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“No.”
Tsuyu’s eyes widen, and she gets up from the dinner table in protest. “What?! But you-”
Beru, Tsuyu’s mother, holds up a hand. The action makes Tsuyu bite her tongue. “It could be dangerous. I don’t want you doing anything foolish.”
“I’m basically an adult. Plus, I’m more mature than my friends who’ve gone out since they were 12. Do you really think I’d do something crazy?” Tsuyu hates to throw her friends under the bus like that, but right now she’s pulling out all of the stops to go to the festival.
Every year on the first night of summer, a great festival is held on the island coast. Sailors far and wide travel to Yuuei to restock and to celebrate the night away. A wondrous night on land before they’re back on the water.
Every year, Tsuyu is stuck at home. But this year, she intends to go- to have fun with her friends and to see all of the sights the festival has to offer. Maybe to even meet some sailors.
The hardest part is convincing her protective parents.
“Not to mention,” Tsuyu continues. “It’s not like I’m going to be alone . I’ve lived here my whole life, plus I’d be going with the girls. I’ll be safe.”
“Who will watch your siblings?”
Great. Now her mother is pulling the sibling card. Samidare and Satsuki, the siblings in question, are old enough to not burn the house down while she’s gone. Of course her mother and father aren’t actually going to watch their own children, because they work tonight. Tsuyu’s parents run a small fishing business in town, and nights to early mornings are their prime work times. She’s told them about this for weeks. For years on end.
“They can watch themselves for just a little bit! They’re quite capable of-”
“Tsuyu.” Ganma, her father, interrupts her now. “We’re sorry. But you’re not going. There are many reasons why we don’t think it’s right for you.”
Tsuyu glances out the window. The sun was beginning to set, turning the blue ocean a fiery orange. She could see the light strings and banners down in town square. Soon, the courtyard would be all lit up. There’d be music, food, and people having the time of their lives. Tsuyu never gets this emotional, but repeating the same conversation for the last few years finally struck a nerve.
“You’ve never let me go! Have you even gone so you know it’s as bad as you say? Every year I hear my friends tell me how fun it is. Why can’t I just live and be free for one night?”
“This is a waste of time. We’re going to be late for work.” The heads of the Asui household get up and kiss each child on the head. Beru strokes Tsuyu’s hair. “My darling, we know you work hard. We do too. But sacrifices must be made sometimes. Can you make sure your siblings get to bed on time?”
Tsuyu sits back down dejectedly. “Yes.”
“Thank you, honey. Besides, your mother and I work with sailors all the time. They’re not all that great.” With those final words, Beru and Ganma leave the house.
Satsuki and Samidare, who watched the entire exchange, glance at each other. Without saying a word, they take their empty plates and carefully place them in the washing bin. As they head out of the kitchen, Tsuyu slumps onto the wooden table and watches them leave with a sad smile. Capable, indeed. But her parents are never around to see that.
Oh well. Next year, maybe. Probably not.
Tsuyu gets up from the table and steps outside, the grass that grows around her house tickling her ankles. She looks out over Yuuei’s coastline, a view she’s seen her whole life yet never gets tired of. A warm gust of wind blows through her hair, and she sighs. Summers in their town were never terrible- the ocean kept the climate cool and enjoyable. Just another reason for Tsuyu to love this season more than the winter, and another reason why Tsuyu loved her home.
Squinting to her left, she can already see some large ships at the docks.
Yes, she loved her home, but she’d love it even more if she could see it after hours; when the town comes alive without a care for the work they have to do in the morning. To hear stories from around the world and to meet new people.
Oh, how she wanted to go.
The sound of laughter reaches her ears, and Tsuyu quickly turns to see 3 girls heading up the pathway to her house. Her friends: Ochako, Mina, and Momo.
“Hey girl!” Mina ran up the dirt path, leaving the other two behind. She gave the girl a tight squeeze before stepping back. “So… Is this the year? Are you allowed to come to the festival?” Momo and Ochako now stand next to Mina, and they all look at her with hope in her eyes.
Tsuyu shakes her head, and all 3 faces fall. As she opens her mouth to apologize, someone speaks up behind her.
“She’ll go with you!”
Tsuyu turns in shock to see Samidare standing at the doorway. With the attention of everyone on him, he looks down shyly. Despite his bashfulness, Samidare steels himself and delivers the words Tsuyu has wanted to hear for years. “Go to the festival, Tsu. I’ll watch Satsuki. I promise we’ll be good.”
“Samidare… Are you sure? I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
What was she saying? Why was she hesitant when her brother was trying to fulfil her dreams? But Samidare nodded with a knowing smile on his face. “As long as you’re back by dawn, they’ll never catch us. It’s our little secret.”
Ignoring the fact that her little brother just set a curfew for her, she runs up to him and wraps him in a hug. “Our little secret.”
Tsuyu’s friends all squeal in delight, joining in to make it a group hug. “I can’t believe it! Your first festival! It’s going to be so great, Tsu!” Ochako jumps up and down with a huge grin. “We have to get a move on so you can experience as much as possible!”
