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Pity the phantom, pity the liar. Pity he who’s losing his only desire.
Gentaro didn’t know what he was doing at the Tanabata festival, writing short poetic wishes on a tanzaku. Has his desperation really brought him to wish upon a piece of paper tied on bamboo? Was he really putting the fate of his best friend in the hands of gods? Was he really that useless, that all he could do is pray to anyone that could be listening? It's not like anyone would listen to someone like him anyway. He should be at his friend's side, not out here.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when a strong wind blew and a tanzaku swept by his face. Catching it on reflex, Gentaro noticed it was already written on.
I want to live life happily.
The bluntness of the written wish held a certain sincerity, and he appreciated that. Gentaro may think wishing on things and believing in luck is ridiculous, but he can always appreciate it when people have some hope to hold onto. They're lucky enough to be holding onto something in the first place.
Thinking it’d be disrespectful to leave it be, Gentaro reached up to place it on a bamboo.
“‘Scuse me, that’s mine. Thanks for getting it!”
Gentaro was surprised to feel a hand stopping his, and he was even more surprised to see it belonged to a young man. Long, blue hair tied into a low ponytail, several accessories and pins, a light yukata framing wide shoulders, a soft smile, and purple eyes that tell a different story. Even though he looked well off, the look in his eyes made it obvious. He's discontent. Perhaps a spirit resided in his body which caused the sudden rebellious attitude? Maybe he was struck by cupid’s arrow and needed to unite with his true love? What led him to dislike a life that so many others wish for? He shouldn't be meddling in a stranger's personal life. He could probably make an interesting protagonist, though.
Gentaro was staring for too long, wasn’t he.
“I apologize, here. I meant no disrespect.”
The stranger was seemingly being called by someone, so he hurriedly put up his tanzaku. Though, he did take a moment to close his eyes, perhaps to wish on it once more.
As he turned away, Gentaro swore he spared a glance at him, making brief eye contact once more.
Gentaro put up his own tanzaku, and despite feeling ridiculous, closed his eyes as well.
Maybe he should start having faith too.
Right?
It’s been a year since his friend died.
Gentaro’s feet somehow dragged him to the bamboos at the Tanabata festival again. It’s the same bustle of people, yet each face is different. It’s the same tanzakus, yet different wishes were written upon it. It’s the same stars in the night sky, yet everything beneath it is different.
Until he felt a sudden wave of familiarity.
It took time for him to even realize why, but it crashed into him in the nicest way possible. He didn’t want to question it. For a moment, he just wanted to enjoy the same feeling of hope he held last year.
He hadn’t realized he had his eyes locked on a person the entire time. Before being caught staring, he looked away.
Gentaro then gave a blank look to the empty piece of paper in his hand. Was it even worth it to wish on something anymore? Was there anything left worth wishing for? The last time he did this, what happened right after ruined his life. What did he do wrong? Did he deserve this? Was his existence really that much of a mistake?
He got snapped out of this trance when he noticed something move out of the corner of his eye.
The stranger left already?
Gentaro’s eyes quickly followed the figure, though he stayed in his place. It’s not like he had any reason to follow him anyway, though he did feel a tug in his guts to do so. The stranger definitely changed in appearance, his hair was longer and is much messier (is that a half mullet?), but had the same accessories. He still looked elegant, nonetheless. Gentaro wonders if he knows there’s a novel out there based on him.
Torn apart and beaten, the phantom lost. Begging for something, anything, no matter the cost.
Hanging it up this year felt even more ridiculous, since the exact opposite of his wish happened 2 hours after him wishing upon the stars. It looks like the stranger didn’t have as much of a successful outcome either, though he didn’t have any right to assume.
It’s not like he’s got anything left to lose though. There’s no interest in a life without risk, right?
Everything’s changed again a year later.
Gentaro himself is a completely different person now. Literally. His fame grew quickly in the literary world, and his stories now brought smiles to more people other than someone in a hospital bed. Opportunities he didn't know existed were being offered to him. He even got offered to join a rap team by a legendary hypnosis mic user from what used to be The Dirty Dawg (he still hasn't reached a conclusion on this).
When he gained more recognition as an author, he didn’t really think people would be that interested in his life. But with the amount of times he’s told the same truthful-yet-fabricated story, he might have even convinced himself at this point.
It’s close enough to the truth anyway. He’s only had one friend, who then became sick, then he started writing stories to make him happy, then he realized he was good enough to pursue a career in writing, so on and so forth. A simple, believable, and heartwarming sob story. They don’t have to know that the friend’s been gone for 2 years already.
The only thing that grounds him in reality is the day of his death. Tanabata.
For once, Gentaro actually tried going around the festival. The scene was truly ideal, seeing people come together and celebrate under the sky painted by the Milky Way. All these people came here to wish upon the stars, hoping on something. How romantic.
