Title: observations of an old couple
Author: mysterio000
Pairing: txn
Fandom: CCS
Theme: #1, uniform
Disclaimer: apply standard CCS disclaimer here

Nakuru peered over the ice cream parlor bar, amusing herself for a while by watching the people. It was a hot afternoon. Not much people yet, and business was not so busy yet. Beside her, Touya stood still, eyes surveying the scene, too.

"Nice afternoon." She said randomly. They were wearing uniforms, still, having applied for a job at the ice cream parlor downtown during school term. Touya needed the money, but she...well, she wanted to be with him. Not like he needed to know, anyway.

Touya glanced up at the cloudy skies. "...Sure is."

She frowned. "Mou, you're always so grumpy, Touya."

It was his turn to frown. "What do you expect of me, then?"

"To smile often? I don't know." She told him cheerfully, pushing her elbows off the ice cream parlor bar she was leaning against. She wore a pink visor atop her uniform. She was on roller blades, as all ice cream waitresses here were supposed to do so.

"You don't smile when there is no reason to." He replied flatly.

"But I'm here, right?" She teased.

He scoffed. "...All the more there is no reason."

She playfully pouted, her two brown ponytails swinging behind her head, before she returned to watching the people. Their gazes were directed at the same position, and they were observing an elderly couple in the distance, who sat by the benches.

The old woman was quietly eating her muffin, until the old man by her side halted her actions, by leaning forward to use a handkerchief to wipe away the remains that was left at the edges of her mouth.

She smiled him a quiet thank-you, and used a tissue paper to wipe the beads of perspiration off the old man's forehead.

He returned the smile, and they both silently went back to munching on their muffins.

"Sugoi, ne?" Nakuru interrupted his thoughts.

He blinked, and nodded. "Yeah."

"It's hard to find an old couple like this these days."

He nodded. "Yeah..." He was still gazing at the old couple. She waved a hand before his eyes, and he blinked.

"What?"

"Earth to Touya."

"Reporting, Captain Akizuki." He rolled his eyes, and she laughed.

Then she leant forward suddenly, causing him to instinctively inch away from the uncomfortable nearness.

"There's a small leaf on your collar." Easily, like the briefest, most exquisite touch of a kiss, she brushed it away from his uniform with fingers.

He suppressed a shudder, and took a step back in hope to get away from the maelstrom of foreign, strange feelings within him.

He felt a sense of deja vu, except that this scene had been adapted not from his own life, but like the old couple's that was displayed awhile ago before his eyes. Like when the old lady had wiped off the old man's perspiration with her tissue paper, and right now, as Nakuru was adjusting his collar, straightening it against his uniform.

"There, much better." She pulled away, and he decided not to think about the sudden sense of loss he felt.

She returned back to watching the couple innocently, elbows propped against the ice cream bar, and him, quietly gazing at her back.

"There's something in your hair." He said suddenly.

Then, slowly, but surely, he leant forward, and with gentle fingers, brushed off the fallen small leaves from her hair.

She turned, and smiled at him.

owari