“But first,” Mina steps away and narrows her eyes in thought, “You’re going to have to change.”
Tsuyu looks at her, confused. “Why?”
“Because it’s a special occasion! Not only is it your first time, but we always like to wear our best for this annual event. Not to mention… it does help with the sailors.” Momo, to Tsuyu’s surprise, winks at her.
“Ugh, dress up. I’m out.” Samidare sticks out his tongue and wiggles out of the hug, leaving the late teens to their own.
Soon enough, the girls are running down the dirt path that leads to the village square, all of them linking arms and laughing without a care. Tsuyu was practically vibrating with excitement, her red striped skirt bustling behind her. Paired with a flowery black corset and a white top with puffed sleeves (all skillfully picked by Momo), Tsuyu felt like a whole new person. So much was changing in just a few moments, and she loved it.
Nothing was going to ruin this night for her.
-
Tsuyu couldn’t believe her eyes. The courtyard was brighter than she ever imagined! With the sun having dipped below the sea, all the lanterns were lit, giving the space a lively glow that Tsuyu has never seen before. Everyone in town was here, all of their voices mixing into one big symphony. Ochako looked over at her best friend. “You know, I think your face is going to split open if you smile any wider.”
“Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize!” Momo quickly said. “Tonight, we’re going to do whatever you want. There’s so much to do. There’s dancing, live music- oh! Jiro is playing tonight, that’s why she didn’t come with us today. Many vendors come down to sell their wares. Even sailors bring some of their treasures! My family has their jewelry booth set up already.”
As Momo continued to ramble on, Tsuyu continued to soak everything in. She could see tables with different foods on them, one in particular being run by the baker’s son, Sato. What was once bare cobblestone paths in the day now hold makeshift canopies with unrecognizable items underneath. She sees her friend Iida talking to a pink haired vendor- his composure being broken down by the woman’s persistence that he buys something from her. Her neighbor, Kirishima, runs up to a man with silver hair and latches onto him in a tight hug. Two worlds were meeting simultaneously all around her. It all clicked together so perfectly, even though it’s been a full year since the last celebration. This festival was the epitome of living in the moment; no one cared about what tomorrow would bring. It was beautiful.
And that’s when she noticed a small crowd began to gather near the edge of the square.
There was a tall blonde standing with one foot propped up on a box, with bright red wings and a wide smile. He seemed to be telling some sort of story by the way he was waving his arms about, and it drew in the townsfolk. Tsuyu tips her head in curiosity. “I don’t recognize him from around here.”
Ochako’s eyes dart around before they land on the man, and recognition dawns on her face. “Oh, that’s one of the regular sailors: Keigo Takami! He captains his own ship called the Seahawk. He’s always got some great stories to tell. Do you want to listen in for a bit?”
Tsuyu nods with a smile, and the 4 join the huddle of people. Tsuyu finds herself standing next to a gentleman wearing black and red at the far end of the circle. He shifted to the side nonchalantly, making room for her to stand. It appears that the man had already gone through quite a bit of the story, so there was a lack of context, but it still sounded incredible.
“Rain pelted down from every direction, the wind making it almost impossible to see. We knew that it would be a rainy trip, but we weren’t expecting the harsh conditions that came with the southern coast. A humongous wave smashed into the ship, sending one of my precious crewmates overboard. Before he can hit the water, I grab onto a rope, step back, and swing over the side!”
The crowd gasps, Tsuyu included, and the man seems to pause for dramatic effect. The person next to Tsuyu sighs, which catches her attention. “Not amused?”
“He’s quite the story teller.”
Tsuyu blinks at the man’s deep timbre. “So you don’t think it’s true?”
His red eyes flick towards her direction, his attention now on her rather than the flamboyant blonde in the eye of the hurricane. “Oh, I know it’s true. He’s just too good at enticing his audience.”
“I suppose he does have a way with words.”
The man opens his mouth- a beak, to be more specific- but is cut off by a crescendo in the sailor’s (Keigo, Tsuyu recalls) tone.
“I grab him just in time, and with the help of my momentum and trajectory, we make it safely back onto the deck of the Seahawk. After several more grueling minutes of rain, it all stops. And folks, being on the water when a storm breaks… it’s something else. The waters calm, and the sudden silence is hauntingly beautiful. The ocean is no longer an angry gray, but a peaceful indigo. The clouds disappear, almost melting away to reveal the stars shining in contrast against the ink of the night sky.”
Tsuyu is absolutely enthralled by the way he describes the ocean. She can picture it in her head, as clear as glass, and she wonders what it’s like to truly feel the switch of nature. She can feel the man beside her watching her still, as if confirming that she had, in fact, fallen into Keigo’s trap. But she didn’t care. She wanted to hear more. The captain continues.
