Work Text:
Himiko loves Ochako in every way possible: she loves the way her eyes glisten in the sun, she loves the little freckles that sprinkle her cheeks in the summertime, but most of all she loves Ochako's smile. The way her lips turn up just that little bit more when their eyes meet drives Himiko crazy. People usually say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but Ochako's smile is worth so much more.
"In love" isn't even close to what Himiko felt for Ochako. She was completely enraptured by that girl, and she had to do something about it.
It was a bright and cosy Sunday, with the sky such a brilliant blue: bar a few fluffy white clouds peppered here and there, along with some birds diving and cutting through the skyline. The grass beneath her was a healthy and vibrant green, dusted with little daisies and buttercups and daffodils. Merging the horizon were the towering trees, with branches darting off into all directions as though it were a maze. Himiko was sitting cross-legged at the side of a lake, listening peacefully to the chirping noises of the smaller birds and the sounds of the ducks swimming across the pond.
She was contemplating, again. Staring up at the sky, Himiko sifted through different date ideas in her head; but came up empty every time. She wanted to do something special for Ochako, since this would be their first official date. It had to be something that Ochako would like, but the problem was, Himiko had no idea what Ochako would like!
After sitting at the lakeside for far too long, Himiko finally thought of something: a mochi date. Ochako loved mochi, and Himiko remembered her saying that it was her favourite food one time she was talking about a particularly good mochi she had one weekend.
"Ochako-chan!"
Himiko was knocking on Ochako's apartment window, having climbed up the side of the building; it was quite often that she did this, as Ochako wasn't quite ready to tell her classmates about their relationship yet, which Himiko was okay with.
Ochako stood up from her study desk and walked over to the window, sliding it up to let Himiko climb through.
"Hey, Himiko-chan, how are you? I haven't seen you in ages!" Ochako's lips turned up in that enchanting smile again.
"I'm amazing! I missed you so much, Ocha-chan..."
"I missed you too. Say, have you planned that date you were going on about last time? I'm so excited!"
Himiko paused. "Of course I have! That's why I came, it's date time!"
Ochako burst out in excitement; she couldn't have smiled any wider. "Really?! Where are we going?"
"That's a secret, Ocha-chan."
Himiko pulled out a dark-coloured bandana that she brought with her and gently put it over her girlfriend's eyes, turning her around to tie it in a little knot at the back.
"Are you ready, Ocha-chan? I'll guide you, just hold my hand, okay?"
Ochako nodded in agreement. Himiko was so sweet; ever since they got together, she's been so gentle and caring towards Ochako. She reached her hand out, grasping the air until she met Himiko's hand, who giggled tenderly at her failed attempts at finding her hand.
"You're adorable, Ochako-chan."
Their first challenge was getting out of Ochako's apartment building. Himiko took the lead, guiding her girlfriend through the place until they met the stairs.
"We have stairs, be careful." Ochako nodded.
Step by step, the girls descended the first few stairs with no problems; but then Ochako lost her balance, letting Himiko's hand go to steady herself.
"Woah, Ocha-chan!" Himiko giggled and grabbed both of Ochako's hands this time, walking backwards down the stairs and guiding her down steadily.
The girls got to the bottom, and left the block. Letting go of one of her hands, Himiko took the lead again and guided Ochako through the winding paths. They had to take a slightly longer, more secluded route so that none of Ochako's classmates would see them. Luckily, Himiko knew all of the back paths of the town. This particular path that they were on had a roof of vibrant trees, with sunlight filtering through; almost like little spotlights. Himiko started to speed up a little, leading Ochako into a spin and bringing her so close that their noses were touching one another. Himiko could feel the heat from Ochako's evident blush; she loved teasing her like that.
Ochako hummed awkwardly, and Himiko found it so cute that she just had to peck her lightly on the lips.
"I love you, Ochako-chan."
Ochako paused, before shaking her head to get herself out of a trance. "I love you too."
The place that Himiko decided on for the date was a small café on the corner of a hidden street; it wasn't anything special, but there were risks in anyone seeing them in public. Ochako didn't want to risk anyone seeing them together, and Himiko was wanted for countless crimes, so she had to find somewhere safe for both of them.
