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Kikoru believes in nothing short of perfection, from her work in the Defense Force, to her reports, to her training, and to her first ever date with Reno. She’s planned out the evening with the precision of fine needlework: first, they will have a perfect meal at a restaurant that's not too expensive, but also not too cheap. Next, they will go see a movie that has received amazing reviews from critics. Finally, they will have a deep, meaningful discussion about the movie and relate it to their own life experiences, which will be so emotionally moving for them both that they will share their first kiss before the night is up. It will be perfect in every way. Reno will have no choice but to fall for her.
They meet at the station at exactly seven o'clock, an ideal time for a date.
Kikoru is wearing her favorite floral dress that falls just above her knees, the bright yellow sunflower designs complimenting her hair. Reno strolls up with a white button-up shirt and a light gray jacket over it with slacks to match. They look every inch the picture of a couple out on an early summer date.
“I hope you weren't waiting long?” Reno asks, checking his watch.
“Only a few minutes.” Okay, more like twenty, but she didn't want to risk any train delays or traffic, so she left earlier than necessary. Besides, being on time to something important means being early. That's what her father taught her.
“I'm starving,” Reno says as they turn to walk towards the restaurant. “I can't wait to try this place.”
“It's the best, they have this prosciutto and fig flatbread with goat cheese and hot honey - it's to die for! Plus, their desserts are amazing.” Kikoru twirls a strand of hair around her finger and grins. She chose the restaurant based on its romantic, Italian countryside-like atmosphere and she even tested all of their best menu items the weekend before - all in preparation for today. Reno had asked her out so suddenly and earnestly after a kaiju attack that left them both injured, something that no man has ever done before. Kikoru is used to being asked out due to her family name, but Reno couldn't care less about that. When he asked her out, it was because it was her. That's why she wants to give him the best date possible. And that means ordering the best flatbread this side of Tokyo.
“We're so sorry, but we're all out of figs this evening,” the waiter says with a small frown. Kikoru’s heart sinks in her chest. “Can I interest you in one of our other flatbreads? The portobello mushroom, goat cheese, and red pepper flatbread is quite popular.”
“Do you wanna try it?” Reno asks, tilting his head ever so slightly at her. “It sounds good.”
Kikoru nods and smiles, remembering that now is not the time to be upset. That can come later. “Sounds great.”
It's just one little deviation from her plan. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things - plus, the goat cheese is still the same…
…And when it arrives at the table, it ends up being just okay. Not amazing, not delicious, and especially not perfect. Just… fine. After all the hype she gave this restaurant, it’s embarrassing for the food to be this mediocre. Kikoru only takes one bite before pushing her plate to the side and focusing on her side salad. She watches Reno wearily. He probably hates it and is just eating a full slice out of kindness.
He catches her eye and smiles. “It’s really good, don’t you think?”
Kikoru forces a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes and takes another bite. “Mhm!”
Okay, so dinner’s a bust, but the movie is the main event of the night anyway. It’s a dramatic period piece by an up-and-coming indie director who earned some acclaim at various independent film festivals. Surely, it can fix the blunders of this date…
…Or it would if it didn’t suck so much.
Oh, God, this movie is awful. Not only does it have poorly written dialogue, but it’s also filled with narrative inconsistencies and barely disguised wish fulfillment fantasies. It's painful to sit through and Kikoru can't help but look over to Reno's unreadable face every few minutes. Is he trying to keep his eyes open? Is he on the brink of falling asleep?!
“It was all right,” he says rather casually once they exit the theater. An hour and a half of pure torture and he's still being entirely too kind. Kikoru had hoped that they could talk about how bad the movie was and make jokes about it as a way to salvage the night, but instead he's taking it seriously.
“The main character was a bit of an ass, but the cinematography was really cool. I also liked the score, especially that piece towards the climax when he decided to defy his father. A bold move considering he was still financially dependent on him.”
Kikoru nodded, her shoulders slumped. “Yeah, though I doubt he'd be able to get away with saying all that to his dad without consequence. A bit unrealistic, if you ask me. He should have been cut off.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
“Huh,” he says, eyeing her with a sense of curiosity that she can't quite pin down. “I wish that wasn't the case.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, well, dads like that are all the same. They get some grand ideal and then they disregard the trees for the entire forest. It's not always wrong, seeing the bigger picture is important, but there are some trees worth protecting. Not that I care.”
“You don't?”
“Why should I? You can't change how people are, only they can do that. Honestly, it seems a little selfish to try.”
Reno hums low to himself. “I suppose. Though sometimes it's admirable to try anyway.”
Kikoru waves a hand. “Not like it ever works. People only change when they find someone or something worth changing for.”
“What if you're the one worth changing for?”
She lets that question hang in the air for a moment. Something about it cracks her heart in a way she can't explain. And then, without thinking it through, she answers from that broken place. “I never am.”
They walk around the city in silence after that, which is proof that this whole date has been a complete and utter failure. Kikoru bites down on her bottom lip. Hard. Enough to taste the sting of iron. Reno won't want to see her again after this disaster she planned out for them, and honestly? She can't blame him. She took on all the planning and promised him a fun date, but in the end nothing turned out the way she had hoped.
Her nails dig into her palms. If Reno notices, he doesn't comment. Instead, he stretches his arms above his head and lands one of them around Kikoru's shoulder on the way down.
“I had a great time tonight,” he says, looking down with a shy smile and pink cheeks. “Thank you for planning all of this.”
Kikoru frowns and takes a breath, the weight of his arm on her suddenly feeling much heavier. “This night was a disaster, though.”
Reno freezes. “Huh?”
“Nothing went right. The restaurant, the movie - everything was supposed to be perfect and it just… wasn’t…” She digs her nails into the thick of her palm and prepares for the worst. “I’m sorry, Reno.”
A pause stretches out between them and Kikoru has never felt so small, at least not since she was a kid.
Finally, Reno smirks and gives Kikoru’s arm a squeeze. “A flatbread and a less than stellar movie doesn’t make the date a disaster.” He brings his hand over his mouth and begins to chuckle softly at first, but then it becomes uncontrollable. “Is that why you seemed so anxious all night? Here I thought it was because of first date nerves.”
Kikoru blinks. “Hey? Hey! It’s not funny!”
“Sorry, sorry,” he says, wiping a tear away from the corner of his eye. “It’s just that I had so much fun spending time with you. I can’t imagine calling it a disaster.” He breaks out into more chuckles - more like giggles - and steps in front of her. “Thank you, Kikoru. For trying so hard to make tonight fun. But I must say, no matter what ended up happening, it would always be perfect in my book.”
He pushes a strand of hair behind her ears before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her lips, his hands entwining with hers. Kikoru’s eyes drift close as a feeling of release washes over her. Nothing else went her way tonight, but this? Well. This moment is perfect. And maybe, just this once, that’s enough.