“I took a moment to check on my crew, and there were no injuries, thank goodness. Storms are no walk in the park. And that’s when we realize: We had no idea where we were- the storm had blown us off kilter. But!” Keigo suddenly reaches into the crowd, and the man next to her is unexpectedly pulled into the middle. He squaks in surprise, looking back at her as he’s forced into the crook of Keigo’s elbow. Tsuyu smiles apologetically, watching to see what happens next. “My first mate here, Fumikage Tokoyami, is an expert at reading the stars! He led the Seahawk back to land, where we were able to regain our bearings and continue our great adventure!” Keigo uses his free hand to take off his hat and wave it around with a flourish, the singular large red feather atop it waving in the summer breeze.
The wave was like a signal that the story had ended, and the crowd claps. Keigo’s grasp loosens as he goes to talk to the listeners, and the sailor slips out of his chokehold, fixing the feathers atop his head with an eye roll.
“Wow, that was a good story! The rain here is already decent, imagine how bad it must be down south and surrounded by ocean!” Mina exclaims, Ochako and Momo making sounds of agreement. But Tsuyu wasn’t listening. She was focused on the bird-headed man in black and red.
Keigo only mentioned two things about him: that he was the first mate, and he could read the stars. But that was enough to make Tsuyu want to talk to him- to hear his side of the story. But she was whisked away by Mina and Ochako, off to play a game before it was overtaken by the village children.
No matter. She was here to spend time with her friends, not to be enthralled by a sailor she was most likely never going to see again.
-
Tsuyu sat on the edge of a large fountain, eating a large dumpling stuffed with vegetables and pork. It had only been an hour, two tops, and Tsuyu’s friends had already shown her so much. They played a target shooting game, and Tsuyu was able to showcase her great long-range aim. A new leather pouch with a branded flower was tied to her waist thanks to Momo’s insistence of buying her a gift. Tsuyu was thankful she brought a bit of money with her; if her siblings gave her the opportunity to come, she’d get them something in return. Jiro had joined them for a bit during her break from her time on the stage. She lit up when she saw Tsuyu among the usual cast, showing her own excitement at Tsuyu’s fortune. Tsuyu asked her about the band playing, to which Jiro had given her a quick summary. (She played the fiddle, her uncle Yamada played the flute, local Ibara Shiozaki was on the harp, and their mutual friend Denki was on some sort of drum)
The 5 girls had danced together for quite some time, laughing and looping under each other’s arms as the folk dances called for. They all taught Tsuyu had to play the spoons, too! She had no idea such a thing could be used for music.
That leaves her to where she is now, sitting on the cool surface in peace. Jiro was back on stage, Ochako was chatting with a green haired sailor, and Momo went to find Mina- who had gotten lost in the crowd. Honestly, a little break was nice; her feet were tired from all of that dancing, anyway. She took another bite of her dumpling, happily nodding her head to the music playing in the courtyard to her right.
“Pardon me, if I could beseech you for just a moment. Are you a local here?”
Tsuyu looks up to see the bird-headed man from before standing in front of her. Her eyes widen as she tries to chew faster, using one of her large hands to cover her mouth. Oh, he was kind of cute now that Tsuyu was looking at him head on. And of course she had to be caught with food in her mouth.
“Ah, terribly sorry. I wanted to find the dock, but I got lost. And I recognized you from before, so I was wondering if you could show me where it is?”
Tsuyu finally swallows her food. “Sorry. Yes, I can show you. But you better not try anything funny.”
His eyes widen almost comically, and he shakes his head. A strand of beads clipped to one of his back feathers sway with the motion. “I wouldn’t dare to do anything as deceitful as what you are assuming. If you must know,” he rubs a hand over his beak, “I need to check on something.”
Tsuyu stands up. “No need to worry, I was just checking to see what kind of person I was dealing with. I believe you. Follow me.”
He sighs with relief and trails next to her. “I’m glad.” He pauses. “I’m Fumikage Tokoyami, by the way.”
“Tsuyu Asui, but my friends call me Tsu. I uh, I like your beads.”
“Hm? Oh.” Tokoyami turns his head slightly so she could see them better. There were 7 beads, all dark shades: black, green, purple, red, yellow, and blue. One was white. “Representing my crew and some close friends. I carry them with me whilst I travel, metaphorically.”
“I see. If you don’t mind me commenting, you could almost pass as not a sailor, with how eloquently you speak.”
Tokoyami hums. “Ah. Thank you. I’m not sure where I got it from. Certainly not from Keigo.”
“The captain of the…”
“Seahawk.”
“Seahawk, yes! Sorry, this is my first festival. I was told the ship was a common visitor.”
Tokoyami cocks his head in confusion. “But you said you were a local.”
Tsuyu pushes a lock of hair behind her ear that had begun to wave in the breeze. “Yeah, but I was never really allowed to go before. I have protective parents.”
“Ah.”
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, she switches back to what they had just moved past. “During his story, Keigo mentioned that you were his first mate. Impressive.”
Even though they were heading away from the lights of the town, Tsuyu could still see the ends of Tokoyami’s feathers poke up bashfully. “I do my best.”
