One Month One World One Year Challenge 2022

Jan 16 - The Festival of Light

https://i.postimg.cc/cJ4Sx54K/and-it-was-over-goonight-my-love.png

It was Friday and I was done with school. My teachers had told me that I was one of the top students in my school, and I felt pretty good about that. After Drama Club, I came home and changed into my kimono. The Festival of Light was taking place in the Senbamachi Neighborhood, and I wanted to take Kaori on a date there.

https://i.postimg.cc/DZFqDL2P/dylan-calling-kaori-for-a-date.png

When we arrived, Kaori had also worn her kimono. In fact, most of the festival goers were in kimonos. It must be a tradition. Kaori had been to the festival before and told me that I could purchase a festival kimono at the special vending machine near the food stall. I decided to purchase one and put it on. Kaori told me that I looked really good in a kimono, and I complimented her on her outfit as well.

We walked to a small bridge which spanned the water and admired the lanterns floating on the water. It really was quite a beautiful sight.

https://i.postimg.cc/RZh97DKc/they-went-to-a-bridge-to-see-the-lanterns-on-the-water.png

We chatted with each other, but it seemed like Kaori had her own idea of what she wanted to do there.

https://i.postimg.cc/PrcV730b/and-kaori-had-her-opwn-idea-of-what-she-wanted-to-do-there.png

And suddenly, she took out some mistletoe, and kissed me. It rather took me by surprise. (autonomous action by Kaori)

https://i.postimg.cc/FH0Rdq4D/dylan-was-just-not-expecting-this-at-all.png

She looked at me after that kiss, probably feeling much the same way as I had felt when I first kissed her.

https://i.postimg.cc/zBgVZZYr/she-looked-as-uncertain-as-I-had-when-I-had-first-kissed-her.png

And I smiled at her, because I had secretly been thinking about kissing her on that bridge, too. Maybe this time, I would do it right.

https://i.postimg.cc/Z50Fy2xk/he-def-got-it-right-this-time.png

I took her in my arms then, and kissed her on the lips, and yes...it did feel very right to me. We broke apart and just smiled at each other, and then wandered back to the festival holding hands.

https://i.postimg.cc/xTLB4skb/making-a-wish-together.png

Kaori showed me the "Tanabata Tree". She handed me a colored piece of paper (called a "tanzuku"), and told me to write a wish on it and hang it on the tree. A wishing tree. I liked that idea. The more wishes I made, the better. One of them was bound to come true, right? So Kaori and I filled out our wishes and hung them on the tree.


https://i.postimg.cc/nrwxgKts/sentiment-from-festival-of-light.png


https://i.postimg.cc/7hdtWz49/made-a-sopecial-wish.png


https://i.postimg.cc/TPT930YF/when-you-wish-upon-a-festival-moodlet.png

They had a special festival food called Taiyaki. And since I had sampled the festival food at the Festival of Snow, I thought I would do the same here. "Taiyaki are fish-shaped cakes that come with a variety of fillings, both sweet and savory". I wanted to try one and opted for strawberry.


https://i.postimg.cc/rszX1dtq/all-types-of-flavors-of-taiyaki.png

https://i.postimg.cc/rmDzmpFt/festival-food.png

Kaori and I sat together and I shared some taiyaki with her. The weather for the festival was perfect. There was a bonfire, and sims were dancing. There were even fireworks. It was all so magical, and even more magical with Kaori being there.

https://i.postimg.cc/MGTpPGBr/fireworks-at-the-festival.png

Kaori and I chatted some more and just enjoyed watching other sims pass by and were very content sitting and being together.

Kaori: "This festival is always so beautiful but it is also very sad. Will you come with me, Dylan? I want to show you something..."

https://i.postimg.cc/2yy98wTr/this-festival-is-always-so-beautiful-but-also-very-sad.png

I nodded my head and followed her towards the hiking trails.

https://i.postimg.cc/25v45TcD/dykan-will-you-come-with-me-i-want-to-show-you-something.png

As I passed under the archway, I thought I had been here before.

https://i.postimg.cc/wxf1svfv/he-had-been-here-before.png

We walked towards the temple, and stopped at the graveyard.

https://i.postimg.cc/kXkYqWSP/this-is-where-my-parents-are-dylan-they-passed-when-I-was-just-a-little-girl.png

Kaori: "Dylan, as part of the Festival of Light, sims can pay their respects to the departed. This is...this is where my parents are," she said as she looked at me in the darkness, "They perished when I was just a young girl. They both died in a car crash, and that is why I live with my grandparents..."

https://i.postimg.cc/ncSS5vdJ/kaori-im-so-sorry.png

I really had not asked Kaori about her parents, and suddenly she started crying, "Oh Kaori, I'm so sorry." I said as I held her close to me.

https://i.postimg.cc/rF1269f7/im-so-sorry-kaori-i-have-something-to-tell-you-too.png

Kaori wiped her tears, "Sometimes, like now, I think about them and miss them. But I strive to remember the happy times, and honor their memory, and I am most grateful that I have my grandparents..."

