She Was Beautiful Like the Moonlight

Two days after Haruka's announcement, it was a chilly Saturday morning. I stood outside my house, the cold biting at my skin even through my hoodie. The street was quiet, and the morning sky was painted with hues of pale blue and orange. My breath formed small puffs in the air as I waited.

The creak of the door behind me drew my attention. Haruka stepped outside, her calm demeanor unchanged despite the early hour. She closed the door gently, her gaze falling on me.

"You're up early," she said, her voice light but carrying an undertone of curiosity.

I nodded, shoving my hands into my hoodie pockets. "I was waiting for you guys…"

A brief silence followed, the kind of silence that lingered like an unspoken question. I shuffled my feet, unsure of how to fill the gap between us. Haruka broke the silence, her voice softer this time.

"Himeya…" she said, looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

I turned to face her fully and noticed something unusual—her eyes carried an unfamiliar unease, a vulnerability I rarely saw in her.

"Why that face, sis?" I asked, concern creeping into my tone.

Without answering immediately, she stepped closer and gently patted my head, a gesture she hadn't done in years. "I just wanted to see my little brother today. Can't I?"

Her words carried a warmth that wrapped around me like a blanket against the cold. For a moment, I didn't know how to respond. She was my sister, but she was also Attila, the goddess who had given me this second chance at life. It was hard to reconcile those two identities sometimes.

"Haru-nee…" I murmured, breaking out of my thoughts. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a letter I had written the night before. My heart pounded as I held it out to her.

"What's this?" she asked, taking the folded paper from my hand.

"Open it," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

"Now?"

"If you want to."

She smiled faintly, unfolding the letter with careful fingers. As her eyes scanned the words, her expression softened. By the time she finished reading, tears glistened in her eyes, but her smile remained.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Those two simple words carried more weight than I could have imagined.

Without realizing it, I was smiling too.

The sound of the door opening again broke the moment. Touka emerged, dragging a suitcase behind her. Her expression brightened when she saw me, and I quickly walked over to help her with the luggage.

"Thanks," she said with a small smile.

I nodded, carrying the suitcase to Haruka's car. My hands brushed against the cold metal as I loaded it into the trunk.

"Why are you up so early?" Touka asked when I returned to her side.

"Well, I wanted to spend some time with you before you leave," I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended.

Haruka, sensing the need to give us privacy, went back inside, closing the door behind her.

"She seems to understand," Touka remarked, glancing at the house.

"Well, Haru-nee is Haru-nee," I replied with a chuckle.

I noticed then that Touka's outfit wasn't suited for the cold. Her shirt was light, and the chilly wind was picking up.

"You're not cold?" I asked, frowning slightly.

She shrugged. "I am, but I like the cold. It wakes me up."

Shaking my head, I pulled off my hoodie and draped it over her shoulders. "Here."

Her eyes softened as she adjusted the hoodie. "…Thanks."

We ended up sitting in the backseat of Haruka's car, the quiet between us comfortable this time. The minutes ticked by, and I felt the weight of the approaching goodbye growing heavier.

"So, is that all you wanted to say?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"No, I—" I hesitated, my words catching in my throat. How could I sum up everything I wanted to say in just a few minutes?

In less than two hours, Touka and I would be apart for nearly a year. I couldn't let her leave without giving her something to remember this moment by.

"Touka, let's go somewhere before you leave."

"Where?"

I stepped out of the car and held out my hand. "To the beach."

We rode my motorcycle to Enoshima Beach, the wind rushing past us as the town blurred into a tapestry of colors. When we arrived, the sound of waves greeted us, a soothing rhythm that seemed to ease the tension in my chest.

"It's calming here," Touka said, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

I nodded as we walked along the shore, the sand crunching softly beneath our feet. Eventually, we sat down near the water, the cool breeze brushing against our faces.

"Remember that time you asked, 'If I moved to the other side of the moon, would you come get me?'" I said, smiling at the memory.

"Yeah, I remember," she replied with a laugh. "You almost cried back then."

"Hey, that's not the part you're supposed to remember," I protested, but her laughter was contagious.

We both laughed, the sound mingling with the crashing waves. It felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of us. Then, Touka leaned her head on my shoulder, her hair tickling my cheek.

"If I really did move to the other side of the moon, would you come get me?" she whispered.

"Yeah, I would," I said, my answer unwavering.

"I knew you would…" she murmured, her voice soft and full of trust.

Before I could say anything else, she turned to me and kissed me. It was a kiss filled with unspoken promises, with a depth of emotion that words couldn't capture.

As the sun began to rise, its warmth enveloping us, we returned to my house. Haruka's car was waiting in the driveway, and my parents stood on the porch, their expressions a mix of pride and melancholy.

Touka approached my mother, who smiled warmly and handed her a small case.

"What's this?" Touka asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

"Open it," my mother said, her tone gentle.

Touka opened the case to reveal a necklace with a delicate moon-shaped pendant. Her eyes widened, and she looked at my mother with gratitude.

"Thank you, Mother," Touka said, her voice trembling as she hugged her.

My mother returned the embrace. "Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to call us."

"Yes, Mother," Touka replied, her smile bright despite the tears in her eyes.

After exchanging farewells, Haruka and Touka got into the car. As they drove away, their car disappeared over the horizon, leaving a bittersweet quiet in their wake.

"Well, we've got a lot of time now, don't we, dear?" my mother said, turning to my father.

"Yeah…" my father sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Why the long face, Dad?" I asked, tilting my head.

"My daughters have left their mark," he replied with a bittersweet smile.

"Since when is Touka your daughter?" I teased.

"You're planning to stay together, right?" he countered.

"…Well, yeah."

"Then she's my daughter," he said firmly.

Looking at him, I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Dad."

The morning sun rose higher, bathing us in its light. I watched as its rays stretched across the sky, feeling a sense of peace. This was just another chapter in our story, but no matter how far Touka and I might be, we would always find our way back to each other.