11 — Outing

The next morning a crisp breeze swept through the city, rustling the auburn leaves of the trees below. The sky remained overcast from the night before, casting a muted glow over the skyline, but the forecast promised warmth and sunshine later in the day. As usual, Ame woke before Sera, slipping out of bed in a silent manner. She tied her long black hair into a loose ponytail and made her way to the living room. Standing before the large window, she looked out at the city from their seventh-floor apartment. The view stretched far, showcasing the distant high-rises and the streets below bustling with early commuters. She held her tea mug between her hands, the warmth seeping into her fingers as she took in the serene morning.

After a few minutes of quiet observation, she turned toward the kitchen, beginning the familiar routine of preparing breakfast for the both of them. The scent of warm toast and eggs soon filled the air. Sera, now awake, sat at the table, her sketchbook open, lost in the details of her latest design. The television played softly in the background, the news anchor reporting that it was a quite breezy morning but to expect the skies to clear by noon. 

Ame set down a cup of tea in front of Sera, ensuring everything she needed was within reach. Sera looked up, beaming. "Thank you!" she chirped before returning her attention to her sketchbook.

Ame took a moment to glance at the intricate lines and patterns forming on the page. "That looks pretty. What are you sketching?"

"Just a little piece I've been working on," Sera responded casually, her pencil gliding across the page.

Ame crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as her fingers idly traced the edge of her white camisole. She had noticed Sera sketching quite often lately, but she had never thought to ask why. The details in her designs were stunning, and it nagged at Ame that she hadn't paid more attention before.

"Do you enjoy drawing?" she finally asked, lowering herself into the seat across from Sera. "You've been sketching a lot lately."

Sera chuckled, stirring her tea before taking a small sip. "Sometimes, yeah. But I’ve actually been sketching so much because of the Fashion Show coming up." Her smile widened.

Ame blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her mind started piecing things together, the sketches, the patterns, the designs. Wait... Fashion...

She hesitated, then asked, "Sera, you’re a fashion major right?"

Sera laughed lightly, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder as she looked up. "Yes, Fashion Design."

Ame averted her gaze, suddenly feeling embarrassed. She looked down at her lap, fiddling with her fingers as strands of her hair fell slightly over her face. "Ah…right, sorry. I should have remembered."

Sera waved her hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it, Ame."

Ame shook her head. "I won’t forget again. Your sketches are beautiful." She paused, glancing at the designs once more. "So… are you designing something for someone else, or…?"

Sera placed her pencil down, reaching for a piece of toast. "Nope. Our biggest assignment is to create our own piece for the Fashion Show. Every Fashion Major has to do it." She took a bite before continuing. "It’s not just about making a gorgeous outfit, either. We also have to learn how to walk the catwalk, display our designs properly, understand presentation, and all that. If your outfit gets through the preliminary round, you get to go to the annual AinaU Fashion Show held in Harajuku."

Ame’s eyes widened. Not only was Sera designing an outfit, but she was also the one modeling it? The thought hit her all at once. Her composed demeanor cracked, and she suddenly stood up from her chair.

"Wait—so you're the one wearing that?" Her voice came out sharper than expected.

Sera looked up, a little surprised at Ame’s abrupt reaction, but then she chuckled and nodded. "Yes, yes, I will be."

Ame froze, her mind racing. Her gaze flickered between Sera and the drawing, suddenly imagining her in the completed piece. The vision was stunning—elegant, so confident, completely her. Ame’s body stiffened as she tried to process the thought, her breath catching slightly.

Sera giggled, waving a hand in front of Ame’s face. "Uhmm… Ame? Halloooo?"

Snapping out of her trance, Ame quickly sat back down, reaching for her tea in an attempt to compose herself. She lifted the cup to her lips, hiding the lower half of her face as she turned away, cheeks slightly flushed.

"Sorry," she murmured. "I just… needed to process—" She took another sip, still looking away. "You wearing that..." she added under her breath.

