"You want to take me out?" I put my hands in my pockets, now unable to look at Akane directly.

"Um, yeah. Just the two of us. You know, just because..." I trail off.

"I've known you for like, not even three days."

She had a point. She transferred here on Tuesday, Wednesday was when we "went to the beach", and today was Thursday.

"Well, that gives me more reason to take you out. So I can get to know you better."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"... Um, I don't know."

"Can I trust your brother with childcare?"

"Maybe, I think yeah."

"If I can trust your brother to take care of my brother while we're out, then we can call it even."

"Oh, then I'll ask him."

"

"Hikaru?" I pop my head into the conversation he was having with a few girls.

"I got to ask you something."

"You don't have to. I'm already yours." The girls squealed in the background as Hikaru cupped my cheeks.

Really, Hikaru? You do this now?

"Well, uh... um..." Geez, how do I respond? Hikaru must've sensed my discomfort, so he waved the girls off.

"Sorry ladies, we need some private time." The girls nodded and dashed off.

"So what is it little bro?"

"I'm not that little..." I mumble. "Anyway, are you busy on Friday?"

"No, why?"

"I was planning to take Akane out for a few hours and she'll go if you watch her little brother." When I said "take Akane out", Hikaru started grinning like an idiot.

"What?"

"My little bro is finally growing up..."

"I'm only a few minutes younger!" I complain. Hikaru laughs,

"Look, of course I'll look after... what's her brother's name?"

"Yoichirou."

"Yeah, him."

"Will you?"

"Yes. I'm serious. You can learn something on your date."

"'Date'?"

"Well, you like her don't you?" I let out an exasperated huff,

"Isn't it freaking obvious?"

Silence.

"Are you saying I'm 'inexperienced'?" I say quietly.

"Well, yeah. Look, you always put others first. That's how you are with everyone. That's also why you distanced yourself from Haruhi."

"You noticed?"

"Yeah. You did that for me didn't you? And now that you have Akane, you can finally experience what 'in-love' feels like." I was silent. I guess I really did put others first now that I think about it. Hikaru puts a hand on my shoulder.

"I know you, Kaoru. Sometimes you wonder what will happen when I take the next step. Well, I think your answer is Akane."

"You think?"

"No, I know. There's something special about her... I don't know, but I can see you with her. You should try to make a move on her if you can."

"I met her not even three days ago." I bring up Akane's earlier point.

"So build something during your time with her. Your a good person, Kaoru, and I'm not just saying that because I'm your brother." He pats my back,

"You're on your own, brother. And knowing you, that shouldn't be a problem."

"

"Well, he agreed to look after him for the time we're out." I tell Akane when I gathered my guts to approach her again.

"Cool, cool." she says. "Where do you plan on taking me?"

"Oh, a few places. Eat somewhere, watch a movie--"

"A date."

"What? No not a--"

"Sure sounds like one."

"... Okay, yeah. It's a date. We can put it that way..." I mumble the last part incoherently. Akane snickers,

"I don't mind really, it's not like I get out much anyway."

"Really? How come?"

"Oh, just... meh, I don't have much motivation I guess." She seemed uncertain at that.

"Well, I should make sure you have fun then."

"Don't over do it."

"I won't. So should I pick you up from your place?"

"Uh, no. We can just walk over if your house isn't far."

"It's about two minutes from school,"

"That shouldn't be a problem. Let me get an address." I rattle off my address and me and Hikaru's phone number to her.

"Thanks."

"No problem, is tomorrow, Friday, at five pm fine?"

"Yep, it's a date."