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Hearts pounding in their chests, they were on their way to the arcade, from what everyone has said, that arcade was something special! Certainly a wonderful place to spend some time with your special one! And that is exactly what they were going to do, have a wonderful time at this popular arcade. “Just down the street and into this plaza, it isn’t far at all.” Osomatsu said. “Huh! Pretty convenient that everything is in such close proximity to the hotel right?” Nyaa chan glanced at her surroundings, everything was beautiful, not a regret in the world. Having some fun with dear, sweet Osomatsu. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s why that hotel is so popular, it’s practically a hotspot for couples.” Osomatsu remarked. “You said it!” Nyaa chan agreed. They turned the corner to the plaza, just down the short road, there it was. A neon-lit arcade. It was less a building, and more of a big room, “I got a lot of cash on me so tokens and such won’t be a problem.” Osomatsu said. “Oh! Alright!” Nyaa chan’s excitement seeped through her tone. That alone made Osomatsu smile gently, she always knew the best way to make him smile.
They looked at the arcade directly in front of them, the lighting was black light, the carpet was filled with designs that were glowing under the light, the arcade was filled with neon colors and the sound of laughter, games, and friendly conversation. “Well, what are we waiting for!” Nyaa chan grabbed Osomatsu’s hand and stepped into the arcade. “Wow! This is amazing!” Nyaa chan admired. “Sure is! Hey wait at a game you wanna play, I will get us plenty of tokens, I’ll meet you at a game, okay?” Osomatsu looked at his girlfriend for her confirmation. “Sounds good!” Nyaa chan confirmed, then immediately left Osomatsu in the dust so she could go wait by a game she wanted to play. Osomatsu smiled and lightly chuckled, what a wonderful girlfriend she is. After a few seconds of standing there, admiring his girlfriend, he walked into the arcade to go to the token machine. “Aaaaalright…” Osomatsu looked at the options, “uhhh, so 1,000 Yen is equal to 100 tokens?? What a deal!” Osomatsu whipped out his wallet to feed the Yen into the token machine. Out spit 100 tokens, needless to say he was standing there for a good minute. He put the tokens in his pocket once they were done filling out of the machine. Now to find Nyaa chan. Osomatsu scanned the arcade, and he started to walk forward to find Nyaa chan. Oh, there she is, at the basketball game, she looked over, “Osomatsu! Over here!” she called out, waving her hand. “Coming!” she was so cute. She was wearing a loose off white shirt with flowers around the collar, she was wearing a medium length dark forest green flowy light skirt, she had her hair down, with two braids in the front to the back, in a small fishtail that looked like a crown.
He didn’t wanna think about fish right now. He wasn’t wearing anything special, just his letterman jacket, and his usual pants and shoes, nothing too special, he wanted to wear his suit, but he is glad he decided that was too formal for a cafe date, lucky for him that got ruined, now they’re here. Osomatsu reached Nyaa chan. “100 tokens.” he said. “Awesome!” Nyaa chan cheered. Osomatsu handed Nyaa chan 50 of the 100 he got, each game cost 5 tokens, so they could play there for a while. Nyaa chan inserted 10 tokens, so she could play twice, Osomatsu just watched. “Here we go!” Nyaa chan excitedly expressed. She picked up one basketball, and shot, 150 points, nice! “Yes!” she exclaimed. Osomatsu couldn’t help but smile, he was so lucky to have Nyaa chan, even if he was being annoying, even if he was being over emotional, she didn’t care, she wanted to spend time with him anyway, and that’s what mattered to him the most. She took a few more shoots, only really missing a few times, it was impressive, really. “Why don’t you try, Osomatsu?” Osomatsu pointed to himself in confusion. “Yes you, silly!” Nyaa chan picked up a ball and handed it to Osomatsu, they just stood there for a second, both holding the ball, Nyaa chan then let go and stepped to the side, Osomatsu then stepped up to the game, and threw the ball as hard as he could, it bounced off the rings on the machine and rolled to a 50, Osomatsu looked a little disappointed. “Ah! I-it’s okay! Try again!” Nyaa said sweetly. Osomatsu shrugged and picked up another ball that rolled down, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, he waited a second, opened them, and took a shot, this one more gentle than the last time, it bounced along the rings and landed in 200, confetti rained from the machine as tickets printed out of the machine, signifying their time playing that game had ended. “You did great, Osomatsu! I’m so proud of you!” she hugged him, he sat there for a second and let himself be hugged, before returning the hug and sinking his face into her shoulder, letting out a shaky sigh. “You alright, Osomatsu?” Nyaa chan asked, as she pulled away from the hug and had her hands on his shoulders, looking at him in the eyes with a look of concern. If he wasn’t careful, he could just break down right there, in the middle of an arcade, he needed to get out of there as fast as he possibly could. He shook his head as if to shake off the emotions trying to escape. Nyaa chan’s phone buzzed, she let go of Osomatsu and reached into her skirt pocket to grab her phone, wow, it was already 8:45, they should probably head back soon, it’s alright they didn’t do much, she had fun anyway. TEXT MESSAGE: Dobusu san; She’s asleep, let me know when you’ll be back, until then I will take care of her.