Sera raised an eyebrow a light blush painting her face, her expression teasing. "Mmmhm…"

Ame fiddled with the loose strands of her hair, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest. She cleared her throat, her fingers nervously tapping against the ceramic of her mug. "Ah—Sera, I—I didn’t mean for it to come out like tha—"

But before she could finish, Sera burst into laugher, shaking her head. "It’s okay, Ame," she reassured her, giggling. "I get it."

Ame crossed her arms, her face burning, but she perked up as Sera spoke again.

"I was actually going to ask if you wanted to come to the show. To see me, but…" Sera trailed off, watching for Ame’s reaction.

Ame’s eyes widened again. "Yes!" she blurted before quickly trying to reel herself in. "I mean—I would love to," she added, forcing herself to sit back properly, attempting to appear more composed.

Sera giggled at Ame’s eagerness. "Good, because I’m getting you a front-row seat." she said, standing up to collect her empty plate.

Ame watched her move, her eyes following the confident sway of Sera’s figure as she walked to the sink. Internally, she was screaming. Where does this girl get all this confidence and charisma?!  she yelled in her mind.

She hugged herself slightly, looking down at the floor with a dark blush.

After breakfast, the two settled into a relaxed routine. Ame sat on the couch watching TV while Sera sprawled on the other end, gaming on her handheld.

Ame stole a glance at her, watching the way her expression shifted between intense focus and excitement. She’s so cute, Ame thought to herself.

Sera suddenly whispered, "Yes!" as she won another round.

Ame chuckled softly. "Won again?"

Sera pumped her fist in victory. "You know it!"

Ame smiled, sipping her tea. Spending mornings like this… she was getting used to it.

Sera let out a triumphant hum, setting her gaming device down beside her with a satisfied smile. The warmth of victory still lingered in her chest, but what really made her heart flutter was the realization that she had so much time, so many moments like this to spend with Ame. It was such a simple thought, yet it filled her with an unfamiliar kind of joy. Her gaze drifted toward Ame, who was seated beside her on the couch, sipping her tea with her usual composed elegance.

Sera hesitated for a moment before shifting slightly, debating whether or not to rest her head against Ame’s shoulder. The idea made her stomach twist in nervous excitement. Would she mind? she wondered. But before she could second-guess herself any further, she took the chance and leaned in, letting her head rest lightly against Ame’s arm. She expected a reaction—a flinch, maybe—but instead, she was met with stillness.

Then, just as she was about to pull away, Ame moved. A gentle hand slid through her blonde locks, slow and deliberate, raking through the strands with a touch that sent an unexpected shiver down Sera’s spine. Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected tenderness, and before she knew it, she was fully leaning into Ame, her arm slowly locking around hers. She didn’t want to move. She didn’t want to let go.

Sera's eyes flickered up, curiosity bubbling inside her. I want to know more about her.

“Ame,” she murmured, tilting her head slightly against her shoulder. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

Ame, still stroking through Sera’s hair absentmindedly, gave a quiet hum. “I don’t mind. Go ahead.”

Sera hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I was just thinking… what’s your background?”

Ame’s fingers briefly stilled before continuing their gentle motions. “I’m Japanese,” she answered silky. “I was born in Tokyo, just like my father.”

Sera blinked, surprised by the ease in her voice. “Really?”

Ame nodded, her tone remaining steady. “My family is…a bit well-off,” she admitted, trying to downplay it. “My father is actually the owner of a well-known business.”

Sera’s eyes widened slightly. “Wait… so it’s no coincidence. You really are the daughter of that Misaki, huh?”

Ame let out a small chuckle, nodding. “Yes.”

Sera took a moment to absorb that before Ame continued, her voice softer now. “My mother is from Kyoto. My parents were high school sweethearts.”

A fondness crept into her tone as she spoke, recalling childhood memories. “I have some good memories… especially with my mother,” she admitted. “She was the one who always encouraged me, who always made sure I had a place to be myself.”

