HIM – SPRING’S WARMTH

Previously crowded main street had thinned somewhat as the day was pushed into a late night. Noise and chatter which previously made it impossible to hold a normal conversation had been stumped by the flow of time, causing Aya and Tyson to walk slowly, their hands linked, as they talked underneath city’s street lamps.

“What time do you need to head back?” Tyson asked.

“Mom will pick me up,” Aya said. “So use me for as long as you wish, m’ lord~~”

“You know, you may think lines like that are funny, but they hurt.”

“Isn’t the whole purpose of life to be hurt?”

“Oi, we’re literature majors, not philosophy.”

“So you’re not comfortable debating life with a beautiful girl like me underneath the stars?”

“Don’t turn a dumb situation into something straight out of a love novella.”

“Aah, and here I thought you were a romantic,” Aya said, sighing. “You broke my heart so quickly.”

“What does even constitute ‘being a romantic’?” Tyson asked. “It’s so random I don’t think anyone actually knows.”

“… maybe it’s different for everyone? You know, the same was someone’s into kinky stuff and someone else isn’t?”

“Yeah, but there are specifics to the ‘kinky’ sex that are sort of universal. The only thing that comes to mind when dealing with ‘romantic’ is candles and love ballad from the 70’s.”

“Why 70’s?”

“Do you really want to be sung a love song from the 80’s?” Tyson asked.

“Come on, I’d take All out of Love any time of the day,” Aya said, smiling. “But please don’t sing it, you have terrible voice for it.”

“Yet another failed talent.”

“You tried singing?!” Aya exclaimed in surprise.

“Fourth grade,” Tyson said, smirking. “With or Without You, in front of two hundred people. Forgot the lyrics midway through because I nearly shat my pants.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha,” Aya burst out into laughter, causing a few eyes to glance at their direction. “Oh my god, I can’t believe this. Ha ha ha… please tell me someone recorded it?!”

“Yup.”

“I’ll have to see it.”

“We’ll see. If you’ll be a nice girl, maybe Santa will bring it for Christmas.”

“Fuck, I can’t wait for that long.”

“Patience, young Padawan.” Oi, what the hell am I doing mentioning one of my most embarrassing moments in life?!! Can I seriously not lie to her? “What about you? Ever tried it?”

“Nah,” Aya said, shaking her head, still battling back the laughter. “I may not look like it, but I’m actually a shy type.”

“… no you’re not.”

“I’m serious.”

“I bet there’s just as embarrassing video of you failing. Show me yours and I show you mine? Wait, let’s skip that one.”

“Patience, young Padawan.”

“Used it too soon.” Tyson said.

“Eh. But I’d never even think you tried. Congratulations.”

“I don’t sense sarcasm in your words.”

“Because there’s none,” Aya said, smiling lightly as she looked at him. “I really admire people who can put themselves out there, even if they are certain they’ll fail. It takes special something, you know? I once registered for a recital in elementary school because dad promised he’d come,” Tyson felt her grip tighten but said nothing and continued to listen. “He and mom brought a camera and everything, sitting through two hours of shitty kids’ show just for me to come up to stage and run away before saying a word.”

“…”

“You’re allowed to laugh, you know?”

“Oh thank god.” Tyson said, laughing lightly. “Knowing you, though, you probably did the recital in front of the two of them at home, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same.” she said. “You know how they say that there’s nothing greater than parents’ pride?”

“I wouldn’t know. Mine were the leading laughing clowns back then. They practically organized a town party just to share the story.”

“… I’m trying to make a point here, idiot.” Pft, her sulking face is so cute…

“Sorry, sorry. Parents. Pride. Great. Got it. What about it?”

“… ugh, forget it. You ruined it.”

“Nah, nah, I really wanna hear it. Come on.”

“Fine.”

“Wow. You gave in so quickly.”

“Why do you keep doing that?”

“Because it’s fun. Now I get why you keep screwing with me all the time.” Tyson smirked widely as he glanced at her.

“Aah, and here I thought we were having a moment. Finally talking some personal stuff after almost three hours of shitty sex puns that weren’t even that good.” Aya said.

“Eeh, I thought it was pretty fun,” Tyson said. “But, I get it though. It would have been much better if the entire auditorium applauded, right?”

“… yeah. Which is why I admire you, for better or worse,” she said. “Even though you became a laughing stock of an entire town, at least it was because you failed… not because you never tried.”

“Well, you know, different strokes for different folks,” Tyson said. “Even if I get embarrassed or nervous, if it’s something I want to do, I’ll do it.”

