One day, just a week or two after New Year and just when the snow stopped falling, Midori received an almost cryptic text from Hayabusa.

'Yo, Midori Miho. Would you say that we are practically dating?'

Midori nearly dropped her phone in shock. She composed herself, channelling her inner calmness and typed out a reply.

- X -

Meanwhile, in the Hayabusa household, Hayabusa sat at the dining table, gripping his phone, never taking his eyes off the screen. When it finally vibrated, alerting him of a new text, he almost dropped his phone while tapping it furiously to read it.

'Does 'practically' exist because you're my senpai? LOL ^_~'

Never in his life had Hayabusa wanted more than to punch an emoticon.

He growled in frustration, chucking his phone aside and resting his forehead in one palm. "Damn that Midori Miho," he muttered darkly.

His father chuckled, finished with placing the grocery in the fridge. "Trouble in paradise, Shou?"

He only grunted in reply.

His father walked over to him, patting his shoulder. "There, there. To her defense, you aren't the easiest book to read."

"I already asked if we're practically dating! What more do I need to do?"

"Does 'practically' exist because she's your kouhai?" his father mused to himself.

Hayabusa growled in frustration again. His father laughed, taking a seat beside him.

"Here, Shou," he said, taking a flyer out from the grocery bag. "They gave this to me when I was buying the cartoon bread the twins like so much. Maybe this can help you."

Hayabusa glanced at the flyer. "Star café….?"

- X -

Sakamoto was at the grocery shop, shopping for more bird seeds to take to school the following week. He passed by a group of people from his class, huddled together and looking at a flyer.

"Look at that," Ken-Ken laughed. "A new café opened downtown, and it's about stars! Ha!"

Mario laughed as well, pointing at the photos printed on the flyer. "It looks like a regular café! White walls, brown tables and chairs, wood floor! Only difference is that they offer dessert inspired by each planet! Hahaha!"

Atsushi looked up, catching Sakamoto's eye. "Yo Sakamoto! Look at this joke here!"

Sakamoto adjusted his glasses. "Dessert inspired by planets…"

He then took out his phone (he got one after Kubota asked him for tutoring help. He didn't tell Aina that, though.) and started dialing Kubota's number. "Kubota. I hear there's a newly opened café, do you want to go with me? ... Yes, this Sunday would be good."

Atsushi watched Sakamoto walk away, mouth hanging open in shock. He turned to Ken-Ken and Mario with a fire in his eyes. "Are we gonna let Sakamoto think he's better than us because he goes to some fancy café with desserts? No! We're going too!"

- X -

On his way home, Sakamoto passed by the Midori Jinja, and walked in, deciding to try his newly bought bird seeds on the birds there.

"Oh, hello there, Sakamoto," Midori said, looking up from sweeping the floor.

He greeted her before taking a few bird seeds out. After a few moments, birds flew towards Sakamoto, eagerly feasting on the bird seeds. At the meantime, Midori's phone vibrated, and she read the newly received text.

She gasped, dropping her broom.

The birds flew off, scared. Sakamoto sighed dejectedly.

"Well, well," he said. "What do we have here?"

"Sorry," she said in a half whisper, half stammer. "I… received a shocking text, that's all."

'As your senpai, I'm asking you to go with me to the star café downtown on Sunday.' The text read.

And that was how Midori found herself getting ready for a date at the new café downtown coming Sunday with her senpai.

Sunday came about and Hayabusa arrived at the designated meeting spot five minutes before the arranged meeting time.

A few minutes passed after their arranged meeting time, and Midori was still nowhere to be found. Hayabusa took out his phone, checking the time, and was just about to call her when he heard a breathless voice behind him.

"Sorry I'm late, senpai!"

"Yeah, you should be - " he stopped when he turned.

Midori was dressed in a white winter coat and had a red skirt on, matching the red scarf wounded around her neck. She was catching her breath, and when she did, she looked up at him from under her eyelashes and smiled, her eyes forming little half-moons as she did so.

He swallowed, subconsciously adjusting the scarf around his neck to hide the flush on his cheeks. "… come on, let's go."

- X -

At the café, all was going well for their first 'practically but not quite' a date. They ordered desserts each, and were eating while Midori was chattering animatedly away to Hayabusa. He made a dry remark, prompting her to laugh.

