Ch 4: Toki-doki?

Of all places, Hiromu liked the one near the sea. He would always go there with his buddyroid/bike Nick. Most of the time they would just admire the open sea without talking to each other. But at this certain moment, HIromu had something to say.

"NIck," HIromu began seriously, "what is toki-doki?"

Nick almost threw the enetron can that he was holding. Hiromu thought that he heard a snicker.

"HIromu, you topped every exam in your school and you never heard of it?—you get fanmail almost everyday and get confessed too but never associated it with that?"

Hiromu didn't reply. But he was looking intently at Nick. Nick thought, poor kid, he has no idea.

"Okay," Nick inhaled and exhaled slowly before he began with his explanation, "you are toki-doki with a person that you are really happy to be with. There could be some tension or awkwardness at first and them some adjustments after but whenever you are departed from this person, you try to remember the happy memories that both of you did".

Hiromu was about to reply but his morphin brace rang. When he answered it, it was Ryuji.

"Nee—Hiromu" Ryuji said, "Could you check the enetron leakage at the plaza amusement park?. We hope that it's not caused by Enter or Messiah."

HIromu sighed in relief when he and NIck checked the enetron tank at the amusement park. The leakage was definitely caused by technical difficulties. They were about to leave the park when Youko came running towards them.

"How was it? Ryu-san told me there's a leak" she said

"Daijobou," Nick assured her, "we checked it already."

Just as when Youko sighed also in relief, Nick told her, "Huh?Youko-chan, are you with someone?"

Youko moved her head sideways to say no. Hiromu stared at the direction that Nick pointed. It's true that Youko was not with someone, but she was being followed by her suitor-turned-stalker.

"It's him" Hiromu said

Youko bit her lip, "Eh?! I thought I confused him from following me already…"

Nick looked at both of them, curiosity lurking in his eyes. Hiromu explained to him all the details in 30 seconds. "You have to pretend as going out together" Nick suggested, with a hint of amuse.

Hiromu didn't want to lie, so as Youko. It's not in their nature to lie.

"Yosh," Hiromu said, "ikuzo" He grabbed Youko's hand

It was Youko's turn to be confused, "Huh?! Doko-ni?"

When they're both meters away from Nick, Hiromu then realized that he was holding Youko's hand. When he caught her eye, they untangled their hands and looked away. Hiromu began to speak,

"I don't want to lie, so as you. Dakara— we will spend the day together regardless of what he thinks"

He said those words with conviction that Youko just bit her lower lip once more.

Hiromu let Youko decide what attractions to ride at the amusement park. It's like being with Usada, Youko said to herself. They tried first the roller coaster and then went to play carnival games. Both had fun competing with each other in target shooting, bowling and ball-throwing. Every toy that they earn was transported to the base, where Youko lives. They tried cheering and helping up children win toys too. Meanwhile, the suitor got fed up following them and just vanished. Upon knowing this, Hiromu and Youko let out a sigh of relief.

"Yokatta!" Youko stretched her arms so wide that it hit Hiromu in the head. He walked her home (to the base) with a grin.

"I felt better (going out) after all the exhaustion from school" Youko said approvingly, "how about you?"

Hiromu couldn't wipe the grin off his face. He nodded approvingly also with the words, "I feel toki-doki" and laughed for some time after saying it.

Youko stopped for an instant. Her eyes were so round from astonishment that Hiromu had to ask, "daijobou?"

"You are so honest!" Youko said and ran off inside her home

Usada, Gorisaki and Ryuji were there at the base. They saw how puffed Youko's cheeks were that they had to ask Hiromu about what happened. Ryuji said, "where did the two of you go?"

"we went out" Hiromu said smilingly

Usada, Gorisaki and Ryuji were too lost for words. Usada's jelly buns rolled on the floor that Gorisaki and Ryuji hurriedly picked them up.

Ryuji asked, "what did you say that made her face like that?"

"I told her I felt toki-doki" Hiromu said in reply, "Nick said you feel toki doki when you reminisce what happened during the day"

The three listeners were looking at each other. Nick, who has heard the story from afar, put a palm on his forehead with a sigh. He has no idea what it is, Nick, Ryuji, Gorisaki and Usada said to themselves.