I just finished my Japanese lesson, and am contently walking through the cold, university corridors, where there's nobody around at this time, to the diner. Everybody is either on a lunch break, or having a very boring seminary in the other building. I'm about to join Yuki, who's probably waiting for me near the lockers.
She's nowhere to be found, and just as I realise she's probably not waiting for me anywhere, I spot her already inside, recklessly eating with Aito, without me.
As I enter the school diner, another mysterious smell overwhelms my nose trills, which has already been disgusted today by a group of boys that have PE in the mornings. I walk through the light room, the sound of me tapping across the smooth floor merging with so many other sounds. I take my lunch, recognizing where the mysterious smell was coming from, carrying an orange tray over to where Yuki and Aito sit. As I keep walking towards a gray table, Aito, who most likely didn't notice me, suddenly stands up to leave.
"Love you" I hear him simpering and laughing as he leaves the dining table with a tray full of empty dishes.
I form a slight frown on my face, and observe one of the few blonde people here leave, his shoes leading him to the loud corridor of our international university. Suspiciousness begins to rise inside of me, some sort of excitement encouraging me to find out more.
"What was that about?" I inquire, sitting down beside Yuki on a long, white bench.
Her head twitches towards me in surprise as she didn't see me coming as well as Aito.
"Gosh, you scared me!" Yuki gasps loudly, a few people from this crowded place turning their heads on us. "It's nothing, he just likes to tease me like that" She waves her hand, but it's much more serious. I deduce they must've come here together, since Yuki would wait on me otherwise. Normally, it wouldn't mean anything, but lately, Yuki and Aito are getting way too close, even if it means just coming to this unromantic, cold diner together more often, to get their lunch. Yuki just glances at him differently, and Aito, he's been watching her with the same gaze, which I now realise looks way too loving. Therefore I can't help myself, but say my thoughts out loud, only to see if Yuki confirms.
"Well, I'm not surprised. You seem to observe him with affection lately" I say, trying to act as nonchalant as I can, but my inner spy is observing her every movement.
"What?! No!" She blurts. The same people as before look over at us, as if we were being the only loud people here, amongst all the people with steel forks, scratching the plates.
"And what about those teasing notes from Aito, huh?"
After a short pause of shock from the previous question of mine, Yuki answers, "Those are normal. He's been doing it for some time now" she says.
"Really?" I say, my mouth full of bland tasting rice. "I never registered it. So why is he doing it?" I mumble, a small grain of rice falls from my mouth as I speak, white rice contrasting with the orange curry.
"It's a long story"
"I'm willing to skip my next lesson for it" I state, not even sure if I'm kidding or I would actually do it. I don't take my eyes off of her, and put some of the tasty curry into my mouth. I wonder what story is connected to this.
"He likes me" She finally says after a while of hesitating.
"Huh?" I stop, look of surprise on my impolite face. "For how long?"
"Since I could talk. We used to be neighbours back in Kyoto" Yuki says, even adding context.
"That's so long…" I say with astonishment, almost not wanting to believe her.
"Yeah, I thought he already moved on, but lately he's been starting with this teasing again" Yuki says, eating the last spoon of her curry, observing an uncertain spot on the white wall.
"You don't seem to mind though-" She doesn't even let me finish.
"Shut up!" Yuki narrows her eyes, stabbing me with her glance. "Anyways, Nikko, what are you up to today?" Yuki says, and it's enough for me to forget the previous topic in one second. Am I really that dumb to let the topic change so easily, or is it my love hormones' fault?
"I'm picnicking with Hoshi!" I utter with excitement, a cute smile on my face.
"Ew, I'm gonna have to get used to you guys" Yuki mutters. The crowd is slowly disappearing from here, as the next lesson is about to begin. "But I'm glad you're happy at least, right?" She said, her tone suddenly more serious, as if she wasn't sure if I was doing well with her brother. A hunted look flashes in her face for a millisecond.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I ask curiously, yet carefully.
"It's nothing, you just seemed a little nervous around him"
"You know how I am" I chuckle, assuring her I'm alright. "I just need to get used to him"
"Un" Yuki nods, a soft smile replacing her worry.
We walk across the grey diner, our shoes tapping on the cold floor. We're carrying orange trays, our plates empty, and our stomachs full, full of pleasantly made curry.
Later that day, right after school, I came home just for a while. My apartment was filled with bright sunshine, making me smile the moment I entered. My white walls were shining, adding so much light and warmth in there, the air so fresh that I wouldn't even mind having the picnic inside. But the spot under a bloomed sakura we chose is probably still better.
Anyways since the last days of April are warm and flowery, I was looking forward to wearing a plain, white shirt with modern, black ribbons on their sleeves, and my flowy black pants, to let myself be the canvas for the colours of nature. So to this I put on some basic glasses, enhancing my outfit just to the point where it's still simple, yet really pretty.
I grab a few fruits, some sweets for my sweet-tooth Hoshi, refreshing drinks, also my pajamas, and pack them into my black shoulder bag, leaving my, at the moment heavenly, apartment.
Hoshi, who's obsessed with being sharp on time, is already waiting for me on a wooden bench in the city park. His brown eyes light up when he sees me, his lips forming a beautiful, wide smile, typical for him.
"Hi Hoshi" I greet him with a joyful tone.
"Hey" He greets back, keeping on the loving smile, which makes me rethink which one of us is actually the more excited one.
The dress code was obvious - shirt and pants. Hoshi's styled in a specific, beige colour, this hue perfectly contrasting with his soft, black hair and the neat coffee eyes of his. We walk towards the spot under a great cherry blossom that we chose last time, sitting on a blue picnic blanket.
We spread our snacks on the blanket, happily starting a conversation about our plans for tonight.
"Did you remember to take your pajamas?" Hoshi chuckles. Taking out a sweet, strawberry cake from his white bag.
"Of course I did! I can't wait to see Nelson again!" I exclaim softly. Taking out a fresh pack of strawberries, Hoshi's favourite fruit. He cutely smiles at me, grateful that I remember what he likes the most. I slightly blush, and shortly after Hoshi takes out my favourites - raspberries. I returned him a warm smile. He also remembers.
"I think he's gonna be happy to see you too. I swear that everytime I say your name he catches this hyperactive energy"
I don't answer, instead I observe him, just enjoying his good mood, and the satisfied expression on his face, when his full lips clench a red strawberry. And so we keep silent for a while, both enjoying a real moment of calmness.
Warm breeze occasionally makes the fabric of our clothes flutter, pink rain of petals covering our light heads. The sweet, and natural flower fragrance in the air indicates that the spring is in full bloom, and the small birds singing above our heads make the best concert for everybody who's also enjoying their bold, yet timid interactions.
It's lovely to experience a moment of peace in my head.