"Hm? Which one should I buy?"
The place you were located at was at a sports store called Sports'in'Buy. Where anything sports related can be bought there. Jerseys, equipments for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and every other sport can be found. Many people would often roam around the huge store, either buying any equipment or hanging out by the cafe inside the store. The sports store and the cafe were merged together. Twenty percent of the store was the cafe while eighty percent of it was the Sports'in'Buy.
Currently, you are attending a water polo university. The life-long dream of yours was that you wanted to compete in the water polo olympics when you grow up. It won't be easy since everyone in the olympics were trained professionals. The year right now is 2015, you wait until it was Japan's turn to host the Olympic Games on the year 2020. Only five years of hard training had to be done, four years of training in the university, and two and a half years for training for the Olympics.
The business you had by the aquatics section of the store was to buy a new speedo. The old one you had before didn't fit anymore, and so, you are here. Things couldn't be anymore awkward on the fact that the speedo section was next to the women's bikini and swimsuit section. You couldn't decide which speedo would be best suited for you. Either the one with adjustable ties or the expensive one.
"I wonder which is the better choice?" You said to yourself.
Suddenly, a girl comes out of the corner and walks by the swimsuit section, right next to the speedo section. Something caught your attention from this girl, it was her short, wavy, magenta hair. Her eyes were magenta colored as well. You tried focusing on what you were doing before but you couldn't help but stare at her facial features as well. She then turns her head around towards you and looks into your (e/c) eyes.
"May I help you?" She asked.
"Oh um...I-I-I don't think so." You stuttered.
She moves the direction of her eyes to the speedo section and look right back at you.
"Oh need help on picking out a speedo?" She said.
"N-now that I think about it, I actually do."
She walks beside you while looking around the speedo section.
"I'd say that..." She pauses for a second, she picks up a speedo and hands it to you.
"This would be the best choice." She smiled.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because my older brother is in the swimming Olympics. He uses the company's accessories so much, that he brings them there, plus he got placed second." She said.
"Wow, he must be really good!"
"Sounds like it to me too. Do you swim?" She asked.
"Not exactly, I play water polo."
"Woah, that must be one of the hardest sports to play in, right?"
"Believe me, it's hard. But once you train and get used to it for a while, it'll be easier to handle."
"Sounds cool." She said as she picks up the swimsuit she was searching for. But suddenly, her stomach rumbles in hunger.
"Looks like it's time to eat." She said as she rubs her stomach.
Coincidentally, your stomach rumbles as well.
"Looks like I have to eat too."
Both of you look at the cafe located at the far left of the store.
"Are you busy at the moment?" You asked.
"No, why?"
"Do you want to talk a bit more, at the cafe?" You asked her.
"Sounds like a great idea, after we buy our stuff first."
"Right! But before we do, may I ask for your name, please?" You asked politely.
Your sudden request causes her to giggle.
"Sure, the name's Kawai Hanabi. It's a pleasure to meet you!" She smiled.
"(Y/n) (L/n), a pleasure to meet you as well, Hanabi. I like the name 'Kawai'."
"Oh...uh...thank you." She blushed slightly.
You and Kawai walk towards one of the lines to pay for your stuff. The two of you didn't talk while at the line. After the long wait, you finally managed to pay for your stuff. Since Hanabi was behind during the wait at the line, she paid before you. And thus you waited for her until she finished, that ways you can eat with her at the cafe. When she completed the payment, she looked at you and nodded. It was a sign that she was ready to eat with you.
She walks with you to the cafe and wait for another line for the final time. Just like always, the line was long, same as the line from Sports'in'Buy.
"The cafe's busy as always, isn't it?" You commented.
"Yeah, not to mention the lines." She said.
"It's probably going to be Christmas by the time we reach the front of the line." You commented.
"Yeah, right!" She laughed.
At the front of the line, the two of you finally had a waitress to lead you to a table for two. It wasn't decided on who will be paying the bill at the end. So that wouldn't be much of a worry case for now.
"I'll be your servant for today, do you want to order for your drinks right now while you look through the menu for your choice of meal?" The waitress asked.
