Spring Comes

Isn't it Beautiful?

Hatori had time, so he dropped by Shigure's house again with Momiji, who hugged Yayoi again as soon as he saw her and transformed into a rabbit.

"Yaya, let's go somewhere today! I wanna see the monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park or maybe the icicles of Misotsuchi!" Momiji said excitedly.

Hatori wasn't sure how he felt about that. It was already late in the day, and it was about a four hour drive one way to either suggestion. 'But if she really wants to go...'

Fortunately for Hatori, Yayoi took these things into consideration. "How about we go see one of the local winter illuminations instead, if everyone else hasn't already been?" she suggested. It was also something they could all do together, since not everyone would be able to fit in the car.

"Oh, what a great idea!" Tohru said. "I've heard the one in the park is particularly wonderful."

Hatori was grateful that he wouldn't have to drive for eight hours.

—∞—

The dark park was illuminated with hundreds of glowing and twinkling lights and looked like a winter wonderland straight out of a fairy tale.

"Oh, wow~" Tohru gasped. "It's so beautiful!"

"Uh-huh," Yayoi agreed, smiling.

Momiji glanced from his sister to Hatori. He grabbed Tohru's hand and ran ahead with her. "Come on, Tohru! let's go see the whole park!"

"Hey, be careful!" Yuki chided him.

"Don't look around while you're running, or you'll trip!" Kyo scolded Momiji and Tohru as he and Yuki chased after them.

"My, everyone's so energetic!" Shigure said, smiling as he tactfully walked ahead, too, leaving Hatori and Yayoi to pick up the rear.

'Those two... I know exactly what they're up to, and... I'm so grateful!' Yayoi thought, glad Momiji and Shigure were creating a chance for her to have Hatori all to herself in the romantic setting, even if she had no intention of making any moves on him. 'It's almost like a date~!'

They walked down a tree-line path that had been turned into a tunnel of wondrous blue stars.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Yayoi said, admiring the view.

"It is," Hatori agreed. He looked at the smile on Yayoi's face and couldn't help feeling it was even more beautiful than the lights. He felt his winter thaw a little, as if being brushed by the first breath of spring. Hatori's eyes widened slightly when he caught himself, but before he could think anything else, someone else whispered, "So are you." Hatori and Yayoi both jumped and spun around to see that Shigure had somehow managed to get behind them without them noticing.

Yayoi blushed out of embarrassment, because although she had recognized it wasn't Hatori speaking, she really wished he had been the one who said it.

"What do you think you're doing?" Hatori asked, sweat-dropping. "Can't you keep your bad jokes to yourself?"

"Oh? You don't think Yayoi-chan is beautiful?" Shigure asked teasingly.

"You..." Yayoi said, clenching her fist. She really didn't want to hear a negative answer from Hatori and swore she would punch Shigure for putting her in such an awkward situation.

"Well, of course she is," Hatori admitted calmly, so he wouldn't hurt her feelings with a lie.

Yayoi blushed again, shocked.

"You're welcome," Shigure whispered in her ear so only she could hear.

Yayoi clenched her fist again, embarrassed. "You're lucky I'm not punching you for messing with me for your own amusement," she whispered back. She was annoyed with Shigure, but super happy with the results of his meddling.