Saturday
“Owwwwwww.”
Yuki opened her eyes as the sunlight hit her face through the window. She covered her head with the Duvet.
“Too much, I drank too much...”
Her eyes were closed as she attempted to sleep at least a moment longer.
/I’m so dehydrated/
“3,2,1!”
She threw the covers off and stood up
“Ohhhhh, that was a bad idea.”
Yuki’s head was pounding, and her who body felt dry. She opened her refrigerator to get a bottle of black tea. However, inside was a sports drink.
/I don’t remember buying that.../
She’d never surprised herself with acts of foresight before, and she wouldn’t be starting after a night out drinking.
She broke open the sealed cap and took a sip.
“Ahhhhh.”
/I feel like a dried squid./
She sat on her couch and unlocked her phone.
To her surprise there was a LINE message waiting for her.
/It’s like, 9am on Saturday.../
It was a message from Rika.
| /Hey, I got your LINE address last night in the Taxi. I’m honestly not sure if you’ll remember. But, I bought you a sports drink on the way to your place. It’s in the fridge if you haven’t seen it yet. (^_^)/|
As she read, all the memories from the night before flooded back. She remembered all of it.
She wasn’t able to walk at the end of the night, so Rika helped her home. The taxi, stopping at the convenient store down the street from her building.
“Oh no.”
Rika did end up giving her a piggyback ride to her door.
“That’s embarrassing.”
She pinched the space between her eyes.
/What else./
Rika had to unlock her door for her, and carry her in. Yuki had been half-asleep by that time. But almost immediately after Rika set her down. she ran (somehow) to her toilet and barfed.
“Oh my god.”
Rika had held her hair back and sat with her on the bathroom floor.
“Arghhhh.”
After she brushed her teeth she wobbled her way to her bed with Rika’s help.
Yuki then noticed she was only wearing her work shirt after waking up.
She had taken off her skirt before collapsing onto her bed, in full view of Rika, unaware of her presence.
/Brilliant/
Although, as Rika helped her under the covers she had insisted Rika sing her a lullaby.
/I don’t even know anymore/
Rika had actually sung her a lullaby. It was beautiful.
“My god, she’s truly an angel.”
Before Rika left, Yuki insisted that she stayed. So, Rika stayed.
“Wait, when did she leave?”
Rika had done as Yuki asked and stayed until she’d fallen asleep. She called a cab, then quietly left, taking Yuki’s keys, locking the door, and dropping them in the mail slot.
“Absolute angel.”
Yuki stopped for a moment, she’d remembered Rika and her sitting at the bar table. She had told her she was absolutely gorgeous. And then she remembered they had kissed.
/OhmygodOhmygodOhmygod/
She blushed, running through the whole scenario in her mind.
“Uhhhhhhhhhh”
Her heart pounded and she felt fuzzy.
/That was my first kiss/
It was certainly something she wouldn’t forget, but it wasn’t as shocking as she had thought it would be. It felt. Right.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
She hugged her pillow and rolled back and forth on her bed. Stopping after the moment of excitement.
/How old am I? I’m not in high school. I shouldn’t be freaking out this much./
“But still”
“Ahhhhhhhh!”
She rolled around again.
/Wait, what now?/
Yuki sat up, still holding her pillow. I mean we basically just met.
“We still haven’t gone on a date.”
/I mean, we can’t just ignore it. Internet?/
She unlocked her phone and literally typed in her exact scenario.
|/kissing before first date/|
Pretty much every possible answer appeared, most contradicting each other.
/Great./
The general consensus she found, from her favorite magazines. Was that it more or less didn’t matter. Acknowledge it as the person likes you, a lot.
/Alright, well that much is obvious./
‘You’re absolutely gorgeous.’
‘You are too.’
/Yup, just like a romance manga./
Her situation never had appeared in the one’s she’d read though.
Another obvious option was also to call her friends for advice. But, her high school friends had all moved away and gradually all lost touch. Also she hadn’t had many to begin with.
/The life of a socially awkward, overly anxious teenager./
She buried her face in her pillow. Ruing that era.
/Just forget it./
Though most of those traits had followed her into adulthood.
She was still uncomfortable in public, had a tough time initiating conversations, limited friends, and a general sense of anxiety about how she appeared to others, ironically.
Somehow though, Rika made her feel more comfortable. Like a different person, the one she wanted to be. And Kiko, she was so easy to talk to, even if she was a bit extra.
/She and Hidetake/
That story reminded her of what she wanted, in life and a relationship. And she knew Rika did too.
‘They’re good for one another’
‘I’m happy that it was you.’
She really was.
“The first date.”
There was so much to do to get ready. Namely clothes, she had nothing appropriate for a date.
