Chapter Text
“Saturday,” Naru said. Mai looked up from her desk. Her nineteen-year-old boss stood by his office door, then looked directly at her.
“What about Saturday?” She tilted her head to the side. She had no idea what he was saying. He’d just come out of his office and randomly given her a day of the week.
“I’ll meet you at Shibuya station,” he told her.
“Do we have a case?” Confusion was plain on her face.
“No.” He looked down. His brows furrowed.
“What?” she asked.
“Are you really that intellectually challenged that you can’t comprehend what I just said?” He glared at her.
“Well, you aren’t being clear.” Mai puffed her cheeks. “I can’t read minds, genius. Sorry that you have to spell it out for me.”
“Meet me at Shibuya Station on Saturday.” He said it again, as if that cleared up any confusion. Mai’s frown deepened.
“Why?” She glared at him. “You can’t boss me around.”
“I can. I’m literally your boss.” He crossed his arms.
“You’re avoiding the question.” She stood up to try and meet his eyes, then slammed her palms on the desk. “Why do you want me to meet you Saturday at Shibuya station?”
Naru met her glare. Then, for one of the rarest times, his gaze faltered. “I’m trying to bring you out of the office. Alone.”
Mai turned away from him and crossed her arms. “Why would I?”
“Because I read your letter,” he said.
Mai’s eyes widened. “What letter?”
“Dear Naru, I hope you are doing well there in England. I just want you to know that you have changed my life in more ways than one, and I’m forever grateful.”
Mai’s jaw dropped as he continued to recite the letter word for word. The office was quiet; she could hear his voice echo. She felt something in the pit of her stomach.
“I just want you to know. It was always you. The answer to the lake—”
She clamped both hands over his mouth, her face a full blush. “Okay, stop.”
Naru took her wrists and gently pried her hands off his face. He continued anyway. “The answer to the lake question is you, Naru. It’s always been you.”
Mai looked down at the floor. She wished it would swallow her whole.
“You didn’t have to memorize it,” she said quietly. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. This is it. He was going to reject her. He just didn’t want to do it in the office.
“I have a photographic memory.” He stated it plainly, still holding both of her wrists. “I memorize everything I read.”
“You didn’t have to embarrass me like this too, narcissist.” She bit her lip and looked up at him. “I wrote that after you left. I was sixteen. How did you find it, anyway?”
“Is it still true?” He stared down at her. His piercing blue eyes felt like they would simultaneously burn and freeze her.
“So what if it still is?” She returned the gaze with the same intensity.
“Then meet me on Saturday at Shibuya station.” It came out more as a command than a request. He released her wrists slowly.
“You can just reject me here. Now.” She blinked back the tears. “You don’t have to let me down easy. ‘Mai, I can’t return your feelings,’ or a—”
“Mai.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“—‘I don’t like you.’ You don’t need to bring me out alone to Shibuya to save me the embarrassment. It’s okay, Naru, it’s been two years— I mean, I still like you—” She rambled on.
“Mai,” he tried again, losing a bit of patience.
“—and I respect you a lot, so don’t worry about it, I can be professional—”
“Mai. Could you keep quiet for just a second?” he said sternly.
Mai closed her mouth, tears threatening to spill.
“I am not rejecting you,” he said finally.
“Then what were you planning on doing?” she asked, bewildered.
“I—I want to talk about it.” He looked as if he were trying to say something else, but failing.
“About my confession?” she said slowly.
“Yes,” he replied.
“But you’re not rejecting me?” She was still genuinely lost.
“No. I’m not,” he affirmed.
“So you’re—” She tried to find a word for it that didn’t sound too eager. “—accepting my feelings?”
“I do not know how this works,” he admitted. “This is the first time.”
She looked at him, trying to decode the confusion in his face.
“It’s the first time somebody liked me and not Gene.” He sighed. “I don’t understand liking someone.”
Mai nodded in understanding.
“But I— I found it pleasant that you chose me.” He looked at her. “I’m trying to figure out what that means.”
She wondered if she was dreaming.
“Okay,” Mai said, a bit breathless. “You were asking me out? In your own roundabout way?”
He looked uncomfortable. There was a slight tinge of pink on his cheeks, barely there.
“Okay. Saturday at Shibuya Station. Does 10 a.m. work?” she asked.
He nodded and went back to his office.
Mai sat down and stared blankly at her desk, processing everything that had happened.
“Oh no, the tea!” She ran to the kitchenette.
She walked nervously to Hachiko’s statue. She wore a blue sundress, as per Ayako’s suggestion, and kept her makeup light: tinted sunscreen, pink gloss, mascara, a touch of blush. Her heels were an inch high — any higher and she would trip.
