Summer had completely say its goodbye. The sun is not so scary anymore. And that cumulus cloud that somehow always be the symbol of summer in beach, had decided to fly to another country perhaps.
It's not saddening, but Yuki must admit it, it was kind of touchy when she remembered how she used to play around and practice together under the wild sunlight. Beach was not an exception for her.
But now, the summer that filled with joy and sadness, guilty and uncertainty, loneliness and selfishness, is now replaced by the cold wind of autumn. Yuki has always liked autumn rather than winter. When she fell for Akashi, she likes it even more.
Not that Akashi hates winter, but it gave him an unpleasant feeling of coldness around him which make him uncomfortable. But now, after he decided to embrace Yuki for ever his life, he knows winter makes the home feel warmer than usual.
Yuki and Akashi walked together after their last school exam. After this, they will look how things going on with their scores and the last event will be... Graduation ceremony. Walked along the rocky path with red and brown leaves scattered around them. Under the crimson sky, they walked in silence surrounding them. The wind that blew softly are pretty cold, but it gave Akashi the advantage to hold her hand tightly.
" I'm so cheesy... "
Akashi thought a little bit blushing by his own action. But he quickly shoved it off while smiling sheepishly.
" But it's not so bad. "
Even the usually-flustered girl, seems more relaxed. Although she just didn't show it much how her heartbeat running rapidly.
The couple that feels like just turned a new page in their life, and they met in the middle of story.
The last time they talked was right after they walked out from the school gate. And it was around 15 minutes ago. It's not like they have to talk everything about today's event or just to keep the conversation going on. Instead both of them feels like they could just understand each other better by walking together with hand in hand. Even though it's quiet, they still can communicate by each other's heartbeat, gesture, and especially, their gaze.
But of course, some words still need to be speak out loud.
" How's your mother, Yuki? "
He glanced at the girl beside her.
" O-oh, she's doing great. Especially after you suddenly went visited our house week ago. "
She answered more calmly than usual, perhaps because she can be more open and confident now. Although she couldn't really get off that stuttering habit.
" Haha, yes. But I can't just leave you alone in the middle of road with you crying like that, can I? "
He smirked a little.
" Y-you were crying too! And it would be even weirder if a guy crying in the middle of road anyway, so i-it would be better if we went to my house...right...? "
She was so flustered that she feels like her excuse become really obvious.
Which of course, Akashi would just laugh it off.
" Hahaha, you are so obvious, Yuki. "
" W-what?! I-it's true! "
" There there, I won this round. "
He winked playfully.
" Whatever... "
Yuki then just throw her face to the side and pout as much as she want while Akashi just trying to hold his laughter at his lovely girl.
For a laugh break, it was a succeed to let out a huge relief between them. Sometimes they will continue being silent but they will talk again between the silence.
" Oh yeah, we're going to Reo-kun's house direction right? "
Yuki asked a little bit excitedly.
" Yes, the house is not so far from the school actually. But if you're tired we can take the bus from the bus stop in front of us later. "
" Ah no no, I'm not tired at all. Just a little bit nervous since it's been so long since I met him. "
She smiled as she showed a troubled face.
" You've met him before? Ah I mean, talking. "
" Well, a real talk? If it's a real talk, I think it was when we're around... 7 or so? But... I think the event weeks ago when we had a talk together behind the school building, still... Counted as one? "
" Oh, when you apologized to Reo? It was a real talk. "
" But we had talked as well before. Umm... Pretty long ago, in fact. "
" Long ago? Pfft... How old are you now, huh? "
" I-I mean, it's pretty long ago, sheesh! Well maybe not really that long. It was around when we had our mid-term test. "
" I see, well that's indeed quiet a long time. Now that I think about it, don't you think... "
Somehow Akashi managed to change the topic of their conversation now. Yuki glance at him with curiosity as he prolonged his words.
" Think what? "
She demanded.
" Don't you think it has been a pretty long time as well since you be my girlfriend? "
He was terrible at something like this. He immediately thought, " Girlfriend? I can't believe it I just uttered that word. It's more something like Daiki would say. Was Loved one supposed to be better? Ah maybe prec-- "
He almost sink in his thought again if he didn't feel a force on his left hand which held on Yuki's hand. He quickly shifted his gaze to the side and how surprised he is. The scenery is even more beautiful than the autumn itself.
