Chapter 2

The first few beats are set into place. Its a bumpy sort of rhythm, and true to Yoimiya's character, is enthusiastic and bubbly. I sigh, rubbing my eyes. The spring festival is in a day. It's late at night. I've got a day to prepare for what will surely be a wonderful night with Yoimiya.

I hope.

The very thought of going somewhere with Yoimiya ignites a fire in my chest. Perhaps I should add this into the song, although I shouldn't make it too personal. It's just Yoimiya's theme. I like that name, for now at least. Anything with her name on it, feels like a good name. Although perhaps not something utterly disgusting. I frown into my hand. It'd feel wrong for that to have Yoimiya's name. I resign myself to sleep. I've been working all night, and I need a break. My eyes flutter closed, and peace enfolds me.

A buzz wakes me. I raise me head from my desk. When did I fall asleep? I don't know. But, either way, my phone is buzzing. I look at it. Yoimiya is calling. We did exchange numbers, I remember that. I answer.

"Hello?" My voice comes out sort of groggily, and hoarse.

"A- Ayaka! H- Hi!" Yoimiya's voice comes through the phones. She's stammering, for some reason. I clear my throat.

"What did you want to talk about?" I ask quietly.

"Oh! Um- I'm outside your apartment complex."

"O- Outside?" I stammer, my head shoots up.

"Yeah. I thought we could go shopping! I texted you an hour ago about it…"

"Oh." My heart drops. How long was I asleep? How did I not wake up?

"If you're busy, I can come back later!" Yoimiya says, her voice somewhat panicked.

"No, no. Just give me a moment."

"Okay! I'll be waiting~" Yoimiya says, her voice in a singsong pitch. She hangs up.

Frick, I'm going to have that repeating in my head now.

I quickly throw on a sweater, and make sure I look presentable.

"Going out!" I yell to Ayato.

"Mmm 'kay! Itto's coming over later, so stay at your friends house!" He says.

"You can't kick me out of my own apartment!"

"We're roommates, remember? Just stay with your friend!"

"I can't just- Nevermind!" I say, my voice growing frustrated. I'll ask Thoma about it. He sleeps over sometimes. Not often, of course. But sometimes. I'm sure it'll be fine.

I open the door, close it, go back inside, double check I have everything, and then leave.

"Hello- what's wrong?" Yoimiya's face sobers as soon as she sees me, and her amber eyes grow concerned.

"My brother kicked me out of our apartment because his friend is coming over, and they're probably going to get drunk." I mumble.

"Oh no? That's not good, where are you going to sleep?" Yoimiya asks.

"I'll probably ask my friend. But, if he's busy… Um… I don't know?"

"You can stay at my house!" Yoimiya pipes, her voice bright and alluring. A light blush dusts her cheeks, and she points a finger at herself, smiling.

Why can I explain this moment in great detail? Because now it's stamped in my mind, and will never be erased.

"Stay at- your house?" I echo, confused.

"Yeah! You can stay at my house!"

"I- Need my stuff." I say, my eyes open wide.

"You can use my clothes!" Yoimiya's face is bright at the prospect.

"Okay." I finally agree. The very thought of spending the night at Yoimiya's house brings my heart to a completely thundering pace.

"C'mon!" Yoimiya grabs my arm, and excitedly drags me along at her pace.

"W- Wait! Where are we even going?"

"My house!"

"I thought we were going shopping???" I say, my voice an octave higher than it should be.

"Nope! Change of plans! We're going to my house now~" Yoimiya practically sings.

"O- Okay!" I say.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and my heart is pounding like a drum in my chest.

(Bit of a timeskip to when they arrive at Yoimiya's house)

"Pops? I'm home!" Yoimiya calls out as we enter her home.

"Hmm? Yoimiya? You're back awfully soon." An old sounding voice replies.

"Yeah. Look, my friend is going to sleep over tonight okay?"

"Your bread is molding? Yoimiya dear, how long have you had that out?"

"N- No!" Yoimiya's face is bright red. "Sorry, Pops can't hear very well."

"Its okay." I say softly.

"I'll clean up my room. Feel free to explore!"

I walk around her house, my eyes wide.

"Who're you?" Yoimiya's father is sitting on a couch. He's knitting. I happen to be quite interested in knitting. I sit down gingerly on the other side of the couch.

"I'm Ayaka. Yoimiya's friend."

"Oh! Hello Ayaka! Make yourself at home."

"What are you knitting?" I ask.

"A sweater for Yoimiya." Yoimiya's father must love her a lot. I can hear it in his voice.

"What size yarn is that?"

"Number five bulky weight yarn."

"Oh! So you're going for a warm sweater?" I ask.

We start to have a passionate conversation about knitting. Our words blur, until I can hear a faint exhale of breath. Yoimiya is standing there, her face in a small smile.

"You two are getting along nicely!" She chirps, her voice full of fondness.

"Y- Yoimiya!" I stammer, faintly embarrassed by her hearing my utmost passion.

"Great!" She claps her hands. "I'm gonna go get some snacks, but it's good that you two are getting along!" Yoimiya dashes off again, much to my disappointment.

