Hi everyone. This chapter is a bit shorter than I would normally post, but I plan on the next one being very long so that's why I decided to cut this one a little bit. Thanks to everyone for reading even after I was gone so long! I really appreciate anyone being here.

Next week couldn't come fast enough. Ever since Yui agreed to go to the dance, I was looking forward to the following Friday like it was Christmas morning. A few days passed since our last date, and I still hadn't gotten the chance to visit Yui again. I had an opportunity to see her yesterday, but I forced myself to stay home and study for a test that I really needed to ace. My grades had slipped pretty dramatically ever since I had been skipping class, but I was passing okay. This particular math test was more significant than others however, because I was barely hanging onto my D+ in that class and if I dropped to an F my parents would probably disown me.

Speaking of my parents, I had been thinking long and hard about how to tell them about Yui. My dad didn't know much about her at all except when I had to explain to him why I was at the hospital every day, but I didn't go into details. My mom knew more about her than my dad, since she caught me gone all day the one time I took Yui to the zoo and almost got grounded. Neither of them knew we were dating now, and I figured someone else would tell them soon if I didn't first.

So I decided to tell them that night at dinner. I looked at my mom, carefully cutting her steak with concentration. She had returned from her usual work trip two days ago and I was happy to have her home again for the next few weeks. She brought positive energy to the house that was absent when it was just my dad and I. My father stirred around his steamed vegetables and rice. I noticed that he had a new cut on his thumb. I wondered if he had been working on his new dish set that he mentioned to me earlier that week.

"So uhm..." I began, making both of them look up at the tone of my anxious voice. "I have something to tell you guys."

My mom put rested her head on her hand. It was silent for a moment, as they waited for me to speak. I felt a lump in my throat. My mom spoke, "Hinata... You're not doing drugs are you?"

I saw my dad smile in amusement, which he never does. I gawked at them. "No I'm not doing drugs! It's not that serious. It's good news."

"Then what is it honey?"

I took a breath, still questioning in my head why my mom's first thought would be that I'm on drugs. "I... I have a girlfriend."

My mom opened her mouth in surprise. She looked delighted. "A girlfriend? Who is she?" I could tell my dad was interested and listening to me but he didn't say anything.

"Uhm... It's Yui. The girl I've been friends with the last few months. I asked her to date me about two weeks ago. I just wanted you guys to know."

My mom smiled proudly. "That's great sweetheart I'm so glad you finally found a girl you like. I can't wait to meet her."

The pit of my stomach tugged a little. I hadn't thought about Yui meeting my parents, which was foolish of me because of course they would see each other eventually. I wasn't too worried about my mom, but the thought of Yui meeting my dad made me nervous. Plus, my dad didn't know she was paralyzed. I wondered if I should mention it to him, but I thought it would be too awkward. Like, Hey dad, by the way my girlfriend is paralyzed! Don't say anything offensive!

As if on cue, my dad chimed in. "I'd like to meet her too, Hinata," he said. "It's about time you found a nice girlfriend."

I faked smiled at them. My mom asked me more questions, like how her parents were and how old she was and if we had kissed yet. I half answered everything, feeling weird having my dad listen in on my romance life. I went to sleep that night thinking about my dad, hoping that over time I could get closer to him and not feel so distant, like he was a stranger.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The dance was only a few days away. I still hadn't seen Yui since our date, but thankfully I got the chance to call her Wednesday night after I finished half of my homework. I figured it was time for a break, and I dialed Miyoshi's number.

"Hi Hinata," Yui's mom answered the phone. "You coming over tonight?" She sounded slightly out of breath.

"I'm afraid I can't tonight, I have things to do. I'm taking a break thought and I was wondering if I could talk to Yui though?"

I could hear the smile in her voice. "Sure one second!"

A minute or so passed, hearing some rustling noises through the phone. Then some muffled voices.

"You got it?"

"Yeah, I think so."

...

"Hinata?"

"Hi Yui," I said cheerfully, glad to hear her voice again. "How are you doing?"

"I'm alright. You should see how I'm holding the phone right now," she laughed. I asked her curiously how she was talking to me. "I'm laying on my side with the phone laying on top of my ear. If I move too much and make it fall off my head I'll have to get my mom again to put it back, so don't make me laugh."

"No laughter. Got it."

...

"Hey Yui, Okito accidently fell into one of my professors at school today and almost broke his ass against the teacher's desk."

"HINATA STOP," she laughed. "I told you I can't laugh too much!"

