Chapter 8
"You're out pretty early Keisuke" Ryosuke said to his younger brother.
"Yeah I promised to take Kyoko to her doctors appointment this morning."
"Ah I see"
Keisuke rolled his eyes as he saw Ryosuke smile.
"Oh hold on a second Keisuke"
"What's up bro?"
"Here. This came right now for you."
"Cool thanks"
Keisuke grabbed the small package and jumped into his car to go too Kyoko's.
As he drove along the expressway he caught himself staring at the unopened package. He shoved it in his glove compartment, that way Kyoko wouldn't see it either.
Keisuke stopped in front of the apartment where he saw Kyoko waiting for him.
"Hey I hope I'm not late?"
"No not at all the appointment is at 9:15, I just prefer to be early.
As they drove to the hospital Keisuke couldn't help but look at Kyoko. She seemed more radiant today. With her mini skirt her legs always looked great. He glanced at them every once in a while.
"Well, here we are"
Keisuke stopped in a parking stall and put the e-brake on.
He followed Kyoko into the hospital and to the front desk.
Keisuke looked around the hospital comparing it to the hospital his parents owned. It wasn't quite as nice, but then again it was a much nicer public hospital. The private hospital his parents owned was definitely less busy.
"If you'll come with me this way Ms. Iwase and your guest"
Keisuke and Kyoko followed the nurse to an examination room down the hall.
"I'll take your blood pressure now, the doctor will be with you shortly."
"Everything checks out very well Ms. Iwase."
The nurse wrote down some notes on her clipboard and gestured to Keisuke.
"Me?" he asked.
"There is no one else in this room" the nurse said in a sweet sarcastic voice.
"Right" Keisuke replied embarrassed.
"Now please remove Ms. Iwase's bandages and I'll go to the supply room too get more for the doctor."
Keisuke held up Kyoko's arm and gently started unwinding the bandage.
"Woah" he said out load as he saw Kyoko's arm covered in purple bruises and over laping cuts and scratches.
"Yeah I know"
Keisuke saw her blush embarrassed.
"Hey don't be embarrassed. I was just surprised that's all. Most girls would be complaining non stop, but you aren't most girls."
He couldn't help but smile at her, she really was different than any girls he knew.
-Knock, Knock-
"Ms. Iwase, I am Dr. Shinbo."
"Please call me Kyoko"
"Okay Kyoko. Let's check your stitches to see if we can maybe remove them today."
Keisuke watched the doctor remove the bandage from Kyoko's head. Seeing the black stitches on Kyoko's scalp gave him the chills. He's had stitches before, but never on his head.
"How do they look Dr. Shinbo?" Kyoko asked.
"They seemed to be healed up quite nicely. I think we will remove them today. If you feel sick at all just take the pain killers prescribed."
"Okay I'm ready"
"Well maybe you should hold on to something. Stitches on the scalp can be painful to remove. Maybe you'd like to hold your boyfriend's hand."
Keisuke and Kyoko both looked at each other at the word 'boyfriend'. But neither of them bothered to correct the doctor.
He walked toward the stool and took Kyoko's hand in his.
"Thanks" she told him.
"Alright here we go" said the doctor.
Keisuke watched as the doctor cut and pulled the stitches. He could feel Kyoko's grip on his hand getting tighter and tighter.
"And...we are done" said the doctor.
"Well my head feels a lot lighter now" said Kyoko.
"That's a good thing. Just take the pain killers if you really need it. Let's put some more medicine on your arm and re-apply the bandages."
The doctor finished bandaging Kyoko's arm and bowed to her and Keisuke. The nurse mimicked him and left.
Keisuke was still holding on to Kyoko's hand. When they both looked at each other they swiped their hands away quickly.
Keisuke cleared his throat.
"Umm...I guess we should go then."
"Right" said Kyoko.
'What is wrong with me!'
Keisuke was practically screaming at himself. He needed to call Ryosuke, maybe he'd have some advice.
Kyoko stopped at the front desk to sign papers and pay for her visit.
"I'll meet you by the car Kyoko"
Keisuke pulled out his cell phone to dial Ryosuke's number.
"Ryosuke here"
"Hey bro I need quick advice"
"Alright shoot"
"Do you think it's too soon to ask Kyoko out, even if it's just lunch?"
"Keisuke, you like this girl I can tell and you guys have been out before so it shouldn't be a big deal."
"I hate how you're always right. Okay enough said, thanks bro."
"Okay see you later"
"Hey who was that?" Kyoko asked.
Keisuke jumped in surprise.
