Chapter 2: A New Morning

Taro woke up the next morning feeling slightly more refreshed than usual. He wasn't really sure why but he was feeling like today would be a good day. He immediately got up from his bed and went to the living room to turn on the TV. He surfed through the channels until he found the ESPN channel. He then went into his restroom to get ready for the day.

After he finished getting ready, he went into his kitchen to see what he should have for breakfast. After all, he was a soccer player. All of his calories were being burned out quickly due to his vigorous training. However, his smile turned into a scowl when he saw that he was nearly out of food. All he had in his refrigerator was milk, cheese, spinach, tomatoes and lettuce. Everything else was inedible. He couldn't even make a salad since tomatoes and spinach as a combination isn't good for the body for some reason so there was that aside from the fact he didn't even have ranch.

So much for it being a good day. Taro thought.

Taro didn't have much of a problem with going out to eat; he just wanted to relax today. It was just a couple days ago when PSG won the championship and he wanted to at least relax for this week. After all, Napoleon had thrown a wild celebration party that the whole team went to and he was sure everyone that went was hung over for the next week.

He grabbed his keys and was about to turn off the TV when he saw what was on. The soccer news had all ended and it was all business as usual with both the Japanese soccer group and also his PSG team along with Pierre and Napoleon. They switched to basketball and although Taro didn't know much about the sport or even the NBA, he saw 2 players on the Toronto Raptors that kind of reference both him and Tsubasa when they were younger and even today when they see or talk to each other. Taro saw Tsubasa as Kyle Lowry and himself as DeMar DeRozan.

Tsubasa was always the lively one who always goaded Taro into having fun and his smile was contagious all around. While Taro was stand offish and was always polite but quiet. And together, they made a perfect combo. Just like Lowry and DeRozan. He smiled for a brief moment before turning off the TV and leaving his apartment.

He just finished locking his apartment before he turned around and saw her again.

Jasmine looked at him startled for a second before she gave him that same big smile that he saw yesterday. Taro didn't know how a person could smile that big but before he knew it he was grinning as well.

"Hi!" Jasmine said, her smile never faltering.

"Hey what's up?" Taro replied.

"Nothing really. My fridge only has healthy food so I figured it was time to take a break from studying and eat out somewhere nice."

Taro raised an eyebrow when he heard her.

"You don't like eating healthy food?" Taro asked.

"Ugh gross. Why is everything that is good for you taste bad?"

"Can't argue with you there."

They both chuckled for a bit after that before Jasmine looked at Taro again.

"So what are you doing out here soccer star? I figured you would be tired after that long season you always must have."

"Going out to eat then getting groceries. I ate all my food and I need some breakfast."

"Yeah that's about what I'm doing too."

Taro looked down at her and was about to say something else but then his stomach grumbled very loudly. He blushed for a second since he was embarrassed before looking back at her.

"Well I'm gonna get some food now. Do you maybe want to join me by any chance?"

Taro turned his head away for a second because he was a little nervous. He never asked a girl out in his life. Added with his quiet nature and didn't help matters at all. He didn't notice the already big smile on her face get even bigger and a small tint of pink on her cheeks.

"I would love to join you." Jasmine said.

They both smiled at each other a couple seconds longer before they both walked side by side to the elevator. They both didn't notice the blushes or the fact that their smiles never wavered.