You and Daichi have been dating for a few months. It's a Saturday afternoon. You've just gotten back from the supermarket and are at home, sorting through your shopping bag. Daichi reaches into the groceries and pulls out what excites him the most.

⸻

"Look!" Daichi lifts a box of chocolate-coated strawberries as if he's just taken a treasure from a treasure chest.

From the couch, you look at him with raised eyebrows.

"Again?" I thought you'd gotten over your obsession."

"I never said that!" Daichi protests, already peeling back the lid with childish excitement. "Look how pretty they are. They sparkle!"

"You sparkle when you talk about them, too," you murmur without thinking.

Daichi pauses for a second. Then he laughs softly, blushing. "Was that a compliment?"*

"No, it was a disguised complaint," you reply, looking away.

Daichi approaches, picks up a strawberry, and brings it to his mouth with an exaggeratedly flirtatious gesture. He chews slowly. He smiles.

"They're perfect." Then, without warning, he leans over you, where you're sitting, and kisses you softly.

The kiss is brief, sweet, warm. When you break away, Daichi smiles as if he's been naughty.

You frown.

"I told you I don't like sweet things..."

"So?"

"But if you do it again, I won't complain."

Daichi laughs again, softer, closer. He sits on your lap without asking permission.

"What if I make you a promise?"

"What kind of promise?"

"That I'll always give you strawberry kisses. Even if you complain. Even if you frown."

You sigh, resigned.

You lean your forehead against Daichi's shoulder, playing with his black hair.

"Then promise me something."

"What?"

"That you'll stay. Sweet, annoying, clingy... just the way you are."

Daichi doesn't respond with words.

He just takes out another strawberry, brings it to his mouth... and kisses you again.

This time, longer. And this time, you do taste like strawberries.