POV: Saiki Kusuo
T: Saiki! Let's hang out!
...
S: Why?
T: What do you mean why?
S: You haven't asked me out in a while.
T: Well you're the one who keeps bringing me to places, like Okinawa and SPACE.
S: And who's the one who's been hinting me to go there every time?
T: Anyways, remember that place that has the photo booths?
She changed the topic of the conversation.
S: Yeah?
T: Let's have a normal hangout there.
S: Why there? And why do you only remember the photo boo-
T: See you!
She left quite hurriedly. This is very suspicious.
At the centre of the town,
T: Let's go!
S: This is the most enthusiastic you've been going somewhere.
T: Of course! This is my planned date after all.
S: I guess it is. So where do you want to go? Karaoke?
T: Tisk tisk tisk, naive Kusuo.
S: Naive?
T: We're not going to karaoke, we're going bowling!
S:...What? Why do you want to go bowli-
T: Let's go!
She's ignoring me again.
At the bowling alley,
T: Alright! I'm ready!
She even brought bowling gloves. She is really into this.
T: Can I go first?
S: Go ahead.
I look to Kokomi slowly walking to the bowling ball, lifting it easily with both hands. I just realised that Kokomi is pretty strong and I don't know why it's a big revelation for me.
As she approaches the bowling lane, her eyes instantly changed. It was as if her concentration possessed her. Her shoulders are squared, her back and arm straight and near her body, knee bent, and slid through the alley. She somehow made a tap.
T: Ah! So close!
She turned to me and realised that I was watching her the entire time.
T: I mean, I somehow landed a good one.
She is very bad at pretending.
The game was way more intense than needed to be. If it wasn't for Kokomi missing a tap, it would've been a tie. I didn't want to score strikes the entire time cause it'll attract attention, but it doesn't help that Kokomi was landing strikes half of the game. She didn't even use the same technique the whole time either, she alternated between a straight hook and backup you would think she's practicing for a tournament.
T: Phuh, that was actually pretty close.
S: A bit too close.
T: What's wrong? You don't like that I'm putting up a good fight?
It's actually kind of cute when she's smug with me.
S: No, it's just that I didn't expect to work so hard at bowling.
T: You could've just let me win.
S: Even I can be competitive.
T: I see, good to know. Welp, that's just the first thing in our list.
S: What?
Why do I feel today is going to be very tiresome.
We played ping pong.
T: That was fun! But it's odd that sometimes I can't even go pass you, it was like playing against a wall.
S: I had to. You were attacking me non stop.
We threw darts.
T: Darn, I almost got the win.
I sighed in fatigue.
T: Don't you think throwing a dart at another dart on the bull's-eye is a bit too much?
S: I might have went overboard.
We even played a fighting game at the arcade.
T: How did you managed to sneak in a few hits every time?
S: You say that while trying to land the longest combos known to man.
POV: Teruhashi Kokomi
Alright, I got him on the ropes for the 4th time. But I'm not done yet, I planned loads more stuff for us to do. When I turned to Saiki, I see him leaning on the bench. His head was resting on the head of the bench, looking up at the ceiling.
T: Kusuo, are you alright?
S: I'm fine.
He raised his head to look at me.
S: But what are you planning?
T: Wha-What do you mean?
S: Kokomi.
She sighed and finally decided to tell me.
T: Fine, I'll tell you. Remember our last date here?
S: Yeah?
T: Then do you remember beating me at every single game we just played at that time?
S: I do.
T: Then that lead me to my plan, The Revenge Date!
S: The revenge date?
T: The revenge date! A date to avenge the almost perfect date from last the last time we were here.
That date was almost perfect?
S: Kokomi.
T: What is it?
S: You don't want to go to the photo booth?
T: Sure. But I still have more things planned for us today.
S: Do you even want to do everything you planned for?
T: ...Of course, I planned all of it.
It's not helping her that she hesitated for a moment.
S: Even for a perfect girl like you, everything you did today for the sake of challenging me wasn't from natural talent.
T: Don't worry so much, I'm having fun too right now.
S: Kokomi, sit with me for a moment.
T: Uhm, sure.
