Kato Katsumi sat on a bench in the city center. Ignoring the traffic of pedestrians, her focus was squarely focused on her phone, more specifically the video playing itself out on the screen. She was taking mental notes, making sure to rewind and restudy events that particularly caught her interest. Other than that, she was waiting for her new girlfriend to show up.

She sighed, causing a brief vapor to penetrate the frosty air. "Girlfriend," she whispered to herself, "might be getting ahead of myself. Should probably wait until it's official and we've both said it~" Realizing she missed a bit of her video she rewinded the feed.

"Katsumi-chan!" she heard Akari call to her. She turned and had a look as she ran. The sight of Akari running toward her, waving with a smile on her face was just about the cutest thing in the world. But for Kato, everything Akari did was cute.

"Katsumi-chan!" Akari said again as she got close and panted. "Sorry I'm so late. My mother wouldn't let me go until I did some cleaning around the house!"

"It's okay, Akari-chan!" Katsumi replied smiling. "You're here now, and that's all that counts." Akari pouted in her usual way, "Yes, but I wanted to be here before you~!" Ugh! So cute! Her pouting face is so undeniably cute, I can't stand it! She looked away, her arm covering her eyes in order to shield her from the redhead's cuteness.

"Anyway," Akari continued, "where do you want to go, Katsumi-chan?"
"Oh, well, since it is our first weekend date how about a movie then?" Akari nodded and they were on their way. As they walked, Katsumi noticed her love's hand out in the open. Should I-, she asked herself, should I go ahead and grasp it? Or is that too soon? Is it too soon for this date or just too soon period? She abandoned the notion for now and focused primarily on getting to the theater.

"So what film did you wanna see, Katsumi?" Akari asked.

"Hmmm? Oh, well, I'm really down for whatever you want to see Akari-chan?"

"Well, I never really know what to pick!" Akari rubbed the back of her head. "Usually whenever we go out, either Kyoko or Chinatsu-chan makes the choice. They never really hear my choice even when I do make one~heh heh"

"Ah, that's horrible!" Katsumi said, "Why do they do that?"

"No presence, remember? They don't notice me when I say it."

"Well," Katsumi smiled and touched her shoulder. "I'll take whatever you choose, Akari-chan!" Akari gasped, "Really?" she smiled, "Thank you, Katsumi-chan!" Katsumi had to look away from Akari again to prevent passing out from the cuteness. Akari didn't pay any heed, too focused on selecting a movie.

"Let's see here-" Akari scanned the marquee and the posters. A horror movie might be fun, but does Katsumi-chan like horror movies? she thought. Akari looked back to the graceful athlete and admired her for a brief spell. She's so dignified and noble in her demeanor, I'm sure she wouldn't be scared of them, but then again-

Akari and Katsumi sat in the theater, paralyzed by the sequence of terror on the screen. Satanic forces were terrorizing this school student who simply returned to his old schoolground to find out how his mother died, but these demons weren't having any of his snooping for reasons yet unknown. Not that either of them were going to figure it out because they were too terrified to comprehend any form of rational thought let alone contemplate the plot. Akari was holding her ground fairly well, but Katsumi was reduced to a puddle of a human being. "GAH!" she cried out at last at a particular scene, and she flung herself onto the redhead. "THIS FILM IS TOO SCARY! PROTECT ME, AKARI-CHAN!"

If she can't handle horror films well after all, then that might embarrass her, and I don't want her feeling embarrassed~ Akari reasoned. Not too mention that the fear could possibly trigger her warrior impulses.-

"DAMN DEMONS!" the imaginary Katsumi brooded in her seat at the travesty on the screen. She sat up in a combat stance, ready to pounce at the screen. "KATSUMI-CHAN!" Akari imagined her visual self yelling, "WHAT'RE YOU DOING!? SIT DOWN!" But her plea proved too little and too late, as the jumpscare triggered a reaction inside the tall girl's deepest carnal impulses and she executed a ninja jump at the screen, withdrew her katana and sliced it up. "AAAAIIIIIIYYYYYAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!" she screamed, loud enough to surely trigger shellshock in even the sturdiest of American-Vietnam War vets.

