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"E-excuse me, do you... ehm... need a tissue perhaps?"
She raised her head at the sudden question. Lost in thought, she didn't even notice someone coming.
This bench, hidden in the shade of three large trees and not close to any of the paths people usually use in this park, would be the perfect place to be alone, the young woman assumed. Probably the shining white dress she wore caught the attention of this stranger nonetheless.
In stark contrast to her, the man's black hair and black clothes would surely have hidden him quite well here. His similarly dark eyes looked at her concerned. Or maybe he merely looked at her that way out of pity.
"S-sorry, it's probably none of my business... I was just walking around the park and saw you and it seemed like you might need one."
She blinked her tears away and raised her hand when he started to leave.
"Please wait..." a tiny voice came from her and he stopped in his tracks. "A... a tissue would be nice. I used all of mine up already..."
With a smile, he took one out of his coat pocket and handed it over to crying woman.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it." And she began wiping away the remaining teardrops and what was left of her already smeared makeup.
"You're welcome. Oh, and congrats to your wedding."
At this word, she shook her head vehemently.
"Oh, so not a wedding? Are you an actress from the theater over there then? Or a movie actress and you're shooting near this place? Or... maybe you were left at the altar-"
"Just stop already!" she snapped, but her face quickly softened again. This stranger was just guessing into the blue and had no idea what was really going on after all.
"O-okay... sorry... I'll leave you alone now."
Then he turned around yet again and walked some steps away from her. But he felt like it was a bad idea to go. This woman looked so troubled and he wanted to help her somehow.
"Maybe I'm just getting cold feet." she spoke up, which made him face her again.
"That's a usual thing, I guess." the young man said scratching the back of his neck, even if he had no idea how it feels to be about to marry.
Eyes still focused on her clenched fists holding the tissue, she continued: "But actually... I don't think that's it. It's more like a "simply just not wanting to marry someone you don't love" kinda thing."
"So... why-"
"It's an arranged marriage. Arranged between my parents and his parents. It's not like they didn't ask me. He's also really a nice guy and I genuinely think he'd make a good husband, but... just not for me, I'm afraid." She chewed on her lip and looked away from him embarrassed. "And after everyone telling me what a great catch he is and after several failed relationships... I just gave in..."
"I see. That explains your distress." He nodded at her, understanding what she meant. He himself had sometimes wished that his parents had just chosen a spouse for him after he went through several breakups. "So what are you going to do now?"
The woman just shrugged at his question and lowered her head, realizing that she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
She could clearly picture how her parents, especially her mother, would be mad, screaming at her with deep red faces. Heck, she could even imagine them disowning her altogether if she didn't go through with it. But the alternative of being married to someone she actually doesn't want to be married to, was just as scary.
Both kept silent for a while and he looked around. No one was there at this secluded place besides the two. Only some birds singing their songs and chirping without a care in the world.
"Quite a nice day for a wedding... But I probably shouldn't say that to her..." the man thought. His eyes fell on her again, a tad relieved. "Well, at least, she stopped crying."
Then, some meters away, he saw a person walking towards them. It was a tall man with short brown hair. And when he noticed who the woman was, he picked up the pace.
"Asuna?!" he shouted, "Asuna! There you are!"
She flinched at his voice, and after some hesitation, stood up, and turned around.
"Kouichirou..."
"I'm so glad I found you! Your friends told me that you needed some fresh air, but then you didn't return and everyone was worried and looking everywhere for you! We feared that you were hit by a car or-"
First, she gave him an angry look, after all, she wasn't a runaway pet or something, but figured that they were truly worried about her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you all..."
"Well, anyway, I'm very relieved you're alright. So let's head back."
He wanted to go, but stopped right away when she didn't follow him.
Instead, Asuna mumbled something with lowered eyes, focused on the ground. "Brother... I... I can't..."
"What do you mean?"
"I... I just can't!" she yelled, tears welling up.
The young man standing behind her took another tissue out if his coat pocket and gave it to her. And her brother eyed him suspiciously.
"And who are you? Her secret lover? Did you drag her here?" Kouichirou asked, clenching his fists, ready to use them if he needed to protect his dear little sister.
