My First Date with Yukinoshita wasn't as Bad as I expected

Author's Note: Hello everyone and thanks for reading my fanfic. I know its been what? Half a year since I last posted anything here, but it's all good right? Guys? Anyways, now that 3rd season has is finally airing, it managed to energized some of my passion for writing for this series and this little plot bunny sprung up. So I hope you enjoy it. It practically has no story so I hope it doesn't bother you much and its unbeta'd so all mistakes are of my own.

Warning: Some light cursing.

-0-

I checked my watch once more before crossing my arms and returning to my position, leaning against the pole in the middle of the small park near the train station. It was 10:30 and I just made the huge mistake of being way too early, seeing as how my own companion wouldn't even arrive until the 30 minutes later on the agreed time of our meet up. But it was half nervousness and half need to impress that drove me out so early in the first place, not like I was ever the tardy type to begin with but it was nice to show off that I can be responsible as well. Besides, I fear she might cut me down with her swift words and sharp tongue if I was even a fraction of a minute late.

So, what was I doing out here at 10:30 on a bright and sunny Sunday morning? Well folks, I'm going to be joining Yukino Yukinoshita, Sobu High's resident Ice Queen and the President of the Service Club herself, out on our first date.

It had already been a couple weeks since we had confessed our feelings for each other and started going out, the final exclamation point to the slow build up that our friendship (and budding romance) was slowly morphing into as the year dragged on. But that part is a story for another time and I'd rather not bore you with the details.

All you need to know was that me and Yukinoshita became an official couple, at first it was supposed to be a secret. But having a small group of friends like ours, it didn't last long before the word got out, school went on a rumor frenzy and now things have sort of calmed down. Hopefully, I still feel holes being burned into my back and almost all my female friends, especially Kawa-something and Yuigahama, acting awkward and uncomfortable around us, but it's something everyone was still getting used to, a trial period if you will.

But now that things have settled down, it was time to do what couples usually do (no, not that kind of thing, you perverts), but the typical mundane stuff. And first in the agenda, was going on our first date as a couple. Sure we had usual ones, like lunch meetups where we eat at the clubroom (or my loner spot if I ever convince her it's a good place to eat and relax) and the afterschool ones where we would go to various places such as cafes, bookstores, mall etc., but they were always too short and always left me with more to be desired. Now, it was our first full length date and I was nervous as hell with what could happen today.

I was surprised at first, that Friday afternoon once the club meeting had ended and we were cleaning up. It was only me and Yukinoshita left in the clubroom, Yuigahama was pulled away with an emergency that left both of us alone, which was fine by me, the more alone time with her the better.

"Hikigaya-kun, are perhaps free this weekend?", she asked out of the blue as I put away the chair on the back.

"Of course I am", I proudly replied as I turned back to her. "There is nothing in the outside world that would ever pull me away from the comfort of my bed".

Yukinoshita sighed as she cleaned up the tea set, "I can never comprehend how you are able to declare such a thing with pride".

"I'll sing it from the rooftops if I have to", I declared.

Yukinoshita cleaned it up before turning back to me, I can clearly see that she was fidgeting and an evident blush was beginning to form on her face as she seemingly played with the strands of her long dark hair. Wait a minute…am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?

Was Yukino Yukinoshita nervous?

"I was wondering if you're free-I mean you just said you are, I mean, if you're interested in…", now Yukinoshita was never the stutter, usually she was able to enunciate and say her words properly, to the point where she can drive your ego to the ground with flick of her tongue. But now she seemed to be having a difficult time being able to say what she had wanted to say, it was like the Ice Queen of Sobu High wasn't being herself.

Is this a rare event? Do I get an achievement?

"Going out on a date this Sunday", she finished her request.

The silence that followed was a calm one, the breeze blowing against the curtains that kicked it up and seemingly danced with the wind, the distant chatter of students and the cheering of the sports clubs down below, and the peaceful sound of Chiba that filled into the room. Yukinoshita looked at me in anticipation, there was still an evident deep red blush on her face but now she had managed to say what she had wanted. That genuine side of her that she only showed to me was finally out in the open, I couldn't but smile at that as I felt a warmth spread across my chest.

"I would love to"

A flash of raven hair bobs into my view and I snap towards it, only to realize that it wasn't her. I feel a little dejected by that, feeling my excitement deflate before I resume my wait. It wasn't like I was looking forward to seeing what she would be wearing or anything, don't misunderstand. Her fashion sense merely piqued my interest that's all, knowing that Yukinoshita was from a wealthy family I started to think if she would wear something flashy and expensive, but I recall what she wore when we went out on our first outing for Yuigahama's birthday and I realized I was only overexaggerating it.

Though I wouldn't mind if she styled her hair like that again…

I'm somehow drawn to review my own clothes for today. It was a simple attire, an open light blue polo, a white shirt with an abstract design on the front, brown pants and nicest shoes I had. I already had planned an outfit that I would wear for today, but upon seeing it, my dear little Komachi was admonished.