“Seems I’ll be clothes shopping with a hangover today.”
I wonder if Rika is going shopping too, though she seems like she’s pretty stylish.
Yuki opened her LINE app and messaged Rika
|/I need to go shopping before our date, would you like to go together?/|
Rika had gotten to her apartment rather late and slept soundly since. The three beep LINE message tone woke her up. It was from Yuki
/I hope she’s doing okay./
She read the message and paused.
/That was my date idea. Great. I guess we can go, I just ask her what she’d like to do./
Rika also remembered, what was actually her misunderstanding. Yuki wanting more intimate moments than she’d assumed from a first date.
She opened her notes app, to make a list for shopping,
/New underwear. Not sure what kind though. I’m actually pretty nervous about this./
Rika switched to LINE and replied to Yuki’s message
| /Sound’s wonderful. Where should we meet?”/|
Send.
“Ugh, ‘wonderful’ may be too much.”
The three beeps sounded almost immediately
|/Hachiko/|
Rika smiled
|/See you there./|
Send.
“Ugh. I need to stop with periods, it sounds so terse.”
Rika sent one more message
|/( ^ω^ )/|
/That works./
Rika walked to her dresser, opening the top draw, all her underwear was there.
/Yeah it’s all pretty plain... I don’t have anything that’s ‘that’ kind of cute./
She edited the note on her phone to
|/cute underwear/|
/Alright time to get ready for our date that’s not really a date./
Rika was one to take a shower in the morning. Not for any particular reason, it was just a habit. It felt wrong to go out without one.
She let the water run till it was warm, -and undressed from her wrinkled work shirt. which she had neglected to take off the night before. It was a rather uncomfortable way of sleeping. Just never taking off your day clothes and all.
/I could have at least taken my tops off and put on a T-shirt. Oh jeez, Yuki slept the same way./
Rika stepped into the shower.
/I really didn’t expect her to just start undressing like that./
She blushed.
/Not that it especially a problem or anything, just given we had met that day.../
Rika remembered at the end of the night, not that she had forgotten.
/I just went to wipe the tears from her eyes. I’m not sure why I did in the first place. I’ve never done anything like that before... I definitely wanted to, it’s just I’m not so assertive usually./
“Oh man. Stupid!”
/I was her first kiss, one hell of a way for that to happen, at the bar./
‘I’m glad it was you...’
The whole scene had lead up to it, the atmosphere was right.
/That was almost perfect./
‘You’re a bad liar...’
/That was unlike me, I’ve never been that smooth. It’s almost cringey out of context. But.../
She put a hand on her right cheek, the one Yuki had had hers on the night before. And blushed, lost in the memory.
“That was... Nice.”
She let the water run over her as she continued remembering.
/I feel warm. It’s been a while. Maybe it’s a little different though./
Rika began shampooing her hair.
/When was the last time, I’d been on a date?/
Rika rinsed out the shampoo and began conditioning.
/Years. Many years. It’s been all work. I haven’t really been looking I guess./
The conditioner rinsed out.
/I really haven’t. I mean I’m getting older. It doesn’t do wonders for self confidence./
‘That’s BS, you’re absolutely...’
Rika smiled as she washed her arms.
/She’s an angel. I can’t say that didn’t make me feel good. Especially considering her age, much younger than me./
Rika began rinsing off all the body wash.
/As Kiko said, it doesn’t matter to her./
Rika blushed, and covered her face with her hands.
/I can’t believe I have this kind of crush at my age. I really do feel youthful./
The image of Yuki pausing and changing what she had been saying, made Rika smile.
/She must feel the same./
Rika turned off the water and stepped past the shower door, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself.
“Oh!”
She left the bathroom and walked to her phone.
|/What time are we meeting?/|
Yuki responded almost immediately.
|/I was about to ask you the same thing, sorry I’m still a little out of it/|
|/It’s fine, I just stepped out of the shower and realized/|
Yuki blushed as she read what Rika had wrote.
“Just stepped out of the shower...”
/Pure thoughts Yuki, you are a maiden of God!/
She slapped her flushed cheeks.
|/Ok, if you’re almost ready, how about in an hour? I still need to get dressed.../|
Rika blushed as she read what Yuki had wrote.
/She’s still... Last night... Pure thoughts Rika!/
|/See you then ∩^ω^∩/|
Send.
/Was that text face too much? I hope that’s not read the wrong way.../
Yuki saw Rika’s text face and blushed again.
/That text face.../
‘I’m still not dressed’
She blushed more.
/I’m not dressed! Oh god. She thinks I’m cute! Well she did see me undress yesterday./
Yuki once again hugged her pillow and rolled around on her bed. She then sat up, wearing a serious look on her face.
