The finale for Act One ladies and gentlemen! Again, shorter than usual, but I think I got it right
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Stepping out into the fresh air, I look down at Miki. She’s back on my arm, but I don’t think it’s because she’s ill this time.
“Hisao, let’s go somewhere high up. The fireworks don’t start for a few hours, but I need to sit down for a bit. I know a place, it’s just past the track. Come on, I’ll guide us there.” She pulls gently in my arm, indicating which direction we’re going, and we start walking.
“So you’re sure you feel better now?”
“No, but I’m fine right now. This way.” She tugs me to the left, down a path towards the nearby woods. The closer we are to the treeline, the further away we are from everyone else.
“Where is this place Miki?”
“Shh, I need to listen for the water… This way,” She pulls me off the path and through some branches. “Follow the stream uphill, I’ll tell you when to stop.”
“Alright, this better be worth it Miki…” I make my way up the shallow incline, pushing branches and dodging around bushes. Miki holding on to my arm makes the task incredibly difficult, but I don’t ask her to let go. I stumble on a small rock, almost pulling Miki down to the ground, but manage to catch myself before that happens.
“Alright, here. There’s a dirt path over there, through the bushes. Once we get to that, it’s easy.” She pushes me down under a branch, leading me through the undergrowth until we make it through to the other side.
Emerging out onto the path, rays of orange light poke their way through the canopy above. It must be sunset already, a surprise considering how bright it was when we left the nurses office. We pick up the pace, climbing the path through the woods together.
We break out from the treeline into a clearing, Miki pulling me forward to a patch of grass overlooking the school grounds. The festival lights dance below us, people and stalls fill the space, a swarm of activity.
“Whoa… How did you find this place?”
“I used to walk a lot, never really stuck to a path. Nobody else knows about this place, not even Suzu.” She pulls me down to sit on the grass beside her. A gust of wind blows her hair back over her shoulder, causing it to dance behind us before coming to rest on her back.
“Wait a second, Suzu doesn’t know? I thought you told each other everything, at least Suzu said that last time I spoke to her.”
“Suzu knows I have a place like this, but she doesn't know where it is. She hasn't tried to find out either, she’s usually lost in her writing anyway.”
“Yeah, I noticed… She’s really good at that, I read a few of her poems.”
“And she offered to teach you, right? She tried with me too, but I could never do it. I like reading them though.”
“Really? I didn't think you were that type of girl.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me Hisao…” A sharp silence falls after her rather blunt statement, leaving us both grasping for a new topic of conversation.
“So this is your secret place?”
“I guess you could say that. I don’t come here much anymore though, there’s always so much going on, like that.” She points down to the school below. “It’s overwhelming sometimes, you know?”
I look down again at the festival. Ignoring the games and fun people are having, it really is a busy place, most of the school seems to be working at one of the many stalls and even when they aren’t they seem to be trying their hardest to win one of the games.
“Yeah… I think I know what you mean. I've been here for just under a week and so much has happened. I think I like it though, it’s nice.”
“I guess… I just miss having that time to myself. I barely have time to study anymore.”
“I can help you with that you know, all you have to do is ask. It’s better than doing it alone, harder to make mistakes if you have-“
“I know Hisao. I just don’t have time, it’s difficult. I've considered quitting the track team-“
“Why?”
“I don’t like running Hisao, I already told you.” She sighs, looking down at the grounds. The sun has faded and moonlight drains the colour from our surroundings. The festival looks so much more vibrant now, the lanterns highlight all the different patterns and shadows. It’s almost like the school is alive.
I turn to look back at Miki. She really does look beautiful, even more so in the silver light. Her eyes are fixed on the school, reflecting the pools of colour. Even when she looks sad, she still retains that image of an energetic teenager, constantly living in the moment.
“Miki listen, I’m here if you ever need me. You helped me adjust to Yamaku, it’s the least I can do.” I place my hand on her shoulder, causing her to smile again, but she doesn't look at me.
“I know Hisao… It’s why I like you. You’re always there.”
“So talk. I can see something’s bothering you, so say it and I’ll listen.”
She remains silent, staring at the festival without acknowledging me. Her expression blank, other than the smile that remains on her lips, leaves me wondering if I shouldn't have said anything at all. She stays this way for a few minutes before turning back to me.
“Hisao, I like you… A lot.” Her voice is low, almost hesitant, but she presses on. “I brought you here because-“
A loud whistling noise interrupts her, turning our heads just in time to see the first flash of colour in the sky. Fireworks. I tear my gaze away to look at Miki, and she is staring back at me.
“Miki, I- Mmph!” She presses her lips on mine and I instantly forget what I was going to say. She breaks off quickly, rubbing the back of her head before I can even process what she is doing. She just kissed me...
“Sorry, I uh…" She blushes, looking down at her chest. "Yeah..."
I brush some hair away from her hanging face, lifting her chin until she looks at me.
I lean forward slowly, letting my lips meet hers for the second time. Her lips, like my own, are dry, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is that we are here, and that I finally know what her decision was. She breaks the kiss slowly, gazing into my eyes.
We both turn away to look back at the now flourishing sky. Balls of sparkling flame light up the deep canvas, stars visible behind them, and bright colours of red, green and blue dance through my vision.
Something brushes against my hand, tearing my vision away from the display. Miki’s wrist. I lightly rest my own hand beside it, holding it in what I can only imagine is an affectionate gesture.
“Hisao?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s my bad arm.”
“I know. Does it bother you?”
“No.”
We turn our attention back to the fireworks, watching them burst into existence only to disappear moments later, leaving no remnants of their short lives behind. A final burst of white and green lights up the sky, the school colours.
“Should we head back?”
“Not yet.” Miki picks a purple flower, a lilac, from the grass in front of her and places it in her hair. “I think I might try that poetry thing again… Together?”
“…Yeah.”
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That's it for Act One folks, I hope you enjoyed this ending (I was procrastinating over it all day
).
Special thanks to a friend of mine, Zijad96, for providing the artwork for both the final scene AND the Act Two transition plane!
