Saturday.

It’s the day Kei has been waiting for. Today will be the day I will meet her and Kagome. Well, they said they’re together already, and I’m waiting for them to arrive while standing at the entrance of the train station.

My phone vibrates, showing notifications of Kei’s text. “We’re here!” I glance at her text. The my eyes wander for a moment. From the exit of the train station, I saw the two, with Kei showing a sweet, bright smile.

They’re both wearing *Yukatas. Kei having pink one with a design of flowers, while Kagome is blue, with a crane design. I also noticed that there are people wearing *geta, and some men wearing *Jinbei.

Her hair is tied up in a bun-style, showing a flower ornament from behind. She’s prettier now than anyone else, but what captured me is Kagome’s short, pixie cut hair with a clip of blue hydrangea plant design.

They’re both stunning; my mouth agaped from their sudden get-up.

“Hi, Kira.” Kei greets as she reached me. Kagome followed up, and waves at me.

“You two are impeccable….” I mumbled. Kei blushed and bashfully grins; Kagome averts her eyes off of me. The way she does it is cute. “

“Let’s go get going now. The crowd will fill up soon.” Kei beckons as she grabs my arm. Pulling me over by her side, I took a glance at her side face. She’s showing excitement right now and I smile at her.

But then, my head tilt sideways to see Kagome, whose keeping a distance from us.

“Uhm, Senior Kei…”

“Huh?”

My lips clammed, but I tried to say it. “Senior Kagome…”

“What about me?”

I twitched out as I see her walking by my side. “You two seemed having a good time. But I’m here as Kei’s guardian. I won’t let you do anything weird to her.”

It’s as if there’s a motive from her words, Kagome grins at me. I’m not that kind of guy, you know? But well, since they’re here to enjoy, I’m also doing my part and enjoy this moment.

We arrived near the riverbank on our way to school. There are varieties of stalls, from food to toys. Varieties of people gathered in each one, causing a massive crowd occupying the area.

It’s already dusk; most of the stalls open their lights. “Kira, let’s hold hands. You might get lost.” Kei offered.

“Oh, okay…” I answered and grabbed her hand. We both walked within the crowd, as I look at Kagome’s side if she follows. A few minutes passed, she suddenly vanished.

“Senior Kei, Kagome’s not here.” I called as we passed the crowd.

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“Huh? Wait, let me call her.” she fished her phone on the purse she’s holding. “She’s not answering.”

“Right. Well, if it’s okay with you… I’ll go find her. We’ll meet at the riverbank. Okay?”

I immediately left Kei and goes at the crowd again. From my peripheral vision shows her somewhat shock and gloom, but she nods at me to find Kagome.

“I don’t have choice here. I just hope that Kagome didn’t get in a trouble right now.” I mumbled while pushing myself on the crowd. I also still carrying the guitar case I borrowed from my elder sister.

At the time I got off from the crowd, I saw Kagome standing at the side of the stall. “Senior Kagome!” I called and runs to her. She immediately turns to see me.

“Hah, I found you.”

“Where’s Kei?” she asked.

“She went to finds a spot for us. You suddenly disappeared so I looked for you.”

The moment she heard my words, Kagome averts off her eyes. “Why?”

“What do you mean, why?”

Her eyes then turn to me. “You have your time with her. You should think of her instead of me, you know?”

Those words hit me. Why am I getting worked up with this? “Well, Senior Kei said you come with us, as your companion… I want you to enjoy it with us.”

That’s right; Kei said that she wants to invite Kagome. And I agreed on it despite of our circumstances.

“Is that so…?”

“Yeah. You’re Senior Kei’s friend, so I also want to be your friend.”

Kagome didn’t say anything, but she passed me and walked at the crowd. I followed suit and walks beside her.

“I don’t want to drag you two guys down. So the time I saw you hold hands, I feel like there’s no way for me to be with you two.”

Pressing ourselves in the crowd, Kagome speaks. I turn to her as she keeps talking. “Kei said she still wants to be friends with me, and these feelings I have for her grows further. I don’t know what to do. She choses you, yet…”

I do get what she’s trying to say. Kei doesn’t want to end things between them; she loves Kagome like a sister. It’s her decision to keep their friendship, despite of romantic feelings Kagome has.

“I know she choses you, and I don’t want to be a burden to you. I’m just a sore-thumb—”

Before she continues, I quickly grabbed her hand. “Sorry, I don’t think you’re annoying or anything. I don’t want you to drift apart from Kei, just because you have feelings for her.”

My firm voice heard from the bustling of the crowd, as Kagome shows a surprise expression. With our hands entwined together, I firmly hold her.

“You’re a special person for Senior Kei, and I don’t want to take that away from you just because she choose me.”

Throughout our way passing the bustle of the area, I letf those words. These are my true feelings. Between them who I even destined to meet, and because this reality must revolve around them.

Although, I am the character Kei fell in love with, my thoughts to cheer Kagome ignites within me.

As soon as we passed the crowed, I turn to see her. Both our hands still holding tightly. “I want you and Senior Kei to retain your relationship. No matter how much you want to go away from us, I won’t allow it. Because I don’t want to see Kei sad.”

Night sky filled in; the stalls beaming with lights brightens the area. And right now, Kagome’s face, illuminating with the bright stalls gazes at me with awe and wonder.

“So, let’s go find Senior Kei… shall we?”

“Uh, y-yeah… sure.”

Without me noticing, our hands still linked together. We stride lightly towards the way where Kei is. Throughout the empty pathway, with the clacking sound of her geta crashing the dried soil.

“Kira…” Kagome called my name as she halted.

“Ah, yeah?” I turn to look at her. Our eyes meet after. Her lips pursed, but she opens it slowly. “Uh, I… I—”

“Kira, Kagome!” from the distance, a familiar voice called out. I quickly turn and sees the person calling. Waving from the uphill is Kei, as she smiles at us.

I quickly go to her, but from behind me is Kagome holding the helm of my sleeve. “Senior Kei’s there. What’s the matter?”

“Ah… huh? No, no… nothing.” Kagome meekly replied. My eyebrows furrowed together while glancing at her. But shrugs and goes to Kei. The night is still young, and we’re here to enjoy the moment.

Some people gathered around as well, finding their spots in the uphill part of the riverbank.

I sit beside Kei, as Kagome sits beside me. I wonder why she chose to sit beside me instead of Kei. Placing the guitar case behind me, I enjoy the view of the whole place.

Without me knowing, that this moment something changes between the three of us. The change we even never expect. Just as the time we’re relaxing and finding the true feelings we want to know to each other.