The softness in Kana's voice was impossible to miss, but so was the underlying nervousness that made her words tremble slightly. It was like she was testing the waters, gauging my reaction, maybe even silently begging for my approval.
She's nervous about asking to stay out longer? That's… actually kind of adorable. And here I was worried she might want to call it a night.
"Sure thing," I replied with what I hoped was an encouraging smile, then did something that surprised even me—I gently took her hand in mine. "Is there anywhere else you'd like to go, Kana-chan?"
Wait, did I just…? Oh crap, I'm holding her hand. This is happening. Play it cool, Sousuke. Act like this is totally normal and not making your heart race like you just ran a marathon.
The moment our fingers intertwined, I felt her entire body go rigid, like someone had pressed her pause button. She stood there for several seconds, and I could practically hear the gears turning in her head.
"What is holding hands? It's just casual interaction. Even school children have done this before."
"But why? Why am I still so nervous?"
Her internal monologue was written all over her face, and honestly, it was both endearing and reassuring to know I wasn't the only one whose brain was short-circuiting over something as simple as hand-holding.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she gently squeezed my hand back, and I swear I could feel her pulse racing through her fingertips.
Her hands are so warm and soft. And she's shaking slightly—is she really that nervous? That's… actually really sweet.
The memory of last night flickered through my mind—how different this felt compared to our more… intimate encounter. There was something pure and innocent about this moment that made it feel like our actual first time holding hands.
The chronological order of our relationship is definitely unconventional. Most couples probably don't skip straight to the advanced stuff before mastering basic hand-holding.
"Ah… well… there's nowhere specific I want to go…" she said, her voice getting progressively quieter with each word. "I just want to hang out with Sousuke-kun, and there won't be any trains if it gets much later, so…"
Ah, there it is. The real reason behind her suggestion. She wants to spend more time together, and missing the last train is just a convenient excuse.
The way her voice trailed off at the end was incredibly endearing—like she was embarrassed to admit she didn't want our day to end.
"Well then, let's hang out for a while longer, Kana-chan," I said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We could find a nice hotel and enjoy ourselves—make it feel like a proper vacation."
Did that sound too forward? I meant it innocently. Mostly innocently. Okay, maybe not entirely innocently.
Her face lit up with relief, like she'd been holding her breath waiting for my response.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking, Sousuke-kun," she breathed out, her shoulders relaxing visibly. "You're always so considerate."
Considerate? I'm just trying not to mess this up. But I'll take the compliment.
"So what should we do next?" I asked, looking at her expectantly.
Good question, Sousuke. You just committed to an extended evening without any actual plan. Smooth.
The original reptile exhibition plan had been simple enough, but this spontaneous decision to stay out had left us both a bit adrift. When in doubt, consult the oracle of modern society—the internet.
Kana pulled out her phone and started scrolling through night tour guides for Ikebukuro with the focused determination of someone conducting crucial research.
"Oh, this looks perfect!" she exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically at her screen. "What do you think about the Sunshine Building, Sousuke-kun? It says there are tons of fun places, and there's this super high observation deck where you can see the entire night view of Tokyo."
Tokyo night view from a high observation deck? With Kana? While we're holding hands? This evening just got a lot more romantic.
"Sounds perfect," I agreed. "Let's head there."
Even though night had fully settled over the city, the crowds showed no signs of thinning. If anything, Ikebukuro seemed to be hitting its stride, with neon lights painting everything in electric blues and hot pinks.
As we walked through the bustling streets, I noticed Kana gradually moving closer to me, her grip on my hand tightening slightly. There was something almost magical about the way holding hands seemed to create this invisible connection between us, like we were sharing each other's thoughts and feelings through that simple touch.
Is this what couples feel like when they walk through the city together? This sense of being in your own little bubble despite being surrounded by hundreds of people?
The Sunshine Tower loomed before us like something out of a sci-fi movie—over 200 meters of pure architectural ambition reaching toward the sky. The building was a self-contained universe featuring dozens of restaurants, theme parks, an observation deck, museums, and even a planetarium.
This place is like Disneyland for adults. We could probably spend an entire week here and not see everything.
As we wandered through the lower levels, something caught Kana's eye that made her stop dead in her tracks.
"Sousuke-kun, look!" she pointed excitedly. "It's an owl café!"
Of course it is. After spending the day looking at owls in the exhibition, we stumble across an owl café. The universe has a sense of humor.
