Chapter 9: Heavenly Reunion
Jiro's arms tightened around her as he hugged her and kept crying. "Irina. It's you. It's really you. I've missed you so much," Jiro said in between sobs.
Irina gently hugged him back, comfortingly but also confused by the familiar feeling. "I-It's alright...but...have we met somewhere before...you feel so...familiar." Irina said, glancing at him.
Jiro pulls away from the hug and looks down at her, smiling with tears still in his eyes, his hands on her shoulders. "Yes, we have... We grew up together for a while... It's me, Jiro... Jiro Natsuo... You remember me, don't you... Ri-Ri-chan?" Jiro said, looking into her violet eyes.
Irina froze at that moment; she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She started to connect the dots: his familiar feeling aura, the red color of his eyes, which she swore she had seen before, and the fact that he knew her last name and details about her childhood.
Irina puts her right hand on his face and strokes his cheek to wipe away some tears, then looks into his red eyes, not taking her gaze away from him.
"J-Jiro-kun... Is that really you?" Irina said, welling up while looking at him with wide eyes. Jiro nodded in response, "Yes, it is... it's me, Ri-Ri-chan." Jiro said, smiling with tears in his eyes.
Irina thought it was nearly impossible to find him again, but here he was. "I-it really...is you...Jiro-kun... I missed you so much..." Irina said, tears now streaming down her face, and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Jiro wraps his arms around her waist as they hug tightly. "Yeah, I'm so happy to see you again, Irina," Jiro said, crying happily.
The only thing Irina could do when she hugged him was bury her face into his chest while sobbing. "I thought I would never see you again. So you really did still live here all this time? I don't care anymore, I'm just happy you're here." Irina said, her head resting on his chest, now sporting a smile.
"Yeah, you and me both," Jiro said as they pulled away from the hug, staring into each other's teary eyes while smiling. Her hands were on his shoulders as she looked up at him, and his hands were on her hips as he looked down at her. They both felt overcome with happiness, as if a weight had been lifted off their hearts. After 10 long years of being forcibly separated, they had finally found each other, and they couldn't be more grateful for it.
They pressed their foreheads together, closed their eyes in bliss. "I've missed you so much...my Jiro-kun," Irina said softly. "I've missed you too...my Ri-Ri-Chan," Jiro said, making her heart skip a few beats.
"You still remember my childhood nickname." Irina whispered, opening her eyes, their foreheads still touching. Jiro opened his eyes in turn.
"Of course I do. I'd never forget the nickname I gave to someone who brought me so much happiness," Jiro said, looking into her eyes.
Irina felt butterflies in her stomach, and her cheeks turned red. "You really think so?" Irina said shyly, but she was happy to hear it from him after so long.
"I know so," Jiro said, smiling, his cheeks also turning red. Irina took his face in her hands, she could only look at him with a beautiful smile, feeling happy to have her best friend back, and someone who makes her feel these new, strong sensations in her heart.
They stand their foreheads together, almost embracing, and look into each other's eyes while blushing for a few seconds. Then suddenly, their heart rates increase, and they feel...the urge to kiss...but they resist it, not feeling ready to take things that far with each other yet, having only just reunited, and back away blushing furiously as they look away, wiping their tears.
"So...what have you been up to?" Jiro asked, turning away, trying to hide his blush, and change the subject. Irina also looked away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and... a little disappointment? A kiss? Why did she think of something like that at the moment?"
"Well, I've been busy with the church... You know, exorcising devils and other things..." Irina said shyly, fidgeting with her fingers, trying not to think about the previous moment.
"W-what have you been doing all these years?" Irina asked, turning back to him, trying to keep the conversation going as their embarrassment subsided. "Well, I've been...let's just say getting into a lot of fights with supernatural beings." Jiro said, turning back to her, his blush now faded.
Irina looks at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "A lot of fights? Are you okay? Are they... are they devils?" Irina asks worriedly, the angelic exorcist part of her making her feel alarmed at the idea that her childhood friend was fighting, while putting a hand on his arm to reassure herself that he was fine.
Jiro chuckled at her response. "Heh, heh, Yeah, I'm okay, and it's more than just devils. I've fought all kinds of beings." Jiro said reassuringly.
"I see... Be careful, I don't want you to get hurt." Irina said this with sincerity and concern. She gave him a sweet smile, and stroked his face with her fingers.
"Are you sure you're fine right now?" Irina asked, looking him up and down again, as if to reassure herself that he wasn't hiding an injury or something. Jiro chuckled again.
"Heh, heh, Yeah, I'm fine. It's good to see you haven't changed since we were kids. You're still the worrier you've always been," Jiro said, smiling.