“Except for confessing to your crush for who knows how many years.” Aya said, sticking her tongue out.

“Well, I asked you out fairly quickly,” he said, sticking his own out at her. “And you agreed even quicker.”

“It was just a reflex. You were far too cute back then. I can’t say no to cute stuff.”

“Good to know.” … she’ll never stop calling me cute, will she?

“Any other embarrassing stories you want to share?” Aya asked, smiling wryly.

“Not yet,” Tyson shook his head. “The point of this date is for you to start liking me more.”

“Eeeh, cheapskate.”

“What about you? Don’t tell me you spent the rest of your childhood, after that runaway accident, locked up in your room?”

“Hm… for the most part, actually,” Aya said. “I’d always gotten good grades, so mom and dad didn’t really say anything. And I always had at least a friend or two that would come over from time to time.”

“Wow, so you were a modern kid before modern kids existed! How exciting!”

“… as you said, different strokes for different folks.”

“Yeah,” Tyson nodded. “But, then again, even if I wanted to lock myself up, someone would always come banging at my door at godforsaken 6 A.M. and wouldn’t stop until I’d leave with them.”

“Aww, you had it so hard. I feel soo sorry for you.”

“Aah, how good does it feel when jealousy rears its ugly head~~”

“Alright, let’s play ‘This is who I am’ - The Game, developed by Aya Jonson just here and now.”

“Do explain the rules, I beg of you!” Tyson played along.

“Each of us, in turns, says one thing about themselves. Can be anything, from favorite book to favorite porn star. It just has to be truth.”

“… I don’t think that’s a game you developed. Wait, that’s not even a game. That’s just a conversation.”

“Yeah, but one without sidetracking side comments that the two of us will inevitably make.”

“Good thinking.”

“Alright, I’ll start.”

“Wait, let’s turn and head back,” Tyson said, stopping. “It’s gotten pretty cold. I’m afraid you might catch a cold.”

“… worry for yourself.”

“Heh, so these are the things you blush over.” God I don’t wanna turn around…

“Shut up. Khm, anyway,” Aya said as the two turned around and started heading back to their meeting place. “My favorite movie’s Pulp Fiction.”

“My favorite song’s Lady in Black.” … this isn’t as fun without side comments…

“Ugh, this isn’t as fun without side comments.” … aaaah… “It feels more like an interview.”

“Yup. Why Pulp Fiction?” Tyson asked.

“Reasons. Why Lady in Black?” Aya asked back.

“Reasons. Two can play that game.”

“… I know.”

“Just play along.”

“If you’re gonna be a snide bastard, I won’t.”

“Ah, forgive me m’ lady, for I have sinned so much!”

“Celebrity crush?” Aya asked.

“Rachel McAdams.” Tyson said without hesitation.

“Wow, wasn’t expecting that.”

“You?”

“Christian Bale.”

“Was sort of expecting that.” Tyson said. “Favorite game?”

“This is literally the same thing we’ve been doing except we’re asking questions before saying stuff.”

“We had that ‘expecting’ comment added! It adds so much flavor and depth to the conversation!”

“… I just realized that our conversation topics get derailed so hard you’d think we were a part of the Super 8 universe.” Aya said, smiling lightly.

“It’s not derailing, more like weaving in and out,” Tyson said, thinking for a moment. “Like how that time turner weaved into the Harry Potter and then just weaved out like a ninja, never to be seen or heard of again.”

“Are you starting a competition in referencing movies? ‘Cause you’ll lose.”

“Didn’t we already establish that I’ll lose in everything, no matter what, when it comes to two of us?”

“We have? Oh, I like that.” Aya said, smiling lightly.

“You really smile a lot these days,” Tyson said, looking at her. “It suits you.”

“Your antics are just that amusing.”

“Ah, I also tried to be a stand-up comedian one time.” … aah, crap…

“Can’t wait to hear this.”

“… please…”

“Go on.” Aya said, smiling as she bit her lower lip.

“… you’re evil.”

“I learned that one from manga too. See? Not all knowledge is bad.”

“Thank you manga!” Tyson exclaimed for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Anyway, I’m in first grade of high-school, right? And, our school had this tradition of yearly school festivals where kids can join and do their own thing. Back then, I was really into stand-up comedians, and I was pretty confident in myself because everyone laughed because of me. Well, later I realized it was at me, but that’s besides the point. Anyway, I sign up, the d-day arrives, I’m up and walk onto the stage, there’s just a field of people expecting to have fun in front of me, and I open the show with ‘If we communicate with words, doesn’t that mean butts communicate with farts?’ There has never been more dreadful silence in the history of the world.”

