The special day

When I appeared back in my room, everything was just as I had left it. It didn't seem like anyone in my family had noticed my absence, which gave me a sense of relief.
Shortly after, I saw my mom and went over to talk to her.
"I'm going to be away for a while," I said casually. "University exams are coming up, and I want to focus on them."
She nodded with a smile, not questioning me at all.
"Alright, son. Just let me know if you need anything."
I nodded and said goodbye quickly before she could ask more questions. The truth was, I wasn't leaving for the exams—but because I needed to continue my training at the temple.
As soon as I left the house, I teleported again. In the blink of an eye, the familiar surroundings of home vanished, and the cool night air of the temple embraced me once more.
Back in my room, I saw Kaori already lying on her futon, apparently asleep. I felt relieved to see her at peace and quietly got ready to sleep too.
Just as I was settling down, her voice broke the silence.
"Where did you go?" she asked softly, though there was a hint of curiosity in her tone.
I froze for a moment, surprised she was awake. Before I could answer, she continued:
"And... why have you been avoiding me?"
A small chill ran down my spine.
"I-it's not that," I replied nervously. "It's just… what you said this morning really caught me off guard, and… well, I didn't know how to react."
She stayed quiet for a few seconds that felt eternal.
"I see..." she finally said with a faint smile I couldn't quite interpret.
I scratched the back of my neck, feeling the tension in the air.
"I went out for a bit to clear my head," I added. "Walking through the streets of Kyoto helped me relax."
Kaori nodded slightly, eyes half-closed, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
"Get some rest, Leo," she murmured before closing her eyes fully.
I watched her for a few more seconds before letting out a sigh and laying down on my futon.
Still… I couldn't help but wonder—what was Kaori really thinking?
Just as I was about to rest my head, her voice cut through my thoughts again.
"Tomorrow, I'll show you around Kyoto," she said firmly, "and I'm not taking no for an answer."
Her determined tone caught me off guard. I felt a bit nervous, but in the end, I simply nodded.
"Alright..."
Kaori smiled, satisfied, and without another word, closed her eyes to sleep. It took me a little longer to relax, but eventually, sleep overcame me.
Morning arrived with the sun's warm rays filtering through the windows. Gradually, light reached my eyelids, signaling the start of a new day.
When I opened my eyes, I noticed Kaori was no longer in her bed. I lay there for a moment, debating whether to go get breakfast or clear my mind in the garden.
After thinking it over, I decided to take a bath first. I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door in case someone was inside. No response. Perfect.
The hot water relaxed my muscles, washing away the fatigue. After a few minutes, I stepped out, hair still damp, wearing only a tight t-shirt and a towel wrapped from my waist to my knees.
Back in the room, I found Kaori with her back to me, checking her clothes. She seemed to be deciding what to wear for our outing today.
As soon as I stepped in, she turned around... and her face turned bright red.
Her usually snow-white skin now blushed a deep crimson. Her eyes widened in surprise, and without warning, she let out a startled gasp and hurled a pillow straight at my face.
"Idiot! At least warn me before walking in like that!"
Completely confused, I caught the pillow, not understanding what had just happened.
"Huh? Why are you reacting like that?" I asked, still not grasping the reason for her sudden outburst.
Kaori glared at me, arms crossed in embarrassment.
"Just get dressed!" she demanded, turning her back on me instantly.
Only then did I realize my state of dress—or rather, lack thereof. My clothes were still in the bag I had left outside the bathroom, and the towel barely covered me down to my knees.
"Ah… I see," I muttered, scratching my neck with a nervous laugh.
Sighing, I quickly changed before Kaori decided to throw anything else at me.
Once I finished, I let her know.
"All done. The bathroom's free now," I said casually.
Still with her arms crossed, she avoided eye contact and replied, "Good. Now it's my turn. I was picking out my outfit for today."
Not wanting to make her any more uncomfortable, I decided to step outside. But just as I was about to leave the room, a mischievous idea popped into my head.
"Don't forget to wear something cute for our first date," I said with a teasing smile.
I only wanted to see her reaction—and she didn't disappoint.
Kaori froze for a moment, then slowly turned her head toward me. Her already-red face now looked like it was about to explode.
