Last chapter!

16 – fall

Set before Ayaka's gaze was the sweetest sight she could imagine. A combination of all things important in life, though she was sure he would disagree on at least one account. Rin detested sweet foods, and had proven to be little help in making a decision.

"These kinds of things take time." Ayaka explained, still eyeing the selection of bakery sweets.

"Too much time," Rin muttered, before adding in a louder voice, "I thought this was a date, not a grocery trip."

"Why can't it be both?"

A long sigh rent the bubble between the two of them, startling Ayaka. It came from neither of them, but the employee slumped over the counter. "Just choose one, Ayaka. You've already been here ten minutes." Satsuki whined.

"I will, just don't rush me!" Ayaka snapped, not taking her eyes off the food.

She stumbled forward when Rin clapped her on the shoulder. "I'll get you the melon pan." He declared. When Ayaka made no move away from him, instead leaning in, Rin responded with a tactile arm around her shoulder.

Ayaka glanced up at him, surprised and more than a little happy about the ease with which they seemed to come together. It was nearing a week since Rin's surprise visit to her school, though it seemed like far longer to Ayaka. It was so hard to imagine a time where she didn't like him, without at least knowing him as well as she did. It was amazing how, the moment they were both ready, a place could be established for the other. Ayaka was more than willing to accommodate Rin inside her heart.

These musings came and lasted for the time it took Rin to buy the bread off Satsuki. She watched on blankly, awakening from her revere only when Rin leaned close to her again.

"Here." He announced, shoving the food into her hand.

"Oh, right. Thanks!" Ayaka beamed up at him, her free hand moving to his collar to pull him down to her height. She kissed his cheek before either of them could begin to blush – which was beginning to happen with embarrassing frequency. "You're such a sweetheart."

"Really?" Satsuki interjected rudely, "I thought that he looked like he just wanted to get out of here."

"I do." Rin admitted.

True he did look a little out of place, but that was partly his own fault. He had adopted a hunched stance, lowering his head and using his cap to cast a shadow over his expression. Ayaka nudged him with her elbow.

"Ashamed to be seen in public with Ayaka?" Satsuki ventured to guess, teasing them absently.

"Ha! Like anyone would be ashamed to have me by their side!" Ayaka cried, hooking her arm around Rin's, "He just doesn't want people to see that he-!"

"Shibata," he warned, dangerously quiet until he added, "It's time to go."

Ayaka, despite being pulled backwards, retained enough composure to send Satsuki a playful wink. While the dark haired girl rolled her eyes, feigning exasperation at their behaviour, her smile betrayed her. She had waited so long for Ayaka to realise where her happiness lay, and longer still for her to reach it. For Rin and Ayaka, Satsuki had nothing but well-wishes.

Not for the first time that day, Ayaka was thankful she had chosen lace-up shoes over anything heeled. They were far more practical when running after Rin, who left the bakery the moment he made up his mind to.

"See ya, Satsuki!" Ayaka called in, stumbling backwards through the store's exit.

Tinted windows and a closed door hid the other girl's reply. Ayaka, accepting the change of scenery, moved to catch up to Rin. He walked a few steps ahead, dressed in a plain shirt and jeans, and wore his hair tied back.

Their fingers slid together, matching pieces of the same puzzle, as she drew level. "You don't want people to see how red you turn when I kiss you." Ayaka concluded, before taking a prompt, satisfying bite from her melon pan.

"I don't turn red."

"You do!" Her voice was muffled by her mouth full of food.

"You're wrong."

Ayaka swallowed quickly and began by saying, "Didn't you say that you were gonna laugh at me when I was wrong about something? Because you're not laughing now – and if you wait until I finish eating, I can prove that I'm right. Why do you have to upset the balance of the world like this?"

"It's not my fault you have a giant ego." Rin retorted.

"Not your fault I have self-confidence, you mean." Ayaka quipped, before she resumed eating the melon pan.

Rin pulled her aside just in time to let someone pass along the footpath beside them. Her hip bumped against his, just for a second closer than normal. For a brief moment, he wished they were alone; fortunately the reality around him was enough to wash clean his thoughts just as quickly.

