Leap of Faith
Hunched far over his bedroom desk, Yuichi scribbled down the answer to his final math question. The room was dark from the closed door and early morning sky. His only light came from the table lamp that rested on his large wooden desk. Upon putting the pen down, he rubbed his eyes. The orange coloured light was really starting to hurt his eyes.
Though it was most likely from the lack of sleep. From morning to night Nakamaru Yuichi studied. He studied 7 days a week, 4 weeks a month. The university student never fully understood the meaning of the term break, so when his neighbour Tanaka Koki tapped on his window lightly in request to go star gazing, Yuichi didn’t know what to say.
“C’mon, it’ll be fun! The hill with the temple on top of it has a really great view!”
“I have class in the morning; I really should be trying to get some sleep.”
“Yuichi-kun, come live a little! I’ll be sure to bring you back before sunrise.”
With a sigh, the elder boy agreed as he hopped out the window Koki had somewhat climbed into and jumped down from his 2nd floor balcony to the ground below.
Koki and Yuichi never really spoke a word to the other. They were polite enough to exchange greets when passing by but Koki always had his gang around him, which intimidated Yuichi quite a bit.
Especially since Koki’s friends had frequently, during their high school days picked on him for being a nerd. Who would want to purposely revisit those dark days anyways?
They made their way down the quiet streets with very few words passed between them. That was until the question that had bothered Yuichi the most came out in a string of simple words that he knew, even a high school dropout like Koki, would understand.
“So, why me?”
Koki, who was drifting in and out of his own peace of mind, came back to their world the moment Yuichi’s words registered in his brain.
“You have tons of other friends, Tanaka-kun. I would think that Yamashita-kun or Akanishi-kun would be up for a late night escapade.”
“Ah…well… Yamapi and Jin are fast asleep. I was having a hard time trying to relax so when I looked out my bedroom window and saw your light was still on I thought why not.”
Yuichi nodded, somewhat satisfied by the answer, even if the answer still lacked sufficient enough reasoning for him. But he did take into consider who he was talking to.
When the pair finally arrived, Koki smiled and ran slightly until he fell onto the soft, luscious, green, grass hill as his eyes darted upwards to gaze at the millions of stars.
Not finding himself so care free, Yuichi sat down cross legged beside his acquaintance. He followed Koki’s line of vision and gasped in awe at the sight before him. The sky was beautiful. It was a cloudless night which allowed for a more clear view. He would have never thought such a sight was possible especially in a city like Tokyo.
“Wow,” he breathed, which earned him a laugh from Koki.
“Worth it?”
“Oh yes!”
The two watched in silence as the distant planets and suns twinkled in their galaxies.
That’s when the streak of a shooting star flashed across their eyes. Koki sat up just as a few more stars traveled by.
“Hurry, Yuichi, make a wish!” He called and with a smile the latter did.
“I wish I had friends like you, Tanaka-kun.” He whispered as he pulled his knees up to his chest with a smile.
Koki smiled bashfully as he fell back onto the grass once more. This time he felt rather satisfied with himself, “I knew it was a good idea to ask you. Should be we do this more often then?”
Yuichi nodded as the remainder of the dust filled tails dissolved into the sky.
Checking his watch, Yuichi hadn’t realized they had been out for just over an hour. Pushing on 4 am now, he knew he had to get home. Koki didn’t object. He just walked along side his neighbour. This time on the way back, they exchanged light banter, lots of smiles and the occasional laugh.
Coming up to their building, Koki held Yuichi in place before the elder could climb the stairs to the second story, “Learn to smile more, I’m sure you’ll feel less lonely then.”
Yuichi laughed lightly as he tugged at the hand gripping his wrist. He ended up guiding Koki up the stairs and to their adjacent apartment windows around the backside of the complex.
“I wouldn’t object if we did this every night. It’d be a nice change.”
Koki nodded punching his former classmate in the shoulder lightly, “Whatever you want. I’ll see you tomorrow? Same time?”
