TSURUNE: KAZEMAI KOUKOU KYUUDOUBU YABAI - FUJIWARA NO AI (FUJIWARA'S LOVE)
Akane Kyudo

Several times Shuu messed up his phone, dialing the same number 30 minutes ago. His gaze could not be separated from the window of the room that looked dark on the other side. The tightly closed window with invisible curtains opened again, as if hiding the warmth of a togetherness.

"Has she slept?"

Shuu then keeps his phone and goes to Akane's house.

The door to Akane's house several times without any sign of it being opened.

There are many things I want to tell you

His net was focused on staring at the clear sky sprinkled with thousands of stars.

I have to meet Takigawa-san right now. My misunderstanding of the love she was referring to, had already gotten Akane into trouble.

"Although I can go to Takigawa-san's place tomorrow morning, but I can't calm down. I have to see him now."

Accompanied by the silver light of the full moon with firm steps, Shuu walked towards the Yata Temple. His steps came to a halt as his net caught Akane firing her arrow.

"Akane?! What's he doing here?"

...🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁...

"...Their relationship is not a mistake!"

Although dozens of arrows had already struck the target, Akane's mind was still filled with the sentence that Minato had said earlier this afternoon.

Akane took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.

Why is everyone so selfish? No matter how sharp a word is, no matter who it is spoken to, no matter how hurt someone else feels, without thinking everyone immediately says what they want to say. Yes it is good but it is quite cruel.

The sapphire netra stared at the focus of the target in front of him. He then performs 'Ashibumi', Akane stretches her legs parallel to the arrow.

From the beginning I couldn't accept his statement. Why should I stay away from Shuu just because she has a lover? Isn't that because he's jealous? It's only natural, because I know Shuu better than he does. But I don't think he should do any of this.

Akane focuses her body doing 'Dozukuri'.

Is this something true? Just because I'm always with him, everyone calls me a bully. I don't interfere in his personal affairs either.

Akane then did 'Yugamae'. He held the bowstring with an indentation at the base of his thumb and placed the arrow on top of his hand.

Has love? Nonsense about that. I want her Kyudonya abilities to improve but I don't want to stay away from Shuu.

Akane raised both her hands at the same height. He did 'Uchiokoshi'.

In the end, I was selfish too. I wanted to greet him when I met him. I wanted to see her smile, I wanted to laugh with her, but now I'm staying away from her. My brain and heart are out of sync. I doubt if I'm still okay until now?

Akane is in the position of 'Hikiwake'. He pulled the rope without taking his eyes off the target that was in front of him.

Lately Shuu looks moody. Now he has lovers, friends and other senpai who still support him but why is he always moody? Ah, I want to cheer her up, I want to be next to her, I want to make her smile again. The kyudo changed, the tsurunya changed too. I have a lot of questions but I don't have a single answer or reason.

After quite a hard and rigorous training, he managed to pull the arrows firmly. He seemed to be very focused on himself as well as on the arrows and targets that were in front of him. Very beautiful 'Kai' position.

But he remains Shuu, Fujiwara Shuu. My friend, my good and great friend with a face and personality that is always calm. A person who was reliable despite the cold aura always enveloped him. An unhumorous person with strong rational thinking.

I want to be selfish. It doesn't matter if I only get to see her once a week. It doesn't matter if I hate everyone. I don't even care if that girl comes back to me in a more ruthless way. But I don't want us to end up like this. I don't want my friendship with Shuu to end. My relationship with Shuu is not a mistake!

A strong wind blew against Akane's face, along with the release of the arrow from her hand.

Tsurune Akane is pretty loud yet beautiful. Bring calm with sadness in it. Like a cold autumn wind, the leaves of momiji are full of light and color in their last days. Akane has turned this entire dojo into a sea of red momiji leaves.

Shuu..

Clear water droplets dripped in the corner of Akane's eye along with the arrow. His slightly blurry gaze was inseparable from the target even as Akane lowered her bow.

"Akane.." muttered Minato staring in admiration before staring at the worried Akane.

Akane sat on the floor. With tears still flowing, he stared at the one last arrow that was still in his hand.

Akane stared at the bow she was holding and kept her arrow. One of his hands he used to cover his face. He started sobbing.

"Akane, are you okay?" Minato asked worriedly. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"I don't want my friendship with Shuu to end."

