"Ho-Ho…so we meet again, young grasshopper."
He snorts, covering a laugh.
"I'm older than you, you know."
He hears her shuffle over to him, and if his eyes were open, he'd probably see her sit next to him.
"Only by a couple of months, Kurosaki-kun! And women mature faster than men, so by my calculations, I should technically be older."
This time he laughs as he opens his eyes to look at the golden sky and setting sun.
"You and your sound-proof logic."
She giggles softly, so softly that the flow of the water almost drowns it out.
"So what brings you here this time?"
"Well…so, you know Tatsuki-chan, right?"
He smirks before he moves a hand that is under his head to rub his chin.
"Hmm… the name sounds familiar."
She giggles again, and he looks at her without sitting up.
"Short, right?" She nods in humor. "Black hair?" Another nod, more enthusiastically. "A fighter?" She continues to nod non-stop. "Your best friend? A pain in the ass?"
She nods before really registering his words, making him laugh.
"That wasn't nice," she says with a pout.
"Yeah, yeah," he dismisses with a chuckle. "So what about Tatsuki?"
"Her birthday is coming up."
He sits up.
"And?"
She smiles.
"And I'm here to invite you to her surprise party."
"You came all this way to tell me that?" He asks in suspicion.
She hides her giggles behind her hands.
"So sharp, Kurosaki-kun!"
"Flattery will get you nowhere with me."
She pouts for the second time since arriving at the river bank.
"Kurosaki-kun is so cool!"
His eyes widen.
"Kurosaki-kun is the best!"
He scowls in confusion.
"Kurosaki-kun is the handsomest!"
He blushes.
"What are you saying?!"
She laughs.
"It seems like flattery did get me somewhere," she explains with a giggle.
He lis back down quickly so she doesn't see his embarrassment. Or even worse, his disappointment.
"I never knew that you had such a silver-tongue, Inoue."
He watches her lie down next to him. Watches as her head turns toward him. Watches her as she watches him.
"I don't. I don't just compliment anyone, Kurosaki-kun."
He stares a second longer into her warm eyes before he turns his head back toward the darkened sky.
"So she says," he remarks.
"So he shall believe," she counters in a wise voice.
He chuckles.
"I feel like we've gotten off topic," he states.
"Why are you here, Kurosaki-kun?"
His head moves to look at her as he hears movement. She's lying on her side now, her body facing him. Her face is supported by her hand.
He is silent as he tries to come up with a lie because he sure as hell can't tell the truth. Because if he told her that he's been visiting this spot everyday hoping that she'll stop by, he thinks he'd die from embarrassment.
"Training."
"Ah~I see. I guess I've been slacking off compared to Kurosaki-kun."
He instantly feels bad for lying to her, and he turns on his side, mirroring her body, and he is gearing up to apologize when he notices that she's grinning.
"Kurosaki-kun really is the best!"
Before he can blush, he reaches out with his free hand to poke her forehead.
"Stop that."
She giggles.
"You really are shy, aren't you, Kurosaki-kun?"
"Am not," he grumbles while staring into her eyes. She blinks, and her face turns pink. She then rolls to her back.
"Who's shy now?" He teases as he also rolls onto his back.
"Meany!"
"Uh-huh."
"Kurosaki-kun is mean!"
"Yup."
"Kurosaki-kun is a bully!"
"Music to my ears."
"Kurosaki-kun…"
"Oh? Ran out of insults already?"
"Kurosaki-kun is going to help me plan Tatsuki-chan's party!"
"…so the truth finally comes out. How sneaky of you, Inoue."
She sits up, and she stares down at him. She gives a toothy grin before she gives him puppy dog eyes.
"Fine. I'll help."
She lies back down.
"See?! Kurosaki-kun is the best!"
He sighs.
If he is the best, she is absolutely perfect. But this he keeps to himself. For now, he keeps his words and feelings to himself, and he just enjoys her animated voice and gestures as she explains the theme for Tatsuki's party. For now, he just enjoys his love-like crush or his crush-like love until evening turns to night. And then, he'll walk her home and hope for something more.