Unlike yesterday, Chii, Hana and our adorable juniors rode the sa bus as Nami and the others.
Clearly, they did that to prevent from juggling myself again or perhaps to stop from overthinking. They wanted to just focus on what I planned for today. Taking Aya ho.
Her birthday should be tomorrow but considering her family's plan, I moved our date tonight.
Well, it's not exactly a date but more like an extension of our day together.
After we sent off Satsuki, Rae, Mio, and Kana on the sa bus, we walked in the direction of her ho, passing by various neighborhoods and shopping districts.
We had a short bookstore date where I helped her browse those newly released light novels with absurdly long titles. We laughed at the synopsis and skimd through those few we found interesting.
In the end, I bought both of us a copy of that interesting light novel. It wasn't romance or anything, just high fantasy with a female protagonist. The plot revolved around her waking up after an indeterminable ti in an old castle and finding out that the world as she knew it had changed drastically, with magic now a fading myth and technology ruling the land.
Aya's eyes sparkled as she clutched the book to her chest, already theorizing about the protagonist's journey, her soft voice weaving possibilities that made want to read it just to keep up with her and not simply hear the summary from her.
After the bookstore, we grabbed so ice cream from a small parlor selling homade ice cream nearby, the kind with mismatched chairs and a chalkboard nu. Good thing it was still open at night.
Aya picked mint chocolate chip while I went with cookies and cream. We sat by the window, our knees brushing under the tiny table, and traded spoonfuls while she rambled about her favorite fantasy tropes. Her shy deanor lted away when she talked about stories. The way her hands gestured animatedly, along with a smile so bright it could've lit up the whole shop, made listen attentively.
"Ruki, do you think the protagonist will find the lost magic?" She asked, her spoon hovering mid-air, a drip of green ice cream threatening to fall from it.
I leaned forward, catching the drip with a napkin before it could hit her skirt. "Knowing you, you're probably hoping she does. But I bet there's a twist. Like, maybe the magic that she knew was only sealed to prevent a catastrophe. For example, it was inside her all along and she was sealed away to let it be forgotten, pushing civilization to another path."
Her eyes widened, and she nodded eagerly. "That would be so good! She's the Magic Progenitor. Or sothing like that, but she had forgotten! Then we'd get to see tidbits of her past mories as she traveled the land. Oh, I can't wait to read it!"
I chuckled, resting my chin on my hand as I watched her. Aya's enthusiasm was infectious, and monts like this – simple, unguarded and just the two of us – felt like a gift. "You'll have to tell all about it when you finish. No spoilers, though. I'm going to read it too, rember?"
She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "No spoilers, I promise. But you better read fast, Ruki, or I might accidentally blurt sothing out! I an… I love sharing these stories with you."
"Mhm. Remind about it every night. I'll read at least twenty pages before closing my eyes to sleep."
"Eh? That's not good! You don't have to push yourself like that."
"Believe , I won't. It's just… you know. I always tend to do a lot of things. Reminding is just so I can hear your voice before reading it."
Aya blushed upon hearing that. She then scooped a spoonful of her ice cream and shoved it into my mouth, "You're bad, Ruki. Making blush like this. But okay. I'll remind you every night. I also like to hear your voice before going to sleep."
Mhm. This girl's cuteness is unmatched. I'm really glad I didn't set her aside because of my desire.
A few minutes later, we finished our ice cream, the parlor's bell jingling as we stepped back into the evening air.
The sky had deepened to a soft indigo, streetlights flickering on as we continued our walk. Aya's hand found mine, her fingers slipping into place like they belonged there, and I gave her a gentle squeeze, feeling the warmth of her palm against mine.
"Ruki," She said after a few quiet steps. Her voice sounded softer and almost hesitant.
"Thank you for… for today. For spending it with . I know you're always so busy, with everyone, and… I just… it ans a lot."
I stopped walking and turned to face her under the glow of a streetlamp. Her eyes were big and earnest, her hair catching the light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. "Aya, you don't have to thank . I'm here because I want to be. You're special to , you know that. And tomorrow's your birthday. I'm not letting anyone steal this ti with you. If it's only possible, I'll stay with you until midnight just so I can greet you right at the first second."
Her cheeks flushed red as the girl threw herself into my chest, her fingers tightening around mine. "You're too good to , Ruki. I'm already so happy to be… loved by you. And you keep proving how much you do. Sotis I wonder… how you do it. Make everyone feel so… seen. Like we're all important to you."
I reached out, lifting her face and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with my fingers lingering against her cheek. "Because you are important, Aya. Every single one of you. And you… you've got this quiet strength that pulls in. The way you light up over a good story, or how you're always there for everyone, even when you're shy. I see you, and I'm not going anywhere."
She looked up, her eyes shimring with unshed tears, but her smile was radiant. "Ruki… you're gonna make cry before my birthday even starts."
I laughed, pulling her into a gentle hug, her head resting against my chest. "No crying yet. We've got a whole evening to go. Co on, let's get you ho. I've got a surprise waiting."
Her head tilted up, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "A surprise? Ruki, what is it?"
"Nope, not telling," I said, tapping her nose lightly. "You'll see when we get there. Patience, my adorable bookworm."
She pouted but didn't press. Her hand continued squeezing mine as we resud walking.
The streets grew quieter as we neared her neighborhood, the bustle of the shopping district giving way to tree-lined sidewalks and cozy houses. Aya's steps beca lighter. Her earlier hesitation was replaced by a quiet excitent that made my chest swell with affection.
When we reached her house, the porch light was on, casting a warm glow over the neatly trimd hedges and the small garden her mother possibly tended.
This was supposed to be where we would separate, but before I sent her inside, I pulled out a box from my bag, small enough to fit in my palm but wrapped with care in soft blue paper and tied with a delicate silver ribbon. Aya's eyes widened, her lips parting in a soft gasp as she caught sight of it.
"Ruki… is this…?" She trailed off, her fingers hovering over the box as if she wasn't sure she was allowed to touch it.
"Your birthday surprise," I said, my voice warm but teasing as I placed the box in her hands. "Go on, open it. I know it's not midnight yet, but it would be too late to give you tomorrow, right?"
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip, her fingers trembling slightly as she carefully untied the ribbon.
The paper crinkled softly as she peeled it away, revealing a small, velvet-lined box. She glanced up at , her eyes searching mine for a mont before she lifted the lid.
Inside was a delicate silver bookmark, shaped like a crescent moon with a tiny star dangling from its tip. The star was engraved with a single word: Dream. It was simple but elegant, sothing I'd picked out after hours of searching, knowing how much Aya loved her books and the worlds she escaped into.
"Ruki…" Her voice was barely above a whisper, her fingers brushing over the bookmark as if it were sothing fragile, precious. "It's beautiful. Dream… did you choose this because…?"
"Because you're always dreaming, Aya," I said, stepping closer and resting a hand on her shoulder. "In your books, in your stories, in the way you see the world. I wanted sothing that'd remind you of that, sothing you can carry with you every ti you open a new book."
She clutched the bookmark to her chest. Her smile wobbled slightly as she fought back tears from coming out. "You… you're too much, Ruki. This is perfect. I love it. I love… I love you."
The words spilled out filled with her affection and I couldn't help but feel my own heart skip at how beautiful she looked.
Aya's confessions were always like this. Quiet but powerful, like a single note that resonates long after it's played. I reached out, cupping her face gently as my thumb brushed away a stray tear that had escaped.
"I love you too, Aya," I said as I leaned down, planting my lips on hers. "Happy early birthday, my favorite bookworm."
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