Day 17

Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring. Ring ring ri-

Silence his phone, Relon releases a low groan before sitting. A yawn escaping as he reads the time. 7:00 A.M.

It's been a while since I've gotten up so early. Last time it was because Miguel dragged me to the underground idol shop.

Gazing at the purchased poster on his wall, he gets out of bed stretching his body adding in a few hops before clapping his cheeks.

"Alright." Glancing over at the calendar, he spots the morning's date with the initials 'B.D.' along with a smiley face. "The big day's finally here so I gotta start strong!" He pumps a fist, determination etched on his face as he then diverts his gaze to a neatly wrapped present with a blue ribbon lying on his desk.

Hurrying with his washup, he closes his door gently entering the hallway. Looking across at You's door, he gently knocks for no response to come. Opening it slowly and cautiously, he sees the back of her head. Smiling, he closes the door behind him as the sound of another door opens behind him. Looking down the hall, he sees his mother covering a yawn of her own as she approaches.

"Morning, mom."

"Good morning. Seems I didn't need to wake you up, after all." He mentions with a grin peeking in on You seeing the dormant girl. "Remember the plan?" She asks closing the door, both heading downstairs.

"How could I forget? Considering you and Miguel came up with it as well as helped me decide on her gift, it's not like I had any other choice. Let along idea." He mutters the last part averting his gaze as they enter the kitchen.

"Nervous?"

"Obviously. I've never gone on one before so You being my first has my whole body jittery." He blushes wrapping the apron around himself.

"Awe, she's been your first everything, hasn't she?"

"First friend, first female friend, first person you've cried over..."

"Okay! I get it, jeez. Shouldn't you be getting ready for work?" He pouts for the woman to chuckle ruffling his scruffy hair.

"I can always make time to tease my son and his love life." She notes grabbing her coffee. "I'll leave you to your work~."

Shaking his head, Relon eases himself as he begins organizing preparations for breakfast. With everything laid out, he glances at the time before getting to work.

In the blink of an eye, gone are all of the ingredients. In their place being spread across the table, a masterpiece.

"There. A breakfast specofically meant for You Watanabe." Relon announces to himself placing the final plate down.

Rubbing the accumulsted sweat from his hard work, he notes the time grinning.

"Right on que." Discarding the apron, he departs back up the stairs.

Carefully opening the door to the girl's room, he closes it behind him walking over to her. His attention diverting to the phone reading 7:59.

Hovering his raised index over it, the screen shifts for the alarm to appear though no noise sounds. His finger having clicked the dismiss on time.

My turn to be the one to wake you up. He grins to furrow his brows at hus own thought. Why am I so excited about that? Am I looking more forward to today than I expected?

Wandering his eyes upon the resting girl, he smiles accepting the thought. Gently rustling her arm, he speaks.

"Youuuuuu, time to wake uuuuup." He backs away as she releases a small groan stirring to.

Slowly sitting up, she rubs the sleep from her eyes before grabbing her glasses. Swinging her legs out to the side, her gaze falls on the pajama bottoms belonging to Relon. Looking up, she sees the boy.

After a moment of clicking the situation, her eyes widen as her cheeks become flushed.

"R-Relon?!"

"Ohayousoro." He greets with a salute. "Birthday girl." He adds with a wink, said girl too speechless to respond. "Hurry up amd get washed up. Breakfast is ready." He bids leaving the girl alone.

Blinking in repetition, a sensation stirs within as a smile breaks across her face. Shooting to her feet, her new nickname plays in her head as she glances at her calendar.

"Alright." She murmurs in a cheer exiting her room for the sound of a door to her right to gain the teen's attention.

"Ah, You-chan!" Mé greets donned in her work attire consisting of a pink buttoned shirt, black skirt and a lap coat. "Happy birthday!" Mé adds with a hug, one You happily returns.

"Thank you very much!"

"So, how does it feel to be older than Relon by a number?"

"Honestly, it hasn't hit me yet." She chuckles.

"Hmm. Is that so?" Mé wonders with a finger to her chin in a teasing manner.

"Y-Yes. Is there something wrong with that...?" The birthday girl's cheeks already heating up at the approaching tease.

"Oh~, I was just thinking how boys around Relon's age tend to like older women." She smirks, You's whole face turning red in response.

