The night was silent. Stars in the sky dance around to the melody of the night breeze, frolicking among each other, teasing the Earth with their glow. The moon high in the sky, its luminous presence warming the place, taking over the Sun’s job. Mizuki leaned on the railing behind the fortune slip stand of the shrine, gazing into the stars. It was late, so she decided to stop by the shrine to take a break from all the game ideas. Kokomi wanted to stay and continue with their game, so Mizuki left. She leaned her head on her arms, looking down at the city. Despite how late it was, the city was bright and the atmosphere was lively. The large trees swayed gently in the breeze, its leaves fallen, leaving its branches to explore parts of the shrine. The cold air made Mizuki drowsy and her legs shiver, but she remained in the shrine, her stubbornness in control of her. Mizuki smiled at the view from the shrine. It was prettier than she thought.
The silence of the night was interrupted by slow, soft footsteps. Mizuki didn’t turn her head to see who it was, she just continued admiring the view. The other placed their hand on the railing, tracing their finger on the edge. “You’re still here, Mizuki? I thought you’d gone home by now.”
“Wasn’t expecting me here. Right, Miko?” Mizuki chuckled.
The two remained silent before Yae Miko opened her mouth to speak again. “I heard of your game from the traveller. “Little fox’s daydream?” Now where’d you get that inspiration from?” Yae teased.
Mizuki said nothing about it. They both knew where she got it from. Mizuki didn’t intend on that name. But visiting Yae again reminded her of their past together. Where they were happy. What was the reason for separation , she wondered. Was it necessary? Did they have to part? Ever since that day Mizuki held a grudge against Yae. She felt devastated . She missed Yae. It had been a while since they had a proper conversation with each other. Mizuki missed that feeling.
Yae turned her head to face Mizuki. “Are you still bitter? We can talk about it if you want,” But Yae knew that she didn’t want to talk. Mizuki is used to bottling up her emotions. As a psychologist, she was used to people dumping their emotions all over her, but no one ever listened to her problems. She spent years and years stuffing her feelings back in her heart and now she was used to it. Mizuki closed her eyes and sighed. It was tough to open up after keeping all her emotions for so long. “Or we don’t have to, your choice.” Yae continued.
“I’d rather not, thanks.”
Yae leaned her body over the railing and looked up. The sky spoke to her, their voices calm. It soothed her mind and relaxed her mood. “You haven’t changed, have you?” Yae let out a small laugh without looking at her.
The two spent a few more minutes observing the scenery. Mizuki glanced at Yae when she was distracted. After all these years, she still loved her. She never stopped loving her. She couldn’t. It pained Mizuki to know Yae wouldn’t love her back, at least not anymore. Yae’s face was alluring and it captivated Mizuki. Her face under the moon’s shine was pale and ethereal, and it shimmered under the moon’s glow. A sweet dream in the eyes of the yumekui-baku. A bad dream is what the yumekui-baku eats, but to Mizuki, this dream was worth devouring. Yae’s face was a canvas under the moon. The light from the sky painted a radiance on her face. The colours of her calm expression emerge from under her face, each hue adding more detail to the moon’s painting.
Yae looked back down at the grassland, where the flowers glowed as if kissed by the moon. The magic
of the moon's kiss brought the flowers to life, making them look like a colourful chord playing a lullaby of the night.
“I don’t hate you, Mizuki.” Yae stated, which caught Mizuki off guard.
“Does it kill you to say you love me?” she replied.
Yae smirked. “If I did, it would only be half true.” she said, trying to contain her giggles but failing.
Mizuki sighed into her arms. “You haven’t changed, have you?” She parroted.
Yae giggled again and sighed in relief. “I love you, Mizuki.”
Those exact words shocked her. She’d never expect Yae to still have feelings for her.
“I love you too.”