Kenta could hardly believe the reflection on the mirror was him. He had traded his usual side-swept bang for a hairstyle Kaoru recommended, something they called "effortlessly tousled". They had convinced him to try coating his fringe with a little mousse for a sleeker look, and also to crop the sides and back in a way that gradually changed his hair length—starting out longer at the top of his head and getting shorter further down—via a clipping method called tapering.

"Your new friend's good at styling you," Shiori had smiled at her son when the young man showed off his eye-catching haircut. "Your hair's thick and they know how best to play with it."

"They're disarmingly persuasive, yes," he had replied with a hint of astonishment. "I was super nervous about snipping away some hair but I guess Kaoru knew I was long overdue for a trim."

Taking one last look at the mirror before heading to his cousin's room, Kenta smiled to himself and wondered if he should send a picture to Johan. He was still a bit bummed about not being able to dance with the eldest Sitohang sibling, but it occurred to him that maybe he could bring the dance to Johan instead. He wondered what the Elmian guy would say about his new hairstyle.

"You look like a prince," Akira remarked as she let Kenta in. "You just need a jeweled crown to complete the whole vibe. Speaking of a crown, I bet you can pass for a shogun if we had lived centuries ago during the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yes, I've been reading Japanese history."

"I don't want to be a royalty. That's just not me. I see nothing wrong with being a commoner."

"Suit yourself," the girl shrugged. "Anyway, help me pick a dress. Plain blue dress or a flowy black dress with embroidered red daffodils along the neckline? If I go with the plain one I can wear hair ornament to offset the plainness, but if I go with the black one I can pair it with my slip-on shoes that have white dandelions on it. Decision, decision..."

"Blue is a good color," Kenta said after deliberating for a moment. "And you're right that a hair ornament will complement it. Am I correct in thinking it's the one you borrow from Auntie Chiharu? It's an ivory-white wild iris, isn't it? She does seem to treasure that ornament."

"Indeed. She said it's something her mother, so my grandma, passed down to her and now she said it's time to pass it down to me," Akira gave him a sad smile. "Traditionally it would only be passed down when the one to receive it turns eighteen, but in my case—"

"I know very well you and Auntie are running out of time," Kenta puts a hand empathetically on his cousin's shoulder, "but all the more reason to create happy memories while you can. The fact that she gave you something so precious on prom night means she wants you to enjoy yourself."

Akira just nodded quietly and reached into her makeup bag for eyeliner. Busying herself with making her eyes appear fuller and larger, she appeared to be completely lost in her own world.

"Having fun is not a sin," Kenta said softly after a few minutes of watching the girl transform her face into a work of art. "Whether or not you have fun, time will catch up with us all, so might as well do everything in our power to hold on to the bits and pieces of happiness we can find."

"You sound more and more like my dad each day. Been listening to him, haven't you?"

"Uncle Lee's advice applies to both of us," the boy replied without losing his patience. "I, too, have been thinking that time works against me. The priority deadline to apply to Blue Orchid for consideration into the first-year Honors program is looming and yet I still haven't figured out what project to do to showcase that I'm ambitious enough to get in. However," he drummed his fingers on his knee, "stressing out about it is counterproductive, so I choose to momentarily forget about college application for tonight and come back to it when I've recharged my energy."

"Johan is eyeing the same program, right? Have you heard from him about his progress?"

"No, and I've been meaning to ask him. Hey Akira, how come you're not applying with us?"

"Because I don't know what I'm passionate about!" the younger Kinoya sulked. "You're so lucky to have unmistakable passion for studying plants and Johan is also lucky to know that he has a penchant for Earthly biology. Me? I don't have a strong calling in anything specific."

"Perhaps you should set a free appointment or two with a career coach at the Bureau for Young Pinean Enrichment. That's what the bureau is for, right, to help youth discover their purpose?"

"And what if I find out that my passion is not in alignment with what would make our family proud of me? You see, your passion for plants make Auntie Shiori proud of you, whereas—"

"What good would it be to make your parents proud of you if you're miserable following a certain career?" Kenta asked back. "I like plants because there's so much mystery surrounding them that I would love to solve. My mom approving of what I like is just a bonus, Akira."

