Fireworks and Professing Love
“We’re here!”
Yuki hopped up and down as they approached the entrance to the park.
“What are we doing first?”
Yuki put a finger on her chin to think.
“Haunted ride, so you jump into my arms when you get scared.”
“I don’t scare that easily, I bet you’re the one jumping into my arms.”
“No way.”
The reality was both Rika and Yuki got frightened extremely easily.
“Please watch your step entering the car. Enjoy the ride.”
Rika and Yuki looked around at the decor of the room at the beginning of the ride.
“It’s certainly a creepy atmosphere.”
Yuki hesitated to even look around.
“It is.”
Rika sat back, attempting to hide her fear with coolness.
“It won’t be that bad I bet.”
Yuki felt the muscles in her shoulders tightening.
“Y-yeah it’s for kids anyway. It can’t be too bad.”
The car suddenly lurched forward.
“Ah! What was that!”
Rika had inhaled sharply when she was startled, so she hesitated in responding.
“I-It’s just the ride starting you scaredy-cat.”
“I’m not scared, just startled a little. I wasn’t expe-“
Suddenly a mechanical skeleton popped out and lights flashed with a thunder sound effect.
“Ah!”
Rika jumped into Yuki’s arms.
Yuki held Rika tightly, she was practically frozen in fear.
“I wasn’t expecting a scare so soon, that’s all.”
“Y-yeah just weird timing.”
“But, I’d still like to hug you if it’s ok.”
Yuki nodded furiously.
“It’s really romantic, this is perfect.”
Two men dressed as zombies jumped from behind a wall.
“Oh my god!”
Yuki thrusted her face into Rika’s neck. She then casually made it seem like she was just resting her head on her shoulder.
“T-this is almost funny.”
Rika tilted her head so it rested on top of Yuki’s.
“Totally! It’s really dark too. I-It could almost be the tunnel of love.”
Suddenly a light turned on. They were surrounded by spiderwebs. Slowly a large hairy tarantula descended from the ceiling.
“Nooooooo!”
Yuki and Rika both screamed in horror, holding each other tightly.
“Hide me, I hate spiders!”
“We’re going to die!”
They covered each other’s eyes with their arms.
“I’m sorry, I totally lied this is terrible!”
“I’m at fault too, I should have never suggested this!”
“Let’s just not look and it’ll be over soon.”
“I completely agree.”
They huddled together, both jumping at any loud sounds that erupted throughout the remainder of the ride.
“I think it’s over.”
The spooky effects died down and light poured into the tunnel.
They both relaxed and let out long sighs.
“Let’s do something calmer next.”
“Do you just way to get some food?”
“Yeah, that sounds pretty good right now.”
She and Yuki sat at a park bench near the food stalls. The light was beginning to fade to darkness.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t get here sooner. We could’ve ridden a roller coaster or something.
Rika waved her hand and laughed.
“It’s fine, it was a nice day regardless. I’m not that big of a fan of roller coasters anyways.”
“I know, but it feels like a waste considering you paid for all of it.”
Yuki had a bit of pizza sauce on her face that Rika wipes away with a napkin.
“Don’t worry about it, I really just wanted to see the fireworks.”
Yuki was blushing having Rika dote on her. She picked up her churro and held it out.
“I want to feed you.”
Rika sensually leaned forward and took a small bite of the pastry.
“Delicious.”
Yuki blushed even more at the way Rika had actually done it.
“Too sexy?”
“N-no I was just expecting more cuteness rather.”
“Well, you’re reaction was cute.”
Yuki pouted a little.
“I’m always the cute one.”
Rika thought for a moment.
“Here. Let me feed you.”
Yuki held her hair back and batted her eyes as she held gently took a small bite. She covered her mouth with her hand as she chewed.
“Mmm, that’s really good.”
Rika now blushed and was completely flushed when Yuki looked.
“How was that?”
Rika had to think a moment to find the right words.
“I- It’s like you practice being romantic... Do you practice it?”
Yuki tilted her head, slightly confused by the question.
“I mean. The wall push, the bench, this morning... You’re really good at being romantic.”
Yuki held a hand to Rika’s chest, who was completely caught off guard be Yuki’s reach. Then entirely embarrassed considering they were in public. She was about to say something when Yuki spoke.
“Your heart is racing.”
Rika could practically feel steam puffing out of her ears.
Yuki moves over on the bench so she was right next to Rika. She touched their foreheads together.
“You seem warm... Are you getting sick? Or maybe...”
By now Rika was worried she would get a manga-style nosebleed.
Yuki held her cheeks and kissed her slowly, Rika closed her eyes and completely lost awareness of the public around them.
The moment was eventually interrupted when she felt a finger on her lips. She opened her eyes and stared into Yuki’s.
“Am I really that good?”
Rika could only nod slowly, her breath was completely taken away.
The rest of the world slowly came back into focus. She noticed how dim the light had gotten, it was almost night.
“The fireworks.”
They both approached the viewing area. Holding her hand Rika noticed Yuki was shivering. She looked over and saw goosebumps along her arm.
“Yuki you’re freezing!”
Yuki nodded.
“I forgot a jacket.
Rika had had hers tied around her waist till then, and just noticed the chill in the air herself.
“Here.”
She put on her fleece jacket and stood behind Yuki, put her arms around her so the jacket enveloped them both.
“How’s that?”
Yuki snuggled up against Rika and held her hands.
“Perfect.”
“You should’ve told me... Wait. Did you plan this?”
“Whaaaa? No... Well. Not exactly this, but something like it.”
Just then the first fireworks went off.
The crowd sighed in wonder and excitement.
Yuki’s black eyes reflected the fireworks perfectly. They looked even more beautiful considering they already sparkled in wonder.
Rika realized how flawlessly Yuki was able to awe her with romance. She knew how to make her her heart flutter every time. It almost made her feel inferior, the only time she was able to clearly tell her she loved her was when she was crying.
/I’m an awful girlfriend. So, I have to do this right./
She took a deep breath.
“Yuki?”
Yuki tilted her head so she looked up and their eyes met.
“Before we met I never thought I’d meet anyone as near as perfect as you. Let alone someone who I would live with. And introduce each other to our families, and one day be a family. I’m not anywhere as romantic and graceful as you, but I want to be. So, I brought you here tonight to say under a sky full of fireworks.”
Yuki’s eyes shined like diamonds, they began shimmering. Rika felt her breath escaping her, Yuki was more beautiful than anything or anyone she imagined could be.
“I love you.”
A large heart exploded into the sky.
Their kiss felt as hot as it burned.
Rika stood up again, her eyes still locked on Yuki’s.
Yuki didn’t speak, or couldn’t rather. Only tears fell from of her jewel-like eyes. Her heart finally knew complete happiness and warmth.
She stood on her toes, she and Rika kissed again. Her heart finally knew love again. It felt like the hearth of a home, a place you could be safe and rest your head.