“Obviously, since you saved your crew from that storm. By the way, was it you who fell off the ship?”
“No, it was a different crewmate. His name is Ojiro, and he’s enjoying the festival just like the rest of them.” The two stop at the wooden dock, two lanterns lighting the walkway.
“Well, we’re here. I’ll leave you to do whatever you need to do. Just follow that path and you’ll be right back to the festival. It was nice talking to you, Tokoyami.” Tsuyu bows slightly and turns around.
“Wait!” Tokoyami reaches out a hand, but doesn’t touch her. Tsuyu looks back at him, touching a finger to her cheek. (In all honesty, she was hoping he would find a way to continue the conversation, so she’s glad he called out to her.) Tokoyami clears his throat. “Ah… It won’t take long. And perhaps, you’ll like to meet him.”
“Him?”
Tokoyami nods, and cups his hands around his beak. He whistles, sharp and two-toned.
Something black flies up from one of the boats. It goes up into the sky, the moon illuminating a shadowy blob onto Tsuyu’s face. Tokoyami watches it rise, and he whistles again; this time, in a choppy frequency. The thing dives down at a rapid speed, and on instinct, Tsuyu closes her eyes to brace for an impact.
A warm hand touches her shoulder. “It’s okay. He won’t hurt you.”
Tsuyu opens her eyes, and she gasps. Perched on Tokoyami’s other arm is a large black bird.
“This is what I wanted to check on. My pet, Dark Shadow.”
Tsuyu had never seen a bird like this before, so she reached out a hand tentatively. The creature blinked at her before letting her hand rest atop of his head. She smiles. “His feathers are so pretty.”
An exasperated scoff escapes Tokoyami. “Don’t say it too loud, he’s got an ego.”
The sudden annoyance at his pet’s apparently common behavior makes Tsuyu giggle. At the noise, Tokoyami begins to speak.
“I found him on one of my earlier trips on the Seahawk. An abandoned chick, so I took him in.”
“How very kind of you. I’m sure the others would love to meet him as well.”
Tokoyami looked hesitant at her words. “He can survive being by himself for a bit. If I bring him up there, people will want to talk to me. I’m not the best at engaging in conversation.”
Tsuyu can’t stop the immediate response. “Then why are you talking to me?”
Her bluntness seems to catch Tokoyami off guard. Dark Shadow turns to look at him, as if waiting for an answer as well. He gives his bird a pointed look before returning Tsuyu’s eye contact with a softer gaze. “Because you seem like an easy person to get along with. And you treated me with respect.”
“...Oh.”
Dark Shadow suddenly hops from Tokoyami’s outstretched arm and onto Tsuyu’s shoulder. She freezes for a moment before smiling. “Hello, Dark Shadow.”
Dark Shadow caws in a response.
“Attention seeker.” Tokoyami grumbles. He whistles again, and reluctantly, Dark Shadow flies back onto the ship. “Plus, you said this was your first festival. It’s mine as well. Most years I just so happen to be sick, or I don’t want to socialize.”
Tsuyu nods in the direction of the path back to the village, and they begin to travel back. “You sound like my brother. Hopefully, Dark Shadow and my siblings can have that one thing in common.”
“Being able to be alone by themselves for a bit?”
Tsuyu nods. “That’s the main reason why I’ve never been able to go to this. I’ve always wanted to. And I’m having a great time now.” She looks at him with a smile. “You’ve played into that; it really is nice talking to you.”
They reach the lights of the town again, and Tokoyami rubs the back of his neck. “I’m enjoying this, too. I-”
“Tsuyu!”
“Fumikage!”
Two voices interrupt Tokoyami, and suddenly, a hand shoves him backwards, hard. Ochako steps in between Tsuyu and Tokoyami, and she looks angry. Mina puts her hands on Tsuyu’s shoulders, and she’s glaring at Tokoyami as well. “You can’t just take my friend like that! We were so worried!”
“Woah, ladies.” The captain of the Seahawk was there too, catching Tokoyami before he could hit the ground from Ochako’s shove. He was wearing a smile, but it was stretched thin. Fake. “Quick to assume that he’s the one at fault here.”
“Well why else would he-”
“None of that!” Tsuyu breaks away from Mina’s supportive grip and moves past Ochako’s barricade. “Nothing is wrong. I went with him because he needed help finding the docks. It’s not nice to assume the worst of someone, especially when said someone has been nothing but nice to me!”
Her outburst was quite effective. Ochako immediately took a step back, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It’s just, I would’ve felt so bad if your first festival proved to be what your parents thought it was. We just wanted you to be safe and to have a good time.”
Tsuyu sighs and squeezes her best friend’s hand. “I am safe. And having a good time. We were just chatting.”
“You can keep chatting if you’d like.” Mina butts in, her opinion on Tokoyami having made a 180. “We can meet up with you later.”
“Are you sure? We can still-”
“Nahhhh.” Mina waves a hand. “Have some fun! We’ll be around.” Mina quickly grabs Ochako’s hand and pulls her away. The brunette yelps. “Uh, I guess see you later, Tsu!”
