Stay

Fireworks

“H-Hey! Wait for me!”

“Gosh, you’re so slow! We’re going to miss the fireworks at this rate!”

I could hear him sighing as I caught up with him.

“You’re so unfit.”

“I’m wearing wooden clogs, for goodness’ sake!”

“Whatever. We’re going to miss them if we don’t hurry!” He grabbed my hand and started sprinting again, pulling me along.

“W-Who’s f-fault is it?? Your training took so long!” I protested, panting along the way.

He kept silent as he held my hand tighter. I couldn’t see his expression clearly, but it seemed like a pout to me. A little smile crept onto my face.

----- ----- -----

We finally arrived at the hilltop shrine before Yuzuru slowed down. I took a moment to catch my breath before adjusting my yukata. Beads of perspiration rolled down my face, as I tried to wipe them away. He was standing there, arms crossed, smirking at me, hardly breaking a sweat.

“Seriously… I’m no Olympian, you know.”

“You’re unfit.”

“I’m NORMAL.”

He chuckled and took out his handkerchief. “Do you need Mr. Gold Medalist to plan a training menu for you?” He joked as he patted my forehead with his hanky.

I swatted his hand away and made a face at him.

“Oh God. Get out of here.” I shook my head as I sat down on a grass patch facing the festival, waiting for the fireworks to start.

The festival, the fireworks, the hilltop shrine, and the cloudless night… It all seemed so familiar.

“We did this every year, didn’t we…” Yuzuru said softly as he took a seat beside me.

I nodded.

“We used to. Before...that.” I bit my lip, recalling the disaster.

He turned around and made a disapproving look.

“Don’t make that face. You’ll become ugly.” He commanded as he pinched my cheeks.

“Ow- I think I’ll get disfigured more quickly with you pinching my cheeks like that,” I muttered as I rubbed my cheek, looking away.

“I probably won’t have many chances to do that anymore anyway.”

Both of us fell silent, as I awkwardly shuffled in my spot.

“So… You’re leaving on Monday?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay.”

“Uh..”

“Yeah?” I turned around, waiting for him to continue.

“So...you received a scholarship, right?”

“Yeah. English Literature. UK.”

He chuckled. “English… You’ve always been better in English.”

“Well, God couldn’t be so unfair. You’re better in everything else.”

“That is true.”

“God, you ass.” I laughed, playfully punching his arm, when he unexpectedly grabbed my fist.

“W-What?” I shifted my eyes away, avoiding his.

“I-” He leaned in closer, as my fist loosened.

A loud explosion shattered the silence between us, as lights of all colours flashed in the night sky. A smile returned to both our faces as the fireworks blossomed into the sky like magic.

“It’s beautiful.”

He nodded. “It looks more beautiful than the one we saw the last time.”

“Don’t they use the same design every year?” I turned my head, when I saw him staring at me.

“What, is there something on-” my words drifted away as he silenced me with a kiss.

It was a short kiss, but it was so full of emotion; it was almost overwhelming. It was tender; it was soft. It was loving, but it left with a tinge of sadness.

It wasn’t long before he broke the kiss. He pursed his lips and looked away, his face flushed.

“W-What was-” I stammered, stunned for words. My fingers brushed against my lips, my cheeks burning up. There was a long silence between us.

He got up a while after the fireworks ended.

“Let’s go.” He helped me up, holding my hand tightly, our faces still confused.

It was a quiet walk back home. My hand was still in his, but he did not say a single word. I tried to read his expression, but his face was a blank. He looked thoughtful, but I couldn’t tell.

He stopped in front of my house, and let go of my hand.

“Um, goodnight.”

“Yeah. Goodnight.”

--- --- --- --- ---

“What a familiar scene, huh.” I stood at the airport beside him.

“Yeah, but I have a gold medal this time.” He smirked at me cheekily, as the attendant checking in his luggage tried to hide her smile.

I chuckled and pretended to whoop his ass with my bag.

“Hey, uh… while you’re at UK, don’t slack off, alright?” He scratched his head, shuffling his feet.

“Yeah, yeah… I’ll do so well that UK doesn’t want to let me go, alright? And get a cute British guy living on Oxford Stree-”

I was stopped halfway as he slammed both his palms onto my cheeks, squeezing hard like he was squeezing Pooh.

“NO- No, I meant-” He stuttered, pausing as he fell silent. He let go of my cheeks, pulling his bag up and sauntered towards the immigration gates. He never finished his sentence as our families arrived and sent our goodbyes and well wishes to him.

I walked back to the car, confused and amused. As I opened the car door, my phone rang.

A text message. From him. I nervously opened the text.

Don’t wait for me anymore.