As he still had time to spare, Gentaro made his way to a secluded area to appreciate the night sky. He rarely got the chance to look at it clearly in the light pollution of Shibuya, and it would probably let him clear his mind a bit. A few minutes of sitting under a tree and being alone with the stars seems ideal at the moment.
His little moment of peace was interrupted by soft humming from the other side of the tree Gentaro was leaning against. He decided not to interrupt the other person, whoever they were, and let the soft tune of what sounded like Happy Birthday fill the air.
A birthday on the same day as a day of death. It was amazing, wasn't it? On a day that Gentaro associates with loss and loneliness, another associates with celebration and new hope. It was quite a sobering realization; the world doesn't revolve around him after all.
The stranger's humming grew silent as they stood up, and— wait, it was that stranger? The stranger?
They stared at each other for a moment that felt painfully long, until Gentaro finally spoke up.
"Sorry for intruding on you, I hadn't noticed you were there."
"No, it's fine. I'm just… not used to someone else bein' here. You're welcome to stay here though." He was looking away, trying to hide his eyes from Gentaro.
"It's fine, I need to be somewhere anyway," Gentaro said, wanting to respect his privacy and space.
As he was leaving, Gentaro momentarily stopped right by the stranger.
"Also, happy birthday."
Gentaro left and forgot to write a tanzaku this year.
"Gentaro~ Daisu~ Guess what day it is tomorrow!!!" Ramuda exclaimed.
"Oh my, have you predicted your last day on Earth? What flowers would you like at your funeral?" Gentaro said with a sarcastic tone.
"Hah? Wait, Ramuda can see the future?" Dice's eyes quickly flicked up at Ramuda.
"Dice, I can't believe you expressed no concern at all that he said I'm gonna die. Well, it doesn't matter since you guys are wrong!! It's Tanabata tomorrow and you're coming with me~!!!"
Gentaro froze for a bit, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Dice flinch as well.
Of course he knew it was Tanabata tomorrow. In fact, he's been dreading it ever since he joined Fling Posse.
Ever since he found out that his teammate and close friend was the stranger he'd seen every Tanabata.
The stranger that strangely gave Gentaro much more hope than anything in the past 3 years.
The stranger that's been occupying his mind more and more now that he's not a mere stranger anymore.
"Oh c'mon, why the sour expression??? Do you guys really not go to Tanabata??? I have yukatas and all if you're unprepared—though I doubt Gentaro needs it—"
"Yeah, let's go. I'll pass on the yukata though, Ramuda," Dice interrupted.
"Wow, Dice? Really? I'll be expecting a lot from you then!! Make sure you look good!!! How about you Gentaro?"
Gentaro nearly flinched, but he was able to control his expression. "Of course, I'll be there."
"How long is Dice gonna take?" Gentaro complained, mostly just to distract himself.
He could do this, it's fine. Dice probably forgot him from then anyway. All Gentaro needs is to lie, which he knows better than anyone. He's a natural at this. He'll be fine, right?
"Oh hey, is that Dice— Dice?! " Ramuda shouted.
Gentaro knew what to expect already, but it didn't change the fact that it took his breath away. The way the delicate yukata framed him, the accessories in his hair, the way he carried himself differently, and just… Dice.
"Hey, don't sound too surprised you know…" Dice muttered, trying to hide his blush. It wasn't working.
"I didn't know you had something like this ! This is amazing! Wait, are these flowers hand painted? Who did you gamble with to score something this beautiful?" Ramuda rambled.
"It really is beautiful, isn't it…" Gentaro muttered absentmindedly, and mentally regretted it immediately. He'll just pretend no one heard that. He was only talking to himself. It'll be fine. Gentaro's gonna be lying to himself a lot today.
"I've never seen Dice so shy either! Hello~ Dice, Fling Posse still needs you~ Are you there???' Ramuda teased.
Dice sighed. "This whole thing is a long story… but I'd never gamble this away. It's mine."
Fling Posse had a great time at the festival. They tried nearly every food stall, played carnival games, and wrote tanzakus together. It was the first time Gentaro was actually able to celebrate Tanabata properly and happily.
But as the night drew on, he found himself stuck in a situation he's been dreading.
Ramuda took his leave a bit earlier than planned, clinging onto one of his onee-sans, leaving Gentaro alone with Dice.
Throwing out all the mental and emotional preparation he's done, Gentaro felt the need to acknowledge their whole past somehow. This is the only chance he'll be able to say this, so he better make it count.
"Happy birthday, Dice."
"Huh- wait, how'd ya know?" Dice's head snapped up quickly, looking at Gentaro with a confused, wide-eyed expression.
All Gentaro could do is put his hand under Dice's, in the same way Dice held it the very first time they met. He prayed on any god listening that it works and he's not making a fool of himself at this very moment.
1.
2.
3.
"You're- "
"Come with me. You know where we're headed."