S2 Chapter 8

Louder Than Words

Despite the tumultuous start, everybody soon found themselves in a good mood. They closed in on the entrance of the grand amusement park filled with dreams, hopes, magic and little sparks of fireworks. From afar the gigantic rail coasters were seen and the gates opened with bubbles flying around them.

The park has only just opened and yet a small line was already forming at the ticket entry. Thankfully, the teens used the express lane and as such they avoided the crowd around them.

«We are finally here!» An cheered with an excited voice. She was happy to be with her friends again. There was also a Disneyland in France. She had visited it with a few regular members before. The experience was a wonderful one, but it didn't quite moved her as much as today did.

An glanced at Rin and gave him a bright Cheshire Cat smile. Rin shivered at that. He tried to avert his gaze from the girl and turned to face Shuu who was walking right in front of him. Shuu was wearing a dark grey turtleneck and a simple open black coat hanging loosely around his shoulders. His head was low as he was checking something on his phone while walking. Shuu's slightly auburn hair swayed lightly with the wind. His thin strands flew around lightly but fell into place perfectly again. He looked effortlessly handsome and neat, which reflected his personality really well.

A small smile appeared on his face when his gaze shifted and he noticed Ageha saying something to him. With their looks and the sophisticated air surrounding them, Rin was unconsciously reminded of those British royalties the news sometimes would broadcast about.

He shifted his head to the left slightly and saw Sae and Megumi. To be honest, this was a duo Rin certainly didn't expect. Neither of them were exactly talkative. Megumi most often would speak a few sentences, offer advice or suggestions - otherwise he had only seen her speak with Yuusuke and Yui. Even after these years, Rin still felt a slight sense of tension when conversing with the intellectual beauty in front of him. It felt strange.. in all kind of ways Megumi and Yuusuke were complete opposites; Megumi was mysterious, refined to the point of being mistaken for a deity from tales of folklore.

Due to her work she usually wore glasses, but even then they could not hide the charming beauty Megumi had. Her hair had slight curls in them. They fell around her back like an open waterfall. The dark shiny hair glimmered in the light. Her red dress-like coat hugged her figure well. Megumi was the smallest amongst them - being one centimeter smaller than Yui - but the passive poker face on her face made her look more mature than most of them.

Rin deeply respected her. She was by far the most intelligent person Rin had ever met. She was calm and wise - always there when you needed her. She was in a sense the total opposite to Yuusuke, who liked to goof off and fool around in a friendly way.

«!» Rin jerked slightly when he saw the raven-haired girl turn her head towards him.

«?» Her eyes questioned him without needing her to speak up. Rin averted his gaze as if nothing happened. Deep down he was a bit mortified at being caught staring. Sae who had noticed Megumi's attention being pulled away shortly glanced over. The moment he realized it was Rin he lost his interest again and focused onto the scenery in front of them. It was strangely familiar. Sae recognized bits and pieces. Some things had changed. For example the cotton candy stand that used to stand there at the corner had now grown from a small stand into a huge factory like wooden building. The water fountain next to the entrance also wasn't there and had been moved towards the center of the park. It created a huge intersection that split the amusement park into four.

Upon entrance the teens were told to check their apps for location and drive reservations. They could easily scan their phones and everything would be taken from their accounts.

«I charged up all of your phones so go wild.» Yuusuke commented casually. He had his own phone in his hand and was checking everyone's funds. The teens checked the app on their phones and indeed there was a huge amount of money transferred to them.

«How nice. Thanks a lot, Yuusuke!» Ageha thanked him jolly. Her eyes brightened up with light as a childish joy overcame her.

«No worries. Money isn't an issue here.» Yuusuke replied casually and went to talk with Megumi. It had been long since the couple last had a day they could spend in leisure. He was set on enjoying his outing with Megumi today. «You should have a nice day with Shuu» Yuusuke said in a teasing voice and left with a no return wave.

He didn't see the eye roll Ageha did at that comment. «I would have done so even if you hadn't said anything.» She mumbled quietly and went to hold onto Shuu's arm, when she saw him return from his call.

Shuu smiled and blushed slightly at her kitten like behavior. «Yuusuke's the CEO. How come you are busier than him?» She asked with a pout as she glared at the object in his hand - his phone.

Shuu chuckled and ran a hand through her hair. «My apologies, dear.» He checked his phone once again and let out a soft sigh. «This should be the last for today. I'm all yours now.» Ageha watched Shuu turn his phone off with a satisfied smile.

«Let's hurry and go then! Megumi and Yuusuke already left.» Ageha said as she tugged him along with her. Shuu quietly followed with a small smile and a shake of his head.

