Phase 5: A Park

Hashimoto found refuge in a park that was across the road from the cafe. There was a large pavilion at the entrance of the park, and he sat at a vacant bench placed inside. The rain had reduced to a very slight drizzle, and the pitter-patter of light raindrops on the pavilion roof soothed his complicated thoughts. Megumi reached the pavilion and sat a distance apart from him, hesitantly. She noted his stormy demeanour and inwardly fretted. She blamed herself for not clearly rejecting Thomas at the cafe and allowing his obnoxious, disrespectful behaviour towards her.

Hashimoto is really angry… Megumi mourned. Her hands twisted nervously in her lap.

Hashimoto was angry…but not at Megumi. He was angry at himself.

How could I have not noticed that Megumi was feeling uneasy? He ranted at himself. What kind of boyfriend am I?

"I'm…I'm sorry." Megumi finally spoke up after a long, torturous silence.

Hashimoto glanced at Megumi, finally taking in what she was thinking and feeling. He hastily replied, "n-no! I should be the one apologising to you! All that while you were feeling uncomfortable and I didn't notice at all!"

He looked away and muttered, "I'm a terrible boyfriend."

The dizzying sensation from being separated at the aquarium, the traumatic moment at the cafe, as well as Hashimoto's downcast expression, was more than enough to push Megumi from the brink of tears. She broke down and started crying again. Hashimoto shook himself from his self-deprecating stupor and instinctively reached out to comfort his girlfriend. Gathering her in his arms, he stroked her hair and whispered placatives into her ear until her shuddering frame began to calm down. The comforting, familiar sensation of his firm chest and broad shoulders made her feel safe. Megumi reached for his hand and began absent mindedly tracing patterns on his skin, something she knew he enjoyed very much.

She looked up and gently cupped his right cheek with the palm of her other hand. "You aren't a terrible boyfriend," she assured him. "We'll learn how to communicate these things better, ok?"

This would be the perfect moment to kiss, Hashimoto mused for just a fleeting second, but he was mindful of the roadbump he and Megumi had hit a few minutes ago. Steering away from intrusive thoughts, he focussed on the girl he loved being in his arms, the softness of her palm, the fragrance of her shampoo. Hashimoto could have stayed in that moment forever.

Unbeknownst to him, Megumi was thinking the exact way too, wondering if he was about to kiss her. Her girlfriends had been gently teasing her about it, asking when he was going to "man up" and kiss her. But she appreciated how he had never even made a hint of a move since they got back together, knowing how much it had upset her. Although he loved how much of a gentleman he was, she was also getting slightly impatient. If he wasn't making any indication, should she take the initiative? But, snuggling deeper into her boyfriend's arms, she decided against it. This for now was enough.

I could stay like this forever, she thought.

Well, unfortunately forever was soon to be shortlived. Hashimoto was just about to settle down and fully enjoy the moment, when he heard a low growling sound emanating from behind him. He turned around and immediately jumped off the bench, pulling Megumi away. A German Shepherd, leash dragging on the ground, was eyeing him with a snarl. Hashimoto did not particularly like dogs, and large, fierce dogs were his least favourite. He shot off, sprinting away and calling Megumi to do the same. While he raced to and fro in the park, the dog in hot pursuit, Megumi calmly and quickly walked away, watching the proceedings with growing alarm.

It was with immense difficulty that Hashimoto finally shook off the dog and left him growling menacingly as the duo made a swift and speedy exit from the park. Hashimoto was unsure if he should burst into tears or laughter. Seeing Megumi's worried face, he quickly decided on the latter and burst into a hearty gale of laughter that quickly soothed her anxious expression. Sliding an arm onto hers, he told her, "let's grab dinner!"