Chapter 134: Even the Base of the Lighthouse Is Dark

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Translator: Soafp

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After buying glass crafts, escaping the heat with sweets, and gazing at the sea from the ups and downs of the town, Ginji and Sora spent a relaxed and fulfilling day together. Time flew by, and the sea breeze began to cool. As the hour approached, they took a bus to a more remote part of town, passing by rows of factories before getting off at the foot of a seaside hill.

At the top was their destination: a lighthouse. But first, one last climb. On the way, Sora stopped walking.

“Want to take a break somewhere? We've got time.”

“No, I was just looking at the view for a bit.”

Through a gap between buildings, Sora had spotted a glimpse of the sunset-colored ocean tinged with purple.

“I love wide-open views, but I also really like the ones you can only catch glimpses of—like fireworks seen through a window or ornaments partly hidden behind a shelf. There's a kind of charm in what you can't see.”

“Can't say I get it… doesn't really click with me.”

“Ahaha, yeah, sounds like you.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

Sora took a step forward, her gaze still fixed ahead. As she turned around, the hem of her dress fluttered gently.

“You're always the one who pulls me out—from the outside.”

He was the one who reached out beyond the walls she'd built with canvases and easels in a closed-off world.
That face, looking puzzled right now—she would never forget it. She would never forget all the sides of him she'd seen today.
As if in response to her thoughts, Ginji reached out and took her hand.

“I don't know about that. I kinda feel like you're the one pulling me along too.”

“No way. You're definitely the one leading.”

“No. It's totally you.”

Still teasing each other, they continued on toward the lighthouse. By the time they arrived, the sun had almost completely set.

Atop the hill stood a short, two-story building beside the lighthouse. From there, they could look out over the factories and town they'd walked through earlier.

“This lighthouse is smaller than I thought. From down below, it looked way bigger.”

“Maybe it's because it's on a high point. Come on, let's go.”

They didn't enter the lighthouse itself, but instead went into the building beside it. After buying tickets from a vending machine, they stepped inside.

The interior was a local museum, showing the history and development of the seaside town with photos and exhibits. Skimming past them, they climbed a spiral staircase up to the rooftop observatory.

The sky had deepened from purple to the darker shades of night.

Only a few other visitors with cameras were present. As far as couples went, it was just the two of them.
The distance between people gave the illusion of privacy.

“This is the observation deck. The lighthouse should light up any minute now.”

“Feels like a hidden gem. I mean, it's pretty rare to come on a date just to see factory lights from a lighthouse.”

Ginji teased, and Sora puffed her cheeks out in protest.

“Hmph. I am weird, after all.”

“Well, I like that about you.”

“…In that case, fine.”

The rooftop was designed for viewing the scenery. There were no obstructions beyond the railing, and the sea breeze reached them even here—pleasant and cool. Dim lights lit their feet, and the town lights below began to change.

Sora stared out, eyes sparkling. Ginji, too, looked interested.

“Ginji, look! The factory lights are turning on!”

“Let's see…”

Red lights illuminated a smokestack, its shadow visible against the darkening sky.
The deeper the night became, the more lights appeared, forming a nighttime parade.

“Wow… I'm usually in the factory, but seeing it from afar like this—it's beautiful.”

“Up close is cool too, but it's fun imagining the silhouettes of the buildings based on the lights' positions.
That one's the steel mill, and over there's the chemical plant. The aesthetic's different from oil refineries, but still good.”

“Now that you mention it, they do have unique features. And hey, look over there—a ship's all lit up.”

“Whoa! What perfect timing. And just in time, the lighthouse should be turning on…”

As if on cue, a mechanical sound echoed out, and the lighthouse began to glow with a soft light.
Its beam slowly rotated.

As the light's intensity grew and visible rays formed, the area around them paradoxically darkened.

“Whoa—it actually got darker when it turned on.”

“‘Even the base of the lighthouse is dark,' as they say.
It's designed to focus light outward for distant ships, so the immediate surroundings stay dim.
I didn't think it'd be this dark though. The night sky is beautiful…”

“Man… a starry sky seen from beneath a lighthouse, huh.”

“Yeah. It's beautiful. You can clearly see the contrast between the factory lights and the stars.”

Before either of them realized it, their hands had found each other.
Sora leaned on Ginji's shoulder.

Between beams of light, they glimpsed the stars. Below, the quiet sea shimmered in factory lights. No matter where they looked, it was beautiful.

“There's so much I want to draw, I don't know what to choose. Ginji, pick for me?”

“Don't be dumb. You should draw whatever you want.”

Hearing his words, Sora giggled.

“Something I want to draw, huh… Hey, Ginji? I want to draw how much I love you.”

“…How would you even draw that?”

“I don't know. But I want to. No matter what I draw—the sea, the glass wind chimes, the factories or the lighthouse—I think I'll always be drawing how much I love you.”

“…Geez. You're gonna make me blush.”

“But I still want to draw it. Even though love doesn't have a shape and I don't know how to express it… that's what I want to draw right now.”

“Then draw it. You can do it, Sora. I'll be looking forward to it.”

“Yeah. Just wait, okay?”

They stood quietly, watching the scene together. Then Sora spoke, almost to herself.

“Ginji… I used to be scared of things that didn't have a shape. Aika-chan always said that in art, people value the things you can't see. She'd write little essays explaining what emotions she poured into her work.
But that scared me.”

“Sora…?”

She took a deep breath and clung to Ginji's arm. He looked at her, concerned.

“Because… even though my mom always told me she loved me… she still left. Things you can't see can change without you even realizing. If it's something visible, I'd know if it changed, even a little. That's why I like machines. If it has a shape and a function, it won't be discarded so easily. And if it does change, I can tell right away…”

When she looked up, Ginji was already watching her. Their eyes met—and he smiled, pulling her into his arms.

“Yeah… that might be true. But if things can change, they can also change for the better, right? Just like you can fall out of love with someone… you can fall more in love too. Me, for example… I love you way more now than I did when we first met. Even if you can't see it, some things—you just know.”

Tears spilled from Sora's eyes.

“…You said exactly what I wanted to say. Yeah… I think I'm ready to believe in things without a shape.
And I want to draw them. I'm really glad we came here today… I love you, Ginji.”

She looked up and pulled Ginji closer.

Beneath the shadow of the lighthouse, the two shared their second kiss of the day.