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“Should we go on a double date?”
Nekota blinked, staring dumbfoundedly at Miwa who’s currently sitting next to her on the train, on their way to their shared apartment. Miwa tilted her head, a faint blush creeping on her cheeks and Nekota found it endearing, as always.
“With?"
“Tokai-sensei and Takashina-sensei, of course!” Miwa grinned happily, and Nekota gaped. A double date with the so-called demon of the operating room and his technophile boyfriend. Nothing against the two, of course, since Tokai and Takashina got together, Tokai has shown his affectionate nature every once in awhile, and when she and Miwa got together, they have been in Takashina and Tokai’s favor too.
“Poor Sera kid, it can’t be helped.”
“Well, one day we can have a triple date. For now, should we go?” Miwa looked at her with those eyes and Nekota knew she was doomed. There was no escaping now.
“We’ll ask them tomorrow, okay?” Nekota replied, and Miwa seemed satisfied. “Where are you planning to go, anyway?”
“What else?” Miwa smiled brightly. “Amusement park, of course!”
Nekota paled.
***
“Amusement park, wait, aren’t you–” Tokai raised his eyebrows, and Nekota nodded. “Ah, I see. The things you do for love.” He laughed.
Nekota should be annoyed, but honestly she’s now just happy Tokai’s laughing more since Takashina came, she’s relieved Tokai’s finally getting the love he’s been denied of for all his life. But well, back to topic.
“So, are you coming? Miwa has been so excited about it, apparently she’s had it in mind for awhile now.” Nekota said, folding her arms.
“I hate the sun, but if Takashina’s coming, maybe I’ll reconsider. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an amusement park before.”
“What’s this about amusement parks?” Takashina entered the nap room, holding a manila folder. “Tokai-sensei, here’s the data for the patient that just got admitted this morning. Kurosaki-sensei asked me to give it to you.” He handed the folder to Tokai, and Tokai skimmed through it before dropping it on his messy desk.
“Hanabusa suddenly told Neko-chan she wanted the four of us to go on a double date to an amusement park.” Tokai answered before getting up to retrieve his coat.
“Ah, sounds fun. Sure. We’ll have to wait until our day-offs match, though, right?”
“That can be arranged.” Tokai said. “Maybe as we try to match our schedule, Neko-chan can solve her problems first.”
“What problems?” Takashina asked curiously.
Nekota shook her head furiously, and Tokai laughed. “Come on, Neko.” To Takashina, “I’ll see you later?” He smiled, and Takashina returned the smile, nodding.
***
It was a month and a half later when their schedule finally matched, and now here they are, Miwa’s holding Nekota’s hand, her steps light as she led Nekota to the ticketing counter. And there they saw Tokai and Takashina, in casual wear, with common-looking jeans and plain t-shirts (Nekota was a bit taken aback seeing Takashina in casual wear). Miwa waved excitedly towards them, hopefully catching their attention.
Nekota doesn’t miss Takashina’s fond smile while she watched them come over, noticing how he dragged Tokai by the hand. “Thank you for coming today, Takashina-sensei, Tokai-sensei.”
“It’s okay, Hanabusa. It’s nice to take a breathing sometimes, places that don’t smell like hospital. Also, sometimes Neko-chan has to wear something that’s not scrubs or her hoodie and see the sun.” Tokai said.
“Right back at you.” Neko rolled her eyes and Miwa just laughed happily. “I’ll go and take care of the tickets.”
Miwa’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. “I’ll go, Neko-san, you can wait here.” Miwa said, smiling bright and Nekota just nodded, watching as she walked to the counter.
“So, Neko-chan, ready?” Tokai grinned.
“Are you bad with these kind of things?” Takashina asked.
“Well, I’m not the biggest fan of it.” Nekota grimaced, but then a soft smile formed on her face. “But she’s been wanting to go for the longest time, it seems. I couldn’t reject her, I don’t have the heart to.”
Takashina smiled, nodding. He was about to say something when Miwa came back with four tickets in her hands, and Nekota dropped a kiss on her cheek as thanks, causing a blush to creep back up to Miwa’s cheeks. Nekota chuckled and distributed the tickets, and they entered the park together.