Nyaa chan opened her phone, shot back a quick text. “hey thank you so much! im out with osomatsu at the moment, i wont be home for a while, probably not until tomorrow night. again thank you! sorry for the short notice!” Dobusu responded, “It’s no problem Nyaa san.” Nyaa chan smiled in relief and put her phone in her pocket. Nyaa spoke, “Osomatsu, we should head back to the hotel, it looks like it’s gonna rain, and I don’t wanna get stuck in the rain.” Osomatsu was so relieved, “alright, let’s go back to the hotel.” Osomatsu felt safer in his own battlefield of a headspace knowing that he and Nyaa chan were going back to the hotel. Nyaa chan and Osomatsu held hands as they walked out of the arcade, “sorry.” Osomatsu’s voice was quiet. “Why are you apologizing?” Nyaa chan looked over at Osomatsu, his head was down looking at the ground as they walked. “I ruined our date at the cafe, then when we went here, I ruined that too. Osomatsu kicked a pebble. “Hey! It’s no big deal! I should have taken into consideration how you were feeling.” Nyaa chan let go of his hand and put her arm around his shoulder. “Are you sure you’re not uncomfortable? Are you sure you’re not turned off by this?” Osomatsu asked. “What do you mean?” Nyaa chan knew exactly what he meant, she just wanted to hear him say it. “That I’m acting like this, I’ve been out of it all afternoon, I’m supposed to be strong, I’m supposed to be the one who has it all together.” Osomatsu’s voice sounds strained. Nyaa chan stopped walking for a second, tuned Osomatsu around and put her hands on his shoulders. “Osomatsu, nobody ever said you have to be strong, all the time. Nobody ever said you can’t be vulnerable, you don’t have to have it together all the time. You don’t have to be okay all the time.” they both just stood there for a second, Osomatsu breaking contact to look down at his shoes. He looked up and nodded. Nyaa chan pulled him into a hug. It took all his strength not to break down right there, but he bit his tongue and swallowed his emotions. It can wait.
Nyaa chan let go of the hug and held Osomatsu’s hand as they walked into the hotel, walking through the lobby and entering the elevator. They were silent the whole few seconds that the elevator was bringing them up. The elevator opened and Nyaa chan and Osomatsu stepped out of it, they silently walked to their room and opened the door, Osomatsu stepped in as Nyaa chan closed the door behind them. “Sit on the bed with me.” Nyaa chan said sternly. Osomatsu Quietly nodded, Nyaa chan passed him and walked forward to the bed, climbing on it and sitting on the bed. Osomatsu walked to the bed and got on it, sitting across from Nyaa chan. Things were quiet for a few seconds. “So, what’s really wrong?” she asked, bluntly but sweetly. Osomatsu’s voice shuddered, on the cusp of a breakdown. “I-I can’t talk about it, I’m sorry.” he said shamefully. “You really can’t talk about it?” she asked, changing her gameplan. Osomatsu nodded. “I-I’m sorry I just…” Osomatsu began, Nyaa chan halted her change of plan and listened, Osomatsu was breaking. “What if I’m not the best boyfriend?” Nyaa chan’s heart shattered. “What if… what if I mess up and you leave me?” Osomatsu’s voice cracked with emotion. “No no no! I would never!” Nyaa chan reassured him. “I love you, AND your faults, nobody is perfect, neither you, nor me. I promise I love you so so so much and I would never leave you, ever. You’re such a good boyfriend, and I know you would never hurt me. You’re such a wonderful thing to happen to me, y’know, after my divorce and all…” Nyaa chan looked up to Osomatsu, her heart dropped.
