The Ordinary Life of Chizuru Yukimura

Disclaimer: Hakuouki isn't mine.

"I could just wear normal clothes! I don't think it matters that much!"

"You poor, naïve fool." Kaoru shook his head and tutted. "This is a summer festival and your first date. You need to dress nicely."

"But…" Chizuru still didn't know if she wanted to go this far.

"We're the same size. It looks great."

It didn't look bad that was for sure. She was currently wearing one of Kaoru's old summer yukatas, a teal one with little orange fans on it. It was similar to one of Chizuru's own, a light blue one with peach flowers. And it was this he was wearing. It was nice to match.

"Why do we both have to wear one?" She hadn't even known he was going out.

"It's the perfect outfit for a summer date. I told you."

"Are you going on a date too?" It was the first she had heard of it.

"I will be. You're not the only one enjoying the romance of it all."

"…Shin asked you?" Shin had been very secretive about this relationship so she wasn't surprised she knew nothing about it.

"No. I asked him." Kaoru smirked.

"Why?"

"It seemed like a fun thing to do and I knew he would be too shy. Plus… I wanted to keep an eye on you."

"I'm not going to do anything worth watching!" The most she would do would be feel awkward.

"That's not why. I want to make sure my sister is OK." From feeling self-conscious to feeling super touched.

"Thanks Kaoru!" It was nice that he would be looking out for her. "Are you saying you would beat him up if he hurt me?"

"Definitely. Although considering you've been in the kendo club, you might be tougher than me at this point…"

"…I'm the strong twin now?" This idea was very appealing.

"I think so. You'll have to do all the heavy lifting from now on."

"I did it anyway." They both smirked at each other but it was (mostly) amiable.

After being given a few tweaks, Kaoru finally gave her the thumbs up and they left together. They would not be the only ones out in traditional summer gear so it was less intimidating but knowing who she was going to meet… that was scary.

Because she still didn't know why he'd said yes to her at the end of the day. She'd always found him difficult to read or understand, and short of trying to screw with her, she could see no motive. Unless it was some kind of extreme pity which… actually she would take that.

"I will leave you here," Kaoru announced as they reached the outskirts of the festival. "I'm meeting Shin over that way." He jerked a thumb to one side.

"O-OK!" Being alone with her thoughts… how could that possibly go wrong?

"Good luck!"

"And you!" Though did he really need luck? He had self-confidence; something she'd always lacked.

As Chizuru shuffled forwards, she felt herself hunching in a little. Lots of other people were dressed like her but it still felt like she was standing out too much. Her clothes were too formal, her hair was weird, she was too sweaty, her shoes were too big… Was this how it usually felt before a date?

This is kind of tiring… Maybe I should go home. She could hide in her room and do some homework or something. It wouldn't be so terrifying. And then she spotted Souji and her already fragile heart started beating at light speed.

She wasn't the only one who had gone formal for their date; he too was wearing traditional clothing. A burgundy yukata with faint green patterns all over it. But unlike her, he seemed relaxed, unbothered by wearing something unusual. He didn't look nervous even to be going on their date but then, he wouldn't be; he had probably done this many a time before.

Chizuru felt embarrassed enough seeing him waiting for her but when he spotted her in the crowd and smiled, she wanted to run and hide. She had no idea why but the idea of being around him, especially wearing that, was giving her a deep dread.

"I thought the person doing the asking usually arrived first?" He raised an eyebrow.

"It was Kaoru's fault! He made me dress up!" Because she wouldn't have done it otherwise being the implication.

"Well you get some points for that."

"Don't score me!" Lacking as she was in experience, she was very sure most dates didn't give a grade. Souji just laughed at her indignation. Why did I ask him again?

"Shall we then?" He held a hand out to her.

"What are you doing?"

"People generally hold hands on dates."

"But…" She swallowed. "…Do you really mind?" As far as the people here were aware, she was a boy.

"I wouldn't offer if I minded."

"OK…" She fumbled in trying to grip his hand. He had to notice how sweaty she was. "W-what do we do now?" She was really aware of how many people were around them and that everyone would be able to see. She tried to look as inconspicuous as possible as they began to walk.

"You wanted to go on the date; you pick."

"What do people normally do? I've never been on a date before."

"You're assuming I have?"

"Haven't you?" He exuded too much confidence for that to be true.

"A few," he eventually had to concede.

"So… Do we just do normal festival stuff? But holding hands?"

