met the pitch-black eyes staring back, deeply hoping that the person in front of him could feel his overwhelming feelings through his eyes that reflected the same person that was in his heart.
.
.
.
Sendoh sat down on the sand at the coast, listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, breathing in the fresh scent. He peacefully looked at the scenery in front. The clear sky also made it possible to see Mt. Fuji clearly.
Time passed, and the blue color that met the horizontal line of the sea slowly turned orange. Sendoh watched the sun fade from the horizon and turned his gaze to look at Rukawa who was sitting aside. Rukawa's bangs were blown to the side revealing the part of the forehead that was usually hidden.
The two returned to the botanical garden after the sky turned dark. Sendoh looked around, taking in the atmosphere and the beautiful scenery of the night. The festive colors of the illuminations made the garden look beautiful in a different way from what it looked like in the daytime. The refreshing beauty from flowers and plants was replaced by the fascinating beauty from the surrounding decorative lights. Rukawa was also like that. He shone every time he caught a basketball. But Rukawa with no basketball, just like now, was equally eye-catching.
"Happy birthday."
The sound that was heard would never be as satisfying as the sight that was seen. The unexpected blessing was no way as exciting as what he was looking at. Sendoh noticed something that caused the corners of his mouth to impulsively lift.
Not just in that photo, but Rukawa here, in front of his eyes, was smiling as well.
It was true that cameras couldn't capture some beauty. Rukawa's small smile in the photo he took was nothing compared to what he saw through his eyes right now.
"Rukawa… I got the best birthday gift of my life today."
Sendoh stepped out and stood opposite the other. He reached his right hand into his pocket and picked up a small package, then raised it to eye level.
"As a thank you from me."
He used his left hand to pull Rukawa's hand up, placed that small package on, and held it. The skin of Rukawa's hand was quite cold, probably because of the cold weather. Especially at night like this, the already low temperature was even lower. And maybe because of that, the skin on Rukawa's cheeks turned slightly red.
Sendoh reached out his right hand to touch Rukawa's cheek. He lightly applied the tip of his thumb to the red area.
"You know. It doesn't matter where you are going. It's who you have beside you... But, coming here today is very important to me."
He tightened his grip on Rukawa's hand.
"Because I'm with you."
As my birthday, and as Valentine's day.
- TBC
~~~ Remark ~~~
- Enoshima Shrine is a popular spot for couples to hang their wishes. The wishing plates there are in pink.
- The hill in front of Sagami Bay is called Lover's Hill. Ryuren Bell in English was Dragon's Love Bell.