"A-Auntie!" She exclaims. "That's...! I mean...! There's...!" She struggles to find the words.

"What? There's a possibility, correct?" Mé leans forward, her teasing smirk remaining before leaning up placing her hands on her hips. "You and Relon can only beat around the bush for so long~." She notes passing by heading downstairs.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Relon calls from the kitchen.

"Nothing, dear~." Mé responds stopping halfway to peer back at the blushing girl. "Just saying~. Anyway, you have a big day ahead of you so hurry and get washed up. Relon put a lot of effort into breakfast." She winks once more continuing down the staircase.

"Jeez, Auntie..." You sighs in relief heading for the bathroom readying for the day.

"You and Relon can only beat around the bush for so long~."

Spitting out the saliva-mixed toothpaste into the sink, she looks in the mirror thinking back to Mé's words.

I know, but still... Halting halfway down the staircase, she eyes the boy at the table for the scent of the prepared meal to grab her attention.

Waffles, sausage links, and an assortment of berries on another plate neatly stacked with perfectly sliced oranges spiraling around the mountain of edibles.

Awing at the sight, she hurries down stopping at the table. The plate before her unconsciously making the girl gleam in delight as she begins to salivate. Coming to a realization, she stops looking to two non-relatives. Mé's eyes cutting to a clearly blushing Relon looking down at his own plate.

"Relon, did you make this...?" Her face heating up at the question.

Giving the smallest of nods, his eyes raise up to meet You's face shifting to a red tint of embarrassment.

"It is your special day so..." He responds meekly.

Blushing harder at the revealed fact, You's eye glaze over a smirking Mé before she sits down.

"T-Thanks. That's... very thoughtful." Her own shy voice responds.

"Well, what say we eat before Relon's well-cooked food goes cold~." Nodding, You takes her first bite for her eyes to shoot open.

"It's delicious!" She gasps before taking a bite of the oranges to squeal in delight. "Relon, I love it!"

"G-Good! I'm glad" She stutters bashfully to ease himself into a smile before seeing his mother's smirk, his embarrassment steadily rising once more for the boy to redirect his focus on the food.

Before long, they finish. Letting out a breath of satisfaction, Relon rubs his stomach in glee.

"That was most delicious, dear." Mé thanks wiping her mouth with a napkin to glance at the clock on the wall. "And now, I must be off." She notes standing to her feet heading for the door with the two close behind.

"Once I get back, we'll continue the celebration, 'kay You-chan~?"

"Auntie...!" You groans in embarrassment before giving up to sigh followed by a nod. "Alright! I can't wait!"

"Alright, you two, have fun while I'm gone~." She bids winking to Relon before departing, the two waving as she drives off.

"I'll help you put up the dishes." You offers for Relon to keep his gaze on the driveway. "Relon?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, lost in thought again." He rubs his head apologetically.

"Come on, tell me what's on your mind as we put the dishes up." She rolls her eyes with a smile.

Washing the dishes, Relon hands one after another over for You to dry them before placing them on the rack.

"So...?"

"So what?"

"Oh, come on." She chuckles. "What's on your mind this time? You've been lost in thought more and more often. Does it have to do with our idol work?"

"No, not... exactly." A slight tint begins to surface upon his cheeks.

"Does it have something to do with Auntie Mé or Miguel?"

"Mmm... no." He dismisses, his pace in washing the dishes quickening as his blush deepens.

"Hmm..." You hums in thought looking directly at her male companion.

Feeling her strong gaze, he averts his eyes only to blush as You moves around to face him with gaze as if trying to read him. Feeling the heat rise even more, he steps back averting his gaze by looking behind him.

Crossing her arms with a audible pout as sounded by her 'hmpf,' You gazes a Relon as a moment of silence comes from the two. The only sound being the running faucet.

Feeling a poke at the center of his chest, Relon slowly glances forward taking sight of You's pout sporting a noticeable blush of her own.

"Does it... have to do with me?" Her voice similarly filled with slight embarrassment.

Widening, Relon thinks back to the wink his mother gave him before leaving. Swallowing his emotions, he glances over to the still running faucet shutting it off.

