𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 ☼ 𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚

IX

     "hi, mama," he muttered, placing down a bouquet of fresh daisies. they were the only flowers at the market today, but he knew his mother wouldn't mind. she saw the beauty in every flower, even one that was wilted to nothing. "i hope you like the daisies."

shōyō was not with him this time, and for a reason; though it ached to be away from his little ray of sunshine, tobio needed to say his own goodbyes...

"mama, i have something good to tell you today. it's gonna sound weird but- uh, well, i... i'm in love. with a boy.
"remember shōyō? i've brought him by a bunch of times before, the one with the orange hair? oh, mama, if you'd met him i swear you probably would've loved him more than me," tobio chuckled weakly, lowering himself to the wild, tangled grass in front of the stone and sitting criss-cross. "he makes me really happy, and he's gotten me through losing you. miwa, too- she's enjoyed having company around the house. he means the world to me, mama, and i love him so much. i hope you're happy for me."

the summer mourned his loss, and to show for it, so many days including this one of cloud-speckled blue skies have watched over him as he visited his mother in the cemetery, offering their warm and sunny condolences in abundance. he was grateful for it, because with each perfect day it seemed like she was above his head, rearranging the weather just to show she was around. maybe she was- tobio likes to think so.

"i'm gonna be gone for a while. shōyō and i decided that we visit too often, and we should let you sleep, so that's what i'm gonna do. i won't stay long. but, before i head out, i figured i- um, i thought i could sing to you. i... haven't done that in a long time."

the boy with black hair slid his backpack off his bony shoulders and fished the small hawaiian ukulele out, running his fingertips across the wave design on the body. he always loved how he could imagine the ocean rolling across the wood just by touching it.

"one day, you'll look to see i've gone,"

he felt the strings hum beneath his hands, and the poking grass and staring sun melted away as he began.

"for tomorrow may rain, so i'll follow the sun,"

he could see her now, laying in her hospital bed with the most hopeful glimmer in her irises, the bluest of blue; her movie star red lips and rosy cheeks kept her so alive, even when she had no fight left. he could still hear the gentle sound of her voice as he sang in sync, letting her pull the words right out of him.

"and now the time has come, and so my love i must go,"

shōyō had asked him recently if he would ever sing this song for him. tobio jokingly brushed the idea away, but as he sang with his mother, he thought maybe he will someday. it's the least he can do, since he loves him so dearly. he would do anything for that boy.

"and though i lose a friend, in the end you will know,"

he felt the tears come, but he did not stop. he wanted his mama to hear him singing, and to feel him there. she deserved to remember his love.

"oh, one day, you'll find that i have gone,"

the empty graveyard buzzed with life, whirling around fat and fuzzy bees, fluorescent flowers, and happy spirits at rest as he slowed to the end. no place better than with his mother to feel at peace.

"for tomorrow may rain,"

her voice was so beautiful. it was just as he remembered it, tobio thinks. oh, how he misses his mama.

"so i'll follow the sun."

she opened up the sky for him, letting golden droplets spill through the trees like honey and drizzle all over him, dampening him with her smooches of rain. he looked up into the sunshower and smiled, letting his tears mix with hers, and he let himself say goodbye.

"i love you so much, mama. i'll come back soon."