My childhood friend Kiyotaka had just finished exams last Friday, and the next day he called me while I was still in bed.
”This is Akira speaking…”
”Aki…are you still sleeping…oh you lazy hamster…”
”It’s 7 am in the morning…no school, no homework, so why bother waking up this early?” I asked grumpily, “By the way, what do you need?”
“So I have just finished my last exam…maybe we can hang out together tomorrow?”
”You mean with Chihiro and the others?” I got up from bed.
”Well…can we make this only between us?”
”So don’t go tell Shizuka and the others! I…”
He then asked softly, “Will you…go out with me?”
I instantly knew it was a date. It’s a date! The moment I realized it, my face was blushing, and forgot I was still on the phone.
”Umm…Aki? Hello?”
”Yes, Akira here!”
”So…yes or no?” Kiyotaka asked shyly, hoping to receive a solid answer.
“Of course, I will go, silly!”
On the other side of the phone, Kiyotaka was cheering happily. He decided to meet me at my house at noon.
To be honest, we could meet at any time we want. This guy lives opposite my house so he could walk to my front door within 10 seconds.
“See you tomorrow, Aki!”
”You too, Kiyo!”
I hung up the call and pulled a few clothes from my wardrobe, wondering what to wear tomorrow.
”This sailor dress looks cute…but this blouse looks mature on me…”
I put down the clothes and opened the curtains, peeking at Kiyotaka’s room from a distance.
”I wonder what Kiyo will wear tomorrow…”
A suit? Nah, it was too hot to wear one in summer. However, I doubt if he would wear pants. He isn't the type of guy who would wear shorts. He is currently studying at a law school and a professional image is necessary for all lawyers.
My heart was pounding quickly. I tried to practice mindful breathing but it didn't work much. I was nervous but felt joy and warmth within my heart at the same time. It was hard to describe that feeling.
”I guess I will put on this sailor dress for my first date.” I prefer a cute style to a mature style.
At night, I was too excited for my first date and couldn't fall asleep.
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The next day after a nice brunch, I put on my favorite sailor dress and packed all my belongings into my white handbag. I put my hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath before opening the front door.
“Hey, Kiyo! Sorry to keep you waiting!”
”No worries, I just left home a few minutes ago.” He smiled, ”Nice dress you have there!”
”Your linen shirt looks cool too!”
We walked to the station and took the train to Kyoto. Kiyotaka first took me to the Kyoto Aquarium.
“How long has it been since the last time we came here?” I asked.
“It's been at least 10 years, I guess.”
”The last time we came here was before you left Japan. By the way, what's life like in Hong Kong?”
”It is very different from here...” I finished buying my ticket, luckily there were fewer people at that hour, ”I prefer living in Japan.”
”Did you get bullied by those locals?”
”I won't say being bullied but they aren't as polite as the Japanese...” I lowered my head.
After hearing my reply, Kiyotaka softened his gaze and then touched my hands gently.
”Kiyo?”
”I won't let anyone hurt you! If they dare to, they must be interested in my fists!”
I laughed, ”You silly...will you just come to Hong Kong to beat those assholes?”
Kiyo felt embarrassed and covered his face with his hands. I took a closer look at his face. Although he has grown into a handsome young man, he is still that naive child deep down in his heart.
”Let's go!” I pointed at the entrance.
I still vividly remember the good old days when we visited the aquarium with our parents. I enjoyed seeing the fish swimming freely in the deep blue ocean. It looked magnificent and captivated my heart. While I spent most of my time watching different types of fish, Kiyotaka enjoyed looking at the penguins.
”Watching fish is so boring...” Sadly, he wasn't fond of the fish.
He appeared to be quite impatient when he saw me watching and recording the fish. After I just finished my photo-taking, he grabbed my hand and took me to the penguin zone.
”Penguins are always more interesting than the fish!”
He pointed at one of them and said, ”Most importantly, they're always the cutest animal in the world!”
”Oh! Look! Look!” He immediately grabbed my hand and pointed it to a small penguin swimming in the water, ”They're even more adorable when they're swimming!”
Looking at his ingenious smile, I covered my mouth and giggled - This man hadn't changed a bit.
”What are you laughing at?”
”Nothing...well...It's just quite surprising that a guy like YOU can become a professional lawyer... ”
”Excuse me? I've worked very hard to pass the college entrance exam! Are you doubting my professionalism?”
”No...no...you're so cute...”
”H-huh? W-what...you-”
Kiyotaka shouted unintentionally and caught the attention of some people. Feeling embarrassed by his breach of etiquette, he focused his eyesight on the penguins again, hoping they would forget about him.
I could see the people around us smiling at us and I noticed a little girl was looking at us with curiosity.
”Mommy, what are they doing?”
The mom glanced at us and quietly patted her shoulders, ”Sweetie, it's impolite to stare at people!”
”I'm sorry...”
I smiled and slightly bowed at them. The mom was relieved and thanked me.
”Mommy, is that beautiful lady dating that noisy man?” she raised her arm and pointed at us.
”No! Yes...maybe...and please put your hand down...” The girl suddenly ran towards me, ”Maya!”