That's when I noticed she had a pair of shoes in her hands.
Oh no...
Before she could throw them, I dashed out of the room and shut the door behind me.
"IDIOT!" I heard her furious yell, followed by the loud thud of shoes slamming into the door.
I stood on the other side, trying to hold back my laughter.
"Maybe I went a little too far…" I thought.
But it was totally worth it.
A while later, Kaori came out to the garden, freshly bathed and fully dressed. I couldn't help but stare. She looked stunning—her damp hair and elegant outfit highlighting her natural beauty.
She noticed me looking and gave a soft cough to get my attention.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked in a neutral tone, though her cheeks still held a faint blush.
Still caught off guard, I awkwardly replied, "Y-yeah, of course..."
Before leaving, we approached the old man to let him know Kaori was taking me around Kyoto. He raised an eyebrow, surprised, then smiled and nodded.
"Alright, but be careful," he said, as if he knew something we didn't.
Once we stepped out of the temple, the city's cool air hit my face. It was stronger than I expected, and for some reason, I couldn't find the words to speak to Kaori. I felt a bit nervous after what I'd said earlier in the room.
Just when I was about to break the silence, she spoke first.
"How do I look?"
The question caught me off guard. I turned to look at her, and without thinking, the first words out of my mouth were:
"You look beautiful… like a rose created by God."
As soon as I said it, I felt the heat rise to my face. Why on Earth did I say that?
Kaori stayed silent for a second, then looked away. Her face flushed a deep red, as if those words had short-circuited her entire system. I also felt like I was about to faint from embarrassment.
After a moment, she cleared her throat and tried to act natural.
"L-let's go. I'll take you to a place I know well."
She guided me through the streets of Kyoto to a ramen restaurant. Apparently, it was a special place for her.
When we walked in, the staff greeted her warmly. A couple of girls came over with curious smiles and started speaking to her in Japanese.
"Kaori, how did things go at university?"
Though my Japanese wasn't perfect, I understood the question. Kaori responded calmly:
"Things went well. I'm staying here for a while."
The girls looked at us with even more interest, and I had a feeling this outing was about to get even more interesting.
They glanced at me with curiosity. In this part of Kyoto, there weren't many foreigners or tourists, so they didn't take long to start asking questions.
"Where are you from?" one of them asked with clear interest.
"I-I'm from—" Before I could answer, another question came.
"Are you dating Kaori?"
Just as I opened my mouth, Kaori jumped in without hesitation.
"Yes, we're on a date."
The girls were stunned—and so was I. I felt like my soul left my body for a moment, and the only thought in my mind was: God, are you calling me already?
Within seconds, I noticed it wasn't just the girls. Even the staff were staring at us in shock. I wondered if it was because Kaori rarely went out with anyone—or because it was unusual to see a local girl dating a foreigner.
I took a deep breath and tried to pull myself together before my brain shut down. Kaori, on the other hand, acted like she hadn't just dropped a bomb. She took my arm and led me to a table.
"Come on, let's eat."
Still processing everything, I sat down and looked at the menu. There were so many kinds of ramen, and just seeing all the options made my heart race with excitement. I'd always wanted to try authentic Japanese ramen.
"I'll have this one," I said, pointing at a dish.
"And I already know what I want too," she replied…
After we placed our orders, Kaori looked at me with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
"Sorry about earlier... I don't know why I said that."
I let out a small laugh and replied with an honest smile.
"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. Actually... I felt flattered. Not just because I'm a foreigner, but because this is my first date ever."
Kaori went quiet for a moment, then lowered her gaze slightly, hiding a faint smile.
"Then... what an honor, being your first date," she said with a teasing tone.
I just smiled and nodded. I hadn't planned for the day to turn out like this, but it was definitely becoming unforgettable.
When the ramen arrived, we made a traditional Japanese bow and said "Itadakimasu" before eating. The aroma of the hot broth and fresh ingredients made my mouth water. As soon as I took the first bite, I felt like my soul left my body for a second.
"This is amazing!" I thought, savoring each sip of the broth and the perfectly cooked noodles.
