It started with a text.
Rin: "Are you free Saturday afternoon?"
Leo stared at the message for a full minute.
Then another one came.
Rin: "To clarify, that's not a trick question."
Leo: "I am. Why?"
Rin: "Because I'd like to go somewhere. With you."
He didn't need to ask what it meant.
He just smiled and replied:
Leo: "Anywhere you want."
---
Saturday arrived like it had been waiting impatiently all week.
Leo stood at the station exit in a clean white shirt and his least-wrinkled jeans, clutching a small bag of strawberry candies (Rin's favorite, per Kai's highly specific intel).
Then he saw her.
Rin wore a light blue dress and a simple cardigan, her hair tied in a loose side braid. She looked like a watercolor version of herself—softer, but still distinctly Rin.
She approached slowly.
"You're early," she said.
"So are you."
Pause.
"…You look nice."
"You too," she said.
They stared at each other.
Then both looked away, embarrassed.
---
They went to the city center, browsing shops, walking along the pedestrian riverside, and stopping at a small used bookstore Rin liked.
Leo watched her flip through an old novel, smiling slightly.
She turned. "What?"
"You look happy," he said.
Rin blinked. "I am."
Then, unexpectedly, she added, "I used to do this with my mother. She liked old books too."
Leo nodded. "Thank you for bringing me."
She smiled. "You're better company."
---
Lunch was at a small ramen shop tucked into a quiet corner of the district.
They sat in a booth, shared gyoza, and talked about little things—classes, Kai's endless commentary, Yuki's new radio obsession.
"I heard she's doing midnight broadcasts now," Leo said.
"Half the dorm is sleep-deprived," Rin replied. "But they all listen."
Leo laughed. "That sounds right."
Then his phone buzzed.
A text.
Kai: "Emergency. You're being followed."
Leo frowned.
Leo: "What?"
Kai: "Don't panic. But you and Rin have been spotted. I repeat. Eyes on you."
He looked up slowly.
"Is something wrong?" Rin asked.
"…I think we've been ambushed."
Right then, a voice rang out.
"RIIIIIN~!"
Yuki.
Wearing sunglasses, a wide hat, and holding a bubble tea. Behind her was Hana, in jogging shorts and a hoodie, sipping water and clearly not amused.
Rin blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Yuki slid into their booth without hesitation. "Oh, nothing. Just… sightseeing."
Leo stared. "You're stalking us."
"I prefer the term 'concerned supervision.'"
Hana sighed. "Yuki said she wanted fresh air. I didn't know this was a stakeout."
Leo looked at Rin, silently apologizing.
But to his surprise, Rin giggled.
Just a little.
"Fine," she said. "One round of bubble tea, and then you both vanish."
Yuki cheered. "Success!"
Hana grumbled. "This wasn't in the brochure."
Leo whispered, "I'll make it up to you."
Rin just smiled.
---
Later, when the sun began to dip behind the skyline, Leo and Rin sat at the riverside bench where they'd started.
"No more ambushes?" he asked.
"Not unless Kai shows up in a helicopter."
They laughed.
Rin looked at the water. "Today was messy."
"Yeah."
"…But I liked it."
He glanced at her.
She met his eyes.
Then, in one fluid motion, she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I don't need perfect," she said. "Just honest."
Leo gently rested his head against hers.
"Then I'll be honest," he said. "This was the best day I've had in a long time."
And she believed him.