Kubota, sitting with Sakamoto some tables away, turned to look at Sakamoto. "They sure seem like a couple, don't they?"

He looked up from his Mars-themed cake. "We are eating together too. Do we seem like a couple as well?"

Atsushi, sitting at a table a few seats behind them gripped the edge of the table in anger. Mario and Ken-Ken quickly tried to pacify him.

The bell at the door tinkled, signalling that more people have entered the café. They were talking noisily, catching the attention of Midori and Hayabusa, as well as the rest. Once Midori saw the crowd that just entered, she paled.

There, in the middle of the men wearing baseball jackets and leather coats, stood a woman with her arms crossed. She had short dark purple hair, and cold calculating purple eyes.

"What's-" Hayabusa turned his gaze to the crowd. The moment he laid eyes on the woman, his eyes widened before a dark look came into his eyes. "Her."

"Senpai," Midori said, her voice no bigger than a squeak. "You know her?"

"Hn. You remember the extortionist my dad… dated? That's her."

Midori paled again, turning so white that she nearly matched the sweater she was wearing. "No way… she's the reason my parents refuse to come back to Japan."

He looked at her in surprise.

She elaborated. "Some years ago, when I just became the Midori Miho and when my mom was still teaching me… this woman met my dad. She, uh, fell in love with him at first sight and tried to follow him for dinner to ask him out, only to see that he has a wife, and a daughter who looks just like his wife. She was so angry…" she shook her head. "My parents were so terrified that they decided to take their work overseas. I stayed behind because I wanted to watch over the Midori Jinja."

Hayabusa let out a breath. "… is that why they don't come home to celebrate festive seasons?"

She smiled sadly. "There isn't that much snow in the world that can keep parents away. They choose not to come back to Japan."

He touched her hand that was on the table. She smiled again, this time a genuine one.

"Well!" a sudden voice interrupted them. Their hands quickly broke contact. The extortionist had made her way to their table, and was smiling sweetly at them. "Shou-kun… and Midori-chan! What a small world we live in! I'm so glad that I decided to drop by this café today with my friends."

She gestured at the gang hovering near the entrance. They sneered at the pair.

"Having café food today, Shou-kun?" she smiled patronisingly. "No French cuisine?"

He gritted his teeth.

She turned to Midori, a cold look settling into her gaze. "Ah, Midori-chan. It was what, almost three years ago since I last saw you! I still remember it like it was yesterday."

"So do I," Midori said, a glare making its way onto her features.

"Ah! What a terrifying gaze! You look just like your mother when you do that! Goodness knows what Katagi-kun sees in her."

Her hand clenched into a fist. "Don't you dare talk about my parents-!"

Hayabusa grabbed her hand again, as if telling her to calm down. She took a deep breath.

The extortionist looked at their hands and gave them a condescending smile. "What a nice café to have a little date in. But so quiet! I'll take my leave now, but allow me to leave you with some entertainment."

She made her way to the exit, signalling something with her hands. The bell tinkled as she slipped out of the door. The gang smirked, making their way towards Hayabusa's table.

"A little kid," one said with a sneer. "This is easy money – paying us to take on a runt!"

Hayabusa clenched his teeth. He looked at Midori, who looked back at him with frightened eyes. 'No, I must not do anything that can ruin this date.' He took a deep breath, willing himself to not lose his cool.

The gangster grabbed the scruff of Hayabusa's shirt. "Don't ignore me, ya runt!"

"Hayabusa-senpai!" Midori said, alarmed. "Ah-!"

The other gangster pulling her hair sneered. "Watch yourself, woman, before worrying about your little boyfriend."

A flash came to Hayabusa's eyes. He stood up, effortlessly throwing the first gangster over his shoulder onto the floor before punching the other. The both of them fell against an empty table, sending the table crashing to the ground.

The other guests shrieked, fleeing out of the café. The other gangsters started closing in on Hayabusa.

"Hayabusa-senpai!" Atsushi cried, standing up with Mario and Ken-Ken in tow. "We won't let you fight alone!"

But before the three could reach them, Sakamoto already did. He stood in front of the gangers, adjusting his glasses.

The remaining gangsters paled when they saw him. "It's the monster from that alley! He's after us again!"