However, it didn't take long for me to notice something uncomfortable: several people were staring at me. I could feel the attention of everyone in the restaurant focusing on my every move. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the staff, some girls, the chef, and even his wife watching me with curiosity.
I started to feel nervous and a bit awkward. Just as I was about to mention it to Kaori, she spoke to me naturally, as if she had already noticed my discomfort.
"Don't worry, it's normal," she said with a smile while sipping her broth.
"Normal?" I asked, trying to ignore the feeling of being in the spotlight.
"Well, it's not common for a foreigner to come to a place like this. That's why everyone's so curious about you," she explained.
I took a breath and tried to relax. What she said made sense, even if it still felt strange. Is seeing a foreigner here really that rare?
Eventually, I got used to the stares and continued enjoying my ramen. Near the end of the meal, I decided to ask Kaori something that had been on my mind for a while.
"Kaori, why were people so surprised when you said we were on a date? Is it because they're not used to seeing foreigners here... or is there another reason?"
Kaori set her chopsticks down on the table and looked at me with a slight smile.
"Well... that's kind of an interesting story," she replied, leaning in a little closer.
"An interesting story? Can you tell me something about yourself?"
She stared at me for a moment, as if deciding what to say. Then, resting her elbows on the table, she looked at me with a playful expression.
"Alright... I'll tell you a bit. But after this, you have to tell me something about yourself too," she said with a teasing smile.
I nodded, intrigued by what I was about to hear.
Kaori paused for a moment, like she was clearly remembering every detail. Her expression changed, showing a mix of nostalgia and something deeper.
"I used to be a completely different girl," she continued. "I was the typical obedient daughter. I focused only on school, helped around the house, and never went out with friends. My grades were excellent, but my world revolved around studying and following my parents' rules."
I noticed a faint hint of melancholy in her eyes as she spoke.
"That was my life until I got into Kyoto University. I had been there for a year when I received an invitation to join a student exchange program. They wanted a group of students to go abroad and study for two years."
"And did you accept?" I asked, already drawn into her story.
"Yes, but first I talked to my parents. I explained it was a great opportunity. At first, they were hesitant, but they finally agreed. I signed up... and that's when I saw my chance to get some distance from them."
I was a bit surprised.
"So, you lived abroad for two years?"
"I did," she said with a small smile. "At first, it was overwhelming. Everything was different—language, culture, food... but at the same time, I felt something I had never felt before."
"What was that?"
Kaori glanced out the restaurant window, watching the people passing by on the streets of Kyoto.
"Freedom. For the first time in my life, my parents weren't there to control every aspect of my day. I could make my own choices."
"That must've been exciting."
"It was. I made new friends—at first, only girls. But... there was one person in particular who completely changed me."
My heart skipped a beat at her words.
"Someone special?"
Kaori looked at me intently, her expression hard to read.
"Yes. And that person..." She paused, as if deciding whether or not to continue. "Well, that's another story."
A strange feeling stirred in my chest—a mix of curiosity and something I couldn't quite define. Who was that person? What had they done to change Kaori so deeply?
"That's not fair," I said with a smile. "You said you'd tell me about yourself."
Kaori laughed softly.
"Sorry, but some things are better left a mystery—for now."
As much as I wanted to know more, I chose not to press her. There was something in her eyes that told me that story carried more weight than she let on.
"Alright," I said. "Then I guess it's my turn now, huh?"
Kaori nodded, resting her chin on her hand with a curious smile.
"That's right, Leo. Now it's your turn. Surprise me."
I took a deep breath and got ready to share my story.
Kaori listened attentively, her eyes fixed on me as I began to unravel my past.
"I was born without knowing my biological father. My maternal grandparents were the ones who raised me and gave me all the love I could ever need. My mom was always absent—working and studying at the same time. It was my grandparents who took care of me, who taught me the most important values and life lessons. I remember my grandmother used to say, 'When you find the perfect girl, take care of her, protect her, and be willing to give your life for her.'"
I paused, letting her words hang in the air for a moment.
"My childhood was... neutral, I'd say. I spent six years in elementary school, and while it wasn't all bad, it wasn't easy either. I was bullied because of how I looked. Back then, I didn't look like I do now. Getting through a year without being hurt was almost a miracle, but I always tried to stay strong."
