The slope they stood on overlooked a tall waterfall that poured down into a circular lake below. Flowers of pink, yellow, and red floated across the water's surface, while trees lined the edges as if giving way for the sunlight to strike the falling water freely, painting the scene with colors and adding to its beauty.
An awed "Ohhh…" escaped Haruki's lips, but before either of the boys could react further to the breathtaking view before them, Yamika had already pulled off the wolf fur draped over her shoulders and tossed it straight into Noroi's face.
The heavy fur smacked against him, and he clenched it in his hand, pulling it away from his face ,but before he could protest, Yamika had kicked off her boots and dashed forward at full speed, leaping right off the edge, a wide grin splitting her face in pure excitement.
Her body curled into a ball as she descended straight into the water, sending a massive splash that exploded outward.
Her head remained underwater for a few moments before she emerged, her orange hair plastered to her face.
Yamika ran her fingers through her wet hair, pushing it back as she looked up at them with a wide, radiant grin stretching from ear to ear.
She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted up to them.
"The water's amazing! Come join me!"
Haruki's lips lifted as he saw how excited Yamka was, and he felt braver and encouraged.
He looked at her from the top of the slope and shouted.
"I'm coming right now!"
Haruki took a few steps back before bending down, starting to untie his shoelaces and taking off his socks, putting them inside the shoes before untying the cloak's straps from his neck and tossing it aside.
He stood again, his bare feet stepping on the green grass with a slight feeling of moisture, and approached the edge once more, looking down as if to make sure Yamka was still alive, calming his racing heartbeat.
His knees were trembling slightly; he wanted to jump like her but was afraid.
He gathered his courage and stepped back until he felt the distance was good enough, took a deep breath, held it in his lungs, then closed his eyes and dashed forward quickly, leaping off the edge.
His body hit the cold water, creating another splash and a shift in the water's movement in all directions away from him.
Yamka raised her hands to her face to block the scattered drops around them as she laughed with delight.
Haruki's head rose from under the water, gasping for breath, not believing he had done it. He raised his arms up, his brown hair still sticking to his face, but he didn't care and shouted happily.
"I did it!"
Noroi watched what was happening from above, showing no clear reaction on his expression.
He folded Yamka's wolf pelt and placed it next to their shoes, then moved carefully down the other side of the slope on the damp ground.
He reached the bottom and stood by the lake's edge, watching both Haruki and Yamka play in the water like children in a pool; he didn't approach, only watched.
Haruki stopped playing and turned his face toward Noroi, waving broadly at him and calling out.
"Come! Join us, the water isn't deep!"
The last sentence came out of him thinking it would reassure Noroi and make him join them.
Noroi raised one eyebrow at Haruki's reassurance, then shouted at him, annoyed.
"I can swim, you idiot! I just don't want to."
The day went by more beautifully than they had expected.
Yamka and Haruki were busy playing or catching fish, having fun like little kids for the first time since they ended up in this world.
Noroi remained sitting silently on a large rock beside the lake, watching them enjoy their time or planning their next moves.
When the sun finally set and cast its orange rays upon them, the air around them began to grow colder.
Haruki wrapped his arms around himself as chills ran through his body from the lowering temperature of the water.
He looked at Yamka, his teeth chattering, and said in a trembling tone.
"I think we should get out."
Yamka looked at him coldly; she was used to such cold weather from her real life. She smiled mockingly and teased him.
"What? Can't handle a little cold?"
Before she could continue teasing him, she noticed how he was shaking like the last leaf on a tree branch in autumn, so both of them got out of the lake, water dripping from them in endless streaks.
Noroi lit a fire with Mini's help and hung each fish they had caught on a branch he had gathered, starting to grill them.
The three of them sat in comfortable silence around the fire, feeling its warmth as the moonlight shone beautifully upon them.
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Thank you for reading! If this moment touched you even a little , please consider adding it to your library.💐