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“Tomori.”
The waves crashed and swallowed sand, smothered by the night.
“Let’s see the ocean together.”
Off the station, Sakiko and Tomori headed for the beach, their sandals clopped along the road.
“Have you seen the ocean before, Tomori?” Sakiko beamed, her ribbons sparkled. “It’s incomparable! Truly magnificent!”
Tomori adjusted her bag, the summer on her shoulders. “I have... But I’m glad you invited me, Saki-chan.”
The pair continued to chat as they walked. Cicadas chirped, palm trees caught the wind. It was a breezy sunny day.
“Hmm… Should we have a change of nicknames? Anon-san calls you Tomorin as I recall; it might be a little silly, but I’d like to try it as well!”
Sakiko skipped and trotted ahead. Her shoulders raised up, fingers mimed a light seeming waltz; humming through the afternoon.
“Saki-chan…”
Tomori treaded steadily. A casted shadow flew beside her; waves overlapped with her voice. The ocean was near.
“Oh!”
The ocean. It glimmered.
“It’s so pretty…”
“It’s… shining.”
Up above, the moon hung high; a blotch of inky blue on the sky.
“Say, Tomorin.”
“Hm?”
“Shall we play?”
By the sand, their sandals laid.
Sakiko yelped as the sea brushed her ankles.
Tomori crouched, letting her fingers catch salt and sand.
“Tomorin!” Sakiko whisked over to Tomori, her smile met with a curious expression. “Get in the ocean with me!”
“Uh-“
Before she could protest, Tomori was grabbed by the wrist; dragged to feel the ocean crash on her legs.
“It’s pleasant, isn’t it?”
“Mn…”
A soothing feeling. Almost pleasant; almost warm.
“But… Saki-chan…”
The sea shone, evening painted.
“Can I… ask you something?”
The held wrist, loosened off.
“… you may.”
“And I want to…”
Tomori raised her gaze, met with Sakiko’s back.
“I want to hold your hand.”
“…please do.”
Tomori released her fist, and held Sakiko’s hand.
“Saki-chan… are you happy?”
The waves lapped on their dresses. The stars twinkled in. It was a higher tide.
“I…
“I wish…
“I wish I was on the moon”
Fingers stood still. Thumb gently rubbed.
“I wish I could watch the world turn, walking on the lake of oblivion.
“And they would be beside me; undeterred, wounded, loyal.
“What I would be, is a God of distance. A God that is beloved. A God that rejects love.
“I would create a world of fake flowers, ever blooming, never wilting, until time eats me all away.
“But here in this ocean… I-”
The fingers moved up, travelled past the arm to the lips. It was salty.
“Then… are you happy, Saki-chan?”
The thumb on her bottom lip, the palm on her cheek; it stung.
“…”
Tomori brought herself forward, meeting Sakiko, teary eyed.
“Tomori…”
Dark now, stars succumbed to the night.
“If you kiss me, I will never forgive you.”
The hand lightly pressed an earlobe, fingers slid down hair, resting by the neck.
“I know.”
Both gazes locked now, sorrowful.
“Then…”
In the darkness, a kiss echoed.
“I’ll choose to hate myself, for the rest of my life.”