119 Chapter five, 2016, extended stay: 7 (1/2)
Kyoko grinned as she walked beside Yukio. She was content, and no longer hungry. The shared dinner, their first shared dinner alone, was fantastic. Not because the food was exceptional, because compared to what they'd grown used to the last weeks it wasn't anything special. And it wasn't the place either. The resort outclassed it in every romantic way possible, but this time it was something only the two of them did together.
Despite feeling sweaty and dirty after a long day on trains Kyoko saw herself as a princess for the first time in her life. Maybe because that was the image mirrored in Yukio's eyes whenever she looked at him.
”We'd better go home now,” Yukio said. He tightened his grip on her hand. ”Funny, I've longed for being just normal for a while now, but now.” He hesitated a little. ”I don't know.”
She looked at him again. Dishevelled clothes and hair that needed washing despite the last day's hot spring bath. He had dirt under his nails, and his shirt sported a stain from their dinner. He probably stank just as much as she did. He was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. 'And you're all mine!' The thought scared her a bit. 'Does that make me yours?' ”I know what you mean. So let's catch a train,” she said. 'No, it doesn't scare me. Not if it is you.'
On their way to the train she saw students from different schools returning home from cram school. It was still summer, but the faces they met were already preparing for autumn. 'So much that has happened. And it's only been a month. But from now on we're back to our usual lives.' ”Yukio?”
”Yes?”
”I haven't told my parents about you. Do you hate me for that?” 'Where did that thought come from?'
He stopped and took both her hands in his. ”Why would I?”
They were probably in the way of people busying between trains, but she didn't care. ”I don't know. I'm sorry. It was just a stupid thought.” Kyoko let her fingers grab his and faced him.
He leaned closer to her. ”Don't call yourself stupid. I can't talk with my own parents about my parents, if you know what I mean.”
She thought she understood what he was thinking. ”Uhum.”
”There are things we don't want to talk about.” He fell silent for a moment and moved them both closer to a wall where they didn't block the passage. ”Not the same things for everyone, but I believe all of us have something we feel uncomfortable talking about.”
Yes, she had understood. 'We think alike. This isn't just me falling in love. I can love you and be friends with you at the same time.' ”I want to introduce you, but I think you'll get a cold welcome. That scares me.”
”As long as you prepare me for what they don't like it's fine.” His eyes were soft and caring.
Kyoko felt frustration rise in her. ”It's so stupid. They're like really old fashioned, and for them a divorce is because those involved were bad people.”
”Maybe they were,” he grinned. ”It ended up in a divorce after all.”