He was waiting. Same black dress shirt and slacks as ever, though he’d styled his hair up.
He was really there, glaring at the entrance in front of him.
She bit her lip. She’d come from another exit so she could prepare before coming face to face with him.
She walked over and tapped his shoulder. He turned towards her, glare still intact.
“Hi.” She gave a small wave.
His eyes widened slightly, then narrowed. “You’re one minute late.”
Mai rolled her eyes. “This isn’t work.”
“It’s still common courtesy.” He crossed his arms.
Mai sighed. For someone who’d asked for this date, he wasn’t being very romantic.
“Right,” she said, resigned. “So, what now?”
“There’s a cafe in Yanaka,” he started. “Did you have breakfast?”
“No,” she said honestly. She was afraid she’d throw up, or look bloated in her clothes.
“Then we’d better get going.” He set off towards the station, his strides faster than usual.
They tapped their IC cards at the gate. She did her best not to get swept up in the crowd. Shibuya was packed — weekend, spring tourist season.
“Hey, Naru.” She called out, slightly out of breath. “Could you slow down? Not all of us have long legs.”
He looked back. He offered her his hand, not saying anything.
Mai stared at it.
She looked up at Naru. He was slowly getting impatient. She took his hand. He turned away from her, but held it anyway.
She followed his lead with a blush on her face. His hands were cold. She could feel a faint sweat on them.
She suddenly felt conscious of whether hers were sweating, too, underneath his grip.
The Yamanote train was already there when they reached the platform. They boarded. He didn’t let go of her hand.
They got pushed into the corner by the doors, opposite the ones they’d entered through.
Mai tried not to combust from the accidental proximity.
Eventually the other passengers filed out, giving them room. He nodded at a recently vacated seat near the doors.
She let go of his hand to sit. He moved with her so that he stood directly in front of her. She glanced up at him.
He was looking straight outside. She looked at the window opposite and could see the two of them reflected in it. She blushed.
The car thinned out, but he never moved to sit. He finally sat down only when the seat beside her vacated.
She was trying not to overthink this.
“The next stop is Nippori. The doors on the left side will open,” the overhead speakers announced.
They both stood as the train slowed for the stop. Mai’s balance was thrown off by her heels and the braking train.
Naru took hold of her waist, steadying her.
She inhaled sharply, wide-eyed.
The doors opened, and it took him a moment to release her. They stepped off the train.
He led her through the west exit, which was less crowded. It was a bit of a walk, but they arrived in Yanaka.
It was a small pocket of old Tokyo tucked into the concrete sprawl. They went down a set of steps to the narrow street below, brightly lit with signs and lanterns. She could smell taiyaki and takoyaki mingling on the air.
She broke into a wide smile at the rows of shops.
“Have you been here?” he asked.
“Just passed by. Never like this.” She looked curiously at the stalls as they walked.
A rotund black cat padded past, then stopped in front of Mai. She crouched down to its level. It showed no interest at first, until Mai offered her hand; it eyed her fingers with narrowed eyes before letting her pet its head.
The cat reminded her of Naru. She giggled.
She stood back up and went on browsing the stalls in delight. She turned to Naru, who was just staring at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.” He looked away.
He found the cafe and absentmindedly took her wrist to keep her from wandering further. It was a quaint little Japanese place.
They were seated at the cafe’s front window, with a view of the bustling Yanaka street. The server approached. Naru ordered an Earl Grey; Mai got a matcha.
“You didn’t have breakfast,” he commented. “She’ll also have a serving of French toast.”
Mai’s jaw dropped. “T-Thank you.”
“Their French toast is good. You’d like it — it’s sweet.” He looked at his glass of water as he said it.
There was an awkward silence for a few seconds.
“Okay.” Mai broke it with resigned laughter. “You wanted to talk about something. Let’s talk.”
Naru raised an eyebrow.
“How did you find my letter? I’ve been looking all over for it.” The tea had arrived; she stirred her matcha, trying to sound nonchalant.
“In the office. It fell out of your journal,” he said. “I meant to return it. It said ‘To Naru,’ and I couldn’t help my curiosity,” he admitted.
She remembered now. She’d been in a rush to get home, hadn’t been looking, and had bumped into Naru — her homework and a bunch of other papers left strewn across the floor. She’d picked them all up. Well, most of them, she guessed now.
“And that’s why we’re here.” She was trying to piece it together. “Why do you think you find it pleasant — that my answer to your question at the lake was you?”
Naru was caught off guard. “I don’t know.”
“What are we doing, then?” she tried again.
“A date,” he said. She tried not to be thrown off by how plainly he said it. “I would like more data.”
“Data?” Her face was a mix of confusion and amusement. He’s treating this date as a research project. She didn’t know how to feel about that.
