Chapter Twenty-Six: Dawn of Love:

The rest of the day went by without event. Still, I couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t nerves or anything like that. I guessed I was excited for what was coming next. I had no idea what the future held. There was only one way to see. I rolled over onto my side. There wasn’t going to be much going on tomorrow. And I was okay with that.

Summer was going to be over soon. Fall would be here and things were going to change then. I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe we could go to the beach one more time before Yumi had to finish her summer break. Oh, shoot. Her parents’ anniversary was coming up, wasn’t it? I probably should go ahead and get them a gift. What would they like? I didn’t have much money. Then again, it didn’t have to be expensive. Maybe something small. That could work. Flowers didn’t feel right. A card would be too cheap, wouldn’t it? A gift card would work. Yeah, that would be perfect. I frowned as I did more thinking. What store or restaurant would they like? I rolled over onto my back. Maybe I could ask Yumi for help.

I turned when I heard a knock on the door. And speak of the devil…

Yumi poked her head in the doorway.

“Yumi?” I asked. “What are you doing here? Did you need something?” She didn’t say anything as she slowly slipped into my room. What was she doing?

“Can you come out and watch the sunrise with me?” Yumi asked. I sat up in my futon. Not what I expected to come out. She wanted to watch the dawn with me? We haven’t done that since the first of this year.

“What brought this about?” I asked. She shook her head. I shrugged.

“Sure,” I said. Yumi turned and walked out of my room. I got up and followed after her.

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“You couldn’t sleep either?” I asked. Yumi shook her head. We were lying on her lawn, looking up at the sky. I pulled her into my arms. She snuggled up to my side. I’ve felt this before. Years ago with Kaori. Sadly, I only got to do it once with her. I’ve tried to recreate that moment by myself, but it didn’t work. But now…

“This feels so surreal,” I said.

“Hm?” Yumi asked. I shook my head. There I went again. Just mumbling stuff to be heard or something like that. Maybe it was time to let go of the past for a change. I still had that future to work on after all. I looked up at the sky. Dawn would break in a few hours.

“Hey Yumi,” I said.

“Hm?” she asked again.

“Can we go to the beach again this weekend? Just you and me,” I said. Her head lay nuzzled against my chest.

“Okay,” she said. I kissed her on top of her head.

“I love you,” Yumi whispered.

“Heh. I love you too,” I said. She smiled as she slowly drew her eyes closed. I couldn’t help but feel warm in the chest as another memory resurfaced. Kaori said the same thing all those years ago. My answer was just the same. Only, it’s not her and I this time. It’s Yumi and me about to embrace our new future together. I gently shook her in my arms.

“Hey. Wake up, the sun’s about to rise,” I whispered. Yumi slowly fluttered her eyes open. Together, we watched the sun slowly rise for another day. I couldn’t remember the last time I smiled so brightly.