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“Sakura-sannn! Hurry up, we’ll miss the fireworks!” Nirei, who was way ahead of the other two, yells out—flailing his arms around to catch the attention of Sakura, who was merely looking around the trees surrounding the pathway the three of them were on as he ate a piece of bread.
Suo, witnessing all of this, only chuckles—he felt a slight pity for Nirei, but there was no use in rushing their captain especially when he was hungry.
He quickly quiets down his chuckle when he remembers the time when Sakura was sick, Suo’s normally amused and cheery face replaced with a quiet and plain expression.
The two sped up in their steps once Sakura finally finished his food, their steps were the only sound between them along with the rush of the cold wind of the night passing through them, until Suo spoke up, “Sakura-kun, aren’t you happy?” He asks, yet not stopping in his movements.
Neither does Sakura, “What about?”
It’s obvious what I’m talking about... Suo smiles plainly to himself, “That Makochi is safe.”
Sakura looks away. “Well—of course it’d be safe, Bofurin is protecting it.”
Suo peers over at him curiously, before focusing on the path ahead of them. Evading my question, huh? “I asked if you were happy about it, Sakura-kun.”
“...I” Sakura bites his lip, even now, he can’t lie—nor he can be fully honest with everyone just yet.
“You don’t have to answer right now,” Suo abruptly speaks up, snapping Sakura out of his own thoughts, “but you’ll have to give an answer eventually, Sakura-kun.”
Sakura blinks, then looks downward as they walk side by side, he doesn’t think he can face Suo right now—but there wasn’t a need for that, when Suo was the one facing him currently.
Aren’t you happy that Makochi is safe?
A mask of the true question.
Aren’t you happy you protected your home?
He almost scoffs to himself, but instead, he says, “Aren’t fireworks a bit too much? They could’ve gone for food instead...”
Suo smirks at him, saying, “Of course you’d be the one to suggest food, Sakura-kun.” To which Sakura reddens in embarassment.
The taller boy only laughs at his embarassment. “But, we did protect Makochi—there were barely any repairs needed too, this is simply their way of thanking us.”
“That’s true, but...”
Suo’s expression shifts into a small smile, a comforting kind, “No need to worry about anything, they chose to do this—just like how we chose to protect them.”
“...I guess so.”
“Besides,” Suo starts again, “don’t you want to see the fireworks, Sakura-kun?”
Fireworks, huh?
“I don’t know, I don’t really care if I miss it.” Sakura shrugs, internally, he wonders if it’s really such a great way to say thanks—but then again, most of the thanks he’s been given so far are in the form of food from walking around the town. “I never saw it before.”
The other stares with him, not with shock, but with an emotion Sakura can’t decipher—like how it always is with Suo. “Is that so?” He hums, and Sakura could only nod.
Suo smiles, despite Sakura’s disinterested response, “I have a feeling you’ll like it.”
“Hah? Don’t assume anything about me.”
“I wouldn’t, usually,” he chuckles, “but... I know you will.”
“Hm?” Sakura looks at Suo, who was already staring at him with that damned smile, with confusion.
“You are far kinder than you let on, Sakura.”
And instead of blushing like he usually would (okay—maybe he did end up blushing... just a bit), Sakura’s lips part as he looks at Suo with surprise, the two of them stopping in their tracks.
And Sakura... Sakura feels, a little bit too much of everything at this moment, it’s overwhelming... it could consume him. Warmth on his cheeks, sweat on his palms and the non-stop thudding of his heart within his body... and he does not understand a single bit of what’s happening—yet he knows as well.
And when he’s brought back to reality by Suo’s amused laughter, he looks away, choosing to continue on their path—Suo, noticing this, smiles as he follows his captain.
When the three reach their destination, they wait.
And when the fireworks go off, it’s like the night sky left them as it’s enveloped in colors. Sakura watches, just as he would in a fight, never looking away.
And Suo simply chooses to look at his captain.
That’s right, Sakura-kun.
You really are kind, kinder than me.
Burn this sight into your memories, so that you can remember everyone’s gratitude for you—all of Bofurin and all of Makochi.
And remember, we’ll always be with you.
I’ll be there, in every step of the way.
And when the fireworks stop with the night sky starting to dim, Nirei yelps. “Eh! Suo-san, you weren’t watching the fireworks?!”
Sakura turns to look at him as well, attention finally free from the fireworks. He only looks at him with a raised brow.
Suo only chuckles, “Don’t worry. There’ll be more to come anyway.”
And in every one, it’s you that I’ll be burning into my memories.