"Onii-chan, you can't seriously go out on a date with Yukino-san dressed like a lead singer for trash grunge band, are you?", Komachi accused as she gawked at my clothes. "I should deduct so many points for having you even consider wearing that!".

Sure, having my fashion get called out by my little sister of all people stung, but she was right on one regard. I had to at least be presentable during a date with a girl, especially considering this to be our first one out of all the dates. So I gingerly tapped my foot and checked my watch once more, it was only 10:34 and I grimaced, I swear I was musing in my thoughts longer than that.

Regardless, another thought began to plague my mind. It had been lingering in the back of my head since Friday and now it began to give me a little bit of anxiety, sure, I could just be overthinking things and this just a giant mess of thoughts clobbering together just to beat me down, but I was little nervous about the status of relationship now we were about to go on our first date.

Sure, Yukinoshita is now my girlfriend and things have been going at a rather steady and comfortable pace, but now going on our official first date, I don't know. I suddenly began to feel nervous on the prospects of what would happen if she found me unappealing throughout the course of today. I was able to be a little lenient and showcase my jaded side towards her when we were still friends and I saw no reason to be honest to her about what I really thought and how I saw things, but now that we're dating, I began to worry that the things that made her like me in the first place would slowly becoming annoying to her.

Will she find me too cynical? Self-deprecating? Too jaded to be fun to be around? Will she find me too much of a burden to be around and then leave me?

"Hikigaya-kun, I was right, you are cynical, jaded and too annoying to be around. Please, never contact me again…"

Oh dear, I don't think I'll know what to do if Yukinoshita ever said those words to me. It would cut deeper than any of our verbal barbs will ever will, besides, I don't think how I'll ever recover from it, the fact my own girlfriend would dislike me for my personality despite knowing me for so long. Somehow, that fear gripped the deepest parts of my heart and made me a little uneasy just thinking about it.

Just calm down Hachiman, you're just going on a normal date with my normal girlfriend and –

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun, I didn't expect you to be so early"

Scratch that, the Goddess of Love, Harmony and Beauty herself.

I literally had to pick my jaw from the floor when I turned and saw her. Even though she wore a simple white long sleeve blouse, high waist short blue skirt, brown shoulder bag and shoes, she somehow managed to make her simplistic beauty ever more pronounced. It was cheesy for me to say at this point, but Yukinoshita really is beautiful.

I coughed into my hand as she neared me, "Of course I would, I'm a very punctual person when it's needed".

"That I can appreciate, saves me from needlessly waiting for a long time", she admitted, before looking at me. "You look…", What? Terrible? Shabby? Undeserving to be with you on this day?. "Great, surprisingly actually, I would assume you would wear something less…desirable".

You should've seen me before Komachi intervened, "Thanks, you look great yourself".

I wanted to say more like amazing, godlike and even perfect, but I bit my tongue. I doubt she would appreciate such chiding, besides, Yukinoshita herself seemed pretty pleased by that. Giving me an appreciative smile before taking out her phone from her bag and began scrolling.

"Since I was the one who had asked you out, I decided to take it upon myself to plan what we shall be doing for the day", she began explaining, I breathed a small sigh of relief, since I myself would have difficulty mapping out the things to do for a date, since I lacked any experience. But leave it to Yukinoshita to be well prepared with a plan.

"Sounds great, what's first in the itinerary?", I asked.

She shows me her phone and I see a poster of the local aquarium, I couldn't help but raise a brow at that, never thought of Yukinoshita to be the aquarium type.

"I heard they would be unveiling a new attraction so I decided it might be good to go and see", she replied as she stuffed her phone back into her bag. "Besides, I've never to the aquarium myself so I thought now might a good time as any"

I let out a whistle, "I've been to it a few times, but I heard it's been expanded and its gotten pretty big, are you sure we're going to have the time to admire the entire place?".

"Please Hikigaya-kun, we got all the time in the world", she replied before turning around and waiting for me to be beside her before we began walking to the train station.

I gazed up at the white puffy clouds draped against the blue sky, the sun was up and bright and there was a cool and gentle breeze in the air. I breathed it in and let out a relaxed sigh, somehow that puts me at ease, as if today was made perfect for the both of us to enjoy.

I feel my hand graze hers, and I feel my face heat up and move it a little farther away from hers. But that's when she grabs hold of it with hers, a warmth closes around my hand as I feel mine is wrapped around with hers. It's warm and it feels nice.

I could get used to this.

-0-

I found myself in a staring contest with a large eyed fished. It was strange, to seemingly be engaged in such a juvenile activity with a fish of all things, but it was strangely calming staring into those dead fisheyes of his (yes, the irony of that statement is not lost on me). Besides, if it loses, that can easily mark me as having the superior dead fisheyes, not like I take pride in them but I am strangely competitive of it now. But that's when a shadow appears beside me and my competitor, realizing what he was gazing upon, prompt swam away. I watched him as he did.

That means I win right?

"Hikigaya-kun, I didn't realize you were so interested in staring at fishes", Yukinoshita commented as she stood beside me.

"Not particularly, but it's strangely calming", I replied as I turned to face her.

"I see, I guess it's refreshing to see a creature with the same eyes…", she commented, putting on a faux thinking finger under her chin.

