Laying on the LeavesIt’s autumn season,

Red, orange, and yellow leaves were everywhere, coloring every scene everyone can see. Leaves are falling from their trees, covering the yard. Unfortunately, the leaves had piled up too thick and had to be cleaned. Every toudans were assigned with their job to clean the Honmaru, including Fuji a 14 years old girl who was taking care of Honmaru.

Fuji was assigned to clean up the yard with Himetsuru, one of the toudans who lived in Honmaru, and her current secretary (kinji). She took the rake from the shed, went to the yard, and started to rake the leaves. She waited for Himetsuru to joined her raking the leaves, but he hadn’t come, so she started to search him.
The Honmaru’s yard is quite large, it might take some time to search him. He was tall enough for tachi, he should be easy to find, unless it’s not.

“Himetsuru-san, where are you” called the girl with the white hoodie crop and white training pants.

She kept calling him but there’s no answer, so she tried to call louder.

“HIME-SAN-“
“Aruji, I’m here.”

Fuji heard Himetsuru’s voice even though it was small. She went towards the source of the voice and saw Himetsuru, laying on the pile of leaves.

“…What are you doing” Fuji asked Himetsuru, looking at him from above.
“Took a short nap, it’s quite comfy here, on the leaves.” He replied while stretching his body.
“Do you have enough nap”
“Nnn”
“Come on now help me rake the-“
“You should try this too. Winter almost comes and we don’t have another time to try this this year.” He cut Fuji’s statement and suggest to laying on the leaves with him.

She thought for a while and then agreed with him. She lay on the leaves, head-to-head beside Himetsuru. It’s not as fluffy as a futon but okay, she could lay down for a short time, together with him. She could feel the soil and the leaves feeling under her body.

“You’re right, it’s okay but I feel dirty laying on the leaves.” She commented.
“Mhm, told ya.” He replied. “I often came here when the weather’s good or when this place was not occupied with others.”
“I see…”
She continued, “The other day…. I found a place, filled with so many trees with beautiful leaves, especially when autumn, you can see the harmony of the colors, red, orange yellow, it’s so beautiful that I want you to see that too.”
“Mhm, we should go if you want. When” He turned his head to her, asking the question.

He saw her face feature, so small with short black asymmetrical hair with small ahoge, sharp straight eyes with the color almost identical to him, the face of a girl that he lowkey admire and like.

“Sadly, last time I went there, all leaves had fallen, only the twigs remain. Maybe next year, how about it” She turned her head towards him, looking at his face.
“Too long, but okay for me. Just say whenever you want to go. I am your sword, after all.” He answered, still looking at her.

Fuji blushed a little, she knew it was the fact but when he blurted out the fact, she felt a thump in her heart, flustered a little.

“Yes, you are.”

(…..my beloved sword.)