Chapter 142. The Perfect Planned Date

The morning of their date...

The sun was high, casting a soft glow over the quiet neighborhood as birds chirped in the distance.

A light breeze rustled the trees.

Akihiko leaned casually against the side of his sleek black car, a matte-gray coat draped over one arm.

He wore a crisp white shirt—clean, fitted, and rolled at the sleeves—and tailored black trousers that clung perfectly to his frame.

His hair was slightly tousled, as if he'd just run a hand through it, and a pair of dark sunglasses rested on his collar.

Effortlessly handsome.

Effortlessly elegant.

Then the door to Ayaka's house creaked open.

Akihiko looked up—and forgot to breathe for a second.

Ayaka stepped out, wearing a soft lavender day dress that cinched just below her bust and flowed down to her knees.

The fabric swayed with every step, fluttering slightly in the breeze.

Her natural curls framed her face like a halo, and her makeup was fresh and minimal—dewy skin, a hint of gloss, and just enough color to brighten her cheeks.

She wore simple white heels and carried a small cream crossbody bag.

She was beautiful—glowing, radiant, and completely unaware of it.

"I-Is something wrong with my clothes?" she asked nervously, fiddling with her purse strap when she noticed him staring.

Akihiko pushed off from the car and walked toward her with slow, deliberate steps.

"I'm not taking my eyes off you today." he murmured, and opened the passenger door with a dramatic bow.

Ayaka's face burned crimson. "Y-You're crazy!" she said, ducking into the car as fast as she could.

He smirked as he slid into the driver's seat. "Where to, princess?"

Ayaka excitedly pulled out her little pink notebook, flipping to a page covered in doodles and neatly written plans. "First stop: the cinema! I already bought the tickets online!"

"Alright." Akihiko said, pulling onto the road, "Lead the way."

------

They arrived at the theater twenty minutes later.

The cinema plaza was lively with weekend energy—families milling around, couples holding hands, the scent of buttered popcorn wafting in the air.

While Akihiko lined up to buy their snacks, Ayaka walked confidently up to the counter and handed over her tickets.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." the staff member said with a polite frown. "This ticket's invalid."

"H-Huh? But I just bought it yesterday!" Ayaka exclaimed, her voice rising in panic.

As she argued with the staff, Akihiko approached, holding a tray with popcorn, drinks, and a bag of gummies.

"What's wrong?" he asked calmly.

Ayaka pouted and showed him the ticket. "I think... I messed up…"

He scanned it and blinked. "You bought it from the Osaka branch."

"W-What?! Nooooo!" she groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I didn't check the logo! I was too excited!"

"It's okay." he said, gently rubbing her back. "Let's buy new ones."

"The movie we were supposed to see—"'In the Middle of the Rainstorm-'"

"-is completely sold out." the staff added apologetically.

Ayaka's face fell. "I'm really, really sorry... this was supposed to be perfect."

Akihiko looked unfazed. "It still is. What else is showing?"

------

A few minutes later, they walked into "Trials of the Previous Gang Leader"—the only movie with seats still available.

Ayaka leaned toward him in the dark. "I can't believe this is what we ended up watching..." she whispered. "I'm not really into action movies..."

Akihiko glanced at her sideways. "Let's give it a chance."

He reached over, gently patting her head—then left his hand there, fingers playing with her hair absentmindedly.

Ayaka pouted but settled in, munching on popcorn. 'I imagined something dreamy and romantic for our first date… candlelit scenes, maybe some tragic love story...'

But as the movie began, the lights dimmed, the opening scene exploded into an intense, emotional flashback.

She couldn't help it.

She got pulled in.

The action was gritty, but the character development was powerful.

The former gang leader had a tragic past, and the flashbacks were done so artfully that Ayaka found herself clutching the armrest during a particularly emotional scene.

Akihiko leaned toward her. "You're more into this than you thought." he whispered, lips brushing her ear.

She elbowed him lightly. "Shhh."

By the time the credits rolled, Ayaka's eyes were wide and sparkling.

"I… actually really enjoyed that." she admitted as they stepped back into the sunlight.

Akihiko raised a brow. "I thought you didn't like action."

"I don't! But… that one was different. It had depth."

He smirked. "You just like angsty men with secret pain."

Ayaka huffed. "Not true!"