But then, her voice shifted. Subtly at first, but enough that Sera noticed.

“My father’s side of the family, though… they had expectations. High ones, as you could imagine. I was expected to always succeed, to uphold the family’s reputation.”

Sera felt the warmth in her chest wane, her grip around Ame’s arm tightening ever so slightly.

Ame sighed, her fingers briefly pausing in Sera’s hair before resuming, as if trying to keep herself grounded. “After awhile, let’s just say things didn’t go so well. Eventually, my parents split. They divorced.” Her voice held no bitterness, only a quiet acceptance. “Because of the way they split…I don’t see my mother as much anymore.” She exhaled, her gaze lowering. “And honestly, I think I just wanted to be away from it all.”

Sera’s heart ached at the admission. “That’s terrible,” she murmured. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Inside, she wished there was something—anything—she could do to help. She wondered if Ame and her parents could ever mend things, though she knew it wasn’t her place to say. But she hoped. She really hoped.

Ame, as if sensing her thoughts, gave a small, reassuring smile. “It’s alright. I’ve mostly come to peace with it now.”

Sera knew that was only half-true. Ame had accepted it, but had she really come to peace with it? She wasn’t sure. Instead of pressing further, she simply clung onto her a little tighter. Then, she lifted her head from Ame’s shoulder, turning slightly so their eyes met.

She held her gaze, searching for something—anything—in the stormy gray depths of Ame’s eyes. Poor Ame… she thought.

Ame turned fully to face her then, meeting her gaze head-on with a small, gentle smile, as if trying to brush away the past with just that expression alone. “How about you?” she asked, her smile growing. “I’m starting to realize, there’s still so much about you I don’t actually know.”

Sera let out a small laugh, easing back into Ame’s side as she linked their arms again. She continued to hold her gaze, her blue eyes gleaming with warmth.

Sera grinned. “Well…” she started. “I know my surname wouldn’t actually allude to it, but I actually consider myself to be more German than anything else.”

Ame tilted her head, clearly surprised. “Wow, German?”

Sera giggled. “Yep! Tsukiko comes from my Japanese dad, but my mother is German. Echt cool, oder?”

Ame’s eyes widened slightly as she turned her whole body to face Sera. “What did you just say?”

Sera laughed, waving her hand dismissively. “I just said ‘Really cool, huh?’ Nothing crazy.”

Ame giggled smiling wide, her interest piqued. Sera sat up now, fully facing her so they could talk properly.

“But yeah,” Sera continued, “German and Japanese. I also spent time in both America and Canada to study growing up, and I’ve been in Aina for all of high school. Keeping up?”

Ame was taken aback. “I never would have expected that,” she admitted. “That’s… really fascinating.”

Sera beamed. “Thanks!”

Ame glanced at the table. “Well, I should get to the dishes—”

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Sera interrupted, immediately standing up. “You stay right there, I got it.”

“Sera, you don’t have to—”

“I insist.” she declared. And before Ame could argue, Sera had already started cleaning, humming as she worked. Ame stood back and watched, a warm feeling settling in her chest. She wasn’t used to this someone taking care of things for her. And yet, it felt so… nice.

Later by the time Sera finished, drying her hands, she noticed that the sky outside was clearing up. She turned back to Ame, who seemed to be thinking about something.

Ame hesitated before walking up to the counter beside her, leaning forward just slightly. “Sera?”

“Hmm?”

Ame played with the corner of her sleeve before speaking. “Would you like to go to the bookstore with me?”

Sera’s heart skipped a beat.

“I’m almost done with the latest book I’ve been reading,” Ame continued, “so I’d like to go browse. Maybe you’d like to accompany me?”

Sera’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. Ame asking her to go out somewhere was new, and she felt ecstatic inside. “S-Sure,” she stammered, before regaining herself. “I would love to.”

Ame grinned slightly, her shoulders relaxing. “It’s looking better outside. Do you want to leave now? Maybe we can get food after?”

