Thursday morning, the victims are excused during school, Korisu also take a leave, it's because the time is now.
I Aine and Korisu will finally have a date
We both walked on the park on 4 am.
"Would you like to jog with me?" I asked.
"Ha, well, i have a good stamina, why not?" He smiled
This is the park we always used to visit but we really never visited it as whole.
We jog and visited the whole park, we've seen the playground, empty stalls that are lively in afternoon, especially at night and other people who also came to exercise.
30 minutes later, we both rested on the playground after doing warm up.
In our left are sea saws, in the right are the racking horses, we are sitting below the big slide, there's a small space below that has bench.
"Here's a water, that was a good warm up." He offered me the bottle
"Yeah."
It really feels enjoyable, i don't know why but i am feeling happy, my heart is beating fast, but i feel cold because of my sweat.
I am wearing a black sports wear and a short, while he was the same too but his short reach his toes, he is looking at me with embarrassment.
"What are you looking at?"
I simply ask, after what happened yesterday, it seems i became resilient and wary of men if they glance at me, even him.
"No... You look beautiful." He said while drinking a small amount of water.
"You should just said it before."
What am i saying? It's embarrassing but it also feels not.
"Well, i didn't know you're this beautiful when you sweat."
"..."
I thought i became resilient but it looks like i'm still blushing.
We left in the park with silence, not talking to each other.
Next, we visited the wide area in the northeast part of the park, it has wire barricade and people seems busy about something.
Reika said that we should visit this and give their restaurant number cards in this box i brought to the person who's guarding the entrance.
"Oh, what are you going to do here? Do you want to visit it when the summer begin? I will pay for you but right now, it's still in preparation." He said with proud face
"No, we will enter."
"Really? Are we allowed?"
"Don't worry."
We approached the entrance
"Hello sirs."
"Oh, kids... Uhh what's the matter?"
One of the person who's guarding approached us, he is wearing a aqua shirt and a black shorts, seems like a uniform to their work since the guy in the left wears the same.
"Oh, we received an invitation to help here."
I showed them the black box and open it, revealing the card numbers.
"Oh! The sponsor! Perfect timing, we can start advertising now! Please enter."
We step inside and saw people working.
Some are placing obstacle courses, high grounds, some are assembling water balloon guns, planning the clean up for the aftermath, layering an artificial grass and conduct test.
They are getting ready for the summer.
"Woah, how lively here, we should help Anria-san."
"Yeah."
We talked to some employees and it seems that the people around here are also volunteers.
We both worked separately, he worked on obstacle and test it if it will cause injuries while i am counting the amount of balloons with other volunteers as well.
Later we've got to known other volunteers, we have talked along the way while doing our work, Rariso seems to be enjoying his time too doing parkour course with the other boys there.
Later on, the employees started to walk around to give the restaurant number, it is a promotional event which gives the winner of this event a 50% discount for one day, 10% discounts for other participants who survived semi finals and 5% discounts for those who were eliminated in 3rd round.
Other people curiously asked about others who didn't win but the employees said that the restaurant already catch them, there's a free food after the match and there won't be inequality since every participants will be recorded after receiving food, and todays lunch is also free.
Many people talk to each other, some are curious about the restaurant while some are interested on going because of the generosity they have offered.
After the long work, we still didn't even covered 1/4 of the field, i can't believe there's an spacious land in this park.
There's still a lot of failures and mistakes but everyone just enjoys it, some might be slacking off but because there's so many busy people, they chose to go to the blank area, but then they will be easily seen by others, there are some trouble but easily resolve with the skills of employees.
12 am, a huge amount of boxes appeared and it seems it's the food.
It blocks the entrance as if to imply that no one will just take this food and leave.
People fall in line and the employees list them, there are a lot of food they gave to one person, when he opened it, he's surprised that the boxed is packed with huge quantity of food.
After tasting it, he compliment it as delicious and still warm, he took his juice and seems surprised of the flavor.
Others also received theirs and compliment it on their own ways.
Home cook, restaurant like, professional, easy to consume despite the huge servings, and not too heavy for stomach, the drinks are also complimented as unique.
Some took a picture and post it on their social media.
"Aine-san, is the food delicious? I enjoyed it."
Happily patting his stomach.
"Un, this tonkatsu is delicious, it feels like expensive yet home cook, because the way it taste and the way it is cooked."
"Do you cook this too?"
"Yes, but this is much better."
"Well, i think your cooking is still the best, if i someday taste it."
"...Stop flattering me."
And then three boys hugs his back.
"Oh, she's your girlfriend! Bro, you're lucky."
"Ahaha, hello miss, your boyfriend is really cool at parkour you know."
"Yeah, you are lucky to have such cool boyfriend."
They all happily laughed at embarrassed him.
"Hey who told you that? We are still not!"
When they heard it, they even laugh more.
"What the heck? Why not! Confess to her!"
"Oohh, my sides are hurting, i just finished my food, stop it guys..."
"Would you like our help?"
I am also embarrassed but i am having second thoughts to leave.