She gently touched my dress and asked, ”Are you two dating?”
I chuckled softly while Kiyotaka seemed to be very annoyed by her naive behavior.
”Maya!”
”It's okay, ma'am.” I gently touched Maya's head, ”Maya-chan is such a cheerful girl!”
While the mom continued to apologize, Kiyotaka's face turned completely red and he couldn't bear to stay any longer.
”Aki! I-I have to hit the b-bathroom right now! M-meet me at the souvenir store!”
He quickly rushed to the bathroom and even almost bumped into a stranger before walking in. To be honest, that was very hilarious.
”Your boyfriend is a sweet one.”
”Well...Yes...and I like that in him.” I bowed, ”I will take my leave now. Have a great day, ma'am!”
”Goodbye, pretty lady!”
”Have a wonderful day, Maya-chan!”
I waited for Kiyotaka for around 5 minutes before he finally decided to come out of the bathroom.
”Took you long enough...”
”Shut up...that stupid brat...”
”Come on! Maya-chan is a good kid, unlike you.” I joked, ”Crying after losing a tennis competition wasn't cool...”
”You truly enjoy agonizing me, don't you? ”
”Ha...sore loser...”
”Just shut up already...”
Kiyotaka is a serious guy sometimes, a way too serious guy. He is a model student at school. Being a future lawyer, he's often strict with rules and attitudes, making him distanced from his classmates.
”Here, have this.” I took out a small blue penguin plush from a bag, ”This is for you.”
”I'm not a kid anymore.”
”You ARE! And now, take it!”
Kiyotaka first hesitated but slowly grabbed the plush. He stared at its cute face and slightly tightened his grip.
”Cute...” he whispered.
”I told you!”
”Oh! Don't worry! I also bought a pink one! Now we have a pair of cute penguin plushes!”
Kiyotaka smiled and looked at me - I was playing with it happily like a child. However, he suddenly got jealous and took the plush away.
”Hey!”
”You are supposed to be dating me, not this penguin!”
”Hey! That's mine! That's mine!”
”I'll give it back when we return home.” He walked towards the exit.
I rolled my eyes and followed behind him.
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”Give my penguin back!”
”I've already said I'll give it back once we return home!”
We left the aquarium while I was fighting for my penguin plush.
”So...where are we going next?”
”Where do you want to go, Aki?” Kiyotaka asked, ”It's your turn to choose!”
I paused for a few seconds and requested, ”Well...there's a favor I would like to ask you.”
”A very interesting choice indeed, Aki!” We were taking the train to Kitayama Station. ”I haven't been to Kyoto Botanical Garden since I was 6.”
”Kyoto Botanical Garden has always been my favorite place!” I happily replied, ”Every year, I visit there on my birthday.”
”If I remember correctly, your birthday is coming soon.”
I nodded and smiled. My birthday is on the 21st of July and by that time, I will be 20 years old.
”Now that I remember, I am older than you!” Since Kiyotaka's birthday is on the 31st of August, he is younger than me by a month.
”It's just a month's difference!” Annoyed he, ”And besides! I hate that after you guys finish celebrating my birthday, the next day I need to go back to school!”
”Haha...that's funny...”
We then got off the train and walked to the Kyoto Botanical Garden.
”Two tickets please!” Kiyotaka asked.
”One for adults and another for high school students?”
”Well...I graduated from high school two years ago...” Replied I, ”I am already a college student.”
”Oh! My sincere apology! I am very sorry for the misunderstanding...”
I kindly took the ticket from the lady and entered the garden with him.
”My mom often says I look like a 15-year-old kid to her. Do I look like a 15-year-old to you?”
”Maybe 12?” Joked he.
”You gotta be kidding me...”
Trying not to get bothered by his stupid joke, I placed my mind into the sea of flowers.
”Sunflowers are amazing...” I took a few photos and exclaimed, ”Maybe I should grow some in my garden at home.”
”You know you don't have that much space at your home...”
”I know but maybe planting one or two would be nice!”
Kiyotaka looked closer to the sunflowers and smiled, ”You are just like a sunflower.”
”W-what do you mean by that?”
”Your personality is like a sunflower.” replied he, ”Sunflowers are the champions of positivity, curiosity, and hope. I appreciate people like you who pursue continuous self-improvement.”
I could feel my face was blushing.
”Well...thanks? I will take it as a compliment?”
”Think whatever you want, I am just saying the truth...”
I took a closer look at the sunflowers. They were blooming and I could feel the enormous amount of joy within them. They always captivated everyone who walked past the garden.
”You sure do like flowers, Aki.”
I nodded and replied, ”Flowers represent appreciation and admiration. They are such beautiful creatures in nature. They fuel our hearts with hope and new beginnings, which I believe is very uplifting for us.”
We walked down to another path to the next zone. There, Kiyotaka pointed at another type of flower.
”Look! Isn't this flower your favorite one?”
I took a look at them - they were Platycodon. Platycodons are flowers that bloom in late spring to summer, typically in July and August.
”Platycodon! Yes! They are my favorite! It's impressive that you remember.”
