At the convenience store, Mizuki stood before the freezer section, her breath fogging up the glass as she surveyed the selection of ice cream. The corner of her lip curled upwards at a certain option, feeling her stomach practically rumble in anticipation. Her fingers traced over the cold surface until they stopped at her target: a premium chocolate ice cream cup with ribbons of fudge swirled throughout.
"Really? Chocolate again?" Kaoru's hand was on his cheek, observing her choice for the evening. He didn't expect anything less. Mizuki's favorite flavor had been chocolate for as long as he could remember, but when the weather would permit it, her go-to was the occasional cupcake swirl with bits of cookie dough.
"Says the man getting vanilla? That's like ordering plain rice at a five-star restaurant," she shot back, smiling as she pulled out her selections from the freezer and held them close, basking in their frosty bliss. Then, she made her way over to where they kept the cute cartons of milk.
"What are you— Oh no, not the milk thing again," Kaoru groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as she rolled her eyes. "You know that's weird, right? Even for a Guardian, and we deal with some pretty weird stuff."
Mizuki grabbed a small carton of low-fat milk, her silver rings clicking against the container. "It makes it creamier! Besides, you're the last person who should be judging anyone's quirks, Kaoru." She stepped forward in the checkout line, pushing past him. He wasn't wrong. Ice cream and milk weren't necessarily the best combinations. At least, that's how people would normally think. To her, the contrasting flavors complemented each other in an irresistibly delicious combination. "At least I don't wear sunglasses at night." She scanned the items before pulling out her wallet.
"Excuse me," said Kaoru, pulling out his own card from his jeans. He beat Mizuki's hand to the card reader, smiling smugly. "At least I don't rack up fines for forgetting to cast barriers on accident. And," he waved the little baggie, "At least I don't crave crazy dairy combos in the middle of the night." His chin tilted up, silently taking the credit for successfully paying. He reached a long arm forward, retrieving the plastic bag. "Lead the way."
Exhaling at his jabbing, she went ahead, turning on her heels to the automatic doors. When outside, they took a seat on the curb, the red neon of the sign hanging above the door illuminating their faces with a red glow. Mizuki tore open the container of milk and poured it into the small plastic cup, mixing the milk with the ice cream as it instantly began to melt. "See? Perfect," she demonstrated, holding up a spoonful that indeed looked impossibly creamy.
"If you say so," said Kaoru. He unboxed his plain vanilla, the white cup matching the color of his hair. As soon as the cup opened, he scrunched his face. "Not the best, but it'll do." He tilted the spoon upside-down, making the clump fall off in a lump. "Hm," he hummed. "Now I can see why you eat it the way you do. Could use a little milk in here too, huh?" he asked, squinting one eye and sticking his tongue out slightly.
"Told you so," Mizuki nodded, continuing her way into another bite. "Or you know, try not eating it like a toddler."
Kaoru pouted, tossing another scoop into his mouth, "It's fine," he said through a mouthful. They enjoyed their shared snack, the chirps of crickets and cicadas filling the night with background sound, something Mizuki enjoyed when she was relaxed. Her shoulders slacked, and her face was calmed. Kaoru observed as the red neon glowed brighter than her eyes, and how the shadows across her features exaggerated her elegant expression. 'Ah, crap. Stop that,' his internal voice reminded him.
The clearing of his throat caught her attention. Mizuki patted his back, concerned for a moment. "Are you okay?"
"Yep. Fine. Just a little brain freeze." He put on a quick smile, thankful for the dark shades as his head recoiled in discomfort. Mizuki smiled, taking a few more bites herself before resting the spoon and putting the cover back on. She didn't finish, only having eaten half, but it was enough. Her head nodded back, lulling to rest on Kaoru's broad shoulder. She stared at his clean hands, one holding the plastic cup while the other was relaxed on his knee, and how his skin looked smoother than fresh snow. 'How fitting,' Mizuki thought to herself.
He shifted, "Alright there?" A singular question hung in the night air, waiting.
Mizuki found that same hand she had observed, grabbing onto it and intertwining her fingers with his. They were soft and welcoming to the touch. They'd been here a million times. Two lines becoming one. Mizuki rested her cheek further into him and exhaled deeply, releasing any strain in her body. She breathed in his fresh linen smell and squeezed his hand tight. "Better now, yeah," she whispered quietly.
"Mhm," Kaoru muttered and rubbed circles on her palm. Their routine wasn't anything groundbreaking. It's not like they ran off in the evenings just to kiss and cuddle, because that was certainly not the case. Well, okay, a few times maybe, but how could they display such a thing so publicly? A teacher with their student—no. That would have been impossible. Though, now things were different. But, then again, Kaoru often kept her waiting. Even now. She had chosen the route of friend first, romantic prospect later. But that didn't make any of the waiting easier. "Is there a reason you decided to grab my hand?"
The young woman snuggled up to him, finding his arm and using it as her pillow. Kaoru looked down at the brunette and hummed his question once more. Did he know the answer already? Yes, in a way. He knew a little too much of her. Some nights she would get a little clingy, more than others, and it never ceased to end with a little embrace or some affection. "I feel good, that's all. Want a little reassurance, I guess."
A sigh, and then Kaoru's slender, yet sturdy, fingers found themselves gently moving to pet the girl. Her breathing changed and slowed ever so slightly, as he slipped from her loose grip. A feather light kiss planted upon her head, with her thick tresses bouncing back into place. "It's late. Go home and get some rest," Kaoru instructed softly. He pulled his arm from beneath her head, to hear a disapproving groan. Her bright, brown eyes widened, and her brow knitted together. The smallest frown graced her lips. "Hey. Get that attitude out of here. You're still my student, you know."
"Former student," she corrected him. "So…can we not just…" Mizuki lifted her head from the concrete curb, eyeing Kaoru carefully. He wore an uncharacteristically nervous expression. His eyebrows arched downwards, the muscles in his jaw flexed, his lips pursing, and the crease around his forehead growing deeper. "Right. Sorry." She stood from her comfortable spot on the sidewalk, dusting herself off.
Kaoru watched as she attempted to remove the nonexistent dirt from herself. "How many times are we going to do this?" The man rubbed his temples, exasperated, before following suit. He rose to his full, towering height. The female Guardian did her best to appear nonchalant, shrugging her shoulders lightly and straightening her posture. Kaoru gently, ever so carefully, wrapped his hand around the base of her neck, rubbing his thumb against her jawline. "It's not a good look," he scolded, in a stern, low voice. "There's nothing wrong with us being close, but—"
"-don't you think I can handle myself?"Her words were filled with hurt, though she knew he was only trying to protect her. Protect them both. It still stung, nonetheless. "No. It's not that, and you know it. Just—damn it." Kaoru dragged the tip of his shoe against the concrete, kicking some pebbles out of the way and out from beneath their feet. He dipped his head, catching Mizuki's eye contact for a brief moment. He tilted her chin upwards and gave her a few kisses on her lips, her jaw, her cheek, and a sweet little one upon the tip of her nose. It happened again. Another thing to file away, like the million other kisses they had stolen throughout the years. "Get some rest, Mizuki."
"Yeah," Mizuki responded blankly, as though she had never been touched that tenderly before. It left a lingering sting. She waited for a moment, expecting something more, but ultimately took a step backwards. "See ya." The two parted, making their own paths back to their respective abodes.