"I would like (f/d) please." You said.
"Orange soda please!" Kawai said.
"Great choices, I'll be back with your drinks." The waitress left, leaving the two of you alone.
You and Kawai sit down by the table and look through the menu. Though it was strange that you decided to eat with a girl that you just met. All there was to it, was to have at least a good talk with her. The fact that she accepted the offer of eating with you proved that she would be a nice and gentle girl. So there would be nothing to worry about anyways.
"What are you going to order (y/n)?" Kawai asked, snapping back from your thoughts.
"Oh!" She startled you a bit there, you look through the menu. Hoping to find any of your favorite foods on it. With your luck, it had just that.
"I'll guess I'll be ordering the (f/f)."
"Sounds delicious, any desert after." She asked.
"Depends if I'm still hungry." You responded.
"Now that I think about it, which one of us will pay for the bill." She asked.
"Don't worry about it, Kawai. We'll figure it out later." You said.
"If...you say so." Hanabi said.
Because of your answer, she started to get worried on what kind of guy you were. Either a rude and selfish man, or a man with manners who is also a gentlemen.
If I end up being the one paying for my meal, I wouldn't be surprised. She thought.
Flashback...
She's in her dorm from Setouchi Keijo Training School, reading one of the latest magazines from her favorite fashion stores. Along with softball and Keijo magazines. She is roommates with two girls. The blonde and attractive, Mio Kusakai and the swift and playful, Rin Rokudo. Everyday would be a rather interesting day, especially when having Mio and Rin around. The two would sometimes talk about the trainees at the Setouchi Keijo Training School. Mostly the students from room 309, or as they call it "The empty room".
At one point when it came to the topic of boys, Mio asked Rin what kind of qualities would they want for a boyfriend.
"What would you want in a guy for a boyfriend Rin?" Mio asked.
"Hm, I never thought about having a boyfriend anytime soon." Rin responded.
"Would you rather stay single your whole life?"
"I guess, and besides, I want to focus on my career as a professional Keijo player!" Rin said in a confident manner.
"But what if you retired, what would you do then? Who's going to take care of you?" Mio asked.
"Erm, I never really thought about that." Rin said.
"Wouldn't you feel lonely as well? Especially when we're not around?"
"Now that you mention it."
"So what would you want in a guy?" Mio asked for the final time.
"Well, I want my boyfriend to be good-looking, a good guy, and I would also want him to be very good at sports. I prefer a buff guy too, not obese of course."
"Understandable, what about you Kawai?" Mio asked.
"Me? I-I d-don't know about t-that." Kawai stuttered.
"Oh come on, we know you have something!" Rin said.
Hanabi sighs.
"Fine, but promise to not tell anyone!" Kawai said out loud.
"Promise." Said both Mio and Rin.
"Good. To start, he needs to be fit but not too buff, romantic, a nice guy, he needs to know how to treat and respect a lady, I want him to love me no matter what, and also no piercings or tattoos either! Would be also nice if he didn't love me just because I'm a keijo player too."
"Wow, you're pretty picky yourself Kawai." Mio winked at her.
"Well, you asked me what I would want in a guy!" Kawai made both Mio and Rin to chuckle.
"Just kidding, we all have our own tastes in men."
"Really, what's your kind of preference for a boyfriend then?" Rin asked.
"Similar to your Kawai, but I would want a foreigner to date me, specifically an American who speaks Japanese. I think they're hot, especially when some of them have blonde hair as me!" Mio said.
"Not surprised at all Mio." Rin said.
They all giggle at Rin's comment. When the laughs die down.
"Just a piece of advice ladies, do not tell any of your guy friends that you're a keijo player. I feel as if that would be the reason why they would fall in love with you. If you ever have a boyfriend, tell him after at least a year later!" Mio said.
"Alright!" Said Kawai and Rin.
Flashback ends...
Don't tell him I'm a keijo player, right! Hanabi thought.
The waitress came back with your drinks.
"Here's the (f/d) you wanted. And here's your orange soda miss." Said the waitress.