The moment we stepped inside, Kana's eyes went wide with delight. The café itself looked fairly normal—standard tables, chairs, and coffee shop aesthetic—but the owls perched on various shelves and stands throughout the space made it feel like stepping into a fantasy world.
"Kawaii!!" Kana practically squealed, and I watched in amusement as her composed adult persona completely evaporated.
And there's the childlike enthusiasm I've been seeing glimpses of all day. She's absolutely adorable when she gets excited like this.
A group of college-age girls had surrounded one particularly small owl, gently petting its feathers while it looked around with the confused expression of someone who had no idea why they were suddenly the center of attention.
Poor little guy probably just wants to take a nap, and instead he's being treated like a living stuffed animal.
We ordered coffee and found a quiet table toward the back, but Kana was immediately drawn to an owl perched nearby. Despite having seen dozens of owls earlier at the exhibition, her fascination seemed completely renewed.
She approached the bird with the careful reverence of someone handling precious artwork, gently touching its feathers, examining its features from different angles, and taking what had to be at least fifty photos from every conceivable angle.
"Look, isn't this super cute?" she asked, showing me her phone screen filled with owl portraits.
"Very cute," I agreed, though I was probably looking at her more than the pictures.
The way her face lights up when she's excited about something is honestly more captivating than any owl.
After we finished our coffee, we made our way to the express elevator that shot straight up to the 60th floor. The observation deck was enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass, offering a complete panoramic view of Tokyo at night.
Holy… this is incredible.
The city spread out below us like a living constellation. Every building, every street, every window was illuminated, creating this stunning tapestry of light that stretched to the horizon. High-rise buildings and small residential areas were all equally transformed into something magical by the darkness and artificial lights.
"It's so beautiful, Sousuke-kun," Kana breathed, her voice filled with genuine awe.
Beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it. Though honestly, I'm having trouble focusing on the view when she's standing this close to me.
"Let's take some pictures, Sousuke-kun!" she said suddenly, pulling out her phone. "How can we not leave some memories when we come to a place like this?"
Memories. Right. Because this day definitely deserves to be remembered.
Looking around, it seemed like every other person had the same idea—the observation deck had basically turned into an impromptu photography studio. Kana enthusiastically pulled me into the selfie crowd, and we spent several minutes trying to capture the perfect shot.
But after taking several photos, she still looked unsatisfied. That's when a college-aged girl walked past us, and Kana's face lit up with inspiration.
"Excuse me," she called out politely, "could you please take a picture for us?"
"Sure, leave it to me!" the girl replied cheerfully, accepting Kana's phone with the enthusiasm of someone who clearly enjoyed playing photographer.
Oh good, a volunteer photographer. This should be interesting.
"Okay, smile! 3, 2, 1…" the girl started, then immediately shifted into director mode. "Come closer! Sir, please put your arm around the lady's shoulders! And lady, you can lean closer to the gentleman—maybe rest against his chest!"
Well, she's certainly taking this seriously. Not that I'm complaining about the suggested poses.
I naturally reached out and placed my arm around Kana's shoulders, trying to seem casual about it despite the fact that my heart was performing some kind of drum solo in my chest. The moment my arm made contact with her bare skin where her sleeveless top left her shoulders exposed, I caught a whiff of her subtle fragrance—something floral and light that made my head spin slightly.
Focus, Sousuke. This is just a photo. A totally innocent, definitely-not-romantic photo where you're holding the girl you like very close while overlooking the most beautiful view in Tokyo.
Kana followed the photographer's instructions and leaned into me, and suddenly every nerve in my body went on high alert.
"Ah, this feels great! Perfect height difference," the girl continued enthusiastically. "Sir, can you tuck your chin in a little more? Yes, exactly like that!"
She's really getting into this. I'm starting to feel like I'm in a professional photo shoot.
"Can you come a little closer, miss? Look up at him with your eyes—that's perfect, very cute!"
Following the directions, I tightened my arm around Kana's shoulders, pulling her closer against me. Through the thin material of her shirt, I could feel the warmth of her body, the softness of her skin, the way she seemed to melt into my embrace.
This is dangerous. Very, very dangerous. She feels incredible, and we're pressed together so close that I can feel every breath she takes.
The two of us were now holding each other so tightly that there was barely any space left between us, our bodies fitting together like pieces of a puzzle designed specifically for this moment.
If this photographer doesn't take the picture soon, I might actually combust from the combination of nerves and… other feelings I probably shouldn't be having in public.
But honestly? I never want this moment to end.