Tokoyami, Tsuyu, and Keigo watch the girls leave. The two sailors make quick eye contact before Keigo smiles- a real one this time. “Well, didn’t you choose yourself a good one? Alright, I’ll be heading off too. Be good.” With a quick feather ruffle, Keigo saunters off.
Tsuyu blinks. Just like that, they were alone again. “Well, that was something.”
Tokoyami hums in agreement. He begins to straighten his feathers just as he did before. “Overprotective friends and brothers. What can you do.”
As soon as he finishes speaking, he freezes. Tsuyu catches it. “Your broth-”
Tokoyami shushes her quietly, putting his finger up to her lips. He turns his head to the side cautiously, as if checking to see if anyone overheard him. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say that.”
Tsuyu’s cheeks heat up slightly at the soft brush of his finger against her lips. She takes in his side profile, silently noting the sleekness of his feathers and the curve of his beak.
Before she can admire anything else, she finds her voice again, bluntness and all.
“Why?”
Tokoyami looks back at her and removes his finger quickly. He coughs awkwardly. “Uh. Do y-you remember what I said about the respect thing?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m… not always treated the kindest. Sometimes, the worst is assumed of me at large gatherings like this. It’s just how I look, I suppose. We used to tell people Keigo and I were brothers, and people switched their opinion of me quite quickly. The Seahawk is by no means an unknown vessel, nor is its captain unknown. Many thought if they were ‘nice’ to me, they’d get close to Keigo. But he has an eye for fake people.”
“Good. It’s wrong for you to be treated that way.”
Tokoyami looks down at the hand that had just accidentally caressed Tsuyu’s face. “I don’t want people to assume I’m the first mate by nepotism, either. I worked very hard for my position, just as anyone else would. Yes, it’s my brother’s ship, but being a sailor is a choice I made on my own.”
Tsuyu listens closely, just as she did when Keigo was telling his story. “I understand completely, Tokoyami. I bet you’re a wonderful sailor. And I have to say, you and your brother share the same way with words.”
His feathers puff up again, and the sight makes her smile. Their eyes meet. “Th-thank you, Asui.”
“Tsu.”
“...Tsu. Thank you.”
There’s a sudden rise in the volume of laughter and cheers, which catches their attention. Whilst they were talking, a majority of the people moved into the courtyard to dance.
“Oh, it must be time to dance.” Tsuyu’s eyes light up, and she begins to move towards the commotion. Tokoyami stays still.
“I’m not good at dancing.”
Tsuyu takes his hand and pulls her with him. “Then let’s be terrible together.”
The noise grows louder as they get closer. Tsuyu can see Jiro in the center of the stage, prepping her fiddle for an upbeat song. As the melody begins, people react in recognition. Lines begin to form for a folk dance, and those who don’t participate start hollering and beating spoons together in a rhythmic fashion. Tsuyu and Tokoyami find themselves in the middle of the two lines.
“I-I don’t know about this…”
“We’re in the middle of a giant crowd, we won’t be picked out easily! Besides, it’s about having fun.” As the music starts up, she pauses. “If you really don’t want to do it, we-”
Tokoyami doesn’t respond, but he does hold his hand out to her, which is the beginning of the dance that the rest of the crowd is following. That gives her his answer.
With the tempo of the fast paced fiddle, Tokoyami and Tsuyu step towards each other and back out again, hands connected. He spins her under his arm so they end up on opposite sides. Their arms drop, and the men begin to clap a beat. Tsuyu spots Ochako down the line, dancing with the same green-haired sailor from before. They make eye contact and grin, knowing the dance like the back of their hands. Tsuyu picks up the hem of her skirt and pivots, sparing a glance over at Tokoyami. He’s doing his best to stay along with the beat, but he’s watching her with such avid interest that she has to look away. Putting her focus back into the dance (and not on how her heart started beating quicker when she saw he was gazing at her) she lifts her hands above her head, rolling her wrists and kicking her leg out at an angle. The crowd continues to shout with delight, and for the final move, she crouches forward slightly and begins to clap the same beat. Now, it’s their turn.
Tokoyami takes up a swaying motion, moving forwards and backwards while his arms bend and extend at the elbows. Just as the women did, his arms go above his head and he kicks out his leg at an angle. He stumbles a few times, and the timing is a bit off, but Tsuyu is smiling, so he keeps pushing through the dance. He crouches down onto one knee and Tsuyu moves out of the line. He walks her in a circle around him, giving her a boost when she jumps over his leg. A giddy laugh escapes her, and he can’t help but chuckle. He rises from the ground. One of his arms goes behind his head, the other sticking straight out. Tsuyu connects her hands with his to make a figure 8 shape, and the two tilt side to side with a tap of their foot. They separate again, and for a moment, the dance calls for the original partners to separate. Tokoyami and Tsuyu find themselves being pulled past members of the crowd, frolicking from one person to the next. Being as short as she is, she quickly loses sight of her partner. As the end of the song draws near, Tsuyu starts to feel worried that Tokoyami stepped out, or he wouldn’t get to her in time. But then, she feels strong hands wrap around her waist, picking her up and spinning her in a circle. She shrieks in surprise, being gently put down in front of Tokoyami. The music cuts short, and the crowd erupts. Tsuyu can’t stop smiling. “We did it!”
