88. Feelings

"Len, do you have feelings for anyone?"

Rin watches Len spew banana smoothie everywhere.

"W-why do you want to know that?!" Her friend asks, wiping off his face.

"Because, it just kind of crossed my mind." Rin says, leaning on the formica cafe table. "You don't talk about other girls that much."

Len swallows. "Um… Do you have feelings for someone, Rin?"

She blinks, a bit surprised. "Me? Uh... " She blushes. "K-Kinda."

A conflicted look crosses the boy's face. "Who- who is it? Kaito?"

Rin sticks out her tongue. "Hey, wait a minute! I asked you first!"

"Why are you being shy, Rinny?" Len's voice takes on a teasing tone, even though he's red-faced.

"I'm not!" She looks away, puffing out her cheeks in displeasure. "I just wanna make sure that the girl you're crushing on is good enough for you!"

Len pauses, turning redder. "...She's really nice."

"What?" Rin returns her gaze to him.

"She's sweet, and can sing better than Miku on her best day," Len continues mysteriously. "She makes my heart do really weird things when I'm around her, and I can't help but smile when I see her. I love just talking with her. She gives me, y'know, butterflies."

Rin deflates a little, feeling a bit sad. "...Oh. She sounds pretty, um..." She trails off.

"...She's blonde," Len hedges, and Rin notices his gaze flickers over her strangely. "And she's not busty like Meiko and Luka. She's got a bit of a temper, and she hates it when I call her nicknames. She's also really, super dense."

Rin frowns at him, her brain working. "It… doesn't sound like anyone familiar-"

Len seems frustrated she isn't getting it. "Rin."

"What?"

"It's you."

Pause. "What?" She repeats, confused.

Len suddenly reaches across the table and grips her hand in his. "Rin. I like you." He confesses seriously, blushing. "Like… I'm in love with you."

Rin takes a moment to absorb what he just said. Then, all the blood in her body rushes to color her face.

"...Huh?!" The word comes out with a choked noise.

Len looks away, his face contorting in a grimace. "But, if you l-like someone else…"

Rin can't help it; her hand tightens around his, surprising him. "Len, I…" She swallows hard. "I… I like you!" She announces shyly. "Actually, I love you, Len!"

Len about falls out of his chair with the amount of sheer emotion in her words. "R-really?!" He says, his blue eyes sparkling.

Rin nods, and the biggest smile she has ever seen splits across his face.

At that time, they both realize that everyone in the cafe is staring at them. Both teenager's faces darken, embarrassed.

"Come on, Rin!" Len pulls her out of her chair and drags her from the building, leaving their drinks behind.

"W-where are we going?!" She asks breathlessly.

Len turns his head to grin at her. "On our first date, of course!"

Even as she squeaks out a protest, her heart flutters with happiness.