Kumiko's POV

I pant my lungs out as I bend my legs up the hill. The hiking trail. It's been a while since I've done any exercise with my legs, so walking up the big hill was challenging.

I can already feel myself breaking a sweat from about a mile away from the bottom. Man, I need to work on my legs more. At least I'm doing this for a reason.

Reina asked me to meet her at the same area we had our first 'real' conversation. I guess it counts... I wasn't making the air awkward like before. Honestly, it feels like it was yesterday. Reina wore her hair in a high pony tail, her dress was the brightest of teal I have ever seen, and... she really pulled it off. It was beautiful that night... maybe too beautiful on account of Reina filling my vision.

I shook that thought away, taking a breather near the top of the trail onto a flatter surface. I shouldn't be thinking about stuff like that... Reina liked Taki-sensei after all, so there was no point in fantasizing about her.

Speaking of which, I wonder if she confessed to him? She mentioned she would confess her feelings the other day... so maybe that's why she asked me to meet her? I sighed to myself. Damn Reina... always keeping me guessing.

Finally, I made it to the top of the trail. everything was organized the same and the atmosphere was cool to the touch of my skin. It felt familiar. The only thing that wasn't familiar was another body has not shown up.

I guess Reina was late. Very much so. I figured she would of been here by now, but my suspicions were wrong. I wonder where she could be?

What if she's dolling herself up like last time? You can easily see people walking behind you, so I would of seen her by now. Now I started overthinking things. Maybe she got caught somewhere or has fallen or worst!?

I sat down on the tiny stairs facing the view of the city. There was a green fence blocking the giant hill plummeting down to who knows where. I began to rock my thighs side to side, keeping my hands in my lap. I was nervously waiting. I hope she's alright.

10 minutes passed and there was no sign of someone walking behind me. It does take a while to walk up here, so maybe she's on her way? Maybe...

I sighed and decided to look across the horizon. I pulled myself up from the staircase and leaned my arms on the bars of the fence. It was a beautiful night like before. All of the millions of lights turned on, the dark sky unable to block my vision. It was perfect. Well... it would be even more perfect once Reina shows up.

The more I think about it, the more I assume she did not call me here to talk about Taki-sensei. I mean, I know she loves the guy, but would she really come all this way to tell me he rejected or accepted her? It feels like she can tell me over a sleepover or on the train. Now she's got me guessing again...

I guess it's a good distraction to waste time anyway. Man, feelings suck sometimes...

Another 10 minutes gone by and she still wasn't here. Actually, I could text her to see where she is. I was about to pull my phone out until I had a sudden thought not to do it. I know this trick. Once I start texting her, she'll be here by now. I'm not falling for it!

I kept myself distracted by the view, getting lost in my thoughts. I feel like time is slowing down and I've been here for a month. I'm starting to get bored waiting here.

Maybe I was wrong to come and she won't show up? I sigh at that thought. No, it's unlike Reina to break her word, I'm just overthinking again. She always kept her promise no matter what. She's such a great... friend.

An image of Reina popped into my head, maybe I was staring at her too much during practice today. The way her fingers easily complimented her lips while playing the trumpet suddenly came to me. She was good with her fingers.

My thoughts caused my cheeks to heat up, so I lightly smack both of my cheeks with my hands. What did I say? You can't be thinking of stuff like that!

"What are you doing?" The sound of someone's voice forced me to jump and let out a little squeak. I was caught up in my head to not hear footsteps. This only happens to me, I swear.

I turned around to see a wave of black hair flowing in the wind (not wrapped up), two pairs of amethyst eyes gazed in my direction, they were bright. Her figure was hugged by a dress with an interesting shade of color. Auburn.

"Ah, Reina! Hi!" A look of fear was present on my face, I was caught off guard. Reina didn't look offended, she simply covered her mouth to hold in a giggle. Damn, she looked so cute.

"Hello. Sorry for being late, I had a hard time deciding which outfit to wear... so I went with this," she averted her eyes, playing with the hem of her dress which had a amber colored shade to it.

"That's alright, you... did not disappoint. You look very pretty," luckily, I was a grave distance away from her or she could make out my reddened face clearly.

"Thanks..." she walked closer to where I was standing. My face has yet to cool down, so I turned my body around and waited for Reina to stand beside me.