Honestly, Nekota doesn’t mind most attractions. Things like roller coasters and screaming machines, they’re all fun and all, but there’s only one thing she hates about amusement parks.
Ferris wheels.
Ferris wheels are often associated with romantic situations, which she has no qualms over, but Nekota hates heights. In other rides, even if it’s high, at least it happens all in a flash, but on ferris wheels, everything seems to be going at such a slow pace over such a long time, and to think of how long they’re going to be up there, it just sounded like hell to her.
Nekota knew she could have shared her fear with Miwa and her partner would understand, for she has always been the considerate and understanding type anyway. Though if she had known about Nekota’s damn fear of heights beforehand, she wouldn’t have suggested going to the amusement park, and Nekota didn’t want that. She wanted her to not hold back, to go all out, so she promised herself she’s just going to do her best today.
So Nekota smiled and reached for Miwa’s hand who smiled back, swinging their hands lightly. Takashina’s holding a map, and Tokai’s slightly standing on his tiptoes to look, before yelling excitedly, “Let’s go to the top 3 roller coasters first!”
“Do you like roller coasters?” Miwa asked her, hand squeezing.
“Well, it’s not my favorite thing in the world, but they’re fun and okay, I guess.” Nekota smiled. “Shall we sit at the very front seat?”
Miwa nodded. “Sounds good!”
They did take the seat at the very front, Tokai and Takashina a row behind them. Takashina kissed Tokai’s knuckles after intertwining their hands and Nekota chuckled, finding it endearing. Miwa’s hand found hers and squeezed.
“Hold tight, Neko-san.”
“Miwa, I’m not scared.” Nekota chuckled.
“I know. I just want to hold tight.” Miwa smiled, and Nekota was left dumbfounded even as the staff checked their their seatbelts. “This is so exciting!”
The machine screeched, signaling the start of the ride. “Ready… 1! 2! 3!”, the automated voice boomed, the ride picked up speed.
The roller coaster went off, steady and hair-raising at first, and Miwa’s hand gripped Nekota’s tighter as they approach the top. “Neko-san,” she said, and Nekota turned to her. “Thank you so much for coming today.” She smiled genuinely.
Nekota didn’t have the chance to answer since the next thing she heard was Miwa screaming in joy, and she decided that if this was enough to keep Miwa happy, then she would definitely be able to keep this up.
***
Takashina watched as Tokai sat down on a bench, the girls are off to some haunted house or something, teasing Tokai and Takashina, who chose to skip the next one, with “ Ah, getting old, sensei ?”. Tokai swore he’s going to take his revenge.
Takashina approached Tokai, pressing the ice cream he just bought against Tokai’s cheeks, grinning when the smaller man jumped in surprise. “You look like you’re going to melt under the sun.”
“I admit this is not my strong area.” Tokai answered, muttering a thank you as he took the ice cream from Takashina. Takashina smiled before taking the seat next to Tokai. He sighed contently, before taking a lick from his ice cream.
“The Neko-chan back then would have never said yes to anyone asking her to go to amusement parks.” Tokai said, making himself comfortable next to Takashina.
“They’re cute, aren’t they?” Takashina laughed. “But you, too. I doubt you would ever agree to amusement parks dates. What a caring parent, Seishiro.” He grinned when he practically could hear Tokai’s eyes rolling.
“I’m just doing this to keep me in their favor.”
“Sure, whatever you say.” Takashina smiled, knowing deeply Tokai cared a lot about Nekota, Miwa and Sera, and wanting nothing but for them to be happy. When Nekota and Miwa first got together, he remembered Tokai smiling softly at Nekota, simply saying, “Be happy”. It was the same like when Nekota found out about him and Tokai, the girl had mostly looked unreadable, but he could sense that her eyes were happy, understanding.
Maybe when two people have had each other’s back long enough for them to trust each other so much that they don’t need much words to express things to each other. They have been there for each other for such a long time, and maybe there’s a part in their hearts that’s relieved that the other has found someone important to them.
