The weekend finally arrived, and Kazuki found himself standing nervously outside Shizuka's house. She had invited him over to spend the day together—a proper "date," as she put it, without their usual homework sessions or Aoi's antics. Today was just for them.
Shizuka opened the door, greeting him with her usual bright smile, though she seemed a bit more dressed up than usual. Her silver hair was loosely tied back with a delicate ribbon, and she wore a light sundress that made her look almost ethereal. Kazuki swallowed, feeling his heart race as she grinned at him.
"Well, don't just stand there, Kazuki. Let's go!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him along, not giving him a moment to regain his composure.
They walked through the bustling town streets, stopping at small shops and stalls, chatting and laughing. For once, they weren't surrounded by textbooks or classmates, just two people enjoying each other's company. Shizuka kept close, her arm linked with his, much to the surprise of their classmates, who occasionally caught sight of them.
"Hey, look at that," Shizuka said, pointing toward a street vendor selling matching accessories. She nudged him playfully. "Want to get matching keychains?"
Kazuki laughed, unable to hide his amusement. "You really want to get matching things with me?"
Shizuka nodded, her cheeks a bit pink. "Of course. Isn't that what couples do?"
He hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."
They picked out a pair of simple matching keychains shaped like puzzle pieces, one half for each of them. Shizuka held hers up, admiring it with a satisfied smile. "Now, every time you look at your keys, you'll think of me."
Kazuki smirked. "I don't think I need a keychain for that."
They wandered into a nearby park, finding a quiet spot under the shade of a tree. As they settled down on a bench, Shizuka leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Kazuki felt his face flush, but he didn't move away. He found himself relaxing, his nervousness melting away in the warmth of the moment.
"You know, Kazuki," she began softly, "I'm really glad we're here, like this. I mean, I've always liked spending time with you, but now… it feels different. Special."
Kazuki looked down at her, catching a rare, vulnerable look in her eyes. He wasn't used to Shizuka being so serious; she was usually teasing him or cracking jokes. But now, she was just… honest.
"Yeah, it's special for me too," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I never thought we'd be here like this, but… I'm happy we are."
They sat in silence for a moment, savoring the closeness and the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves above them.
But, true to form, Shizuka couldn't keep serious for long. She pulled away, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "So, how about a reward for me making this day so great?"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "A reward?"
She nodded, leaning closer, her eyes glinting playfully. "How about a kiss?"
Kazuki's heart skipped a beat. He looked away, trying to muster his usual composure, but Shizuka was relentless, closing the gap between them. He closed his eyes, bracing himself, only to feel her press her lips gently against his cheek.
When he opened his eyes, she was watching him with a satisfied smirk. "Got you," she whispered, laughing as she leaned back.
Kazuki felt his face heat up, but he couldn't help but smile. "You really know how to catch me off guard, don't you?"
"It's a skill," she teased, intertwining her fingers with his.
They sat together, hand in hand, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. For once, Kazuki allowed himself to relax, to enjoy this fleeting moment of calm and joy with Shizuka. And as he glanced at her, he knew this was a memory he'd hold close forever.