CotE: Dearest

Chapter 9 - Me

𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖙

The queue of passengers shuffled forward, inching down the aisle of the plane.

Yuki walked just ahead of me, her carry-on slung over one shoulder as she scanned the row numbers. Her face lit up once we reached our seats.

"I wanted to stay longerrr."

Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and the last four days of our vacation arrived.

"We'll come back again one day."

We had a two-seat row by the window, while Manabu and the others were in a three-seat row across the aisle, a few rows ahead of us.

"Do you want the window seat?" I asked, setting my own things down and noticing how her gaze lingered on the view outside.

Yuki shook her head. "I had it last time. Your turn to look out the window."

I took my seat by the window, stowing my bag under the seat, while Yuki plopped down beside me and immediately reached for the touchscreen in front of her.

"Let me check the movie catalog..."

As I sat down, I felt a blast of cool air from the overhead vent. I took a moment to adjust the air vent above me but with no success.

I tried once more, but it continued to blow down. The chill crept along my neck and shoulders.

"What's up, Kiyo?"

"It doesn't seem to turn off..."

She frowned, reaching up to press the button herself, only to find the same result.

"Guess it's stuck. Wait, let's ask the crew." She flagged down an attendant, who approached with a polite smile.

"I deeply apologize, but it seems like it won't turn off," the flight attendant informed us, bowing her head.

"It's not that big of a deal."

The attendant thanked me for my understanding and then moved along, returning to her duties as she closed the storage bins above us.

"I told you, it's good to be ready!" Yuki said with a grin, proudly pulling her red oversized scarf from her carry-on bag.

It was the same scarf she had worn during our first flight together.

"I guess you were right."

"We'll have to share it since I only have this one with me."

She draped it across my shoulders first, then pulled it around her neck, the ends falling loosely between us. Her fingers skimmed lightly over my skin as she adjusted it.

The fabric was luxuriously soft. In between the delicate fibers, her unmistakable sweet scent lingered.

Shortly afterward, the pilot and flight attendants began the usual safety announcements.

As Yuki fastened her seatbelt, she leaned close, whispering, "Kiyo, if I'm sleeping and the flight attendant comes for breakfast, can you tell her to give me a coffee or black tea as a drink and a croissant? I'll need caffeine to wake up properly."

"Sure, I will."

She grinned, satisfied. "Do you want to watch the movie 'Your Name' with me?" she asked, her fingers already hovering over the play button as she plugged in her headphones.

"Sure."

The airplane took off, and after she began syncing both screens with concentration.

"Hold on... and... play it... now!" she commanded with a small laugh, ensuring both screens started in perfect unison.