kokomi blows kazuha a heart bubble
the decree is lifted ā it is time for him to go.
kaedehara kazuha is a free man now, free to stay or roam. he has already delayed his departure until the irodori festival. ( held once a year, each with a different theme, this edition celebrates her favourite novels and crafts ā so of course he stayed and let her talk his ears off. )
but even the most indulgent dreams end, and he must keep his promise to the crux. the alcor docks at ritou at the break of dawn, a few hours to load and unload before it sets sail again. kazuha has waited and waited, but nobody came.Ā
donāt be disappointed. she must be having the best dream ever.
in retrospect, it is selfish of him to wish for a farewell in person. she carries the future of watatsumi island on her shoulders, constantly overworked and sleepless. besides, what else could he say that had not been expressed in his goodbye letter?
( the time he spent on the run was a dizzying mess, days sticking together like a pitiful batch of gooey odango. with kokomi, everything is clear and defined. like neatly arranged odango, three pretty colours on each stick. )
gently, the waves take him away.Ā
then he sees her. dear kokomi, in her princess-like gowns, pink and purple and everything magical. she is running and yelling, waving her arm in the air.Ā wait, wait, wait! he could hear her voice in the wind despite the distance. he almost jumps into the water.
soon, she reaches the end of the pier. anyone would have given up there, but not her. not when the sea is her domain. kazuha had seen her walk on water before, each step steady with divine grace; this time, she sprints and bolts and charges, all in a vain attempt to catch up.
it dawns on her, the futility; so the leader devises another plan.
with her palm up, fingers pointing towards the ship, she blows a bubble his way. it takes a special form, one she showed him in her favourite light novels, the adventure-filled stories with love at its core,Ā the part both of them liked best,Ā the brightness, the lightness, the sweet tendernessā
his heart flutters. without hesitation, he leaps towards the mast, scales it as fast as he can. from his pocket, he picks out a maple leaf, folded into a heart, waiting for this very moment.
standing at the highest point of the ship, he turns towards her, palm up like her, and sends it flying in a breeze.
an exchange of vow, if you will. let the wind be our witness.
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