"Uh-huh."

But she was smiling—and glowing—and holding his hand tightly as they walked toward the next place she had planned next.

------

As they left the theater, Ayaka flipped open her notebook, determined not to let the earlier ticket mix-up define the day.

"Okay!" she said brightly, masking her embarrassment with enthusiasm. "Next stop… the art museum!"

Akihiko gave a sideways smile. "You're still following the itinerary, huh?"

"Of course!" she puffed her cheeks. "I worked hard on this plan!"

"Alright, lead the way then, tour guide." he said, gently ruffling her curls as they walked hand in hand to the car.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of the museum—only to find a giant white tarp draped over the entrance, and a banner that read:

"CLOSED FOR RENOVATION UNTIL NEXT MONTH."

Ayaka froze in place, blinking at the sign in disbelief. "No. No no no no—this was supposed to be the best part!"

She looked ready to collapse into the pavement.

"I had timed it so we'd be here for the Monet exhibit." she whispered. "There was going to be music playing in the background. And I even wrote down what snack we'd get at the museum cafe…"

Akihiko tilted his head, amused. "You even planned the snack?"

"Yes! Lavender shortbread and peach iced tea! This date is falling apart!"

Akihiko gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned her to the right. "Look again."

Ayaka blinked.

Beside the museum was a tall building lined with neon signs, music pulsing through the walls. Inside, she saw flashing lights, crane games, people holding plushies, and—

"Is that… an arcade?"

Akihiko nodded. "Looks like it."

Ayaka hesitated, her lip caught between her teeth. "But… I mean, it's not in the plan…"

"Do you want me to drag you in there like a rebellious boyfriend?" he asked casually, one hand already resting on the small of her back.

Her heart skipped. "N-no! I can walk!"

The moment they stepped inside, the scent of buttered fries and soda hit them.

The bright, noisy chaos was a stark contrast to the quiet elegance of the museum she'd imagined—but strangely, it was exactly what she needed.

Ayaka's eyes lit up when she spotted a claw machine filled with pink plush bunnies. "I want one."

Akihiko raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're up for this, princess?"

"Challenge accepted!" she said, cracking her knuckles dramatically.

She inserted the coins, positioned the claw, and dropped it.

*Missed.*

Akihiko smirked. "Tough luck."

"I loosened it for you!" she shot back.

He stepped up next, one hand casually in his coat pocket, the other expertly maneuvering the controls.

In one smooth move, the claw descended and—*click*—lifted the bunny with perfect precision.

Ayaka gasped as the toy dropped into the prize bin. "Are you kidding me?!"

Akihiko retrieved the bunny, turned to her with a mock-bow, and placed it in her arms. "For you."

Ayaka hugged the plushie to her chest, grinning like a little kid. "Okay… I admit, this is fun."

They spent the next hour running around the arcade like teenagers—racing on virtual motorcycles, competing on dance machines, and playing old-school shooting games side-by-side.

At one point, Ayaka was laughing so hard she nearly dropped her soda.

Akihiko, now down to just his white shirt with his coat tossed over his shoulder, had taken the competition far too seriously.

His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, he looked ridiculously attractive while playing air hockey.

"You're supposed to be a doctor, not an assassin!" Ayaka cried as he scored another point.

He smirked. "This is surgery. Precision and focus."

"Oh, you're on now!"

She leaned in aggressively—and nearly toppled over the table.

Akihiko caught her by the waist in a heartbeat, pulling her toward him, her hair brushing his chin.

"Careful." he murmured, voice husky. "You're gonna lose more than the game."

Ayaka's heart leapt, her breath catching. "Y-you're such a cheater!" she mumbled, red-faced.

"I play to win." he said with a wink, letting her go—only to be promptly smacked by her with a rolled-up scorecard.

------

Later, they sat on a bench outside the arcade, sipping cold drinks and catching their breath.

The sun was starting its descent, casting a warm amber hue over the city.

"I know this wasn't what you planned." Akihiko said, turning toward her. "But I had a good time."

Ayaka looked down at the pink bunny in her lap and smiled softly. "I did too. Even if it turned out to be nothing like the original plan… it was still perfect."

"Besides." she added with a playful glance, "you looked way too good today to waste it on a boring museum."

