today we have fewer customers than usual. My stall was usually packed when it was lunch break and afternoon through the evening, it was a surprise that people here chose my stall as their place to hang out. but this afternoon was unexpectedly quiet so I and my part-time worker, Tekkai, have some time to slack off. Tekkai is much older than me. He even has a wife. He is quite a talker. Usually, he’ll tell me a story about his family, he is a nice guy. “Mr. Tekkai, I’ll be going off picking up Kina, please take care of the stall while I'm off.”, I said to him. “Yes young master, I’ll take care of the stall.”, “you do know you can call me without honorifics right?”, “but it is me that wanted to do that.”, “Yeah okay, you do you. if I didn’t come back at six you can close the stall without me and take the key, we have fewer customers today. have quality time for your family and come home early.”, “ understood.”, Tekkai ended our conversation. as I walk out the stall I remember that I have something to ask for him. “Mr. Tekkai?”, “yes young master?”, an unsettling and uncomfortable pause happened before I answered. “how do you confess to a girl?”

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an even longer unsettling uncomfortable pause happened. then followed by Tekkai’s chuckles. “confesses huh? are you planning to confess to Kinasle?” asked him while I was busy brushing off my blushing realizing what I had asked. “what? no? am I? I'm only asking for a friend? maybe?”, now it sounds so obvious. “Yeah, am I that obvious?”. I sighed. “haha I think this is the first time you have caught off guards. so no, I didn’t think it was that obvious” he smiled. “well let’s get back to the topic, a confession. hmm, I think you just have to be honest to yourself and say it to her.”, “that was the most informative advice I’ve heard all my life.”, I was being sarcastic. “but the truth is young master, that’s what I do when I confess to my wife. just when you think about it too much that the words won’t come out and you feel like you missed your chance. the words suddenly come out. and the joy after she said ‘yes’ is immeasurable.”, said Tekkai. This old man just showed me who’s more experienced. “okay, I somewhat understand. I’ll be going now, see you later.” I said as I walked out of the stall. Kina should’ve left about an hour from now. I guess I have some things to do before. well, this is also the exact day we arrived here one year ago.

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...

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it was 6:30. Kina walks off the main gate of her office building and sees me standing with a couple of ice creams. “ice cream?” I offered her. “thank you, what’s up with this kindness?” she jokingly left suspicious of me. “Well, today there are a lot fewer customers than usual so I got free time off before I pick you up. so I got this ice cream.”, I answered as we started to walk. “Well I'm glad that you get to have a break at least,” said Kina. “How’s your work?”, “well you see, it was a tough one today, we have about three meetings.”, “that must’ve made you tired.”, “oh I know, why don’t we go to your tea stall and rest a bit there?”, “I’m sorry but I told Mr. Tekkai to close the stall at 6, I want him to have a time off too.”, “I see, you do be  really kind today, Ryu”, “today?”, “yep.”, “Just Today?”, “yes.”, “so this is my threshold of being kind?”, “pretty much.”, “Well then, I guess so.”, “haha how cute, I’m just kidding Ryu, you were always this kind.”, she smiles lightly at me, my eyes wide open. on the outside, I could do is give back the smile, but inside I can well assure that I'm not okay with her smiles. what is this, since when do I become shy with her smile. I look away immediately. “So no tea stall huh? well, then I guess I’ll be heading straight ho-”, “I know a place.” I cut her from talking. “what is it?”, she didn’t catch my words. “I know a place, do you want to come there with me?” I asked her again, but this time I didn’t shy away from her. “Well, um, i- I guess so, but you know where is this place? like do we go there by walk or, or you know, if so, can I come home first and change my clothes?” she stuttered, she fidgeting, she’s, SHE’S BLUSHING? We then went to her apartment and I waited in the lobby. After she changed I immediately took her hand and ran lightly. I guided her to a place that I've been planning to take her since we got here.

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The weather report told me it was going to be a clear sky tonight, so we should see some stars and moon in the sky. as we arrived at the place. We are at the rooftop of a really old building that no one cares about and even no one knows this place, no one owns this building nor they even want it. mosses and tall grass coming out of the walls and ceilings, the metal there were all rusted. This is the place that I use to practice to regain my strength. I only cleaned up the top, I made a little garden on the rooftop, I put an old sofa and table. The only light source is other buildings and a few oil lamps I put here. Well, of course right she is also counted as one.

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“do you like how I decorated my safe place, Kina?” I talked softly. “well,” she pauses for a moment. “this is quite beautiful Ryu. I love it.”, she smiled. “I originally planned. to share this place with you, I mean if you want to, and you don’t even have to. I mean th-”, “Ryu.”, I stopped myself after she called. “Yes, I want to. Thank you for sharing this with me.” Her words were so soothing I feel like I have rested for a whole month. We then sat on the sofa and drank canned soda which I bought before. a few hours passed. In my head, I was so nervous because I wanted to confess to her that night. I could really feel the butterflies in my stomachs just metamorphs again and become dragons. more so, she is really beautiful tonight. her blue eyes didn’t penetrate and sharp, but rather calming and soothing, I can’t believe she is a hunter in her previous life. oh no, she notices me staring at her.