“I would like to keep going on more dates with you, so I can figure out why.” He looked uncomfortable.
She was absolutely floored. He wants to keep going on dates with her to figure out his own feelings.
She was going crazy. She was going mad — all of it contained in a single look of absolute disbelief.
She looked at him. He looked like he wanted to drown in the Earl Grey he was glaring at.
She’d daydreamed about this at her office desk when she was younger — more declarative, more clarity. She’d been naive. If he was ever going to show an ounce of interest, it was more or less always going to be like this.
She burst out laughing. He glared at her.
“No, don’t misunderstand me.” She cleared her throat. “I would love— like to keep going out with you.”
“I’m going to be frank. It’s going to be awkward, and I honestly don’t know what I’m doing.” His lips straightened into a line. He really hated not knowing the answer to a problem.
Now she realized — she was his problem now.
“I wouldn’t know either. This is my first time on a date,” she confessed, giving him a small smile.
The French toast arrived between them. He pushed it towards her. “Eat.”
“Alright.” She rolled her eyes.
She took a bite and melted into the sweet flavor of cinnamon and syrup, the berries a tangy contrast. She put a hand to her cheek and took another bite.
Naru smirked at her reaction.
He’d paid for the brunch. She tried to cover her share, but he insisted — he was the one who’d invited her out.
They walked along Yanaka, in silence at first. Mai kept glancing at her heels, unsure how to begin.
He looked at her curiously.
“Usually people talk on dates,” she said. “Or so I’ve heard.”
“Hm.” He nodded, but went on walking in silence beside her anyway.
“How are your college preparations?” he asked.
She was applying to Todai; she’d just had the interview. “I’m not sure I’ll get in.”
“You’ve drastically improved your test scores with Yasuhara’s tutoring,” he stated. “You have good people skills. I think the Todai panel would find you a favorable candidate.”
Mai stopped walking. He looked back.
“You really think so?” She glanced up at him.
“I think I have enough credentials to discern someone with potential,” he said flatly.
“Oh. Thank you for the praise, the Great Dr. Oliver Davis. I am deeply honored that someone of your stature would notice someone like me.” Her tone was light-hearted.
He gave an amused exhale. “So you put my attention in high regard?”
“I—you.” She stammered, then gave up, and tried to hide the warmth in her face. He smirked.
She turned to the shops around them instead. Plenty of the stalls were selling cat-shaped trinkets.
They went on strolling through Yanaka until noon.
“How was England?” she tried, starting another conversation. Are dates supposed to be filled with conversation?
“Dreary.” The word came out flat.
“Oh.” She wasn’t sure what to say next. “I’d still like to visit one day.”
“Hm,” he replied.
Mai wondered whether she should shut up or keep going. She had a lot she wanted to ask him, but she didn’t want to be annoying. Dating was hard.
Naru noticed her furrowed brow.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“I feel like I’m annoying you with all these questions.” She played with her fingers. “I just want to get to know you, but there’s a wall.”
“I’m not good at talking,” he said. “I wasn’t always the social twin. That was Gene.”
“It’s not that I want you to talk more. I’m more conscious of making you uncomfortable.” She tried to make it clearer. She hoped he understood that it was him, and not the idea of him.
“I see.” He nodded. “Your questions don’t make me uncomfortable. I also have things I want to ask you. I just don’t know where to begin.”
She stepped forward and faced him. “I’m Mai Taniyama. Eighteen. Graduating senior at Tonan.”
He raised both eyebrows.
“Favorite color, yellow. I like hojicha. I want to get into Todai. I plan to go into psychology.” She went on. “Your turn.”
“Oliver Davis. Nineteen. I’m the head researcher of SPR.” He said it awkwardly. “I don’t think I have a favorite color—”
“Isn’t it black?” she asked.
“I gravitate towards darker colors to avoid decision fatigue,” he replied.
“Sorry — you were saying?” Her lips curved into a small smile.
“I like Earl Grey. I finished my postgraduate thesis before I came back here, so I have a PhD now.”
“That was good,” she said. “Is there anything you want to ask me, based on what I just told you?”
“Psychology?” he asked.
“It felt like a good fit.” She smiled.
They headed back towards the station, still talking.
“I used to live in Kanagawa,” she said as they reached the station entrance. “Our family house is still there. New owners now, though.”
He looked at her sad smile.
“My mother and I couldn’t keep the house,” she said. “We had to downsize after my father died. Expenses and such.”
He nodded in understanding. “I lived in England from the age of eight. Martin and Luella adopted us from Boston.”
“America?” Her eyes widened. She’d known he was adopted, but she’d assumed it was somewhere in England.
“Yes. Martin was asked by the ASPR to investigate twins who were making furniture float,” he said.