Kaori nodded, showing empathy.
"I met a few people back then, but I never considered them real friends. There was a lot of resentment, and they always seemed to be mad at me for things I hadn't even done. Middle school was like an endless loop, the same story repeating itself... until the pandemic hit."
I sighed, remembering those dark days.
"Quarantine made me reflect on everything I'd been through. There were dark moments, very negative thoughts about giving up on everything. But after dealing with those feelings, I decided to move forward—though it left some scars."
"It's normal to have hard times," Kaori said softly. "What matters is how you choose to face them."
I smiled softly, grateful for her understanding.
"When I got to university, it felt like a rebirth. I met people who truly became friends, and my second year has been the best so far. That was when I met someone special—someone who made me feel something I never thought I'd experience: love."
Kaori raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"And how did that happen?"
The smile on my face appeared without me even realizing.
"It was a slow process. At first, I didn't really know how to handle those feelings. But with each interaction, each conversation, I began to realize there was something more than just friendship."
Kaori seemed genuinely interested, so I continued.
"The little things we shared, the laughter, the moments of connection... everything felt so natural, like I had finally found a place where I belonged."
"And do you still feel that way?" Kaori asked, a sparkle in her eyes.
"Yes, I think I do. Every day, those feelings grow stronger. And here I am, enjoying my first date, in a beautiful place like Kyoto, with someone as special as you."
She blushed slightly but kept a warm smile on her face.
"I'm happy to hear that, Leo. We all have complicated stories, but what really matters is moving forward and finding happiness."
I realized how lucky I was to share this with her—to open up and be vulnerable in a moment that felt so perfect. It was a small step, but I felt like we were connecting on a deeper level.
"Yes, definitely," I replied. "I hope this is just the beginning of many more stories we'll share together."
Kaori smiled, and for a moment, the world around us faded away, leaving just the two of us in our little corner of Kyoto—enjoying the food, the company, and the promise of what was to come.
We left the restaurant, thanking the staff with a sincere "arigato" as a sign of respect. Kaori smiled at me and said she knew a beautiful park near a river. I eagerly agreed, and she took my hand firmly, as if she didn't want to let go. The feeling of her hand in mine filled me with nervous excitement and happiness.
As we walked along the sidewalk, enjoying the Kyoto scenery, I noticed how the sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It was a perfect moment—but I got distracted when Kaori, glancing to the side, spotted some friends from her old university.
"Hey!" she called out, letting go of my hand just for a second to greet them excitedly.
The joy in her voice was contagious, and I joined her in saying hello. Kaori's friends were a group of cheerful girls who quickly noticed the new face among them. One of them, with a curious spark in her eyes, asked if we were on a date.
"Yes, we're on a date," Kaori answered with a bright smile.
The group was surprised, and their excitement grew when the same girl asked where I was from.
"I'm from North America, hehe," I answered proudly.
The surprised looks multiplied, and I could see how the idea of a foreigner being in their little corner of the world fascinated them.
"That's amazing!" said another girl. "What brings you to Kyoto?"
"I'm here to learn and train," I replied, feeling a bit more confident with each word. "And also to discover beautiful places—like this one."
Kaori looked at me with approval, and that gave me even more confidence. The girls began asking me questions—about myself, about my culture, and about food—and I enjoyed sharing interesting bits while Kaori laughed and joined the conversation.
After a while, we said goodbye to her friends and continued on our way to the park. As we walked, the conversation flowed effortlessly, and I realized that every moment we shared was building a deeper connection between us.
Eventually, we reached the park, where the gentle sound of the river created a calm melody. We paused to take in the view, surrounded by blooming cherry trees that gave the place a magical atmosphere. Kaori turned to me with a smile.
"What do you think?" she asked, gesturing toward the scenery.
"It's beautiful—almost like a dream," I replied, unable to take my eyes off her.
"I'm glad you like it. This place has always been special to me."
"Do you have a favorite memory here?" I asked, curious to learn more about her life.
"Yes, lots. I come here often to clear my mind. It's a place where I can feel free," she said, gazing toward the river.
We both stayed quiet for a moment, simply enjoying the peacefulness arou