I swear to gods that I'm rewriting this when I finally figure out what kind of dynamic I want these two to actually have. Also when I can actually write out emotions in a better manner. Basically when I have better writing skills in general. I don't even know if I've improved any since the first chapter. Welp, when I feel I've improved a decent amount, I'm going to rewrite the earlier chapters anyway. Anyways, as always, hope you enjoy reading!
"So why did you invite me out here anyways?"
"You didn't want to come?"
"Not exactly how I would word it, but I was a bit surprised when you invited me all of a sudden," Akira said, eyes wandering all over the place before finally settling on the pinkette beside him. Orbs of a color reminiscent to the spice leaves that he so often used, glinted expectantly, waiting for an answer.
"Well… Erina-sama had managed to accidentally order an extra two tickets. She gave me the extras to do with as I pleased," Hisako answered, light red eyes that would actually be closer to pink in shade looking worriedly at the white-haired boy. Thankfully for her, he noticed her concern.
"You have nothing to worry about Arato. I'm glad you invited me," he said warmly, showing the girl a soft smile that was rarely seen on his face, effectively assuaging the girl's worries. But even if he had the official explanation, he couldn't help the nagging feeling that the blonde Nakiri hadn't accidentally ordered those two extra tickets. He wouldn't mention that out loud, though he did send a mental thanks to the blonde if it was as he thought.
Spending time with the pinkette was hard enough with how busy they both were. Him with the Shiomi Seminar and her with being secretary to the God Tongue. He'd take any chance he could get.
"So where exactly are we going?" Hisako asked as they seemed to be walking somewhat aimlessly through the crowded streets of the park.
Akira raised his free hand to point at a stall across the street. The smell that originated from that particular stall had caught his attention.
"You don't mind right?" he asked just to make sure that the girl was alright with it. Receiving a nod in response, the couple walked towards the stall and looked at what was on display. Just the sight of it was enough to make their salivate. It was a giant smoked turkey leg that seemed to held more juice within its crispy skin than twenty oranges.
A quick shared look between each other settled their decision. When they stepped up to place their order, Hisako raised one finger while Akira pulled out the necessary amount of money.
Not even a minute later, the two were back to walking on the streets, this time with a giant turkey leg held in Akira's other hand.
"This is better than I expected," Akira stated in between small bites, pleasantly surprised.
"Mhmm," Hisako hummed in agreement as she too took a bite out of the extremely juicy leg.
"It kind of reminds me of the dish that Yukihira made in the finals of the Team Shokugeki."
"That's exactly what I was thinking of!" Hisako exclaimed, eyes lighting up at the memory.
"That was a year ago huh. Time sure flies quickly," the spice master commented.
"Speaking of first year, you know, I never got to thank you," Hisako commented nonchalantly as they continued walking, entering into the Venice inspired area of the park.
"Thank me?" Akira started confusedly. "For what?"
"For the wake up call during the Autumn Elections."
The boy's mind raced to the memory of back then, wondering if there was anything he did that warranted any 'thanks' from the girl walking alongside him. He stared at a gondola traveling down the canals as his mind connected the dots.
"You mean for beating you?" he asked as his brain finally decided that that was the only thing the pinkette could possibly be talking about.
"Yes. You showed me that my way of thinking was way too small. My only goal back then was to be strong enough to walk behind Erina-sama. I thought that that would have been enough," Hisako said as she stopped walking, effectively stopping Akira as well.
"You made me realize that I was thinking way too small. If I only aimed to walk behind her, I was sure to fall behind everyone else that aimed ahead of her. She would have moved further and further away until I wouldn't be able to see her. Thanks to you, that didn't happen. For that, I am so grateful," Hisako finished with a hand on her rapidly beating heart, staring Akira straight in the eyes, hoping that it would be able to convey the emotions that she couldn't convey into words.
It was silent for a beat before the boy moved closer to her. He raised his free hand to tuck a stray pink hair behind her ear as her cheeks flushed pink at the faint graze of his hand on her face.
"There really isn't any need to thank me for anything," he began softly, words only audible to her. "If you didn't take that step forward then I wouldn't have done anything significant at all. Your achievements are your own Hisako," his face heating up as he said the last part.
Hisako gazed at him with a look that he didn't recognize before she brought a hand up to cover a sudden burst of giggles that erupted out of her mouth.
"That would have sounded way cooler and romantic if you didn't have a turkey leg in one hand and a bit of the juice on your face." Hisako said as she brought out a handkerchief and dabbed at his face, still giggling.
She managed to wipe it off just as the dam broke, the two laughed heartily at the pinkette's comment. Once both of them had regained their composure they resumed their leisurely stroll, mouths immediately becoming busy again with the turkey leg and idle conversation.
"You want to take a ride in one of those gondolas?"