"I-I can't do it. I can't get away from her, Minato"

Akane's cry broke out right then and there. Both of his hands were busy wiping away the rushing tears.

Quickly the green net owner stroked Akane's back to calm her down. Her net was sad to see her best friend cry.

"How's this? I can't do it Minato. I want to hear his voice. I want to greet him. I want to smile and laugh with him. I don't want to get away from him. I want to see Kyudonya. I want to hear Shuu-'s tsurune"

A moment after Akane said her true feelings, a beautiful tsurune sound was also as clear as the rain water whirring. Tsurune typical of the Young Prince.

Akane quickly raised her face. He saw an arrow coming into contact with the arrow he had just released.

"Without the need, I will always show you my Kyudoku."

This sound!

The sapphire netra widened, shocked by what she saw at this moment.

"I'm guilty. I'm sorry, Akane" said Shuu holding his best friend's shoulder.

"From the beginning I didn't want you to stay away from me" she explained staring inside the two sapphire beads.

"I'm sorry that my misunderstanding of the meaning of love hurt you. Really forgive me. Just like you, I want to greet you too. There's a lot I want to tell you. I don't want our friendship to end like this" Shuu said, staring warmly at the sapphire's veiled and tearful neutrals.

"Shuu.." Akane's crying broke again and she cried again.

"Thank you for keeping your promise. You have shown a very beautiful Kyudo" Shuu smiled. His hand rubbed the corner of Akane's eyes, wiping away her tears.

Minato who was not far from them also smiled with relief. Finally, these two friends can make up and return to how they were.

"Thank God.. I'll be out for a minute. You two have worked hard, talk and solve the problem" Minato said with a smile.

...🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁...

The awkwardness re-spread throughout Akane's body. The puffy sapphire netra just lowered her head to count the hakama folds she was wearing.

"Sorry Shuu" Akane muttered.

Netra violet, who was looking at the Full Moon, turned her eyes to the sapphire net owner.

"Akane, I've never felt at all bothered by you. I was actually very disturbed when you were not next to me" Shuu explained with her violet bead firmly staring into Akane, she solemnly said that.

"To be honest I wanted to say this when you asked me that time, I'm so sorry Akane."

Although Shuu had already told the truth but Akane still did not budge. Netra sapphire is still focused on paying attention to the hakama he wears.

"But Shuu, Noa-"

"I don't have any relationship with him anymore. I no longer care about love. I just want to be with you, I just want to play Kyudo with you. Please come back, Akane" Shuu's intonation slowly became more and more silent. Netra violet is down.

Akane bit her lower lip, not wanting to cry again.

"But Kyudomu"

"You don't have to think about Kyudoku. I've made you cry for it, I'm so sorry."

"Sorry Shuu"

"I'm the one who should be apologizing. I'm sorry Akane" Shuu said staring into Akane who was still bowing her head.

Silent. The leaves on the twigs swayed, sounding extremely noisy. The voice of an owl is also heard, as if to melt the silence between these two people.

"Akane, please don't ever walk behind me because I won't lead. Please don't walk in front of me either, because I won't follow you. Just walk beside me and be my best friend. Will you play Kyudo with me?" The violet netra was staring inside the owner of the sapphire eyes. His violet rays reflected in the sapphire's netra. He extended his hand.

The sapphire netra was slowly staring at Shuu. The clear details dripped back from his eyes. But this time it was not a tear of sadness, as a sweet smile was etched on her ripe lips. These are tears of happiness. Slowly he received Shuu's hand and smiled.

"Hm, I want to."

The hand was well received by Akane. A sweet and relieved smile was plastered on their respective faces.

"Okaeri, Akane" Shuu smiled.

Akane looked silent but a second later she spoke again,

"Accept, Shuu."

...🏹🏹🏹🏹🏹🏹🏹...

In archery, Kyudo refers to Shaho Hassetsu, "8 steps in archery", namely:

Ashibumi, put the foot/horse.

Dozukuri, position the body.

Yugamae, prepare the bow.

Uchiokoshi, lift the bow up above the head.

Hikiwake, pulling the bowstring, while lowering the bow to the front of the head.

Kai, the position when the bowstring has been fully attracted.

Hanare, release the bowstring/arrow.

Zanshin, position after releasing the arrow.