"Pretty much."

"Oh." That wasn't as bad as she was expecting. It was something she could do. Maybe…

Holding hands felt weird but she tried to ignore it and instead focus on the many things around them. Families with small children, groups of friends and, inevitably, couples, all filling up the streets and following the rows of lanterns towards the main hub of the summer festival.

The best part of the masses of people; they did blend in well. Perhaps it was a good idea to come here. Souji had clearly thought that part through.

I still don't know why he said yes… We didn't need to do anything. Kaoru would've been happy with me just asking. Souji-senpai does have a weird sense of humour though. She glanced at him. He had a lazy smile on his face.

The festival was not large by general standards, suiting for a small town, but the people had made the most of it. They'd fit in several rows of stalls, lit by paper lanterns and with the smells of street food filling the air; Takoyaki, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, cotton candy, candy apples. Her mouth was watering just thinking about the potential feast she had on her hands here.

"Games or food?" Chizuru did not have to consider this for long.

"Definitely food." She'd been too nervous to eat up to now but they were here and the food was everywhere. How could she resist?

"Good choice." And Souji led her straight to the noodle stall. "This stuff is one of the best in town."

"I look forward to it."

Each holding a carton of yakisoba (with extra pork), they sat on one of the nearby benches, tucking in. For a few moments, all was silent as they savoured the perfect combination of noodles, sauce and vegetables.

"You were right… this is amazing." For this alone, it was worth coming.

"I told you. What do you want to try next?"

"All of it." His smile soon turned to confusion when he realised she was serious.

Two helpings of Takoyaki, one shared box of okonomiyaki, a mochi dumpling, a taiyaki and a candy apple later and perhaps she was regretting eating so much. Souji had watched her consume most of this with a mixture of awe and concern.

"You really like festival food huh?"

"I can't not try it all! But… I think I need to sit for a minute." Her stomach was fit to burst.

"Have you got an extra stomach or something?"

"Yes," she announced, looking him dead in the eye.

"We should enter you into some kind of eating contest. We would win so much money."

"And we could buy more food with it."

"Are you sure you could eat more?" Chizuru considered this.

"Maybe not for a while."

"Want to play a game or something then?"

"What have they got?"

"Again; the usual."

This turned out to be true. Her particular favourite had always been the shooting gallery and when she saw this, she made a beeline for it. Not a huge one but enough to have a nice selection of prizes. Souji won himself a packet of gum and Chizuru…

"So that's a lighter, a doll and a cactus," the woman behind the stall announced as she handed them over. "Good shooting."

"Thank you." She held them awkwardly in her arms. "You want one of these?" She took a look at his face and added, "except for the lighter."

"What do you think I'd do with it?"

"I don't know…"

"I'll take the cactus."

"If that's what you want." She could kill most plants so perhaps this would be for the best.

"What a good date you are." It took skill to choke on air but she managed. "Maybe at some point you'll stop freaking out."

"Maybe…"

"Souji? The hell're you doing here?" It had been inevitable. She was surprised they hadn't run into Shin and Kaoru sooner. "And… Ruo?"

"H-Hi guys!" Just act natural!

"Having fun on your date?" Shin reddened.

"Shut up!"

"Are you enjoying your date?" Kaoru smiled innocently.

"Date?!"

"We're having a very… satisfying date." What did that even mean?

"You two?! You two're on a date?!"

"Yes?" Souji tilted his head innocently.

"But…" Shin looked between Chizuru and Souji, brow furrowing as the cogs turned in his brain. "I didn't know you were… You know?" He gestured.

"Were what?"

"That you err, liked each other. That way." Chizuru flushed.

"We don't! I mean, it's not serious, it's just… a date." That sounded convincing. Not.

"I've been enjoying myself." She glared.

"You two are cute together! Please look after my lovely brother won't you?" Kaoru smiled at Souji, the 'or else' very much implied.

"Of course I will." Souji put an arm around her. "And you take good care of my friend." There was a palpable tension in the air, one that only Shin seemed unaware of.

"You guys wanna watch the fireworks together?" Kaoru didn't look too pleased.

"I, um, wanted to watch them alone with Souji-senpai…" Chizuru flashed him a look as if to say 'you better be grateful for this'.

"Oh." Shin flushed. "Have fun I guess guys?"

"And you~." Souji smiled and started leading her away, arm around her shoulders. Even as she walked away, he kept up the contact. It felt kind of nice… was something she would never think EVER.