When she sat down, she finally looked relaxed.
S: For a "normal date", you seem a bit tense.
T: Well, I did have a lot planned, so...
She kept going but I didn't pay attention. Its because I know she's just making excuses.
S: Kokomi.
T: What is it?
S: Do you think this is how I usually have fun?
I drove her speechless. I can't blame her for taking it the wrong way, I couldn't find any other way to word it.
S: Kokomi, what's the actual reason you brought me here?
I gave her time for her to finally open up to me.
T: You know, we've been dating for almost a year now, and I tried all I can to brighten you up. But lately, you've been doing more for me than I've done for you.
She hesitated to continue, but she knows I wont be satisfied if she stopped now.
T: Nowadays, sometimes I think what your brother told me might actually be true.
T: That I might actually not be good enough for you.
POV: Teruhashi Kokomi
I know he keeps reassuring me every time, but it can't stop me for thinking that I'm not worthy to be of equal footing with Kusuo.
Kusuo just looked at me, and merely sighed.
S: Good grief, so that's what this is about.
T: Kusuo?
S: To be honest, I should take the blame for this.
T: Why?
S: The things you see as miraculous is normal for me. So it's not that the things you do aren't helping me, its just that Ive been desensitized from many things in life because of my powers.
I'm used to Kusuo's bluntness and logical reasoning, but honesty doesn't usually align with comfort.
S: But for a proud girl like you Kokomi, you underestimate what you do for me.
T: I do?
S: I always knew you doing your best won't be as extravagant as what I do. But you doing things for me isn't the main reason for my happiness.
S: You being here for me is already enough to make me happy.
T: Wha?!
POV: Saiki Kusuo
For Kokomi's sake, I really need to work on talking about positive things. I looked to Kokomi, and she is really blushing red. Its been a while since I saw steam emitting from the top of her head.
T: Do you...
S: Hm?
T: Do you really think so?
POV: Teruhashi Kokomi
I don't know why I'm so embarrassed hearing him say that. No clue how I'm still not used to him saying these things. I glanced to Kusuo, looking ahead, seemingly satisfied that he got to say what was on his mind.
T: Do you...
S: Hm?
T: Do you really think so?
Kusuo just froze, staring at me for a while. After a few seconds he hurriedly changed the subject.
S: Anyways? Do you finally want to go the booth?
T: Uhm, sure. Wait, hold on.
S: What is it?
T: Were you..in awe of me just now?
S: Sure sure.
T: Don't brush it off, you were speechless from my beauty.
S: Just get in.
Kusuo forcibly changed the topic when we arrived at the photo booth.
T: You can say those kind of things you know. You should be more open with your feelings. It would really improve our relationship.
When I was talking, Kusuo was starting up the photo booth to take a photo. Just before the photo was about to be taken, Kusuo held both of my hands.
T: Kusuo?!
S: You want me to be more open with my feelings right?
T:...I did say that.
My voice got softer because I got shy.
S: Then you're right. Your blushed face and teary eyes were the cutest things I have ever seen.
T: Ehh?!!!
I told him to be more open, but I didnt expect him to do it so soon!
Snap!
The sound of the picture being taken interrupted our moment. When the photo popped up from the photo booth, I saw my face that blushed red from what Kusuo said.
T: Did you make me flustered on purpose?.
Kusuo, looked away from me, his body started slightly shaking. Is he laughing?
T: You meanie! Taking advantage of my feelings like that!
When I was hitting Kusuo out of embarrassment, I managed to sneak a peek at Kusuo's face. He was laughing. This was the first time I see Kusuo expressing so much joy aside from his usual affectionate smile. I felt like the first person in the world to see it, and the only thing that kept anyone else from seeing it is just a shabby photo curtain.
When we exited the photo booth, Kusuo picked up the photo strip and I immediately took it from him.
T: That's for playing with my feelings.
S: At least give me one photo.
T: Fine, but only one.
Kusuo didn't hesitate to take the photo of me blushing and walked away. He still wont admit he made me blush on purpose. Good grief, what am I going to do with him Oh well, at least I got what I wanted.
I looked to the one and only photo that had Kusuo laughing.