Touri Wataru - Animate Story

“In the Moonlight”

Leaving you is much more painful than the sadness of not being able to return to the moon.

Autumn.

"Senpai! I've finished decorating the seven autumn herbs!"

As we were preparing moon-viewing dumplings in the kitchen, Wataru popped out carrying a bag full of pruned leaves and stems.

"Thanks, can I see it?"

"Of course! Actually, check it out! I'm really confident about it!"

"Let's see... Eh, haha! You lined them up nicely, Wataru-kun."

On a cloth laid out by the windowsill, several small flower vases were filled with the seven autumn herbs, cut to various lengths.

The seven flowers are arranged in a circle, with the only part left blank, being the middle part.

"Somehow this is... a magic circle?"

"That's right! Place the moon-viewing rice dumpling in the center and it's complete!"

Hearing that in an excited voice made me excited too. Pointing outside the window, Wataru continued.

"It's a little cloudy right now, but we'll summon the moon with the magic circle of the seven autumn herbs, so don't worry, senpai, prepare your moon-viewing rice dumplings."

"Fufu, I understand.”

“I've finished preparing here, so I'll help you. Is my apron in the kitchen?"

"Yeah. I just did the laundry the other day."

Wataru picked up his own apron hanging on a hook and quickly put it on and wrapped his arms around it. The blue checked apron was different from the ones he usually wears to work; it was something the two of us had picked out and bought.

Wataru-kun said to me, "Let's go on a moon-viewing date!"

A few days ago, while we were preparing for the shop opening. We were putting the newly arrived Japanese pampas grass out in front of the store. During the day, the heat of summer was still lingering, and by night, the cool autumn breeze was finally starting to be felt.

He said it was a little different from the usual home dates. Now that I think about it, I remember Sugawa-kun telling me not to make any plans on the night of the full moon, so it immediately clicked.

Since we started dating, Wataru and I have been going out together a lot.

I had fun no matter where I was, and I thought that was enough.

But... I want to see more scenery and experience more things together. I was glad to know that he had thought about it so carefully.

"I was surprised when I heard that everyone had made suggestions for dates." (T/N: from the drama CD)

"Hehe, it was just a random idea I had at the drinking party, but it was fun listening to all of their stories. It also gave me a lot of ideas for what I want to do with you. So I'm looking forward to our next date!"

"That will be fun."

The kitchen for single people is a little cramped when standing next to Wataru. When I'm working and Wataru is washing his hands, our elbows almost touch, but even that makes me smile.

"I just kneaded the rice flour to the right consistency, so Wataru, could you tear it into small pieces and roll it into balls?"

"Sure! It's been a while since I've done something like this!!

He cried out with delight, and formed the balls of rice flour into the big bowl.

"Hmm. Is this the right firmness?"

"Yeah. They often say it's about as soft as your earlobe..."

Then, his fingertips reached out and gently pinched my earlobe.

"I see... Yes. This is just right."

With the hand that wasn't touching the white rice ball, he gently touched my ear, and for some reason nodded with a serious look on his face.

"Come on.... Stop messing around. If you don't hurry up, the moon will come out!"

"Because your ears feel good, senpai?"

When I see that innocently smiling face, I feel weak.

(I guess this is where I get naive... but I'm not at work right now. It's okay to be naive.)

Having seen how hard he has worked up close over the past few years, I find myself tending to spoil him in private.

"Hey, senpai. Does it feel good when I touch you?"

Wataru whispered as he looked at me. Sensing that he was getting a little carried away, I quickly distanced myself.

"Eeeeeh! Why are you distancing yourself from me?!"

"Why? Ah! Look, it's already this late. We have to hurry.”

"Eh....Wow! It's true!"

Seeing that the clock had passed 9 o'clock at night, Wataru-kun hurriedly began rolling out the rice balls. As I watched him, I repeatedly said "cute" in my mind.

A pleasant breeze comes in through the open window, rustling the curtains. The round yellow moon of the fifteenth night is faintly visible in the night sky covered with a curtain of dull clouds.

It was hidden in plain sight.

In the center of the circle of seven herbs are the moon-viewing dumplings that the two of us made. Their misshapen shapes clearly show Wataru's impatience, and I can't help but chuckle softly. Wataru, who is sitting next to me, seems to have been thinking the same thing as he is shaking his shoulders and smiling wryly.

"You can tell right away who made which of these dumplings."

"It's good to have individuality."

The toppings of bean paste and kinako are placed on small plates and the dish is ready to eat.

"So, senpai, are you ready?"

"Yup. It's perfect, Wataru-kun."

"Well then... here we go, full moon!"

"Come on, full moon!"

We both stretched our arms out to the sky and summoned the moon with a magic circle of seven herbs and moon-viewing rice dumplings. It was like the pretend games we played when we were little, but we still looked up at the night sky with sincerity.

"...Ah! Look, senpai!"

Where Wataru pointed, the clouds had been cleared away and the moon was shining brightly.

"Wow... so beautiful."

As I was captivated by the beautiful moon, a large hand gently touched the back of my hand.

"We were the ones who called the moon out, but if it’s going to take Senpai away, should I hide you right now?"

For a moment, I was confused by the lonely look on his face and my thoughts stopped. Then, he pulled me to him.

"I researched a lot of things. Things like moon viewing and the harvest moon. Then I came across the old tale of the Bamboo Cutter. It's a story I'd heard and read about since I was little, but I didn't really know much about it."

His words caused me to dig deep into my memories. In the old tale, Princess Kaguya returned to the moon on the fifteenth night of the month...the harvest moon.

"So I read it online, and the ending was sad, wasn't it? Just watching the person you love leave you without being able to do anything would be too painful for me! I just thought... Ugh, what am I saying, hahaha."

Wataru-kun's facial expressions have not changed since we first met, and they change all the time. He has such a rich sensitivity that he comes up with ideas that I would never think of, which sometimes surprises me.

(This is going to be difficult...)

His body pressed against mine, his lonely voice reaching my ears, his hand tightly gripping mine - I could tell what he was thinking more clearly than words could.

"Maybe you're comparing me to Princess Kaguya returning to the moon?"

When I asked him that in a slightly teasing tone, Wataru shook his head.

"Eh! Ummm... I imagined... what if you were Princess Kaguya and one day you suddenly decided to go back to the moon?!"

“As expected.”

To Wataru, there are times when I seem out of reach. It may be an unconscious complex he has about the age difference between us, something he has to overcome himself.

At times like that, I have to take action. Because I don't want to be a coward.

Because it was none other than Wataru-kun who filled my heart with happiness. I pushed his shoulders with all my strength, and he seemed to have let his guard down, as he easily tipped over and landed on the floor with his hands behind his back. He was so surprised by what had happened that his eyes were wide open, so I moved closer to his face.

"Senpai? What's wrong?"

"I want Wataru to understand that I'm not such a fleeting existence."

"Eh... Hey, where did the switch come from, senpai...!"

"Hmm, well? Where is it?"

I can feel his heart beating fast in my palm as I run my hand over his chest. I'm just as excited as he is. I don't really have the time, but I kiss him before he reacts.

As we changed angles and became absorbed in kissing each other over and over again, I suddenly felt his hands around my waist and we reversed positions.

"The proactive senpai… is very cute."

As if to hide my embarrassment, I put both my arms around his neck, and Wataru-kun gave me a kiss. I could see the moon floating in the night sky over his shoulder, and I narrowed my eyes.

If I were Princess Kaguya, leaving your side would be much more painful than the sadness of not being able to return to the moon.

Because I have decided that I will make this person, who gives me so much love, happy.

Donate ❤