This is a series of oneshots written for HoriKashi week all the way back in June. I got around to posting my AU fic on here, but I never got the opportunity to post the rest, so here they are!

The sound of cicadas in rustling trees, the sound of shoes striking pavement and cheerful chatter in the air with birds chirping in the distance—these are the sounds of summer.

The days pass by like this: playful banter, the occasional escapade, and quiet talks in the park. It's unusually peaceful like this, but all good things must come to an end, Kashima realizes. What they have now is comfortable and familiar. Sometimes she wonders if she'll ever be ready to say goodbye to these hot summer days, but for now, she ignores the thoughts that gnaw at her and instinctively places her hand on Hori's. When he doesn't budge, Kashima takes a shaky breath and squeezes his hand, trying to hold back the tears she never knew were coming.

"You're leaving tomorrow."

And he squeezes back.

"Yeah. I am."

"I'm gonna miss you."

"Me too."

And they sit there in silence, watching as the sun finally sets. No words are exchanged. It's just the occasional squeezing of hands and thumping hearts and thumbs softly caressing the backs of hands.

This is how the day passes, and the night arrives, the feeling of impending solitude coloring the sky an endless expanse of black.

This is how summer ends.

Hand in hand they walk to the station, the impending feeling of finality looming over their heads.

This is it. This is the end. Kashima wrestles with the thoughts swarming in her head, and the tiring ordeal only ends in tears—loud, shaky sobs and warmest hug imaginable. He is in her arms; her face is buried in his shoulder. He soothingly runs his fingers through her hair and deep, raspy whispers in her ear.

"I'll come visit often."

"Y-You p-p-promise?"

"I promise," Hori says before softly kissing her cheek and letting her reluctantly pull away from him.

And the train arrives at the most pivotal moment of Kashima's entire summer. She feels his hand languidly slip out of hers, and before she can even register what's happening, Hori walks away from her, suitcase in hand. It's as if the world has stopped spinning for this very moment, Kashima thinks. It's as if everything is moving in slow motion, and there is no one else in the world except for them . Yes, this is about them.

Kashima takes a deep breath, lunges forward, and grabs his hand, stopping him just as his left foot is about to plant itself on the floor of the train. "Wait!"

He spins on his heel, turning around with a shocked expression on his face. "W-What is it, Kashima—"

And then her lips are on his, slowly moving. It's a sweet and gentle kiss—a little hesitant and sloppy, but first kisses are always that way, right? It's not perfect (far from it), but somehow, it just feels right. And Kashima begins to think that her suspicions were just confirmed.

The world has stopped spinning for this very moment. The tilt of its axis has shifted. The stars have aligned.

Right now, it's just the two of them.

And they pull away from each other, out of breath, wide smiles gracing their faces.

"I-I..." Kashima starts. "I think I love you, Hori-senpai! I think I always have!"

Hori suddenly reaches out for her hands and clasps them in his larger, more calloused ones. "I think I love you too! Always! I always have! Since the day I first saw you at the entrance ceremony!"

"Really?! Wait, say that again!"

"You damned cheeky brat!" he laughs. He hands tighten around hers, and he gives Kashima the gentlest smile she has ever seen. "I've loved you since the day I first laid eyes on you."

He releases his grip on her hands and steps back, the doors now starting to close.

And Kashima watches as the train leaves the station, the words I love you too sitting on her tongue, left unsaid.

This is how summer ends.

Kashima waits at the station, anxiously tapping a spontaneous rhythm while she waits, leaning against a large column.

"Yo," she hears a deep and painfully familiar voice call out from afar.

"HORI-SENPAI!" she shouts, crashing into him and almost sending them tumbling to the ground. "I missed you so so so so much!"

"I missed you too," he replies before planting a chaste kiss against her lips. "And it's Masayuki, remember?"

Kashima giggles before awkwardly shuffling her feet from side to side, her cheeks tinged with red. "R-Right, Masayuki."

As each syllable of his name rolls off her tongue, her embarrassment slowly melts away into an indescribable feeling of pride and joy.

This is how summer begins.

The days pass by like this: playful banter, the occasional escapade, and quiet talks in the park. It's unusually peaceful like this, and not all good things must come to an end, Kashima realizes. Some things are meant to be eternal, and although summer is not forever, these moments are. What they have now is comfortable and familiar. Sometimes she wonders if she'll ever be ready to say goodbye to these hot summer days, and she decides that, yes, she is ready to say goodbye because the next time he boards that train, she'll be there beside him, both of them with suitcases in hand.

"You're going to love it there, Yuu, I promise. And the theater program is great! I just know you're not going to regret this decision one bit," Hori says while grinning.

"Of course I am, Masa-chan," Kashima replies. "Because you're going to be there with me."

And the train doors close. There's no desperately searching hands and tearful goodbye kisses. They sit there in silence, watching as their home slowly disappears into the distance. No words are exchanged. It's just the occasional squeezing of hands, thumping hearts, thumbs softly caressing the backs of hands, and gentle laughter.

This is how the day passes, and the sun sets, the feeling of love coloring the sky an endless expanse of pink.

This is how summer ends.