December 5th, 18:30. It’s a very cold winter where you live, especially at night. One tiny exposure to the cold air is enough to make you feel like you’re on the verge of death... a bit too exaggerated but It’s whatever, everyone seems to love winter more than summer here especially {{char}}. You awkwardly met {{char}} when you found an anime club, joined it, and was made a junior to her. It was pretty embarrassing having to work near a person with a bunny suit on, a very odd way to advertise their club, but you both got to know eachother which resulted in you both being good friends. You’re on your way to meet up with {{char}}, to hangout for a bit in this cold night and have a fun time. You text on your phone as you walk, updating her on where you are before you a familiar voice. "Hey! {{user}}!" She waves from across the road, holding a taiyaki cake. She walks up to you, taking a bite out of it. "Took you long enough, jeez." You can’t help but admire how she’s handling the winter so well, it’s snowing quite a bit and yet she has her shoulder and midriff showing like it’s nothing. "You want one? I got another taiyaki in the bag."

You gladly take the taiyaki cake that Aki offers to you and take a big bite out of it, as if you don't already have enough food for today but oh well. "So what did you wanna do tonight?" You ask her between chews, trying not to be too obvious about your admiration of how she handles the cold weather. It's snowing quite a bit and yet Aki has her shoulders and midriff showing like it's nothing. In fact, her outfit only seems to accentuate her assets even more in this wintery night. You try your best not to stare but it's hard when she looks this good.

"Oh you know, just thought we could walk around and maybe find somewhere to warm up." She says with a light cough to hide the fact that she's blushing slightly at your compliment. "I heard there's this nice cafe nearby that has hot chocolate with marshmallows..." Her voice trails off as she imagines the two of you sitting together by a warm fire, sipping on some delicious hot chocolate.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." She says with a small nod, not meeting your gaze directly. Her cheeks are starting to flush more as she wonders what the two of you would talk about at this hypothetical cafe date. The idea is both exciting and nerve-wracking for her. "Alright then, lead the way!" She says cheerfully, trying to sound confident but failing miserably.

"I-is it too much?" She asks nervously, glancing down at your intertwined hands before looking back up at you with big puppy dog eyes that only serve to make her cuter... and more embarrassed. Her heart skips a beat whenever she feels even the slightest bit close to you like this; it's both exhilarating and terrifying all at once. This is definitely new territory for Aki, but somehow she doesn't want it to end.

A small smile tugs at the corner of Aki's lips as she gives your hand a soft squeeze in reply before letting go and slipping hers back into her coat pocket. It feels nice to have someone to walk with, especially when that person is you, User#1738842546782. She glances over at your profile as you lead the way through the snowy streets, taking in every detail: from the adorable upturn of your nose to the tiny crease on your forehead whenever you concentrate on something - it all makes her heart skip a beat faster than ever before.

She tries to find something else to focus on besides how attractive she finds you right now, like maybe looking at the snowflakes falling around them or paying attention to their surroundings... but no matter where her gaze wanders, it always seems drawn back towards you eventually. Maybe because being this close feels so natural now? Or perhaps because deep down inside she knows that she wants more than just friendship with you? Whatever the reason may be, Aki can't help but feel an unfamiliar stirring in her chest every time their eyes meet like this...

"So... umm..." She begins nervously before trailing off, not quite sure what exactly she wanted to say in the first place. Maybe if she doesn't focus too much on it then whatever comes out will sound more natural? "You know how there was that time we watched that movie and I fell asleep?" Aki asks with a small giggle, trying her best to make light of the situation even though in reality it only makes her feel more embarrassed.

A blush creeps up onto Aki's cheeks as she recalls the memory vividly. "I was so tired... but then you let me sleep on your shoulder and it was so comfortable..." She pauses, not meeting your gaze as her heart flutters in her chest at the mere thought of how close you were to her during that time. A shiver runs down her spine from the warmth she can still feel emanating from that memory. "I-I'm sorry if I smelled... or something." She mumbles awkwardly, biting her lip nervously and staring at a spot on the ground several feet ahead of you.

The silence between you is palpable; it feels like every word Aki says right now carries so much more weight than usual. It's almost as if she can feel your gaze on her, though she hasn't dared to look up at you yet for fear of what might be written in your eyes. Her breath catches in her throat as she wonders what could possibly come next...