"But let's say for the sake of the question that your mom weren't a florist and she wouldn't approve of your liking for plants, would you still want to pursue a major in agribusiness?"

"I—wow, I haven't thought that far, honestly. It never occurs to me that I would ever be in a situation where I have to defy my parents. But Akira, why would you have to defy yours?"

"Someone who's waiting for death to knock on the door would want their offspring to continue their legacy, right?" the girl said without looking directly at her cousin. "If it happens that my calling is different from what my mom has been known as her entire life, then I would feel like I'm dishonoring her and her memories. It would feel like I kill her with my own hands."

"And what is it you believe your mom is known as?"

"A folklorist and anthropologist, someone who collects stories and teaches others about her own culture as well as the history of different societies that have made their ways to this galaxy."

"I see. But a person can be defined as more than their profession, can't they? For example, she is also a tenacious person, a woman with a lot of love to spread around, a fearless fig—"

"In short, almost everything that I am NOT!" Akira got up suddenly and, without bothering to wait for her cousin's reply, stormed out of her room in her high heels. Kenta knew better than to chase after the furious girl, so he just stood motionless as the door slammed in his face.

"If only you could see that you don't have to be perfect..." he whispered to the empty room.

***

"You two are awfully quiet," Lee said as he glanced at his nephew and daughter from the car's rearview mirror. "Nervous about what your dates would think of your outfits? It'll be fine."

"I don't even have a date," Kenta mumbled. "I'm okay, just not in the mood to talk."

"Hm. And what about you, Akira? If you're worried about impressing Ezekiel, I'm sure he's gonna compliment you like you're an angel who has fallen from heaven."

"Otou-san, when you first met Okaa-san, was that what you think of her, an angel?" Akira responded from the backseat. "And is that how you still think of her nowadays?"

"She certainly is stunning but it's her curious mind that finally won me over," Lee answered as the car hovered closer to the Mizunotori Deaf Boarding School's entrance. "And tell you what, I can see that you inherit her brilliant mind. You've always liked learning for its own sake."

"I wonder if she'd agree with that," Akira sighed and repositioned the white iris ornament in her hair, "because I don't. I try to do well in school not because I love to learn but because I like it when she praises me for doing well. In the end, I cherish her praises even more than I cherish knowledge. It's not that learning is unenjoyable, it's just that I want to keep her smiling."

"But your own smile matters too," Lee raised an eyebrow, "and I'd say you've done more than enough to show her that you care about this family. So, please promise me one thing tonight," he continued as he backed the car into the school's parking lot. "Tonight, just be in the moment."

"I'll try," Akira forced a smile. "Thanks for the ride."

"No problem. Oh, and just one more thing before I go!" Lee added with a twinkle in his eyes. "If your boyfriend fails to mention how beautiful you are, let me have a word with the lad."

***

The boarding school's gymnasium, where the prom night was held, burst with all the colors of traffic lights—green from the neon disco ball overhead, bright yellow from the glow-in-the-dark fake stars everywhere else on the ceilings, and fiery red from the dyed dry ice mimicking dawn.

"It looks like Mars here," Kenta chuckled as he and Akira made their way through the crowd in search of their friends. "I guess that makes us Martians for a night. The decorators did well."

They found Kaoru by the communal punch bowl, debating with Baz whether it's safe for a cat to take a sip of the mysterious fruity concoction. Meanwhile, the fat gray cat in question struggled to escape his owner's clutch, seemingly wanting to acknowledge the Kinoya cousins' arrival.

"I see that you managed to sneak him in," Akira grinned at Baz as Sebby butted his head onto her legs. "And I see that you're reunited with an old friend. What is this about the drink?"

"Kaoru insists that cats are perfectly capable of digesting most fruits. I don't buy it."

"They really can, in a small amount!" Kaoru protested. "They can digest apples, apricots, blueberries, cantaloupes, cranberries, and even mangoes. The fur ball is gonna be okay, I swear."

"There must be a type of fruit our feline friend can't digest, though," Kenta interceded. "I'd admit I'm not knowledgeable about cat physiology, but if humans have things we can't eat then surely it's logical to think cats are no different and some fruits can be insanely toxic to them."

"The only fruits they can't eat are grapes and citrus—anything with high concentration of citric acid," Kaoru spoke again. "Seriously, Baz, you call yourself a cat owner but don't know that?"