"We're here!" Himiko went to untie the blindfold, clinging onto Ochako's back once she did so. "What do you think, Ocha-chan?"
Ochako blinked to get adjusted to the light, and looked at the establishment in front of her. It was adorable: the whole building was covered with vibrant vines and flowers, running up and down the edges of the building. There were a few tables outside, all white and slightly vintage-styled, but they had a very romantic taste to them. The girls walked - hand in hand - towards the front entrance of the building. Ochako hummed in excitement, pointing at a chalkboard at the side of the path.
"Look, Himiko-chan, they have mochi!" She swivelled her head around to look at her girlfriend, and her eyes were so wide and dazzled that Himiko could see stars glistening in them.
"That's why I came here, silly!" Ochako stared at Himiko, with an elated and slightly ditzy look on her suntanned face, and the two girls walked into the café.
They took a seat across from each other at a lightly-coloured two-person booth, designed just for dates like theirs. They sat right beside a window, brightening up the booth beautifully. They looked at the menu's laid out on the table, and scoured through them for a bit, until the waitress stood with a little notepad and pen, asking what they wanted to order.
"Mochi! Just the traditional mochi Do you do milkshakes? Ooh, ooh, can I have some strawberry ice cream too?" Ochako grinned at the waitress.
"Of course! We serve vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry milkshakes. Which flavour would you like?"
Ochako paused for a moment. "Vanilla, please!" The waitress nodded.
"I also want some mochi! Ooh, and also some strawberry cheesecake!"
The waitress nodded again, humming in approval, before scribbling their order onto her notepad. "Sure thing! We'll bring it out to you once it's ready." She pulled out a match from her apron pocket, and struck it to light the candle at the end of the table for the girls before walking off.
"Ocha-chan, what do you think of it? Did I choose a good place?" Himiko really hoped that she liked it.
"Of course, Himi-chan! I love it, it's all so cute!" Ochako dragged out the word cute for emphasis, and Himiko thought it was the most adorable thing in the universe.
Everything about her was perfect. The way her hazel eyes reflected little flecks of sunlight throughout them; they reminded her of the trees on the way here. It was like little spotlights in her eyes. Her little freckles were beginning to shine through now, too. That was one of the reasons that Himiko loved summer. The sun also gave Ochako such vibrant auburn highlights in her hair, which she adored.
"What's that look for?" Ochako tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Hey, Himiko! Are you in there?"
This time it was Himiko's turn to shake her head out of a trance. "You're so pretty Ocha-chan! I love you so much." Himiko said dazedly.
Ochako immediately went red. "Himi-chaaaaan, stop it!"
"But you are! Your hair is so-" Himiko was interrupted by the waitress returning and setting their plates down in front of them.
"Two mochis, a strawberry cheesecake, and an extra special vanilla milkshake with two straws for you two! Please enjoy." She bowed, before wandering away again.
They both dove right into their dishes, Ochako beginning on the mochi and Himiko starting on her cheesecake.
The mochi was perfect. Ochako took her first bite of the green matcha mochi, leaving traces of powder all over her mouth. Himiko giggled and picked up a napkin to wipe Ochako's face for her, dabbing the powder off tenderly.
Himiko took a sip of the tall milkshake, and Ochako decided to take the other straw and drink at the same time. Once again, their noses were touching each other, just like when they were on the path.
Ochako began eating the pink mochi, and offered Himiko a little bite of it, which she gladly accepted.
"How is it? It's good, isn't it!" Himiko hummed and nodded in reply, letting her know that it was good. And it truly was good. The sticky texture of the mochi was just perfect!
Once the two had finished their food, they asked for the bill and exited the café.
Ochako walked up next to her girlfriend and interlocked their arms together and smiled at her. "I love you, Himiko-chan." They were once again at the path with the spotlights and the trees, and Ochako turned and gave Himiko a peck on her lips. "I love you, so, so much. I hope you know that. Our date was perfect, Himi-chan!"
It was moments like these - little dates in tiny cafés, or kissing under the trees - that really made their relationship worth it.