Valentine – Iori Fujimura

[kozvme]

Valentine's Day.
I handed Iori-kun the chocolate I had prepared. With surprise, he hold it firmly in his hands.

Iori: Handing me this in such a place is...

Madoka: Ah... Sorry. I should have paid more attention to the place, huh.

Iori: Y-You've got it wrong! I didn't mean that...

Iori-kun tripped over his words.

Iori: That's not what I meant, like, I needed time to prepare myself... Like, about what to think after what I've been told up front...

 

After going on and on, Iori-kun looked straight at me.

 

Iori: I'm happy.... Thanks.

 

I smiled, nodding at Iori-kun's words.

I found myself walking side by side with Iori-kun at night. The scent of the tide carried by the wind could be smelled along the coastal road.

Iori: ... The wind is picking up a bit.

Iori-kun suddenly looked up at the sky. The trees along the roadside were shaking, and the dark sea seemed agitated as well.

Madoka: (... It might be a bit cold.)

The wind at night is cold, especially if it's by the seaside. I rubbed my hands together not to let Iori-kun notice.

Iori: ... Shall we move somewhere indoors?

He looked around. A tower that was being lighten up caught our attention.

Madoka: ... Beautiful, isn't it?

I blurted out; Iori-kun nodded.

Iori: ... Yeah, it's beautiful. I'm happy to be with someone who feels the same...

Iori-kun said, taking one step forward than me. He then climbed the stairs that led to the tower.

Iori: ... Madoka.

In a blink of an eye, a hand reached out for​ me. Without wavering, Iori-kun looked a me.

Madoka: Iori-kun...?

He looked up, beyond his gaze you could see the now lighten up tower. The light coming from behind made it seem as if Iori-kun was taking the spotlight on satge.

Iori: ... Take my hand.

Madoka: Sorry...?

To my bewilderment, Iori-kun averted his gaze.

Iori: When I received your chocolate, I messed up and showed you something shameful.

I hurriedly shook my head to his abashed, low tone words.

Madoka: No, there was nothing shameful about that. I was happy.

Iori-kun seemed to be turning red as I smiled. Then, he offered his hand to me again.

Iori: ... Quick, take my hand. You're cold, aren't you?

Were the only words he briefly pronounced, then he stared at me.

Bathed in the rainbow-colored lights of the tower, Iori-kun's hair was tinged with the indigo blue​ of the night.
The mischievous sea breeze played with our hair. I felt like the cool wind was making room to a feverish heat somehow.

Madoka: (Ahh, he shines even in such a scenery...
It's not the stage that enlights him, but Iori-kun that lightens up the stageー the scene...)

I felt like I understood the audience coming to watch their performances. He's someone with a natural "light".

Madoka: (That's whyー I can't help but chase after him.)

It's like the illumination of the tower, the stardust were both arranged for him.

Madoka: It's as if I'm in a tale...

I'm sure that a prince, straight out of a drama, holding out his hand would probably feel like this.

Iori-kun smiled faintly.

Iori: But this is reality. If you touch it, my hand is warm... Give me yours.

I smiled at those words and took his handー