Starlight

1

reader discretion is advised, the following chapter includes:

- suggestive/sexual content

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        It all started with a full moon, and a field of flowers. Well, technically it had all begun when they were still young children, but it was that dimly lit night that everything had begun to take motion.

        Such a beautiful woman was all he could think in that moment as he gazed at her, the pale kimono covering her form from his eyes gently shifting back and forth as she sauntered further from the dirt road, into the grass and closer to the fields of crops.

        She always had that snow white kimono whenever the moon rose into the sky, always mindlessly wandering into the outdoors, braving the danger just to lay her eyes on the darkened sky, specks of white scattered across the near-black navy.

        And every time, she would sing.

        She would sing the most beautiful songs, small melodies that charmed him more every time he heard them. He usually followed with discretion, watching from a place she couldn't see, but this time he found himself mindlessly wandering towards her. In a trance of some kind, he steadily approached her before standing just beside her.

        He came to his senses a little more upon realizing she'd stopped singing upon spotting him, her expression embarrassed and uncomfortable. He studied her a moment longer, body growing rigid, mind emptying as he finally wrapped his mind around how close he was to her. Much closer than usual, even when spending time together during the day.

        "...I never knew you could sing so well," he attempted to start some sort of conversation or interact at all rather than seeming like a complete fool, but the silence that came to him as a reply shot that down as he awkwardly looked away from her as she focused her gaze on the moon again.

        A breeze passed them by and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a small smile grace her lips, the long blades of grass brushing against her bare ankles. The crickets chirped in response, the scurrying of a small animal through the fields filling the air as he tried to find something to distract himself from the young woman beside him, anything. Anything at all.

        But his efforts were suddenly tossed out the window when he felt a smaller hand gently brush its fingers against his pads and involuntarily, he felt a shiver run down his spine. This time when he glanced down, his eyes locked with hers as she turned her head to face him, that smile of hers, that beautiful smile of hers, softening but widening, having a look akin to one of endearment.

        "Thank you, Sugimoto...that means a lot to me. That you think it sounds nice," she added at the end to clarify, the male brunette just beside her flushing visibly despite how little moonlight the silver orb had provided them. A soft giggle left her lips and Sugimoto quickly looked away, before jolting slightly when he felt her hand touch his wrist, slowly making its way down until her fingers carefully laced themselves between his own.

        Looking back at her in shock, he saw her staring down at their hands, a small blush of her own growing on her cheeks as they began to tint a rose shade that fit her so well. "Is this okay?"

        Sugimoto was completely taken aback by the entire situation for a few moments, leaving her in an anxiously anticipating state before he cleared his throat, awkwardly taking a sidestep closer to her and properly intertwining their fingers, making her smile widen a bit involuntarily on her part. He could tell she was trying to suppress it, but she was clearly failing.

        "It's fine," he reassured with a kind smile. They simply gazed at each other for a bit longer before she got a little closer and held onto his arm with her free hand, hugging it loosely as she looked back up at the moon. She was so close to him, Sugimoto did his best to relax his body but found his efforts were fruitless, which brought a laugh out from the young woman.