A/N: Another short story, another perspective...this is from the episode when Hirotaka and Narumi went on a date at the amusement park.
Hirotaka's P.O.V.
He had wanted to hold her hand at the amusement park; they still hadn't gotten around to holding hands in public yet. Not all couples did that, and that was fine, but when it already felt like they were just childhood friends who were grown-up hanging out at an amusement park..he wanted to feel like they were actually dating. Like they were actually boyfriend and girlfriend. He had reached out his hand to hold hers, but she had suddenly turned around and suggested sitting down on a bench, so he had quickly pulled his hand away.
Once they were on the bench, his bloody feet having been taken care of, he sat up and looked at her. She was staring straight ahead, deep in thought. So close to him and yet so far. He needed to know. Needed to know that they were really more, that she really wanted to be more than friends, that she was really okay with dating him. That she actually wanted to be his girlfriend, that she actually wanted him to be her boyfriend, and not just for the convenience of it. She had asked him a similar question back when they had first started dating, but he had never asked the same of her.
"Narumi, do you…" he hesitated before continuing, gathering courage to ask his question, "enjoy being with me?"
A pause.
"It won't work for us."
His eyes widened.
She turned to him, a sad smile on her face.
"Let's just end it."
He felt his heart sink. So, she really doesn't want to be with me, after all. It was just convenient to have me as a boyfriend for tables at cons, and for grinding and leveling up in video games. She doesn't actually like me or see me as a man at all.
A pig snout on his lips stopped further thoughts from forming.
"This thing! You've had enough, right?" Narumi was nervously holding the piggy bank in her hands. "There aren't that many people here now. We're so nervous…"
That's what she meant! He thought, feeling his heat beat normally again. I was scared for a moment!
"We can't talk at all! Let's end it!"
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Quickly reverting back to his stoic face, he said,
"Then we're done."
"Yesterday's anime was so good, right? My favorite character was so cute! The graphics were so amazing! The production team is like a god! Respect!" Her face lit up as she bubbled out all the otaku talk she had been bottling up inside her all day.
"You're a fish who returned to the sea."
"I feel so liberated! Depriving yourself is never good!" She laughed loudly towards the sky.
Is this backlash? She's much more disappointing than normal. But I feel more relaxed now. Narumi looks like she's having fun. I'm glad. He let a soft smile grace his face. It's so simple. Oh, well. I'm okay having everything just as normal for now.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by a small black package being thrust into his space.
"Here.'
"What's that?"
"It's for you."
He held it up to the light.
"Don't look through it!"
He shook it.
"Don't shake it!"
He looked at it.
"Why don't you try opening it?" She held a small pout on her face.
"It's nothing big," she said as he started opening it. "You might feel disappointed."
His eyes widened a little in surprise as he took the present out of the package.
"Earrings?"
"Right! Earrings! Were you expecting something? Too bad it wasn't a game!" She said, putting on her fake bright smile. He could tell she was nervous about giving it to him. "I know it's a bit of a strange gift. But earrings and acting tough didn't really fit with your image. You look quiet, and you look plain. And your eyes sag!" She kept talking, a nervous tick of hers. She couldn't stop when she got very excited or very nervous.
"It really is weird," he said, looking over at her.
"That's why I wanted to see.." she said, looking away from him, "the part of you that wanted to grow up fast." She twirled a bit of her hair with her fingers. "The part of you I've never seen before."
His eyes widened. Maybe I'm not okay with things being the same as they were back then. Maybe she's not either. Maybe she also..
"Well…you're already an adult now. Try them on. I have a mirror.."'
He reached towards her, brushing aside the hair that she had been playing with, effectively cutting off the sentence that was forming in her mouth. A blush spread across her face. He had hardly made a move to lean in towards her when she pulled back, a hand on the space were his had been, her face thoroughly red.
"When did you pierce your ears?" he said as if he had not been about to kiss her. Great, I finally work up the courage to try and kiss her when there's a good mood going, and she gets nervous, and I act like nothing even happened. I wish I wasn't so stoic all the time.
"Don't pay attention to that! They're clip-ons!" She defended herself as if she needed an excuse. After a pause, she leaned back. "They happened to..have different colors. So, I ended up getting these too…" She looked down, a blush still painting her face.
He started laughing. She really is just too cute sometimes. She wanted us to have matching earrings. Maybe we really can just move at our own pace.
"What? What are you laughing about?" Her blush deepening slightly.
He just continued laughing.
"I bet you think I'm childish!" She got up and grabbed hold of the front of his shirt.
"I did."
I bet you think there was a better way to give these to you!" She shook him, squeezing shut her eyes.
"I did."
"Stop laughing!" She pulled one fist back as if to hit him.
He reached up a grabbed her face in both his hands. She immediately stopped and opened her eyes.
"Narumi.." He leaned in and pulled her close. Her lips were so close to his. He wanted to kiss her. She parted her lips. Not like this. I don't want it in a moment of confusion. I want her to know undoubtedly that she likes me. That she wants only me. He turned his head to the side and hugged her. He could hear her small sound of confusion.
"Um..Hirotaka?"
"Thanks. I'll treasure these. I'll wear these everyday."
"You can't wear them at work."
I'm pretty childish too…
