Beauty of the Night sky

Yamaguchi’s heart was pounding, as he ran as fast as he could, pumping his arms. His feet hit the cold pavement in a fast, rhythmic slap-slap-slap-slap. Weaving and turning through the massive crowds that the festival brought up every time this year. He just had to make it there on time…

His chest was aching from the lack of oxygen, and his limbs were screaming from the soreness of running for such a long time at such high speeds

His eyes were burning from the overly abundant smoke in the air, and tears ran down his flushed cheeks. He just laughed and ran faster, a smile spreading across his face. Lights from the festival sparkled all around him, turning everything hundreds of different colors. People laughed and talked loudly across the masses to people across the way. Young kids played games laughing, screaming, and running all over the place. In his hand he had a bag with sparklers, lights, a blanket and snacks, he couldn’t wait to go see his best friend.

His heart gave off a small pang of sadness at the word ‘friend’. Yamaguchi knew that Tsuki didn’t have any feelings for him, but he didn’t care, he really liked Tsuki. And so, he continued to run, it was almost time for the sun to set and Yamaguchi had a lot to do before the stars came out.

Today, he would finally tell Tsuki how he felt.

Yamaguchi slowed to catch his breath, and saw two young boys, like Tsuki and himself, the taller was protecting the shorter one from a group of boys their age. He let out a small laugh and picked up the pace. It was their third year in high school, and they probably wouldn’t see too much of each other at university. It was now or never, and Yamaguchi decided it was time.

Finally, he reached the patch of grass he had told Tsuki to meet him at. This little area was a short distance out from the festival, but far enough to where the noise was muffled and the lights dimmed. Quickly, Yamaguchi got to work. He got out the blanket and set it neatly down, and placed lights on the side of the blanket and snacks in the middle.

Yamaguchi rose from the floor, and looked down. The blanket lay poofed on a bed of white flowers that stretched out beneath their blanket about a foot in every direction. The small lights made the small patch glow a soft golden color. He sat down and waited for a good 15 minutes. I can do this, Yamaguchi thought to himself, Oh my god what if I mess up? I can’t handle the pressure! Wait, I’m the captain, so I guess I’ve dealt with harder stuff before. Oh yeah… we probably won’t get to play together again huh? Why is he late? He was so late? Oh god I can’t do this… I CAN’T do this! Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh-  

“Yamaguchi.” Tsukishima called as he gave a slight wave to his friend, “Yo”.

Yamaguchi froze, only now did he realize that he was rocking back and forth on the blanket.

“Oh! Hey Tsuki. Where-”

“Sorry I was late, I had to go do something.”

“Oh um, it’s okay” Yamaguchi let out a small laugh

Yamaguchi sat down and lightly pat the spot next to him, and obediently, Tsukishima sat down next to him, with Yamaguchi’s knee resting barely on top of Tsuki’s. They talked briefly, before the firework show had begun, and the start was unexpected, so the loud boom causes Yamaguchi to let out a high-pitched squeak mid sentence, eliciting a snort from Tsukishima.  

The first one busted in the sky and fell like rain, the neon purple lights raining down and disappeared. The fireworks continued in a steady pattern, golden-white lights illuminated Tsuki’s face as he watched the next one arch high in the sky and fall. Gold, red, blue, yellow and hundreds of other colors exploded in the sky above them, casting multi colored lights on their faces.