Welcome back!

I'm really enjoying this. But my laptop replaces all the 'mochi's with 'mocha's. Hmm. Today, we will enjoy their growing their growing relationship even more. So, get a cup of warm tea or a nice lemonade and enjoy.

I have coffee. Always coffee.

Before

Touch

It used to be that even looking at her filled his heart with adoration and nearly paralyze him. Her wide cerulean eyes would find him, so easily and carefree, and her small mouth would widen into a grin and she would simply say her greeting with such delight that he felt his chest tighten.

Yes, that was plenty.

Or so he thought.

It was all that Mochizou could handle with his pure youth.

Tamako was always carefree and painfully oblivious. At first, when they had said how they felt about each other, she would walk beside him. Not as close as she used to; when she would walk close enough for their shoulders to brush and she would talk fervently would her father's mochi shop. Her eyes lit up and her hands gesturing violently trying to form a ball of mochi with the air around her. That was before he confessed. After their walks always seemed to have more space between them. Her chatter was less lively.

Tamako was also very aware of the space between them. Mochizou was – is now her boyfriend. Boyfriend. Every time she looked at him, really looked, it wasn't just taking notice of a friend. No. This was different. Mochizou was her boyfriend and every time her mind came to this abrupt realization her heart felt like it would give out. So, now, she was forcing herself to be aware of him, of his feelings, but that made her a little too aware of his presence. Of how he always smelled like powdered sugar, soap and something so Mochizou. Her body always seemed to pull her away, for the safety of her heart.

"Tamako?"

His voice surprised her brought her back to reality. They were on their way home. Their school bag heavy over their shoulders. Her feet stumbled a bit, "Y-yes?"

He cleared his throat and his eyes flickered from the stretch of road ahead of them to her, a growing patch of red on his cheeks, "I-is something wrong? You kind of stopped midsentence."

Her face grew hot and he chuckled seeing her blink rapidly and search for words.

"Sorry!" She squeaked, "I was- What was I saying? I think it was about my sister this morning. She. . . Oh! She ate the mochi I was saving." She giggled remembering waking up that morning to find a bit of crumbs on a plate in the fridge.

Mochizou laughed, "That sounds like her. But. . . you were actually saying something about practice tomorrow."

She's nervous, he thinks, we're both nervous.

The air around them feels like it's changing, not in a harmful way but almost encouraging them to compose themselves and enjoy the warmth of spring.

She take a side step closer to him and he tenses but he smells the light scent of her shampoo and relaxes a bit.

"Oh, that," Tamako bites her lip but takes charge of her fluttering heart, " Practice is cancelled for tomorrow. They're prepping for graduation." The last word is almost a whisper but it's a heavy thing for the both of them. It was as if just speaking the word could speed up the time they had left together.

"Ah," He says flatly.

"But, I was wondering . . . should we do s-something?"

Her wording makes his face burn hot but he shakes the thought away. Something. Like a date!

His content makes his head feel light. He rarely spent time with her alone. Her life was filled with love and friend, as it should be, but he couldn't help but feel greedy every time he saw her. He wanted to spend more and more time with her that way the uneasiness of a brand new love would leave their shoulders feeling light.

"Of course!" His voice nearly cracked and she grinned hiding a giggle.

That's when he realized just watching her wasn't enough. Graduation was only a few more weeks away. He hadn't told her that he already had boxes ready to be packed. That would be for another bitter day. Not today. She was closer to him, her head right by his shoulder and they were nearing their homes. He looked away briefly, trying to find any onlookers that might ruin this moment and their embarrassment would leave a scar.

Coast clear, he thought. Tamako started to hum a familiar song and a fresh breeze brushed against their hair. This was defiantly the green light for this. He swallowed a great lump and moved his hand out of his pocket, slightly shaking and maybe even sweating, he reached towards her hand. If just seeing her smile nearly floored him this would send him to the grave.

With great pleasure, he humored himself.

He first felt the sleeve of her uniform and then the coolness of her skin. Her eyes widened but she didn't jump or run away. She dared a glanced at him but his eyes were hard on the road ahead of them. She smiled at this cute side of him and slowly opened her palm towards him and felt how warm his hand was against hers. His gaze moved to her finding her already smiling, he folded his hand over her delicate one and allowed himself to grin like a fool with this achievement.

They walked the rest of their way in happy silence.