"Wow, you look beautiful, my lady," Rei said the moment she saw Akari all dressed up.
Akari shyly blushed, brushing an invisible strand of hair behind her ear.
"And you look beautiful too in that kimono, my lady," Akari replied with a smile.
"Oh, this dress? It was nothing. The maids were the ones who helped me pick it out," Rei said casually.
"Which maids?" Akari's expression instantly changed. "I thought we agreed that no one else but me is allowed to see you naked!" she yelled loud enough for half the market to hear. "Don't tell me you, Rei Akarawa, are back in your Casanova days, huh?"
"Yo, calm down!" Rei shot back. "No one saw me naked, okay? I didn't even let them touch me! And besides," she placed a hand dramatically on her chest, "you're the only owner of this body, no one else but you, Akari Hoshino."
Rei made a little show with her hands, as if signing a solemn pact. Akari rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. She was clearly flustered.
"If I ever see you with any Kaida maidens, Rei Akarawa, I will be the one to end you and then end myself," Akari said, half a threat and half a promise. Her voice was low and dangerous, but there was a tremor that made it almost endearing.
Rei went white for a heartbeat, eyes wide and mouth open like she had just swallowed a lemon. Then she blinked, forcing a grin that looked more like relief. "O-okay, noted," she stammered, trying to make light of the moment.
Akari wasted no time. "Okay then, let's begin our date."
She stepped in close, pressed her lips to Rei's, and held her there for a beat that stretched deliciously long. When they broke apart, Akari slid her hands around Rei's arms and guided her through the bustling market.
Rei walked with her, cheeks still pink, while Akari led the way with quiet confidence. And Rei was still stuck on the threat, replaying Akari's words like a song she could not decide whether to be scared of or adore.
...
The sun was kind that afternoon, soft gold spilling through the clouds. It wasn't too hot, just warm enough to make the world glow. The market streets of Kaida Village were alive with voices, merchants calling, children laughing, and the distant ring of a blacksmith's hammer.
Rei and Akari walked side by side through the crowd. Rei's kimono shimmered with pale red and white, a color that made her look softer than usual. Akari wore a light blue dress that brought out her eyes, and her hair was tied up with a blue and white striped ribbon that bounced each time she turned her head.
Rei's eyes kept drifting toward her. "You know," she said, pretending to sound casual, "you look way too beautiful today. It's distracting."
Akari smirked. "Then don't look."
"That's impossible," Rei replied without missing a beat. "My eyes just keep doing it on their own."
Akari tried not to laugh, but her lips curved into a shy smile. "Smooth talker. You're lucky I like you."
"I'm very lucky," Rei said softly, and Akari almost missed the sincerity under the teasing tone.
They stopped by a small stall that sold colorful sweets shaped like flowers. The old lady running it smiled warmly. "Young love, huh? You two look adorable together."
Akari blushed. "We're not— I mean, yes— I mean—" She stammered helplessly until Rei leaned closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"She's my girlfriend, no, my wifey!" Rei said proudly, handing the vendor a few coins. "And we'll take two sakura mochi, please."
Akari swatted her lightly on the arm. "Don't say it so loud!"
"Why not? I want the whole market to know I'm with you," Rei teased as she offered her one of the sweets.
Akari accepted it, still pink from ear to ear. They both bit into the soft rice cake, the sweetness melting on their tongues.
"Mmm, it's good," Akari admitted.
"Not as good as you, wifey," Rei said.
Akari nearly choked. "Can you stop flirting for five minutes?"
"I could," Rei said, pretending to think. "But then you'd probably get bored."
Akari rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."
They wandered farther down the street, stopping at every other stall: jewelry, paintings, charms, and even a man who drew quick portraits for couples. Rei insisted they get one.
"Come on, Akari, for memory's sake," she said, dragging her to sit beside her.
The artist began sketching, and Rei leaned close enough that their shoulders touched. Akari could feel the warmth through the fabric, her heart beating a little too fast for comfort.
"Can you stop moving?" the artist complained good-naturedly. "You two are blushing too much."
Rei laughed, but Akari covered her face. "This is so embarrassing," she muttered.
When the portrait was done, Rei took one look at it and grinned. "We look good together."
Akari tried to sound unimpressed. "Hmm. Not bad."
"Not bad?!" Rei gasped dramatically. "I'm framing this and hanging it in our house."
Akari looked at her in surprise. "Our house?"
Rei blinked, realizing what she'd said. "Oh, uh, I mean, if someday—"
Akari smirked. "Smooth recovery."
They kept walking until the market noise faded behind them, replaced by the sound of a nearby river. The water sparkled under the afternoon sun, dragonflies darting above it. Akari took off her sandals and dipped her toes in, sighing at the coolness.
Rei sat beside her, watching. "You look peaceful," she said softly.
"I feel peaceful," Akari replied. "Being with you makes everything feel calm. I never thought I would be this far with you. At first, I honestly thought you were using me to make my cousin Rin jealous, but then I realized you actually love me. And I want this forever. I don't know why I'm feeling like this."
Rei's gaze softened as the wind played with their hair. "Maybe it's because you're with the right person," she said, leaning back on her hands, her smile faint but true.
Akari turned to her, eyes glimmering in the fading light. "Maybe it is."
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. The gentle sound of the river, the whispering leaves, and the low hum of evening filled the air. Rei reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair from Akari's cheek. This time, Akari didn't pull away.
"You know," Rei said quietly, "I used to think I was the brave one between us. But when you said you'd end me and yourself earlier, I realized I'm the one who should be scared of losing you."
Akari laughed under her breath. "Good. Keep being scared. That way, you'll behave."
Rei grinned, then leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Akari's forehead. "You're impossible," she whispered.
"And you love it," Akari teased, her voice gentle but filled with affection.
"Yeah," Rei admitted. "I really do."
They sat there for a while longer, shoulders touching as the sun melted into the horizon, painting the sky with gold and rose. It felt like the perfect ending, the kind of peaceful moment neither of them wanted to break.
But then Akari's smile slowly faded. Her eyes shifted toward the bridge across the river. "Rei, look."
Rei followed her gaze. There, by the water's edge, stood Rin, alone, her shoulders trembling as she wiped at her eyes. The wind carried a soft sound, half sob, half breath, across the quiet stream.
Rei's expression changed instantly, the warmth in her eyes replaced by concern. "Rin?" she murmured, standing up slowly.
Akari's hand brushed hers. "Should we go to her?"
Rei hesitated for a heartbeat, watching Rin cry beneath the dimming sky. The peace that had filled the air moments ago now felt heavy and fragile.
"Yeah," Rei said finally, her voice low. "Let's go."
Hand in hand, they walked toward Rin, the sound of the river now mixed with something deeper, something that hinted that this calm day was about to shift into something neither of them expected.