Love So Sweet [an Ohno Satoshi love story] - Chapter 37, part 2
While wandering the decorative, lively streets, Rina and Ohno stopped to listen to a wizened obaa-san recount the bittersweet Legend of Tanabata to a heap of little children at her feet, looking up at her in curiosity and wonderment, mouths hanging open in little O’s. The grandmother gently hushed them all to listen. Her crackly voice grew expansive, narrative and mesmerizing to the young ones, and even the adults around.
“A long, long time ago, there was once a beautiful, talented Sky Princess who wove the brightest, most magnificent constellations across the heavens. One day, she met a strong, handsome and kind shepherd boy of the stars. They quickly fell in love and married. However, their love distracted them from performing their duties. The princess would no longer weave the seams of the sky, and the shepherd let the stars stray in every direction. The cosmos was sent into disarray. The Sky King, the princess’ father, grew angry from their irresponsibility and separated the two lovers on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
“The Sky Princess was devastated at this separation. Her father was moved by her tears, and allowed them one day to meet - once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. However, for the two lovers to cross the river of the Milky Way, a flock of magpies, showing sympathy for the Princess, must come and form a bridge with their wings. They say that if it rains on the day of Tanabata, the magpies cannot fly to make a crossing, and the two lovers must wait another year to reunite.”
One of the little girls raised her hand. Everyone was surprised at her question. “So the princess and the shepherd never forget about each other? Even after being away a whole year?”
The old woman shook her head. “Of course not. They were destined to be together…” She clapped her hands. “Now, minna-san, why don’t you write your wishes and your parents will help you hang them up!”
“Hai~!” The kids were handed colorful sheets of paper by the local store, and they carefully scrawled their wishes in a careful hand - hopes for a new bike, for good grades, to be good at baseball, health for their grandparents - and they sat on their parents’ shoulders and tied the tokens on trees, where bundles of other ornaments and wishes were already strung. All the multicolored streamers and tinsel and paper that filled the skyline made for a surreal scene.
Ohno and Rina decided to make their own tokens too. Ohno wished for smooth sailing - in his family’s lives, in Arashi’s life, and literally in fishing. Rina hoped for safe travels, and wisdom and strength to take risks. They added their charms to the accumulation of everyone else’s dreams. Once they were secured up high, they fluttered happily in the breeze.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning filled the dark sky, followed a few seconds later by a loud clap of thunder. Following suit, an assail of warm summer rain chased down on the festival. Everyone squealed and ran for cover. Rina and Ohno laughed at the unpredictability, and rushed for shelter under the awning of a building. They brushed the water off themselves and grinned at their semi-drowned appearances.
“Now the birds won’t come and the princess and the shepherd can’t meet…” Rina murmured gently as they caught their breath and watched the misty shower around them. “How unfortunate, ne.”
“Ma… I think they’ll find another way across.” Ohno smiled. “If their love is strong enough, the Milky Way won’t be enough to keep them apart for long.”
Now that her hairdo was ruined, Rina undid her bun and let her long black hair cascade down her shoulders. Ohno brushed the silky strands out of her eyes in admiration. Out of nowhere, he hugged her waist from behind and buried his face in her neck. It was the most he could do, to keep her close to him, at least for a little while longer. “I’m going to really miss you.” he whispered sadly.
She leaned against him warmly. “I’m going to miss you too, Ohno-kun - more than you even realize, hountou ni.” she sighed. “Do your best even when I’m gone, okay?”
“Nn.” he nodded slowly. “And don’t forget about me, Rina. Promise?”
“Never.” she murmured. “Distance doesn’t mean a thing.”
For a long time, they stayed silent like that and listened to the deep, calming spray of rain. There was an occasional burst of lightning and the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Nature’s power, that was just how the universe worked, and it was beautiful. It was renewing somehow, this storm.
credit: jesychan
--------------------------------------------------
I keep staring at this picture XD
Thanks for being patient, everyone! There will be more momentum to the story in the last few chapters :)
“A long, long time ago, there was once a beautiful, talented Sky Princess who wove the brightest, most magnificent constellations across the heavens. One day, she met a strong, handsome and kind shepherd boy of the stars. They quickly fell in love and married. However, their love distracted them from performing their duties. The princess would no longer weave the seams of the sky, and the shepherd let the stars stray in every direction. The cosmos was sent into disarray. The Sky King, the princess’ father, grew angry from their irresponsibility and separated the two lovers on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
“The Sky Princess was devastated at this separation. Her father was moved by her tears, and allowed them one day to meet - once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. However, for the two lovers to cross the river of the Milky Way, a flock of magpies, showing sympathy for the Princess, must come and form a bridge with their wings. They say that if it rains on the day of Tanabata, the magpies cannot fly to make a crossing, and the two lovers must wait another year to reunite.”
One of the little girls raised her hand. Everyone was surprised at her question. “So the princess and the shepherd never forget about each other? Even after being away a whole year?”
The old woman shook her head. “Of course not. They were destined to be together…” She clapped her hands. “Now, minna-san, why don’t you write your wishes and your parents will help you hang them up!”
“Hai~!” The kids were handed colorful sheets of paper by the local store, and they carefully scrawled their wishes in a careful hand - hopes for a new bike, for good grades, to be good at baseball, health for their grandparents - and they sat on their parents’ shoulders and tied the tokens on trees, where bundles of other ornaments and wishes were already strung. All the multicolored streamers and tinsel and paper that filled the skyline made for a surreal scene.
Ohno and Rina decided to make their own tokens too. Ohno wished for smooth sailing - in his family’s lives, in Arashi’s life, and literally in fishing. Rina hoped for safe travels, and wisdom and strength to take risks. They added their charms to the accumulation of everyone else’s dreams. Once they were secured up high, they fluttered happily in the breeze.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning filled the dark sky, followed a few seconds later by a loud clap of thunder. Following suit, an assail of warm summer rain chased down on the festival. Everyone squealed and ran for cover. Rina and Ohno laughed at the unpredictability, and rushed for shelter under the awning of a building. They brushed the water off themselves and grinned at their semi-drowned appearances.
“Now the birds won’t come and the princess and the shepherd can’t meet…” Rina murmured gently as they caught their breath and watched the misty shower around them. “How unfortunate, ne.”
“Ma… I think they’ll find another way across.” Ohno smiled. “If their love is strong enough, the Milky Way won’t be enough to keep them apart for long.”
Now that her hairdo was ruined, Rina undid her bun and let her long black hair cascade down her shoulders. Ohno brushed the silky strands out of her eyes in admiration. Out of nowhere, he hugged her waist from behind and buried his face in her neck. It was the most he could do, to keep her close to him, at least for a little while longer. “I’m going to really miss you.” he whispered sadly.
She leaned against him warmly. “I’m going to miss you too, Ohno-kun - more than you even realize, hountou ni.” she sighed. “Do your best even when I’m gone, okay?”
“Nn.” he nodded slowly. “And don’t forget about me, Rina. Promise?”
“Never.” she murmured. “Distance doesn’t mean a thing.”
For a long time, they stayed silent like that and listened to the deep, calming spray of rain. There was an occasional burst of lightning and the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Nature’s power, that was just how the universe worked, and it was beautiful. It was renewing somehow, this storm.
credit: jesychan
--------------------------------------------------
I keep staring at this picture XD
Thanks for being patient, everyone! There will be more momentum to the story in the last few chapters :)