"N-no! I-"
"Calm down! He's just some stranger who coincidentally walked by and gave me tissues!" she answered while swiping one of said tissues over her eyes and cheeks. "Listen, Brother, I know that our parents just want the best for me and that I'll have a good future but..." She took a deep breath. "I just can't marry someone I don't love!"
The tall man sighed and gently put his hands on her shoulders, which made her whole body tense up.
And he smiled at his younger sibling.
"Asuna... I'm glad you say this."
"Huh?!" She couldn't hide her surprise. Actually, she suspected that he would just shout at her, grab her hand and force her to go back.
"You have just shown the courage I wasn't able to show myself back then."
"Kouichirou...? Does that mean you...? I had no idea that-"
He shook his head. "Let's not dwell on the past. We should go and tell the others that this wedding won't happen."
"Everyone is going to be furious. Especially mother."
"Probably, yeah. But that doesn't change the fact that it's the right thing to do."
She nodded and took another deep breath, relieved.
"Let's go, Asuna."
"Wait a moment!"
She turned around, walked to the young man with black hair, who was still standing behind her, and took his right hand. Much to his confusion.
"Thank you."
He blinked at her. "Ehm... I didn't do much besides being a walking tissue box. B-but... you're welcome? I guess?" he uttered while scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
The young woman had to giggle at him. "Please, tell me your name."
"Kazuto. Kazuto Kirigaya."
"I'll remember that name." she mumbled with closed eyes, promising herself to not forget these two words.
Then she let go of him and followed her brother.
"G-good luck, Asuna!" he yelled and waved at her.
Very slightly, she looked back at him and, despite her being afraid of what consequences she's going to face now, showed him a cute smile.
Several days later...
Leaning against one of the three big trees, his hands in the pockets of his longcoat, Kazuto was looking around. Wind was blowing through the leaves above him and his hair were a bit messy by now.
But he didn't even notice that as his thoughts were running through his mind, wondering what happened to the woman he met at this very place.
Was she able to convince her parents to call off the marriage she didn't want? Or were they so stubborn that she's now stuck in a marriage she doesn't want?
Maybe she succeeded and was now living happily with whoever she actually loved. He wouldn't be surprised if she indeed had a secret lover all along.
The young man sighed. He probably will never know. He really needed to get her out of his head. But that was easier said than done.
Still lost in thought, he didn't hear light steps through the gras approaching him.
"Oh, what a coincidence to meet you here, Kazuto." A soft female voice shook him out of his reverie.
There she was. Wearing a simple light red blouse and blue jeans. A smile gracing her lips. Two amber eyes shining like the gem itself looking straight at him. Her long, chestnut coloured hair flowed down her back, a few strands a little dishevelled due to the wind, but that did not detract from her beauty in any way.
Last time he saw this person, being dressed up to the nines for her wedding, he didn't even notice how drop dead gorgeous she was.
"A-Asuna?" He couldn't help it. His eyes wandered to her hands as discreetly as possible. No ring. Neither left nor right. And his heart began racing in his chest. "It's... ehm... n-nice to see you."
"So you didn't forget my name, even if I didn't introduce myself properly back then." She giggled awkwardly, yet adorably, to distract from her small faux pas. "It's nice to see you too, Kazuto. After all, I wanted to give you something."
He blinked confused, while she was looking for something in her bag. And to his surprise, presented him-
"A tissue box?!"
"I owe you one, don't you think?"
"But I just gave you two tissues."
With a quiet humming sound, she tapped her index finger on her chin, contemplating. "Okay, then how about I give you two back because I owe them to you and the rest is as a thanks for listening to my problem?"
She smiled so sweetly, there was no way he couldn't say no to this, and with a smile on his face as well, he took the box from her.
"Now that's settled..." Kazuto began mumbling, his voice getting slightly higher than usual. "H-how about... ehm... sitting down on this bench and... chatting for a bit?"
Asuna blinked surprised, not quite sure she understood him due to his soft, almost inaudible volume.
"Well, only if you have the time, of course." he added, his cheeks a bright red.
"Sure, why not?" she answered enthusiastically, which made his heart skip a beat, and she gracefully walked to the bench, gesturing him to join her.
Around two years later, Asuna was sitting on this very bench. Yet again shedding some tears.
But this time, they were tears of joy and kissed away before they would drop on her white dress.