Hydrangeas in Bloom | a3! oneshots

Yukishiro Azuma | Picture Perfect

Summer festivals and equally crowded places were never your scene. You preferred the quiet over the bustling crowds and you were definitely never a fan of the stuffy heat of summer nights. Unfortunately for you, this was the season that your job constantly required you to be present in the exact places you wished to avoid.

Tonight, one of the more popular festivals was meant to take place near Veludo, a place you've rarely ever visited due to the fact that you tended to stay near Tokyo. It was somewhat refreshing to have a change of scenery even if it weren't exactly the countryside ideal you dreamed of. It was at least bound to be way less crowded in comparison to the populated streets of Tokyo.

The ambience of the night was filled with the mixed chatter of the many festival-goers accompanied by the faint buzzing of cicadas. Each breath of air you inhaled carried the scent of fried foods and the tangy smell of the nearby river. You wouldn't go as far as to call this your most peaceful job venue, being forced to attend crowded events really weren't your cup of tea, but you could admit it was fairly relaxing.

Unlike your initial assumption of this event being unbearably packed, it was surprisingly not as populated as you thought it would be. Especially after being told by your boss that it was a festival many residents in the area attended. It wasn't as if you arrived too early either, it was a good two hours in and the fireworks were set to start in thirty minutes. You hoped that you hadn't shown up at the wrong festival.

With practiced ease, you snaked your way through various yukata clad figures as you murmured insincere apologies. One of your hands held tightly onto the heavy Nikon camera strapped around your neck while your other pressed against the black satchel hanging close to your hip in an effort to press it closer to you. It was only until you neared a small intersection of assorted stalls that you were finally given enough personal space to relax.

Your lips part and a breathy sigh escapes as you idly glance down at your wristwatch only to be disappointed. There was still a substantial amount of time you still needed to pass before the show. Deciding to waste as much time as you could preparing your camera for the anticipated fireworks event, you lifted your camera slightly up before allowing your fingers to go work. You've done this kind of thing so many times that you could adjust the levels and exposure settings without even looking. Still, you could find the magic in routines.

You were prone to be easily taken by things you considered to be beautiful. It was a trait that your boss often joked to be a part of your 'creative nature' and you could admit that your interest in aesthetics often distracted you numerous times while on the job. It was a terrible habit of yours, but one that you could also appreciate as it was due to that unique interest that many of your best photos were taken.

The moment you lifted your gaze from the LCD screen of your camera, you were once more faced with a breathtaking sight.

There, standing beneath colored glass wind chimes, was possibly the most beautiful man you'd ever seen. Long white hair styled into a loose ponytail which draped over his shoulder and alluringly elegant figure clad in a geometric printed pale blue yukata. Soft yellow light, emitting from the many strung up lanterns lighting the festival path, shrouded him in an almost ethereal glow. His utterly serene appearance was enough to place you into a momentary daze.

You knew your staring was lingering long enough to be considered rude and any more it would start dipping into becoming creepy, but you couldn't help it. Not when it felt as if looking away for even a second would mean the disappearance of this beautiful man. Your fingers clenched tightly to the heavy camera in your hands, the urge to snap a photo rising with every passing moment.

It was only until his eyes lowered away from the windchimes he was staring at, hand still outstretched as his fingers grazed the decorative tail end of a multicolored chime. His gaze quickly met yours almost as if he instinctively knew you were the one unabashedly staring at him. The gentle smile that curved at his lips and was displayed in your direction further served to ignite your creative senses.

With a startled blink and an embarrassed flush coloring your cheeks, there was only one passing thought that seemed to feed into your unspoken desire.

You needed to take a picture of him.