The familiar rumble of the Yamanote Line filled Hiroshi's ears as he gazed out the train window, the sprawling cityscape of Tokyo rushing by.
He was heading back to his dorm at the prestigious Teikoku University, its sprawling campus nestled in the heart of the bustling metropolis.
He'd returned from his family trip to Kyoto with a mix of gratitude and frustration. While he appreciated the time spent with his family and the chance to explore a new environment, he also felt a renewed sense of loneliness and isolation upon returning to his familiar routine.
He thought about Sakura, their encounter in the park still fresh in his mind. He regretted his coldness towards her, his inability to reciprocate her warmth and concern.
He knew he owed her an apology, but the words seemed to catch in his throat whenever he tried to reach out.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely registered the passing scenery until the train pulled into Shibuya Station. He disembarked, the familiar energy of the crowded streets washing over him. He decided to take a detour on his way back to his dorm, drawn by the promise of quiet refuge amongst towering bookshelves.
He wandered into a dimly lit bookstore, the scent of old books and worn paper filling his senses. The shelves were lined with volumes of all shapes and sizes, their spines whispering tales of adventure, romance, and mystery. Hiroshi browsed the aisles, his fingers trailing along the worn covers, his mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions.
As he wandered deeper into the bookstore, he stumbled upon a secluded corner filled with shelves of poetry. He reached out and pulled a slim volume from the shelf, its cover adorned with a delicate illustration of a cat curled up asleep. He opened the book, his eyes scanning the verses, their words resonating with a quiet beauty that touched his soul.
He was so engrossed in the poetry that he didn't notice the girl standing beside him until she spoke.
"That's one of my favorite poems," she said, her voice soft and hesitant.
Hiroshi looked up, startled. The girl was small and delicate, with large, expressive eyes. Her hair was a soft shade of lavender, and she was wearing a cat-themed jacket and a pair of cat earrings.
"Oh," he stammered, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I… I didn't realize anyone was there."
The girl simply nodded and quickly moved away, disappearing into the maze of bookshelves. .
Hiroshi felt a pang of curiosity, but he quickly dismissed it and returned to his reading.
Later that evening, back in his dorm room, Hiroshi was browsing through a manga about a vampire cat when a notification popped up on his phone. It was from the Diamond Dates app.
"Introducing our new feature: Blind Date!" the message proclaimed. "Connect with someone who shares your interests and values, even before you see their profile! The perfect way to find a genuine connection without the pressure of appearances."
Hiroshi's interest was piqued.
The message went on to explain that the Blind Date feature matched users based on their personality traits, hobbies, and preferences, and that the fee was cheaper than a regular date since both parties will pay for it.
"And as a valued customer (and frequent renter, haha)," the message continued, "we're offering you a free first pass to try out this exciting new feature!"
Hiroshi scoffed. Valued customer? More like a lonely loser with too much disposable income, he thought wryly. But his curiosity was piqued. A free blind date? Why not? He had nothing to lose.
He clicked on the notification, and the app began searching for a match. A few moments later, a message popped up: "You've been matched with Nekomi! Your blind date is scheduled for tomorrow at 2:00 PM at the Neko Cafe."
Hiroshi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Nekomi? He felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he was definitely intrigued.
The next day, Hiroshi arrived at the Neko Cafe, a cozy establishment filled with feline friends and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. He scanned the room, searching for his blind date.
He spotted a girl sitting at a table by the window, her small frame practically disappearing behind a large, fluffy cat cushion. She was wearing a cat-themed jacket and a pair of cat earrings, her short purple hair barely peeking out from under a beanie with cat ears.
He approached her table hesitantly. "Excuse me," he said, his voice a bit unsure, "are you… Nekomi?"
The girl looked up, her large eyes widening in surprise. "Oh," she whispered, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. "Y-yes, that's me. Are you… Hiroshi?"
"Yes," he replied, a smile spreading across his face. "It's nice to meet you, Nekomi."
"N-nice to meet you too, Hiroshi," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
They sat down, the silence between them a mix of awkwardness and anticipation. Hiroshi, sensing her nervousness, decided to break the ice.
"So," he began, "I noticed you were reading that vampire cat manga at the bookstore yesterday."
Nekomi's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly, her shyness momentarily forgotten. "Oh my gosh, you read 'Nyanpire' too?" she exclaimed, her voice gaining a hint of animation. "Isn't it amazing? I love how the author captures the cat's personality, and the artwork is so adorable!"
Hiroshi chuckled, relieved to find common ground. "Yeah, it's great," he agreed. "I especially like the part where Nyanpire tries to drink blood from a tomato and ends up making a huge mess."
Nekomi giggled, her laughter like the tinkling of bells. "Yes! And the scene where he tries to climb a tree but gets stuck because his cape gets caught on a branch!"
They spent the next hour discussing their favorite scenes and characters from the manga, their shared enthusiasm creating a comfortable camaraderie. Hiroshi learned that Nekomi's real name was Aria, and she explained that she preferred to use Nekomi online and in other social situations because it made her feel more confident.
"I'm not very good at talking to people," she confessed, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But I thought maybe… maybe this could help me gain some confidence."
Hiroshi smiled, his heart warming at her honesty. He understood her struggles with social anxiety, and he admired her courage in trying to overcome them.
"I think it's a great idea," he said, his voice encouraging. "And you're doing a great job so far."
Aria blushed, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. She then proceeded to introduce him to her pet cat, Asteroid, via a photo on her phone. "He's a bit of a handful," she explained, "but I love him to bits."
Hiroshi chuckled, recognizing the familiar affection of a cat owner. He showed her pictures of his childhood cat, and they shared stories about their feline companions, their laughter filling the cozy cafe.
As their date came to an end, Hiroshi felt a sense of curiosity and a budding friendship with Aria. He looked forward to seeing where this new connection might lead.
To be continued…