We arrived at the festival without any more hassles, and the streets were in full swing. It was the last Saturday of July, and the night was humid and warm, but no longer suffering under the stifling heat of the sun. The roads were blocked off to allow the full swarm of pedestrian tourists and partygoers. The air was thick with the tantalizing smells of fried food stalls.
My stomach growled embarrassingly loud. Akane laughed, her face a picture of youth, beauty, and joy. My heart clenched. Akane's smile. Damn. Sometimes it's like getting hit by lightning. You're struck dumb and powerless, and yet you feel energized to take on the world if it means you get to bathe in her glow.
I'm not a big academic, but I do pay attention more than folks give me credit for. And now this cheesy line in literature class is going through my head, something about Helen of Troy being "the face that launched a thousand ships." I used to think how dumb those Greeks were, causing a huge war over a pretty face. But when Akane smiles…I get it. Hell, when I first came to Nerima, Akane was fighting her way through hordes of high school jocks vying for a date. So yeah…I was too dumb at the time to realize it, but now I do.
"We better get you fed before finding a spot," Akane suggests, the merriment in her eyes making it clear she's not actually annoyed, but amused.
"Grub's always a good idea," I agree.
I was surprised my ma was so insistent that I take Akane to such a crowded event as the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, but it is nice getting away from Nerima. The ward isn't that small, but it's small enough that it feels like everyone knows us and pokes their noses into our business all the damn time. Here, among the literal million person crowd, I'm just a regular guy, out with my girl.
My girl?
Akane is thumping me on the back now, as I couldn't help but swallow my takoyaki wrong.
"You okay?" she asks, her smile gone and full blown concern on her face. "Chewing is important, you know. You don't have to inhale your food. Uncle Genma isn't here," she quips, trying to lighten her concern with a joke.
"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, my throat hoarse from nearly choking. I am utterly embarrassed that my brain can't manage to think about Akane and chew at the same time. The possessive thought had sprung on me so naturally, and yet…that's what Akane is, isn't she? Mine. Not that I'd ever directly said as much…oh wait, I did kinda say it once, when that jerk Mikado was trying to kiss Akane at that figuring skating battle! But I'm getting off track. The thing is, we haven't directly said anything to each other about whatever to really call our, uh, relationship.
To think, just a couple months ago Akane had agreed to marry me! Then again, hadn't she done that because my cure had been dangled out as the real incentive? Akane could be way too self sacrificing, so I don't know. On the other hand, she had dressed up and smiled so beautifully at home, that the impression I got was that she, well, actually wanted to go through with it. But when I'd asked her, she had cornered me about my feelings rather than hers.
My thoughts came to a sudden stop as I noticed Akane was moving quickly, (or at least as quickly as a person could go through a crowded street fair), to a different stall without me. I felt an urge of irritation. Why wasn't she waiting for me? Wasn't this a date…uh, well, now that I think about it, we never called it that. My mom had strong-armed us into going and arranged the whole outing. Ugh, this line of thinking was going to make me depressed, and that's Ryoga's thing, not mine.
I turned away, pretending to be completely indifferent, when suddenly a warm beverage was thrust into my hand by a familiar pair of petite calloused ones.
"I know iced lemonade tastes better on a warm night, but I figured we should play it safe with hot tea." She's looking at me with concern, and I feel my heart stutter and restart in a rapid dance.
At this moment, all I want is to tell her how amazing she is. This girl who stays up waiting for me with a hot thermos on rainy nights, who has literally lit herself on fire to help me train, who never thinks before rushing to do acts of kindness both big and small.
Instead I croak out "Perfect." And I mean it. Only what I really mean is you're perfect.
The sky over the Sumida River was bursting with color. Trails of light whistled into the night to explode outward like blooming chrysanthemums.
Akane was giddy next to me, practically bouncing with each surprising display.
"Geeze, you'd think you never saw fireworks before," I joked, trying my best to hide how impressed I was by the display. I had to admit, the hype over the Sumidagawa and the competing firework guilds was well earned.
Akane turned and stuck her tongue out at me playfully. "You're just pretending to act so cool. Don't be an idiot."
How is it that I can fool loads of people with disguises, and P-chan can continue to fool Akane, but she can always, always see through me?
She gave me a playful smirk, as if she read my mind. "Remember, you're really, really bad at bluffing outside of a battle."
"Yeah, well, a man isn't supposed to show it if he's impressed," I excused, my voice nearly drowned out by the shouts of "tamaya!" in the air. In between the loud bursts of rockets, there were the distant calls from public safety officers on the busier sidewalks, their bullhorns continuously issuing polite commands of "Do not stop, move along".
