A Walk in the Park
“So... I just realized you never explained how you’re half American.”
Rika looked up from eating her sashimi.
“Your right, you need my origin story!”
She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin, and set it down.
“Where to begin... Well, my father is from America and Mother from Japan. We lived here while I grew up, but on vacations I always visited the States to see my extended family.”
Yuki nodded excitedly.
“That’s awesome!”
Rika smiled nervously looked into the distance, remembering years past.
“It was fun, but there were things that weren’t.”
“I went to a private high school here in Tokyo. Well, they had strict rules about outward appearance. One being not to dye your hair...”
Rika lifted up one of her blonde locks.
“This is natural. Also, colored contacts weren’t allowed.”
She blinked her eyes.
“These are natural too.”
Yuki blushed, thinking about her own thoughts about Rika’s appearance earlier.
“The prefect called me out on my looks and so did a teacher. Then the principal joined in, calling me some wonderfully awful names. Telling me I should dye my hair black, or be expelled. It took my dad personally coming down to the school, showing that he had blue eyes and blonde hair, and threatening to sue for discrimination.”
Yuki put her hand over her mouth to cover a frown, and looked down at the table.
“That’s awful.”
“I had never seen my father as furious as he was that day and haven’t since.”
Rika looked back to Yuki it looked as if tears would fall from her eyes.
“Please don’t cry, everything turned out ok.”
Yuki smiled and dabbed the corners of her eyes.
“I’m wearing mascara too.”
“Really? You have such pretty black hair, I wouldn’t think you’d need it.”
Lifted a lock of her own hair.
“Believe it or not...”
Rika laughed.
“Honestly though, it’s so common, having blonde hair and blues eyes is so rare.”
“Well... It can be a bit of a hassle explaining it to people. As well as my middle and last name. A large block of Katakana always looks interesting on a document.”
“That just means you’re unique.”
“Nothing wrong with standin’ out a little.”
Rika looked confused, I didn’t catch what you said.
“Oh!”
/Why did that slip out?/
Rika looked suspicious and smiled.
“Time for your origin story I think?”
Yuki rubbed that black of her neck nervously.
“Well it’s not that interesting.”
/What am I going to do!/
Rika noticed her discomfort.
/Maybe it was stupid of me to ask./
“Hey...”
She interlocked her fingers with Yuki’s.
“You don’t have to talk about anything unless you’re comfortable, sorry, I didn’t mean to be pushy.”
Yuki was startled by Rika’s holding her hand so suddenly, and recognizing what she was thinking.
“I-It’s... Thanks.”
Rika beckoned with her eyes to the empty plates and glasses on the table.
“Want to get the check and go for a walk?”
Yuki smiled, and lifted their interlocked hands up.
“Yes, but I’ll need my hand back, if it’s ok.”
Rika blushed.
“Sorry, it just seemed right.”
Yuki smiled and waved their hands together.
“It was. You’re pretty good at reading the mood aren’t you.”
Rika smiled.
“Alright.”
Yuki set her hand down gently. And beckoned to the waitress.
“Check please!”
The check arrived in a small booklet.
Rika and Yuki looked eyes.
/Showdown!/
“I’ll get it.”
Rika nodded no.
“I’ll get it, you just started working at the office.”
Yuki frowned.
“That’s a good point.”
“And the clothes you’re wearing were expensive, so you’ve already put a lot of money into the date.”
“True... But I’d feel bad leaving it to you.”
“I did invite you out though.”
“Still.”
“How about we go to a cafe and you buy us coffee afterwards?”
Yuki gave a double thumbs up.
“Deal.”
They both stepped out into the night. A gentle breeze was blowing and the Sakura petals were falling from the trees.
“Coffee to go and then a walk in the park?”
Rika smiled.
“This is your first date ever right?”
Yuki winked.
“I read romance manga.”
“Ohhhhhh... Let’s go then, expert.”
Yuki bought them both cafe au lait in disposable cups.
“Flower viewing time.”
They both began walking along the trail of the park silently, made even more quiet in the moonlight.
“You know it’s strange, I didn’t know the Sakura were even here.”
“You work too much probably.”
“That’s certainly true. I’ve been working hard since I started.”
“Really?”
Rika nodded.
“I wanted to climb to the top. Secure my place as part of the company.”
“Are you there you think?”
“Close. Much closer than I was back then.”
“Well, when you work so much life tends to slip by. Youth fades. But you’re so young, I’m a little jealou-“
Yuki intertwined her fingers with Rika’s and stopped her. Pulling her over and sitting her down, leaning over her with one hand on the bench.
She lifted Rika’s chin with one finger.
“You need to stop.”
Yuki’s eyes were locked on hers.
“You have this ridiculous complex about your age, you’re only 31. And gorgeous at that.”
“Huh...”
Rika’s face was bright red, she was unable to answer, she’d always taken Yuki to be more of the meek type.
“I can tell you’re nervous about if I’ll like you. Well, I do. For some reason I’m different around you, I’m more me than I have been in a long time.”
Rika hadn’t noticed how close Yuki had drawn in till then. She only felt the temperature of her cheeks rising.
Yuki drew in closer and their lips met. For a long moment they stayed in place. The moonlight illuminated and Sakura petals fell on both of them.
Rika couldn’t think about anything else at that moment. Yuki knew her heart better than she did. And now it seemed, Yuki was showing hers.
Yuki slowed pulled back and was nearly whispering.
“Believe me?”
“Yes.”
Rika leaned forward, her hands bracing her on the bench. Their lips meeting halfway again. Yuki’s raven locks flitting in the silver lit breeze.
They stopped, their faces so close their foreheads almost touched.
“You can go at whatever pace you choose, because I’ve made my decision.”
“And I’ve made mine.”
Their lips met one again.
Yuki gently pulled back and sat next to Rika, interlocking their fingers. She tilted her head and rested it in Rika’s shoulder.
Rika was sitting still, nervously.
“About pace...”
Yuki lifted her head up and kissed Rika on the cheek.
“Dummy.”
She once again rested her head on Rika’s shoulder.
“I am.”
Rika rested her head on Yuki’s. They sat, staring as the moonlit Sakura petals fall. Their coffee getting cold as they both got lost in the night.
