Shiki/Vlov under Mid-Autumn Moon"Moon shadows have the same pattern from every angle in this world."
I suddenly remember and call out to Vlov, that is reading a book next to me. He turned to me and tilted his head as he put the book aside. That's true, I thought as I continue.
"The moon is circling this planet, and it keeps circling with the same side of the moon facing us. That's why you see the same pattern no matter where you are in the world."
"That's an interesting coincidence."
"I agree."
As usual, Vlov are very quick to swallow the unknown.
"The pattern is supposed to be the same all over the world, but I heard that the shape of the pattern is totally different in each country. There is a legend that in this country, it looks like a rabbit making rice cakes, but in other countries, it looks like a crab or a woman's face, and so on."
He is thinking about it as he says, "Hmmm."
"I think I heard something like that a long time ago, but I don't know what it was."
"I don't know, I didn't have a clue when I heard about rabbits either, so I understand how you feel."
I return with a laugh.

"People in this country seem to have been fond of the moon for more than a thousand years, and there are many moon poems composed during that time."
"A thousand years."
The profile of the man that muttered this seemed somewhat lonely.
"The same moon I was looking at, someone else somewhere was also looking at"
"Yes, from a thousand years ago to this very moment."
Perhaps even when Vlov was a human being. The moon, the same as it was then, is still shining in the light of the sun.The lives of people beyond time seem to be transparent in the celestial body that continues to be there, unchanged now and then.
What that shadow looks like may be different for each person, but I think I can understand the moon's mysterious charm that makes us feel sentimental.

"Today is the day of the Mid-Autumn Moon, when the moon is particularly beautiful."
Breaking the brief silence, I take Vlov's hand.
"Look, it's a good opportunity, let's go moon-watching."
"Ah."
A streak of light leaks through the curtains of the window, indicating that tonight is a perfect day for moon watching.

I pulled Vlov's hand as he gets up and we go out on the balcony to look up at the moon side by side.
After a while, I notice that Vlov's face, reflects in the moonlight from the side, is as white as the shining moon.
"It's beautiful, isn't it"
"Ah."
We exchange a few words and then turn their attention back to the moon.

The moon is so beautiful tonight.