This is it. The D-day.

Today he's wearing white T-shirt, grey jacket and jeans. As usual, whenever he went outside in crowds he always wear hat and sunglasses. But today, he pick a different hat, the one his mom said would made him look more like a movie-star.

"I am a star." he once said, part jokingly. "Yes I know you are, but your other hat makes you look like a baseball player." Ms. Ikuta pointed out her point of view, "NEVER use that hat on a date!"

"What are you saying? I am not dating anyone!" Toma answered back, smiled cheerfully while getting ready for breakfast.

But that's week ago. Now he was standing in front of the mirror, feeling unsure about everything. Yet, the show must go on.

At her house, Horikita Maki was getting ready for today's date. Deito ka.. Maki smiled to the girl in the mirror. Today she's wearing a cute white top and aqua-colored skirt with little flowers on it. Since it's near winter, she also wore a white jacket and socks. After fixed her hair a bit, Maki reached out for her cell. Where is he?

By the time she touched the cell phone, it rang. Maki snapped her hand, shocked. Coincidence, huh? She grinned and pick up the phone. "Moshi-moshi?"

"Maki-chan, Toma desu! I'm outside your house." said the voice over the phone. She smiled and said, "I'll be right there!"

Maki walked down the stairs and greet her mom on the way, "Ohayou!"

"Ohayou! Going somewhere?"

"Mm! With Toma-kun." she answered cheerfully. "Are? Toma-kun? You're seeing him now?" her mother looked interested. "No..! Not 'seeing', we just… have an appointment to go somewhere today, that's all."

"But.."

"He's outside, want to see him?" Maki walked towards the door and opened it.

Toma was there, as handsome as ever, and Maki forgot the last time she saw Toma this hot. It wasn't Nakatsu.. coz' I don't like bleached hair… Hummm… I wonder..

"Ohayou gozaimasu!" Toma greeted Maki's mother. "Toma-kun, sashiburi! Ah! You're going out with Maki now?"

Listened to this question, he felt a leapt on his chest, and suddenly words escaped him.

"We are NOT going out, mom! Please!" Maki laughed to her mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Bye mom! We're going." and grabbed Toma's hand and dragged him with her. "Please don't worry. I'll deliver her home safely." Toma assured the mother, and excused themselves.

They both got in Toma's car, and after saying goodbye once again to Horikita's mother, the car drove away.

"Remind me again why I pick you up at your house?" Toma asked while driving.

"Maybe.. because you're too kind not to let me waiting alone in some restaurant out there?" Maki laughed.

Toma, still driving and smiling, quickly glanced at Maki and her outfit. "Nice outfit!"

"Humm. Arigato."

"Ah! You're not wearing the ¥165,000 Parka you bought in Hanetobi?"

Hearing this, Maki started to cringe and covered her ears, "Please don't remind me of that, will you! I let it go already!" and they both laughed.

"Ah, Toma, where are we going?" suddenly she asked.

"Well… " Toma keep driving, and took a glance on his companion, "Have you eat breakfast?"

Maki smiled, "I haven't. "

"Yosh. Then we head to a restaurant first."

The car was parked outside a classy-looking restaurant, where they ordered traditional Japanese breakfast.

"We're on a restaurant and you ordered natto and miso soup?" Toma asked with amusement. "What? I'm Japanese." Maki answered back, apparently enjoying Toma's expression.

They chatted about random things while eating. And suddenly Maki implied. "So, you're really on Getsu9, huh?"

Toma stopped chewing. "Oh. Yeah.. Not as the leading role, though." he said carefully, eyeing Maki's expression. He was sure Maki's tone meant something, but he can't really figured it out. Then the girl sighed, "Hummm… I kinda broke the Getsu9 legend, didn't I?"

Toma froze for a moment. Here it comes. "What do you mean?" he tried to evade the discussion.

"I was soooo happy when I got Getsu9 leading role, it's the first time for me. And I agreed to that role—" Maki suddenly stopped.

Their eyes met. Toma chewed his food even more slowly now. Maki looked down at her miso soup, and there was an uncomforting pause between them.

This is bad, Toma thought. What to do now? What? If this is Jun or Yamashita I can just joke around poking their ego.. but to her? He was unsure what to do.

"Ah.." Toma finally broke the silence, "So, Maki-chan, what are you doing now?"

His question startled her, and suddenly she remember that they were suppose to be on a date.

"Ah! Gomen gomen!" she laughed and took her soup. Drinking her soup, she asked, "Ah, Toma, is it okay to go out with me now?"

Seeing the smile just came back, Toma was a bit relieved. "It's fine, I can recite my lines tonight, and the filming will start at 10 AM tomorrow, so I'm not in a hurry." he smiled.

