The following weekend, Kazuki and Shizuka found themselves at the local shopping district. The area was bustling with people, vibrant with the sounds of music, chatter, and the smell of delicious street food. It had been a while since they'd gone out together like this, and Shizuka had insisted that they needed a "special day" to reward themselves after the stress of exams.
Shizuka strolled beside Kazuki, her usual mischievous energy back in full swing as she chatted animatedly about everything that caught her eye. Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, and Kazuki found himself smiling as he listened, genuinely enjoying the easy warmth between them.
"Ooh, Kazuki! Look, they're selling those adorable plushies over there!" Shizuka tugged his sleeve, pointing to a nearby stall. Her eyes sparkled, and she was already half-dragging him toward it.
He chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's go check it out."
The stall was filled with all sorts of cute stuffed animals, and Shizuka's face lit up with excitement as she picked one up, a small plush bear with big, round eyes.
"Isn't it adorable?" she asked, holding it up for him to see. Her expression was almost pleading, like she was hoping he'd say yes.
Kazuki nodded, smiling. "Yeah, it's cute. Do you want it?"
Her eyes widened a little, and she quickly shook her head. "N-no, I was just showing it to you. I don't need it or anything…"
Kazuki rolled his eyes, knowing her too well. He took the bear from her hands and handed some cash to the vendor before she could protest.
"There," he said, handing it back to her. "A little gift for the day."
Shizuka's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and joy. She hugged the plush bear to her chest, her cheeks slightly pink. "Thank you, Kazuki. I… I'll treasure it."
Kazuki shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's just a small thing, really. Don't worry about it."
They continued wandering around the shopping district, enjoying snacks from various food stalls and even trying their hand at a few of the carnival games set up along the way. Shizuka managed to win a small trinket—a keychain shaped like a tiny star—and she proudly attached it to her bag, showing it off to Kazuki with a grin.
As the day wore on, they found a quiet park bench and sat down to rest. Shizuka hugged her plush bear, her face serene as she looked around the park, lost in thought. After a moment, she glanced at Kazuki, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
"Today was really nice, Kazuki. It feels like… we don't get to do this as much anymore."
Kazuki nodded, leaning back on the bench. "Yeah, things have been pretty busy lately. But we should try to do this more often. It's nice to just… relax together."
Shizuka beamed, her gaze warm and appreciative. "I'd like that. A lot."
They sat there for a while, comfortable in the quiet companionship they shared. Shizuka leaned her head on his shoulder, her eyes drifting closed as she took in the peaceful moment. Kazuki felt his heart skip a beat, but he stayed still, letting her rest against him.
"Thank you for today," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "And… thank you for always being here, Kazuki."
He glanced down at her, a gentle smile on his face. "Of course, Shizuka. I'll always be here."
They watched the sun begin to set, casting a warm glow over the park. In that moment, everything felt perfect—just the two of them, sharing a peaceful day together.