Irina pouts and crosses her arms. "Of course I haven't changed; I'm the same as I've always been," she says indignantly, shaking her head in disagreement. However, there is a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Yeah, still a worrier, and there's that fiery attitude I love," Jiro said, reminiscing. Irina couldn't help but blush again at the compliment, a small, shy smile on her face.
"Yeah, you're still the reckless daredevil you've always been. I'm just saying, you're always worrying me. I haven't forgotten that." Irina said, in a joking tone, as if to change the subject, and forget that she was smiling like a happy little girl in love.
"I'm sure, but it's good to see Mom #2 is still there," Jiro said, jokingly. Irina started to get more irritated as his other childhood nickname for her resurfaced. She had always been a little temperamental when he called her that.
"You're so annoying! This is called affection! I care about you, and that's why I act like that! Why do you always call me that?!" Irina said, while pulling on his ear.
"Ow, ow, ow, sorry, sorry, but it makes me happy that you care so much about me," Jiro said, wincing in pain but also smiling. Irina pouted again in response.
"Tch, you idiot boy...Of course I care...you really know how to get on my nerves. It's always been like this. I couldn't help it, even if I wanted to." Irina said, giving him a light bump on the head with her fist, but this time she couldn't hide the smile on her face.
"Happy to hear it...hey, let's sit over there," Jiro said, pointing at a certain bench. Irina followed Jiro to the bench, and they sat down next to each other.
Irina scooted over to Jiro and laid her head on his shoulder. "This place feels very nostalgic for some reason. I don't know why," Irina said, looking around the playground, still lying on his shoulder.
Jiro grinned and glanced down at her. "Well, it should. This is where we first met and used to play together," he said, glancing down at her with a knowing grin.
Irina feels a spark of realization and emotion upon hearing that. She lifts her head and looks at him. "W-wait, seriously? I remember now! Is that why you brought us here to tell me who you are?" Irina asked, to which Jiro nodded.
"Oh, Jiro-kun...that's so sweet," Irina said, smiling and blushing, as she hugged his arm and laid her head back on his shoulder. It was very poetic for Irina to be reunited with her childhood friend at the place where they first met.
Jiro blushes again and looks away, feeling Irina hug his arm. They sit there in silence for a few minutes, until Jiro thinks of a question he feels slightly embarrassed to ask. "You know, um, your old house is owned by someone else now, and the church your father owned has been abandoned for years. S-so, uh, just curious, where exactly are you living right now?" Jiro asked, glancing down at her while blushing.
Irina looked up at him in surprise at the sudden question. She felt an unpleasant feeling when he reminded her about her current housing troubles. "Yeah... unfortunately, I can't return to my old house or my father's old church. I checked into a motel when I came to town, but since then, I've been looking for a real place to live." Irina said solemnly, looking away in embarrassment, and fidgeting with her fingers.
Jiro looked at her, thought for a second before speaking again. "I see. Um...this might sound a little presumptuous, but...wanna come live...with me?" Jiro asked, blushing furiously, and looked away to hide his blush.
Irina turns back to him, eyes wide, taken off guard by his offer. Living with him was not so crazy if she thinks about it. She had known him since they were children, and staying with him after being apart for so long felt like a dream come true.
"R-Really!? Are you sure? I know I can be bossy and demanding at times... Are you okay with that? Or are you offering this out of pity?" Irina asked, with a hopeful yet skeptical look.
Jiro turns back to her with a concerned but reassuring look. "N-no, of course it's not pity. After being apart from my best friend for so long...I honestly...just want to be as close to you as possible. And as for you being 'bossy and demanding,' as long as you're not being too pushy, it's fine. Plus, I know you are because you care, and it's kinda cute at times," Jiro said with a reassuring smile.
Irina blushes slightly at his reasoning, and that he was thinking the same thing as her. She gives him a small smile while blushing, feeling somewhat reassured now. "Fine, but... if you start to change your mind... just let me know ahead of time... ok." Irina said, somewhat reassured but still slightly concerned that she might stress him out.
Jiro looked at her with another reassuring smile. "I would never. I'd die before I ever push you away, Ri-Ri-chan," Jiro said, looking into her eyes.
Irina looked at him with reassurance and affection. "Thank you, Jiro-kun. Can we go bring my things to your house?" Irina said, smiling brightly.
"Of course, let's go," Jiro said as they stood up from the bench and left the park. They went to the motel where Irina was staying, collected her things, loaded them into her suitcase and backpack, and left. Irina pulled her suitcase behind her, and Jiro carried her backpack.
"Well, now that's settled, let's go home, Irina," Jiro said, reaching out his hand for her to take. Irina blushes while looking at his hand, but smiles and takes it.
"Yeah, let's go," Irina said, smiling warmly as they started walking, ready to start their new life together after a decade apart. They walked into the night, hand in hand.
To be continued
Probably my favorite chapter so far. Hope you enjoyed it :)