“Such a gentleman, walking me home.”

Rae blushes and clears her throat, “Well… umm yah.”

She insisted on walking me back to my dorm after our quick dinner, the evening air was nice. This day has been nice.

“Rae-chan, I really enjoyed today.”

She doesn’t shy her face away, but she has trouble looking directly at me, “Thanks Claire-chan.”

“Rae… I should be thanking you.” I can’t help the teasing tone in my voice.

She finally musters the courage to look right at me, she seems so uncertain.

“Really, thank you.” I will repeat it as many times as she needs to hear it. “Today was really special and I’m glad you were willing to give me, this, us, a chance.” I reach to hold both her hands in my own, letting them hang between us.

Her face reddens a bit, dusting her cheeks, “I liked it too.”

“All of it ?”

Her blush deepens and she has to break eye contact again, but she nods. “I… I liked it to C-Claire-chan, I… that was my first…”:

I run my thumb over the back of her hands, “First kiss?”

‘Firstdate!” she shuts her eyes, as if that is a spell that would cease her blushing. I want to kiss her so badly.

Control Claire, you already lost control once today.

“You were my first before too, Rae.”

That surprises her, she looks at me, curious but still flushed. “Uhh?”

I can’t help but laugh and swing our arms gently, “Yes, you were also quite the gentleman on our first date then as well, it was the school fair. I think that was the day I believed you for the first time, that you really loved me. Ahh, but you didn’t make it quite that easy, you were quite the mystery.”

She hums in thought, “So today was alright?”

“Of course.”

“Even playing video games for over three hours?”

“Rae, if we don’t finish that game I will hold it against you.”

She smirks slightly, “You realize that game will take you at least a hundred hours to finish?”

Really? I won’t back down though, as if I would be beaten by a game . “Then we will just have to plan more dates won’t we?”

She gulps, “So that’s… We are dating?”

“Yes… if that’s what you want.”

“You want to date me?” The doubt in her voice needs to be dispelled. 

“Rae, I love everything about you, I love being with you, I love how I feel around you, I love when you are being silly, being clever, being incredible, being adorable. I want to do this, again and again.”

She blinks for a second, “That’s a yes?”

“Yes!” This dolt .

Her lips twist into a silly grin, her face can’t contain the joy as it finally sets in and she starts to laugh. I laugh too and just enjoy the moment, hands linked before the dorm building. 

“I’ve never done this before!” The joy in her voice is infectious. 

“That’s fine.”

“I… is it fine if we… we don’t … can we stay on the down low?” She is smiling but I can see the worry in her eyes.

I won’t let this shatter, “I would scream it from the mountaintops if that’s what I needed to do, and I will stay quiet if that’s what you need from me. I just need to be with you.”

She blushes fiercely again, that may have been a strong proclamation but I don’t regret it in the slightest. She nods, a bit overwhelmed for words.

That is fine, this soft connection between our hands is all I need right now. 

This moment can just be .

Rae eventually fidgets however, and I let out a questioning hum.

“I want to do this again.” She looks composed finally, I am a bit impressed but her blush has yet to subside, “I… we will have to do more studying and all that over the week… but next weekend can we do this again? A date? After we do that thing for Achard-san?”

“Of course… I’ll see you at class tomorrow then?”

She nods, and the link between our hands doesn’t break quite yet, she is yet to pull away,

Then she surprises me, she leans in quickly, and I feel a quick kiss placed on my cheek. Just as quick she draws back, she is the brightest I have ever seen her. She seems even surprised with herself and blinks a few times.

“GoodnightClaireIWillSeeYouTomorrow!” She stammers quickly and disengages promptly, leaving me in front of the building by myself. I can’t help but laugh at her awkwardness as she retreats away.

I love her…