As quick as they came, the gangsters grabbed their fallen members and left the store. Hayabusa heaved a sigh of relief, thanking Sakamoto. He scanned the café and its mess. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. 'Some first date. Bet Midori Miho hates me now.'

He turned, expecting to see her grabbing her things and running far away. But instead, he saw her walking back from the front counter with a mop, and began to clean up the mess.

"This is nothing compared to the mess you get at the shrine," she said serenely. "Come on, senpai, let's clean up! You looked really cool when you flipped that guy, by the way. Can you flip a table that coolly, too?"

He was shocked, but he quickly snapped out of his trance. He smirked at her, hoisting the fallen table up. "Was that a challenge, Midori Miho?"

Atsushi and his friends, so moved and inspired by Hayabusa that they too grabbed mops and began to clean up the mess. Kubota pushed in the chairs neatly. Sakamoto borrowed a rag from the counter lady and started to clean the tables.

Sakamoto's cleaning was so captivating that those passing by could not help themselves but enter the café, taking a seat and watching Sakamoto while sipping their lattes in bliss.

At the end of the day, the few of them made their way to the counter and bowed their heads in apology to the person in charge.

The manager waved them away. "No, thank you kids instead! You all cleaned up the place so stylishly that I got more customers! I broke a record for the number of sales I made today! Consider your meals on the house!"

- X -

Midori and Hayabusa walked along the streets, hand in hand. ("It's still cold," Hayabusa said, taking her hand in his. "I don't want to be held responsible for your frozen hands."). They had left the café and he was walking her home.

"Hey," he suddenly said. "I'm sorry."

Midori looked at him in surprise. "Why? The food was good, and we got it for free too!"

"No, I mean…" he sighed. "I messed up. It was supposed to be a nice, ordinary date, but you saw me fight and trash the place."

She laughed. "But you looked cool when you fought! Besides…" a small blush dusted her cheeks. "I was happy when you beat that guy up because he was harassing me."

They stopped outside the few steps leading the shrine's gate.

She smiled at him shyly. "Thank you for the memorable first date, Shou-kun." With that, she leaned in, softly kissed his cheek.

Before he could say anything else, she laughed, making her way up the steps and into the shrine. "I think that's practically a date! See you in school tomorrow, senpai!"

He sighed exasperatedly to himself, watching her disappear inside with a smile. 'What am I going to do with you, Midori Miho?'

- X X -

"Midori-chan," Hayabusa's father said to her while preparing hot water. "Did you know that Shou's birthday is next week?"

It was a few weeks after the new year, and at his father's (and brother's) insistence, Hayabusa had invited Midori to their house for dinner. She brought along a few homemade maki and also some chocolate cupcakes to satisfy the senpai's sweet tooth.

She looked up from her seat at the dining table in surprise. "I didn't know that."

His father softly chuckled. "I'm not surprised. That boy doesn't ever like to talk or celebrate his birthday... not since his mother passed on. I'm only saying this because he's not home right now."

Midori's gaze shifted to the front door, worried that Hayabusa-senpai will suddenly barge in as they were talking about him.

His father sighed. "Shou says he's gotten too old for birthdays and rather me invest time in celebrating his brothers' birthdays. But I know that boy – he just doesn't celebrate his birthday because it reminds him of his mother."

Midori swallowed, feeling her heart wrenched.

"This may be presumptuous of me to ask… but please, Midori-chan, if you can spare the time… would you please spend some time next week with Shou? He appreciates your company, and I would like him to celebrate his birthday somewhat-"

"It's not bother at all, uncle!" Midori cried. "I'd… I'd be honoured to spend time with senpai, on his birthday no less! Thank you for telling me-"

The door opened. "Tell you what?"

Hayabusa's father and Midori looked each other, frozen.

She quickly laughed, gesturing towards the tray of tea Hayabusa's father was holding. "S-senpai! Uncle was just teaching me the way to boil the perfect green tea! Did you know that the water had be to of the perfect temperature?"

"Huh," he said, walking towards the dining table, handing a bag of groceries his father told him to buy to him. He took a seat next to Midori, helping himself to a cup of tea. "The tea you make at the shrine taste the same as this," he commented after a sip.

