Chapter 8 – Love is in the air
"Hey, you okay?" Tsujiai asked
"Ofcourse! I'm here at the mall with you so why wouldn't I be okay?" Nina asked
"Oh, nothin'. So, see anything you like?" Tsujiai asked as they stopped in front of a shop.
"Stuff toys! Kawaii! Come on! Let's go inside." Nina said cheerfully
So Nina went inside the store accompanied by Tsujiai. Nina just loves stuff toys.
"Hey Tsujiai! Don't you think this teddy bear is cute?" Nina said while holding up a white teddy bear with a blue ribbon around its neck.
"It's nice. But I think this teddy bear is a lot more cuter. What do yah think?" Tsujiai asked as he held up a white teddy bear with a beautiful pink dress on.
"Yeah, it is but I'll take this one. I'm going to give it to someone. How about you?" Nina asked
"I'm taking this one. It's a gift for a friend." Tsujiai said as they approach the cashier.
So they paid for the teddy bears they picked. After buying some other things they decided to eat in Nina's favorite restaurant. Afterward, Tsujiai walked Nina home.
In front of Nina's house…
"Well, here we are! You better get inside, it's already late." Tsujiai said
"Okay. Thanks a lot for taking me to the mall. I had a great time." Nina said
"It's no big deal. If you want, I can take you to there everyday if that's what makes you happy." Tsujiai said smiling
"Of course not. You are the one who makes me happy. As long as I'm with you, I don't care where we go." Nina said
"Yeah, I know that. I was just joking." Tsujiai said and then he hugged her.
"I love you so much." He said
"I know. I love you too." She said and they kissed.
They broke the kiss and just hugged each other. They are so in love… (isn't it obvious?)
"You know, it's really getting late. Better go inside. I'll call you tomorrow." Tsujiai said
"Okay. Bye. Take care." Nina said as she went inside the house.
"You really love him, don't you?" Nina's mom said as she saw her walked in.
"Oh, mom. Yeah, I really do. Is this how you feel for dad?" Nina asked
"Of course! I love your dad so much. Now, you better take a rest. Go to sleep. No more chatting with rio, okay?" Nina's mom said
"Hai." Nina replied
The next morning…
"Ohayou gozaimas! What's for breakfast?" Nina said
"Bacon and egg." Rio replied
"Oh, before I forget. Tsujiai came here a few minutes ago and he told me to give you this." Nina's mom said while handing Nina a paper bag.
"Did he say anything else?" Nina asked
"No. but he did say that he'll call you later." Nina's mom said
"What's in the bag Nina-chan?" Rio asked curiously
But before Nina could peek into the paper bag, the door bell rang. She went to the door to see who it was.
"Delivery for Ms. Nina Sakura." The delivery man said
"Oh hi. I'm Nina Sakura." She said
"Here you go. Please sign here." The delivery man said while handing her a bouquet of yellow tulips and a delivery receipt.
Nina looked for a card wondering who sent the flowers. She couldn't find any card so she just placed the flowers on the table and signed the delivery receipt.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Here's the card." The delivery man said
"Thanks." Nina said as she got hold of the card.
"Wow! Yellow tulips. They're your favorite flowers, right Nina-chan?" Rio said smelling the flowers.
"Yeah, it is." Nina said
"Well, who is it from?" Rio asked
"Let me see… Anou… it's from…" Nina wasn't able to see who it was from because Rio took the card from her hand.
"I'll just read it!" Rio said excitedly
It said:
"Dear Nina,
Surprise! Here's a bouquet of yellow tulips for you. I know that it's your favorite even though you haven't told me. I know that there's no occasion or anything today but I just wanted something to go with that "thing" in the paper bag. I hope you like it. I love you so much!"
Tsujiai Hiroki
"Tsujiai sure is sweet." Nina's mom said
"So what's in the paper bag?" Rio asked again
"Oh, yeah. Wait, let me get it." Nina said as she went to the living room.
She opened it and saw a white teddy bear with a beautiful pink dress on. It was the same bear that Tsujiai bought yesterday. She was surprised that he bought it for her.
"The same bear" Nina said
"What do you mean?" Rio asked
So Nina told them the story about what happened yesterday and also about the teddy bear.
"How can you call that sweet? It's just the same bear you two were looking at yesterday. It's the same bear! I just don't get it." Rio said
"Well Rio, I didn't exactly know that he would give it to me. And besides, he also gave me this beautiful yellow tulips to go with it." Nina said smiling
"Whatever. I still don't get it." Rio said heading back to the dining room.
"You really won't get it. It's a boyfriend/girlfriend thing Rio. You'll understand it someday. When you have your own special someone in your life." Nina's mom said
"What mom's trying to tell you is that when you eventually fall in love you'll be able to understand these things." Nina said
"Okay, whatever you say. I'll just continue eating breakfast." Rio said
"You know Nina, this same thing happened to me and your father too." Nina's mom said
"Really? Wow! Is this a usual boyfriend/girlfriend thing?" Nina said
"No, not really. I guess it's like an instinct for every couple. It's really quite hard to explain." Nina's mom said
"I think I get it mom. Anyway, can you help me make chocolate chip cookies after breakfast?" Nina said
"Sure thing. You're gonna give it to Tsujiai?" Nina's mom said
"Yeah, I'll pass by his house before I go to Ayu's." Nina said
"I want some cookies too!" Rio said pouting.
"Don't worry we'll make plenty. Nina, why don't you also give cookies to Ayu and Kaji? I'm sure they'll appreciate it." Nina's mom suggested.
"That's a great idea mom! Anyway, shall we start?" Nina asked
"Hey! I'm not yet finish eating!" Rio said
"And besides, you haven't even started eating yet." Nina's mom said
"Well, I'm not yet hungry. I'll just eat something before I go to Tsujiai's later." Nina said
So after Rio finished eating breakfast, Nina and her mom made chocolate chip cookies. They made 3 batches. The first batch was for Rio; who almost finished eating it even before they started the second batch. The second batch was for Tsujiai and his mom and the third batch was for Ayu and Kaji. After making it, Nina rested for a little while and took a bath. When she came down, the phone rang.
"Hello. Nina Sakura speaking. May I know who's on the line?" She said
"No. guess who." Tsujiai said joking around
"Tsujiai! Hi! Thanks for the flowers and teddy bear. I like it so much." Nina said
"You're welcome. Uhh Nina, would you mind coming over?" Tsujiai asked
"Okay. But just curious, why are you asking me to come over to your house?" Nina asked
"For lunch. It was mom's idea. So, you going?" Tsujiai asked
"Of course! I would love to! I'll be there in a couple of minutes." Nina said
"Ok. Are you already finish?" Tsujiai asked
"No. I still have to fix my hair. I just finished taking a bath when you called." Nina said
"Ok. See you later then." Tsujiai said
"Yeah. Bye." Nina said as she hung up.
So Nina quickly went to her room and fixed her hair. She changed her clothes for about 5 times. Then there was a knock on the door.
"May I come in?" Nina's mom asked
"Of course mom." Nina said
"What are you doing? You're rampaging all over the room." Nina's mom said as soon as she saw how messy Nina's room was.
"I was looking for something to wear. Tsujiai's mom invited me for lunch at their house." Nina explained
"Okay. So that's why. Anyway, you better get going it's already 11:45. you don't want to be late." Nina's mom said
"Right. Do I look okay?" Nina asked
"Of course you do! You're as pretty as ever. Now get going." Nina's mom said