I smiled at her barb, "Please, mine are one of a kind".

"No wonder there are none as rotten as yours"

I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from smiling, that was damn good and I lacked any proper retort. Yukinoshita seems pretty self-satisfied by my reaction, so much so a calm smile spread across her mouth before moving to loop her arms around mine and practically drag me to the next attraction.

It was a bit of a busy day today, with a variety of families, friend groups and fellow couples milling about the aquarium. Luckily, it wasn't as crowded as I expected it to be, despite the crowd of people that walked about and admiring the attractions, I was thankful for that, I don't really feel all that comfortable in way too crowded places and I think Yukinoshita knew that, seeing as how she picked today to go when the peak period was dropping. Maybe I should praise her more about it, but I doubt she'll take such a compliment kindly, she might even accuse me of asking for a favor or being plain weird about it.

I watched as a group of high school friends posed in front of a giant aquarium as one of them took a group selfie, I wondered if I could ever find myself doing such a thing with so many people. Probably not, loners like myself blend too easily in the background and we can practically be unrecognizable in group photos. But then Yukinoshita squeezes my arm and I look down at her but she is merely staring ahead, not even bothering to spare me a glance as we go through those aquarium-hallways.

"Hikigaya-kun, need I remind you of the proper etiquette while on a date?", she said, a little too threatening.

I swallowed thickly, "Do I need to?".

"Of course, that rotten brain of yours is filled with too much disturbing stuff, it must forget basic common sense", she replied and I feel myself smirk a little at her remark.

"Don't disregard the old Hikigaya think machine Yukinoshita", I prided as I pointed to my head, even giving her sideways grin but her face remained unchanging.

"Well does the 'Hikigaya think machine' know it's rude to gawk at other girls while on a date with his girlfriend?", Yukinoshita retorted.

Is Yukino Yukinoshita jealous? I couldn't help but be a tad please with myself upon the realization of that. It's ever so rarely that the Ice Queen herself would wear her heart on her sleeve, but when she does, I take the time to relish it as much as I could. Cause much like the snow that falls on the ground, come spring, it'll immediately melt away and never to return, merely leaving behind the sensation of its cold feeling in my hands. But I knew I would be a horrible boyfriend to just be staring at other girls while I was with my girlfriend, which I wasn't doing in the first place, not like I do it when she's not around either.

I have no other interest other than her! I would declare that from rooftops if I have to, but for now, I'd like to clear myself of the wrongdoing.

"I wasn't staring at other girls, honest", I said, hoping it can convince her of my innocence.

"Please, your eyes may be rotten but they're not quick", she replied, meaning that appeal was overturned. "Honestly, to think you'd be so lecherous as to do it while I'm here".

I sighed, knowing that this strategy of trying to appeal my innocence wasn't going to get me anywhere and so I decided to go about a different strategy. I decided to admire the fishes that swam beside us, I wondered what it was thinking as it watched us. Were we a normal couple in its eyes? Is this just normal couple stuff right? Yeah, we were just your normal everyday couple. And right now, the helpless boyfriend was trying to find a means to quell the growing anger in his jealous girlfriend.

"Besides, I don't really see the need to gawk at other girls", I said as we naturally came to a stop, watching as a school of fish swam over us, its swirls around and I found myself entranced by it. "I've got you, why would I need anyone else?".

Her face betrays her often cold demeanor, as a deep red blush began to overtake her face. She looks away but I see a hint of a happy smile on her face as she does.

I count that as a victory in my book.

But that victory was surely bittersweet, as I sat across from Yukinoshita, who was currently giving me the cold shoulder. We were in the aquarium's local restaurant, it was already past lunchtime and we were starved and since the nearest restaurant was a few miles more than we liked we decided to hole up at the local restaurant. And as expected, the food is overpriced, the place is too cold and it all tastes as much as you expect it. I liked the décor though, it has the "Under the Sea '' theme to it, sure a lot of it looked tacky and novel, but it was something I could appreciate.

I take another bite from the seafood carbonara I ordered…Man, I really wish I was Saize right now…Before looking up to watch as she ate her own food. Even when she was angry and sulking, she was still somehow able to make it look so flawless. I might come off as a serious sadistic bastard when I say, Yukinoshita looks unbelievably cuter when she's mad like that, her eyes are sharper and her expression a little pouty but I can still sense a sharp tension in the air around her.

Strangely, she does remind me of my furry and lazy house pet when I accidentally step on his tail.

"I might've grown immune to your perverted stare Hikigaya-kun", she suddenly said as I broke out of my revere. "But it doesn't mean I enjoy still being under it".

I decided not to take her up on that barb, knowing that it would just be pointlessly circling around the obvious elephant in the room. So I decided to cut straight to the point.

"Look, how many times do I have to say I'm sorry?", I asked as Yukinoshita placed her spoon down and her hands on her lap.