A tint of light pink on her cheek which made a beautiful contrast to her hair. Even the light blue eyes that shows the tension around her, looks like the spot light on her. Akashi was astound by the dreamy scenery. It couldn't be more obvious anymore how embarrassed and sweet she felt about those words.
Yuki thought she won't be so embarrassed anymore since Akashi basically know almost everything about her circumstances--and the other way around. She thought that maybe being honest to Akashi would make her less nervous around him.
But for a matter of fact, those thoughts are half true. In the end, both of them are still a newbie at their own honesty.
" W-well... I guess around 4 months or so... "
Yuki stuttered, glancing anywhere except her right side.
" It's 5 actually, if you didn't count where, cough I was having a breakdown cough. But all those times Yuki... It's counted as... You with the present me... "
Suddenly, those bad thoughts that keep haunting Akashi, even though it's already so clear that Yuki will keep loving him no matter what, he couldn't helped himself to still feel bothered by it.
Instead of being bashful about it, strangely, Yuki's reaction feels more normal.
" Hmm... Do you think I would be happier if I see you getting your memory back? "
She asked straightforwardly.
" That's... True, right? "
" Well, I can't deny that. "
Akashi's heart feels like tightened. If he didn't control himself well, he already hold Yuki's hand tightly probably.
" We can never change the past, Sei. We can only learn from it, take wisdom from everything and learn not to make the same mistakes. "
Yuki smiled through her words, still holding together and look ahead of her. It's as if she's the one who guide him all these times.
" Yuki... "
Unconsciously, he muttered her name as his red iris waned.
" Perhaps, Sei, you can't remember your past with me is one of the good things for all of us. Me, learned how to be more honest and patient, you learned to be more self-acceptant and trust others around you, Reo-kun being more less over protective and accept the truth, your friends being able to comfort you more openly... I don't know, Sei... There's always something that we can learn from every mistakes we made. "
Akashi can't even imagine how beautiful her soul is. Both her words and appearance, she's totally match the embodiment of an angel for Akashi. He smiled to himself, he thought it was lame for him to still keep thinking those useless thought when Yuki already step ahead of him.
" That's... Just being the human we are. "
He halt his step which resulting Yuki pulled back.
" Eh? What's wrong? "
Akashi smiled gently and reached out his pocket.
It's a black box covered with soft velvet around it. The size is not so small, around 5cm perhaps, but it's pretty long.
He let go Yuki's right hand and gently caressed the box top. He looked at it with hopes and he shifted his gaze to the girl in front if him.
Never been his eyes being so gentle like this.
" Yuki... "
He muttered her name with such a sweet voice that it's already made Yuki getting all the warmth from his voice alone.
" I... I won't force you... Actually this is the first time I've never forced someone to, haha. But, Yuki... Like I said I won't force you... Would you... Be my first and last? "
And he opened the box which hides the diamonds light that trapped in the shape of silver bracelet inside the box.
The enchanting gift itself already a huge present for her, but... Nothing can't compare those beautiful words for Yuki.
Gradually, her vision started to go blurry, her eyes getting hot. She can feel how her cheek getting hot. It was a mesmerizing moment for her. Even her voice feels like get stuck between her lung.
" Hic... Hic...I ... I would... Of course I would! Hic.... Huwaaa... Sei... Thank you... Thank you..."
" It should be me who being grateful to you... Yuki... "
Even he, the man that just bravely proposed, couldn't bear his own tears.
" Sorry... I didn't get to Hic... Buy anything... For you... Hic. "
" Your words are already one of the most beautiful thing I've ever received, Yuki. "
After he put the bracelet of promises between them on her, Akashi hugged her tightly. Under the auspices of the autumn sky, they give each other warmth. Forgiving and accepting, that's two things that they learned today.
" Now, let's go to Reo's house shall we? We should tell him and the others about this big day. "
" The others? "
" Yes, everyone. The basketball teams from your middle school, the Rakuzan team, everyone back in Teiko team, your Taekwondo teammate, everyone. "
" Eh... But... "
" I thought I've told you before... There will be a day, where I can proudly say... You are my lover and I am... Yours. "
" ... Thank you... Seijurou. "
" Thank you too... Yuki. "
________________________________
Thank you, everyone.
Calm down, it's not finished yet. After all... We haven't throw the flowers yet, right? 💐💐💐
See you in next chapter~