"Yeah." He answers, his gaze lingering on the handle before looking back to You, his blush still noticeable as his words cause the girl's pout to be changed with slight bewilderment.

"What are you doing for the rest of the day?" He asks.

"What am I doing...?" Her blush growing fainter. "Just idol prep work. Practicing my dance choreography, singing, and finishing the touches on my outfit. Why...?" She asks, her curious voice secretly filled with anticipation.

"Would you maybe... like to go on a date... with me...?" As soon as the words leave his mouth, Relon can feel his tensed body grow cold from fear of rejection.

Another moment of pure silence occurring as Relon notes of the girl's eyes slowly widening as he finger poking his chest lowers.

"What...?" She murmurs taking a single small step forward only to realize what she is doing to step back in place. "Again."

"H-Huh...?"

"Say that again, Relon." She urges, a hand gripping her chest.

Hearing her tone, his mind acts without thinking.

"I'm asking you out on a date!" He declares, the moment passing as the sudden adrenaline surge passes. "Will you go on one with me...?" He murmurs more calmly.

Looking to the girl, he watches as her slight agape mouth closes. The corners arching upwards as a smile forms.

"I'd love to."

At a loss for words, Relon can only utter one word.

"G-Great."

"I'll go up and get ready." You bid leaving the kitchen with a skip to her step before hurrying up the stairs with a clearly visible giddy smile on her face.

Blinking in repetition, Relon turns to lean his back against the sink holding the edges.

"I did it..." He says to himself in disbelief. "Haha. Alright!" He quietly roots pumping a fist into the air.

Looking at said fist, he notices it shaking profusely. Flailing a few times, he calms himself before heading up the step to. Before entering his room, he hears the cheerful voice of You behind the door.

"This with this? No, that won't work. Maybe this? Hmm, ooh! How about this?!"

Smiling, he enters his room closing the door behind him. Glancing at the calendar noting of today's social day, his mind goes back to the plan his mom, Miguel, and himself put together.

I just have to hold out until they text me. I can do this! He slaps his cheeks lightly before redirecting his attention to his closet. Before long, Relon looks at himself in front of the mirror overtop his dresser.

Sporting a dark brown shirt under a jacket the same color, he has on a pair of jeans and sneakers. Fixing his hair only slightly to a point where it looks to have been made, he looks over himself before nodding in approval.

Let's see... Phone, keys, watch, wallet. Alright, got everything. Touching the doorknob, a chill runs down his spine. Now is not the time to get cold feet. Especially when You is literally on the other side of the door- er, doors.

Dismissing the frightening emotion, he opens it no longer hearing her small rambling but sounds, most likely moving around clothes, before walking downstairs. Glancing out the door's glass to inspect the front yard, Relon sees the sun now fully out. The sly filled with nothing but cumulus clouds.

Good. Now I'm just waiting for You. Huh, now that I think about it for a moment, calling her by her first name without honorifics was surprisingly an easy transition. I get what she and Miguel meant now.

At that thought, the image of You flashes through his mind. Her kind smile and the last two plus weeks they've been together all coming to mind.

"You and Relon can only beat around the bush for so long~."

"..."

Acting as if I didn't hear them, what was I thinking? But, Mom's right. We can only beat around the bush for so long. But I still haven't figured out how to- Before he can finish, he hears a door from upstairs. Turning around to walk to the base of the staircase, he looks up to widen in awe.

At the top stands his date. Donned in a blue blouse top with frills along with light brown vertical lines and short cuffed denim jeans. On her head; a tan sun hat with a red ribbon. Held by her elbow, a large tan bag/purse of similar design to her hate with a large ribbon hanging along the side off it. Above her short open-toed-heels and around one arm, brown elastic ribbons spiraling over one another.

For a moment, both simply gaze at the other. Neither capable of speaking due to their awe.

"Wow..." Both murmur in unison to snap from their stupor.

"I never knew you could dress in colors other than red and black." You comments cheekily walking down the steps to take note of Relon blinking at her. "Relon...?" She calls in her normal voice.

"Sorry, just wow is all I can say..." He scratches his cheek looking at her in the eye for You to feel her embarrassment steadily rise. "You look beautiful." He compliments with that genuine smile she's seen only a number of occasions throughout their time together.