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“Ryu what’s wrong? all you all right?”, she asked. “Yes, I'm fine kina. Does my face tell you I have something in mind?”, “no, it was your eyes.”, “hahaha what’s wrong with my eyes?”, that laugh was a terrible and forced one. “That's the same eyes I see when I wake up in the forest.”, “I see, but no. I have nothing on my mind.”, I have everything on my mind. I gaze at the night sky. “Ryu?”. she called and I noticed as I turned my head to her. “I want to tell you about something,” said kina. my heart skipped a beat. before I couldn’t even ask what it was, she already answered. “I've been thinking about this a lot, but I can't seem to find the right word. I always tried to say this, but I can't. the words just won’t come out so,”. she pauses. ‘so?’ I repeat that word in my mind. “Maybe this will help.”, she grabbed something in her little sling bag. she hands out an accessories box. “happy first anniversary since we got here, this is how I feel, Ryu” her voice so little and soft as if it was meant to be voiced in her mind. it was an earring, a beautiful one.it was a yellow with purple scent. it was like the contrary to my old earrings, and it was more subtle too. I love it so much. “This is the best gift someone gave me, I’m so happy, thank you so much, Kina,” I said with a smile. I think that’s the biggest smile I've ever shown to someone. “you are welcome, I’m glad you like it.” “so, can I put this on now?”, I asked.”, “oh sure. need a hand?”, “if you don’t mind.”, “no, I’ll do it”. said Kina as she put the earrings on me, I’m blushing like hell, well she’s blushing as well. “how do I look?” I asked, but she didn’t reply and threw her face all over the place. and sudden courage got me and let me pat her and caress her hair. “Thank you so much,” I said. “you’re welcome,” she answered with a blush.

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“well then Kina, since this is the first anniversary of our arrival at this place. Why don’t we do something about it?”, I said as I got up and walked to the middle of the rooftop then face her. “like what?”, “well how about this, each of us can give anyone one request about anything as long as the others can give?”, “anything?”, “yes!”, “I guess so.” she agrees. “Well kina I’m first, my request is for you to get up and stand in front of me.”, “what?”, “does my word not clear enough? Kinasle  Sirenetaki?” I finally said her last name. her eyes widen and it seems like she is ready herself, she gets up. “okay then, Ryusen Harunakata. now what.”, as she stood in front of me. “Kina, it’s been a year since we got here, but I think that doesn’t change the fact of what I’m feeling. in fact. I may be feeling more and more sure of what this feeling is. but the more I became sure. the lesser I can’t put it into words. there are a thousand thoughts that I can say about you, but a single word won’t even come out. I want to share everything that I can't say, so-”. I stopped myself. then I cast heat energy in my hand to then gently let go of the energies. The energy flows to certain places and heated some things. 

 

“This is for all the words I can’t say to you. this is how I feel, Kina.”

 

hundreds of lanterns flew from below the buildings, heart-shaped. painting the night sky to red, yellow, and oranges and few of them are pink. It feels like the stars were a lot closer. make the night so bright that shy aways the moons to rise and be, it was one hell of a sight that I prepared for an hour before I picked you up. but from all this romantic and mesmerizing view, I wasted it all away and looked at you. your eyes were as beautiful as all of the lanterns combined. you are too busy memorizing and permeating the views. while I’m trying to capture your reaction. you finally pulled away from your own world and glanced right back at me. all the nervousness coming back as you smile so beautifully. “Kina, I,”. the words won’t come out. As I tried my best to get it all together, my hands all sweaty, and my mind clouded, I couldn't confess. I sighed and was ready to cancel my confession. but then, suddenly when I look at you,

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just when you think about it too much that the words won’t come out and you feel like you missed your chance. the words suddenly come out

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“I love you, please have a date with me.”,

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A sudden word just came out of my mouth as I held her hands gently, a confession. I reach into my pocket and hand her a box of rings. your eyes widened but then quint as a tear comes out of your light blue eyes. “yes.”, you answered. I couldn’t contain the joy overflowing my mind as I hug you, then I put on the ring on your finger. The ring has an engraving of a yeoli bird. “Do you like it?”, I asked. “I love it,” you pause yourself. “I love you too.”, you answered as you smiled, I smiled back with teary eyes. “Ryusen, I believe that you said I can request you anything.”, ”yeah, I believe I said that.”, “so I can request you to give me anything right?”, “yes, as long as I can give you that.”, “anything right?”, you said that as you gently put your hand on my cheek and pull your lips against mine.

 

[Ryusen and Kinasle officially dating]

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