The late morning sun was hot against Akira's back. She lowered her head as sweat beaded on her nape, furiously digging away at the earth. Once a shallow pit was formed, she carefully laid the germinated seeds on the bed of soil and covered them up. A tedious process, sure, but we'll worth it in the end.
"How's it going, Sow?" A shadow loomed over her, giving her heated skin much needed respite from the harsh rays of the sun. Akira squinted up at Yuma's profile, illuminated by the glaring sun behind him. "Good." She pointed at the mounds of soil. "I'm almost done."
"Tch, you stupid lady. Is the heat getting to you that much?"
Akira felt his overbearing presence at her back, blocking off the heat of the sun. Strong arms reached out and grasped her hands, forcing her fingers into the soil. "Like this!" Yuma's skin was cool against hers as he guided her hands to till the soil properly and reroot the seeds. "Oh.." Akira watched, feeling the damp earth run through her fingers and get under her nails. After Yuma was done, her rose, brushing off his pants. He paused when he saw her dirt-crusted nails. His brow lowered.
"I'll clear the baskets. Go wait for me inside."
Akira obediently stood and went inside, out of the hot sun. She washed her hands as best as she could, and pushed her sweat slicked hair away from her forehead. Man, did she need a shower.
She snapped out of her thoughts as Yuma slammed the door. Akira looked up as he made a weird face at her. "Oi, Sow. Get in there." He pointed to the bathing chambers. Confused, Akira followed him in. Yuma instructed her to sit on the edges of the tub as he busied himself digging though the cabinets. What on earth was he doing?
To her surprise, he knelt in front of her, face bearing an annoyed expression. Without waning, he snatched her hand. There was a flash of metal. A weapon? Akira recoiled out of habit, and Yuma slapped her knee angrily. "I'm not going to hurt you, stupid Sow!" He pulled her wrist more. Akira felt something under her fingertips. Was he...digging out the dirt from her nails? He grasped her hands so carefully, Akira wasn't sure at all.
"I—I can do it myself, thanks..." Akira murmured awkwardly, but was silenced by his glare. "Shut up."
Akira felt a sort of warmth spreading in her heart. The Yuma she knew from her childhood was just like this, too. When she fell while playing with him and Shu, he would come over and wipe the dirt from her cheeks with a special handkerchief he always carried around. Shu called it 'Edgar's Magic Cloth', and one day, Akira had taken it to embroider something on the corner with a needle and thread. The words...
Before she knew it, he was done. "Not yet." Yuma took a cloth hanging over the rim of the washbasin and wetted it under the tap. He then took it to her hand to wipe off any residual soil. Akira gazed at the cloth. Worn and fraying, she could vaguely see the initials...
"...Edgar's Magic Cloth." Her lips curved sentimentally. Yuma paused. "What did you say, Sow?" Akira looked at Yuma. The boy she had once known had grown into a strong young man; she could still glimpse a flash his former self in his eyes.
"It's nothing, Yuma. Thanks." Akira looked away.
"Ha? Fine." Yuma released her hands. Usually, he would've pressed for an answer out of his want to know, but this time he relented. "Go bathe."
Akira raised a brow, dipping her head. "Don't barge in this time."
"Tch." Yuma glared, flicking the cloth at her arm. Akira only smiled to herself as she turned her back to him.
"You know, you remind me of someone sometimes..."
Akira's hands stilled on her buttons. She peeped at him form the corner of her eye. He was lingering at the door with a lost look in his eye. "Really? Whom might that be?"
There was a long silence, before he grunted. "Tch, nevermind. You're just like your NEET brother, that's all." The door slammed, echoing in the chamber. Akira dipped a toe in the water. It was hot. She gazed at the rippling surface, distorting her reflection.
Maybe Yuma would remember one day.