Sera lit up. “Yes! That sounds perfect.”

Ame nodded, a small but genuine smile on her lips. “Alright. Let’s get ready, then. I’ll see you at the door?”

Sera giggled, giving a playful salute. “Roger.”

Sera stood in front of her full-length mirror, biting her lip as she carefully applied the finishing touches to her makeup. She had taken her time getting ready, not out of necessity, but because she wanted to look her best for Ame. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, contrasting with the bold, stylish outfit she had chosen.

She wore a fitted white zip-up hoodie with black gothic-style lettering on the sleeves, unzipped just enough to reveal a hint of her collarbone. A black leather mini-skirt with silver-studded accents and a large statement belt hugged her waist, adding an edgy touch to her ensemble. Her long legs were accentuated by a pair of thick black fur boots that reached just below her knees. Sera turned slightly, examining herself from different angles, posing in the mirror with a little smirk before giggling at herself.

Meanwhile, Ame had already finished dressing. She opted for a sleek and elegant fall ensemble, drawing inspiration from her usual office wear but adapting it for the cooler weather. A fitted dark gray turtleneck that hugged her figure was paired with loose black jeans. She layered with a tailored black coat, its buttons undone, adding a sophisticated touch to her overall look. She let her long, silky black hair down, the strands flowing over her shoulders. 

As she stood by the door waiting for Sera, she folded her arms, her mind wandering. Just as she was about to check the time, Sera emerged from her room, and Ame’s breath caught in her throat. Her gray eyes traced over every detail of Sera’s outfit, lingering on how well it suited her. She looked… stunning.

“Sera…” Ame began, unable to suppress her reaction. “You look… incredible.”

Sera’s heart skipped, her breath catching for a moment as warmth rushed to her cheeks. The compliment made her giddy, her fingers twitching slightly before she forced herself to stay composed. 

It's basically a date. she mused, still feeling the burn on her cheeks. 

 “Thank you… You too,” she murmured with a soft smile.

Ame cleared her throat, shaking off her momentary awe. “Ready?”

“Let’s go!” Sera playfully threw up a peace sign before stepping beside her.

The train ride to the bookstore was peaceful, but Sera couldn’t shake the thought lingering in the back of her mind. As they sat side by side, the gentle sway of the train making their shoulders occasionally brush, she found herself hesitating. She wanted to reach out, to take Ame’s hand, or at the very least, lean against her. But a nagging fear held her back.

Would people look at them strangely? Would they judge? If someone from school saw them like this, what would they think? These thoughts frustrated her. She loved Ame, so why was she hesitating? The silent struggle weighed on her heart, and she found herself glancing at Ame, only to look away just as quickly, feeling like a coward.

Ame, as composed as always, didn’t seem to notice—or at least, she didn’t say anything. Sera wondered if she felt the same way.

When they arrived at the bookstore, the door chimed softly, and the familiar scent of paper and ink filled the air. A woman at the register immediately recognized Ame and called out to her.

“Ame! Welcome back.”

Ame gave a polite nod and a small wave before gently placing a hand on Sera’s back to guide her inside. The simple touch sent an involuntary shiver down Sera’s spine, making her feel weak for a moment. Ame didn’t seem to notice as she motioned for Sera to follow her deeper into the store.

“This place is bigger than I expected,” Sera murmured as she looked around at the towering bookshelves.

Ame smiled slightly. “Let me show you around.”

She led Sera through the aisles, pointing out her favorite sections. Fiction, Sci-Fi, Fantasy—Ame had a clear love for well-written prose. But to Sera’s delight, they soon found themselves in the manga section.

“Oh, this is the one I’m reading right now!” Sera beamed, grabbing a volume and showing it to Ame.

Ame raised a brow, taking it from her hands and skimming through a few pages. “Is it good?”

Sera nodded enthusiastically. “It’s so fun! The characters are amazing, and the story just keeps getting better. I think you’d actually enjoy it.”

