Y/N's eyes sparkled in fascination as she had found a cherry blossom tree in the forest that she had never seen before and it was beautiful. She walked over to the tree, lightly stepping over the pink petals that have fallen onto the ground. She had read a book about cherry blossom tree back in Earth but have never got to see one in person until now. She learned that cherry blossoms, also known as sakura in Japan, are the small, delicate pink flowers produced by cherry blossom trees. The springtime bloom is a lavish spectacle but remarkably brief; after only two weeks, they drop to the ground and wither, falling like snow with the ebb and flow of the winds.

The cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It's a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. As she approached the tree, a familiar purple figure was lying down on the branch of the cherry blossom tree, resting. It was Espio as he had his eyes closed while sleeping peacefully until he opened them to hear footsteps and turned about to take out his ninja star and blushed to see Y/N. He put away his weapon and quickly turn invisible to see what she was doing without being spotted.

Y/N smiled up at the tree and brought out her painting supplies from her backpack. She put the stand in front of the tree with a white canvas and took out a color paints and her paint brush before she got started. Y/N looked back at the tree as she carefully move her brush lightly as the color stain the white canvas. Espio stared lovingly at how beautiful she looked in the shadiness that she's standing in, letting the wind hit her with a chilly feeling and blow through the blossoms. Her quills swayed from the wind also as she happily paint through the wonderful silence. She feels very peaceful. Espio silently sighed dreamily, leaning forward. What he doesn't know is that Y/N could tell that Espio is here as she add something to finishing touch with a hint of a smile she's wearing. Once she's done, Y/N sighed in satisfaction and did some stretches after an hour of painting with her eyes closed.

"Espio. I know you're here." she said, not bothering to open her eyes.

Espio stiffened a little and smiled and jumped and flipped over and landed in front of her and her painting, turning visible.

"How did you know it was me?"

Y/N opened her eyes.

"I can sense you and your calming aura. Plus, I noticed some shadow in the tree and kind of guessed it was you."

"Well, that's reassuring." he chuckled.

"Like to see my painting?"

Espio nodded and walked over and was surprised at such art she had brought out as it showed a lot of details. He noticed that there's a painting of himself in it too.

(Pretend and imagine Espio is in the tree. This painting looks absolutely brilliant and fantastic!)

"How...?"

"That's a secret I'd rather not tell." Y/N winked, giving a hushing gesture with her finger.

"Not to a ninja? I'm much more secretive."

"Not gonna happen."

Both of them chuckled. Espio blushed a little to see her smiling after a good chuckle. Y/N stopped and noticed his staring and blushed in embarrassment. He cleared his throat to snap out of his stare as he asked.

"Would you like to stay and eat with me?"

Espio brought out his lunch bag. Y/N was surprised and was about to say something when she felt her stomach growl loudly. She blushed in embarrassment, but redder while he smirked in amusement.

"Yeah..."

Then, they sat down and lean against the tree as Espio brought out two sticks of the colorful mochi balls with cups and a teapot. Y/N took a bite of the mochi and her eyes widened.

"Wow! This taste good!"

"I'm glad you like it. My mom taught me how to make them."

"She must be a great cook."

"Yeah. Try this tea."

"What is it?"

"Just try it."

Y/N blow the cup to warm it up and took a sip.

"Oh. Wow."

"That's green tea. The most famous drink in my culture."

"Man, you should totally teach me how to make these!" Y/N said, leaning over his face and making him flinch at how close they are.

After their lunch, they are now lying down on the ground as they look up at the sun that shines over them through the blossoms.

"Do you used to hang out here often?"

"Yeah. It helps keep me calm from all the stress like Vector and Charmy. They annoy me so much, it's driving me crazy."

"I know how that feels. My brother can by annoying too."

Y/N held a hand out to the sun with a sigh. Espio looks at her and grabs her hand. She turned to see him with a look of seriousness.

"Hey, Y/N."

"Yes?"

"Why did you sacrifice yourself? We all could have work together but instead you did it on your own. I was... scared that... we're gonna lose you forever."

Y/N gripped his hand back.

"They say the ultimate test of friendship is risking your life for a friend. That's what friends do."

Espio smiles and sits up and leans down and does something she never expected: he kisses her. Y/N is shocked at first, but when that faded, she kiss him back. He pulled back for a sec.

"You're a brave one. And I love you more than you can imagine."

Espio kisses her again and Y/N cups her hands round his face while he snakes his arms around her body, deepening the kiss. Their lips move in sync as if they were dancing. Y/N and Espio enjoy every second of it. The two of them apart for air and look into each other's eyes.

"I never knew you can be a good kisser."

"I can learn a thing or two."

Y/N giggled, stroking his cheek.

"Can we... take things slow?"

Espio smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Sure. I won't rush you."

He suddenly stood up and climbed up the tree to the blossoms as he plucked out something from the branch before coming down. Y/N sat up to see what he was doing until he reveal a nice cherry blossom flower. Espio placed it in her quills right by her ear. He took a good look at her and smiled.

"You look beautiful, Y/N."

Y/N moved her front hair to the side shyly.

"Thanks, Espio."

As they sat there, the two petals of the cherry blossom fell towards Y/N's painting together into a shape of the heart onto the painting of the branch where Espio is sitting on.

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(THAT'S ALL FOLKS! UNTIL NEXT TIME FOR THE UPCOMING SEQUEL THAT'S COMING SOON!)