blossoming hearts | mitsuya takashi

20. cloudy days

The light gray clouds covered the blue sky, it was cold enough to see their breath. Juno wore a hoodie that was oversized on her, it had belonged to Takashi at first. Ayumu wore a beanie on his head and a black hoodie.

"I can't feel my fingers!" Ayumu muttered, "Where are we even going?"

"So much walking Yuzuha..." Hakkai complained.

Juno agreed with Ayumu, "I'm going to go numb before we get there."

Yuzuha laughed, "A few more minutes!"

"That's what you said the last few minutes." Takashi complained.

The group walked for a few minutes before Yuzuha stopped right in front of an old store, it was all secondhand stuff. It looked like a more expensive thrift store. Juno stared as they walked into the store, it was pretty small but it had a ton of stuff.

Juno and Ayumu looked at each other, realizing that everything was in English. Takashi and Hakkai were extremely disoriented, they had little to nothing of knowledge in English.

"I figured you guys might like this place." Yuzuha shrugged, "Everything is in English here."

Juno smiled, "Thank you for bringing us here."

Yuzuha giggled, "It's more of a use to you than to me."

Juno walked around, she found herself in the book section. She looked around, she found herself an old copy of Little Women. She smiled at the old but classic book. Takashi stuck around her, looking over at things her eyes caught on. She looked over the music section, nothing really stood out to her there.

She scanned the artifacts that were in boxes, the store was very unorganized. She found cat ears, she placed them on her head and Takashi chuckled at the sight. She put them back, scavenging for other stuff. Takashi had walked away to the jewelry, he was talking to the store owner about something. Juno didn't seem interested in the conversation, it was probably Takashi asking about something, he had always been friendly.

Juno walked around some more, she went to the register and paid for her book. Hakkai and Ayumu were talking about some random poster up on the wall, those two seem awfully close since they met at the one meeting. Juno is very happy about it, her brother seems happier now that he talks to Hakkai. Hakkai's a good guy too, very humble and kind.

"Okay, we can go now!" Ayumu said, followed by a tall Hakkai.

Once they got out of the store, they went to eat at the diner beside the store. Everything in this area seemed older, a bell rang as the group walked in. They found themselves sitting in a corner booth, everyone looked happy. Juno pulled out her camera and took a picture of everyone smiling.

"You wanna be in the picture as well?" A waiter asked from behind Juno.

Juno nodded, "Yes please."

Takashi wrapped his arm around Juno, messing with her hair, causing her to giggle. Ayumu and Hakkai bonked heads together, and Yuzuha smiled, leaning onto her brother. The camera clicked, saving the picture.

"Thank you so much!" Juno said, getting her camera back from the waiter.

"What would you guys like to order?"

"Strawberry milkshakes!" Yuzuha said, "For all of us!"

The waiter chuckled and scribbled in notepad, "I'll be right back."

"The milkshakes here are a dream!" Yuzuha said, "I have to make you guys taste!"

Hakkai nods, "She's been bugging to bring you guys, it's all she talks about since she found this place a month ago."

Takashi chuckled, "Typical Yuzuha." Takashi smiled, "You've always done stuff like this, finding new places to go and explore."

"Being at home is boring." Yuzuha argued, "I get bored of stuff easily as well."

Juno smiled, "I can tell!"

Juno's comment made everyone start laughing, the people around them smiled at the noise that came from their table, it reminded them that happiness was still a thing. That adolescents were still young and dumb.

"5 milkshakes!"

Everyone gave their thanks, examining the milkshakes. The pink liquid in the very detailed crystal cup, with a fair amount of whipped cream on top, and a pretty little cherry sitting on top. Juno took a sip, and it made her feel like she was floating, the strawberry shake was sweet and fluffy. Everyone else started drinking and talking, an old diner brought many together.

Juno felt herself zone out, the conversation started to muffle. She stared out the window, watching the few people walk around outside.

Something inside her is telling her to enjoy these moments because soon they will end. Something is tearing at her insides, screaming at her for zoning out. She wants to know why these moments will end. She wants to know why she can't have these moments until her deathbed.

"Juno?" Takashi said, tapping her arm.

Juno reacted, shaking her head, "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" He whispered in her ear, his warm breath against her suddenly cold ear.

"I think so." Juno responded.

Takashi looked worried, but he shook the thought from his head, moving onto the conversation.

"Basically, Takashi met Hakkai at a playground, is that what you're telling me?" Ayumu asked.

"Yes, we did. We were like 8 or 9." Hakkai said.

Takashi nodded in agreement, "That's how I met Ayu as well."

"Yup!" Ayumu said, "He was always more interested in Juno though."

Juno chuckled, "You were just his bridge!"

"Not true!" Takashi said, "I cherish Ayu as a friend." Takashi paused, "You were also a bridge but you were my friend first!"

"TOLD YOU!" Juno argued.

Yuzuha choked on her shake, "How do you feel Mochizuki?"

"Terrible." Ayumu responded sarcastically, "I have never been more hurt."

-

Later in the evening, Takashi was dropping Juno off at her place. He stood there, with his hands in his pockets, holding onto the necklaces that he had bought earlier in the day.

Juno chuckled, "Are you ever gonna leave?"

Takashi smiled nervously, a red tint taking over his face, "I wanted to give you this." He handed over a sun necklace, in his other hand there was a moon necklace. Juno cupped her hands as Takashi placed the necklace in her soft palms. "Juno, you are the sun to my moon. Me and you are one person together, you are my other half."

Juno blushed, her face turning a dark red, "Kashi' stop flattering me. Help me put this on."

Takashi moved her hair to one side, he brought the necklace and latched it on. Fixing her hair, he smiled at her blushing face, he liked making her nervous. Juno latched onto Takashi, her arms wrapping around him, smiling on his chest, she could feel his heartbeat. Even though he enjoyed flustering her, he was as nervous as he was. His heart fluttering in his chest, almost jumping out.

There is no one else for Takashi, theres is nobody other than Juno for him. She is his other half, she is his parallel. Juno has no other person for her, Takashi is her soulmate.

The soulmates tied around each other, whispering nothing and everything in their ears, causing them
to giggle in the cold evening.

authors note : short chapter, sorry!