It wouldn’t be a star festival without a meteor shower! Right on time, a beautiful array of shooting stars graces the night sky. This time of year is unnaturally clear and it’s incredibly easy to see the stars. Most meteor fragments appear to be little white or yellow lights streaming across the sky, but if you watch closely enough you may find that some of them seem to be a whole rainbow of colors. The scientists have reported that it’s just different components burning up as they enter the atmosphere, but there’s something undeniably magical about it.
Misha had agonized about this date for forever. Well, for days, at least. Which, for Misha, who never agonized about anything, was forever. Rhona had laughed at him and called him a fool for worrying -- whomever this girl was (because he still hadn't told her and he had no idea why) was clearly head over heels for him. Why else would she put up with him? And Rhona was right. Nissa was indulgent with his failings, and there were many. She celebrated his triumphs, even when he didn't see them. She seemed as entranced by him as he was by her, though he'd never know why. She was so beautiful and bright and talented. An athlete and an artist.
And Misha was just... a civil servant.
And an old one at that, he realized as he began pushing thirty.
He shifted the basket that Rhona had packed him from one hand to the other nervously, feeling stupid that he still felt so giddy while waiting for her even after six months. Was that normal? He'd asked Rhona once only to be reminded that she was a deeply damaged human being and that her experiences were not average experiences. Like Misha was much better. He did see, however, how obsessed with her wife his sister was. And it was becoming increasingly clear by the day that he was in very real danger of being the same way with Nissa. He texted her first thing in the morning and then last thing at night. He passed along stupid little jokes from work to her. She just... popped up in his mind unbidden and without warning.
What is Nissa doing? Is she busy? At practice?
Just by existing, she'd totally captivated him, and he was completely at her mercy.
Part of him wanted to ask what Nissa saw in him, but another was afraid of the answer. Afraid it would make her realize that he had nothing to offer her. So he kept it locked away in his heart, along with every other frightening notion he'd concocted since coming back home. No. Tonight was for something else. Tonight was that uncannily beautiful meteor shower, where Misha would wine and dine Nissa while they watched. Tonight was special, and he wouldn't be muddying it with confusing and frightening questions.
To distract himself, Misha set about setting up the picnic that he’d conned his sister into making with promises of fabulous compensation. The salad dressed with summer berries, slivered almonds, and fire grilled chicken. The bowls of sliced melons. The delicate mille fuille that Rhona had pain painstakingly baked and assembled to, quote, “get him laid.” As though he needed the help. And lastly, two matching star charms. He felt stupid and childish but… they were each other’s colors. Purple for Nissa’s fuku and gold for his own. Something to remind them of each other… was that stupid? Should he… not? He stood there for a long moment before he put the gold charm down on Nissa’s spot. No turning back now.
