A little otome-like adventure for @ayato-kisser in the frame of @favonius-library gift exchange event ;3.
Sakura petals danced around you, cheering along with your team to the success of the last book. Your watercolors and pencils skillfully peppered the pages, and you preened under Lady Yae's proud gaze, who waved you all off, to rest and have fun.
O-hanami in full swing whirled in Hanamizaka, and you were quite eager to finally have a taste of the festival. Where do you want to go first?
1) Check the food stall 🍡.
"Isn't it the person of the hour!" your childhood friend's, Heizou's, voice greeted you among fried shrimps, candied melons, and dango of all colors. "Enjoying your freedom from the spotlight?" he chuckled.
He nodded toward the improvised scene, where the writer kept bowing and thanking the seemingly endless stream of fans.
"You could certainly say so!" you laughed, joyous. "And you aren't on a case either. Rare!"
"Oh, could I not afford a tiny bit of rest?" Heizou raised his hand to his forehead, picking up on your dramatics. "You wound me, merciless, merciless companion..."
You exchanged glances and burst into laughter, so needed after tense days of work.
"Seriously, though," he continued a few minutes later, after you picked up a small arrangement of treats, "I just have a lead that I wanted some help about," you noticed how the strain returned to his smile, "and I heard he should be nearby. But that doesn't mean," Heizou nudged you before you could comment anything, "that I can't divulge some time to you! Bet I'm still better at catching fair's fish?"
2) Take Heizou up on his challenge 🎯.
"Bet I'm still better at hoops?" you quipped right back.
Giggling and lightly pushing each other, you made your way to the game corner...
Where, of course, a dart game caught your eye. It had no reason to be so colorful!
And require good aim as much as hoops did.
"What do you want me to win?" you winked at Heizou, confident in your abilities.
"Hm..." he tapped his chin, smirking. Two could play this game. "A plushie of your choice," his gaze laughed, as between the pair of you you were the one to favor those, "and I have something in mind for later".
"Later, you say?" you narrowed your eyes at him. "I better give my all, then!"
Now determined, you focused your efforts on striking as many balloons as you physically could, not noticing how Heizou's gaze wandered around the fair, searching.
But you did feel his arms snaking around you just as the shout of triumph left your throat.
"Nice job," he whispered in your shoulder. You felt how he forced trembles down, and the smile didn't reach his voice. A soft deer plushie the stall owner pushed at you awkwardly hang on your forearm. "Mind if I step away for a bit? I think I saw..."
And he needed a breath, you understood.
"Feel free to do whatever, 'kay?" he reluctantly let you go, his smile in place but not fooling you one bit. Yet, you knew that he'll be alright.
What are you going to do?
4) Keep Heizou company 🌊.
You whirled around and caught his hand, intertwining your fingers together.
Seeing him mope made your own uncertain sadness, held at bay by the fair's liveliness, rise, and who wanted that?
His evident surprise warmed your heart, and you winked:
"Did you think your favorite companion would leave you?"
You tugged him to the shadow beyond colorful tents, hoping that your blush will become less noticeable there.
Repetition of the ocean waves soothed both of your fraying nerves, and Heizou leaned into you, laying his head on your shoulder once more.
"Eh, I am a mood downer today, am I not?" he mirthlessly chuckled.
You pinched his forearm, threateningly raising a hard-won plushie in a smacking gesture:
"Nu-uh, mister I-will-unearth-decade-long-mysteries, you are not getting such titles from me. Everyone needs a break once in a while. Besides," you lightly pushed him with your hip, "the moon over the sea is the most delightful".
A spark returned to his eyes:
"You are the most delightful".
"Flattery won't get you anywhere," you bit back, nonetheless confident you are as red as a tomato by now. And Heizou, no doubt, saw that clearly.
"Won't it?" he teased, grinning.
"Brat," you muttered with a flustered smile, returning your gaze to the waves.
Heizou let you, squeezing your side closer to himself, whispers of water the only sound between you now...
After some time, Heizou tapped your nose:
"Hey, sleepyhead, didn't you want to find trinkets for the folks back home?"
Mindreader, you thought to yourself.
"E-e-eh, they'll survive," you whined, "stars are far more attractive right now".
"You would regret that decision tomorrow, dummy. Wait here, then".
And was it the atmosphere of the holiday or your sweet pouty look, but Heizou leaned into you to leave a small, but unmistakable kiss on your lips - only to disappear in the people's sea a mere second later, your dazed gaze following his steps.
You didn't notice how a tall figure in resplendent white froze on the edge of the crowd and quietly retreated back.
Left alone, you turned your eyes to the sky, winking at you through twinkling stars' dots.
Would've you thought even a year back that a brat you smacked with naku weed stems would grow into someone you would love?
Oh, love, such a fickle thing.
...didn't Lady Yae comment on how inspired you lately were? And you could swear it was always the places that reminded you of him.
You mushed your face in the plushie.
However embarrassed, you could not wait for tomorrow, and the day after that, and the whole life before you.
"Didn't make you wait for long, did I?" his breathy chuckle tickled your ear.
[Achievement unlocked: In intuition’s sphere]
...Kazuha caught up to the two of you once you were leaving the fair, and you cheerfully waved at him with your intertwined hands, getting a raised brow and amused chuckle in response.
...rumors said, Yashiro Commissioner became even more elusive lately...
...winds of the faraway lands ruffled your hair, passing, unbothered.
As for you two, Heizou and you continued as you always were...
If now a bit more entangled.
"Five more minutes," you muttered into his shoulder, burrowing deeper into the blankets.
"I should charge you for derailing the investigation," he teased, pressing a kiss to your knuckles.
A little plushie deer proudly sat at your nightstand.