With four of them gone only Rin, Sae, An, Takao and Yui remained. Yui was checking on the app and looking for a place to go. Rin stood next to her completely unbothered by anything while Sae stood on her other side doing the same.

An and Takao shared a glance as they watched the trio standing in front of them. The drift between the siblings was still noticeable and yet somehow they were weirdly in tune at the same time. It really got one to sweat drop.

«So... what now?» Takao heard An lean towards him and whisper these words into his ear.

Takao quietly watched the scenery in front of them. He was torn between his friends. Takao knew that Yui could handle the Itoshi's just fine. They were both incredibly fond of her after all. However, with just a single glance at Sae he could tell how his friend didn't mind the girls company, contrary he preferred to be with her. Sae never made any indication, but Takao instincts told him this. As for Rin... to say that he hated his brother was one thing, but of course Rin was still hung up on Sae for better or for worse. It's hard to let go of something or someone that defined your whole existence. Looking at them Takao couldn't help but sigh lightly.

He shook his head and tilted his head to lean towards An. «... How about we take Rin with us?»

«Great!» An immediately shot back that reply with an admirable smile. Without an ounce of hesitation she had called for Rin and urged him to come with her. Takao watched with a slightly exasperated smile, but his smile soon turned into a genuine one. He too, just like all the others, wanted to spend some time with An. Especially since she's been abroad for the last two years Takao couldn't help but miss the moody, eccentric, lively girl.

Even so, Takao knew how fond An was of Rin and he himself treated him like a close friend and sometimes needy little brother. As much as he liked Sae as a friend... a part of him was undoubtedly a little bit more fond of Rin.

Just like this Rin tagged along the two as they set off to catch up with the others.

Sae's eyes followed the duo that departed with Rin. It was weird seeing Rin hang out with someone else that wasn't him. It certainly was a change in things. While Sae watched the trio quietly, he noticed how relaxed Rin behaved around them. He was obviously used to hanging around the two of them and in a way he fitted in quite well.

Sae's stomach tingled and he felt something he couldn't quite explain. Sae felt restless without knowing why and he got the sudden urge to do something. Without another word, Sae grabbed onto Yui's arm and pulled her along cooly.

«Huh... Sae?» Yui mumbled as she followed him confusedly. She had been too engrossed in planning out where to go that she didn't notice how everyone had left until Sae pulled her out of it.

Sae didn't stop nor did he turn around. She swore she saw his chest rise and sunk from what looks like a sigh. Yui blinked once, then twice. She turned around and saw no familiar faces and it slowly dawned on her. Blushing slightly, Yui tilted her head to the sight before staring at their intertwined hands. Sae's fair hand was tightly wrapped out around hers. The veins on his hand were clearly visible from the hours of regular workout he did. His hand was more rough than hers, but they were warm and Yui felt her whole body warm up at that.

She loved him. With every fiber of her body she was in love with Itoshi Sae. But Yui didn't know what kind of future awaits them. 'What exactly are we?' As her eyes followed the taller silhouette and the familiar red-dancing hair in front of her, her mind swayed. Yui knew that she was becoming greedy. Greedy to be with him. Greedy to be the only hand he would look at.

Yui closed her eyes and sighed inwardly. In a sense, she had always been a bad thinker. All this thinking was exhausting her and she decided to push it off for another time. Yui looked around and saw the colorful displays, pretty smiles and joyful people. This was Disneyland - the place where your wishes and dreams come true. Now wasn't the time to worry! With that in mind Yui pushed through her worries.

Yui quickened her steps and walked next to Sae. She had found something she wanted to do. «Sae. Sae, let's go over there!» She lit up with newfound enthusiasm as she pointed towards a store on the side.

Sae's eyes wanted to follow her finger but they remained stuck at the pretty, smiling girl in front of him. His heart fluttered and his mind blanked out temporarily. It just hit him how dream like this whole encounter was. The colorful backgrounds that came in hues of pastels, the bubbles that flew all over coming from somewhere they didn't know yet. The sun up in the skies and the blurry people behind them. Everything. Everything reminded him of the day he first met Yui.

When Sae dashed through the empty hallways of their Middle School. How desperate he had looked for her, and the bliss he felt when he found her again. And with each step that he took the ordinary scenery around him would change into a myriad of pastels colors. Everything came back to him right now and his heart danced in delight and harmony. The feelings he had back then - the feelings Yui might never know about - ... they all marked the beginning of an encounter that would change his world forever. Sae knew this now.

He resisted the urge to pull her into a tight hug. He feared he wouldn't be able to let her go if he did so and as such he held back. Holding back was something Sae never did. Whether it was life, football, friends, teachers, or seniors. Sae never held back on anything... but why? When it was for her Sae didn't mind even if it meant holding himself back. Far more than anything, he couldn't bear the thought of hurting her.

