IT WAS A well-deserved break for the two of them, she from schoolwork and he from production on his project with Maki. The past few weeks had been harrowing and busy for the new couple, the act of simply finding time to be together face to face suddenly a difficult and challenging task. Even walking home together as they’d done in the past was now much harder to do, as Tino often had to stay behind for extended writing sessions as well as club meetings. Nico had initially insisted she wait up for him, but Tino had countered her insistence, wanting her to spend this time to focus on her own studies, especially considering the fast approach of this year’s entrance exam season.
This date was all he’d thought about the entire week, the excitement of finally getting to spend time with her glowing like a little light in the back of his mind. The past week, his entire day would be spent working non-stop, but as soon as dinner with the family was over, and he was tucked inside his sheets, phone held above him, he would message her, and she would respond without fail. Monday night, they’d planned for a get-together on Friday–a small bit of respite in between hours of hard work, for Tino would be back to school again come Saturday for a full 9 hours of rehearsal time, and Nico would likely be hitting the books for further preparation. He could only wish for more time together.
It was for this reason that Tino didn’t have to try and figure out where Nico was getting at. The moment she came clean, he understood her right away.
With a small smile, he brought his chopsticks down into his bowl and reached across the table for her hands. He gently took them in his, squeezing softly and transferring warmth between the two of them. “I know what you mean,” he said, warm but clearly with a hint of sadness there too. They’d talked quite a lot before the food came, the stories from both ends near never-ending, and even as they ate, the conversation never seemed to completely stop–but as they drew closer to the bottoms of their bowls, the quieter they both became, he and she unwilling to draw the curtains on their evening together.
“Tell you what,” he started. “I don’t think we should let our food grow cold, but we can still stay a little even after we’re through. And I can walk you homeslowlyafterward.” He tilted his head. “We can even stop by somewhere if it isn’t too late yet. Don’t worry. We have time.”
Nico’s attention flicks from their joined hands across the table to his face. When he smiles she feels like she’s sitting on a cloud– kicking her legs among the stars in the night sky– and her heart jumps around like she does on a sugar high! Of course a such a sight naturally compels her to smile back at him, clearing any stormy thoughts that might have been brewing behind her eyes. A few clouds remain (she wouldn’t have anywhere to sit, otherwise!) because she knows no matter what either of them say, they won’t be able to stop the clock. No matter how slowly their footsteps fall, the night will still pass by too quickly. Fun always punches the fast forward button on life– it’s a sad truth.
Nico doesn’t plan on expressing that, or even on rehashing it in her mind (why waste that precious time on thoughts that make her unhappy, anyway!?)– instead she nods in an energetic way that paints her obliviously reassured. Besides… eventually the busy days will pass and they will have time for each other.
Nico gives his hands a light squeeze before releasing them. She claps her hands like she’s bracing herself for something, tilts her head and winks.
❝Woah! We’ll walk in slow motion– just like a scene in a movie! Right!?❞ Nico starts to reach for her chopsticks at his suggestion not to let their food grow cold– absentmindedly squishing her other hand to her cheek, building a dreamy scene in her mind. ❝Nico could even play appropriate background music! She has a lot of instrumental music on her phone for studying!❞
She starts humming the tune to one of the songs as she plucks up a few noodles with her chopsticks, pausing only to slurp them up. Finishing the bite with a satisfying pop of her lips, she tastes soup on them and for a moment her thoughts lead her to wonder if the taste on both of their lips would match right now. Though she has a tiny hint of strawberry from her lip gloss. (it’s a very light color– very natural– so the flavor might come as a surprise!) Then she scolds herself for having embarrassing thoughts like that! Geez! Now’s the time for eating! Somehow, ever since they started this, she’s been thinking about kissing more and more often. When is it the right time for something like that? She has zero experience! Gosh. She needs to do something about this, or she’s going to turn as red as a cherry.
❝T-these noodles are so tasty, right!?❞ Nico laughs anxiously as though her thoughts had been transparent this entire time– and as an excuse not to talk herself into a truly embarrassing situation, she wolfs down the last few bites so vigorously that some of the soup splashes up, sprinkling on the bridge of her nose without her noticing. ❝Delicious!❞