"Stop it, i want her to be comfortable, i want to let her have own decision."
They all stayed silent and smiled warmly.
"Good luck bro, we will leave for now."
They left while looking at us with a thumbs up as if implying 'good luck'
"I'm sorry for saying such embarrassing word."
Before i knew it, i am smiling.
"It was nothing."
"You are enjoying this are you."
"I am."
We ignored the heat, we are feeling blissful right now.
.....
The work continue until 4 pm and we finally filled the 1/4 of the field.
"Good work everyone! See you in Saturday!"
Everyone left carrying two ice cream each, this is the last food that got delivered.
We both carry the caramel and chocolate ice cream and walked in this yellow red afternoon sky.
"Iyahhh, what an exhausting day." As he straighten his back.
"We are still going to visit one place."
"Huh? Where?"
"The end of session is 5 pm, and now, it's 4:24, after arriving there, it will be 4:30 so we need to be fast."
"O okay, but what is this session."
I hesitated to say it for split second but it already comes out on my mouth.
"Before our date ends."
"..."
"...."
This is the second silence happened in this day.
.....
We arrived at their restaurant, and we are welcomed by beautiful girls, actually, there's a lot of girls here, but the customers seems just perfectly peaceful, the line isn't that long,the music is unique and something i've never heard of but calming, every employees are wearing waitress and waiter clothes that looks like business attire and casually serving as if its something so professional.
That's the few things that caught my attention, there are more beside music.
The place change drastically on my last visit.
The restaurant has now rules which is:
•Be cooperative with our rules
•Stay clean with the equipments in the table
•Make sure to never bother other customers
•Date services will be planned throughly
•Follow the instructions of you date planner
•You will pay according to what you did
•If you have complaints, make sure it's rational and has enough evidence
•Clean your table, the cleaning materials are below the table, sanitize your hands too
•Be respectful to the employees
•Please have fun, don't spread negativity
•If we heard any harassment in our employees, please re read the rule no. 6.
There is also a poster of every employees uniform.
For those who's working on restaurant, they have a black button down shirt, covered by a unbuttoned short dark red coat that has length same as their hips with a long black trench collar while the shirt is tucked in a black pencil skirt for the woman, while a simple dark red button shirt tuck in on a black pants for mens, all of them are wearing black shoes.
To those who's working on cafe, they have more lively appearance, a white button shirts covered by brown vests and a cotton brown pants with a sweet stickers on their vest, they have brown laced shoes.
The bar is more stylish, the bartenders wears a heavy dark green shirts with short black neck tie, a brown light leather coat that cuts the left side vertically and is attached by two brown belts on the belly and one in the hips, wearing brown boots, and a holster for the boston shaker, meanwhile for men, it is brown heavy shirt, white with green detailed coats from cotton twills, and a black pants too with a short black boots.
How stylish...
"Hey, how long are you two going to stare, the service will end on 26 minutes."
I looked on the stairs and saw Reika wearing a school uniform.
"Come up now."
We followed him to the second floor and surprisingly saw that it is empty except to the employees who's serving a food on a single table.
I can say that this looks more delicious on what the food we just ate before.
"Aine-san, what is this? Is this... Really a date?"
He is in awe of surprise and also getting anxious and blushing.
"Yes."
We both sat down on the table, for some reasons, the sunset is in the second floor and we didn't even realize that this building is tall.
It perfectly captures the mood, there's no special designs here, the table is simple, there are no employees since they all left after putting all of these foods with care, and Reika is just watching us with a smile, it really feels like a natural date.
The foods looks delicious but you can't even tell if it's expensive, this date is too simple yet too precious day in my life.
"Let's eat Korisu-kun."
"Hai."
The western beef curry taste so delish, and the fruit juice that has mixed with different kinds of fruits makes it better, the rice feels so light to chew, even if we eat fast, we won't hiccup, more dish to be there, chicken drumrolls that easily come off if you pull the bone as if it's a fillet, and a fluffy cake without any fillings, just a plain fluffy cake, enough for the two of us.
"Did you like it?"
"Ah, yeah... I am happy today, and i am really embarrassed today, i... My date is suppose to happen in 9 am but you already beat me to it."
"Hehe, i'm sorry."
We ate the food again in silence, this food should be finished by now but we both slow down.
Because we don't know what will happen next.
However, for me, i am just finding a suitable word to tell him my feelings, but i'm anxious to say it.
But then, when i looked from the right behind Korisu's back, Reika behind our table has a huge board wide as his forearm and tall as his forearm, there's a sentence written there.
'Stop overthinking and tell what you just want to say, there won't be a misunderstanding if your face says everything.'
He saw right through me, i am trying to summarize what i want to say without making it cringy, but, am i just the one thinking that my true feeling is cringy?
Korisu looked behind too but when he did, Reika already flipped the board with the writing: '2 minutes left.'
"Korisu-kun."
"A, hai!"
He straighten his back in nervous.
"I just want to say that thank you for taking care of me, thank you for being there when i am so down, because of you, i started to see a bigger picture, i learned how to accept that everything that happen to me are real, even though the people who set it are false, i learned how to treasure those moments than just letting it happen and add it to my garbage memory.