Shuffling in place bashfully, she speaks.

"T-Thanks. I guess I chose right, huh?"

"Perfect." He correctly absent-mindedly, You feeling a twinge of happiness etch itself across her face for a moment.

"You look pretty handsome yourself." Her words causing the teen's head to rise slightly as heat becomes more noticeable to him.

Not wanting another moment of awkward silence, Relon speaks up.

"Ready to go?" She nods to which he opens the door with a bow gesturing her out. "After you, Madam." His words causing her to giggle temporarily forgetting about her embarrassment as she walks by.

"Thank you, sir." She gives a chortle for Relon to follow behind. After locking the door, the two are off walking along the sidewalk. "So, where to? The beach? Numazu City?"

"Nope and nope. We're going somewhere new."

"New, huh? Now I'm even more excited!" She cheers for both to take in a gentle breeze. "Ahh~. So nice."

Chuckling, Relon looks to You with her arms out to both sides taking in the element. His eyes lowering to her shirt swaying with the wind showing her skin for Relon to avert on instinct.

Nope! Wholesomeness allowed only. Bad brain. He reprimands himself as You finishes her moment of childishness.

Looking back to him, she grin a cheeky smile which he can only return with his own smile of contempt. Happy to enjoy the moment and whatever else it shall lead up to.

"Welp, we're here."

Standing next to Relon, You looks at the open path going at a steady incline into the woods. An arch overhead reading "Residential Nature Trail."

"A nature trail? I've never knew of this."

"Yup yup. It's new. Not far from here is the shrine Kunikida-san lives at. Now then, shall we?" He looks to her with a wonderous grin.

"We shall." She returns, the duo beginning their trek.

After a few minutes of walking uphill, both take sight of a dense foliage as they near the end of said incline. Reaching the top, Relon shields his eyes as You pulls down her hat slightly.

Passing over the morning light, You raises her hat to widen. A straight dirt path with gravel along the side a far as her eyes can see. Fractures of light piercing the canopy illuminating the forest path in its shimmering.

"Whoa...!"

Walking over to a small clear area, he takes a seat on a bench. Gazing from their respective spots, both take in the mesmerizing sight around them.

"How did you find this place?"

"The other day while I was brainstorming ideas for your birthday, I ended up bumping into Kunikida-san and Matsuura-senpai who told me about it."

"So that's why you mentioned the shrine earlier. She did mention living on this side of the residential area."

"Mhmm. Mastuura-senpai told me about the best time to come through here. Also, fun fact; we're currently on the top of the mountain and straight ahead gives us a pretty nice view."

"Of what?"

"I'm not telling. That would ruin the surprise." He grins earning a purse of You's lips in acceptance.

Walking over to Relon, You takes a seat next to him gazing up at the foliage and its filter of sun rays.

"It's nice. Peaceful even." She pauses, the boy remaining quiet before she continues. "It's as if we're in our own little world." A tint of pink rising, possibly from the lapse in realization at the phrasing, as You glances to Relon.

Eyeing said teen, she notices him seeming to hold the same unspoken thought as her as noted by his cheeks a light red. Definitely not from the warm weather.

"Honestly, it feels like we're always in our own little world whenever we're alone together." He reveals for You to widen slightly. "It's just... this place really makes it noticeable."

"So... I wasn't the only one..." She averts back forward, a small smile making its way onto her face. "Hey." She speaks up gaining his attention. "We'll likely make friends at school. More girls than guys..." The mention of girls and boys causing the two to inwardly shudder at the thought.

"Don't worry." He cuts in. "There's no way I'm gonna forget about you. No pun intended." He grins getting a chuckle and soft nudge from the side of You.

"You were good until you said that."

"Haha, well I had a good streak." He gets to his feet extending his hand to his date who gratefully accepts.

"I'll let you off this time just so you can keep your streak going." She giggles turning to the long path.

"A thousand thanks, milady." Relon gives a curt bow, You's cheeks warming up only to hold back her laughter.

"Pfft. No need for thanks, Romeo." She dismisses taking off her hat placing it in her bag.

"Jokes aside, this would be a great place for a race." He notes.

"As they say, slow and steady wins the race." She chimes to go into thought afterwards, her face steadily rising for the umpteenth time.