Our Symphonies | satosere

19 ;

「 nineteen 」

"trust me on this"

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

We ended up spending the rest of the day exploring the most estranged corners of Yabuchi gift stores and unhygienic streetfood vendors. I wasn't a shopaholic, but I didn't complain when May and Miette wasted half of the time just looking through crappy customsized tees and artificial jewellery. All I purchased was a charm bracelet with plastic seashells and silver chain - that, too, was for Lillie.

Dawn had decided on exchanging numbers with me, saying that we have to remeet at somewhere casual - though I couldn't find that a reasonable move. I had been a terrible classmate by not even remembering her, I've always been the absolute worst at memorizing names as well as birthdays and anniversaries. It's a sad life, really.

Miette was preoccupied with a phonecall and thus she walked ahead of us; Drew had been inconsiderate like expected, and he didn't wait for anyone before heading over for the lodge all by himself.

Ash was right in front of us - still not close enough to hear our chatters - he snacked on a box of chocolate Pocky's whilst rummaging about the marketplace and shyly waving at any kid we passed by.

Precious. May wasn't incorrect, after all.

"Yo," The brunette called out just then, and I winced before craning to look at her, nodding as a response. "You were quite freaked out this morning - it wasn't something more than the unbreakable egg, right?"

I wetted my lips and nodded for the second time, more firmly. She didn't need to know, anyone out of them didn't need to know. It wasn't that extraordinary of a matter - my exaggerated thinking only made it so. Shut up, brain.

"No, it wasn't. Really. I was just tensed after learning that I was the last one to wake up. That's all." I smiled.

"Ah, okay," She smiled too, all earthy sunshowers and ephemeral colors of autumn. "If anything's bothering you - like, anything - you can always talk to me about it. I'm a radio station on two feet, if I do say so myself, But I do understand the awkwardness of spending your time with people you barely know. So always feel free to bore me out, Bun!" She did a wink and a finger gun at me.

I breathed out, and that was all I could ever manage in return. She's been so welcoming, so unconditionally kind since the very second we met, that I couldn't resist the guilt that was slowly bruising my heart black and blue. I've been everything but a nice person. I wasn't used to this much hospitality.

"Thank you, May," I said, and I meant it word to word unlike with Miette back then. "You're the reason why I still haven't died of boredom."

May chuckled at the sky, and while shaking her head, she chewed on the last Takoyaki ball in her aluminum container. "Tonight's gonna be more fun than yesterday. Trust me on this."

I frowned and made way for an old couple that advanced towards us from the front. "Have you planned something?"

"Not technically, but yes, we have planned an entertaining game for this evening," May left the soya-sauce laden toothpick in the empty container after finishing the snack, and then dropped it into the garbage can that we passed. "It's called the test of courage! I'm sure you must've played it at a school field trip."

My frown deepened at her sudden rail of information; but when a memory from my fifth grade summer vacations hit me, my eyes brightened like a light bulb moment. "You mean Kimodameshi? We have to walk through the woods or an abandoned building without freaking out, am I right?"