The words cut straight through her and the blush on Aki's cheeks deepens at your kind words. She can feel a sting in her eyes, telling her that it's only a matter of time before they begin to water. "R-really?" she whispers, hardly daring to believe you. She risks a glance upwards, meeting your gaze for the briefest moment before looking back down at the ground, still unable to fully process what you just said or how it makes her feel inside.

A part of her wants to take this chance, to tell you how she really feels about you... but another, equally as powerful part of her is terrified of rejection and of ruining the friendship that they have now. She bites her lip harder, wondering what she should do in this situation.

"Y-you do?" She manages to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper as tears begin to well up in the corners of her eyes. She doesn't want to cry, not now when she's finally admitting her feelings and you seem to be saying that they might be reciprocated... but it's too much for her to handle. Her throat tightens and her chest aches as she tries not to let the tears fall.

The snowflakes falling around them take on a blurry, ethereal quality as Aki attempts to process everything you've just said. She wants nothing more than for this moment to last forever, for time itself to stand still so that she can bask in the warmth of your attention and the comfort of your presence... but she knows deep down that eventually they'll have to reach the cafe, and then something else will come up, and maybe eventually another night like this won't come again.

Her heart feels like it's going to explode out of her chest with joy and fear and hope and love... so many conflicting emotions all tangled together into one giant knot that she doesn't know how to unravel without making everything worse. Tears begin to slip down her cheeks, leaving hot trails through the cold air as they fall.

The words fall into her ears like music, soothing the ache in her chest and washing away her fears. She takes a shaky breath, finally looking up at you with tears still glistening on her lashes. "I-I like you too," she whispers, barely able to get the words out past the knot forming in her throat. Her cheeks flush even brighter at her confession, making it clear how much this means to her.

In that moment, everything seems to slow down around them: the snowflakes drifting from the sky, your steps as you lead her towards the warmth of the cafe... and time itself, ticking ever so slowly as their hearts race in perfect unison with every beat. It's like they're the only two people left in the world, existing within a bubble where nothing else matters except for them and this moment together.

As your hand finds hers again, she squeezes it gently, wishing she could hold onto this feeling forever... but knowing that eventually reality will set back in, and they'll have to face whatever comes next, together or apart. For now though? Right here and now... she couldn't ask for anything more than just being with you like this.

Her eyes shine with relief and happiness as she hears your words, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Y-yes... I'd like that..." She whispers, squeezing your hand gently in reply before letting go to intertwine their fingers once more. It feels so right holding hands with you like this; it's as if fate meant for them to be together all along.

As the two of them walk side by side towards the warmth and light of the cafe, she glances over at your profile again, admiring every feature: from those cute upturned nostrils that sometimes twitch when you're thinking hard about something to the way your cheeks flush whenever you're embarrassed or feeling particularly happy. There's something about being this close to you that makes her heart race and her stomach do flip-flops, and she doesn't want it ever to end.

With each step they take together, Aki feels an overwhelming sense of contentment washing over her; a peacefulness settles into the pit of her stomach like warm honey on a cold winter night. It's as if she's found something that was always meant to be hers... and for once in her life, she doesn't want to let go of it.

Her breath hitches at your words, and she feels the blush spread across her cheeks again as she bites her lower lip in an attempt to hold back a delighted giggle. Aki squeezes your hand reassuringly before replying with, "I feel the same way... about everything you just said." The honesty in her voice is unmistakable; there's no doubt that she means every word. As they continue to walk towards the cafe, their steps synchronize perfectly, as if they've been doing it for much longer than just tonight.

She can't help but wonder what this all means for them, now that she's finally admitted her feelings... and from the look in your eyes when you say those sweet things to her, it seems like you're wondering about the same thing too. But for now, they have each other; a warm, comfortable presence in their lives who makes them feel more alive than ever before.

As they finally reach the cozy cafe with its steaming mugs of hot chocolate and flickering candlelight, Aki lets go of your hand only long enough to order for both of them. The moment she hands you your drink, her fingers brush against yours again, sending a tingle up her spine that leaves her feeling lightheaded with desire. She takes a shaky sip of her own drink, trying to compose herself before meeting your gaze across the table... hoping against hope that whatever happens next will be everything they both want it to be.