"Hey, I haven't been a cat owner for a long time! Besides, why are you suddenly the expert on cats? If you go off tangents about horses I can understand, but cats? Since when, man?"

"Horses aren't the only animals I like," they chuckled. "I like any four-legged animal."

"I figure as much, but it's still surprising that you memorized what cats can and can't eat," Baz said while Kaoru just shrugged. "You brain must be a sponge, the most absorbent kind in fact."

"It's nothing special," they rubbed the back of their head. "Anyway, where're Ezie and Aiden?"

"Over there," Baz pointed at a huge stage. "Behind the screen, practicing their MC lines."

"As in masters of ceremonies?" Akira perked up. "The two are in charge of leading this event? I knew the guys were part of the prom committee but not that they've volunteered as MCs."

"The student who was originally supposed to be the MC got cold feet," Baz explained, "and the interpreter is no-show, so Aiden and Ezie offered to help on the spot. Nice of them, huh?"

Akira was about to answer when the blinds on the stage parted, revealing a smiley Aiden with a hand held up high in the air. Beside the blond, his older brother tapped the microphone.

"Good evening, everyone!" Ezekiel beamed and Aiden promptly translated the greetings into Pinean sign language, raising the backs of his hands and quickly forming them into two Es. "Are you excited to get the magic going?" he addressed the guests, with Aiden translating the question by making a circle with his pointing finger and making a gesture for confetti with his other hand.

"We are!" the hearing students shouted back and the Deaf students raised their thumbs and pinky fingers as a way of saying yes. Kenta copied what they did and nudged Akira to do the same.

"Let's rock and roll like crazy!" Ezekiel grinned widely and beckoned Baz to come to the stage, where an electric organ stood waiting for him. The crowd parted to make way for the organist, who wasted no time playing jazzy crescendo to get the party going once his fingers landed on his musical instrument. The crescendo stopped once it hit the highest-pitched note, C8, and Baz eased into a decrescendo that morphed into a slow waltz, signaling the guests to start pairing up.

Kenta watched with a yearning expression on his face as Ezekiel jumped off the stage before bowing down and holding his hand out to his girlfriend, who joyfully accepted his invitation.

"May I have this dance, Your Majesty?" Ezekiel teased and swayed Akira in his arms. The giddy couple twirled around and laughed, oblivious to the look of envy the black-haired boy sported.

"Hey dude," Aiden tapped Kenta's shoulder and whispered close to his cochlear implant. "Quit brooding, let's sneak out of this boring gym. Dancing is overrated, anyway. I'd rather be in the soccer field. We can smuggle out a ball from the storage room and play under the moonlight."

"I suck at soccer," Kenta mouthed back, "so I'll just gaze at the stars while you do your thing."

"Kaoru wants to sneak out too," Aiden glanced at the short-haired teen. "And we don't have to play soccer. We can let Sebby loose and see if he catches any wild critters. Just don't let Baz know that we're stealing the cat for an hour or two. Well, what do you say? Join our escapade?"

"Wouldn't we technically be trespassing?"

"I'm a good trespasser," Kaoru mouthed and winked as they grabbed Kenta's hand. "Let's go!"

***

As soon as the three teenagers stepped onto the soccer field, Sebby spotted an unsuspecting barn owl hooting among the branches of a silver pine at the edge of the field and leapt off Kaoru's arms and ran off toward the tree, hissing at the poor bird, who became startled and flew away.

"Not much of a stealthy hunter, are you?" Kaoru smirked. "Better luck next time."

"Speaking of stealth," Kenta interrupted. "Is the rumor true, then? You stole a mane from a horse to make a wig for Baz? Ezie let it slip a while ago and seeing you trespassed like this makes me think that he might not be exaggerating the story after all. Where'd you learn to trespass?"

"Not where, but from whom," Kaoru sighed as he motioned for their friends to sit on the grass. "The person who taught me, may Kami-sama blesses her spirit wherever she is, is the daughter of the heads of the orphanage I used to live in. She never made fun of me for identifying as neither a boy nor a girl while the rest of the orphanage shunned me for being, in their word, freaky. She assured me that one day I'd find people who could accept me and yeah, she's right."