"Well, I mean, won't there be anyone jealouse if you go out with me?" she slowly prompt a question. Toma rose his eyebrows. "Not anyone that I'm aware of." he grinned.

Toma can only saw Maki's eyes, coz' she was drinking the soup, so he wasn't sure whether she was smiling or not.

"Get a girl, will you. You're a great guy why are you still alone in this world?" she asked, half-face still hidden.

Toma laughed, "Who wants to be with me? I'm a workaholic. No girls would want to be with me. Ah! Is there by any chance… you're starting to have feelings for me?" Toma boldly teased the girl.

Maki almost choked by her soup. With one hand she wiped her lips. "Not a chance! What a confidence you have there!" she snapped instantly and they both laughed.

Seeing her laughing face, Toma realized how happy he was, that Maki-chan agreed to go on a date with him today.

One hour later, after all the chat about drama and gossiping their friends, Toma and Maki got up and Toma insisted to paid for the meal.

"So.. where we gonna go now?" Maki asked. Toma stood beside his car, both hands on the hip, looked like he was thinking hard. "Dunno. Any ideas?"

Maki tilted her head to one side, apperently thinking of several possibilites. And then her face brightened up.

"Let's go to amusement park, shall we?"

Toma stood on astonishment. "Chotto—" he hold his laugh, "I thought yesterday you said the idea was weird!"

Maki was smiling wide and evaded the question, "That's because we haven't seen each other for months! But after talking to you.. And to think of, I never really do things spontaneously… let alone anything fun.." her eyes musing, as if she had something wandering around in her mind. Toma watched her, gave a small sigh and told her to get on the car. "Amusement Park, here we go.." he said while opening the door.

Maki quickly turned her head, "Eh? We really going there?"

"Yes! Get on." he started the engine, and Maki didn't have time to think but followed him inside the car. Toma had a wide smile on his mouth, "You really don't care if there are paparazzis?" and slammed the door closed.

Horikita stunned. She never really—thought of it. To be spotted hangout together with a co-actor outside the set… or how it would affect her career—and Toma's too. What she knew was that at the time, she really wanted to let everything go. When she met Toma the other day, it was not a coincidence. At least she did not think it was. It was fate. She was desperately need someone to talk to, someone to be by her side, someone to make her laugh. That's why she went accompanying a friend to some random stores the other day—to get away from showbiz world for a moment. And Toma… that guy never fail to make her feel good about herself and be happy.

Seeing Maki drawn in silence, Toma became slightly worried.

"Demo~ we can go somewhere else, if you change your mind.." he said it slowly.

One second… two seconds… three seconds.. that felt like one hour for Toma. And then Maki rose her head. Looked confident and certain, she answered.

"It's okay. Let's go to Amusement Park."

Toma stared at her for a moment, just to make sure. She looked back at him, with a firm expression.. until Toma got assured and told her. "Put on the seat belt, and call your mother, you'll be coming home late tonight." and hit the gas.

PART III (end?)

"Here we are." said Toma as he parked the car in one of Tokyo Dome City's parking area.

Maki didn't move, her eyes widened and she chuckled, "We're really here, aren't we?" and turned her head and stared at her friend.
Toma had a cheerful expression he always had and assured her, "Yes, and now we should start queing if we still want to have fun!" and got off the car. "Have you been here before?" asked Maki, and followed him. "To the attraction? Well—yeah, haven't you, Maki-chan?"

"I have, but it was a long time ago."

Toma looked at her, "Me too." and smiled. They both looked to each other with a pleasant expression, both felt happy and excited. "Then… shall we?" he asked her. Maki gave a last glance and smiling brightly, grabbed Toma's arm and walked ahead. Toma was surprised by her move but he went along too.

He took the time to closely paid attention to his companion this time. He always knew Maki was beautiful, but this get even better especially after her 20th birthday. She looked a bit different in a gorgeous way and emitting an attractive aura, even more powerful than the past times. He tried to remember when did she start to become this pretty… But then he shook his head, tried not to think of anything. "This is Maki-chan we're talking about!" Oguri Shun's words somehow echoing on his mind.

When they arrived on the ticket place, Maki was surprised, "This place is empty!"

Toma laughed, "Well.. First, it's now 11:40, and it's winter. Most people don't go to amusement park in winter."

Maki was happy, "Today is not very cold, it's still mid December. I wish we won't have much queing inside!"

* * *

"Iyyya… ¥4000 each!" Toma laughed as they entered the amusement park. "I guess I forgot how much these ticket costs!"

"Then I guess we shouldn't waste this day!" Maki smiled and turned to her friend, "Toma-kun, let's have fun today, okay!" she said happily. Toma didn't answered for a moment. The same strange feeling came back. What is this feeling? Try not thinking about it, he only said, "Oh, ok! Let's have fun!"

