A/N: Set sometime during Aki's college years. I thought it'd be interesting to write Sherry as an inexperienced kind of person. There's a moe gap to that imo.
Sherry had always come across as erudite, experienced in the ways of the world, with her flirtatious mannerisms. It was all a façade of course. Sherry felt embarrassed about being utterly naïve about romance and all that it entailed.
She'd read stories when she was a child, about brave princes rescuing princesses. She'd seen tabloids during her time on the run from Yliaster, seen the passionate art used for pulp fiction novels displayed in bookstores. She'd overheard strangers talking about their relationships.
But Sherry had never in her life gone on a date or kissed anyone. And it embarrassed her to no end, though she wouldn't ever dream of revealing this to anyone.
Until Aki called her one early summer afternoon.
"I'll be back in Neo Domino for the summer when my university classes wrap up. Would you... like to go out on a date?" That nervous lilt in Aki's voice made Sherry's heart flutter.
"That'd be lovely. Would you like me to pick a time and place?" Sherry's words seemed practiced but they had never been formed by her mouth until that moment.
When the call ended, Sherry immediately dialed Mizoguchi. In two rings, the phone picked up. "Yes, Sherry?" he answered briskly.
"Mizoguchi, I was just asked out on a date," she stammered.
"And who is the lucky person to do so?"
"... Aki."
Silence.
"Pardon. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling that you've finally grown up, Sherry."
"Mizoguchi..." Sherry grumbled.
"Apologies, Sherry. I never thought the day would arrive when you begin a romance of your own." He paused. "Did you accept?"
"I couldn't possibly say no."
Laughter erupted from the speaker. "Those are the exact words your father said about your mother!"
"Was he also horrendously underprepared for adult relationships...?" Sherry thought sarcastically.
"I think you will do fine, Sherry. Just be yourself."
The date had gone well so far. A lengthy dinner at a cozy restaurant where the two caught up, chatting about anything that came to mind.
The bill was paid and the two lingered at the entrance of the restaurant. Street lamps lit the stone paved streets in a pale white light. Sherry could hear the waves lapping at the coastline just a few meters away.
"Would you like to take a walk along the shore?" Aki suggested, her hand reaching for Sherry's. The blonde hesitantly laced her fingers with Aki's. Mizoguchi's encouragement echoed in her brain, bouncing around her skull.
"That'd be lovely." Hand in hand, they walked along the railing, the smell of salt tinging Sherry's nose. Aki's hand warmed her own, those slender fingers with properly manicured nails interlaced with her calloused fingers with clipped nails.
They walked silently for twenty minutes before Aki slowed to a halt by a bench. "Want to take a break?" Sherry looked around. Though they were in the commercial district of the city, they were almost entirely alone. Aki looked utterly enchanting under the street light, her lip gloss shimmering a tantalizing pink.
"This feels like a romantic moment. Is Aki expecting something right now?"
Sherry took a seat on the bench, Aki sitting right next to her, their thighs touching, their fingers still interlocked, Sherry's heart still going a million kilometers a minute. "I had a great time tonight," Aki said, resting her head on Sherry's shoulder.
"This is absolutely a romantic moment. Shit what do I do?"
"I had a pleasant time as well," Sherry replied. Nothing else followed and she felt her nervousness rise.
"If it's not too much could I um..." Aki's fingers clenched nervously. "Could we... kiss?"
"K-kiss?" Sherry stammered.
"Do you not want to?" The redhead was blushing, her cheeks resembling a rosy apple.
"I do!" Sherry accidentally exclaimed. She lowered her voice as she continued, "I've just... never kissed anyone before. And I'm almost certain my lips are chapped and a bit dry and you might what taste what I ate for dinner and-"
Aki put her hands on Sherry's cheeks and she stopped talking immediately. "I've never kissed anyone either," she admitted quietly, almost a whisper. Their faces were getting closer. "Do you still want to?"
Sherry felt her eyelids slowly lowering. "... yes." She closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Aki's.
Soft.
Aki pulled away after a moment, their lips just a short distance from one another. Sherry tasted something on the tip of her tongue.
Peaches.
"You taste sweet," Sherry whispered.
"Really? Let me have a taste of what you're having." Aki pulled her in for the second of countless kisses they'd share from that point on.