Takashina took another bite of his ice cream, then realized Tokai hasn’t touched his ice cream at all.
“It’s going to melt.” He pointed out.
Tokai turned to him and grinned. “Can I taste yours?”
Whatever reply Takashina had for Tokai was lost in Tokai’s mouth, lips pressing against his as he chased the chocolate ice cream taste in Takashina’s mouth away. Takashina’s free hand cupped the back of Tokai’s neck, kissing back, and he swore he could hear Tokai chuckling in between kisses. They pulled away when their lungs began to scream for air, and Takashina laughed breathlessly.
“Would you please start eating your ice cream so I can pay you back?” He sighed, and Tokai showed him his boyish smirk before eating his vanilla ice cream, deliberately distancing himself from Takashina. Takashina scooted closer before cupping Tokai’s cheek, softly turning the doctor to him before pressing their lips together once again, vanilla and chocolate lost in their kiss.
There’s a faint blush on Tokai’s pale cheeks when they broke apart, and Takashina dropped a quick peck on Tokai’s lips once again before focusing back on his ice cream.
Tokai let out a free laugh, and as he tried to finish his ice cream before it melted completely, Takashina thought he wouldn’t trade anything for this.
***
Nekota is confident in haunted houses. Especially since the theme is a haunted hospital, it’s a piece of cake since she works at a hospital. She witnesses blood everyday, and it’s not uncommon to see dead bodies and the like. . She knows what’s fake and what’s real, so of course, she’s confident that this is going to be a piece of cake for her.
She’s glad Tokai and Takashina are skipping this one, since those two are just going to spend their time identifying whether the bodies are real or not, and it would spoil the fun. Besides, Nekota does appreciate a moment alone with Miwa.
The nurse is holding tightly to Nekota’s arm as they hopped on the train, and Nekota couldn’t help but smile at the endearing sight. When they’re seated, Nekota slipped her arm around Miwa’s waist, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “Ready?”
Miwa grinned at her, a hand squeezing Nekota’s. “If you are, I am.”
The train started moving and Miwa yelped at the first display–as Nekota predicted, bodies. A lot of bodies. A lot of blood. Also nurses with blood-shot eyes. Nekota’s had her share of draining work shifts and a neverending list of tasks to deal with,but she’s never looked that ghastly.
Soon, Miwa’s arms are around Nekota’s waist, and Nekota found herself gasping at some sudden scares, with Miwa letting out a breathless chuckle when they get over their initial shock, just to jump in surprise all over again.
When the attraction ends, Miwa was the one who took Nekota’s hand, helping her getting off the train, and continued holding her hand until they’re out of the attraction. When they’re out at the open, Nekota squinted at the sudden shift to brightness, and then she turned to Miwa who’s smiling at her.
Miwa’s hair is dishevelled, probably from all the commotion during the attraction, a blush coloring her cheeks, but her eyes are bright, full of affection. Nekota’s mind drifted to their past meetings, Nekota desperately trying to hold her attraction and Miwa scurrying away after even the slightest interaction even in the operation room. And here they are now, holding hands, having the time of their lives.
Nekota smiled happily and surged up to kiss Miwa, the other girl squeaked in surprise but then smiled against the kiss, arms wrapping around Nekota’s waist and kissing back. Miwa let out a breathless laugh when they parted, forehead pressing against Nekota’s. “What brought that up?”
“Nothing,” Nekota grinned, hand stroking Miwa’s hair. “I’m just happy to have you.”
***
“Let’s ride the Teacups!” Neko said. “Let’s mix up this time, though. Maybe I can be in the same teacup as Tokai-sensei, and Miwa can be together with Takashina-sensei.” She grinned. The other three had no complaints, so they just proceeded to the attraction.
They separated once they got to the teacups, and Tokai slid into a cup after gesturing Nekota to get in first. They sat there, facing each other, and the doctor burst into laughter.
“What?”
“Nothing. It’s just weird sitting with you like this talking about something that isn’t work.” He said, a smile on his face.