Midori and Hayabusa's father secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

"Say, senpai," she said while his father was busy preparing the dishes for dinner. "Are you free next week?"

"Next week?" he rubbed his nose in thought, glancing at the calendar. Upon seeing nothing marked, he shrugged. "Yeah, I am."

She beamed. "I have some discount vouchers to this dessert buffet at the restaurant near school! The voucher can be only used for two pax, so would you like to come with me?"

"Dessert buffet, eh?" he mulled over her words while sipping more tea.

She gulped in anticipation.

He shrugged again. "Why not? I'll eat less for lunch that day."

She smiled from ear to ear. "Great!"

They arranged the meeting time and place, and just when they finished doing so, the door slammed, and the three Hayabusa brothers charged in. They were released from school, and the moment they saw Midori, they squealed. They ran towards her, clamouring for her attention and all trying to share with her some tale from school.

Hayabusa sighed when his brothers dragged her to the living room to see their toys. "Those rascals…"

The next day in school, Midori marched up to Sakamoto's table.

"Sakamoto!" she said, bowing to him. "I need your help!"

She explained her dilemma to him; how she was tasked to celebrate Hayabusa-senpai's birthday with him, and how they will be going to dessert buffet, and how desperately she wanted to make that day perfect.

"The restaurant near school?" Sakamoto adjusted his glasses. "I tried their food before. A bit sweet for my liking. I think senpai will enjoy it, though."

She nodded happily. "Any tips for me on how to make that day perfect?"

Sakamoto pondered over her words for a second. "Just be yourself and have fun."

Unbeknownst to them, Aina and her friends were listening in, smirking to themselves.

The week quickly flew by, and before Midori knew it, it was Hayabusa-senpai's birthday. It was a school day that day, so they arranged to meet at the restaurant half an hour after dismissal. As soon as the bell rang, Midori grabbed her bags and flew to the shrine, eager to change (and close the shrine for the day).

Once she left, Aina looked at Tanaka and Yagi and smiled. "Did you bring them, girls?"

They nodded, pulling out a coats from their bags. The three of them put them on, hiding the conspicuous red sailor shirt. They nodded at each other, stealthily making their out of class.

Sakamoto adjusted his glasses, before Midori's words rang in his ears. "I just want to make the day perfect for senpai."

He picked up his bag and too decided to make his way out of class and towards the restaurant.

- X -

Hayabusa arrived at the meeting spot five minutes beforehand as usual. He wore a white top, blue jacket, and jeans, and was waiting impatiently.

"Sorry for the wait!" a voice greeted him.

He sighed to himself. 'At least she's not late this time.'

She stood in front of him, smiling sweetly. She was dressed in a red pinafore dress, blouse, and had a cream cardigan on.

He didn't say anything but, "Let's go then."

Aina and her friends sighed to each other from their hiding spot where they were secretly spying on the pair at.

"See girls," Aina said, flipping her pigtails backwards. "In this scenario, the guy should always compliment on the girls' looks."

"Maybe they're not dating," Yagi said.

"But two people going for a meal… it should be a date, right?" Tanaka said.

"Kuronuma-san, Yagi-san, Tanaka-san," a voice said from behind them.

The three turned, eyes widening at the sight of Sakamoto. "Sakamoto-kun!"

"We're going to the nearby restaurant!" Aina said excitedly. "Would you like to join us?"

The other two girls nodded excitedly.

He adjusted his glasses. "The food there is too sweet for my liking. I will go to the Fast Food joint Kubota is working at to pay him a visit on his shift."

With that, he turned and left.

"Wait…" Tanaka said. "If Kubota is on his shift, that means… Sakamoto will be there eating alone!"

Yagi gasped. "We can-"

"We can join Sakamoto-kun!" Aina exclaimed. "It'll be like a date!"

With that, the three of them took off after Sakamoto, forgetting all about their plans to spy on Midori and Hayabusa.

Their time in the café went without a hitch. They sampled the various desserts in the café, ate leisurely, and talked amicably (it was more of a case of Midori chattering away animatedly with Hayabusa listening and occasionally throwing in a few sentences, but it suited them fine).

She just finished telling him a story involving the shrine, birds, Sakamoto, and all their female classmates when Hayabusa spoke up.

"Don't you feel ever lonely?"