This had been a deeply personal part of her life that she had shared with me, I decided to share something with her, too.

https://i.postimg.cc/8cRD4ZdN/i-lost-my-father-too-kaori-and-I-never-knew-my-mother-we-are-like-kindred-souls-kaori.png

Dylan: "Kaori, I lost my father, too...he died...in a...in a...car accident...just before I came to Mt. Komorebi. I never knew my mother. She left shortly after I was born.,," My voice cracked and I looked away embarrassed. I had never told anyone else that before.

Kaori turned her eyes upwards to me, "There is a Japanese proverb, "Different body, same mind” she said and looked at me, "It means that we are kindred spirits, Dylan. We have both endured sadness and pain, but carry on. We may be different, but we are the same. Perhaps we were destined to meet..." she said softly.

I looked at Kaori then and thought about what she had said, "Maybe you are right, Kaori...maybe we were destined to meet..."

I kissed her then and wanted to blot out the pain of the past for both of us, thinking... "...I need you in my life, Kaori...I so need someone like you in my life..."

https://i.postimg.cc/XNcT2BSj/i-need-you-in-my-life-kaori.png

And it was true. I had never felt the way I did with Kaori. For so many years I had never let anyone get close to me, and had never experienced the tender feelings Kaori was showing me. It was rather unnerving. But would Kaori still want to be with me when she found out the truth? That I wasn't really this sim that she thought I was. I wanted to tell her...I really did...but...it would just take time for me to get up the nerve to do that. And when I did, I just hoped that she would still want to be with me. To be honest, I was scared...yes, scared that she would leave when she found out the truth. But right now, I just wanted to wrap my arms around her and protect her from all the bad things in the world...to keep her safe.

We headed down the pathway back to the festival and walked towards the bonfire.

https://i.postimg.cc/fR4mJyyd/kaori-i-i-really-like-you-alot.png

I turned to her then, "Kaori, I really like you...and I...I have to tell you something...about myself...but I need some time..."

https://i.postimg.cc/9Fk11cMX/kaori-i-have-to-tell-you-something.png

Kaori just tilted her head and looked at me, "Dylan, whatever it is, you can tell me...I will understand..."

And as we cuddled together at the bonfire, I was beginning to believe that maybe it would be alright. Maybe there was a future for me...here...in Mt. Komorebi...with Kaori. And that thought made me very happy.

https://i.postimg.cc/BnbpJTfS/cuddle-together.png

Dylan: "I wanted to ask you, Kaori, if you wanted to come on the mountain excursion with me..."

Kaori: "Oh Dylan...yes...of course...I would be honored to go with you..."

https://i.postimg.cc/9XPJbXBh/come-for-dinner-tomorrow-night-dylan-i-want-you-to-meet-my-grandfather.png

They continued to chat and Dylan suggested that perhaps they could go to the climbing gym together with Kado. And, if it was alright, Kiyoshi had also expressed an interest in training in rock climbing, so perhaps the four of them could go to the gym together. Kaori thought that was a great idea.

https://i.postimg.cc/0jhn5qb0/whatever-it-is-you-can-tell-me.png

Kaori gave me such a wonderful smile then and asked me if I would like to come to dinner at her house on Sunday night. She wanted me to meet her Sofu (Grandfather), so that he could give his permission for her to go on the trek. I thought that sounded good.


https://i.postimg.cc/MH14byp2/autonomous-kiss-by-kaori.png

And suddenly, Kaori turned and wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. And perhaps it was the heat from the bonfire, but that kiss...that kiss...well, I felt that maybe my wish really would come true. (autonomous kiss by Kaori).

The festival was over, and I gave Kaori a sweet kiss on her cheek and wished her a good night.


https://i.postimg.cc/8sQTGqH2/good-night-kaori-sweet-dreams.png

And, of course, Dylan had another legendary date with Kaori.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Notes:

Kaori has the romantic trait and did a few autonomous, romantic actions during the date.

Japanese quotes website and meanings.

Level 1 of the Serial Romantic & Soulmate Aspiration - Amore Amateur - done :)