"Self-confidence," Rin continued the conversation effortlessly, resuming their walk, "is not self-confidence if it involves putting someone else down."

Ayaka's ash-blonde curtain of hair fell forward, though not fast enough for Rin to miss the small, sweet smile resting on her lips. "Very smart, Matsuoka. Did I ever tell you how much I like you?"

The softness of such words took a moment to settle in his heart. "…I don't mind if you have to tell me again."

"And I don't mind telling you."

"Go ahead then."

"Fishing for compliments, much?" Ayaka teased, before a thoughtful expression overtook her usual smirk, "Okay, well, I like you more than this melon bread."

"That's pathetic."Rin scoffed.

"You do better then." She dared, mid-bite of her food.

"I will," Rin retorted, and after a pause, continued on to say, "I…like you more than I did when we first met."

"Yeah, no joke. You hated me then."

"I didn't – you just seemed annoying."

"And what's changed? Other than the fact I got more beautiful each time you came back from Australia."

Rin kept his eyes on the street ahead, determined not to meet her gaze in case he started blushing again. "We both grew up a little," he explained softly, enrapturing Ayaka, "And I just didn't know you that well. I didn't understand how or why you could act so casually about everything – I was surprised at how nice you can be."

Ayaka finally finished the melon pan, licking what residue there was from her fingers. It was a ploy that allowed her to think of a suitable reply. "So you like that I'm nice? Not that I'm clearly very attractive?"

He jerked to a halt, Ayaka following without choice given their linked arms. She let go only to face him, to watch as he finally met her intent gaze. For however cute it was to see him embarrassed or shy around her, there was a very different thrill to the way he looked at her now – so resolutely.

"It's not that," he admitted, admittedly forced into a corner, "I've always thought you were pretty."

"Thank you. Not that I didn't know it already, but it means more coming from you." Ayaka confessed, smiling to herself.

When the wind blew loose the hair from behind her ear, Rin fought to keep from tucking it back. He wasn't a huge fan of public affection, and the idea that he could even be affectionate towards her still needed more time to sink in. He kept forgetting, reverting back to old boundaries.

"Rin?"

"Yeah?" he spoke louder than intended, startled from thought.

"I want to ask, um, if we're…" she fumbled with her words, glancing down for a moment, "On the same page with…this."

He tilted his head, staring at her and wondering why her courage lapsed only then. It wasn't until Ayaka met his eyes that she recovered her composure. "What?" she asked, confused by his smile.

"It's nothing," he dismissed the question, unable to deal with the hassle that would follow if he admitted that he was really just thinking about how cute she was, "But by this, you mean…"

"Dating." She confirmed, taking a huge breath.

"Oh, yeah. We are," Rin replied vaguely, before adding, "Dating, I mean."

Ayaka tilted her head, wearing a curious smirk. "Really? You don't sound too sure."

"I am."

He spoke firmly, without hesitation. There was hardly time for doubt before Rin held her still by her shoulders, leaning closer. Her look of surprise, lips parted and eyes wide, only seemed to make her more endearing to him. He kept the kiss short and sweet, smiling against her lips before ending it before Ayaka's surprise had barely even begun to wear off.

The feeling of him lingered on her lips long after, even until Ayaka exclaimed, "What was that for?"

"Just because." Rin shrugged, eyes averted.

Her lips turned upwards in a wry smile. "Because you've fallen for me, right?"

He echoed her grin with his own, leaning just a little closer once more. It was most natural to reply, "Of course, idiot."

She forgave the last insult if only because it was a lie. His hand, ghostly as it brushed against hers, was enough of a reassurance. It had been like a dream, and it might have possessed all the promise of one – only if not for how resolutely her fingers fell into his.

Thank you guys so much for reading! It means a lot and I appreciate every fav, follow and review (even though I might not always/ever reply because I am a shit, I know). You guys are amazing and there is nothing like support to encourage future writing!

Bonus for you guys as well, because I couldn't stop writing about Rin - I'm posting that oneshot at the same time as this chapter. You can read it under the title 'Oneshot: Understandings'.

Please don't hold back in your reviews and let me know how you feel about this ending - and, as always, I hope you enjoyed the story :)