A?N: Another update! At last! I know I've been slow...but forgive me, will ya? :D Ok, I will stop talking. Go on, read this cheesy chapter :)

Amu was spending some time with her friends late in the afternoon at the park. She and her friends were swinging vigorously.

"Let's see who can go higher," Tadase challenged; a grin crossed his face.

"You're on!" Yaya shouted. Amu's face broke into a smile as she watched the two compete against each other, and then her phone suddenly started ringing.

She fished out her phone from her jacket pocket and viewed the screen to see her mother was calling.

"Hello?" she picked up.

"Amu?" Her mom immediately responded; she sounded worried.

"Yeah? Did something happen?" Amu answered.

"Honey," her mother said on the other end, in a sad and regretful tone. "Daddy and I won't be home tonight. We have work business to do. So you can just eat leftovers from the fridge."

"Oh…" Amu thought. It was unusual that they would have an extremely work schedule, but it happens, she supposed. "All right," she added quickly. "Thanks for telling me mom. I will see you tomorrow then?"

"Definitely. Well, I have to go, be safe sweetheart."

"Bye mom," Amu shut her phone and looked up to see her friends were watching her.

"Did something come up?" Tadase asked.

Amu nodded. "It's not a big deal. I'm just going to be home alone for the rest of the day, that's all."

"Oh! You can sleepover at my place!" Yaya offered excitedly, jumping out of the swing.

"Thanks, but no thanks," Amu rejected politely. "I've got some things to do at home."

XXXXX

She slowly approached home as the last peek of sun sunk behind the horizon. Tomorrow is going to be Saturday…that would mean a busy schedule for her.

Amu inserted her house keys into the door knob and opened the door. She slipped inside, took off her shoes, and rushed towards the stairs but on her way to the stairs, she spotted a dim light illuminating from the kitchen.

Where is that light coming from? She thought to herself and decided to investigate.

"Who's here?" she poked her head into the kitchen doorway, and subsequently, a crash of pots and pans sounded.

Startled, Amu flicked on the lights to find Ikuto rubbing his head. "Talk about being stealthy…I didn't even hear you walk through the front door."

"Heh," she uttered, picking up the pots and pans from the ground and placing them onto the counter.

"Exactly, may I ask, what are you doing here? At my house too?" She planted one hand on her hip and stretched out the other hand to Ikuto to help him up.

Ikuto grabbed her extended arm and pulled her down to a hug. He evaded the question. "You're so warm," he squeezed her tightly.

"Yeah…the kitchen is usually cold," she commented, but her heart raced a thousand miles, and she was close enough to hear his thumping heart. She blushed at the thought of their physical closeness and allowed her eyes to roam around the kitchen, and that's when she noticed the decorative dinner table off in the corner. A white cloth covered the table, and there were pink candles sitting on opposite ends of the squared table, not to mention the empty vase in the center of the table. There were empty plates set out as well.

"Ikuto…were you making dinner?" she said quietly, in slight shock.

"It looks like my plans have been ruined," Ikuto sighed and pulled Amu up with him from the floor.

He scratched his head and returned his attention to the oven. "Even though the surprise has been already spoiled Amu, if you don't mind, please have a seat."

Amu faltered in her speech, but eventually agreed. She awkwardly took in her seat.

She stared out the window and couldn't help feeling the uneasy atmosphere.

"Here, I fixed up a lemonade for you. Freshly squeezed, so feel special," he settled down a tall glass before her, and she expressed her gratitude.

She took a sip of her lemonade and was surprised at how good it tasted. "Your lemonade is really good," she complimented.

"Of course, I made it," he said conceitedly.

Amu swiveled her head slightly and eyed at Ikuto secretly, watching him cook. He wouldn't make a bad "housewife". She chuckled at the thought of it.

"What's so funny?" he stole a suspicious glance at her and flipped the steak as he was mixing salad in the bowl on the counter beside the oven.

"Nothing," she kept smiling to herself.

XXXXX

Amu put the last piece of steak into her mouth and chewed it slowly. She liked everything about it and wished she could enjoy another, but her stomach protested in fullness.

"Thanks for dinner," she wiped her mouth.

"Do you want dessert? I made sago," he directed the pot that contained the sago.

"No, I'm fine," she said.

He sighed and stared at her, "I go through so much trouble to make you something to eat, yet you refuse to eat it."

"Sorry," she apologized, now feeling guilty that she hadn't taken his dessert to eat. "But why did you make yourself go through this trouble? How did you know my parents weren't even going to be home?"

"I actually told your parents to take the night off and go somewhere to have fun, so that I could have the honor to make you a special dinner, and that's just to express my appreciation for you," he settled down his fork and picked up his glass to drink.

"Oh…wow," Amu said, unsure of what to say. "And here I thought they were really busy with work."

"Nope…it was all my doing, and here," he presented a box to her. "I want you to have this."

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know. Why don't you open it?" he sat back in his seat.

She did and found that it was a hair accessory – a pink clip with a red heart on it. Her face glowed.

"Here, let me help you put it on," he came around the table and took the clip from her palm

She felt light headed from the soft touch of his, but she was extremely happy at the same time.

"Thank you," she threw her arms around him, and he gasped in surprise. "I'm serious…I loved everything about tonight."

He smiled softly. "Well, I expect you to do it fifty times better for me."

"What?" she pouted.

"I demand a fancy place with expensive utensils and food…and some luxurious decorations and a very nice gift from you."

"Gah, you keep imagining because I'd rather fix you something else," she rolled her eyes.

"What's that? You're really planning me a fancy night?" Ikuto smirked, cupping his ear.

"No!" she protested. "You know what, I'm just going to wash the dishes. Talking to you wastes both my breath and energy." She went over to the table and started gathering the dishes.

"But we didn't even eat dessert yet." Ikuto pointed out.

"Well, I'm not hungry. How about I feed you dessert?" Amu said.

"That sounds like a great idea."

Thank you for reading! 3 How about reviewing? I don't mind any comments :].