RING~!
Oh, that's my alarm.
Komi stretched and flung open the curtains. The sun shone brightly, as the weather started to cool. Winter was near.
She quickly went to wash up and brush her teeth, before heading down for breakfast.
"Oh, good morning Shouko! Going out on a date?" Her mother called from the kitchen as soon as she saw her daughter heading down the steps.
"Well, breakfast is ready for you, so you can go ahead and eat first!"
Komi sat down by the table and started eating, as thoughts and anticipation about the date ahead creeped in.
I can't wait!
She got way too excited and ended up almost choking on her food from the pace she was chewing at.
Tadano: I'm outside your house right now, are you good to go?
Komi: Hang on, I'm still changing.
Tadano: Alright, take your time.
Komi placed down her phone and looked at the rows of outfits she had 'shortlisted'.
What do I wear?
She wanted to look cute for him, but as usual, she couldn't decide what to wear.
I can't take too long to decide either, since he's already outside…
But I want to look cute for him…
She felt as if she was having an existential crisis just from picking an outfit.
In the end, she decided to settle for the outfit she had worn on their very first date. After all, it was their first ever date since they had reunited.
Sprinting down the steps, she flung open the main door to her house and past the gate, where Tadano sat on his bike, waiting.
"Oh, good morning Shouko! You, uh, didn't really need to rush…"
"S-Sorry for… making you w-wait…" She panted.
"It's alright."
"How are… your…?" Komi glanced at the bandages across her boyfriend's body.
"Ah, they still hurt a little bit, but I'll be alright. Are you ready to go?"
She nodded, climbing onto the rear of his bike, before wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his back.
He blushed.
She blushed.
They both liked it though.
The wind rushed through and collided against them as Tadano cycled down the pavements of Japan's sub-urban streets.
"It's been quite a while since we've done this, haven't we?" Tadano sighed with elation.
"It… really has…" Komi's voice could barely be heard over the sound of the wind.
"I really do hope I get to spend more time with you over the next few months."
"Me too…"
Komi carefully adjusted her grip on Tadano's waist, and shifted her head just a little bit so that he could barely feel it. Her nose was almost pressed onto the back of his jacket.
Silently, she took a small sniff of his jacket, and immediately she regretted it.
He just had such an addicting smell. And she was trying to hold back all temptations of giving it another sniff.
"Alright, we're here!"
He parked his bike by one of the railings and they both got off. She watched intently as he secured the bike to the railing.
"Hm? Shouko?" He had noticed the way she was looking at him.
"Oh…! S-Sorry… I… J-Just wanted to…"
"It's alright, I thought you wanted to ask me something."
They stood there in slightly awkward silence.
"Shall… Shall we go now?" He asked, slightly sheepish.
She nodded, and they slowly started walking.
While they walked, she took a glance at his hands. They looked so soft, perfect to wrap her hands around…
Suddenly his hands moved, and interlocked with hers. She looked up, slightly surprised.
"Well… I… kinda noticed the way you were looking at my hands… I just assumed you wanted to… B-But if you don't want to then that's alright I just…!"
"I really wanted to…" She spoke in a whisper, barely loud enough for her boyfriend to hear.
"Oh… Uh… Alright, thanks…"
They could feel heat rising off their faces as their hands remained intertwined with the other's. Slowly, and instinctively, their grip tightened a little. They had no desire to let go.
The wind blown in from the ocean made them shiver a little. Autumn was soon to come to a close, with winter on the horizon. Hence, the temperatures were dropping lower and lower with each passing day.
Even if the couple were holding hands, there was still some distance between them. It felt strange, a little awkward even. They sorely wanted to move closer to each other, shoulder to shoulder, but they weren't sure if the other would like it. Typical.
They kept shooting glances at each other, trying to catch a sign of them shivering to give either of them the excuse to move closer.
Then their eyes met mid-glance.
The two of them looked at each other, their intentions visible in their eyes.. They no longer needed confirmation.
Their bodies slowly inched towards each other with each step they took.
Until they bumped shoulders a little too hard.
"Ow… S-Sorry…" They both uttered at the same time, before they blushed ever so slightly and turned to face the path.
They stopped by a cafe near the beach front to have their lunch, before they continued on their stroll around the massive park. Tadano didn't have too many ideas, he just wanted a simple date with her to build back their old relationship, even if it was already restored.
A lot has happened these past few weeks… A rollercoaster of events, to say the least…
Tadano sighed and looked up to the trees.
Well, I'm glad we got it resolved and…
His thoughts were interrupted by Komi tapping him on the shoulder.
"Huh…? Oh, is… something wrong, Shouko?"
She pointed to his face, then to the left of her lip. She then took out her pocket mirror to show him before he could even ask what's wrong. He saw a tomato sauce stain right next to his lip.
"Oh… I'll… get a tissue and…"
His hand had not even begun moving to his bag when all of a sudden all he could see was the upper half of his girlfriend's face.
Komi instantly pulled her head back, before blushing furiously and hiding her face in her hands. Tadano's eyes were wide with surprise, in a good way.
"Did… you just…?"
She had not only kissed him.
She had licked the sauce off his lips.
With her tongue.
In public.
In a crowded park.
"...S-Shouko?"
"I… I'm sorry…!" She let out a small cry of embarrassment.
"N-No…! I'm… not blaming you for whatever that was but… did you really just…?"
She nodded slowly, hands still on her face.
He quickly used one finger to wipe off the area she licked.
There was no sauce anymore.
He looked back at her, and then back at his finger.
But on the other hand, her saliva… smelled… nice?
Hang on, Hito! Why on earth would you even…?
Apparently she had also realised what he had just done. Her blush had increased in intensity.
They had never felt more awkward and embarrassed.