Mai stopped walking and turned to him. “I guess this is us.”
He looked mildly confused.
“I’ll take the train back to my place. You’ll take yours to yours?” she said, confused.
“Madoka advised me it would be—” He searched for a better substitute for the word Madoka had used. “—kinder if I saw you home.”
Mai bit her lip. “You don’t have to! I live quite far out, in Sagamihara, and that’s the opposite way from—”
She didn’t know where he lived.
“Minato,” he said plainly.
Of course it was Minato.
“See, that’s far,” she pointed out. “It’s not logistically sound, and—”
“I want to take you home.” He looked at the ground first, then slowly met her eyes.
She went ten shades pinker.
“I—I—” she stuttered. “Okay.”
It was still early afternoon when they boarded the Yamanote line to Shinjuku. Mai was still trying to comprehend what had possessed Naru to take her all the way home to Sagamihara.
They lived at almost opposite ends of Tokyo.
It was effortful, illogical — and yet here he was anyway.
He sat silently beside her. She wanted to keep talking, but Tokyo commuter manners prevented her. She folded her hands in her lap. She could feel his shoulder touching hers.
A small bump in the train’s motion jolted her towards him.
She apologized with a look. He just stared at her.
She didn’t know how long they stared at each other, but the scenery outside had started to blur.
“The next station is Shinjuku—”
Mai blinked, and both of them looked away. She pressed both hands to her cheeks.
They both stood up for the stop. Mai tried not to notice him ready to steady her, but her heart hammered anyway.
The train came to a stop. Her balance betrayed her again. He caught her by the waist.
She looked at his hand, then up at him. He met her gaze. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He nodded and slowly released her waist, then intertwined his fingers with hers. The doors opened, and they stepped out to find the platform for the Odakyu line.
Mai hated Shinjuku, rush hour or not. It was chaos — people coming from every direction, and ramming into someone was all but guaranteed if you weren’t careful.
It was secretly a blessing that they were holding hands.
“Which platform should we be on?” he asked, guiding her through the crowd.
“Odakyu, bound for Odawara,” she said, loud enough for him to hear. He followed the colored signs, and eventually they found the platform.
He still hadn’t let go. She should have put on hand cream.
In her defense, she hadn’t known they’d end up holding hands.
The Odakyu train arrived two minutes later. Neither of them moved to let go; neither of them looked at their joined hands.
They hopped on and took the vacant seats near the doors.
“Where do we get off?” he asked.
“Odakyu-Sagamihara,” she replied. “That’s nearer where I live.”
He peeked at the route map above the doors and traced the path to the station. The doors closed, and the train started moving.
“Do you usually take this route?” he asked quietly.
“I usually take the Yokohama line, for work,” she whispered.
He nodded.
Eventually Mai felt herself drifting off. She’d woken up too early and stayed up too late the night before, catastrophizing about today.
Her head started to nod.
Naru looked at her and slowly guided her head onto his shoulder with the hand that wasn’t holding hers. He checked how many stops remained to Odakyu-Sagamihara.
He tried to hide his relief.
Naru nudged her gently awake. They were one stop from Odakyu-Sagamihara. She realized her head was resting on a shoulder.
Naru’s shoulder. She lifted it and looked at him. He was looking out the opposite window.
She checked the corners of her mouth. Thankfully, no drool. She’d let go of his hand sometime in her sleep.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I get really sleepy on trains.”
“You’re always sleepy,” he commented. “Is it because of the long commute?”
“I wake up pretty early for school,” she said. “And I get home late when work runs over.”
Naru looked at her. “Don’t do overtime anymore.”
The screen above the doors showed they’d be stopping soon.
Mai made sure to keep a firm grip on the overhead handle.
There was an amused glint in Naru’s eyes. She glared at him.
They stepped off the train and onto the platform, then headed up towards the station proper.
“You can go home now, Naru,” she said. “I can get home by myself.”
“I don’t do things halfway, unfortunately,” he told her.
Mai sighed helplessly. “Alright, then.”
He looked around the whole walk to her apartment. It wasn’t far — just a block from the station.
Mai walked ahead, and he followed behind. She glanced back at him, curious. He looked like he was memorizing the place.
They reached her apartment complex. “This is me,” she said awkwardly.
“Thank you for taking me home.” She smiled widely. “I really enjoyed today.”
“Saturday,” he said. Mai raised her eyebrows.
“Next Saturday. You decide. Preferably somewhere nearer where you live.” The corner of his mouth curved into one of those rare smiles.
Mai felt the wind get knocked out of her. “Okay.”
He turned and walked back towards the station.
Mai rushed to her unit, unlocked the door, and slipped inside. She shut it behind her.
She slid down the door and covered her face with her hands.