I was glad we managed to find a spot to stand in Oyokogawa Water Park. It allowed us a modicum of breathing room, yet still a good view. It was hardly private, but with the sparkling canals around us, it was enough to feel intimate.
A large boom brought my attention back to the sky. There was another spectacular display, the fireworks so bright it left after images in my vision. Then I felt it. Akane's hand! Her hand was holding mine.
At that moment I was content. No, more than content. My heart was ready to burst like an overripe plum, from just that little contact. There was an urge, growing deep inside for more, mingled with a dash of nerves. Pushing for more was being greedy, and was begging for disaster.
My eyes couldn't leave the glow of her face, and how the lights from the sky danced a merry reflection in her dark eyes.
The full, beautiful curve to her lips was half hidden in shadow, coming in and out of focus with each exploding flower in the night.
"What is it?" she asked, mildly alarmed.
Damnit. I was caught staring, and now I feel like a total idiot, like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"Your face…it's…cute when you're happy like this."
Akane's cheeks grew darker. It's not easy to tell in the flickering night, but it's a blush.
She turned to look at the sky again, but her hand is still in mine when she speaks. "It's nice, spending an evening away, a break from everyone who knows us and gossips or is ready to start a fight or kidnap us."
I smile, the anxious knot in my stomach loosens with the confirmation that Akane's thoughts run similar to mine. It gives me the courage to make the next move. A move I've wanted to make since the Ryugenzawa valley.
Her hand is cupped in mine, and I turn it gently to entwine our fingers. I hold my breath. Akane doesn't pull away. In fact, she leans in. Her head is gently leaning against my side.
I fear my heart is going to burst out of my chest. This date, and there was no fooling myself to deny that was what this was, was real. Was happening.
Akane speaks again, softly, her voice barely audible inbetween the booms. Luckily I'm watching her lips more closely than the light display, making it easier to understand her words.
"Is this our first real date?" Akane sounds hesitant and shy, which is pretty rare for her. We are treading new ground, but it's nice to know she's as nervous as I am.
"It might be our second, if you count the time with the roses when we made up."
"Hmm," she replies back, a new found confidence entering her voice as the conversation gets onto firmer ground: friendly banter. "What about that time at the circus?"
"Maybe. What about that time helping Ryoga and Akari get together?"
"What about those times getting parfaits at the ice cream shop?"
"Eh. Maybe. I was always in my girl form. What about that time in the cursed caves?"
Akane snorted. "I'm definitely not counting that one! I was terrified. What about that time with your mother's medicine box?"
I flushed, remembering all too vividly how I thought it was an engagement ring, not a pill box. "What about that time in the park after the do-gi battle?"
"Hmm." Akane tapped the side of her cheek thoughtfully. "We've had a lot of 'almost-dates', but I think I'd like to think of this one as the first real one."
Akane turned her face towards mine. The moment stretched out, the lights in the sky, the sulfuric smoky air, the quiet gurgling of the water in the canals contrasting with the irregular whistles and bursts from the fireworks.
I leaned in, my free hand shaking until I firmly brought it under control. This was a moment years in the making. Years of mishaps, misunderstandings, and obstacles, of almost-moments ruined at the last second.
The distance between us closed, not solely by me, but by a mutual communication that required no words. Her lips are softer than I ever imagined, and they touch mine gently and affectionately. The same girl who breaks bricks with her fists, who is as fierce as she is kind, is surprisingly tender and patient with me.
Almost immediately, she recoiled shyly. I stood in shock as I gathered my senses, but it doesn't take long for my instincts to kick in. Retreat isn't an option. I moved quickly to her, brushing away the small lock of hair that had escaped her flowered barrette. I lean over her and gently, but firmly, guide her head toward mine.
Our lips connect once more, deeper, hungrily. It is in this moment that I truly realize that I am hers and she is mine. I was meant for this, I was meant for her. This is the first time that I have ever felt that I truly belong. I want to grasp and hold this moment for as long as possible, but bodies need oxygen, and Akane shifts to break the contact. I release and rest my forehead against hers.
Before either of us can speak, I feel a collision at my back and the uncomfortable spread of ice cold liquid seeping through my clothes, into my skin and down my legs, triggering my curse.
Original Publication Date: Oct. 6, 2023
Some fanart that served as inspiration can be found at:
www dot pixiv dot net / en / artworks / 91823761