Ame smirked. “Maybe I’ll give it a try, then.”

Eventually, they found a cozy corner with seating. Sera sat across from Ame, watching as she flipped through a different manga, her fingers elegantly turning the pages. Sera took in the warm, quiet atmosphere, letting out a small sigh.

“This place is cute,” she mused. “There’s even a built-in cafe.”

Ame looked up, her smile widening. “Want anything?”

Sera shook her head. “I’m good, thanks.”

As Ame returned to her book, Sera pulled out her pocket mirror, instinctively checking her reflection. She usually did this to fix her makeup or make sure she looked okay, but this time, it wasn’t just for herself. She realized, with some embarrassment, that she had been checking it more often whenever she was around Ame. Just the thought made her face heat up slightly, and she quickly snapped the mirror shut, placing it back in her bag before Ame could notice.

Ame, still absorbed in her manga, didn’t seem to catch the moment, but Sera wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or disappointed about that.

She sighed softly, resting her chin on her palm as she gazed at Ame. For now, this moment was enough.

The bookstore was quiet as the afternoon mellowed into golden warmth. Sera and Ame remained seated side by side, their bags at their feet and a soft hum of pages turning. Sera leaned forward slightly, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger.

“I still can’t get enough of cute slice-of-life stories,” Sera said with a soft smile. “Like, you know the ones where it’s just a bunch of girls doing nothing in particular but still make your heart go all warm?” She looked up at Ame.

Ame chuckled gently, placing her hand under her chin as she nodded. “Ah, yeah, I know. There’s a kind of comfort in those—quiet, slow-paced, almost therapeutic.” Her gray eyes sparkled. “I like those too. But I also have a soft spot for deep stories. Manga that almost feel like a philosophical conversation.”

Sera giggled, her blue eyes lighting up. “You would.” She teased. “Even your taste in manga sounds like you.”

Ame smirked back, closing the manga she’d been skimming through and placing it into her lap. “I think I’ll buy this one,” she said. “And the one you recommended earlier—the one with the girls camping in the countryside? It seemed charming.”

Sera perked up, giving her a playful thumbs-up. “Good choice, professor.” Her tone was teasing, but there was genuine pride in her voice.

Ame giggled softly, a rare sound that made Sera’s chest flutter. “Let’s go, then.”

They rose from their seats and headed to the front of the store, where the cashier, a woman named Lene, soft spoken with a warm smile, greeted them.

“Oh! Ame,” she said, clearly recognizing Ame. “It’s always great to see you.”

“Hello Lene, nice to see you too,” Ame replied politely. “I found a couple nice pickups today.”

“And brought a friend this time?” the cashier said kindly, nodding to Sera.

“Yes,” Ame said, glancing at Sera with a large smile. “My… roommate… she helped me find this one.” She held up the manga Sera had recommended.

She had almost said, girlfriend.

Lene took note of her pause, but didn’t pry, she just scanned their items and bagged them with care. “Well, you both have a lovely afternoon. It looks like the weather, is getting better too!”

“Thank you!” Sera and Ame said in unison.

As they stepped out of the bookstore, the door chimed behind them, and sunlight spilled warmly across the pavement. The sky was clear now, a gentle breeze weaving through the streets. Ame’s long black hair lifted in the wind, soft and silken.

Sera noticed immediately and smiled to herself. “Wow,” she muttered under her breath. “Your hair always looks so good…”

Ame turned to her. “Hm?”

“Your hair,” Sera repeated louder this time so Ame could hear, brushing her own bangs aside. “Looks really pretty in the wind.”

Ame grinned, brushing a lock behind her ear. “Thank you, Sera. I’m glad it cleared up outside... and I’m happy I found something to read.”

Sera’s expression brightened. “Of course! I’m happy I could come with you.”