"Perhaps you can take that knife beside you and – "

"I am not committing hara-kiri"

"Well then, consider that matter resolved"

I sighed, knowing how stubborn she could get but I never expected her to be this stone walled. It's not like I was in the wrong or anything, I had claimed my innocence and even managed to swoon her with simple words and chalking that as my victory. Maybe that was my first mistake, thinking I had won over Yukino Yukinoshita. You can never win one over Yukino Yukinoshita, that's just theoretically improbable, scientists the world over would lose their heads trying to wrap around a route in order to win one over her.

So dejectedly, I picked at my food as my head swirled, fearing this might be the start of a downhill plight that would inevitably end with Yukinoshita, sad and disappointed, turning around and leaving me in the middle of a plaza at night and in the rain.

"I'm sorry Hikigaya-kun, but you're too much for me…", she speaks before walking off.

I felt my chest constrict once more at the idea of it, I know I acted like an abrasive sarcastic self-deprecating prick from time to time, mostly because it's a defense mechanism at this point just so people don't get too close. But I feared that that attitude could make Yukinoshita hate me, and I don't know how I'd be able to handle it if Yukinoshita wises up, sees what kind of gloomy person I truly am and –

"Ow!"

A swift kick to my shin, and I am broken out of my musings to see Yukinoshita still sitting there and watching me. I see her leg move back and I give her a questioning look.

"As much as I feel displeasure from your rotten eyes gazing at me, your look of worrying is much more troubling", she said, obviously masking what she really meant. "Please, never make that face again".

I feel myself smiling at that, "Fine, I won't".

"Also, don't go around staring at other girls when you're on your first date with your girlfriend"

"I-I wasn't!"

"And don't think whispering sweet nothings into my ear would make me swoon, don't group with those doe-eyed girls from those perverted books you find entertaining"

I shall ignore that jab at masterpieces of Japanese literature and merely relish in the fact that I, in some roundabout way, have been forgiven. Despite not having done anything wrong in the first place, but, no use trying to unearth buried hatchets. Now I can enjoy this overpriced meal with some peace of mind, and yep, still as typical as I could expect.

Maybe they have MAXX coffee in here, now that would turn this lunch experience around…

Yukinoshita was already scrolling through her phone as we waited for the change to arrive, as expensive and tiresome the experience at the aquarium was, it was loads of fun. Sure, there was a brief moment of relationship anxiety, but who hasn't had one of those? She seems to be eagerly searching for something on her phone as she does, another that was mesmerizing about her.

It's no small feat to look amazing doing anything but Yukinoshita manages to do it so flawlessly. The way she moves, her simple expression and even the way she talks, it's as if it pierces some part of my heart that makes it flutter more and more I get to see it. It may be as simple as watching her admire fish, eating or just being on her phone but I consider these little moments with her something special.

Fuck…maybe I really am whipped.

"Hikigaya-kun, are you a fan of horror or action?", Yukinoshita suddenly asked me.

"I guess horror, never been much for action movies", I replied honestly.

"I see, comedy or drama?"

"Comedy, but it depends, if the drama isn't too mushy or if the comedy isn't too cringe inducing"

"I'm surprised you would be so critical of such things Hikigaya-kun"

I had a small smirk at that admission, "Of course I am, I think all people are, if don't we'd just mindlessly consume whatever hack of a creator shits out without a second thought and lower the quality of said media".

I could tell Yukinoshita was impressed by that, given the small hint of smile on her face as she steals a glance up at me.

"How admirable Hikigaya-kun, then I'm sure those light 'novels' you are so endeared by should all be considered trash", Yukinoshita pointed out.

"I didn't say that, don't use my own words against me", I replied, she's a sly girl I always seem to forget that.

I watched as she gingerly tapped on her phone before the waiter came back with our change.

"So, what do you have planned next?", I asked as I pocketed my wallet.

"We're going to see a movie"

"A movie?"

"Yep", she said before showing me her phone and the poster of the movie that was being shown at the nearby mall.

I sighed, "Sounds fun".

-0-

I followed Yukinoshita, or in more specific terms, I followed her back as we walked into the movie theater. In my arms was a single large popcorn and soda, Yukinoshita admonished the fact that I would still go and buy movie snacks even after having lunch no more than an hour ago, but I argued for it. Never would I ever go to theater just to watch a movie, of course I would want to be eating something, if the movie is good, popcorn and soda just heightens the experience. Conversely, if the movie is terrible, well at least I would have to distract myself for the next hour or so.

Yukinoshita wanted to catch a supposed double feature the theater was running, which was fine, getting to watch two movies for practically the price of one seemed like a good deal, but the first one was a horror movie. Now look, I consider myself a bit immune to horror at this point (most of them have been devolved into some jumpscare fest with no actual horror to it anyways), and nothing that jumps out of the screen gets to me anymore. Yukinoshita, well, she was something to consider.

I mean, this is the first we're going to watch a movie together…Damn, why couldn't she just pick something normal and boring…

We squeezed by a couple of folks in the aisle to get to our seats before plopping down, I let out a relaxed breath as I placed the soda on the cup holder. Something about the theater ambience that always seems to be relaxing, I can never really explain but it's like being comfortable while waiting for something you're looking forward to. I glanced at Yukinoshita, who was merely getting herself comfortable on her seat.