"Thank you!" Both of you said.
"Would you like to order now? Or do you need more time?" She asked.
"I'm guessing we're ready to order now." You said.
"Alright, we'll start with you mister!"
"Right, I'll order the (f/f)." You told her your order.
"Great choice, now what about you miss?" She turned to Kawai.
"I would like the omelette please!" Kawai said.
"Excellent choice. I'll be back in twenty minutes with your meals. May I please get your menus?"
You and Kawai pass her the menus on the table.
"Excuse me." The waitress said as she bowed down.
For the second time, she leaves you and Kawai alone. You decide to talk about the Olympic topic. About her brother being a professional water polo player in the Olympics.
"So, what kind of training does your brother do?" You asked.
"Let me think for a bit, he does water polo practices with his Olympic coach. When he has spare time, he doesn't just use it for any relaxation but he uses it to work out in his garage where all of his weights are located. Believe me, I exercised with my brother in his garage before. It is packed with weights!" She said.
"So maybe that must why he's so successful at water polo! What's his name?"
"Kai Hanabi." She said.
"That's a cool name, but I like yours better." You said causing her to blush.
"I'm flattered."
"Is that bad?" You asked.
"It's not that, it's just...you're the only one to say that besides my family." Kawai said.
"Well, I'm glad I said it. Hope it made your day a little better!" You smiled.
"Thanks."
"What kind of sport do you play, Kawai?"
She gets a short flash back on what Mio said.
Just a piece of advice ladies, but do not tell any of your guy friends that you're a keijo player. I feel as if that would be the reason why they would fall in love with you. If you ever have a boyfriend, tell him after at least a year later! Mio said in Kawai's mind.
That is, if I'll ever get one! She thought.
"I'm a...softball player."
"Really? Then why were you buying that swimsuit for?"
"Um, just for an...event?" She made the excuse.
"Ok?" You became suspicious of her.
The waitress arrives, along with the food the two of you ordered. Both the omelette and the favorite food you ordered.
"One omelette for you and one (f/f) for you." She left the two plates on the table.
"Thank you." Said you and Kawai.
"You're welcome, if you want any dessert, ask me and I can bring your order. Now, excuse me." Said the waitress as she left.
"Shall we eat?" Kawai asked you.
"Sure."
Before eating the food, you would be thankful for the food just like Kawai.
"Thank you for the food!" You both said.
She eats her omelette and you eat your food. It was a delicious lunch for you and Kawai. At the end of the day, dessert was never ordered. Both stomachs were now filled up with the delicious meals that were ordered.
"Been a while since I ate something worthwhile." Kawai commented.
"Tell me about it." You commented.
It was now the moment of truth. Kawai wanted to know who'll be paying for the meal. If it's her, then she will never talk to you again. If it's you, then you will be proved a gentleman.
I'm nervous, why? She thought.
"Let's go." You said.
You face the cashier face to face. The bill was about to be paid by you.
"(Y/n), it's okay I'll pay for my food."
What am I saying? She thought.
"Do not worry, a cute girl like you shouldn't be paying for her food. Especially when I'm the one inviting you." You said, causing her to blush harder.
It was too late, the bill was paid. Because of this, she finally knew of what kind of guy you were. A nice and a good-looking guy, just like how she wanted.
"Come back again." The cashier said.
The two of you walk out the store, Kawai was still blushing. A short silence occurred between you two.
"Thank you (y/n)."
"You're welcome."
She takes out her phone and checks the time. It was 3:35 pm.
"I have to go. You think we can talk again sometime?"
"That is if we bump into each other again at this store." You said.
"Don't worry about that. Close your eyes and hold out your hand!"
"Why?"
"Just do it."
"Fine."
She turns around and takes something out of her pocket. When finished, she places something in your hand. It feels that it's a folded piece of paper.
"You can open up your eyes now."
You open up the paper and find out that it is Kawai's phone number. You turn to her and she winks at you.
"Call me!" She said, this made you blush.
She walks away, leaving you alone.
"She's pretty." You said.