**Saturday, 8:30 AM**
Subaru was already pacing nervously by the main park entrance, next to the agreed-upon bench, thirty minutes early. His heart was hammering like he was the protagonist of a shounen anime right before the final boss fight. His palms were sweaty, and the scarf around his neck had been adjusted at least three times—he couldn't decide if it looked cool or if he was slowly strangling himself with it. In his left pocket was a carefully folded note: last night's "date plan" scribbled in panic, based on Akeno's casual suggestions and his own desperate additions.
1. Smile exactly at 9:00 — do NOT start nervous-laughing
2. Do NOT keep staring at her chest, not even accidentally
3. If she hugs you, do NOT suffocate again
4. Say something normal, not just "uhm" and "like"
5. DO NOT mention my depression in the first ten minutes
He had pulled the note out and shoved it back in at least twenty times, terrified that it would fall out and Akeno would see it. He was just debating whether to run home and collapse on the couch when a familiar, soft voice came from behind him.
"Ara ara… Subaru-kun, you're already here? You're very enthusiastic~"
Subaru spun around like he'd been shocked.
Akeno stood in front of him in a light white summer dress, layered with a thin cardigan. Her hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with that familiar playful mischief as she looked him up and down. Subaru's brain briefly blue-screened.
"I… uh… I wanted to come early… so I wouldn't be late… and… you… you look… really beautiful."
The last part came out as a whisper because he realized he'd said it out loud. Akeno's eyes widened for a second, then she smiled—not her usual seductive, teasing smile, but something softer, almost shy.
"Thank you. You look very handsome today too. That scarf… it really suits you."
Subaru's hand flew to his neck on reflex.
"Really? Because I was about to take it off three times—I felt like I was choking in it…"
Akeno giggled and stepped closer. She didn't hug him right away; she just gently touched his arm.
"Don't take it off. I like it. And… I like that you were so nervous because of me."
Subaru's blush spread slowly, but this time it wasn't just from embarrassment—there was something warmer, sweeter underneath.
"Well… yeah. I was really nervous. This is my first… real date. I didn't want to mess it up."
Akeno went quiet for a moment, then spoke softly:
"Mine too. The first one that isn't… just for show."
Their eyes met, and suddenly the world around them became very quiet. Even the birds in the park seemed to hold their breath.
Finally Akeno smiled and held out her hand.
"So… shall we go? According to your plan?"
Subaru blinked in shock.
"You… you know about the note?"
"I saw you pulling it out and shoving it back in about ten times while I was watching from the corner." She winked. "It was extremely cute."
Subaru groaned and buried his face in his hands.
"I'm going to die right now."
"You can't die yet—then who's going to take me to the movies later?" Akeno laughed, gently pulling his hands away from his face. "Come on. First stop: breakfast. I know a little place that makes amazing pancakes."
**10:30 AM – the small pancake café**
Akeno ordered a towering chocolate-raspberry pancake creation. Subaru tried to get something simple, but ended up ordering the same thing because "if I'm here, I have to try everything." When the waiter set down the two massive dessert towers, they both stared in silence for a second.
"Is this… actually edible?" Subaru asked in disbelief.
"There's only one way to find out." Akeno picked up her fork, cut off a huge piece before Subaru could protest, and held it to his mouth. "Open wide~"
Subaru's eyes went wide.
"Wait, I… I can't—!"
"Yes you can. This is official date etiquette now. The girl feeds the boy. You accepted the date, so no backing out."
Subaru finally opened his mouth. Akeno carefully pushed the bite in. The next second, Subaru's eyes lit up.
"This… is heavenly."
"See? You can trust me." Akeno smiled, then took a bite herself. A little chocolate smeared on her lip. Subaru instinctively reached for a napkin to wipe it off—then froze halfway.
"Uh… there's a little… chocolate… right there…"
Akeno's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Then wipe it off."
Subaru's fingers trembled as he gently dabbed the chocolate from her lip. Akeno didn't pull away. She just watched him with big, dark eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered, and under the table, she squeezed his hand for a long moment.
**2:00 PM – the arcade**
Akeno turned out to be lethal on the dance machines. Subaru… tried. Very hard.
"How are you doing this?!" Subaru panted after falling on the eighth step for the third time.
Akeno laughed and grabbed both his hands.
"Come on, we'll do it together. Just follow me."
Subaru felt how warm Akeno's palms were, and his heart sped up again. The music thumped, the lights flashed, but all he could see was Akeno smiling at him as they moved together. When the song ended and the machine flashed "PERFECT!", Akeno squealed and threw her arms around his neck.
"We did it!!"
Subaru hugged her back instinctively and laughed—really laughed, for the first time without any tension.
"Yeah… we did it. Together."
**6:30 PM – outside the movie theater**
After the amusement park, they went to see a romantic comedy (Akeno's choice—Subaru didn't argue). At the end of the film, when the main characters kissed in the falling snow, Akeno leaned over and whispered:
"Do you think we could be that romantic someday?"
Subaru swallowed hard.
"I think… we already are. Just… a little clumsier."
Akeno laughed softly and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I like the clumsy version. I like it a lot."
When they stepped out of the theater, the evening air was cool and the streetlights painted Akeno's hair in soft gold.
"Subaru…" she said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for today. I haven't had this much fun… in a really long time."
Subaru's heart felt like it was about to burst.
"Me too. I'm… really happy I got to spend the day with you. And… I'd like it if… we could do this many more times."
Akeno smiled and rose on her tiptoes. She didn't kiss him—she just pressed her cheek against his for a long, quiet moment, both of them holding their breath.
"Then tomorrow… we continue?"
Subaru nodded, smiling like an idiot.
"We continue. Definitely."
As they walked home hand in hand, Subaru realized something: he didn't need the note anymore. The best things always happen when you forget the plan… and just live.