Mid December 2008, in Tokyo Dome City Attraction, both friends totally enjoyed themselves. They got on the various attractions, chatted and joked.

"Did you see my "S" photobook?" somehow the conversation was turned into that topic.

Toma grinned, "Iyyya… I saw some pictures." he implied. "Eh? You bought it?" Maki's expression brightened. "Nah… it would be creepy." Toma answered slowly, tried to hold his laugh.

"Ah," Maki looked as if she was angry—but she's actually held her smile, "Why creepy?"
Toma bowed his head, only his eyes stared right into Maki's. "Me? Keeping a whole book full of your fancy pictures? That would be creepy."

"Aha!" now Maki laughed, "It's not creepy! You meannie!" and punched him on the shoulder. They both laughed.

* * *

Maki was fixing her hair and put more lipgloss on her lips at the ladies room. She attempted to put on a serious face in front of the mirror, but her lips won't be still. She finally gave up trying to look calm and started smiling. "What's wrong with me? How can I be this happy?" she thought to herself. Toma, ne~?

Maki went out from the ladies room and looked for her friend. Toma was there, sitting on a bench and holding his cell-phone. Maki worried a bit,
"Is there something happen?"

Toma rose his head. "Ah! No, nothing. Are you done?"

Maki nodded. "Umm!"

"Then… where should we go now…" Toma said while putting back his cell-phone on his jacket. Maki looked up to the road in front of them. A bit far, there was a photo-studio, where people can took pictures and make them printed on stuff or something. "Toma-kun, let's take picture today, shall we?"

Toma seemed to be a bit hesitated, "Pictures?"

But Maki didn't seem to worry. "Yea! It will be like a token for us to remember this day." She stared at her friend, wishing for him to agree. Watching Maki standing there without blinking, Toma knew he couldn't say no to her. "Ja, let's go… take a picture." finally he gave up.
"Yatta~!" Maki was smiling gleefully, and walked ahead of Toma into the photo-studio. "Which background do you like?" Maki said, while standing side by side with him on the box, choosing layouts. "Anything would be fine." Toma answered, with a slight tone of uneasiness. What are we doing? A picture? An evidence? He could see the guys laughing and tease him already!

"Ready?" Maki moved closer to him. Her move woke Toma up from his wandering thoughts, and he can now smelled Maki's perfume very well. Suddenly he felt a funny feeling on his stomach and became even more uneasy. Not sure where the source of this weird sensation was, Toma tried to drove out the strange thoughts and put his acting skill on stage to get on with the show. They did the "V" sign and Maki pressed the button.

"It's done very well," said the shop keeper, watching the digital image, "Which platform do you want to print this on? Shirts, mug, pillow sheets?"
Maki laughed to the idea of the latter. "Mug is fine, ne~ Toma?" she turned to Toma and ask for agreement. "Ah, yes, mug is fine."

"Make it two of them!" said the girl to the shop keeper. Toma looked on disbelief at his companion. Two? We will have more evidence? "Maki-chan?" he said in astonishment.. and Maki just looked back at her with such innocent face he can't bear himself not to be amazed at how simple this girl think.

The mug was ready. It was a cute twin mugs, with a clear image of two friends smiling and looking happy together. Man, I can start to believe that we're really a couple.. Toma gave an amazed laugh to his own thought. Maki watched the mug and thought, It's a good picture. We do look good together, don't we? How could people realized this earlier, while I'm only realized it now?

But she didn't think any further, paid the mugs and gave one to Toma.

* * *

Time passed before they knew it. The weather was getting cold and darker. "Toma-kun, what time is it now?"

Toma checked his watch. "16:30… Eh? Already this late?"

Maki frowned, "They closed early on winter, aren't they? That means… we can only have one more ride?"

Toma cringed, "Iyya... and we do save the best ride for the last, don't we?" he slowly said and smiled at her. Maki smiled too, and both looked up. To the Big O.

"Toma-kun," Maki said to him when they are queuing for the Ferris wheel. "Hmm?"

"Toma-kun, there are girls looking at us." Maki's tone changed a bit. Toma rose his head, "What?" and became a slightly cautious. From their place, not far from them a bunch of girls—seemingly high schooler—obviously looking at them and giggled to each other. Toma bowed down,

"Don't mind them." He can say that, but inside, he understand perfectly what was so fascinating to those girls. Seeing Ikuta Toma and Horikita Maki together, queuing for a Ferris wheel is definitely not something they could see everyday. Even I amazed, he thought to himself.