“You really have changed a lot.” Nekota said. “I think I have, too. Maybe things like this are necessary once in awhile. It’s nice to have a change of pace.”
Tokai nodded. “All thanks to them, huh?” He tilted his head at Miwa and Takashina’s direction, the two laughing at something. “I’m glad you’re in good hands.”
Nekota smiled. “I can say the same for you and Takashina-sensei.”
Tokai was about to say something but he jumped in surprise because the operator cut in, telling them to get ready. Nekota grinned at the sight, not everyday you get to see the most feared demon of the operating room getting startled from something as miniscule as a sudden noise. She’s glad Tokai let his guard down today.
Nekota let out a laugh when they started to spin, smiling back when she notices the brightest smile she has ever seen on Tokai’s face, and when she looked over, she saw Takashina smiling, and Miwa had her hair flying all over her face as the teacups spun, lips curving into a bright smile. She closed her eyes and thought about a life without these people.
She couldn’t imagine it.
The attraction ended in a flash, and when they get back together, Takashina beamed at her. “Seeing you and Seishiro, it was refreshing.”
“So we’re not refreshing usually?” Tokai raised his eyebrows, and Nekota punched his arm.
***
The day nears its end and the amusement park will be closed by nightfall, so they proceeded to the final destination; the ferris wheel. Takashina looked over at Nekota, she looked like she’s hiding her nervousness well. Tokai had told him that Nekota’s fine with most attractions, but somewhat bad with ferris wheels particularly.
When they separated to enter different capsules, Takashina patted Nekota’s back, giving the nurse a reassuring smile and she nodded in response, before letting Miwa lead her into the capsule. Takashina and Tokai entered the capsule after them, him leading Tokai as he hopped into the small space.
Takashina expected Tokai to sit in front of him, but the doctor had sat next to him instead, head resting on the Takashina’s shoulder, intertwining his fingers with Takashina’s. There was a comfortable silence between them, before Takashina spoke up.
“Thank you for coming today.” He said, voice calm, the view outside was mesmerizing. The sun was setting, illuminating the sky with shades of purple and blue, soft clouds decorating it. He caressed Tokai’s knuckles with his thumb. “I know this isn’t, well, your thing. But it made me really happy that you decided to go with me, with us, today.”
“It was fun.” Tokai said, snuggling closer to Takashina like there’s any space left between them. Takashina turned his head to take a good look at Tokai. The smaller doctor looked so human like this, the soft sunlight caressing his cheek. Like this, he didn’t look demon-like at all. He just looked a human named Tokai Seishiro, a human who’s facing the world, a human who Takashina would wish to spend the rest of his life with.
He let go of Tokai’s hand to put it over the man’s form, wrapping an arm around his waist, letting Tokai settle more comfortably, pressing his body against Takashina’s side. “I think I can get used to this.” Tokai whispered.
“To what?”
“Having you around, going on little field trips like this with you, also Neko-chan and Hanabusa. We also should have Sera join us sometimes.” Tokai said. “It’s nice.”
“You’re right.” Takashina nodded. “Maybe one day, we should have Sera-kun fifth-wheeling us.”
Tokai scoffed. “Poor kid.”
“I think we’re almost at the top.” Takashina pointed out at the scenery, the amusement park and the city surrounding it, the sun slowly turning into a mixture of orange and red, the sun finishing its duty for the day, kissing the earth goodbye.
Silence washed over them once again, with the two of them content watching the view in front of them, until Tokai broke it by calling his name.
Takashina turned to him and found that Tokai had gotten up, now facing him. “Thank you for coming into my life, for showing me a whole new world. Thank you for believing in me.” He said, and his eyes were genuine, sincere. It’s not just their usual jabbing, teasing sentences. Tokai had meant every words he said.
Takashina smiled softly at Tokai, hand slipping to cup Tokai’s nape before shutting his eyes and kissed Tokai, feeling Tokai melting in his arms, and how the rest of the world seemed to just blur out, and suddenly there’s only them; him and Tokai, right here, not caring of anything else. They can deal with patients and operations again tomorrow, but for now, this moment, right now, it’s theirs.