“Sure,” he agreed and the boys shook on it before climbing into their respected bedroom windows with a smile.
Sometimes people just need to take that leap of faith. You never know who or what you’re going to find at the end of the rainbow.
___
Though it was most likely from the lack of sleep. From morning to night Nakamaru Yuichi studied. He studied 7 days a week, 4 weeks a month. The university student never fully understood the meaning of the term break, so when his neighbour Tanaka Koki tapped on his window lightly in request to go star gazing, Yuichi didn’t know what to say.
“C’mon, it’ll be fun! The hill with the temple on top of it has a really great view!”
“I have class in the morning; I really should be trying to get some sleep.”
“Yuichi-kun, come live a little! I’ll be sure to bring you back before sunrise.”
With a sigh, the elder boy agreed as he hopped out the window Koki had somewhat climbed into and jumped down from his 2nd floor balcony to the ground below.
Koki and Yuichi never really spoke a word to the other. They were polite enough to exchange greets when passing by but Koki always had his gang around him, which intimidated Yuichi quite a bit.
Especially since Koki’s friends had frequently, during their high school days picked on him for being a nerd. Who would want to purposely revisit those dark days anyways?
They made their way down the quiet streets with very few words passed between them. That was until the question that had bothered Yuichi the most came out in a string of simple words that he knew, even a high school dropout like Koki, would understand.
“So, why me?”
Koki, who was drifting in and out of his own peace of mind, came back to their world the moment Yuichi’s words registered in his brain.
“You have tons of other friends, Tanaka-kun. I would think that Yamashita-kun or Akanishi-kun would be up for a late night escapade.”
“Ah…well… Yamapi and Jin are fast asleep. I was having a hard time trying to relax so when I looked out my bedroom window and saw your light was still on I thought why not.”
Yuichi nodded, somewhat satisfied by the answer, even if the answer still lacked sufficient enough reasoning for him. But he did take into consider who he was talking to.
When the pair finally arrived, Koki smiled and ran slightly until he fell onto the soft, luscious, green, grass hill as his eyes darted upwards to gaze at the millions of stars.
Not finding himself so care free, Yuichi sat down cross legged beside his acquaintance. He followed Koki’s line of vision and gasped in awe at the sight before him. The sky was beautiful. It was a cloudless night which allowed for a more clear view. He would have never thought such a sight was possible especially in a city like Tokyo.
“Wow,” he breathed, which earned him a laugh from Koki.
“Worth it?”
“Oh yes!”
The two watched in silence as the distant planets and suns twinkled in their galaxies.
That’s when the streak of a shooting star flashed across their eyes. Koki sat up just as a few more stars traveled by.
“Hurry, Yuichi, make a wish!” He called and with a smile the latter did.
“I wish I had friends like you, Tanaka-kun.” He whispered as he pulled his knees up to his chest with a smile.
Koki smiled bashfully as he fell back onto the grass once more. This time he felt rather satisfied with himself, “I knew it was a good idea to ask you. Should be we do this more often then?”
Yuichi nodded as the remainder of the dust filled tails dissolved into the sky.
Checking his watch, Yuichi hadn’t realized they had been out for just over an hour. Pushing on 4 am now, he knew he had to get home. Koki didn’t object. He just walked along side his neighbour. This time on the way back, they exchanged light banter, lots of smiles and the occasional laugh.
Coming up to their building, Koki held Yuichi in place before the elder could climb the stairs to the second story, “Learn to smile more, I’m sure you’ll feel less lonely then.”
Yuichi laughed lightly as he tugged at the hand gripping his wrist. He ended up guiding Koki up the stairs and to their adjacent apartment windows around the backside of the complex.
“I wouldn’t object if we did this every night. It’d be a nice change.”
Koki nodded punching his former classmate in the shoulder lightly, “Whatever you want. I’ll see you tomorrow? Same time?”
“Sure,” he agreed and the boys shook on it before climbing into their respected bedroom windows with a smile.
Sometimes people just need to take that leap of faith. You never know who or what you’re going to find at the end of the rainbow.
___