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“I’m here, I’m here!” Yokoi dashes forward, having to stop and catch her breath after sprinting the entire way to the park. “So sorry I’m late!” Her grip on the picnic basket feels shaky and it takes all of her remaining energy to not fall face forward into the ground.
The only reason the basket and its contents doesn’t spill forth is due to a strong pair of arms taking it out of the spelling bee champion’s hands. “It’s okay Ruka, you aren’t late at all.” Ouno greets her with a warm, comforting smile. “We just got here.”
Yokoi sighs again, this one being more relieved. “Oh, oh that’s good…” She really needs to keep track of her schedule.
The joys of being a top star student in her classes, work never seems to stop.
Ouno already had the blanket laid out on the grass, as Yokoi sits down to rest her aching legs, she meets a tiny pair of eyes, colors a similar shade of the eyes belonging to the contortionist she’s grown to care for. “Hi!”
She’s still pretty tired, but she smiles back. “Hi Maria.” She’s met the small child a few times in person, but this would be the first time they’re sharing lunch together.
This was a spur of the moment idea since Ouno was very wary of hiring babysitters which Yokoi couldn’t blame her for and her parents or co-workers at the circus weren’t always available to look after her little girl. So instead of cancelling their date, Yokoi suggested that Maria tags along and voila, here they are now!
Which just left one issue for today, leaving a good impression on her. “Nama said you’d be here too.” Leave it to a small child to state the obvious.
“That’s right!” Yokoi beams. “Hope you don’t mind!” Hopefully she doesn’t sound like she’s trying too hard there… Oh god was she? Was she already trying too hard?!
Luckily for her, Maria simply takes the news with a smile. “If Nama likes you, I like you too!” The spelling bee champion felt like she was going to melt into the ground from the genuine sweetness being shown to her.
“That’s really sweet of you to say.” Yokoi wanted to say more than that, but she’s still reeling from the mad dash of grabbing what was needed for the picnic and then booking it all the way over to make it in the brink of time.
Ouno starts taking things out for the picnic, plates, glasses, and napkins. Maria had gotten a water bottle all to herself while she and Yokoi would have melon-flavored ramune. “I actually haven’t tried it before.” The contortionist sheepishly admitted.
It was surprising to Yokoi but she simply smiled, reaching a hand out to Ouno since she knew she didn’t always feel comfortable talking about things she didn’t know or get to experience that everyone else got to. “Well there’s no time like the present then!”
“Right.” It did the trick as the anxiety in Ouno’s eyes faded and they resumed setting up the picnic.
Maria, who had wandered off a little to inspect one of the trees, came toddling back to the picnic site upon seeing her mom taking out sliced apples and bananas from a container. “Can I have some?” It took all of Yokoi’s restraint to not squeal upon seeing her tiny, chubby hands reach for the fruits.
“What do we say?” Ouno prompted.
“Um, please?” Maria tried.
Ouno smiled, handing the small plate over. “Here you go.” Once Maria was settled, she turned to Yokoi. “Ruka, you want any?”
“Sure!” Truth be told, the spelling bee champion can’t remember the last time she had fresh fruits, having lived off of instant ramen and caffeinated teas for the past two weeks.
Something Ouno realizes as she watches her practically scarf down the plate. “Ruka…”
“I know, I know.” It’s not the first time they’ve had this conversation, as Yokoi’s realized the hard way her girlfriend takes health very seriously. “It’s only because I have important tests coming up!” Surely she’ll understand this time, right?
The contortionist understands that this will inevitably lead to burnout. “You’re really smart Ruka, but if you don’t take care of yourself, then you’re setting yourself up for failure.”
“I know…” She sighs, but old, overworking habits tend to die hard. She knows the school she goes to now doesn't have as many expectations and pressure her old school does, she knows her classmates will still look up to her even if she doesn’t get a perfect grade, yet it’s hard battling against those academic anxieties that have plagued her for years. “I’ll try.”
Ouno reaches for her hand, her touch melting away any fears and insecurities. “And I can be there to help!”
“Thanks Nanae.” Yokoi beamed. Gee, she really got lucky to have Ouno in her life, didn’t she?
She’s still not sure what she did to catch the contortionist’s eye, but she’s grateful for it every day.
When she leaned forward to press a kiss to her cheek, there was a tiny gasp of realization. “Do you liiiiiike Nama?” Maria questioned.
Yokoi felt like her entire face was on fire, curse her lesbian disaster self for forgetting the child in the room for even a brief moment! “Well I uh er, well I-”
Ouno stepped in since she could barely keep herself composed. “Yep! I like her too, so you’ll see Ruka more often, is that okay?”
“Do we get to go on more picnics then?”
A glance from her girlfriend helped her find the right words. “Of course it does!”
“Yay!” Maria cheered, since she was done eating went back to inspecting trees but she’d return once her mom brought out more food.
The spelling bee champion observed with a smile. “It’s not that complicated for her, is it?”
“Did you want it to be?” Ouno raised an eyebrow.
Yokoi immediately sputtered. “N-No! I just wanna make sure I’m leaving a good impression!” She knows how important Ouno and Maria’s bond is, she doesn’t want to do anything to disrupt that.
She’s just surprised the little girl accepted her being a part of her life more so easily.
“Well as long as you’re not eating just ramen…” Ouno trailed off with a smile.
She sighs. “I wooooooooon’t.” Guess she deserved that jab. “Besides, we gotta plan more picnics, so you can bring foods that aren’t ramen!”
“Yep!” The contortionist smiles. “And maybe next time you can bring one of your puzzles.”
Getting to have a fun picnic with her girlfriend and do cool puzzles together? “I’d love to.” Yokoi still can’t believe her school year has given her this much luck.
She’s not one to take things for granted, so she’ll make sure to make the most of the time she has with Ouno.
“I don’t have to worry about Maria trying to eat the puzzle pieces, do I?”
“Nooooooo…?”
“Nanae…”
“Maybe a little?”
“Well I guess we gotta make sure she doesn’t eat any while we’re not looking.”