Akihiko chuckled. "And you looked way too beautiful to be crying over a Monet exhibit."

She grinned, then leaned her head lightly on his shoulder.

"You'll still get your lavender shortbread and peach tea." he said suddenly. "Next weekend. I'll find a place."

Her heart fluttered. "Deal."

------

The sun had long dipped beneath the horizon, casting a warm navy hue over the coastline.

The wind carried the salty scent of the sea, and the golden glow of lights from the seaside restaurant flickered like fireflies in the distance.

Ayaka clasped her hands tightly in her lap as they drove toward it. "This is the final stop." she murmured with a hopeful smile. "I made sure to reserve seats here. It's really romantic. They say you can hear the waves while you eat."

Akihiko glanced at her from the driver's seat, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

The sight of her—eyes sparkling with anticipation, hugging the pink bunny he'd won for her earlier—made something warm coil in his chest.

She had done all of this.

For him.

When they finally arrived, the soft murmur of waves greeted them, just as Ayaka described.

Lanterns lined the outdoor path to the restaurant, casting a golden shimmer over the sea.

It was beautiful, straight out of a dream.

But the moment they stepped inside, they were greeted not by soft music or the scent of seared scallops, but—

"I'm terribly sorry." the hostess said, bowing deeply. "There seems to have been a system error. Your reservation… didn't go through. We're fully booked tonight."

Ayaka's heart sank.

"W-what?" she asked, voice small. "But I reserved it a few days ago. I even got a confirmation email..."

The hostess bowed again. "We sincerely apologize. But there's nothing we can do at the moment."

Ayaka's smile trembled.

Her fingers curled tighter around her phone.

Akihiko looked over at her.

Her shoulders were stiff, lips pressed together as she fought back another wave of embarrassment.

That was the third mishap today.

And then, before the silence could settle in too heavily, Akihiko tilted his head and casually said:

"Actually… I'm kind of craving ramen."

Ayaka blinked. "Ramen?"

He turned to her with a relaxed smile. "You dragged me through action movies and claw machines today. I think I've earned a bowl of hot miso ramen."

For a second, she stared at him in disbelief—then her expression cracked.

A laugh escaped her lips, soft and airy.

"You really are impossible."

"And starving." he added, nudging her shoulder with his.

They found a small ramen house tucked in a quiet alley near the coast.

It was warm and bustling inside, filled with the aroma of broth, grilled pork, and garlic oil.

The tables were a little too close together, the wooden chairs a bit worn—but it was perfect.

Ayaka had never felt more relieved.

They sat at the corner booth, just the two of them, shoulders brushing as they flipped through the menu.

The walls were covered with signed photos and thank-you notes from customers, and a small radio played a soft old Japanese love song in the background.

"I'm glad you suggested this." Ayaka said, warming her hands on her tea cup. "Even though it's not exactly romantic…"

Akihiko glanced at her.

Her cheeks were flushed from the heat, her hair slightly tousled, and her eyes still shone despite everything.

"You're wrong." he murmured.

She blinked. "Huh?"

"This is romantic." he said simply. "You and me. Sharing ramen after a day like this. You're more relaxed now. You're beautiful when you're not trying so hard."

Her face turned crimson. "I-I wasn't trying that hard!"

"You were." He leaned closer. "And it was adorable."

Ayaka groaned and covered her face. "This is so embarrassing…"

"Don't be. I had fun today." he said quietly, his tone more serious now. "Even when the plan didn't work. Especially then."

She slowly lowered her hands, eyes meeting his. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No." he said. "I mean it. Today wasn't perfect. But it was ours. That's what made it good."

Her heart skipped again.

Before she could reply, their food arrived—two steaming bowls of ramen topped with soft-boiled eggs, chashu pork, and fragrant green onions.

They clinked their chopsticks together like toast.

"To messed-up plans." Ayaka whispered.

"To the best date I've had." Akihiko replied smoothly, winking.

They walked along the pier afterward, the sea wind brushing against their skin, and Ayaka holding the bunny plush in one hand while her other was entwined with his.

Despite everything, she smiled.

No museum, no fancy dinner, no planned perfection—just laughter, teasing, warmth… and him.

And when she leaned on his shoulder, listening to the sound of waves under the moonlight, she whispered softly, "This… was even better."