“I don’t know what you meant earlier. You’re a lovely dancer.”
“Oh, stop it, you’re not bad yourself. That was quite the surprise at the end. I don’t think that’s part of the song.”
For the first time that evening, Tokoyami looked a bit smug. “I wanted to improvise.”
“Good thing you’re strong. Would’ve backfired if you dropped me.”
The smugness morphs into something deeper; it becomes a look of sincerity. Tokoyami’s hand moves up to brush a strand of green hair out of her face. “I’d never drop you.”
Tsuyu’s heart catches in her throat, and she probably looks so stupid , looking at him like a flustered fool. He doesn’t call attention towards it; he simply takes her hand and lowers his head until the tip of his beak is flush against the surface. It’s a light peck (literally) but he’s slow to pull away. He stares up at her through the top of his head before standing up to his full height. Gently rubbing his thumb over the spot he had just kissed, Tokoyami begins to lead her in a dance. Nothing choreographed, just freely moving to the beat.
The silence is comfortable. For Tokoyami, there’s no sound in his own world as he takes her in. Her green hair sways with their tempo, like the most lovely pendulum the world has ever seen. The lantern lights that shine above him place a soft glow upon her face, highlighting her features and any perfect imperfections. Her lips are still formed in a smile, and he recalls how he had touched them earlier. They were soft. The thought of her lips almost dampened his mood, just because of the fact that his face wasn’t like everyone else’s. He kissed her hand, yes, but was it even a kiss? She must have thought it was strange. He didn’t want to get pulled into that abyss of negativity, but the blissful silence was starting to turn into ringing. Was she talking to him?
Her hand still in his brought him back, and sound returned. “Tokoyami?”
He clears his throat. “Sorry. What did you say?”
“What made you want to be a sailor?”
“Ah. The thrill of being out on the water. The adventure that comes with navigating the openness of this world. There’s so much out there to see and feel and discover. Some things are planned, and some aren’t, but alas, it’s just like life. I also love the comradery. A crew must trust each other with their lives, and I do with mine. But being able to meet new people on my journeys is just as exciting...Pardon my rambling.”
“I don’t mind hearing you talk. But I thought you said you didn’t like to talk to people.”
Tokoyami nods. “I don’t. Being a sailor, for me, is about connection. I connect with the ocean. I connect with my crew. Being out on the water for weeks at a time, I’ve learned to understand what’s valuable, and I appreciate it. Every good sailor knows discernment. Hence, I don’t waste my time on things I don’t believe I can connect with. Talk can be cheap- a false fill of one’s mind, soul, and time. Listening and experiencing can do just as much. Some people I meet on my travels exhibit that better than others.”
“I can agree. I tend to be more blunt because there’s no point wasting words when you can be precise and straight to the point.”
Tokoyami takes her other hand and brings her close to his chest, allowing her to spin out and extend their arms with flair. She giggles, and Tokoyami smiles back. “Keigo’s description of what we see was only scratching the surface. At sunset, the waves are like a mirror- the fires of God dance upon its surface, painting the world with its golden hues. A new masterpiece each day.”
“That sounds… wonderful.”
“You would love it.”
“Would I, really? You’ve just met me.”
“Perhaps. Yet you’ve shown me so much about yourself in this short time.”
“As have you.”
“As have I. Our connection.”
“Well, you’re partly right. I don’t think I’d like it right away, but I’d learn to appreciate it, like you do. It’s quite the barrier, but because I’m so used to solid land, I’d probably hate tossing about at sea; I’d probably lose my balance a lot.”
Tokoyami huffs in amusement. “Well…”
Without warning, he pulls her close once more, spins her, and carefully brings her into a low dip. Tsuyu is shocked at first; she clutches onto his neck and almost loses her footing. There’s nowhere else to look but his eyes. His beak hovers over her lips, taunting her in the most gentlemanly way possible.
“...there are other ways to knock someone off their feet, love.”
The words flow off Tokoyami’s tongue like butter. Tsuyu’s grip almost loosens completely; she’s utterly lost in his presence. Even if she did let go, she was confident that he wouldn’t drop her.
He’s looking at her with such adoration, and she can guarantee that she’s looking up at him in the same way. She never expected to feel this way about someone she just met, but her heart yearned for his gaze. Her brain was soaring with the knowledge that his warm hand was securely pressed against the curve of her back. Her soul sang in a way she didn’t know it could- in a way she never thought she’d be able to experience. In just a few hours, Tsuyu had fallen in love. And so had he.
There was a sudden slow down in the fiddle aspect of the music, jumping back into the tempo of the song after a few seconds of nothing. Jiro saw it all.