Not long after, they got into the Ferris. Their cart slowly went up, and after a while, it's started moving smoothly. Thy could hear people was screaming on the roller-coaster beside them.

"It looks really fun!" Maki said, looking down the window to the Roller Coaster that got through the wheels. Toma chuckled, "I asked you did I, but you said you didn't want to get on it."

"But it's so scarry! How could people actually ejoy that kind of ride?"

Toma laughed, "I used to hate thrilling rides too, but now I somewhat enjoy them.." he said.

"Humm… that's good. Yamapi told me you guys was on the Blue Fall in Yokohama."

Toma gazed at her. "He told you that? Haha.. we were so little by that time." he smiled. His eyes musing, as if his thoughts were drawn into past memories.

They both quiet, apparently busy with their own minds. "What.. happened, by the way, in 2006?" Toma asked her carefully.
Maki smiled and tried to evade Toma's eyes. "Didn't he tell you anything?"

"Well, he did, but.. I like to hear your point of view." Toma's voice was gentler.

Maki paused a bit, as if recall some things from the past. "We… didn't suit each other. I mean—he is good looking, but he's a bit quiet, and don't tell much about himself. And he's very busy, he didn't have time for me."

Toma felt his heart beat a different rhytm. He didn't get why, though.

It was silence again. Toma was once again watching her, enjoying the new sensation that had never crossed his mind all these years while he was with her as Nakatsu. Admiring her beauty, and following an unexplainable desire from inside, his eyes were moving down..

To her neck..

To her chest..

To her thigh..

To her knee..

Then he stopped and looked away.

Maki put both her hands on her bare knee. Paying attention to this, Toma took off his muffler and placed it on top of hers. Maki looked at him. "Why..?"

"It's cold, isn't it." Toma said calmly. "I don't understand why girls can wear skirt on winter!" he said jokingly. "When I was Takemoto, it was a struggle everyday acting on shorts!"

Maki blushed. "Be quiet... I didn't know we were going outside! I thought we were going somewhere in a building. You know how overheated our buildings are in winter!" she snapped back and laughed.

After that, the awkward atmosphere had gone. They spent their time in the Ferris wheel joking around and teasing each other cheerfully.

* * *

"It's still early," Toma checked his watch after they got out of the Amusement Park. "Shall we go eating?"

"Okay!" Maki agreed to that, and they both went on a dinner in on of the Tokyo Dome City restaurant. After one hour, they finished eating and Toma took her home.

The car moved slower when it was near Horikita's place. It was still 7 PM, very early for both standards.

"Here we are. I safely get you home." Toma smiled in a cute way, took a glance on Maki and opened the central door lock. Maki seemed uneager to move.

"It's over, huh…?" she turned her head, "The day?" Maki said it with an empty tone, seemed to be regretted that their date was over. "Iyyya… we can always go again another time." Toma assured her and tried to look happy. His hands on the wheels.. but they felt rather numb.

"Maki-chan.." Toma said slowly. "Mm?"

Toma didn't answer. Slowly, he moved his hand towards her, and leaned his body. Maki felt her heart beating fast suddenly, Toma's face was now so close to her.

… and then she heard the door opened.

Toma turned his face to the door and pushed it open. Maki's face went a bit pale. She was sure Toma was about to kiss her. She can't believe Toma did that to her. She laughed awkwardly and said with a soft voice, mostly to calm herself, "What was that?"

Toma smiled and evaded Maki's eyes. "Sorry." And then he paused. Maki was silent, but she could hear her own heart beat.

"Thank you for going out with me today. I'm really happy." Toma finally said.

Maki was still a bit unsettled. "Ah. Me too. I'm… I'm glad I went with you, Toma." and then, started to regain control of herself, she laughed a little and said, "Today is really fun! I owe it to you. Thank you."

Toma looked at her eyes, and nodded. "Mm. It was nice, wasn't it." and they both chuckled.

"Ja, then I guess I'm off now..!" she said, smiled and opened the door. Toma watched her stepped out of his car, his mouth opened as if he wanted to say something.. but he couldn't find the words.

"Aww.. my feet.." Maki laughed when she got off and stood up next to Toma's car. The ache muscles from walking all day just can be felt now. Toma laughed and bid her farewell. "Get a nice warm bath and you'll be ok!" and then they looked at each other. They both knew something had happen between them. But to her, Toma only said, "See you later, okay!" and drove the car.

Maki waved her hand, and sent Toma off by sweet farewell.

"Arigatou, Toma.." she whispered, when Toma's car was gone on the far road.

Both of them felt something from today's trip. Both of them looked at each other differently after today's date. But both of them somehow afraid to do anything, let alone think of anything, about what it might turned into. It was their little secret. Their little adventure. And they certainly will not forget that day.