They began to walk, side by side, down the sun-warmed sidewalk. The city buzzed gently around them, but Sera’s mind was far away. As they walked, she looked down at the bookstore bag in her hand, then at Ame’s silhouette beside her. Again, the urge to reach out—to hold her hand, to rest against her arm—was there again. But the thought of others watching, of strangers’ eyes judging, crept in like a shadow.

If someone saw us… what would they think? What would they say? 

Again her hand twitched slightly as if reaching out on its own—but again, she held back.

She was about to change the subject, maybe mention her manga again, when her stomach gave a loud, undeniable growl.

She froze mid-step, her cheeks igniting crimson. She dropped her bookstore bag with a soft thud, clutching her stomach with one hand and covering her mouth with the other.

Seriously?! Kill me now… She thought.

Ame stopped, blinking, and turned to her. She didn’t laugh. Instead, she smiled gently and tilted her head.

“Sera,” she said, stepping toward her. “I thought you said you weren’t hungry earlier?”

Sera’s eyes widened, her face red as a rose. “U-uuhm… well…”

Before she could even string together a proper excuse, Ame crouched slightly, picked up her dropped bag, and then—her fingers warm and firm—gently clasped Sera’s hand.

Sera’s breath caught.

Ame’s fingers interlaced with hers, her touch soft but confident. “Alright, we did say we were going to get lunch earlier.” she said with a small smile, lifting their hands together. “Where to, then?”

Sera blinked at their hands, then up at Ame’s calm, open face. Her heart thundered in her chest. “U-uhm… the burger place. Across the street.”

Ame nodded. “Perfect. Let’s go get lunch then.” She held Sera’s hand a little more securely and began to walk toward the crosswalk, gently guiding her along.

Sera followed, dazed. Her heartbeat hard enough that it seemed to echo in her ears.

She doesn’t seem to care.

That she’s holding my hand.

In public.

At the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change, Sera couldn’t take her eyes off Ame. She looked ahead with that calm, elegant focus of hers, the breeze catching her hair again. The sun glinted in her dark strands, and Sera stared—entranced.

Ame doesn’t care about the looks, the world, or the comments. She just cares about being with me.

The light changed and hand in hand, amongst others, they crossed the intersection.

They stepped through the doors of the burger shop together, Sera feeling joy as she hadn’t had burgers in a long while.

Inside the burger shop, the air was thick with the warm scent of sizzling patties, fried potatoes, and soft bread. The place had a retro vibe—checkered floors, red leather booths, chrome-edged tables, and soft rock playing in the background. Sera bounced on her feet as she scanned the board above the counter.

“I already know what I want,” she said with a proud, impish grin, stepping forward with a decisive finger pointed upward. “One classic cheeseburger combo with fries, and a strawberry soda, please!”

Ame, standing beside her, silently studied the menu with furrowed brows and an elegant hand resting against her chin.

“Hmm…” she murmured, clearly lost in deliberation. “They have so many… Sera, which burger do you usually get?”

Sera tilted her head. “Ooh, well, if you want something simple and really good, the classic works. But the BBQ Bacon one is suuuper good too. Oh, or the Chicken burger—rich but amazing!”

Ame nodded slowly, a small smile curving her lips as she leaned toward the cashier. “My order…is a surprise.”

Sera blinked. “Huh?”

“It’s a surprise,” Ame repeated, casting Sera a knowing glance that made her giggle.

After a short wait, they found a booth by the window and slid into opposite sides. Sera was already happily biting into her burger, cheeks puffed out with a blissful sigh. “Mmm~ So good.”

The worker soon came over with Ame’s tray. “Double cheeseburger meal—extra fries, large soda.”

The tray thudded softly onto the table.

Sera’s jaw dropped. “Ame…?!”

Across the tray sat two stacked double cheeseburgers, a small mountain of golden fries, and a giant soda cup.

Ame, a little red in the cheeks, averted her gaze. “What…? I’m hungry too…” she muttered defensively, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is something wrong? Can’t a lady have her double cheeseburgers from time to time?”