This feels familiar. The atmosphere, the lights, the... person. I like this. I felt comfortable and at ease once Reina stood beside me. Makes me wish this could of been a date... rather than a meet up.

"So... why did you ask me to meet you?" I asked her, but I was still looking into the distance to look at the mesmerizing lights ahead.

In the corner of my eye, Reina's expressionless face was glancing over at me, however, she wasn't looking at my face, she was looking at something else before she spoke. "I confessed to Taki-sensei."

My heart quickened it's pace. Why was it doing that like it's the end for me? I feel like my body didn't like that response, even if I thought about Reina telling me she did.

"Oh? Really..." I tried to sound amused in my speech. "What did he say?"

Without hesitation, she answered. "He rejected me. He told me he found a new lover during our last performance, so that was that."

I blinked. For someone who screams in the most private of areas to let emotions out, Reina didn't do that. She was surprisingly calm... and I feel better knowing he rejected her. My body stopped tensing up.

"I'm... sorry to hear that. You're doing okay, yeah?" I finally looked her in the eye, her expression unaltered.

"I am. I feel relieved I told him, now it won't get in the way of my other crush."

Oh, that's ni— wait another crush?" The same tense feeling inside me came right back up. Who could it be this time? Was it another boy?

Reina flipped her hair behind her back and curved her lip into a small smile. "You're terrible."

I blinked hard again. Am I missing something here? "So is that why you brought me here? To tell me about your crush and confession and then make fun of me?" I pouted.

Suddenly, I watched Reina place her hand on top of mine. "This is why you're terrible. You're so dense sometimes."

I blushed. There was no doubt she could see it now. "Um... Reina?" She moved closer towards my face.

She squeezed my hand. "There was a another reason I felt relieved while confessing to Taki-sensei. The aftermath. I didn't feel sad or numb or heartbroken. It only made me want have stronger feelings for my other crush. I feel horrible knowing I had the wrong love this entire time." Reina turned her body at an angle where I could see her anterior. If my reddened face wasn't any clearer, then I think her holding my hand against her heart was enough.

"It's you, Kumiko. It's always been you."

My heart leaped out of my chest to be hearing those words. She didn't ask me to come here just because of her rejection... she came here to confess to me. How could I be so blind? No. Reina is hard to read, so it's understandable. I should be deaf instead.

"Reina..." her steady, calm heart was thumping against my fingers, she was happy. I could feel it in her chest. And... I think I am feeling happy too.

I chuckled out loud. "I... uh... I actually like you too... haha," I knew for a long time. It was hard to keep under my skin, but that skin shedded its way to the surface again and I confessed to Reina.

Okay now that I think about it, she has touched me more than others, so I guess I am blind and... deaf.

Reina's cheeks turned the pinkest red I have ever seen. Only she was this vulnerable around me. Only she would vent and I would listen. Only she would hug me. Yeah, blind and deaf will cover it.

She did hug me. I could feel her arms wrapping around my arms, she was a soft hugger.

"I'm happy to hear that. You mean so much to me, Kumiko," she rubbed my back. I was scared we would never leave this spot ever again. Not that I would regret it. I finally returned her hug.

"I'm... sorry for not knowing sooner, I should of known from the signals you gave me," I frowned. I did feel guilty for not thinking much about it. Maybe I was too focused on suppressing my own feelings I didn't read the signals.

"That's okay. I think it worked out just fine," Reina removed herself from the hug to look at me again. Now that the cat was out of the bag, her face was a masterpiece, glowing with the lights beside her. She was so beautiful. My heart melted at her little smile to her auburn colored dress.

"Besides, that means you wouldn't have guessed why I chose this color," Reina softly  giggles. Huh? I scanned her dress again to see if I missed something. The only colors present were auburn and amber...

Reina's fingertips ran through my short curls in my hair and her other hand cupped a part of my cheek that's under my eyes. "Your auburn hair looks nice in the light. So does your amber eyes, you should stay in the sun more often," the puzzle pieces started to connect in my head. My eyes widened.

"Reina... you work in mysterious ways... but I wouldn't change a single one of them," I said before making my move. I decided it was the best opportunity to do so.

A kiss. She was so close and yet somehow closer once my lips automatically pressed against hers. But, that wasn't the best part. She was kissing me back.

I was no longer scared to stay like this forever.