“…”

“Oi, say something. I’m having painful flashbacks here!!”

“S-sorry… I-I’m trying…” Tyson glanced sideways and noticed that her cheeks were puffed as her free hand covered her mouth. She looks like a hamster… “I can’t, ha ha ha, oh god, ha ha ha, you’re just a bag of embarrassing stories, aren’t you? Ha ha ha ha… aaah, I won’t be able to sleep tonight…”

“Well, they do say that one man’s pain is another man’s laughter. Well, in this case, woman’s laughter.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better,” Aya said, still laughing. “I would have laughed. After all, I do have a four year old’s sense of humor.”

“Damn, and here I was ready to blow your mind with all these complex, intellectual jokes. To think I could just ride the fart train all the way to the toilet.”

“… stop, please, stop…” Aah, I should start taking pictures of her at moments like these—oi, thoughts, keep it prim and proper!!

“Ah, we’re here.” Tyson said as the two came to a halt.

“Wait, let me ring mom.” Aya said as she took out her phone and called, while Tyson took out his own to check for messages. Seeing that it was already almost 10, even he got slightly surprised. Damn, when the fuck did 4 hours pass?

“Hey, mom, can you come and pick me up? Yeah, the bus stop. Nah, he’ll wait with me. Right. Drive safely.” Aya finished and hung up, turning back to him as she put her hands into her pockets, lowering her head slightly. “She’ll be here in twenty or so minutes.”

“Ah, I see you’re expecting me to wait. My time is really precious, you know.”

“We can make out.”

“I just love waiting, you know?” Tyson said. “The feeling of expectation, the excitement---”

“Yeah, yeah, shut up. You’re ruining it. Let’s sit.” she said as she sat down onto the bench, Tyson following shortly after. Without saying anything, he immediately pulled her closer and hugged her sideways. “Is your place far away?”

“Nah, a few minutes.” Tyson said.

“Damn. I had to take a bus to get here. I really spoiled you.”

“And you did a wonderful job. Be proud.”

“Don’t act awkward on Monday,” Aya said, cuddling closer to him. “I’ll kill you if you do.”

“Why would I act awkward?”

“Because you’re you.”

“Good point. I’ll do my best.”

“Also, if you say anything to my mom except ‘Hi, I’m Tyson’ and ‘Goodbye’, I’ll also kill you.”

“I get the sense that subconsciously, you really want me dead.” Tyson said.

“Subconsciously?”

“I still have a lot of embarrassing stories to tell, so keep it under control, ‘kay?”

“You just bought yourself a few years.”

“… my pathetic past self is worth only a few years? Ah, may as well…”

“You really think you were pathetic?” Aya asked.

“… nah, not really,” Tyson said after a short silence. “For better or worse, I’m fond of most of my memories. In the end, even when I failed and was laughed at by everyone, I didn’t mind it much. It wasn’t without a reason.”

“I bet you cried yourself to sleep, though.”

“That happened only once!”

“Well, if it’ll help, I’ll probably cry myself to sleep tonight.” Aya said, chuckling lightly.

“You had fun?” Tyson asked.

“Did I look like I didn’t?”

“I don’t know. You keep saying I don’t get women at all, so I try not to make up my own theories about you.”

“I did,” Aya said. “You?”

“Oh, you have no idea.”

“Well yeah, for better or worse, at least one part of you was extremely happy.”

“… yeah, let’s drop that,” Tyson said, chuckling nervously. “It was a compliment though, you know?”

“… why is it that every guy uses that excuse? It’s not as soundproof as you think it is.”

“… it’s called desperation, madame. Desperation to take back at least a shred of pride.”

“Nah, that’s out of the window.” she said.

“Wouldn’t it be out of the pants?”

“… if I had known your humor consisted of fart jokes and terrible puns, I’d duck tape your mouth before you started rattling on.”

“… my folks will deposit my allowance next week,” Tyson said. “So come and see a movie with me.”

“Sure. I’m picking the movie, though.”

“Sure.” Tyson said. “Now, about that payment for me staying here…”

“… if you had been a proper gentleman, right now would have been our first.” Aya said as she dug her head out of his chest and raised it, leveling her eyes with hers. “You failed, though.”

“… sorry, I don’t regret it one bit.” Tyson said as he leaned forward, kissing her as his arms wrapped around her back gently, with hers wrapping around his neck tightly, while nearby street lamp illuminated a warm scene during a cold, Spring night.