Asahi-kun has been acting nervous all day. Well, more
nervous than usual, fidgeting in his seat and casting glances at you and
blushing for no apparent reason. You have to stifle a giggle when the teacher
asks if he has to go to the bathroom and he turns a deep crimson as he shakes
his head no. When the bell for the end of class finally rings he’s up on his
feet and out the door in a flash.
“What’s up with him?” your friend asks as you shoulder your
backpack.
Normally you would say he was just eager to get to
volleyball practice, there is a big game coming up after all, but his behavior
doesn’t seem to match that. He was definitely affected by you for some reason.
It’s true the two of you have been sort of dancing around one another lately,
your acquaintanceship moving to friendship through after school study sessions
and more recently you’ve been getting the impression that he may like you.
Which thrills you to the core because you really, really like him, but you’re
way too nervous to say anything.
When you reach the exit gates of the school you’re surprised
to see Noya-san holding onto Asahi-kun’s shirt in clear effort to get him to
stay put. The sight makes you giggle as you call out, “Hey guys, what’s going
on?”
Asahi-kun freezes, his eyes widening at your sudden
appearance. Apparently he and Noya-san are in the middle of an argument because
the short libero hisses, “Do it now!” When the ace shakes his head his pint
size friend smacks his arm. “Be a man, or so help me I’ll do it for you, you
big chicken.” Satisfied that his threat carries enough weight on its own,
Noya-san waves to you before jogging back towards the gym.
“Aren’t you going to practice, Asahi-kun?” you ask, unsure
what’s going on with your friend.
“Um, yeah,” he says haltingly scratching the back of his
head, “I, uh, I just wanted to…” he stops, closing his eyes and taking a deep
breath. When he opens then again he meets your gaze and says in a rush,
“Areyoubusyfridaynight?”
“What?” you ask, unable to make out the jumbled sentence.
Rubbing his head he tries again, this time with a deep blush
on his cheeks. “Are…are you busy this Friday night?”
“No, why?”
He looks to the side, mumbling out, “I, uh, was wondering if
you’d like to go to this new little café I found near my house. It’s nothing
big, or anything, just a cool place…I…I thought you’d like it.” He ends his
invitation by finally meeting your eyes again.
You smile and nod. “I’d love to Asahi-kun, should I meet you
there?”
“Um, no, I’ll pick you up,” he says hastily but you frown.
Didn’t he say the café was near his place? What good would it do for him to
come all the way to your place and pick you up?
“Asahi-kun, you don’t have to-“ you begin but he interjects.
“I’d like to _______-chan, it…I’m not asking to just hang
out.” He doesn’t go on, but you’re pretty sure this is a date request.
Smiling again you say, “Ok then, what time will you pick me
up?”
He smiles back faintly, his breathing finally a normal pace.
“Does 7:00 work?”
“That’s perfect. See you tomorrow at school, have a good
practice!” you say cheerily as you wave and walk towards home.
The rest of the week crawls by as you become more eager for
your date with Asahi-kun but you’re trying not to read too much into it too
soon. It may be that he just wants to try this out, see if maybe you’d work as
a couple. The thought is both exciting and scary because what if he realizes he
doesn’t really like you enough to actually date you? Will things be awkward after
this? Your own anxiety starts to creep up but you push it down. Asahi-kun is a
kind boy, he wouldn’t do something like this just to do it, so he must feel
something for you…right?
Finally the night arrives and you’re a jumble of nerves,
your only saving grace knowing that Asahi-kun is probably a bigger mess than
you are. When he arrives promptly at 7:00 and you open the door you see you’re
right; he looks a little pale as he thrusts a small bouquet of white daisies at
you. Taking them to the kitchen you set them in a vase before returning to your
date, finally taking in his appearance. He’s wearing dark denim jeans and black
sweater, but still manages to look absolutely gorgeous.
You walk to the train station to take the line back to his
neighborhood, the two of you finally falling into normal casual conversation
like you usually have because you are friends after all. Once you reach your
destination, Asahi guides the two of you to the café. It’s a quaint little shop
and when you walk in your overwhelmed by the smell of delicious coffees and
baked treats.
The two of you get in line to pick your drinks and food,
Asahi-kun adamantly insisting he pay since he asked you to come and what
gentleman wouldn’t pay for his date’s food? Once you have your items the two of
you sit down at a quiet corner table, talking in low tones about this, that and
the other, but he’s beginning to look nervous again, his eyes continually
straying over your head. When you turn to see what he’s looking at all you can
see is a clock on the wall. Is he hoping the date will be over soon? You
thought you were both having a good time.
When you turn back around he’s got an odd look on his face
but before you can ask what’s wrong you hear someone clearing their throat over
the sound system. Turning back around you see someone dressed all in black
talking. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to open mic night. Most
of you who are planning on sharing tonight have already signed up but if you
have something you’d like to contribute our sign up is at the back. Now,
without further ado, our first amateur reader tonight is Azume Asahi.”
Your eyes widen till you think they’ll pop out of your head
as polite, quiet applause accompanies Asahi-kun while he makes his way to the
front of the room. The lights are dimmed in the main area, a spotlight fixed on
a stool and stand next to the now open mic. You had no idea Asahi wrote
anything outside of school work and poetry no less.
Turning your chair around you fix your eyes on him. When he
gets settled he lifts his gaze and focuses solely on you. Slowly it’s as if the
rest of the room completely disappears and it’s just the two of you here in
this moment. Your heart is pounding with anticipation and a little nervousness
on his behalf. Who knew the timid ace wouldn’t have stage fright?
He takes out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket,
unfolding it. The creases show he’s had this for a while, folding and unfolding
it over and over. Clearing his throat, he says, “This is entitled “The Hero”
and it’s dedicated to ______-chan.” You inhale sharply as he begins to read.
The Hero
Fear has been my constant companion
I look both ways twice and then again
Risk is hard, it makes my chest ache
Taking a chance, my knees will shake
People don’t seem to understand
You can’t tell all by a person’s hands
Ridiculed for my stature and age
It just felt easier to remain backstage
But then you came around and shown your light
You’re a brave new world that I can’t fight
In the midst of your torrent, you still bring me peace
You make me feel confident, assured and at ease
I know it’s supposed to be the other way around
But I believe a hero in a woman can be found
And you are mine, though you’ve never known
You’ve taken my hand and helped me up off the ground
I can never repay you for the kindness you’ve shown
Your care and consideration are gifts of value untold
So here is my heart, to have and to hold
He ends with a sigh, a weight seemingly lifted from his
broad shoulders. As the audience claps you feel tears trailing down your
cheeks. Asahi-kun reaches your table, his face full of concern at first but
when you smile he returns it. Without a word you stand up, throwing your arms
around his neck and hugging him fiercely. He returns the embrace, his strong
arms tight around your waist and the café erupts into larger applause at your
display. Ignoring your fiery cheeks and butterfly filled stomach you pull back
and look up into his face.
“I accept,” you say making him smile widely. Leaning down he
gives you a sweet, chaste kiss on the cheek, so very Asahi-kun. When he goes to
pull away you place your hands on the back of his head pulling him until your
lips meet. You can feel the flush of his face but you don’t care; he’s yours
and you don’t care who sees it.
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