She hesitated for a second. Ever since her parents migrated overseas, she's been busy minding the shrine after school, and her role as shrine maiden didn't make her the most popular girl in middle school. Even now in class 1-2, she does not have much friends due her lack of friend-making skills.

"It's not hard to get used to once 'goodbye' is a word you hear the most every day," she said. She fidgeted with her fork, and because she was so unused to sharing about this part of herself, and because she was trying so hard to shift the conversation, the first thing that came out of her mouth was: "What about you and your brothers, senpai? Do you feel lonely too?"

She jolted the moment she realized what she said. 'Midori you idiot!' she could have slapped herself.

He smiled a bit, almost to himself. "Like I told Sakamoto before… I don't think it so bad to lack what we never had in the first place."

Guilt washed over her, causing her usual serene self to start blabbering nonsense. "I'm sorry, senpai! I didn't mean to- I mean, I wasn't thinking-! I just said the first thing that- I'm sorry-"

He popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth, cutting her off effectively.

He smirked. "You sure talk a lot, Midori Miho." He took a bit of his waffle, swallowed, and added, "But I don't mind."

Doki doki.

Midori's heart skipped a beat.

- X -

The sun was beginning to set after they had their fill of dessert and left the restaurant.

On the way back to the shrine (Hayabusa insisted on walking her home), Midori suddenly asked, "Hey senpai, do you remember how we met?"

She was expecting him to say something along the lines of 'because of Sakamoto' or 'you threw me a broom when your classmates tried to attack me'.

Instead, he said, "Yeah, you were lost on the first day of school, somehow made your way into the Year Two block and bumped into Maruyama." He laughed. "I still remember how annoyed he was by it for the whole day."

She froze in her tracks. "Wait, senpai, you knew it was me? But…"

She thought of her old disguise and its spiral glasses, braids, and no trademark ribbons at the top of her head.

Noticing that she stopped, he looked back at her. "I did wonder why you changed your looks when you threw me that broom in your class, but then again…" he smirked. "You look more of a shrine maiden and less of a klutz like that."

He turned, starting to walk again. "Are you coming or not?"

She blinked, before breaking out into a smile. "Coming!" she jogged up to him, matching her pace to his once they were side by side.

"You know, senpai," she said almost shyly. "When we first met and when you helped me, I thought you were really cool."

He was silent for a few moments. "No wonder all the First Year delinquents think so too."

She laughed. "What, all of them bumped into Maruyama at some point and fell down, only to be helped up by you?"

He smirked, letting out a short laugh. "Pretty much."

They reached the front of the shrine, stopping in front of the steps to the gate.

"Thank you senpai," Midori said. "For spending the day with me, for always helping me out, for keeping me company, and for making my school life fun." She smiled, her eyes forming little half-moons as she did so. "Thank you coming into this world."

He looked at her in surprise. (His face seemed a bit red, but it could have been because of the evening sun.) "… not like I have any choice in that."

She pulled out a parcel from her bag and gave it to him. "Happy birthday, Shou-kun."

She turned and was about to walk up the steps and disappear into the shrine when she felt a hand around her wrist.

"Wait."

Swiftly, he pulled her towards him and against his chest. And then, just like that, he leaned in and kissed her.

Her heart rate increased and she felt blood rushing to her face. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she wound her arms around him, bringing him closer to her. A gust wind blew, causing a few leaves to breeze through the air gently, creating a romantic backdrop.

He broke the kiss, smirking at her flushed cheeks and dazed gaze. "See you in school tomorrow, Midori Miho."

- X -

The moment Midori walked up the steps, passed the gate, and disappeared into the shrine, the figure sitting at the top of the tree nearest to the gate gracefully leaped down. He dusted his uniform with one hand, and another hand held a fan.

'I always knew that this fan would come in handy,' Sakamoto thought to himself.

On his way home after visiting the Fast Food chain Kubota did his shift at, he saw Hayabusa and Midori walking together. Remembering Midori's words about wanting to make the day perfect, he stealthily made his way to the shrine before they arrived, waiting for them at the top of the tree. Once the moment seemed perfect, he whipped his fan out, creating a gust of wind that sent leaves flying about.

Sakamoto adjusted his glasses, making his way home. 'Secret Technique: Scatter the Leaves.'