— should she say it, it's technically their first date —

To hell with caution, she's literally almost died if not for this boy. And she could again, if they end up pulled into a situation with Futaba...

"... And I love you for it," she says very quietly. Her fingers squeeze gently against Ryuji's. "... I hope that's okay."

Ryuji's mouth drops open in a wide, blushy grin. 

He apparently forgets to say anything for a long moment.

"Yeah. That's definitely alright. I love you too."

And then he leans across to kiss her.

She leans in, and kisses him back. 

What a good boy. What a good Ryuji.

"Wow," he breathes when he leans back down. 

"Yeah," Akira says softly as she takes her own seat. "... what a day."

"Pretty damned great day."

He squeezes her hand again.

She squeezes back. "Yeah." She runs her free hand through her hair and fidgets with it a little.

"... Do you know, like, a park or somewhere we could go to just... spend some time together? I'm almost done my burger but I don't want the date to be over."

"We could head out to Inokashira park?"

"I've never heard of it before, but I'd love to see it. Let's finish up here and go."

He pops the last of his burger into his mouth, stacks the trays, and starts collecting the trash.

Akira takes her last few bites and passes Ryuji her wrappers. "Thanks a lot," she says.

"Mhm!" He nods, gathers everything up, and carries it off to the trash can.

A moment later he's back, grinning and offering Akira a hand up.

She takes it, and off they go.

Forty minutes later, they're getting off the train and walking into the park. It's a sunny day, flowers are blooming, and birds are chirping.

And Akira is hand in hand with her boyfriend who she loves. 

She's so lucky. 

"Let's find a bench to sit together," she says. "You can show me around, too." 

"Sure!" He grins and leads the way. There are ponds, tree-lined paths, and plenty of benches. He picks out one that's out of the way, with a nice view of the water. Out on the water, there's a fountain spraying water and catching the light.

"Tada!"

"It's beautiful."

She sits, and pats the seat next to her.

"I don't know if there's much more to say. But I want to sit with you, and just... share the moment, a little." 

Ryuji sits down next to Akira, wraps an arm around her shoulder, and kisses her cheek.

"Yeah, I get that."

Akira flushes at the unexpected kiss. "I - yeah." 

She lays her head on Ryuji's shoulder again, and looks out over the pond. The water ripples gently, in so many small shimmering waves. She can see the droplets as they fall from the fountain in smooth arcs. Out on the water, a few ducks are bobbing on the lake. 

Ryuji is so solid against her. So real. 

She stays.

Ryuji stays right there with her, holding her close and watching the water. It's peaceful. Soothing. Restorative in a way neither of them has had in a long time.

Akira closes her eyes and drifts.

She can still hear the water fall into the pond, feel the steady warmth of Ryuji beneath her. The breeze stirs her hair. Her body feels light. 

She presses her face into Ryuji's shoulder and fills her senses with him. He smells... a little like a tree, actually. It's nice.

"Love you," she murmurs.

He sighs fondly and holds her close, stroking her shoulder gently. "Love you too," he replies.

Akira settles in against him and daydreams, head against his shoulder, her breath slow and even. 

The clouds scud across the sky. Ducks take off and land on the pond, and people pass in ones and twos, paying them no mind. Warmth settles in her chest, a feeling of deep satisfaction. 

She has Ryuji. She has him and she won't let go. 

Something unclenches, just a little. Some piece of tension she'd been holding for years. 

Someone loves her. 

Ryuji won't let go of her either.

He holds her and smiles and strokes her back.

They can just rest here, basking in each other's presence, slowly relaxing.

The sun slowly starts to descend in the sky. 

The breeze is colder now. Less comfortable. 

The moment can't last forever. 

Akira sits up.

She takes Ryuji's hand, and squeezes it one laat time. 

"... thank you," she says. "For everything. I — I'm going to head back home, now. It's been so good to be with you. I don't want to go. But..." 

She looks out at the park. "There'll be time," she says. "We'll find a way."