CH 66

The day after White Day, the closing ceremony and graduation ceremony ended and the two-week spring break began.

The cold, harsh winter had passed and a pleasant breeze could be felt.

The sunshine was warm, reminding everyone that spring had arrived.

And so, the day that he had planned with Fuyuka came in a flash.

Even though he had been anxiously waiting for it, Asahi’s mind did not seem to calm down when the day arrived.

Ten minutes were left until the appointed time.

When he arrived at the station where they were supposed to meet, Asahi took a small deep breath.

“I don’t look weird, right…?”

His hair was lightly waxed down with his face well-parted and dignified.

He was not tall, but he was well above average.

Gazing at his whole body using the windows in the train station as a mirror, you would see the image of a man who was reasonably good looking.

He put more effort into his appearance than usual, and he even bought new clothes for the occasion.

Chiaki helped him to pick some clothes out, so it should be fine but still it was bothering him a little.

After all, this was the first time that Fuyuka and he would be going out together.

To be precise, this was the second time, during Christmas Eve, but the situation was very different from that time.

For example, there was no dress code and there were countless choices, and the destination was a completely private and recreational place. And the biggest difference was the feelings he had for Fuyuka. In other words, the existence of a love interest.

As the hands of the clock moved forward, his heart beat in a steady rhythm.

At some point, the sound cues were joined by pattering, cute footsteps.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Don’t worry, I just got here myself.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Fuyuka showed up at the exact appointed time, and of course, like Asahi, she was wearing casual clothes.

A floral print dress and a light blue cardigan.

Her looks gave off a clean and pure image, perfect for spring, and the refreshing impression matched the location of the aquarium.

And most importantly, it suited Fuyuka herself well.

“…Do I have something on my face?”

“I haven’t heard that line in a while.”

“Because, you keep on staring, Asahi-kun…”

Fuyuka peeked at him with a slightly uneasy look on her face.

At the same time, she looked as if she was expecting something. That was what it seemed like.

Not so long ago, he would have just put on a farce in these situations.

However, both him and today were different.

“…cute.”

“Eh…?”

“I’m embarrassed to do it a second time.”

“Please, say it again!”

“…Next time I won’t say it again.”

With that preface, Asahi opened his mouth.

“I saw how cute you were dressed in casual clothes. So I kept looking.”

At the end, he was blunt as normal.

However, he made sure to get the message across this time.

Although he couldn’t say “I love you” yet, he could at least say “you’re cute.”

Asahi gave shape to his small and little fondness for her.

“…Thank you.”

Fuyuka muttered after a short pause, and her cheeks turned slightly red.

He couldn’t help it, not only were her clothes cute, but so was the person herself too.

Asahi’s heart sped up one more time―

“You’re looking even cooler than usual, Asahi-kun.”

More than usual, did that mean she usually thought him as cool too?

Anyway, right now he was busy trying to calm his pulsating heartbeat.

“Didn’t we have this exchange on Christmas Eve?”

“I think so too…”

The two of them walked naturally towards their destination.

This process was similar to Eve’s.

And the thoughts he once rejected rushed back.

This was definitely not a date between lovers.

However, he couldn’t help but be conscious of it.

“Come to think of it, why was the meeting place here?”

Shaking off the air of embarrassment and his fantasy, Asahi changed the subject to what he wanted to ask.

They live in the same apartment building, next door to each other, so they could just meet up at the front door.

Yet, the meeting place that Fuyuka suggested was the station nearest the aquarium.

It gave him time to prepare himself, but it was a point that bothered him.

“It was…inspired from a novel I read recently.”

“I think that’s probably a romance novel.”

“That’s right.”

Fuyuka gave a small nod.

Then, after holding his word for a while.

“…I kinda like this, it’s like a date.”

“…Eh?”

“I-it’s just something I admire, I don’t mean anything bad by it…”

It was hard to hear the last part, but apparently Fuyuka was a little conscious.

Even if it was a longing for fiction, as opposed to a crush like Asahi’s.

For an adolescent boy, it was more than enough to make him happy.

‘It’s kind of silly to think of this…as a first date.’

Staying calm on the outside and somehow calming himself down on the inside.

Only his love for Fuyuka was quietly making noise, like a gentle spring breeze blowing in.