Watching her, a thought came across my head.

"Horikita-san", I said.

"What is it, Ayanokouji-kun?", she replied as she glanced at me.

"Are you even good at watching horror movies?", I inquired curiously.

"If you're hoping I would go 'Kyaa!' and hold unto you at every scene then the answer is no", was her swift reply, even crossing her arms over her chest. "I have told you before, I am not like those caricatures of women in those perverted literatures of yours with those overexaggerated and sexualized features. I mean, what is it about a voluptuous chest that makes teenage boys get so swoon over? Those are nothing more than big balls of fat, besides, having a modest chest is an equally desirable trait…"

Oi, that train of thought it's not getting off at the right station…

"I get it", I interjected her rantings. "You don't have to beat it over my head".

"Well, seeing as how your rotten brain often works I feel like I have to elaborate myself", she replied and I chuckled a little even smiling at her.

I could hear the chatter of a few people behind us, who were all witnesses to the exchange that had just happened between the two of us.

"Sheesh, that guy has it rough"

"Yeah, I don't think I can handle anyone talking to me like that"

"That girl is straight up vicious"

"True, must be a pain to be with"

"Araragi-kun, do you think I speak to you in such a manner?"

"Of course not Senjougahara, don't be ridiculous"

I've learned to ignore those at this point, no point in trying to argue with them since they are just seeing it as it is. For a lot of folks, Yukinoshita might come off as a cold, aloof and prideful person who has no qualms tearing someone down verbally. Well, they're right on that but there was more to her character than that and I was fortunate enough I got to learn more about it as the year went on.

"Well at least the movie is supposed to be good", I said as I leaned back on the seat, wanting to return the flow of the scene to the first point made. "I heard it got a lot of rave reviews and it even got to be played at some festivals overseas".

I heard Yukinoshita gulp, "I see…"

The dark haired man picks up the old photograph from atop the dresser and looks, it's a picture of an old woman with her arms draped over two twin girls. All three of them are staring blankly at him, but as the man peers closer, the old woman suddenly blinks and the lights above him flicker.

They turn back on and the man looks down to see the old woman had been crossed out with blank ink, that's when he looks up at the mirror, to see the old woman standing behind him. He jumps back, knocks into the dresser and falls to the floor, cracking his head on the wall.

He blinks the blur from his eyes and sees the old woman slowly approaching him…closer…and closer…and closer until-

Another loud scream emits from the screen and I suddenly feel something warm atop my own hand. For a moment, I feared it was the long black haired girl from the movie, but I was relieved to see it was my very real and not-ghost girlfriend. The said girlfriend who had her hand over mine, tightly gripping it and even flinching at every sound.

I couldn't help but smile happily at myself, getting to enjoy her tense expression and scared look every time something happened. I guess I was just enjoying the view of Yukinoshita so much I failed to notice when another jumpscare happened and she grabbed my arm and hugged it tight.

I let out a small yelp, loud enough to earn the ire of the rest of our occupants and I wanted to bury my head in shame. But then I looked down to the reason I reacted that way in the first place, Yukinoshita was tightly hugging my arm, her arms wrapped around it so tightly and her face almost burying into it. For some reason, I feel my heart flutter at that. As I've said, it was ever so rarely that Yukinoshita manages to break her cool façade, but when she does, it's like I've unlocked a special event in a visual novel.

Man…I could get used to this…

"Araragi-kun, would you perhaps enjoy it if I do the same thing as well?"

"Don't have to ask me if you want to Senjougahara"

"Ah, is that rebellion I hear?"

"O-Of course not"

"These feelings I have, I don't know how to describe it", the young girl said as she stood at the rooftop, gazing at the young boy who was with her.

"I don't think I know of mine either", he shamefully admits as he gazes down on the ground balling his fists.

The girl steps closer at the boy, taking hold of both of his hands. He looks up at her, in the light of the setting sun, tears are falling down her face as the breeze flows through her hair. She looked so beautiful in that light…he thought. She smiled at him as she gripped his hands tighter with hers.

"But I do know one thing…", she said. "From the moment I saw you walk into the hospital I knew…I knew you would be someone that I shall hold dear".

"But you shouldn't have fallen in love with someone who you can't even live long enough to share the future with you", he argued, nearly crying himself. "I can't let you go through such a heartache".

She grabs hold of his face, "Who cares about the future, you're here with me now so please…don't go…".

"Okay", the guys replied before looking up and the two share a passionate kiss.

"I promise to love you for the rest of your life…", he promised.

The girl smiles and shakes her head, "Just love me for the rest of yours"

Boring!...I mentally groaned and grimaced as I watched the mushy drama play out in front of me. Not only was it too sappy and sweet, but it was a frustrating aspect of the already slow pacing of the story. Suddenly the guy actually has some debilitating heart disease? Since when the fuck was that ever brought up? Let me guess, he's going to die at the end for some cheap emotional scene that replaces any actual effort into putting depth and character in the story.

