Ayaka woke up feeling far sleepier than usual. Even though she knew this was not a house date, her nerves kept her on edge, and she had barely slept at all.
It was only seven in the morning. No matter how much she tried, Ayaka could not fall back asleep. Her father was still in bed, so she made her own breakfast. Today, for some reason, she was in the mood for a classic American spread: fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a very large cup of coffee to fight her fatigue.
When she finished preparing her masterpiece, Ayaka took a picture of it. It might not look like it, but she was always a big eater, usually consuming five thousand calories a day. This breakfast alone consisted of five eggs, four hundred grams of bacon, and eight pancakes made with protein powder for extra sustenance.
Her meeting with Momo was set for noon, so she still had plenty of free time. Most of it was spent agonizing over what to wear. After more than an hour of indecision, she finally chose something casual, not too flashy, but far from underdressed.
With time still to spare, Ayaka decided to prepare thoroughly. She showered, shaved her legs, did her nails, and finally put her outfit together. Looking at herself in the mirror, she could not help but smile.
"I really should dress up more often," she murmured.
Her bedroom door suddenly opened, and her father stepped inside.
"Hey! You have to knock first!" Ayaka exclaimed.
"Sorry, I thought you were still asleep. I just came to drop off your clean laundry," he said, placing the folded clothes on her bed. His eyes lingered on her appearance. "Where are you going dressed like that?"
"I'm visiting a friend's house. I'll be back tonight," Ayaka replied quickly, making her way to the door.
"Is this friend a boy or a girl? You know you can't just spend the whole day with a boy without telling me," he said firmly. His concern made sense in most families, but for Ayaka, who had not yet come out to him, the question stung. It was not that she feared his reaction, she simply never found the right moment to say it.
"It's a new friend from school. Her name is Momo Yaoyorozu. We're just going to study and hang out for a while," she explained.
Her father relaxed and gave a small nod. "Alright then. Have fun, and call me if you need anything."
After saying their goodbyes, Ayaka headed to the train station.
When she arrived at Momo's building, her jaw nearly dropped. She had no idea how wealthy Momo's family was. The skyscraper towered above her with dozens of floors, and to think her crush lived in the penthouse made her head spin.
She pressed the intercom, and Momo's cheerful voice came through. "I'll let you in. Wait in the lobby, I'll come get you!" The excitement in her tone only made Ayaka more anxious.
Three minutes later, the elevator doors opened, revealing a radiant Momo in a checkered shirtdress. Their eyes met, and Momo's wide smile made Ayaka's cheeks burn instantly.
Momo took Ayaka's hand and led her toward the elevator, greeting her warmly. Ayaka swore her heart nearly stopped; any more attention and she would collapse on the spot.
"I'm so excited. I have never brought a friend home before!" Momo said happily, still holding her hand. Before they reached the top floor, she seemed to realize what she was doing. "I—I'm sorry! I did not mean to hold you for so long." Her words tumbled out awkwardly from embarrassment.
Ayaka turned away to hide her crooked grin and flushed face. She could not see that Momo was just as red.
Perhaps it was the conversation she had with Jirō, but Momo felt more in touch with her own emotions since yesterday. That did not mean she fully understood them, especially when it came to Ayaka.
An elderly woman sharing the elevator with them watched the exchange silently. His expression softened, as though savoring a sweet dessert. 'Young love is truly wonderful,' he thought.
When they finally stepped into Momo's apartment, Ayaka felt completely overwhelmed. The living room alone was larger than her entire house. Before she could take it all in, Momo gently guided her to her bedroom, where notebooks and study materials were neatly arranged.
As they worked, Ayaka realized she could barely concentrate. The girl she loved was sitting less than thirty centimeters away, occasionally brushing against her by accident. Worse still, every time Ayaka asked a question, Momo leaned in so close she could almost feel her breath.
'Calm down, Ayaka, calm down. She is just helping you. This is completely normal. Just don't say anything stupid, she told herself.'
"Hey, Momo, do you want to do something else? I can't really focus right now."
"You don't look well. Your face is bright red, almost like a fever," Momo said, pressing her forehead lightly against Ayaka's to check.
Startled, Ayaka jerked back. "N-no, I'm fine! I'm just hungry!" She quickly stood and sat on the edge of Momo's bed, creating some space between them. "Can I lie down for a bit?"
'Damn it, I barely slept last night. Now I'm exhausted,' she thought. She did not want Momo to realize how nervous she had been about today.
"Oh no, I completely forgot to offer you food! I'm so sorry!" Momo gasped. The basic etiquette of hosting a guest had slipped her mind entirely. "I'll get something right away!" She rushed to the kitchen, flustered.
'Why am I like this? First I forget I'm holding her hand, now I forget to feed her? What kind of friend does that? she scolded herself while preparing a tray of snacks. Why do I keep messing up around her?'
When she returned, Ayaka was half asleep on the bed. For a moment, Momo simply stared, captivated by how peaceful she looked. Without realizing it, she brushed her fingers through Ayaka's hair, which made her stir awake. Momo pulled her hand back immediately, flustered.
"Did I fall asleep?" Ayaka murmured.
"Y-yes, only for a little. You must have been really tired," Momo stammered. To cover her embarrassment, she quickly shifted the subject. "These snacks would go well with a movie. Want to watch one?"
The idea of lying in bed and watching a movie together made Ayaka's heart pound even harder.
"What kind of movies do you like?" she asked.
"I enjoy most genres, though I am not very fond of horror."
"Have you ever seen Se7en? I heard it's really good, but I've been putting it off." Ayaka had a bad habit of procrastinating movies and shows, always waiting for the "right time."
Of course, Momo had access to every streaming service. She put it on, and the two of them settled side by side on her bed.
During the suspenseful scenes, Momo inched closer. By the time the infamous "What's in the box?" scene came on, she clung to Ayaka's arm like a koala.
'The restraint of a saint,' Ayaka thought, steadying her wild heartbeat.
"Now it's my turn. Let's watch something funny," Momo pouted once the credits rolled. After some browsing, she picked Home Alone.
"Wait, you've never seen Home Alone?" Ayaka asked in disbelief. She had grown up watching it, laughing every time.
"Don't judge me," Momo said with a small laugh. "I usually spend my free time studying, so I don't watch many movies."
As the film played, Ayaka found herself smiling at Momo's laughter. Each sound only made her feelings grow stronger.
Before they knew it, they had watched every Home Alone film and even cooked dinner together. The experience felt surprisingly romantic, as though they were already living together.
When they returned to Momo's room, Ayaka picked up her purse. "I should probably head home now."
But just as she stepped toward the door, she felt a gentle tug on her dress.
"D-do you really have to go?" Momo asked, her voice soft. "I would not mind if you stayed the night. Since my parents are away, I was going to sleep alone, and… I would really appreciate it if you didn't leave me tonight."
Her words tumbled out nervously, but her heart was pounding so hard Ayaka was certain she could hear it.
The heavens have blessed me today, Ayaka thought, almost lightheaded from disbelief.