I learned from them, and thanks to you, you are the one who showed me that there is still happiness on me despite thinking that i am hopeless and do not deserve it, if not for you, i might be still the same and continue to think that my choice are wrong.
Thank you for accompanying me, thank you for being true at least for me, thank you for staying despite i've rejected you once, thank you for staying despite what happened to my situations, i'm so sorry i didn't consider you before, it's just i want to protect you.
I don't want to cause you trouble, you're the only one who changed my life, that's why i don't want you to be sad again, i don't want to make you feel dejected again like when i first rejected you, i want to protect the one who gave me happiness more than my parents.
You did everything to make me happy, try to know my likes and dislikes, even if you failed, that's why right now, i will say it, i might be late but, i too want to know more about you, i want you to know more about me too, my heart is always closed from before but now, i will give you a way.
Can i go out with you, Korisu!"
This is the third silence that happened in this day.
But i just patiently wait for his answer, his tear in the left eye drop and wipe it instantly.
"Haha, i can't believe that you even confessed first... My tears... Is this tears of joy? Aha..."
He also looked at me warmly, he isn't embarrassed now, maybe because he is planning to confess too but too anxious like me, he smiled back to me.
"Haha, of course, let's get to know each other Aine-san, i always want to see you smile and lift your insecurity but i do not have the ability to make them leave, that's why all i can do is to make you happy to decrease your stress, at least there, you can forget your pain for a while... I am thankful for this."
We both confessed our thoughts, it might be embarrassing for others but for us, it feels like a heavy weight suddenly got lift out in my body.
A relief.
"Oohhh, how sweet, unfortunately, your time is up."
Reika entered our conversation.
But... Why did he entered at wrong time, can he atleast give us some moments?
But then, Korisu spoke.
"Can we please extend it, my own plan is still not working right?"
"What?"
I am surprised, plan?
"Haha, yeah, i also have a plan too you know." He looked at me.
"But you're involve with him? And didn't you said your plan is already late?"
"Haha, it might be late but it still didn't end, also it's just an accident that i met him, he advertise me their restaurant."
I glared at Reika who's just smiling the whole time.
"Bullshit, but i believe you." I looked at Korisu
"But there will be a payment."
"Payment? Didn't you said it's free?" I said with a questioning tone
"I did, but you already paid."
He then revealed the laptop behind him, i already saw it from behind but it seems focused to us before, but then when he face it in front of us.
"CONGRATULATIONS!"
My parents and two others are in the camera.
"Wh what's the meaning of this?!" We both asked.
"Well, isn't it great that your parents saw it?"
In a second, our embarrassment returned.
They laugh for a while and when we calm down, my parents started to talk.
"I enjoyed my conversation with Korisu-kun parents, it looks like you found someone that will make you happy, i am proud Aine, you are finally smiling brightly again, looks like you've really found the happiness of youth we've once experienced." Said by my mother.
"Treasure these days dear, these are the memories you would want to last forever, after you become a adult, more hardships will come so please enjoy it." Said by my dad proudly looking at me.
"Ahemm, son, we fully support you, she's a brave girl, we will talk in house later." Said by the beautiful woman that might be Korisu's mother
"Tell us some good stories later son." Said by Korisu's dad.
They all turn off their cameras and Reika closed his laptop
"Protecting your happiness, it isn't wrong Aine-san, however, always think about the consequences of your decision, because your happiness might be the one who become affected by it, and they or it may not be able to give you the happiness you are longing for because of that, that's why be strong enough, to protect your happiness, be strong enough to be true to your happiness."
He both look at us with proud face.
"This is the start of your relationship, give it a strong foundation, by having a good memories."
He flicked his hand and behind him, the employees started to push some arcade shooter machines and a console.
This is the date Korisu is planning.
After playing with him, everything happened so fast that i can't remember anything, all i know is i played with Korisu, Reika and other employees, have punishments to the losers and that's all.
To summarize it, it's just a moment of happiness, so long yet so fast.
Nothing to recall, time is fast when you are having fun, it feels like i'm a drunk person.
And everything ends with a silence, yet why does it feels more than enough, the place is cold, outside is cold, but, i felt so warm inside.
......
The black car service dropped me in my house.
"See you tomorrow Aine-san, goodnight."
"Yeah, you too, see you tomorrow, Korisu-kun."
....
In the restaurant.....
Reika looked at a small pink album full of pictures that just happened for 3 hours, and a letter.
.....
Back to Aine....
I entered my house after and saw...
The light in the house never been so bright, my parents faces, how long since i saw it?
It's bright, and warm, their smiles are indeed piercing me, their face are just full of relief and happiness.
It's because i always look below that i never saw it, but right now, i am happy.
...
Back to the restaurant.....
Reika put it on the glass shelf besides the 4 memories that are stored there.
He also came back to his home.
Both Reika and Aine have warm smile on their faces when they opened the door of their houses.
"I am home."
Goodnight, and sweet dreams.