I was never a fan of romance dramas, I already deal with too much of that in my real life as it is, and especially having one so obviously slow, over dramatic and cheap was a chore to get through. I'd already mentally checked halfway through (I would say it would be the part where she gets amnesia after getting hit by a car) and was now just going through the straining torture of finishing this boring sad crap so I can finally be done with it. I gazed at the occupants around us, seeing them all tearing up and bawling over the movie. I wanted nothing more than to go up on stage and yell at them for falling for the shallowness that the movie was leaning against to elicit emotion.

But I restrained myself, instead, I glanced at my date to see her intently watching the screen. I was shocked, I thought Yukinoshita would admonish the story and its characters (like how she would cruelly do to mine) and denounce this sad excuse of a movie. But no, instead she was hooked, I'd say, even entrance by the movie before us. While, yes, I don't really know the kind of movies Yukinoshita would be into, I never expected her to be so hooked by such a cry fest of crap. Maybe I didn't know her as well as I thought I did.

She wipes a tear from her eye and resumes watching, having completely forgotten the actual romance she had that she was ignoring for the sake of this crap display of a love story. Maybe that's what makes it more frustrating…I checked my watch, seeing how many more of the movie I would have to sit through.

It's only been an hour!? This is a 2 and a half hour movie…I groaned once more before slumping in my seat once more.

-0-

I slumped against the pillar, mentally exhausted and fatigued after having to sit through such a slog fest of a movie. God, that ending couldn't have come anymore sooner and I practically sprinted to the exit. If it had not been the fact I was on a date at the moment, I would have ran back home and slept the entire movie away and written it off a fever dream. Speaking of my date, Yukinoshita had excused herself to go to the bathroom and left me by the movie theater as the crowd of people we had been watching the movie with began leaving the theater as well.

Some of them looked pleased, even raving at how effective, beautiful and amazing the movie was. I have to wonder, did we even watch the same movie? Cause that movie sounds way more interesting than the one I just suffered through, and I wasn't the only one. I watched as this poor hapless guy (probably a loner like myself, a skill a loner picks up is the ability to discern a fellow loner) get dragged by the arm by this energetic girl with the brightest of eyes.

"Wasn't that movie fun, Oreki-san?", the girl happily asked as she dragged him towards the mall.

He looked tired by the looks of it but answered nonetheless, "I-I guess".

We locked eyes, in an instant we both understood each other's pain. I gave him a short two finger salute and he merely sighed and replied with a small nod of his own, before they were swallowed by the crowd. That encounter may have been brief, but that was the closest thing I had ever felt in understanding someone else, possibly, for the rest of my life.

Anyways, I closed my eyes in order to rid myself of the strain of having to sit there bored out of my mind. This might be the last time I'd ever go to a double feature, at the very least, the last time I'd ever watch a romance drama like that ever again. That movie must've been made by an energy vampire of some sort, able to hypnotize you while able to suck out your energy you could've had for the rest of the day. Yes, I'm being over dramatic but I just sat through a 2 and half hour exercise of mental taxation, sue me.

Yukinoshita appears through the crowd, more like, she divides the crowd as she walks through, like Moses did the Red Sea. Many admired her as she passed by, I even glared at some who were looking at her too eagerly, but none could blame them since I was surprised myself. Even after sitting through a double feature, she seemed to be as elegant as ever, it's almost nothing can ever faze her, though an appearance of a fuzzy feline and she'll melt.

But this was just Yukinoshita being Yukinoshita, she can make looking perfect the easiest thing in the world. She walked up to me, I can feel an aura of surprise and disappointment from the crowd around us, mostly how a girl like her would be willing to be with such a downtrodden looking person like myself. The simple answer is, I don't know either.

"My Hikigaya-kun, your eyes look more dead than usual", she commented.

I let out a tried sigh, "My apologies, I never sat through a double feature before, I didn't realize how tiring it could be".

"I thought a lazy loner such as yourself would be used to sitting around for long periods of time", she stated.

"Not when I have to sit through a 2 hour or so movie", I replied, I wanted to say my contempt over the last movie more but I bit my tongue on it. "So, what's next on the agenda?".

"Take a walk with me", Yukinoshita answered and I am taken aback in surprise.

"That's it? Just walk around the mall?", I questioned.

"Unless you have a better idea, I am all ears"

I looked up at the glass window on the roof above us, I could see the sun was already setting and soon, a starry night sky would overtake the colors of a sunny day that was slowly faded. Strangely, even though I was tired and it had been a long day, I didn't want this date with Yukinoshita to end so abruptly, I feel like I wanted more than just going to the aquarium and a movie, so much so I'd say I never wanted it to end and we spend the night until dawn the next day, but I knew Yukinoshita wouldn't be too happy with that, so I guess I'll just be happy with what I can have right now.

I looked back down at her and nodded my head.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind a casual walk around the mall", I agreed and she nodded her in reply.

I walk before her and take out my hand for her to hold, she doesn't hesitate before she wraps her own hand around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. And we did what she wanted, we just took a casual stroll around the mall. We strolled by the different stores, even looking through the selection of music and movies, Yukinoshita forcibly pulled me away from the game shop, doing some window shopping, Yukinoshita forcibly pulled me away from the local bookstore that announced that it had in stock the next volume of the light novel I was reading.

