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Hanamiya sent Mizuki a text as soon as he arrived outside of her house. He waited patiently for a few minutes before his girlfriend came bounding out her front door, her characteristic dazzling smile on full display.
“Makoto!” She exclaimed, as she closed some of the distance between them. “What’re you doing here? I thought you had a really important meeting with the team today?”
He offered her a smirk. So, she had actually believed my little excuse? He thought deviously to himself before he turned on his heels and began to walk away; only sticking his arm out when he heard Mizuki’s approaching footsteps. She hooked her hand in the bend of his elbow and they walked together down the sidewalk, the hot afternoon only beginning to rollover into the cooler evening.
Truthfully, the whole team meeting thing hadn’t actually been an excuse. He’d just rescheduled it for an earlier day, a day that wasn’t Mizuki’s birthday.
“You’re such a good boyfriend,” Seto had teased him, as he peeked out from underneath his sleep mask. Afterward, Hara had cracked an imagery whip in Hanamiya’s direction, snickering then ensued from the peanut gallery, which left Hanamiya trying not to burst a blood vessel. His intimidation tactics had failed to intimidate anyone on the team that day and he sped through the meeting to save what little face he had left.
“Quit thinking so loud!” Mizuki chimed before flicking Hanamiya’s forehead with her index finger.
Hanamiya winced. “Ow!” He snapped before lamely adding: “I am not thinking!”
Mizuki giggled before pulling Hanamiya closer toward her as they continued to walk. “Sounds about right—Hey! You still haven’t told me why you’re here or where we’re going for that matter,” she went on, looking around curiously before peering down at Hanamiya. After a beat of continued silence from her boyfriend, she feigned a gasp and jostled his arm. “Could it be a special surprise for my birthday today?!”
Hanamiya stopped midstep, a frown tugging the corners of his lips downwards. “That’s today?” He asked, completely deadpan.
“Oh, you!”
In the time they’ve been together, Mizuki’s birthday has always been a group affair; family, friends, a big party. The whole shebang! And while that was still in the works, planned with her knowledge later tonight, Hanamiya had devised a smaller, more intimate engagement for just the two of them.
Mizuki managed to jostle him again before he effectively slid from her grasp. He continued to stroll along the sidewalk on his own, maintaining his tight-lipped demeanor. Nevertheless, she followed him, her expression considerably warmer than his. Which was not uncharacteristic in the least and Hanamiya watched her out of the corner of his eye when she caught up to him for the second time that evening. He would never admit it out loud, though it was probably long overdue to be heard by her ears, but he was head over heels for Mizuki Okitsuumi. He smiled to himself at the sentiment and with the knowledge that, yes, she’d hear exactly how much she meant to him before their date was finished. She deserved to know.
Mizuki’s hand found its way into his after a while and their fingers interlaced when he glanced down between them. Hanamiya made a mental note to kiss her when he got the chance but for now he was having too much fun watching her pout quietly beside him as he refused to reveal anything at all about what he had planned.
They walked a little further along the sidewalk until they came upon the convenience store they often frequented on their walks to and from Mizuki’s house and connected to the store was a small café where they grabbed drinks from time to time.
The café was a humble establishment but Hanamiya had managed to charm (in his own way, that is) the owner not long ago. The owner, Miyu, an older woman whose husband had passed away last fall, had always been a romantic at heart. Hanamiya had shared his idea of a modest date for two at her café for Mizuki’s birthday complete with a serving of crêpes, MIzuki’s favorite dish, to share between them. Miyu had agreed to the request and afterward she shared old memories with Hanamiya of her late husband and the many special dates they’d gone on over the years, a few just like the one he had planned.
When they arrived at the café there was a small table for two setup outside. A floral print tablecloth was draped over the tabletop and a simple floral arrangement sat in a small vase at the center.
They stopped abruptly alongside the small table and Hanamiya heard Mizuki’s breath hitch. He didn’t dare glance up at her just yet, fearful that a goofy grin might breakout across his face. He slid his hand free of hers and moved quickly to pull out a chair for her.
“Is this for us?” Mizuki asked, disbelief peppering her voice. “Is this for me ?” Her voice became smaller and Hanamiya finally braved a look at his girlfriend. Her eyes were sparkling, a tender smile adorning her face. Beautiful.
Hanamiya felt his stomach do a flip and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to ground himself.
“Yes,” he replied, his voice fracturing slightly at the end of his response. He cleared his throat and gestured for her to sit before he himself sank into the chair across from her. “What? You don’t think I’m capable of a little romance?”
“Don’t spoil the mood!” She said swatting at him, her eyes still gleaming, a smug smile spreading across her face.
Hanamiya knew that look and he held up a finger to shush her before she parted her lips to speak again. “Don’t say you knew about this,” he gestured at the table between them. “You did not know!”
Mizuki leaned forward against the table, that smug smile still strung across her face. “I knew it!”
“Mhmm.”
“I did! That team meeting excuse smelled fishy from a mile away! Plus, you looked so guilty,” Mizuki continued, propping her elbow up on the table and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. “Don’t ever get hauled in for questioning, Makoto. You might just crack under pressure.”
Incredulous, Hanamiya thought to himself as he began to rise slowly, menacingly even, from his chair. “It seems that over the course of our relationship you’ve forgotten how talented of a performer I am, not only on the court but also—Oh! The crêpes are here,” Hanamiya plopped back into his chair as Miyu set the plate of crêpes between them. “Thank you, Miyu.”
They placed a drink order next and Miyu wished Mizuki a happy birthday before she returned to the café. A beat of silence passed and Hanamiya looked between the plate of crêpes and a quiet Mizuki.
Her gaze was set on the dish before her, her smug smile had dissolved into an expression that was much softer. Hanamiya felt his stomach flutter once more and he felt like such a sap for the sudden rush of emotions his girlfriend evoked in him time and time again. Even after everything they’d been through together, she managed to make him feel like this was all brand new.
The silence between them stretched on, but the faint sounds of life and nature whirled around them; distant voices carried in the wind, laughter, the flutter of birds wings as they returned to their nests in the trees. It all felt a little magical in its simplicity, it felt perfect. It meant the time was right.
“Listen, Mizuki…”
“Oh, Makoto!” Mizuki suddenly exclaimed, effectively cutting off Hanamiya. “This is perfect! I know I still have the party coming up tonight with family and friends but this…,” her voice trailed off, as her eyes glanced between Hanamiya and the setup on the table between them. Her eyes grew watery, like she might cry but no hint of sadness touched her features. “This is really special,” she said finally, wiping at her eyes.
Hanamiya reached across the table for her hand, taking it in his before giving it a gentle squeeze. The back of his throat felt prickly and he could feel tears welling up in his own eyes but, no, he wouldn’t cry. He wasn’t that smitten, was he?
He let a soft chuckle escape from his lips unchecked and drew in a deep breath. “Well,” he began, his voice shaky. “You are special, special to me, and you deserve it all. Not just today on your birthday but everyday. This gesture, this date, I know it may be small but I’m hoping what I’ll say next will make it grand ,” Hanamiya paused, afraid of the unrestrained vulnerability he was about to display next. He has never considered being so raw with another person, so real, no safety net of an act to fall back on. He really was smitten after all.
“Happy Birthday, Mizuki Okitsuumi. I love you.”