Date Invitation

The rain outside had stopped at some point, but no one indoors had fallen asleep.

After a long while, Kiyoko was the first to speak.

"Hayato, when you were little, did you really want to marry me?"

After a brief silence, Hayato's muffled voice came through.

"Of course. Kiyoko-senpai, do you remember? Every time I ran to the slide at the park, you were the first one to find me."

"How could I forget? You were so stubborn back then, you wouldn't admit you had been crying."

"Let's not remember that part so clearly. Cough, cough, so it was around then that I started developing feelings for you, Kiyoko-senpai."

"Is that so."

Hayato continued, Kiyoko's tone clearly showing a hint of happiness.

"So, I still want to wait until our feelings truly turn into love before I properly confess to you. Besides, my main focus right now has to be on the preliminaries. Kiyoko-senpai, if we win the championship, I want to formally confess to you in front of everyone. What do you think?"

Shifting from his lying position to his side, Hayato looked at Kiyoko and asked very seriously. Kiyoko also turned to the side, propping her head up with one hand and reaching out with the other to flick Hayato's forehead. Then, with a bright smile, she replied.

"Tell me when you've done it. For now, let's keep it as you planned. Good luck with the preliminaries."

Kiyoko, without her glasses, looked even more radiant when she smiled. Just then, the moonlight also shone through the gap in the curtains and illuminated her face, making the scene appear even more glorious and sacred. Many years later, Hayato would still remember how beautiful Kiyoko was when he thought of this moment.

Sunlight streamed into the room. Kiyoko stretched. So many things had happened yesterday that she was the first to wake up. Seeing Hayato still asleep, she smiled gently and quietly got out of bed to prepare breakfast.

First, she collected the clothes that had been hung out to dry. She touched them and found no damp spots, which put Kiyoko at ease. Otherwise, she wouldn't even be able to go to school today. Although it was the same set of underwear, she had no replacements and couldn't wash them with other clothes. Kiyoko could only hang them out to dry and wear them once they were dry.

Coincidentally, this was the set that Hayato had previously said wasn't cute enough. Looking at the slightly plain underwear, Kiyoko muttered to herself as she put them on.

"Is it really not cute enough? Hayato, how would he even know? Hmph, he must have been secretly looking at things he shouldn't have."

After changing her clothes, she went to wash up briefly. Fortunately, Hayato's house had mouthwash, which saved her from the predicament of not having a toothbrush to use. Kiyoko walked to the kitchen, picked up an apron, tied it on, and began preparing breakfast.

After a long period of busyness, she finally finished. She placed the miso soup, tamagoyaki, teriyaki salmon, and a few side dishes on the table. Looking at the time, it was already 6 AM.

She went upstairs and into the room, only to find Hayato still asleep. Kiyoko quickly shook him awake.

"Get up and eat. How long are you going to sleep?"

"Mmm, five more minutes."

"No~ way~ Hurry up, or the food will get cold."

Hayato sat up, yawning, and was stunned to see Kiyoko in front of him.

"Huh? Kiyoko-senpai, why are you here? Oh~ right, you stayed here last night."

With another big yawn, wiping away the tears that had welled up in his eyes from yawning, Hayato finally became a little more alert. Then he stood up and reached for the alarm clock on the bedside table.

"Ah, no wonder it didn't go off today. The battery is dead."

Hayato put the alarm clock back in its place and turned around, only to find Kiyoko turning her head away, shifting her gaze from him.

"Kiyoko-senpai, why are you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Hayato, who had just realized, immediately squatted down on the spot.

"No, this is normal, or rather, it's not, it's just..."

"Alright, alright, I know. Hurry up and change. I'll go down first."

After Kiyoko left, Hayato stood up with a wry smile and took the uniform hanging on the wall.

"Good grief, I've embarrassed myself again."

Once he had completely calmed down, Hayato changed into his uniform and went downstairs to the living room. Seeing the lavish breakfast on the table, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Oh~ that looks delicious."

Just as he was about to reach for a piece of tamagoyaki, Kiyoko hit his hand with hers. Kiyoko, like a doting wife, put her hands on her hips.

"Go wash your face first. It's not hygienic like this."

"Yes~~"

Hayato answered with a drawn-out tone. Kiyoko lectured him that once was enough and then pushed his back, ushering him into the bathroom.

After washing up, Hayato sat in his chair and took a sip of the miso soup.

"Delicious. I really wish I could drink this every day."

After what happened last night, Kiyoko was now immune to Hayato's little teasing. Instead, she lifted her chin.

"Dream on."

Thus, the two of them chatted and finished all the food on the table. Seeing that there was still plenty of time, Hayato went out for half an hour of exercise before returning to go to school with Kiyoko. Kiyoko also prepared their lunch bento for the day and handed it to Hayato.

On the way to school, they walked and chatted.

"By the way, Kiyoko-senpai, are you free this Sunday?"

"Sunday? I don't have any plans."

"Then let's go on a date."

"A date... You really have the nerve to say that. Okay."

Kiyoko's decisive acceptance of Hayato's date request made him stop in his tracks.

Seeing the surprised look on the boy beside her, Kiyoko smiled and took his arm, urging him forward.

"You know, you said so much, but when I actually agreed, you backed off. I'm still waiting for someone to confess to me after winning the championship. If you back down now, I'll laugh at you."

"I was just surprised by your straightforward answer, Kiyoko-senpai."

"Yes, yes, yes~"

Upon arriving at school, the two parted ways at the shoe lockers. Hayato went to his classroom alone, and as soon as he sat down, Tanaka leaned over.

"Hayato, you're in a great mood today."

"You can tell, huh?"

"Your smile is so wide, anyone can see it."

"Ahem, I don't."

After a bit of roughhousing, the teacher walked in, and the students of Karasuno began their day of learning.

During lunch, Kiyoko was also questioned by her friends.

"Kiyoko, why are you so happy?"

"Am I?"

Controlling her expression, Kiyoko calmly retorted.

"Yes, you are. Even if I can't tell from your expression, I can still feel it. Is it related to your childhood friend?"

"Why are you suddenly mentioning Hayato?"

"Hey, didn't you know? He's become quite the topic among the girls. He's tall and handsome, great at sports, and does well in his studies too. The teachers always like to call on him to answer questions in class, and he seems really proficient in English."

There was no exaggeration in these words. In the few days since Hayato transferred, his appearance alone had attracted a group of girls. Furthermore, during gym class, he excelled at both playing ball and running. He also always greeted people with a smile, so it would be strange if no girls liked him.

Kiyoko's friend listed the rumors she had heard one by one, counting them on her fingers. Finally, she added a final blow.

"I heard that a girl in his year is already preparing to confess to him."

"Ah, but that's true, Hayato really is outstanding."

Hearing her friend speak so highly of Hayato, Kiyoko didn't feel jealous; instead, she was happy for him.

"Oh, aren't you jealous?"

Kiyoko silently scoffed in her mind. We almost did something yesterday, how could I care about these things now?

"Of course not."

"Ah-choo."

"What's wrong, Hayato, do you have a cold?" Tanaka asked with concern, rubbing his nose. With the training camp coming up soon, he didn't want Hayato to be unwell.

"I probably just caught a chill. It rained yesterday, didn't it? It's nothing, I'll just take some medicine when I get home."

"That makes sense. Hurry up and eat. After we finish, I'll need you to teach me. I still don't quite understand that English passage the teacher taught this morning."

"OK~"

After lunch, Hayato and Tanaka reviewed English for a while longer, and the afternoon classes passed smoothly.