It was relaxing, just the entire feeling of mingling around like there wasn't a care in the world. Sure, I can complain how tired I was or how all this walking was beginning to make my feet sore, but I didn't mind it. Just being able to walk anywhere with Yukinoshita's hand in mine, it was enough to ignore all of it. I sighed to myself before smiling.

Fuck…I am whipped.

But the hand I was holding suddenly made an anchor, I stopped and turned to see Yukinoshita staring at something, her feet planted firmly and her head turned towards it. I followed her gaze and saw that she was gazing at an arcade, but more specifically, at a certain machine just by the entrance. It was a simple claw machine tucked between to others beside it, but it was what was inside of it that caught her attention. It was that evil-eyed panda Pan-san, the mascot for Destinyland Yukinoshita seems to have such a deep fondness for. I never really saw it, maybe because he never appealed to me but his appearance was to nasty, especially those eyes that looked like he was glaring at you (yes, the irony is not lost on me).

But I saw the eagerness in Yukinoshita's eyes as we entered the arcade. She peered in at it, like a kid looking at confections at the candy store, so much brightness and wonder in her eyes. She was even muttering something under her breath.

"These are the limited winter editions announced a few years ago, I can't believe it took them 5 years to release the new one…", she said and I was genuinely impressed, I knew how thoroughly obsessed she was about Pan-san, but I never knew the true extent.

Without a word, Yukinoshita turned and walked to the nearest token machine. Uncaring to the fact she had practically abandoned me for the pursuit of this stuffed animal, I turned and glared at it. But I still stood by the machine as a means to reserve our turn, it didn't matter since the arcade wasn't even that crowded and no person would ever come and try to win this thing anyways. It was a niche thing that only Yukinoshita seemed to love. And so, I casually observed the others that were mingling about their business.

Especially a couple that was already leaving, the guy seemed pretty self-satisfied with a huge smile on his face as his girlfriend, a long black haired girl with a bunny clip on the side of her hair, seemed pretty unimpressed, in his hands was a Pan-san as well, consider my earlier statement wrong.

"I didn't know Mai-san was so bad at crane games", the (brave) guy commented.

"It's not like it's a necessary skill anyways", the girl, I guess Mai, replied. "Besides, those games are rigged for you to lose anyways just so they can get more money off of you".

The guy chuckled as he gazed down at his prize, "Well, I just hope Kaede loves it".

"I'm sure she will, her older brother just won her a stuffed panda, she'll love any reward you give her", she reassured as the guy smiled at that statement of her.

"And I hope Mai-san's reward for me later will be equally as great", he happily looked forward, my eyes even widened at that admission.

But the girl pinched his side and made him yelp in pain as they continued to walk away.

"Sakuta-kun, what did I say about saying such stuff in public?", she scolded.

"I'll never-ow! -joke about that again…Ow!...Mai-san, seriously that hurts…"

What an odd couple…I mentally commented as I watched them disappear into the crowd of people. But before my thoughts could ever linger on them for too long, Yukinoshita returned with a small stack of tokens and placed them on the claw machine.

"Do you even know how to play the claw machine?", I asked as I stepped back and observed her.

She flicked her hair over her ear, "It's a simple machine Hikigaya-kun, I doubt it's that hard to win a prize".

1st attempt…failed.

2nd attempt…failed.

3rd attempt…failed.

4th attempt…failed.

5th attempt…close but once the claw picked the panda up, it immediately slipped and thus, another failure.

The bell rang, signifying another loss on her part. Yukinoshita seemed a little frustrated, especially in the way she was gripping the stick. She looked a little dejected, almost as if she was a young child being denied something by her parents. Memories of Komachi's own look of sadness flash before my mind and a familiar feeling of protectiveness inside me bubbles, but I forcibly buried it.

If she wants it she'll get it, besides, Yukinoshita is a prideful person there's no way she'll even let me help…I mentally justified.

After the 6th attempt, she hung her head low and I couldn't bear it any longer.

"Here, let me", I said as I stepped in front of her, she stepped aside as I put a token in and began my own attempt.

"I seriously doubt how you'll be able to- ", but her words were cut off by the sound of the congratulatory bell and the sign blaring WINNER, appeared at the top.

I crouched and stuck my hand in the bin and pulled out the prized Pan-san, it was the same old panda design but it had a dark coat on and was holding a thermostat on the other hand. Like I said, I didn't know what about this thing that Yukinoshita loved so much, but it wasn't my place to pass judgement. I had the genius idea of teasing her before giving it, saying since I had won it fair and square, it was now mine to own and I was to give it to Komachi once I had gone home.

I turned to her and was about to say it but was struck by something I didn't expect to see, Yukinoshita eagerly staring at me as I held the stuffed doll. She was staring at me, her eyes darting between me and Pan-san, gingerly tapping her feet as she had her hands on her back, looking really excited to be able to hold it in her arms. I didn't know what it was, I would later curse and say it was because she rarely showed any genuine emotion of happiness or excitement, but I felt my resolve immediately break at the way she was looking at me.

