The sound of the shinkansen leaving Niigata overpowered the wind which carried the tides onto the sand. Suoki had mentioned just moments before how nice it was that they could not hear the sound of traffic on Route 402. That the shinkansen was somehow louder than the wind came across as particularly arrogant of it. Whose idea was it to make the stupid thing so loud? Without much recourse for an answer though, Numura just sat next to Suoki with the thought. 

“Think the fireworks will start soon?” She sighed. 

“It said they’d start at eight, I wonder what’s taking so long?” Suoki said. 

Numura felt a pang of guilt looking at Suoki. Like the strength of cinnamon flavoring in a pastry. Definitely perceptible, but far away from the volume. Just a taste covered up by the sweet sugar cream glaze. What hurt most of all was the awareness that she could not really partake.

“Lame that the others couldn’t come, it's kind of quiet with just the two of us.” In reality it was anything but, with about thirty other people hanging around as well. Some families, couples, and a few kids their age from the public high school. She eyed those ones with jealousy, it was easy not having parents who were super picky about education. 

“I guess so. When was the last time it was just us hanging out?” Suoki slipped her phone back into the pocket of her coat. 

“That time I talked to you after junior high graduation. Almost a year.”

The shift in the air was almost immediate upon mention of that day. 

“I see…” 

Numura could taste the cold. It clung to her clothes and penetrated the wall of her scarf. She retreated into it, breathing hotly into the wool. She had always hated the winter, especially the January snows and awful cold fronts. Niigata had almost none of that beach city aesthetic that teenagers loved. The memory of an unused swimsuit she had gotten before moving there had a uniquely depressing sting. Especially given her current situation. Though, again, she kept weird thoughts like that to herself. 

“Yeah, we met the other girls after that. Kind of nostalgic, huh?” Numura reminisced. 

“I miss it.” Suoki mumbled, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on her arms. 

Almost a year since that day. Not a moment alone. That was a long time to think about things, about where a person stands in another's life. Numura had gotten used to waiting. She became content with the status she held. Drifting day to day enjoying the wonder and warmth of the cold city of Niigata. However, with the move encroaching on that joy, with indecisive adults pulling her life this way and that, the snow crept into her little paradise. It revealed how dry and lifeless it was. The faint cinnamon taste had become something she cherished. She had to cherish it, she had to wait for her sugar coated pastry to arrive. Though, if it never did, she was more than happy to wait forever. 

Yet that forever was taken from her. 

“I’m moving.” Numura said, facing out to the sea.

Suoki scooted closer and rested her head on Numura’s shoulder.

“Where to?”

“Kobe, my mother seems to think Kobe Jaisei is a better school...”

“Do you agree?” 

“Of course not, but it’s not my choice.” Numura sighed. The new weight felt warm, and it seemed remarkable that such a light burden heated her frigid body. 

“But I was?” Suoki’s face glowed red uttering the words

“Yeah.”

They sat like that, waiting for the fireworks to start. Numura wished they never would, and that she could enjoy that moment alone with Suoki and the stars for the rest of time. The little will-o-wisps on the far horizon, glittering over the waters of Niigata, blended with the stars in the haze of Numura’s moistened eyes. 

“I’ll come visit on holidays and stuff, my grandparents are staying here. I guess those snowmen like Niigata’s weather more. I’ll let you know when I’m in town.” Late arrivals funneled onto the beach from several cars that interrupted the sound of the waves. 

“You’re so unfair, going about it like this.” Suoki grumbled. 

“Sorry.” Numura laughed. 

A pillar of light appeared in the darkness. It rose into the stars and burst outward in a supernova of color and blinding spectacle. A flash of bright white, followed by a rainbow of red, yellow, and blue. Then another pillar erupted from its home amongst the will-o-wisps, bearing itself off into the grandiose infinity of the night sky. Blooming like a flower of wistful camellia that emanated orange pollen which fizzled and became one with the far off other numerous stars. Those wisps all began to fly forth after their predecessors, exploding into an array of blues and purples and greens. All leaving the cold city of Niigata for the expanse of a cosmos that they could not have known, and yet without even a singular hint of restraint. 

The memory came to her the next day as she looked out the window at the fading skyline of Niigata. Suoki’s face, lit by the fireworks reflected in those glorious eyes. She had cut her hair to look more mature, and it just made her seem all the more adorable. Like a child pouting when they were denied a sweet. The year before, Numura had confessed every unknown emotion. That pastry, so sweet and fluffy, smiled and said she would think about it. Finally, after that time, an answer was given. Sitting beside her, unable to focus on the display, Numura could only think of one thing that would make up for the year of fasting she had been loyal to. She reached over and tasted the sugared glaze. As the shinkansen made its low hum, Numura laughed to herself. 

The pastry tasted like strawberry lip balm.