"Take care of her, yeah?" Yoimiya's father says to me. "She can be a bit much at times, but she genuinely cares."

"Mhm." I hum, my eyes still on the spot where Yoimiya has disappeared to.

"You love her a lot, don't you." His voice now is teasing.

"N- no! We're here for… a school project! Yes!" I almost forgot about that part. Yoimiya just seems like she genuinely wants to know me. And so it makes me feel at home. Yoimiya just makes people feel at home. Maybe that should be part of the song. A calm among the storm. The enthusiastic beat, along with a much quieter, peaceful feeling.

I'm reading too much into this. This is just Yoimiya's aura. I'm sure I'm not the only one like that.

"Got the snacks!" Yoimiya's head pops out from behind a wall, her eyes shimmering.

"Alright." I sit up, maybe quicker than I should've. I walk over to her quickly, and she leads me to her room.

Her room is exactly as fun, and welcoming as her. Theres one, light orange wall, and posters. Lots. Of. Posters. Pictures of fireworks, everywhere.

"So… are fireworks that beautiful in-person?" I ask, a breathy laugh on my tongue.

"Even more beautiful! Like, SO beautiful! I can't wait to see them together? It'll be so fun! And you'll look-" She cuts herself off, her face slightly pink. "But anyways! Do you want to sit down?" She pats the bed next to her. "I got muffins!" She grins.

I sit down, lightly laughing at her constant enthusiasm. She hands me a muffin. I study it. It's a blueberry muffin. I take a tentative bite.

"How is it? I made them yesterday for- I mean- Well, randomly! Y'know? You just, gotta cook muffins!"

"Can't say I know what you mean." I mumble softly. "I don't bake much." Its a bit embarrassing to admit, but I don't make food much.

"Oooh! We should make something together sometime then!"

"Sure."

I look at Yoimiya. Her face suddenly falls, and her eyes darken.

"Are you alright?" Alarm flashes through her eyes as I ask the simple question.

"N- Nope! Just realized I kind of dragged you to my house, forced you to talk to my dad, left you alone in my house, and completely disregarded your feelings. Sorry." Yoimiya hangs her head into her hands.

"Wh- No! It's okay! I liked talking to your dad. He was fun. I will admit, I felt a bit lost when you dragged me here. I mean, less than an hour ago, I woke up, expecting to go shopping. But- y'know, I'm a bit uptight sometimes. So, I mean- It was okay! Whatever you want to do, I think it… I think it'd be alright with me."

Yoimiya's head shoots up.

"Are you sure? Whatever- I want? I mean, I've been told I'm a bit pushy at times. I don't exactly think I'm a great person. I can just neglect peoples feelings like that."

"No." I take Yoimiya's hand, running on instinct. "You're not pushy. You're amazing, and funny, and just… the best. You make others feel at home, wherever they are. Yoimiya, I've only known you for two days, and- and I think-"

I think I love you. I think I love her. I think I love Yoimiya. Can't believe I didn't notice before. How did I not notice the signs? I should've. Should've stopped this before I got hurt.

"You think…" Yoimiya eggs me on quietly. "Keep going with your pep talk, I was just getting into it."

"I think you're a great person, and I'm glad you call me your friend." I blurt out, my mind swirling. I love her. That thought is just repeating in my head over, and over. Now that thats over with, the realization I mean, about that.

"Seems like you wanted to say more, but okay! I feel pumped!" Yoimiya pumps her fist in the air. "Where should we go? Are you finished your muffin?"

"Yeah. Um… where do you want to go? I… don't really know."

"Well…" Yoimiya puts her finger to her lips. I watch her finger, and then my eyes snap to hers. They're glittering, and her eyes, oh her eyes. They're so… so beautiful.

"I like this spot down on this one dock, you wanna go there?"

"Sure." I breathe.

(Yay another time skip because i have no sense of time or anything).

"Here we are!" Yoimiya sits down on the edge of a wooden dock. I sit beside her gingerly, glancing out at the endless ocean before us.

"What's your favourite colour?" Yoimiya suddenly asks.

"Well, I like blue. Pale blue. And, orange." Only on Yoimiya though.

"Hmm. I like orange too, but I'm starting to think blue isn't very bad at all either." Yoimiya says, beaming. My heart starts to race.

"We're… still talking about colours, yes?"

(Ayaka says what we're all thinking)

"Of- Of course!" Yoimiya says quickly, her face dusted pink. "Wh- What else would we be talking about?"

"I don't know." My heart is calming down, at least.

"Isn't the view here wonderful?" Yoimiya asks, effectively changing the subject.

"Yeah. It really is." I agree, gazing at the girl next to me.

Maybe orange is a really nice colour after all.

(Timeskip again)

"You sure its okay that I borrow your clothes?" I pick at the oversized shirt Yoimiya gave me. Its a light orange.

"Y- Y- Yeah, S- sure I- it is." Yoimiya's voice is shaking, and I look up at her face. Her eyes are screwed shut tight, and her face is pink.

"Whats wrong?" I rush to her side silently, putting a hand on her shoulder. She squeaks. She freaking squeaked.

After a moment, I realize my hand is still on her shoulder, and jerk it back, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.

"Hah… so… where am I going to sleep?"