"You're a good sibling."

"He's happy with Shin so I want to help him."

"You guys have made up haven't you?"

"We're trying… I think we needed this."

"You needed to switch?"

"I meant more the talking but that helped." In a strange way. "Are you going to move your arm?" She didn't want him to think she liked him being that close.

"Do you want me to?"

"You don't need to."

"That wasn't a no." Her face reddened.

"Yes, move your arm." He moved, gripping her hand in its place.

"Better?"

"Better…" She'd admitted to being OK with it and she cursed herself.

Why am I OK with this? Why did I ask him…? Chizuru wouldn't have done it if Kaoru hadn't insisted she had but it weirded her out that she had done it so easily. Once he'd accepted, it felt like things had been going on track without her doing anything.

"Where are we going?"

"A good place to watch the fireworks." Souji seemed confident enough so she would let him lead on.

He took her towards a hill in the middle of the park where many people were already gathering. But it was the walled off part below that he seemed to be aiming for. As they reached it, Souji grasped the wall and heaved himself up, sitting on the top. He put a hand out towards her and Chizuru took it. She was pulled up beside him and from there, they had a great view of the lights around them.

"This is beautiful."

"It's also a good place to look down on people."

"That's… not surprising."

"And to get away from people if that's what you like." He seemed wistful about this.

Anything she would have liked to say was quickly blown away by the start of the fireworks, exploding into a burst of colour above their heads. A cheer rose up from the crowd. She'd always loved fireworks; they brought back memories of sitting on the balcony of their old house, watching them rise in the distance as they ate store-bought onigiri. It was the kind of memory that made her feel warm inside.

But here you could feel the force of the sound pounding you in the chest, your heart thrumming with the beat of the explosions. Chizuru stared, transfixed by the spectacle until a final giant plume of red and gold lit up the sky and left only a trail of smoke.

"Wow…" she exhaled.

"It always was done well." Souji too had a little smile on his face. "It's not as big as what you'd get in a city but-."

"No, it's perfect! I've never been so close."

"A benefit to a small town."

"Definitely."

It was a comfortable silence they were in. People around them were milling about and making their way home but up here it felt like they were apart from all that; separate enough to observe and able to feel a distance. Their hands had laced together as they were placed on the wall without them thinking and she pondered this for just a second.

"…Can I ask you something?" There was no need to break the peace but part of her needed to know.

"Ask away." She swallowed.

"Why did you… you know?"

"Why did I…?"

"Why did you agree to go on a date?" She had to force the words out.

"Hmm…" There was no mocking, no taunting, no funny looks. Only a thoughtful expression. "Because I wanted to I guess?"

"Oh…" It took a moment for the full meaning of these words to slam into her at full force. "You-!"

"Hey guys!" The timing could not have been any better. Shin was waving up at them, Kaoru raising an eyebrow at her from behind him.

"Shin." Souji slid down and Chizuru reluctantly followed.

"Those were pretty great weren't they?" As Shin started going on about the fireworks, Chizuru could not pay attention.

Perhaps she was overthinking it but why would he want to? They didn't know each other that well so she couldn't see why he would want to. Or why she wanted him to want to spend time with her either…

"Have a good date?" Kaoru whispered to her.

"It wasn't really a date…"

"Are you sure about that?" Something in his tone was making her feel uncomfortable.

"Why do you ask?"

"…You're really shit at reading people aren't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Maybe you'll work it out." He wouldn't elaborate any further and she didn't know what to make of it either.

"W-Well I guess… since Ruo's here…" Shin was fumbling and looking awkward. "I guess I'll head home now."

"Thanks for tonight." And Kaoru leant in to kiss him on the cheek. He had been a mess before that; now he could barely string a sentence together.

Chizuru did not get to chuckle for long. A hand was placed on her shoulder and then she was aware of a presence. The musky smell of another person and then a pair of lips pressed to her cheek.

"Thanks for the date." She could not look. She could barely even breathe. And the only sound she could make was a strangled squeak. "Later."

Souji disappeared out of the corner of her eyes and she could hear Shin loudly saying something. Her heart was thumping too loud to hear.

"Well." She jolted. "Wasn't that something?"

"What was that?!" Kaoru sighed.

"Do I need to give you the talk?"

"No!" Kaoru patted her on the shoulder.

"You'll work it out."

Work out what?! She wouldn't ask again; Kaoru would just give her another pitying look.