Between the Two of Us

Arata opened his eyes. What greeted him was a truly grandiose sight. This was a small little cove, one that showed off a view of the town they lived in. During a time like this, it felt truly wondrous to him.

The lights that covered over the buildings gave off the holiday glow. The sun setting, casting it's warm shine over the landscape. He could see everything, the cars, the people, and the nature that surrounded it all.

"Whoa…" He muttered quietly to himself. She smiled, hearing his vocalization of the view in front of him. "This is incredible!" He turned to face her, not even hiding his joy.

"I'm glad you like it." She said, walking by him to lean on the guard rail.

"With the way things are, of course I would." He said, taking a spot next to her. "Though I'm betting this place is beautiful all year round."

"It is." She replied. Akiba came to this place a lot. Mostly to just get away from things, think things through. Though, lately she's been doing it less often.

"Incredible." He said. This was truly the type of spot that would make for a great romantic getaway. Well, if he was here with someone that he could be romantic with. "I bet Yogi flipped when you showed him this."

"He's never been here before." Her response prompted him to turn his head slowly to her. His face looking at her with a quizzing manner. "You're actually the first person I've ever shown this place to."

"I am?" Arata couldn't believe she'd do something like this. "I'm surprised that you haven't gotten the others to see it. Why?"

"Because, this is where I used to go to… Before I met you." Arata didn't understand at first, but it became clear when she picked up her phone to show him.

So this was where she'd go to cool off. It'd be hard to do that with other people around. But he was a little different, he already knew about that secret.

"Right, that's a bit of a shame, if you ask me." He said. Everyone would love a place like this, no matter what she did here alone. She disagreed, and not just because of that reason.

"I think it makes a little more special, right?" She retorted. "If less people knew about this place." Arata didn't disagree with that statement. And it wasn't as if he was planning on telling anyone else about this view.

For a little bit, they two fell silent. Not saying anything, but instead focusing on enjoying this view. These views were ever changing. This single moment was going to last just for this very second.

"Do you think that it's a bad thing?" She broke the silence. Finishing out loud, what she was thinking in her mind. "That, I haven't been entirely honest with Yogi, or Akaki?"

"About your feelings?" Arata asked, trying to clarify what she was referring to. "Surely if you confessed-"

"I mean, about that side of me." She corrected. "It's just that, sometimes I'm worried what they might think of me." Arata paused when he realized why she had hesitated confessing her feelings. It was a bit of a trope for the childhood friend to not get the boy. After all, if they would've. Then it should've happened way earlier. He assumed that she was just some shy girl having a hard time getting her feelings out.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

"I get what you mean." Just months ago, he had the same feeling as her. The only difference was, that it was being held against him. "You're worried that they won't like you anymore." It's not something that he can blame her for feeling. He'd also be hypocritical if he wanted to convince her to tell them the truth. If it wasn't for the circumstances, he'd definitely be continuing to live that way. Hiding who he really was.

"It's just too hard." She turned to him. Her face filled with worry. "I think about it a lot, but if they found out… If anyone found out…" She was afraid of how it would change their relationships. That trio, everyone she had met along the way. Akiba was scared of losing everyone she cared about.

The reputation she had in school. That soft was of talking she had. Her warm smile. It's not like she felt herself to be a mean person. In fact, most students were correct in think that she's normally a kind girl. It's just that, she never felt comfortable in describing those moments where she felt… jealous.

"Do you think that… They might hate me?"

"If they knew how you felt sometime?" He thought about it. Honestly, other than the whiplash of learning the truth. It wasn't really that bad, especially considering that he got the worst of it. "Well, how about I put it like this. I know about you, and we're still friends, aren't we?"

"Sure, but…" She grabbed her hair, nervously covering a bit of her face with it. "But, that's kind of what makes you special." Arata got a bit confounded with that statement. He never considered himself to be special over anyone else.

"I think that me and Yogi, and Akaki are pretty similar." He countered. "They thought I was cool, and they've known you even longer."

"Maybe…" She said, opening back up again. "Here, let me get you a present. For having to listen to my problems again."

"Oh you don't have to." He said. Arata didn't believe that it was a major deal to him. Listening to people's problems seem to be his norm lately. However, she surprised him as she reached into her bag. Producing something that was familiar to him.

It was the limited copy of the manga he was hoping to purchase for her birthday. While he was using the bathroom, she didn't and went back to buy the last one.

"Aw gee…" He said in awe. "It's your birthday, I don't think it's fair to give me a gift."

"But it was yours last week, right?" She said. "So, I was thinking of getting you something for it." She knew he was eyeing it for her, but her mother had already gotten a copy due to connections.

"Thanks." He barely knew what to say. Akiba had been using this as an opportunity to get him a gift, that was the real reason why she let him join. Despite having an idea of his intentions. "If you're going to give it to me now." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace. "Uh… Happy birthday."

"Thanks." She said, grinning ear-to-ear. "It's the necklace we looked at earlier?" He nodded in response. "It really was beautiful, I was thinking of getting it myself." Akiba took it and hung it around her neck. It looked just as luxurious on her as well.

"Great, well we should get to the party. Don't want to keep them waiting." The two of them went back up the stairs. The sun had set, and the streets were illuminated only by the lights lined across the roads. The main lights, mixed with the hue of green and red. Gave off a glow that screamed the holiday spirit.

"It's getting kind of cold." She brushed her arms, attempting to keep warm. "I wish a brought a jacket."

"I guess when we get there. Probably won't have to worry about staying warm." As they walked, Arata noticed that they were walking by his house. Walking besides her, the memory came back to him. "Wait a second, come with me."

He told her to come inside to his house. Akiba wasn't sure what he was getting at. But she followed him in and waited in his living room while he ran to his room.

"It's a bit late." He came back, holding in his arm, the yellow dress. "I was meaning to return this sooner, but I never found a good time."

"Thanks so much." She took it. Akiba almost wanted to cry from what this reminded her. "I don't really… Deserve this, don't you think? After what happened that day."

"Nonsense." He hushed her. "You bought it. Plus, everyone agreed that it looked great on you. Hearing him say that, she got an idea.

She excused herself for the bathroom, using it as an opportunity to change. Akiba came out, giving Arata a nice surprise.

"So are you read…" He slowly stopped his speech, in awe of her beauty. It was just like back in the changing room. This girl truly was one of the prettiest at school. "Oh, I didn't think you were going to wear it."

"It's nice, and I never got the chance before." She answered, feeling a bit self-conscious from his eyes on her. "I hope you like it."

"I bet Yogi's gonna flip when he sees it." He said, also understanding that Akaki would be a fan as well. However, that wasn't what she was asking, which was a bit disappointing to her.

"I'm sure he will." She said.

While leaving, Arata noted that he had to make sure everything was locked down. The lights all had to be turned off. Odd, since he thought his parents should be home. They never mentioned going shopping. It wasn't a big deal to him, since he was going to be at that party for a bit.

"Now that's everything taken care of." He locked the door behind him, joining her on the road. "Now let's get you to your birthday party."

"Our, birthday party." She said, not wanting to make him feel left out with how close their birthdays were.

"…" He was astounded a bit when she said that. But changed his tune to see how glad she was for something else that was similar between that two of them. "Right. Our birthday party."