The day after was a bright one. Clear blue skies, filled only by sparse clouds. The sunlight fell onto all of Kasamatsu, bathing it in the warmth of midsummer. The cries of cicadas would occasionally ring out from the trees, and the leaves would flutter as the winds passed.
But even though the sun hung high in the sky, the heat wasn't overwhelming. It was still warm of course, but compared to the sweltering heat I experienced back in Okinawa, this was practically a godsend.
Which was why I was on the sloped grass near the river, laying on the spot I usually sat on a couple years back whenever I waited for Oguri to appear. My eyes were closed as I listened to the sounds around me, content with enjoying the tranquility of my hometown compared to the hustle and bustle I'd experienced during the summer camp.
It was strange, really. I never really found much care about the fact that Kasamatsu was my hometown. Most of my early life was a blur due to all the problems I was dealing with, and Central was so jam-packed with activities that it dominated most of my memories.
Yet it now felt calming to be, soothing even. It was as if I was reacquainting with parts of my life that I'd left on the wayside. And while my memories of the past remained somewhat blurry and inconsistent, this little spot near the river had quickly become a place I'd likely remember for the rest of my life.
…I suppose I was just feeling nostalgic.
After all, this was probably the last time I'd be in Kasamatsu for a while. I'd be busy in America next year, and who knows what my plans would be like following that. The two weeks we'd be spending here was pretty much all I had.
Suddenly, I felt someone lay down next to me. I was about to open my eyes, but when I felt a pair of hands wrap around me like a clingy koala, I immediately understood what was happening and relaxed once more.
I smiled. "Got bored?"
"Nn. Mom's out with Kitahara right now." Oguri said as she leaned closer.
I twisted my head slightly, subtly pushing away some of Oguri's hair that was tickling my neck. "Is that so?" I said, smiling slightly. I knew full well that, aside from Musaka, the person Kitahara called the most was White Narubi. For no reason in particular, of course. "You didn't join them?"
"Mom wanted to ask Kitahara something." Was her answer, not even slightly suspicious.
I huffed as I inched slightly to the left, bringing us closer together. "Sneaky, sneaky." I said, though I didn't explain further. Instead, I made myself comfortable as Oguri continued using me as her pillow.
I wasn't particularly tired, but with this comfortable warmth and the calming sounds around me, I found myself getting a little bit sleepy.
It was comfortable here. Being with Oguri, together in Kasamatsu,
It was safe here. Familiar.
"Star."
"Hmm?"
"Back then, when we talked with March." Oguri paused for a moment, before she snuggled closer. "You asked her what her Desire was."
"Mhm." I nodded faintly, fighting the urge to sleep. "And?"
"What is yours?"
I paused for a moment, before I finally opened my eyes. And I saw Oguri staring at me as she hugged me closer, her bright blue eyes peering into mine.
I smiled fondly. "I've already told you, haven't I?" I began, still remembering that moment when I first proclaimed my feelings to her. "A year ago, here on this very spot, I gave you my promise."
I turned to my side to face her, and I gently cupped her cheek. "Oguri Cap, I promised that I'd run with you, no matter what. In every season, from now to forever." I smiled. "That is my Desire, and my vow. I can't ever be complete if I can't run with you."
Oguri stared at me, before she smiled. "Nn. Me too." She gently held the hand on her cheek. "Running with Star—that's all I want."
"Why the question?" I then asked, slightly curious.
"I was curious." She said after a small pause.
I hummed. "I guess it's a little mundane compared to everyone else, huh?" I grinned slightly. "Tamamo, Obey, even Belno—all of them have something bigger they're running for. Their reasons are far more complex." I chuckled shyly. "Compared to them, my reason for running seems a little simple."
"That's fine." Oguri said, her smile kind. And then, in a softer voice, she said, "And you've gone through enough."
I softly breathed out. "You too."
I suppose it was a little unfair to compare, now that I thought about it. Sure, us wanting to run together seemed rather simple, but simple didn't mean shallow. Both of us had faced our own struggles in the past, and running had become our salvation. There was no need to complicate it by comparing ourselves to other people.
We fell quiet, and we simply laid there, content in each other's warmth. At some point, we'd practically tied ourselves together. Oguri's arms had snaked around my shoulders, pulling me to her chest. One of my legs was sandwiched in between hers, and our waists touched. Her eyes met mine, our faces just inches away.
As strange as it was, it felt comfortable. It felt warm. Cozy.
And at that moment, a single thought dominated my mind.
I want to kiss her.
It wasn't a strange thought, and not the first time I've had it. It wasn't rare to find ourselves in compromising situations like this, and more than once, I found the urge to sear her lips with my own. My cheeks would always blow red at the thought, and usually I'd scramble back like a frightened chicken.
But this time, maybe because of the warmth of the midsummer sun, or maybe because of Kasamatsu's general tranquility, the idea felt less embarrassing this time around.
Yet I found myself hesitating anyway, fearing what'd happen if I suddenly moved and kissed her. Nothing bad would probably happen—we'd shared our feelings with each other nearly a year ago—but my mind kept telling me otherwise. Kept bringing up potential scenarios of what might happen if I–
Before I could finish my thoughts, I felt something soft press into my lips.
My eyes went wide. My body went slack. Blazing warmth shot through me as my cheeks went bright red.
Because Oguri Cap was kissing me.
Oguri was kissing me.
The kiss lasted only for a few seconds, but to me it felt like it'd stretched for an eternity. A mind-numblingly pleasant eternity. When she pulled back, my face was bright red as I weakly gasped. Everything felt like it was spinning, and I couldn't even muster enough energy to try to push myself away–
"More?" Oguri then asked, her own cheeks slightly red.
Instincts surged, and I shyly nodded. She took her own shuddering breath, and she gave me another kiss. I squirmed, both terribly embarrassed and drowning in bliss. And by the time she pulled back, my head felt like it'd been stuffed full of cotton.
My mouth opened and closed a few times, before I finally managed to speak. "W-W-What-, I-" I took a quick breath. "W-Why-, uh, I-, um, why n-now?"
Oguri blushed. "You're not running this time around." She explained, her ears drooping slightly. "Was it bad?"
My pupils shrunk. "NO!" I shouted as I grabbed her shoulders. "No! No." I took a deep breath. "It was-, great. Awesome! I-" I struggled not keep myself from babbling. "It was the best. I always wanted to k-k-kiss you as w-well. And-, and I-"
My words were silenced as she kissed me again. But not just that. I could feel her hands wrapping around her waist, subtly pressing me closer.
I didn't really remember what happened after that.