Chapter fourteen:

Near heads to the meeting place where he will be meeting up with Mello now that classes are done for the day. He is admittedly moving at a bit more of a quick pace as he is excited to finally see the other after what feels like so long. He moves around a few people and spots the blonde standing at the spot across the street.

Mello is wearing a pair of black runners and his usual outfit from the orphanage along with a black leather almost biker looking jacket. He has a calm look to his face as he is looking down at his phone as though just scrolling through some stuff on it.

Near approaches the crosswalk and waits for when it becomes their sides turn to cross. He stays quiet not letting the other know that he is basically at their agreed location. He kind of wants to see if he can surprise the other. He crosses the street trying to stay with a few other people to not stand out. He turns to the right once on the sidewalk heading for Mello who doesn't look up from his phone. He is getting closer to said blonde and as he goes to reach out he jumps back a little as Mello speaks up.

"Greetings Near." Mello looks up from his phone with a slight smirk at the platinum blonde haired boy. "I saw you and when I thought I saw an idea cross your face I wondered what you were doing. Beat you to your idea." He puts away his phone in his jacket pocket.

Near smiles a little and the two share a slight chuckle at this as he isn't upset that his plan had failed. "It is really good to see you again Mello." He mentions as they don't use their real names just mainly out of habit of keeping them more private. He smiles a little more when the blonde moves an arm to offer a hug. He moves in wrapping his arms around the others torso and feels warmth when the outstretched arm wraps around his shoulders. He breaks the hug just by letting go though stays leaning against Mello just now having his side against the blonde.

"You ready?" Mello asks and leads the way with his arm around Near after getting a nod from the other. "It is kind of weird to see you in different clothes than what I am used to seeing you in." He mentions looking over Near's school outfit.

Near looks at his school outfit which is a typical Japan school outfit. "Yeah. Schools have uniforms. So this is my schools uniform."

"Well you'll get to see me in it tomorrow. Seems we are being placed in the same grade. Maybe we can see who gets the higher score here." Mello smirks a little playfully at Near. "For old time sakes?"

Near gives Mello a slightly playful look upon hearing this. "Game on." He agrees and the two warmly chuckle as their rivalry in test scores are now much more playful compared to before.

"I looked up the directions." Mello glances around as they walk along down the sidewalk past other people. "Though you know this city better than me right now. So feel free to help with directions."

"I'll see how well you do. I promise to let you know if you take a wrong turn or something." Near's words only get a slight snort from Mello. He knows that the other isn't truly offended or anything so he doesn't mind the response.

Mello actually does pretty good at finding his way to the café that they are stopping at first then taking a walk in the park later.

They get a table pretty quickly and end up sitting across from each other.

"So. I was curious. You like the whole having an entire family now?" Mello inquires after they order their drinks from the waitress who comes over to do so.

"Yeah. It is admittedly nice. I will be honest that it did take some getting used to as this is the first full family experience rather than just having a brother. It is really nice once I got used to it." Near tells the blonde who nods his head in understanding.

"Well I think after we get more settled in the change in our relationship then I would be willing to meet them one day."

"They'll like you. And I think that you will really like them as well." Near informs the other who smiles in response to this. "Mello. Thank you for coming all the way out here. The move must not have been easy."

Mello shrugs his shoulders truly not seeming bothered with the move. "Eh. It was nothing really. The orphanage wasn't truly the same without you there. I was kind of becoming done with that place anyways." His words do soothe Near's slight worries about the whole thing. "Say. Do the teachers do a good job like the ones we were used to back at that place we called home for so long?" He barely acknowledges the waitress who gives them their drinks then heads off getting the message that they are good right now.

"Actually they do pretty good." Near pauses to take a sip of his hot chocolate while Mello has a café mocha. He is careful to not take too big of a sip as it is still hot. He mostly gets the whip cream on the top. He licks his lips to clear away any of that before he speaks again. "They teach a little differently though I will admit that the new way has given a slight challenge. At least compared to being used to the other teachers back at the orphanage so it would be predictable how they would teach something. Some of the topics I do know plenty about though the teachers here do a bit better at trying to keep me on my toes being ready to answer something, or even read something out loud. Instead of them just assuming that I already know and only asking if they need to show another student the correct way to do it or use me to help solve an example."

"I see. Well then it sounds like this school is going to be way more interesting than back at the orphanage." Mello takes a sip of his drink.

"I do honestly think that you will like it." Near informs the blonde who gives a nod in response to finish his sip of his drink.

The two talk away as they sip at their drinks and once they are done Mello puts the money on the table beside the bill before they head off to go for a walk in the park. Their hands come together entertwining their fingers and the feeling of their hands in each others own makes them both feel warmth inside of themselves. They both know that based on how well they did on their first date that everything is going to go well.

Near also already knows that his adopted family will love Mello so he has no anxiety about that. He leans against the blonde's arm closing his eyes softly as he feels so loved by the other.

Truly a magical first day officially together instead of being together long distance.

The end.