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Today was the day I've always been looking out for, the day I finally escaped with a Hajime, a stranger who came into the tower without me knowing. After eighteen years of waiting, I could finally see it.
Today was the day when lanterns light up the midnight sky for an unknown cause. I needed to see it, I don't want to watch them from the tower anymore. Now, I could finally look at them with the help of Hajime. He helped me get this far, I was very grateful to have him by my side.
We found a boat and headed to the lake that was across the castle in front of us. While Hajime was rowing the boat towards the middle of the lake, I started to take out some of the flowers that were still remaining in my hair from the festival. The children did a great job with decorating and braiding the strands.
Hajime handed me some, he nudged at the water advising me that I should put some on the water surface. I did what he said and I placed some of those flowers on the water, it looked beauteous. They looked like free wills gracefully floating above the water.
Whilst placing some more into the water, I noticed something lighting up on the reflection of the water. It was a small light coming from the castle, it was vibrant enough to be seen.
All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been
I looked up to see if what I was seeing was true. My big brown eyes were surprisingly shocked at what was happening. I finally got to see the lanterns from up close. I was so relieved and curious to see what was happening that I got up as fast as I could, thereby almost knocking over our boat, sorry Hajime and Chibi-chan, and grabbed the front of our boat.
I saw the first lantern that was let go by the King and Queen, with more lanterns following by town citizen and visitors. More and more lanterns started to float up into the air, following the King's and Queen's one. Some came from the ships that were next to us, some came from houses next to the castle. The view was mesmerizing.
The sky was full of lanterns filling up every corner, if you looked at the water, the reflection would be even more beautiful than before. It was like nothing I've ever seen before.
Now I'm here blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here suddenly I see
Standing here it's all so clear
I 'm where I'm meant to be
I felt like I was dreaming the whole time. A view this alluring is like nothing I've ever seen, this wouldn't have been possible if I didn't leave the tower. Father will be so furious though, but I'm sure he'll see the point of this all when I come home. The fog of the water has disappeared and it all became clear, this is where I was meant to definitely be.
I started to realize that what I was doing couldn't have been possible without Hajime. He saved me from the hellish place that was the tower. This is my destiny. I'm glad he somehow managed to get into the tower, letting me knock him out with my cooking pan, listening to his reasons why he was there, going outside together, but the most important thing, he stayed with me.
Father didn't wish for me to meet the outside world. A fragile boy like me with enchanting hair in the dangerous and hunting world. I know he wanted me to be safe, but I can't help to think that that wasn't the way that I was supposed to grow up, I was missing something, and that something, more like someone, was Hajime.
And at last, I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last, I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything looks different
Now that I see you
I turned around to face the strange but cute looking boy, he had two lanterns in his hand hinting me to let them go into the air. I ran towards him, sitting down in front of him to get a clear vision of everything that was happening, but to also grab something from underneath the benches.
''Hn, I have something for you too..- I should've given it to you before but I was just scared when the thing is... I'm not scared anymore. You know?'' I said.
By that, confronting him that he made me feel comfortable and safe around him. He then proceeded to push down the bag with the crown so that that didn't matter anymore.
''I'm starting too.''
I smiled back at him, he was clearly feeling the same way as I did. He gave me one of the two lanterns that he had in his hand. We let them go at the same time.
All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things, the way they were
The lanterns perfectly aligned with each other as they danced up to the sky, constantly rotating around one another like a bond.
I looked at Tooru with a smile across my face, how could a man this beautiful, both outside and inside, be sitting in front of my face. A lowlife criminal like me doesn't deserve this, but I somehow did.
Tooru was looking at all of the lanterns surrounding him, truly amazed at what was happening around him. He quickly called my name, while pointing towards a lantern that was slowly coming to the water surface. He reached forward while holding onto the boat, reaching the lantern to give it a little nudge upward. Smiling at the deed that he had done.
Now she's here shining in the starlight
Now she's here suddenly I know
If she's here it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go
I looked at him fully realizing that this was my destiny. To be here with him. To give him another reason to live. To not return to the tower after all of this has happened. To give him a reason to stay with me.
I grabbed his hand, hoping that he would hold onto it. We shared a glance towards each other, that ending in him grabbing my hand whilst looking like the happiest person on earth. Lanterns were all around us now, creating a semi-romantic atmosphere, but I couldn't focus on anything other than his eyes.
And at last, I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last, I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
A nd it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
We stared into each other's eyes, fully engulfed in the magic of the moment. It all felt like a fairytale. Lanterns floated all around us, so making me feel like I was home with him.
I placed my hand on his hair, carefully caressing it while making my way to his cheek. I pulled him in closer. My hand cupped his cheek, it seemed like he was melting in my hold. His eyes were fluttering shut, he looked so gorgeous, god...- Even Chibi-chan was turning red.
I pulled him towards him, slowly leaning towards his lips, closing my eyes...-
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you
That all was until I stopped right before his lips when I noticed a green light coming from the shore.