"Here, I got it for you", I sighed out as I held it out for her to take.

Yukinoshita didn't hesitate before grabbing him and hugging him. She admired it, rubbing her thumb over its cheek, tugging at its coat and even squeezing the thermostat it had in its hands. She seem to be really enamored by it, and I couldn't help but feel happy for her, its ever so rarely Yukinoshita gets to loosen up.

She hugs it to her chest before looking back at me, "Thank you, Hikigaya-kun".

The picture of her hugging Pan-san while smiling up at me, a smile so big and grateful, was enough to make my heart melt and I gave her a smile.

"No problem"

My girlfriend can't be this cute right!?

-0-

The cool spring breeze soon turned into a cold wind howling through the branches of the trees as we walked by them. It had already turned into night but Yukinoshita wanted to do one last thing before we were to part, take a leisure stroll at the park near the train station. Happily, I agreed, whatever would make this date last a little bit longer was fine by me. And so here we walked, letting the cold night air fill in the comfortable silence between us as we strolled around the park.

It was quiet, seeing as how it was already past 6 and the sun had already set, taking its bright and lively colors with it, there were barely any people in the park at this time and so it was just the two of us. Yukinoshita's hand is on mine as she guides me through, Pan-san is sticking out of her bag, it's a funny image to behold personally. But it did give me a chance to relax a bit, sure I was still a bit tired and fatigue after the long day we spent together, but somehow I still feel energized to whatever request Yukinoshita wanted me to fulfill next.

"Hikigaya-kun, let's sit here and rest for a bit", she said as she guided me to a park bench.

We sat down and I leaned back and let out a relaxed sigh, breathing the cold air, I felt somehow at peace. I turned to Yukinoshita, she wasn't facing me but instead was gazing out and I followed it once more, she was staring at the night sky before us. Even with the light coming from the buildings and the car, the stars were out tonight and shone brightly above us. It wasn't anything breathtaking or special, but it was a wonderful sight to see.

"Hikigaya-kun", Yukinoshita suddenly said before turning to me. "Did you have fun today?".

"Of course I did, I mean, it's our first date isn't it?", I replied.

"I see…", she said before sitting back and leveling her gaze with me. "I can't promise you that all of our dates are going to be like this, some would be more fun than others, while some not so much".

"I know that", I said.

"And there will be dates where we'll have disagreements and maybe even fight", she continued.

I silently nodded my head and urged her to continue, she was twiddling her thumbs on her lap and was even a little nervous with her words.

"What I'm trying to say is…well..", she stuttered her words before taking a deep breath before facing me once more. "Will it be okay with you? If this all I could ever give?".

I was taken aback for a moment, merely gazing at her trying to process the words she had said. But I knew what she meant, I knew she couldn't promise a lifetime of happiness, she didn't have a lot of it to give herself, much less to give to others. She couldn't promise me anything exciting or wonderful, extravagant moments, romantic gestures or heart pounding kisses under the rain. No, she promised me more than that. She promised me this, the now, the brief and fleeting moments we had together, the precious time we have, the mundanity of just being around each other. Even something as simple as sitting on a park bench at night, doing nothing but talking.

She couldn't promise the world, but I didn't need it anyway.

"It's more than enough", I said as I pulled her close, hugging her as I buried my face into her hair and just breathing in her scent.

Somehow, it made my worries from earlier completely melt away. I now knew how deeply we truly cared and loved each other, knowing that we didn't have a lot to give but sometimes, just being there with one other was enough, hell, more than enough. I made a selfish wish as I held her, I wished that I would never let this feeling of holding her in my arms go, that I would do anything I can to never let her go, fearing that I might never get her back if I did.

"Besides, as long as I have you, I don't need anything else", I said as she hugged me as well, wrapping her arms over my chest and pulling me close.

I can sense her smile from her voice, "I'm glad you feel the same way, Hikigaya-kun".

I pulled back and smiled at her and she smiled at me back. Before I leaned back against the bench and admired the view we had from here, after a few I felt her hand on mine and her head on my shoulder. It's peaceful to say the least, the feeling of her head on my shoulder, the scent of her hair, the cold air of the night, even the way her fingers fit perfectly between the spaces of my own.

"Today was really fun", she said.

I smiled, "Yeah, it really was"

But what I loved more was the warmth of having her body against mine, the comforting feeling that swelled inside my chest as we spent this moment of ours together, knowing that it too shall come to pass, but I didn't worry, we have a lifetime to create much more meaningful ones. I find myself gazing up at the night sky once more, the starry tapestry that shrouded the world just above right above us. I can feel her let out a relaxed sigh as well, before snuggling closer, her hand grips mine a little tighter as I place my cheek against the top of her head.

Yeah…I could get used to this.

End.

Note: Thanks for reading this, I might make another story based on the premise (but who knows), I really want to write more again and hopefully it doesn't take me half a year to post a new one. And yeah, I added a few references and some crossovers, sorry in advance if I made them a OOC.

Hope you all are taking care yourselves and I'll catch you all on the flip side.

Later.