I arrived at Anteiku thirty minutes early, armed with enough art supplies to teach a small class. Maybe overkill for one person, but Touka had been practicing. Her Thursday sketches showed real progress, and I wanted to encourage that.
The coffee shop was quieter on Saturday afternoons—a few students with laptops, an elderly couple sharing cake. Perfect for extended lessons. I claimed our corner table and started sketching the scene, losing myself in the interplay of light and shadow.
"You're early."
I looked up to find Touka standing there with a coffee pot, small smile playing at her lips.
"Wanted to beat the rush," I said, gesturing at the nearly empty shop.
"Ah yes, the famous Saturday afternoon stampede." She poured my coffee without asking—she'd long since memorized how I took it. "I'll grab my stuff and be right over."
She returned with her sketchbook and a determined expression that made me hide a smile. Touka approached drawing like a battle to be won through sheer force of will.
"Okay," I said, opening to a fresh page. "Today we're working on organic shapes. Flowers, leaves, things that aren't perfectly geometric."
"Great. My circles just started looking like circles and now you want me to abandon them?"
"Never abandon the circles. But coffee cups get boring." I drew a simple flower—five petals, nothing fancy. "Try copying this. Remember, loose movements."
She gripped her pencil like a weapon. I reached over, gently adjusting her hold.
"Relax. The flower isn't going to attack you."
"You don't know that." But she loosened her grip, attempting the petals. The first one looked like a deformed heart. "Why is this harder than circles?"
"Because organic shapes don't follow rules. You have to feel them instead of thinking." I drew another flower, this time watching her watch my hand. "See? It's more like... dancing than marching."
"I don't dance."
"Now I find that hard to believe."
She gave me a look that could have curdled milk, but tried again. This flower looked less like it was dying.
"Better! See what happens when you stop attacking the paper?"
"I wasn't attacking—" She stopped, seeing my grin. "You're enjoying this."
"Immensely. Your concentration face is very intense."
"I don't have a concentration face."
"You do. You stick your tongue out a little." I demonstrated, earning myself a gentle shove.
"I do not!"
"Tuesday you definitely did. When you were drawing that cube."
She touched her mouth self-consciously, then glared when I laughed. "Just for that, I'm drawing your flower badly on purpose."
"Touka Kirishima, sabotaging art out of spite. What would your manager say?"
"That the customer probably deserved it."
We continued for another twenty minutes, Touka gradually relaxing into the movements. Her flowers evolved from abstract disasters to recognizable plants. Nothing portfolio-worthy, but genuine progress.
"I did it!" She held up a sketch of a daisy that actually looked like a daisy. "Look, it has actual petals!"
"Natural talent emerging." I studied her work, genuinely impressed by how quickly she'd improved. "At this rate, you'll be teaching me by next month."
"Liar." But she looked pleased, a real smile brightening her face. "Though I am getting better at not attacking this innocent paper."
"Character growth. Very important in art."
The bell chimed aggressively—a Nishiki trademark entrance. But this time he wasn't alone. A pretty girl with short brown hair followed, looking around with curious eyes.
"Touka! My favorite violent waitress!" Nishiki called out. "Feed us before Kimi withers away from starvation."
"I'm not withering," the girl—Kimi—protested. "You're the one who insisted we needed coffee immediately."
"That's because someone kept me up until 3 AM talking about molecular structures."
"But you asked about my research!"
Touka stood, professional mask sliding on. "I'll get you menus."
"No need. Two coffees, and whatever sandwich that won't poison me." Nishiki steered Kimi toward a nearby table, then noticed me. "Oh, art boy's here. Shocking."
"Nice to see you too, Nishiki."
"This is Kimi, my girlfriend. Kimi, that's Nakamura, the one I told you about who camps here."
"The art student!" Kimi's face lit up. "Nishiki says you're here almost every day."
"Not every day," I protested weakly.
"He's teaching Touka to draw," Nishiki added with a smirk. "Very generous with his time."
Kimi looked between us, and I saw the exact moment she connected the dots. "Oh. Oh! You're—are you two dating?"
"We're just—" Touka and I said simultaneously, then stopped.
"Friends," I finished.
"Who study together," Touka added.
"Right." Kimi's smile was knowing. "Study friends. Of course."
"Leave them alone," Nishiki said, but his expression was amused. "Not everyone moves as fast as we did."
"We didn't move fast! It took you three months to ask me out properly."
"That's because you kept talking about your research instead of taking my hints."