Tokoyami brings her back up from the dip. There was a mutual understanding that their time on the dance floor was done, so they walk back towards the fountain where they first started talking. Tsuyu sits down and Tokoyami stands in front of her. No words are spoken, but enough is said.
Then, Tsuyu looks past his shoulders, and she can feel her heart clench.
Tokoyami sees the change in her eyes, and his brow furrows. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s dawn.” Tsuyu whispers. “I snuck out of the house to be here, and in order for me to get back without suspicion, I have to leave at dawn.”
No no no no. It couldn’t be over already, but the lightening of the sky told her that her time was up. She didn’t want to have the fate of a cursed fairytale, running away as the clock strikes midnight. She wanted to stay . She wanted nothing more than to continue this moment with Tokoyami and to feel the continuous glow of the festival. If she left, it would all be over. Back to work, back to the seclusion that meant never going to a festival again. Back to life before meeting him.
Tsuyu before would have reprimanded herself for being selfish. She was given this opportunity, yet she was being greedy; she was asking for more while clutching tightly onto what she had. The thought crossed her mind: what if she went with him? She had changed so much in one night, why couldn’t she completely cross over to the other side?
Tokoyami seems to read her thoughts, and he shakes his head. He wasn’t happy either, but he was remaining calm. “No, Tsuyu.”
Without warning, Tsuyu leaps up and hugs him, and he quickly wraps his arms around her as a response. “I’m never going to see you again.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Even if I do, I’d have to wait... so long.” Tsuyu buries her head into his neck. “I’ve gotten a taste of freedom. How am I supposed to go back?”
Tokoyami pulls away and takes her hand, leading her through the crowd so she can reunite with her friends. In all honesty, he doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t want this to end either. He never thought he’d enjoy the festival this much, and it was all thanks to her. Why did it have to be cut short? There was so much he wants to do with her still. He wants to be there with her and hear the stories that she’s found just from staying in one place. The image of her eyes is seared into his brain, but he wants to see them in front of him. To hear her laugh and feel her walking besides him. And just like she had thought of never returning to Yuuei, he nearly considered staying behind with her.
But that’s not how it works. They had their own lives. Wonderful lives filled with purpose and people they couldn’t leave behind. Two lives brought together in a single moment. A moment that was ending.
So he just holds her hand.
Tsuyu finds her friends, and Tokoyami lets go. They all planned to return once they dropped her off back home, and they’re all chatting about the wonderful new things they experienced with this year’s festival. Tsuyu doesn’t say a word, but she does smile every time they look her way. The brown haired girl that shoved him earlier is the only one to acknowledge him; she looks his way with a furrowed brow, turning to whisper something in Tsuyu’s ear. The green-haired girl looks back at him, and the mere movement brings tears to her eyes. Tokoyami hates to be the reason that she’s crying, even if it’s because she wants him. They both look to the sky. The sun was starting to show more of itself with every passing moment, yet Tokoyami could feel the light in his heart growing dim. Tsuyu speaks, steadying her voice so she can sound strong. The switch back to someone who just became aware of the work to do in the morning.
“Thank you, Fumikage.”
It wasn’t a goodbye. Neither of them could handle one, anyway. A thank you was plenty; it said everything that Tokoyami wanted to hear and told him everything Tsuyu wanted to say in a few short words. But it hurt all the same.
Tsuyu pulls ahead, and Tokoyami watches her leave. He stays there for a very long time before heading back into the crowd of people.
Alone again.
-
Tsuyu’s eyes open, and she blankly stares at the ceiling of her small room. Outside, she can hear the shuffle of her parents making breakfast.
So that was it. It really was over. She was brought home safely, she went to sleep, and she wasn’t under any suspicion by her parents. Everything went according to plan.
……
Meeting Fumikage Tokoyami was not part of the plan.
But she’d get over it.
(Get over how it was the greatest night of her life.)
She’s fine.
(She can’t get his voice out of her head.)
She had an amazing time with the girls.
(Is it bad that she almost wishes she never went at all?)
It was probably nothing, anyway. Sailors flirt with girls all of the time.
As Tsuyu got ready for the day ahead, she noticed her possessions sitting on a wooden stool in her room. Oh yeah, she’d have to give them to her siblings at some point. Tying the ends of her hair into its signature bow, she leaves her room. Time to start the facade that she didn’t sneak out, that nothing about her changed overnight.
“How did you sleep, my dear?”
Tsuyu sits down at her usual place and immediately digs in, hoping that having food in her mouth would be enough for her parents not to push. “Good.”
“Satsuki, Samidare! Time to eat!” Ganma calls out. He turns to face his eldest. “Were they good?”
A nod.
“Are you still upset about not going?”
A shrug.
Beru sighs. “I know, sweetheart. I mean this when I say this, but maybe next year.” Her mother begins to cut her food with an irritable sigh. “My position on sailors still stands, however. There was a rude one buying fish last night. He wouldn’t stop cursing.”