Osomatsu was looking at her with the saddest look in his eyes. Tears streaming down his face. Nyaa chan immediately went and hugged him, Osomatu’s silent cries turned into loud heart wrenching sobs, he broke. Nyaa chan was holding him securely in a warm soft hug, rubbing his back. Osomatsu bawled with every ounce of emotion left in his body. “Shhhh You’re doing so good okay? Let it all out shhh.” Nyaa chan’s hushed voice was comforting. Osomatsu never thought he would actually let himself get like this, visibly emotional, then to end up crying? He never thought that would happen. “I-I’m z-szorryy” His words were shaky and slurred. “Hey hey don’t talk now okay? Just let your body cry first.” Nyaa chan rubbed his back in comforting circles. Osomatsu’s chin rested on Nyaa chan’s shoulders, he felt bad, he was getting her nice shirt all damp. God all this crying was really tiring, but he couldn’t stop. He was letting out all the emotions he had trapped inside of him, all these feelings he needed to let out, the dam inside of him had broken. His pained cries filled the room, and made it heavy yet lighter at the same time. Nyaa chan let go of Osomatsu, bringing him down to lay on the bed, burying his head in Nyaa chan’s chest as she enveloped him in her arms. He wasn’t crying as hard now, her chest muffled his crying. She was used to this kind of comfort, after all, she had a baby, so her protective instincts take over whenever this kinda stuff happens. Nyaa chan began singing quietly to Osomatsu while she pet his hair, his crying slowed, only occasionally letting out broken up little sobs. All that weight on his shoulders was gone, his breath hitched slightly occasionally. “Feel better?” Nyaa chan asked sweetly. Osomatsu made a little noise to confirm. His crying reduced to hiccups and sniffles, tears now slowly running over the bridge of his nose as he clung to his girlfriend. Nyaa chan sat herself and Osomatsu up, she smiled at him, such a sweet and gentle smile. She cupped his face to catch the last of the tears that rolled slowly down his cheeks. She wiped her thumbs over his face to wipe off the last of his tears, she took her sleeve and wiped his face dry, catching the dampness on his face. He leaned his head on her chest again and took a deep sigh. “Thank you, so much. Thank you for everything, Nyaa chan.” She put her arm around his shoulder and her other hand to pet his hair. “Of course, I love you, Osomatsu.” she closed her eyes and smiled. Osomatsu smiled as well, albeit light and wobbly, he smiled nonetheless, and this time, it was genuine. They let go and looked out the glass doors to see the city lights against the dark sky. It was raining. Spring rain was the best. “Here, come with me.” Nyaa chan grabbed Osomatsu by the hand and they got off the bed, she opened the sliding glass door to the outside, the overhang made it so the chairs and couches outside on the patio wouldn’t get wet. Holding his hand, they walked over to the couch, took the blanket off of the couch and sat down with him, she put the blanket on their laps, he leaned his head on her shoulder, and she leaned on him back. “The rain’s nice, isn’t it?” Nyaa chan asked, closing her eyes, “It is.” Osomatsu agreed. Osomatsu closed his eyes as well, and smiled, a light smile, the weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, he didn’t have to swallow his emotions anymore, they had been lifted, they had lessened like the rain, and moved off like the dark storm clouds. It had stopped raining, and the clouds began to slowly separate to reveal a starry sky, wow, even in the city, light pollution wasn’t a problem tonight. It made the clarity all the better. Post breakdown, post rain stargazing with Nyaa chan, absolutely perfect. Osomatsu went to hold Nyaa chan’s hand from under the blanket, interlocking fingers with her. Glad that all those negative emotions were gone, all those feelings had left him, and what was left was the nice feeling he had after something horrible happened and he had coped with things healthily. He didn’t think he would cry today, but things happen. “Hey, do you wanna order room service?” Nyaa chan asked. “All that crying must have made you hungry, and thirsty I can only assume.” Nyaa chan lightly laughed. “Sure! You’re right. I’m pretty hungry.” Osomatsu said back. “What do you wanna order?” Nyaa chan asked. “D’ya think they have spicy scallop rolls?” he asked, “without a doubt!” Nyaa chan smiled brightly and looked at him. “Well, what are we waiting for?” Osomatsu threw off the blanket and stood up and faced her. He held out his hand and smiled the brightest, happiest smile he had in a while, the way he silhouetted against the city lights behind him, fireworks were going off in her heart. She grabbed his extended hand and he pulled her in for a kiss. Her arms travelled to his back as his hands cupped the back of her head and layed flatly on her back. The kiss lasted a few seconds. They separated, touched foreheads and laughed. “Let’s go get some food.” she said happily. She skipped to the door and opened it for Osomatsu. “Ladies first~” Nyaa chan jokes. “Why thank you, sir!” he curtsied with an imaginary skirt and walked in the door daintily.
Nyaa chan followed and closed the sliding glass door, Osomatsu kneeled on the floor in front of the small table with a menu and a phone on it, he opened the menu. “Yes! Scallop rolls are a yes!” he cheered. Nyaa chan sat next to him and looked at the menu, Osomatsu picked up the phone to ring the front desk. “Hello? How can I help you?” the person at the desk asked. “I would like to order spicy scallop rolls and…” Nyaa chan pointed at the Cellophane noodle bowl, “and the Cellophane noodle bowl please! Thank you!” Osomatsu said happily. “Of course!” the person at the other end said. Osomatsu hung up the phone and smiled happily at Nyaa chan, who returned his smile.