Tatsumi-kun and Kyoko-san Episode 12

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Episode 12

We walk side by side through Inokashira Park in the early afternoon.

The warmth and sensation of our hands touching slowly spreads. I feel like my racing heartbeat might even be transmitted through our hands.

“Kyoko-san, I like you.”

His voice echoes in my head, and I can't look Tatsumi-kun straight in the face more than usual, so I lower my gaze as I walk. But my steps, like my heart, are light and bouncy. At the edge of my downward gaze, I spot a dog walking with a happy, bouncy gait just like me.

“Oh, that dog.

It’s white and has such fluffy hair, it’s cute, isn’t it?”

The silence between us feels ticklish, and while my feelings are still directed at Tatsumi-kun, I abruptly change the subject as if to hide my embarrassment.

“Bichon Frise—do you like them, Kyoko-san? Or rather, between dogs and cats, which do you prefer?”

Asked that, I can't answer immediately and think about it.

“Bichon... Frise? Is that what they're called? I like that white, fluffy dog. If I had to choose, I prefer small dogs, but cats are cute too, aren't they?”

What an indecisive answer. I said I liked them, but I didn't even know the name, and there are many other cute dogs I'm curious about. There are many kinds of cats too, but I feel like I could pet most cats forever.

“I like both dogs and cats, but... if I were to become one... I’d be a house cat...”

I think to myself how happy I would be if I could be the cat at Tatsumi-kun's house. A relaxed Tatsumi-kun, not the usual composed one. I would want to gently snuggle up to him without disturbing him and feel his warmth by leaning a little of my weight against him. Ah, but being a dog and walking outside like this, feeling so happy, is also hard to give up.

“Appearance-wise... I’m like a large breed puppy. Small, but my limbs feel sturdy... I wanted to be tall and slender, though.”

Tatsumi-kun has a sharp, large-dog image, like a German Shepherd. A wonderful person who is slender, smart, and can hold a lively conversation would probably suit him well. I wonder if it's okay for me to be by his side, but Tatsumi-kun doesn't seem to mind, and he mutters to himself as if strangely convinced.“I see... a puppy, huh.”

After that, he speaks slowly, as if addressing me this time.“I prefer dogs, which offer a sense of security, over fickle cats. And small women—they are my type.”

“That’s why you, Kyoko-san, are my type of person, and I’m happy that we can spend time together like this today. My impression of meeting you like this is that it’s ‘easy and comfortable.’ ‘Easy’ might be the wrong word, but it’s truly rare to be able to share our weaknesses with each other beforehand, and I feel like I don’t have to put up a front.”

I keep my gaze lowered as before, nodding at every one of Tatsumi-kun’s words.I feel the same way. First, my eyes are drawn to his tall, straight posture, and then his voice and every interaction we have feel ticklish and pleasant. If asked if I am relaxed, that would be different; my heart is still racing.“We are both fine just as we are.”

Tatsumi-kun pauses for a moment before continuing.“Would you like to go out with me, if you’d like?”

“Would you like to go out with me?”

Tatsumi-kun's voice echoed slowly in my head. I looked up instinctively. I calmed my feelings to suppress my racing heart and my voice, which was about to crack, and replied.

“...If I'm good enough for you, then yes. I look forward to being with you.”

I looked up at Tatsumi-kun's face. Tatsumi-kun looked upward as if stretching, took a deep breath, and then smiled brightly.

Our joined hands tightened, gripping each other like a handshake.

“I don't think Benten-sama would get jealous even if a Kyoko-san like you asked Santa for a Christmas present.”

“Next time, let's go buy a Christmas present together. Please think about what you'd like.”

I'm indecisive, but if I could meet Tatsumi-kun like this, there was something I wanted. But I couldn't convey it well over LINE.

“Is there anything you want, Tatsumi-san?”

Tatsumi-kun looked up a little again before looking at me.

“Let's discuss it again on LINE.”

I've become a bit bad with LINE, but since I didn't feel like I could convey it in words right away, I decided to think about it a little and tell him later.

“Ah, Kyoko-san, they're selling yakimochi.”

Tokyo Yakimochi. Popular dumplings sold at shops inside Tokyo metropolitan parks. Each of the dumplings stuck into the straw bale has a face on it. You can choose from three flavors: walnut miso, soy sauce, and mitarashi.

“It's cold, so let's eat and warm up. Kyoko-san, which one would you like?”

The white dumplings have faces with slightly different expressions on the top mochi. The way they stand in the straw bale with their dazed, slightly goofy faces looks like the 'Kodama' from the Ghibli film 'Princess Mononoke'.

Which one should I choose? Mitarashi sounds good, but I'm also curious about the walnut miso. Yeah, I've decided. Mitarashi might get all over my mouth.

“I'll have this dumpling, the walnut miso one, please.”

“Then I'll have the same, two of them please.”

While we were eating, Tatsumi-kun said.

"You looked cute when you were worrying just now. Women worry a lot, don't they? I feel like women are also more prone to getting jealous."

"...But it's not a cute face like this, it's more scary, isn't it? I don't really understand getting jealous. There have been times when I didn't understand it and it just became a hassle."

Is he talking about his ex-girlfriend again? I don't really feel anything in particular when I hear stories about women from his past. I think you need to be on somewhat equal footing to even be in a position to get jealous. I don't feel like Tatsumi-kun and I are at the stage where we would get jealous yet, but I wonder if there will come a time when I do get jealous. I don't want to get jealous and have him think I'm a hassle.

Our relationship has only just begun, but I was already filled with the feeling that I didn't want to lose him.

To be continued in Episode 13

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