“Oh yes, I remember him. Good to see that he’s not a local.” Gamna agrees with his wife and yells for his children once more. No response. Ganma puts down his utensils and looks at Tsuyu. “Tadpole, can you go check on your siblings? Their food is going to get cold.”
With a small nod, Tsuyu gets up and absentmindedly walks to the room her siblings share. Were they still sleeping? Did they stay up too late while she was gone?
She should’ve stayed home after all.
“Samidare?” Tsuyu knocks on the door softly. “It’s me. Are you guys up?”
The door opens, and Satsuki pulls her through. “Tsu, there’s something in our room.”
Warning bells go off in Tsuyu’s head. Of course this happens when she leaves for a night. Well, she’s learned her lesson. Next time, she’s going to be-
“Dark Shadow?”
The large black bird sits on the windowsill. Samidare was trying to shoo it away, but the creature simply jumps over his arm and finds a different spot. He never attacks Samidare.
Tsuyu runs to the window, and that’s when Dark Shadow finally flies away. She follows the bird with her eyes, looking everywhere for him, trying to find-
There he was.
Tsuyu bursts away from the window and runs through the house, not caring about her parent’s surprised reactions. She runs until he’s in view, eyes on him. She doesn’t see the rock in her path, and with her current speed, she pitches forward.
Tokoyami’s hands grab her arms, a strong yet gentle catch. She looks up at him with wide eyes.
“There are other ways to knock someone off their feet. Good thing I’m here to catch you from any of them.”
At his words, Tsuyu snaps out of her stupor. “What are you doing here? I thought you would have left by now. And how did you find me?”
“Ah. Your friend, Uraraka. She confronted me after you had left for the night.”
“And question one?”
“A simple answer that you’d appreciate for its bluntness. I wanted to see you one more time before I left.”
Tsuyu turned, and she could see the Seahawk sitting peacefully by the cliffs below. “So you are leaving.”
“I am.”
“Will you be back before next year?”
“It’s possible. I can’t really answer that.”
Tsuyu looks back to face Tokoyami. “Does it not hurt you to come back like this? You could at least consider my feelings! I did my best to give us the closure last night, but now, my heart… is…”
Tsuyu’s voice trails off when she notices Tokoyami’s cord of beads attached to his feathers. At the very end of the string, contrasting against the dark colors of the others, laid a bright green, heart-shaped bead. Tokoyami turns his head so she can get a better look at it.
“I do have your heart in mind. How could it possibly not be? Which is why I'm bringing it with me. Metaphorically. As a reminder.”
Tokoyami reaches into his pocket and pulls out a necklace, the beading the same as the one on his piercing. “Your friend Momo, her parents had a jewelry booth. When you left, I went searching for it. The necklace immediately reminded me of you, so I had to get it for you. It's quite lovely, isn't it? Although I can easily think of something much more exquisite. I hope you don’t mind that I took off a bead for myself.”
“N-no, of course not. It’s…”
Tokoyami gently swept her hair to the side, unbuckling the clasp and sliding it around her neck. Tsuyu touches it, and a horrible thought comes to mind. “Is it true that sailors leave a girl behind everywhere they go?”
Tokoyami hums in thought, stepping back into her line of vision. “For most, yes. But we already established that I’m not like most sailors.”
A breeze drives between the two, and the beads flop in the wind, dancing with Tokoyami’s feathers and brushing against his neck. “A bond like ours is rare, even more so since ‘twas formed overnight. A precious thing like that, when treasured so closely by the two people it's connecting, won’t break. No, no, my dear. It will stretch. Stretch to fit between the two of us, no matter how far apart we are. And these,” Tokoyami points to the green beads, "are a reminder that it’s still alive and true. Personally, I would never let this bond break, even if it shall be a year until I see you again. And you?”
Tsuyu doesn’t respond with words. They both think words are overrated, anyway. Instead, Tsuyu leans forward. Tokoyami meets her halfway, and her lips connect with his beak.
Just like when he kissed her hand, it was a light kiss, but long. Unconventional for some, but it was perfect for them. There wasn’t a single care as their eyes fell shut, enjoying the bliss that they were sharing. As they stand together, their green beads shine in the morning sun.
Just like their time last night, the kiss ended. Tokoyami returned to the sea, and Tsuyu stayed on land. Tsuyu watches the ship sail away, getting swallowed up by the glowing horizon.
With the sun risen, the lights of the town go out. Tsuyu walks through the square as they’re taken down, and she can’t help but reflect. The lights of the town were blinding and enticing, and Tsuyu will never forget the feeling of seeing them shining for the first time. But when she came back to them after seeing the darkness of the docks, they were… dimmer. Still beautiful, but dimmer.
They have been like this every year since.
Because nothing can compare to the light that shines in their eyes when Tokoyami and Tsuyu see each other again, year after year at the Yuuei summer festival. Where worlds collide and click together, even if it’s only up until dawn. Yes, the sailors come and go, and one could argue that a piece of them is left behind- something to collect when they return.
But you can’t piece together something that never broke in the first place.