”You mentioned that when we were in kindergarten. You folded a Platycodon using a craft paper for your favorite teacher.”
”Oh I remember! It's for Shono-sensei, right? She was really happy and even patted my head! I heard from my mom that she is going to have another child soon!”
We appreciated the flowers for a while without saying a word. When I was looking at the flowers, I felt peace in my heart. My heart was filled with tranquility and serenity. I felt like I could do anything with ease.
”I've been wondering why you are so fond of Platycodon.”
”I could ask the same person who is so fond of penguins!” Kiyotaka rolled his eyes after hearing what I had just said.
”Dude! It's just a joke, man...chill...”
”It's because Platycodons symbolize endless love and honesty. These flowers embody a spirit of obedience, often given to signify respect and devotion. ” I softly replied, ”Although I've been hurt many times in my life, I would still like to share my love and hope with people I love and care for!”
Kiyotaka smiled and gently patted my shoulders, ”You haven't changed a bit...”
”And look who's talking?”
”Excuse me?”
We stared at each other for a second and both burst into laughter.
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After appreciating the flowers for a while, we left the garden before the closing time.
”Hey, Aki!” Kiyotaka asked eagerly, ”How about going to Sanjo-dori street?”
”That's in Nara, right? It will take us a while to reach there!”
”Now's just a quarter past five! We still have plenty of time! Don't worry, I will get you home before nine.”
We took the bullet train to Nara and the trip took around 45 minutes.
”Here are we!”
I took a look at the various traditional stores. I haven’t gone here for a decade.
”I prefer traditional things to modern stuff.”
”Then you should have thrown away that modern cell phone of yours…”
We are always like that, playing tricks on and making each other angry, but in the end, we are still friends who understand each other.
We walked along the street and entered a traditional mochi store.
“Since my parents like eating mochi very much, I figured that maybe I should buy some!”
”Kiyo, would you like to buy some for your parents, or perhaps for your siblings?”
”Nah…those monkeys are annoying as hell!” He shook his head, “Besides, my parents aren’t fond of sweets.”
”Language!”
”My bad...”
”Alright.” I turned to the shopkeeper with a smile, “A box of mochi, please!”
After buying some mochi for my parents, it was already half past six and we were starting to get hungry.
”Aki, mind if I grab something to eat? I’m starving…”
”Hungry…angry…need food…”
I took a glance at his face and heard a rumbling sound from his stomach. I chuckled and took him to a cafe named Tully's Coffee.
”Coffee? I had enough coffee during the exam period...”
”In that case, you can have a cup of tea instead then!”
I had been eager to try their pancakes. Although I'd heard of this cafe before, I hadn't tried it once.
”Eating pancakes as your dinner? Man, that’s a mess-up eating diet…”
”Well I don’t think someone who eats a hotdog as his dinner has a better diet than me…”
I enjoyed the Pure Maple Syrup and Butter pancakes a lot. It was crispy and fragrant outside, but soft and fluffy inside. I would say it is a simple yet flavourful dish.
”Your pancakes look good…”Kiyotaka took a bite at his hotdog while gazing at my pancakes, “I should have ordered yours instead.”
”Your hotdog is not bad actually…”
Taking a glance at his Ball Park Hot Dog Original, it was dressed with ketchup and mustard. Besides, the sausage looked crispy and juicy.
”The menu recommends you to enjoy it with a cup of espresso, not with tea…”
”Just spare me…I had enough coffee this week…”
I chuckled softly while taking a sip of cafe latte.
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”Let’s call it a day, shall we?” Kiyotaka asked after dinner, “Sorry…I’m a bit tired…”
”Don’t sweat it! It's time to go home.” Replied I, ”You must be very tired after all those exams, and now having a date with me.”
We took the train back to Osaka. Glancing at the view outside the window, I reminisced about my good old days.
Things had changed a lot in here and I felt like I was out of place. I couldn't catch up with any trends and conversations my friends were talking about. I felt left behind.
”Aki? Are you alright?”
”Yes...”
”Don't lie to me.”
I took a deep breath, ”I felt different...You guys grow up without me...You guys went to middle school, high school, and even college together...I...”
”I don't belong here anymore...but I also don't feel any sense of belonging in Hong Kong! I-”
Kiyotaka gently held my hands that were resting on the lap. I stared into his eyes while he stared into mine.
”Aki, listen to me.” he spoke slowly, ”I know this is difficult for you but I am confident that everything will be just fine.”
”Everyone is happy that you're back. Shizuka, Chihiro, and Kazue, they are all worried about you...”
”Please stop shutting your friends out...You don't always have to act strong.”
”It's okay to ask for help, you know?” Smiled he.
I was truly touched by his words. I could feel my eyes were swollen with tears. Crying isn't my thing.
”Come on...crying doesn't suit you!”
”Don't look at me! I look ugly when I am crying...”
He laughed and I didn't enjoy his reactions.
”Smile for me, would you?”
Smile...maybe I should smile more, right?
”That's right! Smile for me and most important, for yourself!”
I nodded and tilted my head to lay on his right shoulder.
”You're wonderful tonight...”
Tonight was going to be a wonderful night...for us...
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