Tokai’s hand moved to caress Takashina’s cheeks, and Takashina thought, he could spend a hundred lifetimes like this, with Tokai next to him, no matter what the world would throw at him. As the sun said its final goodbye for the day,Tokai kissed him like he’s the only source of air in the world, Takashina thought he would do anything for this to last forever.
They broke apart and Takashina pressed his forehead against Tokai’s, slightly out of breath, but he’s beaming.
Takashina doesn’t remember how the world was before Tokai Seishiro came into his life, and how quickly he became his whole universe.
***
Nekota was nervous. Even after Takashina’s supportive smile and Tokai’s reassuring pat on the back, she was nervous. She knew this is probably the part Miwa was looking forward to the most, and she definitely didn’t want to ruin it for her.
Miwa’s sitting across her, looking outside of the capsule, the sky that’s starting to be illuminated in the most magical colors. Maybe Nekota would’ve been able to appreciate it more if she wasn’t so nervous.
Nekota probably has been quiet for too long because Miwa’s looking at her with her curious eyes, at a super close distance. “Neko-san, are you okay?”
Thankfully, Nekota always recovers quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She smiled and willed herself to look out. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“Neko-san, are you actually scared of heights?” Miwa asked, and Nekota froze. Seeing Nekota’s reaction, Miwa chuckled, and Nekota wanted to yell at herself for being so transparent. “You should’ve told me. We could’ve skipped this if you’re not comfortable with it.”
“No!” Nekota shook her head. “I want to ride this, I want to ride this with you.” She murmured, a small blush formed on her cheeks. “You’ve been looking forward to this all day, right? It’s okay. I’ve been wanting to do this with you, too.”
Miwa smiled softly before standing up, making Nekota yelp in surprise, and furthermore when Miwa knelt on the floor of the capsule, making her eye-level with Nekota. She took Nekota’s hand in hers, squeezing it. “Thank you, Mari.” Nekota’s eyes widen, but Miwa continued. “It means a lot. You coming here, riding attractions with me, and even fighting your fear of heights. Thank you, Mari.”
Nekota shutted her eyes and opening it again just to find Miwa against the sunshine, the sky now turning orange, and there were rays of sunshine on the sky, but all Nekota could focus on was Miwa, her eyes, her soft smile, the feel of her hands on hers, the way she called her Mari . Her world is being filled with Miwa, and nothing else.
Miwa kissed her knuckles. “It was so much fun today, with Tokai-sensei and Takashina-sensei too. We should do this more.” She let out a chuckle. “Most importantly, I’m happy I’m with you, Mari. Today, tomorrow, and all the days to come. I hope you’ll continue keeping me in your favor. I’m so happy, Neko-san, I’m so happy.”
Nekota felt like she was going to break down any moment now but she tried her best holding it in. She freed her hand from Miwa’s hold to cup her cheeks. “You’ve really changed my life, you know?” She managed to croak out, and she felt weird. Usually, she’s always the one who has the control of the situation, but now it’s like the tables have completely turned.
Nekota found that she didn’t mind.
“You helped changing me into a better version of myself, and I’d never be grateful enough for that.” She said softly. “Maybe I’d even get over my fear of heights for you.”
Nekota heard Miwa chuckle, but she had bent down and closed her eyes to kiss the smile on Miwa’s lips, and she let her thumb caress Miwa’s cheek, as the other girl’s hand buried itself in Neko’s hair. The kiss was slow, languid. Nekota let herself drown in the moment, losing herself in the kiss, fear of heights completely forgotten. It’s as if the world just stopped and waited for them, and truly, she felt like she could conquer whatever fears she have like this.
Miwa was the one who broke the kiss, still with a smile, before breaking into a burst of giggles, blush coloring her cheeks.
That moment, finally, Nekota said the words she’d been dying to say but not knowing how, the words Miwa has been telling her over and over, the words Miwa needed to hear, and the words she had hold to herself all this time.
“Miwa,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Nekota thought, she would never forget the smile on Miwa’s face, brightening up her face the way the sun never did.