'yeah~' Akari whispered to herself, her eyes all white and cross, a shade of purple occupying her cheeks, 'let's not take any chances with that.' Katsumi was looking at a movie poster herself when she happened to catch Akari staring at her in a weird manner. "Nyeh?" she asked, "Akari-chan? Are you okay? Why are you staring at me?"

"Eh? Oh, nothing!" Akari looked quickly back to the posters. What is she thinking about me? Katsumi thought, a bead of sweat going down her head.

Akari paid particular attention to the romantic movie posters. A romance would be nice! Akari thought, clasping her hand together. Since we are dating after all, but- Akari stopped and thought it through in depth. -are we on the same page about this? Are we, like, really girlfriends or at least girlfriendly enough to do that? And what if she tries to kiss me again? I don't think I'm ready! And if I reject her, then I am just gonna make her feel more embarrassed!

So, she ruled out a romance for now. "Gyeh," Akari wiped a bead of sweat away from her face. "I just can't seem to choose a movie-" Akari looked at Katsumi and found her staring at a particular movie poster. Akari joined her in checking it out - it was a samurai film. "Oh, you want to see a samurai movie, Katsumi-chan?"

"Eh? Oh no," Katsumi said, snapping back to reality, "I was just looking at it. It apparently has really good reviews, and the action and cinematography are all superb!"

"Do you like samurai movies?"

"Well, yes. They are my favorite. But I said you can choose."

"Well, then," Akari feigned a demeanor of pondering, "then I choose to see the samurai movie!"

"Eh, are you sure, Akari-chan?" Katsumi asked. "It really isn't necessary! We don't have to see it if you don't want to-"

"Heh heh, it's no big deal, Katsumi-chan!" Akari said, "I'm fine with anything and I really want you to enjoy yourself, too!" Akari gave a big smile. Katsumi swooned again. "Well, uh," she stuttered, "that is very nice of you, Akari-chan."

Katsumi insisted on paying for the movie and all the snacks in repayment for the gesture, vetoing Akari's resistance. "No, if you chose my movie, then I'm getting you the snacks, Akari-chan!" she declared.

Then, she declared, "You are my girlfriend, after all."

"Eyeh?" Akari froze, her mind temporarily snapping upon hearing Katsumi say it so brazenly. Blushing, she said, "Oh, well, of course." Katsumi blushed too, upon realizing what had just escaped from her mouth." That's the first time I said that out loud! she thought. I can't believe I just said that! "Um," Katsumi salvaged the moment, "why-why don't you go get us some seats, Akari-chan! I'll be in shortly. Akari, still blushing, said, "Okay, sure. Good idea."

Akari saved some seats right in the middle. I can't believe, Katsumi just said we were girlfriends! she thought. I mean, I know we are dating, but it still-just-soun-sounds so weird aloud! Akari couldn't stop twiddling her fingers and the blood rushing through her face made her face feel hot. She tried to look at the pre-attractions, but couldn't take her mind of what had just been said. This isn't fun anymore! Akari thought further. This is TOO DEEP! I mean, what does she see in me anyway where everybody else sees nothing! And two girls DATING!? I mean, preposterous! You don't see that! Who has ever seen that!?

But then Akari heard a laughter, and she looked over in the direction where it came from, and saw two older, most-likely college-aged girls, sitting together and holding hands. Neither of them were any older than her own sister. The laughter came from one of them, the other one had made her laugh. Akari sat and watched on in fascination at how intimately they looked at each other and what joy they brought to the other. From their looking into each other's eyes, the handholding, and later the cuddling, Akari stood convinced that they were obviously dating. Akari smiled, as this helped to make her more content. She was still nervous, but she at least didn't feel so alone anymore. And Akari wanted what was right in front of her.

Akari was calmer by the time Katsumi came to the seating, much calmer than Katsumi was. I still can't believe I called her my girlfriend! It was way too soon! She's gonna be so on-edge now!

