boketto || t. kamado

sixty-four

Roll credits

kidding, but i'm being generous posting so many chaps so it'll probably slow down soon so i can catch up lol i usually have 10+ chapters unpublished but i've got like, 4-5 past this so i need to get back to work. But everyone's been so nice and engaged sooooooo

Thank you for the comments. They brighten my day and encourage me to write. They make it feel worth it to keep up with this silly story even after so long. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read it ❤️

It was so sunny here.

The market was bustling with people brushing shoulders to peek at fresh vegetables and food stands preparing sugary treats and savory meals. Customers and business owners chatted constantly. Ribbons and posters hung from the buildings, signs of the celebration.

I shifted Joji on my back, walking next to Mother, who held Ahmya's hand. Our kimono are matched with one another, marking our participation in the festivities. Light reds and pinks dawning children as they weaved through the legs of adults with toys and noise makers. I watched as a boy and a girl chased each other past us.

Joji tapped my shoulder insistently, making me glance back towards him so he could point at a stand selling colorful dango, "Can we get some?"

"Ah..." I paused, glancing at Mother with a smile, "Can we, Mother?"

She glanced at us with a calm smile, then up towards where Joji was pointing. Her smile grew as she dug through her coin purse and set some yen into my outstretched hand, "Okay, but get one for Ahmya."

"Okay!" Joji cheered, tapping my shoulder playfully, "Onward!"

I laughed at his antics and the joyful mood filling the air. Everyone was so happy - I didn't need auras to know that. Smiles graced everyone's faces as live music swam down the street. Pure joy and happiness. And with my family, nonetheless.

From over my shoulder, Joji pointed out the dango he wanted. I let him pick out mine and Ahmya's as well, which he took in joy and choosing the most colorful and sugary-looking ones. The shopkeeper handed them with a smile, and I dropped the required yen into his hand.

We stepped back towards the crowd, and I squinted beneath the sunshine. The daylight was for humans, Mother said, and I basked in it with delight. It was so warm and gentle, caressing my skin and face—a quiet invitation towards peace and light. As I gazed towards the bright blue sky, my hair rustled in the wind. Birds soared with a sense of freeness I craved down to my soul, but I watched with a smile.

I closed my eyes at the kiss of sunlight, washing all shadows and negativity from my being. A sensation that transgressed our physical realm and hit deep into my spirit. I could dissolve and bask in it forever.

But Joji grew insistent that we give Ahmya her dango before it was ruined, so I laughed at his worry and returned to this world.

We wandered into the crowd, eyes searching for our Mother and sister. Joji scrambled up onto my shoulders for a higher advantage, hands steady on my head as I held his legs. I'd never seen the quiet kid so excited, but it made me smile as I took a bite of my treat and asked, "See them?"

He narrowed his crimson eyes, which matched the hand of his mother shielding the bright spring sun. He searched for a moment before finally smiling and pointing, "Over there!"

I turned to where he pointed, but I was too low to see what he saw. My brow furrowed as I searched, pushing through the crowd and shouldering past others to head in the direction Joji had pointed out.