"What happened to her?" Aiden asked with a baited breath. "If you don't mind telling us."

"She's still alive, if that's what you're asking, but I lost contact with her ever since she became orphaned like me because of a house fire. Anyway, I mentioned that she's the daughter of the orphanage's heads, right? Well, her parents' death meant the orphanage went out of business. Her much older sister claimed guardianship of her. As for me and the rest of the orphans, the wealthy vice-head of the orphanage arranged for us to be sent to various boarding schools around downtown Mizunotori. I tried my best to stay happy and for a blissful year, I was, because I met Ezekiel and Baz, of course. But then the vice-head of the orphanage also—"

"You don't need to go into details, Kaoru," Kenta stopped them. "Gomenasai for prying. I think Aiden and I can guess where this is going. It's so unfair that tragedy has to befall a good people like you. It must feel like Kami-sama is playing a cruel game on you, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps I'm being punished for daring to go against the current," Kaoru said while stroking a blade of grass absentmindedly. "For refusing to choose between a he or she pronoun."

"Not true!" Aiden and Kenta exclaimed almost simultaneously.

"I wouldn't claim to be a messenger of Kami-sama, but I believe that your identity has no bearing in deciding whether or not you live a tragic life," Kenta scooted closer to Kaoru, offering them a handkerchief, which they received gratefully. "You deserve to be authentically you."

"You're so kind," Kaoru said in between sobbing. "Kind-hearted just like Sherlyn. Yeah, that's her name. Anyway, have you got a pen and paper? I want to make a tanzaku."

"I got some. What's a tanzaku, though?" Aiden tilted his head. "Something magical?"

"There's a legend among the Japanese of Edo era that if one writes their wishes on a prayer card and hang the card on a bamboo then the wishes shall come true," Kaoru said, "there's no bamboo here but maybe..." they winked at Kenta, "maybe it doesn't have to strictly be a bamboo!"

"I guess it's worth trying," Kenta nodded. "Let's hang our dreams upon a silver pine branch."

"Hanging our dreams upon a silver pine branch..." Aiden repeated. "I want to join in. I don't know how to write in kanji, unfortunately, could either of you be a translator?"

"I'd be happy to write your dreams for you," Kaoru flashed him a smile. "What are they?"

"Promise not to laugh."

"I won't."

"I'm dreaming of a day when I will know what falling in love feels like."

"The day shall come," Kenta said, giving Aiden a pat on the back. "My turn, Kaoru. My dream is that one day the person I like will tell me that he likes me too, as selfish as that might sound."

"That's not selfish at all! Wanting to be liked back by a crush is perfectly natural!" Kaoru argued. "I would know, because at some point I used to have the same dream. Tonight, though, my dream is that one day I will get to see Sherlyn again and resume our friendship."

"Amen," Aiden chimed in and crossed his fingers. "Was she like you, into horses?"

"Sherlyn was into playing music for horses. The orphanage I lived in was located just across the street from a farm, you see, and the farmers bred handsome horses. Whenever Sherlyn visited the orphanage during summer holidays, she would bring her oboes along and sneaked to the pasture with me to serenade the horses. I was never as good of an oboist as she was, but I tried my best."

"She sounds lovely," Kenta said, "and it seems like you're into musicians. You've got a type."

"You read me like a book," Kaoru replied sheepishly. "But I liked Baz for more than his music. Anyway, what's your type, Kenta? Tell me about the person of your dreams."

"He's got the prettiest brown eyes that reminds me of the ground from which flowers sprung and the curliest hair that reminds me of cucumber vines. He's like a king out of a fairy tale."

"You and your gardening obsession," Aiden playfully punched him. "Interesting comparisons."

"T-Those are the only similes I could think of!" Kenta stuttered, "I know they're weird."

"Weird? Try poetic," Aiden giggled. "I swear that in your past life you must be a poet."

"I'm the grandson of one," Kenta shrugged. "Perhaps it's in my bloo—" a ringing from his pocket cut him off. He was ready to decline the call but his face lit up he saw who the caller was.

"Answer the phone," Kaoru urged. "We won't eavesdrop. Come, Aiden, let's go back inside."

"I'll be back," the raven-haired boy said apologetically before taking the call. "Hey, Johan."