FMS Episode One 32

"Shall we head back now?"

Aya said as she slipped into the rubber boat. The waves were getting a little rough, probably because of inclement weather somewhere offshore. Sporadic white wave crests were also visible.

"Sure," Chihaya responded. "When we get home, I have to catch up on my math homework."

"Yeah, so do I. But that's OK. I'll put it all together later."

"You shouldn’t. Like I said, when you study your math and science, you do it in small pieces and not in a huge chunk. That’s how you learn your laws and theorems by heart. Remember?”

Aya listened to Chihaya while releasing the boat’s moor from the buoy.

"Chihaya, you’re very smart. I’m jealous."

"Huh?" Chihaya said, surprised. "You shouldn’t be jealous of me, my mom and dad would laugh."

Her own words made Chihaya recall that there had been no serious words from her parents since coming to the island. How far were they with their divorce? And when the summer break was up, will there be a home she could go back to?

"Chihaya," Aya interrupted. For some reason, she had her knees on the rubber deck and leaning forward, gazing up at Chihaya’s face.

"Please. Be Aya's real big sister."

"Aya…" Chihaya said. Aya’s earnest plea had brought her back from her earlier pensive mood. And after a brief pause, she responded with a bright smile. “Sure, I’m happy to be one."

"Really?"

Aya was momentarily back to her innate shy self when they first met. But as she acknowledged that her cousin’s words were genuine, she returned a happy smile. “That’s great, Chihaya. And I promise I’ll be your little sister!”

I wish summer would never end, thought Chihaya. It was almost noon. The overhead summer clouds were still gorgeous, but the whiffs in the background blue of the sky were showing subtle signs of autumn.