"Here you go, Akari-chan," Katsumi smiled through the tension, trying to behave like nothing ever happened. Akari took her popcorn and began to eat it promptly. She looked over at her crush who had returned to her small screen. "Hey, speaking of movies," Akari said to her, "what were you watching on your phone earlier? If it's not too personal-"

"Hmm?" Katsumi looked at her. "Oh, I was just watching some recordings of my last practice match," she declared. "Do you wanna see?" she asked while whipping the phone out. Akari looked at the screen with interest. "You record your matches?" Akari asked innocently. Katsumi nodded, "Yes, I record them so I can better improve myself." Akari admired this. She watched some of the sequence. There were two armored and masked figures holding bamboo sticks out at each other, both of them in a sort of attack stance. "Which one is you?" Akari asked. Katsumi pointed to the one on her right. The Katsumi on screen shouted something and attacked her opponent's chest. And she got it. Akari clapped, which made Katsumi feel joyous. Then, the opponent made a call and attempted a strike on Katsumi, which she deflected. Akari clapped again, "Wow! Great defense!" she said.

But for this, Katsumi merely maintained a frown. "No," she said, "it was sloppy!" Akari looked at her dumbfounded, "Eh? But you deflected the blow, didn't you?"
"Well, yes, but look see-" she replayed the footage, "I deflected the attack from the right here, but I did it in such a way that my center was still exposed! If my opponent were faster, she could've easily quickly withdrew her blade for a second front and plunged it into me, costing me the point."
"Ahhh," Akari sighed, "No, I didn't see that."
"I need to be more conscientious!" Katsumi said, maintaining her stoic disposition. Akari put a consoling hand on her shoulder. "It was an easy mistake to make, I'm sure."
"Yeah, but easy mistakes are the most deadly, Akari-chan! Something like that could cost me a serious contest!"

"You are seriously dedicated to your kendo, aren't you, Katsumi-chan?" Akari smiled at her. Katsumi smiled back. "Hmm, yes I am. it's really one of the only things I truly care about," she put her phone away, "but I'm being rude to you! I shouldn't have this out. A date is no place to be reviewing my strategies."
"It's okay," Akari waved it off, 'I'm interested. I want to know what you do!" Katsumi smirked again. Her sincerity is so cute! she thought. Everything about her is just so cute!

Akari felt a bing from her phone. She looked at it and saw that she had received a text from Chinatsu. Just at that moment; however, the lights were going down in the house, so she turned the phone off and left the message on the wayside for now. The movie started, and the two sat and watched it. After some time, Akari turned her attention to her crush, who seemed oblivious to anything but the screen. Each clang from a sword caused her to perk up and sometimes she seemed just about to jump out of her seat. Akari couldn't help but giggle at how adorable this was. Kendo and action really seemed to spark a passion from the otherwise quiet stoic. This new side to Katsumi was of sharpt contrast to the ordinary angle, and Akari was happy that she was the one who could see it. Returning to the screen, the samurai, as far as Akari could tell, just received a summons to go off and fight for his feudal lord. He is spending company with his loving wife one last time before he is deployed for combat. The romance on the screen forced Akari to think about her own relationship. She looked at her girlfriend, sitting there, her eyes glued. I have to make a bold sign of my dedication to Katsumi-chan in the same vein that she did to me! she thought. Akari then turned her attention specifically to Katsumi's hand. just resting there at the end of the armrest. I should try to grasp her hand at some point in the film. Akari dedicated herself to this task, but it was more formidable than she had initially led herself to believe. She inched her own hand closer and closer, but gradually, so as not to let Katsumi know her agenda. For the passing of every scene, she would move her hand another inch or so. The idea of actually clutching it though made her sweat with nervousness, so she remained paralyzed for a brief moment. Well, it is now or never, Akari! she told herself. And as the next fight started, at the sound of the first clang, Akari grasped Katsumi's in her own.