"Oh...hey. Yeah just Ryosuke."
"Okay then. What do you want to do now?"
"Well...I was wondering if you wanted to go have a nice lunch and go walk at this park right outside of Tokyo. Then maybe get some coffee."
Keisuke had his hands shoved in his pockets feeling a little nervous. But he had to remain cool in front of her.
He could see Kyoko trying hard to hold back her excitement.
"Yeah, that sounds cool. But I guess I'd better change into something a bit nicer."
"Really? I mean I think you look great."
That comment seemed to slip right out of Keisuke's thoughts and out his mouth.
Kyoko blushed ever so slightly on the apples of her cheeks.
"Thanks...let's go then."
'Wow he said I look great'
Kyoko couldn't stop thinking about her morning with Keisuke.
'First at the appointment when the doctor called him my boyfriend, he didn't deny it. He didn't seem to mind holding my hand either. Then inviting me to a nice lunch and a walk in the park. Also saying out loud that he thinks I look great.'
Kyoko observed Keisuke as he drove and could see he was at ease. Then again he was always at ease when they drove together; with the exception of their last date.
"Do you mind French?" he suddenly asked her.
"No not at all. That actually sounds really good."
They drove most of the way in peace with casual conversation and the radio playing a popular eurobeat station.
"It's right after this exit"
Kyoko could see that they were just outside of Tokyo. These roads were more peaceful; less traffic unlike the city.
Keisuke parked his FD in front of a beautiful park with a small lake and walking trails.
"We'll be eating here" he pointed.
She followed the direction of his finger which pointed at a small cafe'.
"It's lovely" she said in awe.
It was true. The cafe' was right next to the park's lake. Everything was surrounded by trees and beautiful flowers.
The host sat them at the best outside table; a private corner where the lakes view was best.
"I'll have the mushroom chicken pasta" she told the waiter.
"I'll have the same" said Keisuke.
"Very good then. I'll be back with your orders soon." said the waiter.
"What do you think?" Keisuke asked.
"This is really nice; I love it."
"I'm glad. I've never been able to come eat here with anyone."
Kyoko was in disbelief.
"I'm surprised"
"I guess I just haven't found anyone I feel comfortable enough with to come here."
Someone cleared their throat.
"Your order sir" said the waiter.
"Thank you"
Kyoko saw the wonderful plate of pasta and immediately dove right in.
"This is delicious" she said.
"I was going to ask you...your Dad, he wasn't upset about last night was he?"
"Oh no, he hasn't even called about it or anything. He understands I live in my own place and I am an adult."
"I admire than you know" he told her.
"Admire what?"
"How independent your personality is. A lot of girls are needy, but not you."
'Wow' she thought. That really was a compliment, no one ever said anything like that to her.
"That was really good" he commented as he finished his pasta.
"I'm really full myself. Do you mind if we go walk before heading back"
"Sure"
Kyoko waited under a tree as Keisuke purchased two cold coffees from a vending machine.
"Thank you so much. You should at lease let me pay for something yeah know"
She smirked at him and tapped his nose in her usual cheeky way.
This seemed to make Keisuke blush for only a second and that made Kyoko laugh under her breath.
"I...I just prefer to pay for you that's all"
Kyoko smiled at him.
"Anyway, is your dream still to become a professional?" she asked.
"Yeah it is; of course Project D comes first. I hope I can still continue some of my professional career with part of the team."
"You mean like Takumi?"
"Takumi is a really great driver. He is one of the few drivers that I'd trust to be my team mate."
"I'm sure both of you will achieve your dreams" she told him reasuringly.
As Kyoko walked along side Keisuke she felt something warm touch her fingers. It was Keisuke's hand.
"Thanks" he smiled at her.
Kyoko then felt him lace his fingers with hers and squeezed it tight.
On the rest of their walk he never let go.
. . .
As they drove their way back to Saitama Kyoko could still feel the warmth on her hand. She wasn't quite sure what all this meant but, Kyoko wanted to keep the experience untainted.
"When we get back to my place do you want some desert? I make excellent crepes"
"Mmm that sounds good to me"
When they arrived at Kyoko's apartment she went straight to work. She mixed the ingredients, chopped the fruit, and wrapped the crepes.
"You really are an amazing cook Kyoko"
"Oh..it's nothing" she said playfully.
Kyoko took a bite of her crepe and had to compliment herself as well.
-knock knock knock-
"Huh who could that be this time?"
Kyoko got up from the table to answer the door.
When she opened the door no one was there. All she saw was a white R32 driving away and roses on the floor.
"Okiro?" she breathed.