They bickered good-naturedly while Touka fetched their order. I tried to focus on my sketchbook, but kept glancing at their easy interaction. The way Kimi touched Nishiki's hand when she laughed. How he watched her with obvious affection despite his sarcastic exterior.
"They're cute together," Touka said quietly, returning to our table.
"Yeah. Unexpected but cute."
"Nishiki's better when she's around. Less..." She gestured vaguely.
"Aggressively annoying?"
"I was going to say 'himself,' but that works too." She picked up her pencil again. "Show me how to draw birds. I want to add them to my flowers."
"Ambitious. I like it."
We worked on simple bird shapes while Nishiki and Kimi chatted at their table. Occasionally Kimi would glance over, that knowing smile never quite leaving her face.
"We should go," Nishiki announced eventually. "Movie starts in twenty minutes."
"It was nice meeting you, Nakamura-san," Kimi said warmly. "And Touka-san, the coffee was wonderful."
"Thanks," Touka managed.
Nishiki paused by our table on the way out. "Hey, art boy. Word of advice?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Nope." He glanced at Touka, then back at me. "Whatever this is? Don't overthink it. Sometimes good things are just... good."
He left before I could respond, Kimi waving cheerfully as they departed.
"That was cryptic," I said.
"That was Nishiki trying to be helpful. Terrifying, right?" Touka focused intently on her bird attempt. "He means well. Usually."
"He seems protective of you."
"We've known each other a while. He's like an annoying older brother who thinks he knows everything."
"Maybe he knows some things."
She looked up at that, meeting my eyes. "Like what?"
"Like..." I traced the edge of my coffee cup, searching for words. "Like sometimes overthinking ruins good things."
"Speaking from experience?"
"Constantly. It's an art student specialty."
"Must be contagious. I've been overthinking a lot lately too." She set down her pencil. "... Sota, what are we doing?"
"Right now? Drawing flowers and birds."
"You know what I mean."
I did. The same question had been circling my mind for weeks. "I know exactly what we're doing. We're getting closer. And I want that."
"But it's complicated—"
"I don't care." The words came out firm, certain. "I look forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays. Teaching you to draw is the highlight of my week. The coffee tastes better when you pour it."
"That's scientifically impossible."
"Probably. But it's still true." I met her eyes directly. "I want to be part of your life, Touka. Whatever that means, whatever shape it takes."
"You don't understand what you're saying. My family situation, the things I can't tell you—"
"Then tell me when you're ready. Or don't. I'm not going anywhere." I reached across the table, grabbing her hand. "You keep saying it's complicated and impossible. Maybe it is. But I'm choosing to be here anyway."
"Why?" Her voice came out small.
"Because when I walk in here and see you, my whole day gets better. Because you make me want to be more than I was yesterday. Because..." I gestured between us. "Because you make me feel like I'm home, even when nothing else makes sense."
"Playboy." She blushed, suddenly realizing and staring at our almost-touching hands. "I can't promise it'll be easy."
"I'm not asking for it to be easy. I'm asking for a chance Touka."
We sat in that moment, the weight of my words settling between us.
"Tuesday?" I asked finally.
"Tuesday. Bring easier homework."
"You always say that." I said while laughing
"You never listen."
"Maybe I just like the excuse to spend more time with you."
She ducked her head, but I caught the smile. "That's a terrible line."
"It's not a line if it's true."
"Now that's definitely a line."
"Guilty as charged." I started packing up, aware closing time was approaching. "Want to grab dinner? There's a good ramen place—"
"I can't." The words came quick, automatic. "Family thing. But thank you."
"No problem. Another time?"
"Maybe. We'll see."
Still maybes. Still secrets. But I'd made my position clear—I was choosing her, complications and all.
I stood to leave, then paused. "Hey, Touka? I meant what I said. I want to be in your life. However you'll let me."
Her smile was soft, real, worth everything. "I know. That's what scares me."
"Good scared or bad scared?"
"I don't know yet."
"Fair enough. But I'll be here while you figure it out."
The walk home felt different—not lighter exactly, but clearer. I'd laid my cards on the table. Now it was up to her what happened next.
My phone buzzed with a text from Nishiki: Stop overthinking and ask her on a real date already.
I typed back: Working on it.
Work faster. Some of us have money riding on this.
You're betting on us?
Kimi thinks it'll take you another month to get together. I have more faith. Don't let me down, art boy.
I pocketed my phone, shaking my head. Even Nishiki was invested now.