"Huh?" Katsumi blushed at the contact, and she was distracted from the film by the warmth of her love's hand on hers. She looked and saw Akari studying her, obviously looking for a sign of her acceptance. After a little while, Katsumi smirked, and squeezed her hand, indicating her approval of the gesture. The two smiled at each other, and they both returned to the screen, hand-in-hand.

"Wow!" Katsumi exclaimed as the two of them left the movie theater, still holding hands. "That movie was the best! The fighting was so well choreographed and the stunt work was amazing!" she clapped. "It was very good!" Akari added. She smiled as she remembered the experience. As fun as the movie was, she particularly found Katsumi's performance quite amusing. The girl's energy during the film contrasted sharply against her usual stoic disposition. There were times when it seemed as if she were possessed by the images as there were times when she was pantomiming the fight alongside the characters.

"You were quite energized by the movie, huh, Katsumi-chan?" she smiled at her. "Eh? What are you saying, Akari?"
"Like that time when you jumped out of the seat and started fighting along, heh heh," Akari poked her kiddingly. Katsumi blushed as she waved her off. "Akari-chan," she moaned, "don't recall such an embarrassing thing!"
"Aw, but you looked so cute though!" Katsumi smiled, and asked, "Really?" Akari nodded. "Anyway," she continued, "now we have two embarrassing moments that we can share." Katsumi nodded.

The two went to a food cart to get some food, still having some time before anybody was expecting them. "So, what are you gonna do later, Akari-chan?" Katsumi asked while they waited in line. "I'm gonna be going over to my friend, Yui's later for a sleepover!" Akari exclaimed. "Ah, that sounds like fun. Yeah, I'm going to go hang out with my kendo friends later, too. Tonight is game night," she added with chagrin, "I always win!"
"What?" Akari asked, "Oh, shut up!" Akari said, chuckling. Katsumi gasped at the boldness of the decree. "What? Why? Ha ha." Akari continued, "You do not win every time! That's impossible!" Katsumi smirked, "Well, I do! Call me Ms. Impossible, then." They both laughed, and were still laughing by the time they got up to the stand. The stand was run by an older lady, who watched them as they smiled and held hands, which made solicited a smile from herself. Before either of them could order, she made it a point to ask, "Are you two dating?"

"Ehhhh!" Both of them exclaimed. "Um," Akari said nervously, "Yes we are. Why?"

"Heh heh," the elder lady chuckled, "I just wanted to say that the two of you make a cute couple is all." The two younger blushed at this, not prone to such bold comments from outsiders. But both of them did deeply appreciate the compliment. "Um, thank you very much," Katsumi did a small, but gracious bow to her. "That is very nice of you to say." Akari giggled at the gesture, and admired her form.

The two of them both ordered their food, received it, and went to a spot in the park, in search of a good spot to stop and eat. "You know it's so weird to think!" Akari thought aloud. "Eh? What is weird, Akari-chan?" Akari continued, "It's just weird how life plays out sometimes. Just a week ago even, I thought nobody really cared for me and everything was normal, but now I'm not only going out with someone, but the most popular girl in our year!" Katsumi reflected on this. "It's just so unusual for me to be with someone outside of the Amusement Club in general, let alone be out on a date! And yet here I am! And I am the first one amongst all my friends to have a girlfriend, too!' She smiled. Katsumi was in awe. "Yes," she said, "those are weird developments. But if it is weird then I don't want to be normal." She smiled to. "I can't say enough how happy my time with you is making me, Akari-chan. And that you accepted me as your girlfriend!" With winter still upon the northern world, the temperature was freezing, but two hands clasped together endured it and remained warm.

A/N: Latest chapter hot off the press. This chapter I decided to give Akari another date with Katsumi before jumping head long back into the plot. This is a way to sort of add more substance to Katsumi and develop her chemistry a bit more. I also want to show their transition from dating into a proper couple. So, now it is even more official that Akari has a girlfriend. Of course, Chinatsu and the others still don't know about this. Will Akari tell them? What is she waiting for? Stay reading to find out.