[Saturday Morning, Shibuya Station]
Shibuya is already alive, as usual.
Sato is waiting.
"Ugh… I got here way too early. I've been waiting forever."
She checks her phone.
10:28.
Not long now…
She takes a slow breath, then opens the front camera. A blond strand falls over her eyes; she carefully fixes it, trying to calm the heartbeat that's speeding up for no real reason.
"If you keep that up, you're going to wear out the screen."
Sato jumps, taking half a step back. Her phone almost slips from her hand.
"R-Riccardo!?"
He's standing right in front of her, with that slightly tired but familiar look. Then his gaze truly settles on her.
Riccardo stays silent for a moment.
The light blue and white dress falls softly on her, simple yet carefully chosen. The colors highlight her blond hair and blue eyes, giving Sato a different air from the one he's used to—less athlete, less school… more her.
"Wow…" he says without thinking. Then he clears his throat. "You look… really good."
Sato feels warmth rise to her cheeks.
"T-thank you… I didn't think it would be that obvious."
"It is." Only after saying it does he realize it, lowering his gaze slightly, embarrassed. "I mean—in a good way."
She smiles, holding her phone close to her chest. "I got here a bit early."
"Oh, then I'm not late." Riccardo glances at his watch. "For once."
For a moment, they stay there in the middle of the crowd, as if the noise around them were distant.
"So…" he says. "Shall we officially start this outing?"
Sato looks up, more relaxed now. "Yes. Where were you thinking of taking me?"
Riccardo walks alongside her."Somewhere I can't live without, ever since I came here." His tone is mysterious.
She looks at him, curious. "…Where?"
They start walking together, blending into the Shibuya crowd.
[A few minutes later]
Sato stops, her face lighting up with happiness. "Wow…"
They're standing in front of a counter filled with Italian pastries.
"So?" Riccardo asks with a smile. "Did I surprise you?"
"Yes! I didn't know a place like this existed in the middle of Shibuya!"
"Good morning!" A staff member in his thirties approaches, then looks closer at Riccardo. "Oh! Riccardo!"
[They start speaking in Italian]
"Good morning, Giovanni! How are things?"
"All good—lots of work! Can't complain!"
They laugh as they talk.
Sato watches them, obviously not understanding a single word.
"It's been a while since you came by. How have things been?"
Riccardo lowers his head slightly. "Let's just say I'm going through a… pretty intense period of my life."
Understanding, the clerk doesn't push further and instead looks at Sato, still confused.
"Oh… you came with your girlfriend!"
A sixth sense was activated in Sato.
Did he just mistake me for Riccardo's girlfriend!?
Riccardo smiles. "So, what would you recommend?" He switches back to Japanese.
Sato is surprised. Did he avoid the question… or am I overthinking it?
Giovanni laughs. "Then the best of the house—a cannoli!"
Riccardo looks at Sato. "What do you think?"
She hesitates. "If it's the best of the house… why not?"
"Great! You won't regret it."
"And for me, the usual babà."
"Alright. Please have a seat, we'll bring everything to your table."
"Thank you!"
They go sit down—and draw attention.
"They look amazing together…"
"She's so beautiful…"
"He's handsome…"
Sato hears the murmurs around the café and feels herself blush. The comments don't stop.
"So? I did surprise you—but how does it look?" Riccardo asks.
She turns to him. "Well… just by looking at them, they seem tempting."
"Not just by looks—the taste is even better. It's like eating at a real Italian pastry shop."
"And what would this be, then?" A woman in her fifties asks as she places their desserts on the table.
"Good morning, Letizia…" Riccardo realizes his timing. "I meant—this is a high-level, authentic Italian pastry shop."
Letizia nods. "Now that sounds right. Enjoy!"
She walks away, and Riccardo lets out a breath. "That was close…"
Sato laughs, making him smile.
"Alright, let's eat!" Riccardo says.
"Yes!"
They start eating, and the moment Sato takes a bite of her cannoli, her face lights up.
"It's delicious! Just like you said—way better than I expected!"
"If Sicilians didn't know how to make cannoli, they'd have shut down by now."
"True…" Her gaze drifts to Riccardo's dessert. "What's that?"
"This is a typical Neapolitan dessert." He slides the plate slightly toward her. "Want to try some?"
She looks surprised. "N-no…"
"Come on, I'm not picky. You've never had it before, right? This is your chance."
She hesitates, temptation winning—especially with his insistence. I'll have to use his spoon…
"Okay. Just a small bite."
She tastes it.
She coughs lightly. "It's good. But the flavor is… strong."
"That's because it's soaked in rum. If you're not used to alcohol, it hits like that."
She narrows her eyes. "Have you drunk alcohol before?"
Riccardo freezes, realizing he said too much. He sighs.
"Let's just say that in Europe, the mindset is different… my father let me taste wine when I was eight."
"Really?"
"Yes—but not regularly. Just small sips. I promise they're not turning me into an alcoholic."
Sato giggles at his reaction. "Alright, alright. I believe you."
They look at each other.
"So…" Sato says. "How did your team take the loss?"
"Pretty well, all things considered. Coach Ishii managed to lift our spirits, but it still hurts. Especially Genpaku—he hasn't replied since yesterday."
"Right… he missed the decisive penalty."
"Yeah. But we'll bounce back. The team is strong."
"I know!"
"And on Wednesday, you have your second-to-last qualifying stage."
Her expression changes. "Yes… but it's going to be tough. From now on, it's only the top athletes. I'm not there yet."
"In track, even one extra year can be a huge advantage."
"The harsh life of athletics…" She finishes her cannoli with a dramatic sigh.
Riccardo looks at her, puzzled. "Seems like you're handling that life pretty well," he says teasingly.
"At least I know I won't disappoint anyone at the level I'm at. There are senpai who'll definitely make nationals."
"Less pressure is good—but aren't you holding yourself back too much?"
"Maybe. But that doesn't mean I'll just show up for nothing," she says firmly.
Riccardo looks surprised. "Where did that confidence come from?"
She blushes. "T-this is me when I'm more relaxed…"
"I like this version of you." He smiles softly. "Why don't you let it out more often?"
"I'm not that strong. I get overwhelmed by everything. I don't know how you do it—talking so casually with me after everything you've been through."
"I'm not as strong as you think. You saw how I was these past days…"
"True. But you faced it head-on, with conviction. Even if you failed, you had the courage I don't think I would've had."
Riccardo doesn't know how to answer. Then he smiles faintly.
"Maybe you're right…"
He stands up. "Alright. I'll go pay."
"We can split—"
"No. I told you I'd treat. Don't worry."
As he walks away, Sato takes out her phone to reply to Yuzuki, who asked:
"How's it going?"
"Way too well! He brought me to a place with Italian desserts, and we're talking a lot!"
"Perfect! After that, take him to the place I told you about."
Right… I have to take him there—
"Ready?" Riccardo asks as he returns.
She quickly puts her phone away. "Y-yes!"
They head toward the exit.
Before leaving, Riccardo turns back. "Bye!" he says in Italian to Giovanni and Letizia.
They wave back.
Outside, they stop.
"Shall we go for a walk—"
"Actually…" Sato interrupts him. "This time, I'm the one taking you somewhere."
Riccardo raises an eyebrow, intrigued.