The next stop of their date was a large aquarium.

He didn't go there regularly, but sometimes, going to the aquarium allowed him to see just how small they were compared to the beauty of some of the others species.

He had to admit that this was a good choice. Suzuka seemed to really like it.

He was a little surprised at her childish reactions but it was also heartwarming to see her act like that.

'It seems like she really like animals.'

Deciding to follow this hunch of his, he decided to go to a zoo after that.

He had to say… This was really a good decision. Seeing her eyes sparkles so brightly was a reward itself.

'I should buy her a plush toy later.'

He began to understand why all the people he knew always wanted to tease him.

The gap moe as some people called it was really effective. Seeing someone usually serious suddenly act like a curious child could either be rather interesting. Even more so if the gap was created by a beautiful woman.

Perhaps this was why Tsundere, Kuudere and Yandere were so popular.

He chuckled a little at this.

'This date is truly interesting.'

He didn't want to enter in a relationship without at least knowing the person. Right now, he couldn't say that he really knew Suzuka, but from what he had seen of her so far,

'I can see myself with her in the future.'

-----

The rest of the day went without a hitch. They did a little of everything and visited different places while taking many pictures.

Suzuka smiled as she thought about how cute Kuroha looked with Cat ears and a few kittens around him.

'Momo will want to have those photos without a doubt.'

In short, it was a rather normal date for Kuroha. But for Suzuka it was different.

She wasn’t some sort of sheltered girl who never saw nor visited the real world. She knew how to take the metro and the bus and her common sense was normal.

Still, she had to admit that the view of the world changed when you were with someone interesting.

Kuroha wasn’t someone extremely funny. Even though he was sharp he wasn’t the kind of super eloquent man who could resolve all situations with his words and make evil guys who planned the destruction of the world for years become gentle and sacrifice themselves for him.

She also didn’t feel her heart pounding like a shy maiden when she was with him, nor did she see the world in pink. But…

She felt at peace.

He wasn’t eloquent, nor did he talk much. But when he did, he showed a confidence that made her feel that everything would be alright. That everything would work out.

What was love? Many people had many different answers to this question.

For some, love was just pain.

For some, love was passion,

For some, love was an illusion.

Who was right? Who was wrong? Such a thing didn’t matter. After all, people observed and understood the world in different ways.

For Suzuka, love was a fleeting feeling. Something that would inevitably wane with time. Nothing was eternal in the world. Love even less so. As such,

‘I don’t need to fall in love.’

She could accept love, but she wouldn’t go out of her way to search for it. What she wanted was,

‘Peace and Security.’

She didn’t need her heart to beat so fast it would seem like it would explode. She didn’t need to feel butterflies in her stomach. All she wanted, all she yearned for, was to feel at ease.

She wanted a partner that would understand her. Someone, she could confide her deepest secret to, someone who would always support her and watch her back. Someone who would protect her and never betray her.

She didn’t want a lover. She wanted a friend, a confident, and a protector.

As she walked close to a river that reflected the fading light of the setting sun, she looked at the profile of the man who was walking close to her.

The first time she met Kuroha, she couldn’t help but ask herself,

‘Will he be the one?’

At that time, she didn’t feel him to be reliable. It wasn’t a question of power. She simply didn’t think that his personality could allow him to truly care for someone.

But then, she saw it.

How the cold and heartless little boy slowly grew to become the man he was today.

She was sure it must not have been easy. She was sure that he must have tried his hardest.

Now, as she looked at him and asked herself if he was the one, only one answer came to her as she let out a cheeky smile and grabbed Kuroha arm and hugged it tightly against her chest as she walked,

‘He might truly be the one.’