Chapter 2

The ground is almost thick with snow, aside from the salted sidewalks and roads.

Bundled in his father’s winter coat and scarves, Kenji is making his way to a cafe to see Haruko.

It’s winter break, and Kenji’s body aches to be near Haruko’s radiant warmth as the days get colder.

He pulls the front doors of the cafe towards him, beating the snow-mush and dampness from his boots against the welcome carpet.

Kenji’s eyes read the aisle of booths. It’s empty aside from Haruko, who’s sitting at the end of the cafe nearest to the window.

Instead of sitting across from her as he usually does, he seats himself next to her.

The tip of her nose is more red than usual.

Haruko grabs Kenji’s hand and places it on her warm cheek. He can’t tell what’s warmer, her hand or her hazel eyes burning into his pupils.

A simple ‘hello’ from Haruko was enough to make Kenji want to lean into her lips, but he mustn't be presumptuous.

Nine months and twelve days have passed since they’ve been officially dating, and they’ve never once kissed.

Kenji remembers an earlier conversation where Haruko recalled her favorite moment from a romance film where the male lead pulled the heroine in for a kiss.

In Haruko’s words, ‘her heart went kaboom!’

Thinking about her soft voice imitating the word ‘kaboom’ made Kenji giggle silently inside to himself.

But Kenji can’t kiss her until he proves himself worthy enough for her affection.

Today, he has decided, will be his first and only trial to show his worth to her.

He removes his hand from Haruko’s cheek and takes her hand.

Just as rehearsed, he will make Haruko fall in love with him.

His eyes fret across the cafe, unable to settle on one spot as he tries to gather his confidence.

After declaring to Haruko that he had a special announcement, he forced his lips to move, professing: ‘to live without you would be torture.’

“Aww.”

Haruko sounds sincere, but she’s just being nice.

Kenji tries again, this time slicking his hair as he professes: ‘I’d give up all ages of this world to spend a lifetime with you.’

“I would too.”

Haruko sounds sincere, but she’s just being nice.

Kenji tries again, his shoulders stiff as he leans deeper into his chair, professing ‘this world is crap, but I’m willing to go through some diapers for you.’

“Fufufu…”

Haruko is laughing at Kenji.

“That was so corny– I love you…”

Haruko loves Kenji.

He laughs with Haruko, the weight clinging to his shoulders since this morning seeming to dissipate.

Haruko spots a pocket-journal that sits between the two as she wipes the tear marks off her blushing cheeks. Kenji feels his heart drop into his stomach when he notices her grabbing it.

She opens it carefully, her eyes thoughtfully scanning each page before turning to the next.

*fleck* *fleck*

His body twitches, aching to reach for the journal, but he doesn’t want to seem improper to Haruko. So instead, he explains the journal is for writing words that he feels encapsulates a person.

“Hnn, every page is about me?”

Haruko thinks Kenji is a creep.

Kenji can’t look at Haruko, so he lowers his head instead, his eyes tracing the seams of his gray sweatpants.

Haruko’s arms fold around Kenji’s neck as she digs her head onto his shoulder.

Kenji is confused, but he can’t help but enjoy the sensation of her breathing on his neck, so he wraps his arms around her hips to hold her closer.

Unfortunately, the evil barista intercepts the moment, wanting to take their orders.

Kenji doesn’t drink coffee, but was willing to make exceptions after Haruko ordered a latte.

When the barista returns with the drinks, Haruko asks to borrow their ballpoint pen they used to take their order. The barista obliges

“Can I write some words about you?”

Kenji nods, anxiousness plaguing him inside.

Haruko opens a new page in the journal, using her body to cover her writing from Kenji.

After a few minutes of silence seemingly strung out to Kenji, she closes the journal and hands it to Kenji.

Kenji’s mind is racing, bracing itself for sweet-nothings that she doesn’t really mean.

He opens the journal and flips to the latest page, it reads:

Kenji

Love

Sincerity

Presence

Unparalleled

Smile

Caring

Smell

Ears

Nose

Chin

Eyes…

The rest of the bullet points on the next few pages list every other biological feature he has.

Kenji isn’t certain whether to be impressed or to laugh, so his cheeks shade redder than Haruko’s nose instead.

Kenji loves Haruko, and Haruko loves Kenji.

She pulls a small box in red wrapping from her jacket.

“Can I give this to your parents? I’d like to get to know your dad before the holidays!”

If Haruko wants to give a present to Kenji’s parents, that means she must come to his home.

She mustn't come to Kenji’s home.

“Yes! Thank you, Kenji!”