Finally able to move again, Sae turned his head towards to direction Yui pointed at. Instead of a reply he pulled her close and motioned for her to lead the way. Yui smiled at him with her usual jolly smile.

'How weird...' Sae thought. 'It feels nice.' Just a simple smile had that effect on him. The weight and burden that rested on his shoulders lifted with just a simple smile Yui showed him and a strange sense of accomplishment filled him.

«Let's go then, Sae.» Yui spoke amiably as she took a head forwards and led the way. The soft fragrant of vanilla and lavender trailed behind her. It played with his senses and filled the air with a soft and refreshing calming feel. Sae followed with his hands tucked in his pockets cooly.

He fell into steps next to her and took on a protective stance. It wasn't noticeable to the girl, but passersby could see the serious look on his expression that warned everyone not to mess with them.

«Sae, look. Isn't it lovely?» Yui admired as she held out a pair of Mickey Mouse ears for him to see. Sae froze and refused to reply to that. Cute? He didn't exactly see the appeal of a pair of black ears with a white-dotted, red ribbon on it. Well..., Sae looked beyond the ribbon at the girl who was browsing through the arrays of headbands with a delighted expression on her face.

«It is lovely.» Sae replied. 'You are.' He finished in his mind and the corner of his lips raised slightly.

Yui whisked to him the moment she heard his response. «Then, Sae you take this one. I think it matches with your attire and appearance very well.» Yui convinced him as she handed him said headband. Sae stared at it with mild perplexion. Why was there a ribbon on it?

But before Sae could ask he turned around to see Yui staring at two headbands with a thoughtful expression. One was a baby pink one with a white ribbon on it. In her other hand was a black one with a red ribbon. It was similar to his own, only made out of some glittery material and white hearts on the ears.

Sae approached her from behind and leaned over her. Yui's warm and refreshing shampoo tickled his nose. It was a pleasant, nostalgic scent of fennel. Sae hadn't smelled it on her before and it was surprisingly subtle, but soothed him very well.

His long arm brushed over her shoulder as he picked up the black one she was holding onto. «I like this more.» Sae casually suggested and turned around to leave for the cashier without another word.

Yui turned around in a slight daze. She felt a sense of sadness when Sae's warmth suddenly disappeared again. They weren't touching and yet she felt warmth at the close proximity they shared just now. It was different from the way warmth she felt when they held hands. This time Yui could feel the warmth that radiated from Sae's body, as well as the warmth of his breath that tickled her ears still.

Yui blushed and put a shaky hand onto her ear. 'How unfair.' Yui thought as her eyes lingered on his retreating back. At times, she wondered if Sae knew what he was doing to her and the effect he had on her. If he did then...

Yui felt a glimmer of hope lit up inside of her, but she quickly discarded that thought again. Even now as she watched his retreating back, Sae showed nothing but calmness and composure. 'There's no way he would know...' Yui thought after a quick assessment. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't find a reason behind Sae's action and maybe she didn't need to find one.

Yui knew Sae well enough to conclude that there probably was no meaning behind Sae's action. After all, similar to her, Sae was also more of a doer than thinker. She chuckled slightly to herself, when she remembered a phrase that reminded her of him.

'Action speaks louder than words.'

Even without words, Sae always acted gentle towards her. And for Yui, this was the Sae she knew, loved and believed in. As long as an ounce of proof remained, Yui devoted herself to love him.

She had already waited for him for four years. What would a little more waiting change? They weren't the same as before and to meet again... «It's a blessing» Yui quietly mumbled as she put away the baby pink headband she had been holding before turning away. Just as Yui thought this, she remembered her mother. Ever since her mother passed away, Yui learned not to take for granted the people she had in her life. It was something she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

Yui who was about to turn away, retraced her steps and picked up the baby pink headband with her. «I guess, I'll take one for mom as well.» She thought with a mellow smile as she picked up the lovely headband.

«Sae, I'm coming.» Yui called out as she rushed towards him who was waiting for her in front of the cashier.

To pick up the pink headband was a small decision Yui made that afternoon. Nobody could have known or guessed the aftermath it would bring.

From the distance another star emerged and it was rushing towards them at an unprecedented speed. Like a comet soon to meet earth, a shooting star was falling from the sky. In order to meet the one, he had been waiting for, he shed away his pair of wings amongst the debris and earth.

And so, a dragon was born from the fragments of stars and ashes of the ground. With burning pink eyes he looked across the world with a bored and slightly devilish spark in them.

A/N

Can you guess who that is? I hope you like the little surprise I left behind for you.

Stay tuned for more ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