Sera burst out laughing. “No, no! Not at all! Please, go ahead!”

Ame smirked and unwrapped her first burger. Without hesitation, she took a big, unladylike bite, her neat posture relaxing as she fully committed to demolishing her meal. Sera watched in silent awe and stifled amusement. The icy, refined Professor Misaki... devouring two double cheeseburgers?

What a woman. she thought to herself, stifling back another laugh as she took another bite of her own burger.

Between bites and sipping her soda, Sera started telling a ridiculous story about a visual novel she played once—about a catgirl harem. Ame, mid-chew, almost spat out her drink laughing.

“Sera.. what on earth do you play? That’s absurd,” she said, trying to suppress a giggle, her voice laced with laughter. She raised an eyebrow her voice low and playfully inquisitive. “Do you like catgirls Sera?”

“I don’t know! …Maybe?!” Sera giggled, wiping a tear from her eye. “But it was good when I played it! I’ve bought the whole series!”

“So you’re telling me if I go…” Ame laughed.

She paused dramatically.

“Nyaaa…” She purred, doing a hand motion like a cat. Sera could’ve sworn she saw whiskers and cat ears on Ame in that instant. “You’ll like me more?” Ame asked, on the verge of bursting into a deep laughing fit.

Sera through her body back, bursting into hard laughter again, Ame doing the same. They finished their meals, leaning back into their seats, full and happy.

“That was great, love this place.” Sera sighed, patting her stomach.

“Me too, we have to comeback.” Ame said, brushing a napkin to her lips. 

They left the shop together, stepping into the slowly setting afternoon. The warm sunlight dappled the sidewalks through swaying tree leaves. A gentle breeze caught at their hair. As they walked, they spotted a small, quiet parkette tucked between buildings. 

The parkette was quaint. A tiny bubbling fountain stood in the middle, surrounded by neatly kept bushes and blooming flowers. There were only a few wooden benches, and a couple of trees with fluttering leaves offering shade.

They sat down together on one of the benches. Ame took out the manga she had bought earlier, flipping it open with a soft smile. Sera, meanwhile, fished her phone out of her bag for the first time in hours. A message from June popped up “Hope your days going well!”—followed by a hilarious meme from Ren that made her laugh quietly to herself.

But then her eyes widened. A tiny note in her phone’s reminders:

“Aquarium reduced admission today! Maybe go w/ Ame?”

She gasped softly.

Ame blinked and glanced at her, gently closing her manga. “What is it?” she asked with a curious tilt of her head, a gentle smile resting on her lips.

“Ah! It’s nothing,” Sera waved a hand, tucking her phone away. “Really! Don’t worry.”

But Ame leaned in closer. She scooted right next to her on the bench, a hand gently resting on Sera’s back as her gray eyes focused entirely on her. “Sera. No. What is it?”

Sera blushed, flustered at how close they now were. “I-it’s… okay, it’s just…” she stammered. “I had this note about the aquarium. They have this ticket deal today and I thought… maybe we could go together sometime. I know we’ve already been out all day and I know you’re busy tomorrow and—”

Before she could finish, Ame lifted a single finger and gently pressed it to Sera’s lips.

“Shhh~” she whispered, her silky black hair catching in the breeze, a few strands falling across her soft face. Her eyes were locked on Sera’s.

Sera’s breath hitched, her mouth parting slightly in awe.

Ame spoke again, her voice soft but resolute. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go. It sounds nice.”

Sera stared, stunned, as the words echoed in her chest.

She smiled. Wide and bright. Her heart thudded in her chest.

Then Ame stood, her hand extended toward her. “I’d love to go with you.”

Slowly, Sera placed her trembling hand in hers. Warmth flooded her chest as Ame’s fingers closed around hers gently, pulling her up from the bench. Her breath caught in her throat. Ame was leading her again—toward another shared memory, another soft moment she would never forget.

It seems their day wasn't over—they were off to the aquarium!