“Get it together Yuki!”
Rika rode the train to Shibuya station.
/I’m weirdly nervous about this, it’s only shopping. People do this even if they’re not seeing each other./
“Hmm.”
/Are we “seeing” each other though./
Rika rested her chin in her hand.
/Last night and all, and were going on a date. Although, it’s technically the first date. And, judging by what she said. She wants to jump right in, in “that” way./
Rika adjusted her seating and crossed her legs thoughtfully.
/If it’s already there, we must be “seeing” each other. I’m not sure if I feel rushed though. It’s all so sudden... I guess I’ll see. I need first date underwear anyways./
The trains speaker system sounded, Shibuya was the next stop. A cool sweat broke from Rika’s forehead, and her neck stiffened.
/I’m actually nervous, at 31, I feel anxious./
The crowded train car began moving, people standing up and bracing themselves for when the train pulled into the station.
/I’m being ridiculous./
Meanwhile, Yuki had arrived at the station and stood in front of Chiko.
/Ow, my head is still killing me. Even after taking medicine./
She had bought a bottle of tea, and continued to drink it.
/I also still feel like a dried squid. I’m also sort of hungry./
Yuki took out her phone and opened LINE.
|/Hey, is you train arriving soon? And would you like to get lunch too?/|
Send.
/This is turning into an actual date./
Rika looked up as the three beeps sounded, taking her phone out of her pocket.
/Woah. I haven’t eaten yet./
|/Yes please, that sounds good/|
Send.
|/It’s more like this is our first date. Now I’m a little more anxious/|
Yuki was browsing her Twitter timeline as the LINE notification popped up.
Yuki closed her phone and stared at the sky.
/I’m so nervous. First date, ever. Right now./
She lightly slapped her cheeks.
/There’s no need. It’s not like confessing your love in high school. We obviously like each other./
Yuki thought of the night before.
/I shouldn’t be nervous. I’ll do my best!/
Rika wound her way through the crowd, heading towards Hachiko.
/How am I going to find her in all this?/
Rika selected LINE call from she and Yuki’s chat screen.
Yuki was startled as she didn’t expect a call, and they also made her nervous.
“/Hello!/“
“/Hello Yuki, I’m calling because I want to figure out where you are./“
“/Oh! In the front of Hachiko. There are a lot of people around here though./“
“/I’m walking out of the front doors now, I’ll head in your direction. Tell me when you see me./“
“/Ok, I’m looking now./“
Rika walked out of the front doors and walked to the front of Hachiko.
“/I see you! I’m waving right now./“
Rika saw Yuki’s short figure waving before her. She hung up and the two met.
“Hello Yuki!”
Yuki blushed.
“Hello!”
Rika hesitated for a moment.
/I don’t know what to do here. Is a hug too much?/
As she thought Yuki slowly spread her arms and embraced Rika.
Rika was shocked for a moment at Yuki’s lack of hesitation, but quickly returned Yuki’s warm embrace.
“Thank you for last night.”
Yuki’s face was buried in Rika’s shoulder.
/This is the warmest hug I’ve ever gotten./
“Of course Yuki.”
Rika held the back of Yuki’s head as she slowly buried her own in Yuki’s shoulder.
“Last night was... wonderful.”
They couldn’t see each other’s faces, but they both were blushing.
“It was.”
/I think I get it. We’re together./
The anxiety that had gripped both of them melted away to comfort.
“I-I’ve never done this before. Sorry if it’s childish of me, but. Would you say we’re seeing each other?”
Rika smiled.
“Yes. We are.”
“Even without our first real date.”
“We do still need to have that real first date. Let’s go for lunch then shop to get ready for it.”
Yuki lifted her head to see Rika’s face and smiled.
“That sounds nice...”
Rika pulled back to see Yuki’s face as well.
“Let’s go get food. You look very hungover.”
Yuki buried her face back in Rika’s shoulder.
“Because I really am, please don’t let me drink that much again.”
“I won’t.”
“Hey, you found your keys in the mail slot right?”
Yuki pulled keys out from her pocket.
“Thanks for staying last night. I was being a total baby.”
“I didn’t mind, I was about to fall asleep myself when I left.”
“You also gave me a piggyback ride too.”
Rika giggled.
“Yes I did. You’re rather petite though, so it wasn’t that big a deal.”
“You’re a bully.”
“It’s not a bad thing. It adds to your objectively cute charm.”
“Thank you.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
“What are we getting to eat?”
“You’re the one with the hangover. What do you think you can eat?”
“How about coffee and a scone?”
“Are you sure you don’t want an parfait?”
“Oh god, please no.”