"I'm sorry I'm just messing with you."

I paced around my room as we talked for what felt like minutes when in reality it was almost an hour. She told me about a new show she had been watching and how she got to go to the pond with her mom to feed the koi fish. I told her about my parents and that I revealed we were dating, and she seemed happy about it. She even sounded like she'd be happy to meet them. It felt so easy to talk to her, like we were always on the same wavelength. Nothing felt forced or weird, it all just flowed.

I stared blankly at my clock when I realized we had been talking for 45 minutes. "Hey Yui?"

"Hm?"

"I gotta get going soon I have to go to driving class tonight and finish up homework."

I heard the disappointment in her voice. "Oh okay. Sorry for keeping you."

"The dance is on Friday...are you excited?" I asked. "I can't wait to see your dress."

"Yeah it's all I think about!" she replied. "I got my dress yesterday with my mom! It's bl-"

I interjected. "Don't tell me anything I wanna be surprised! It'll make it more exciting."

She gave a heavy sigh. "Okay, okay. I'll see you Friday then?"

I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah I'll pick you up at 6."

"Okay. Bye Hinata!"

I smiled. I could hear her happiness in her voice. "Bye Yui."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

At last, Friday night arrived. The whole school seemed more lively than usual, people talking about the dance everywhere I turned. It felt strange to feel excited with everyone else. During previous school dances I would get annoyed or think people were being too over dramatic. It was just a stupid dance, right? But having Yui to go with actually made me understand why people looked forward to them.

My classes went by so slowly that I started to doodle in my notebooks and count down the minutes for school to be over. I wanted to pay attention, but my brain was just in other places. I snapped out of my daydreaming and noticed I forgot to write the homework down, and my professor had already erased it. I leaned over to Okito's desk to my right.

"Hey I just missed the homework did you write it down?"

He smirked at me, handing over his notes. "Thinking about tonight?" he asked and I nodded. "Me too. I hope Atsune likes the flowers I got her."

The school bell rang and I arrived to my last class of the day. Earlier in the week I had dug up my entire closet to find my tuxedo and my bowtie, which I hadn't worn in at least 2 years. I prayed that it would still fit, knowing I didn't have the money to get a new one, and thankfully it did. A little tight around the waist, but it would do. I sat in class thinking about how Yui would react to seeing me all dressed up. Maybe I should try to look nicer for her more often, since I usually showed up to her house in my school uniform or the cleanest shirt and pants I could find.

I felt a little anxious about taking her, remembering how hesitant she was to the idea when I brought it up. I didn't want it to feel embarrassing or awkward for her, and I vowed to myself I would make sure she had a good time. I wanted her to feel like a normal teenager, doing normal teenage things like going to a dance and having fun rather than staying at home in bed. That's all I wanted to come out of it.

After school was over, I rushed home in the cool and bright afternoon. The air felt clean and fresh in my mouth as I walked by the houses I always walked by after school, admiring the trees that were shedding their leaves. Winter had just begun, and I hoped the snow would hold off for a few more weeks because I knew Yui didn't take the cold too well.

Once I was home, I threw my backpack down next to my bed and started to get ready. I showered, shaved, and combed my hair back out of my face. I silently prayed it would stay that way all night, being very aware how it can stick up all over the place. My tuxedo was pretty standard, nothing fancy. Just a white collared dress shirt with a black jacket, black pants and black leather shoes. I fastened my red bowtie to my collar and checked myself one last time in the mirror. I couldn't recall the last time I had looked so dressed up and nice.

Twenty minutes later, I was at Yui's house. The sun was already beginning to go down, and everything looked so mysterious in the twilight. The lights in the house were on and I could hear the radio playing from the kitchen. I felt my nerves start to elevate.

I knocked on the door and heard Miyoshi's soft footsteps approach me. She grinned when she saw my outfit. "Wow Hinata, look at you!"

I scratched the back of my neck. "Thanks so much," I said. "I haven't looked this put together in a long time it feels kinda weird. I'm used to having muddy shoes or a rip in my jeans."

She kindly invited me inside and offered me some fresh cookies that she had just made. They tasted amazing, and I felt a little jealous that Yui had such a nice mom who cooked amazing food for her all the time.

"She's in her room dear, as usual," Miyoshi said as she tied her long hair into a bun. "You can't leave the house until I've taken your picture though! You look so handsome."

I smiled. "Sure thing."

I walked down the hall to Yui's bedroom, hardly able to contain myself. I knocked. "Can I come in?"