AKI MAE NO AME (RAIN BEFORE AUTUMN)

3.

The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky.

She walked on the moisty grass which art by glassy morning dew, with a cold feeling on her bare feet. Her eyes focused upwardly watching the golden tinted blue sky, shady trees, running animals, singing birds, flying insects and everything in between.

Sound of running foot steps

"Don't forget your shoes you dumbass! How many times i told- WOH! MY GOD"

"Why? What happened?" Haru turned towards Val whos panting slightly behind her with widen  eyes and a surprised look. 

"I... I saw... a beautiful.. fairy..?"

"Oh stop your flirting" Haru laughed playfully pushing her back.

"Seriously I thought it was someone else" Val murmured giving the shoes.

Haru laughed again. "Thanks, I forgot them again"

yes, it came out as flirting but Val couldn't forget that few seconds of  mesmerizing image of Haru.  

Soft cascading white dress. Brown hair decorated by pretty flowers and gold trinkets. Skin glowing to the sunrays. Star sparkling Hazel eyes. 

A girl with a kiss of blessing from nature.

*

"So this is your favorite place huh?" Val said examining the wood.

"Mhm.. I used to come here in every morning like this until mom make the breakfast"

"Wasn't it dangerous? its a thick forest after all" Haru laughed seeing the unimpressive look on Val's face.

"I rarely got scared.." She giggled. "like.. there were times I lost my way back or some little little troubles, but I can't remember those much now"  

"Ohhh that's when that your great knight in shining armor appeared and help you out huh?" Haru made a loud laugh to that as the way Val mocked it.

"Well.. yes, you can say that" She smirked walking passed Val. 

"So you actually think she's some kind of a spirit?"

Haru smiled. "I don't know. I first saw her the day I lost way back home. I was running circles until she came infront of me from nowhere. I first got scared because I had never seen someone like that from village, but as she walked away I went behind her and found home. So after that I used to think her as my spiritual protector.."

"I'm speechless. Wow. You must be dreaming"

"I'm not! I mean I wasn't. I met her few times after that in forest when I was in troubles. But never in village. Soo.. who knows maybe she was a cool nice spirit after all"

"Ghosts" Val whispered with a smirk.

"Maybe.."Haru matched her vibe resulting them both laugh loudly.

"Lets go. I'm hungry. I wonder what Mrs. Tanaka has prepared for us. She is so kind" Val said turning back to leave. 

"She always has been like that" Haru said still not giving up on forest observe.

"Hmm.. I can see why u like her. She must be good teacher.. OH Hey.." Val called out loud at once.

A sound of dry leaves crushing under a bear feet. 

"What is it?" Haru came to her looking the side Val was giving looks.

"A kid ran away." She pointed towards an area covered in bushes. "Am I seeing things now?"

"Probably a kid from village" Haru smiled.