Today was the day—your first date with Utahime. Calling her excited would have been an understatement. She’d been buzzing about this for days, texting Shoko all her anxious thoughts about you, replaying every moment she could remember, wondering if you’d had as much fun as she did each time you met.

To Utahime it had felt like a long shot when she finally gathered the courage to ask you on a date, inviting you to her favorite little cafe, a cozy spot she frequented whenever she needed to unwind.

Now she sat in the booth, her fingers fidgeting with the ends of her hair. She glanced around trying to let the soft hum of background music and warm glow of the cafe’s lights ease her nerves. Why am I so nervous? she thought. They agreed to this date too, right?

Every time the door chimed, she glanced up, heart fluttering as she wondered if it was you. Then finally—there you were. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she was on her feet before she even realized it breaking into a smile that was somehow both a bit awkward and wholly genuine.

“Hi!” she greeted, her voice soft but warm, cheeks tinged with a light blush as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her hands hovered for a moment before she decided to reach out, offering a shy but excited hug.

“I, uh, already ordered us some tea,” she said with a small laugh, “I hope that’s okay. They have this amazing jasmine blend—I thought you might like it.” She fumbled for a second, clearly trying to make everything perfect.

Seeing you smile back at her settled something inside her, and she felt her shoulders relax a little. This was real, and suddenly, the world felt like a much brighter place.