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Fuyumi always liked fireflies. They were something close to fire, but they didn’t hurt. They looked like tiny dancing flames, but they didn’t do any harm to anyone. They were gentle, quiet little creatures. Fuyumi guessed that maybe the reason she liked fireflies is because she’d only ever seen fire be harmful and destructive, and she much preferred the soft light that came from the small bugs.
Hana yanked the chain of her swing when they passed each other. “Stop it! You keep going away to whatever other world is in your head.”
Fuyumi blinked at her friend. “Sorry,” She said sheepishly. She glanced to where Hana’s brother, Tenko, played with Natsuo.
Mother and Touya weren’t with them today. The doctors had told Mother that she couldn’t leave the bed until the baby was born. Her body was too weak, and she probably wouldn’t be able to have another kid. That made Father furious, and he trained Touya harder than ever the day before. That’s why Touya wasn’t there, he was still recovering.
Hana jumped off the swing and turned back to face Fuyumi. “Come one! I want to show you something.” She grinned.
Fuyumi let the swing slow to a stop. Hana grabbed the sleeve of her sweater and led her away from the park.
“What about our brothers? It’s getting late, we should go home soon.” Fuyumi said as she glanced back at their brothers anxiously.
“It’ll be fine, Fuyu! We’ll be back in a few minutes. Besides, I already told Tenko and Natsu to go home right before we come back.” Hana tugged on Fuyumi’s sleeve again. “Just trust me, okay?”
Hana gave her a small smile, and Fuyumi nodded slowly. She did trust her best friend.
Hana led her through the line of trees on the far side of the park. Fuyumi had never been back here, so she took in the small, bubbling stream and wildflowers with awe.
Hana finally let go, and crawled up onto a large rock. She sat and motioned for Fuyumi to join her. Fuyumi followed and sat next to her friend slowly.
Looking out onto the stream was better from the rock. Rocks littered the ground, big and small. The stream curved through the trees, and wildflowers sprouted in the meadow across the way, and along the stream banks. The flowers were blues and pinks, Fuyumi decided she’d come back here to pick flowers for her mother tomorrow.
Hana’s voice started quietly beside her, ”You like fireflies, right?”
Fuyumi turned to find Hana’s dark eyes watching her intently. Their faces were mere inches apart.
She nodded, and Hana smiled. She sat back and looked up into the sky as she said, “Good. They’ll be here soon.”
Fuyumi didn’t know who she meant, but she dismissed it, choosing to trust her friend instead.
She realized who Hana meant when the sun sunk below the treeline, and tiny pinpricks of light floated up from all around them. She watched as the lights blinked to life. Soon, thousands of tiny bugs danced through the air, moving as if they were all connected. It seemed almost as if the stars had come down from their perch in the night sky just to dance and play together.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Hana said, her voice still quiet.
Fuyumi nodded and turned to Hana again, only to find that her eyes weren’t watching the fireflies, but Fuyumi herself. “You're not even looking.”
Hana grinned. “I’ve already seen it, besides-” She paused to look down at her hands, her cheeks bright pink. “You’re prettier.”
Fuyumi felt her own cheeks warm. “I don’t think so, but thanks.” She smiled softly. “I- I think you’re pretty too.”
Hana giggled, a sound that Fuyumi decided was better than any other sound in the world. Better than the windchimes in Mother’s garden, and better than the crunch of orange and red leaves in the fall.
Hana stood and offered her hand to help Fuyumi up. “Come on, we should go home now.”
Fuyumi took her hand and couldn’t help the thought that Hana was like a firefly. Her own, pretty little light that made her life just a little brighter.