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Kazuha thought he’d seen every beautiful sight Inazuma had to offer, especially Narukami island. The grandeur of The Tenshukaku and the silent twilight of Chinju Forest was a marvel to behold, yes, but the grassy field just north of Konda Village? What could possibly be so special there?
He watched the maple leaves of Ritou peak through the slowly melting snow. The warm brown trunk of the large maple tree that sheltered The Five Kasen Plaza was beginning to look more alive; Its branches finally felt the wind’s gentle caress again. The almost silent hum of winter had long been replaced by the cheerful song of the birds. It was almost nightfall. The people of Ritou were packing up for the day and returning to their homes. Just like them, Kazuha was returning to his home. No matter how much he traveled, his home was never far from him.
He walked through the path to Konda Village, hopping on the rocks that barely connected Ritou to the rest of Narukami Island. The residents of the village were hurrying to their homes. Children ran past him and he could hear spouses greeting their loved ones with great joy and masked exhaustion. Kazuha couldn’t help but smile at the almost simultaneous symphony of comfort that enveloped the village. Just a few steps further and soon, he should be making the same sound.
“Kazuha? Over here!” the familiar voice of spring rang in his ears.
Kazuha lightly jogged to where they stood. He left behind Konda Village, as if finally closing the door to his home.
“You didn’t wait too long, I hope?” Kazuha said, holding their hand in his as he normally did.
“Not at all. Now, follow me?” They asked for Kazuha’s consent, which he granted, to pull him gently. Their grin was akin to the freshly bloomed cherry blossoms, both greatly cherished by Kazuha
He knew this path well. Typically, electro slimes hid behind the bushes to ambush him. However, it was unusually quiet. Perhaps the electro slimes returned home as well. Kazuha could tell that his partner was excited about something, even if their body language suggested a calmer mood. He decided against commenting upon it so as to not spoil what this “surprise” was. The farther they walked from the village, the more excited he became. It was not often that he was the one to be surprised. His keen sense of hearing and sight made it difficult for his friends to actually surprise him.
They finally arrived at a small clearing, a cliff overseeing a small beach and a great view of the stone that held the Statue of The Seven high. The sun hovered just above Ritou, signaling the end of another day. They stood at a very specific spot, adjusting down to the steps. He faced his partner, his traveling companion, with a sense of wonder.
“What’s the occasion for this surprise?” Kazuha asked
“Today’s our last day in Inazuma… so I wanted to make it just a bit more special,” they replied, a bit embarrassed at this show of their affection.
“I’m sure whatever it is will be special, just because of the love and effort you put into this,” he said.
Kazuha remembered how they told him they were to depart from Inazuma City before him. This left him alone with his old friends: Yoimiya, Ayaka, and Thoma. Not that he minded. Kazuha understood that they both needed time to be alone every once in a while. They traveled everywhere together after all. He only now realized, this was why they left early.
Kazuha followed their gaze, landing on the Statue of The Seven that shone a tall blue. The maple tree that guarded it glowed with the orange hues of the sun. He was mesmerized. He normally passed through this path during the day so the sun was anything but pleasant to his eyes. He stared at the orange leaves of the maple tree for as long as he could. Soon, the sun began to hide behind the tree, orange and red rays peaking through and around the leaves. Kazuha closed his eyes.
The maple leaves glowed beautifully and painfully against his eyes. As he stayed in the darkness, he felt and heard the wind whistling beside him; Kazuha assumed it was just the evening breeze welcoming them into its cold embrace. He opened his eyes again, prepared to see the violet hues bleed through the orange and reds.
Instead, he was met with ember winds.
Maple leaves from Ritou danced and swayed with the wind. He didn’t think it was possible for the wind to bring even the paper-like leaves across the small sea that cut through the islands. The wind gently caressed his cheek and rustled through his hair. A lost leaf found itself trapped within the strands of his hair.
“Oops, looks like this one got a bit lost,” he heard his partner’s voice chuckle from beside him. Soft hands gently plucked the maple leaf from his hair and promptly set it free with the wind.
A faint glow of teal emanated from them.
“That was…” Kazuha muttered. For once, he was left speechless.
“With the coming of spring, we start anew. Let’s continue traveling together, Kazuha,” they said, holding his hands in theirs.
They looked at him with that same smile that made him ask them to accompany him in his wandering. Two wanderers who found each other in the first steps of spring, just like this one.
“It’s my pleasure,” Kazuha said, uttering their name with complete adoration and affection.
Maple leaves continued to dance by them, fluttering through the air until they were no longer seen. The sun finally began to hide in the ocean, blanketing Inazuma in its warmth one last time for the day.
“Sorry I ran off without telling you where I was going a few days ago,” they said, chuckling sheepishly.
Kazuha shook his head. The sun was mostly gone, finally drowned out by the violet night sky. The wind had also died down as the maple leaves danced gracefully before lying flat on the ground. Kazuha arrived at a train of thought and follow it he did. He slowed his speaking as he contemplated and counted each individual word.
“Maple ember winds,” Kazuha started.
His travel companion looked at him expectantly, as if they knew he was starting a haiku.
“Warms this once winter meadow.”
Kazuha reached out to hold their cheek against his hand, which they promptly leaned into. It was a common occurrence of affection and peace between them. The beautiful scenery, the soft whistling of the wind, and each other.
“My spring, you are home,” Kazuha whispered to them and them alone.
They paused for a moment, as if the maple field had made them emotional as well. They placed their hand on top of Kazuha’s and pressed into it lightly.
“We’re finally home.”