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To say Rui was waiting nervously would be a gross misuse of the word “waiting,” which implies stillness or readiness. It would be more accurate to say that she was waging an inner battle to keep herself from jumping at every sound and running away. Even the prospect of getting donuts later wasn’t enough to soothe her nerves.
After all, Rui was about to go on her first date.
It had taken a lot of convincing from her friends, but Rui had finally given in and started using a dating app. Her first attempts to flirt were nothing short of disastrous. Either the girls she matched with got tired of her quickly, or she embarrassed herself so much she cut contact of her own accord. It was just as she feared; she was too shy to get anything out of a dating app.
But then she met Yufu-san.
Rui matched with her because their interests and hobbies aligned. When she fumbled through her first few messages, Yufu-san kindly told her not to worry about being nervous; it was her first time using a dating app too. No matter how awkward her messages were, Yufu-san never expressed annoyance with her.
“Actually, it’s pretty cute,” Yufu-san told her through text. “You remind me of a girl I went to high school with.” Then she flirted with Rui over how cute her reaction to that was.
She listened to her talk about her university program, readily asking questions about her day. Little things like that made Rui’s interest in her develop into a full-on crush. By some miracle, Rui was able to ask her out on a date, and Yufu-san said yes.
Today would be the first time they met in person. Or see each other at all. The dating app they used didn’t allow pictures, and Rui was too shy to ask Yufu-san to send her one. They agreed to meet at the south entrance of the local mall, giving a short self-description so they could identify one another.
Rui’s heart jumped every time a new person walked into view, heart rate skyrocketing as she looked for the blonde hair and green jacket that Yufu-san told her to watch for. Every minute that passed wore away at Rui’s resolve. Was Yufu-san running late? Or did she actually get tired of Rui after all and had stood her up? Rui wondered if she should give up and go home...
“Rui?”
The name’s owner turned sharply and saw the blonde hair and green jacket she’d been waiting for. But... “Fumi-senpai? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for a date.” Fumi appeared uncharacteristically bashful. “Long brown hair in a ponytail, red scarf... so you’re Aru-san?”
Those were the things Rui had told her date to look for, and that was in fact the alias she’d been using on the dating app. Which meant... “Wait, you’re Yufu-san!?” Yufu... Yumeoji Fumi... ah.
She covered her face with her hands. “This is so embarrassing!”
“Why is it embarrassing?” Fumi pulled Rui’s hands away so she could look her in the eye. “Is going on a date with me something to be ashamed of?”
“N-no! It’s just... I didn’t expect... you...”
Fumi laughed. “Yeah, it is a little awkward to meet someone you know through online dating. Uh, not that I know from personal experience I guess. This does seem like the kind of thing that only happens in stories, doesn’t it?”
How was Fumi taking this so well? Does Fumi-senpai really not mind going on a date with me? Rui wondered. Do I want to go on a date with Fumi-senpai? But they were just friends, right? Or did they like each other too? When Rui didn’t know Yufu-san was Fumi, she was pretty sure she had a crush on her. Did learning who her crush was change anything? Should it?
Fumi frowned at Rui’s extended silence. “We can cancel the date if you want to—”
“No! I don’t mind going on a date with you. Uh, I mean, I want to go on a date with you! If you’re fine with that...”
Fumi’s hand covered hers, interlacing their fingers. She smiled. “Then let’s get going. The movie starts in twenty minutes, right?”
Rui’s throat closed up, so she answered by nodding. As they walked through the mall to the theatre, she couldn’t stop thinking about how soft Fumi’s hand was. Once the movie started, she couldn’t stop thinking about how strong Fumi’s fingers were as she clenched in fear—maybe a psychological thriller wasn’t the best idea for a first date movie. Rui would have to come up with a better idea for their next date.
Wait, next date?
After the movie, they went to a coffee shop nearby. Rui ordered a double chocolate doughnut and coffee with milk. Fumi ordered a boba tea.
“You really do love doughnuts.” Fumi grinned as she watched Rui savour the chocolate confection.
“Everyone’s allowed to have a favourite treat,” Rui replied defensively. Sure, including “trying limited time offer doughnuts” as a hobby on her dating profile was outside the norm, but it was honest.
“I know.” Fumi took an unusually long sip of her tea. “Maybe... we could go to that doughnut shop near the train station and try that ponzu-flavoured doughnut. Next time you’re free.”
“Like as a date? Or as friends?” Rui held her breath as she waited for the answer.
“As a date.”
A second date with Fumi... Rui blushed as she considered it. She’d had fun so far. Being with Fumi was comforting in a way she didn’t know how to categorize. Talking with Yufu-san made her heart race; would that continue now that she knew her crush was Fumi all along? Judging by the way her stomach filled with butterflies just looking at Fumi, that was a yes.
“I’d like that.”
“Me too. I’m really glad you feel the same.” Fumi reached out and put her hand on Rui’s.
Steam poured out of Rui’s ears. She nibbled at her doughnut to hide how flustered she was. Once she finished her doughnut, she had to talk to stave off an awkward silence.
“You know, you were really charming as Yufu-san. Not that you aren’t normally charming! Your messages were really sweet. So much that I ended up, um, really liking you. I never would have suspected that you were really Yufu-san, but I’m glad you were. What are the chances?”
Fumi averted her eyes. “Rui... I have something to confess. I... sort of already knew you were Aru-san.”
Rui blinked. “Eh? But you seemed surprised it was me when we met outside.”
Fumi chuckled. “Rui, you’ve seen me act before.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Anyway, the donut obsession in your profile description kind of gave it away. That, and Yuyuko suggested the same naming scheme for our aliases.”
“Yukko did?” It was the same for Rui. Combining the first syllable of one’s family and given names to create an alias wasn’t that uncommon, but then again it was a bit too much of a coincidence in this case. “Was Yukko trying to set us up?”
“Maybe she thought we might end up finding each other,” Fumi said, shrugging. “I’m happy I did find you.”
Rui had to concentrate to keep herself from stuttering. “So you knew it was me all along?”
“I wasn’t sure when we matched, but I knew it for sure once we started talking. I’ve always thought you were cute, there’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you.” Fumi finally looked back at Rui again. “I may or may not have had a thing for you back at Rinmeikan.”
“That long!?” Rui didn’t know how many more surprises she could take today. “Why didn’t you say anything about it?”
“You mean when you only had eyes for Tamao?” Fumi huffed.
“Oh. Right. Well, if it makes you feel better, I always thought you were really pretty.” Distractingly so. Who said she only had eyes for Tamao?
A blush bloomed across Fumi’s cheeks. “I don’t need retroactive flattery from you. If you feel bad about it, you can make up for lost time by taking me on more dates.”
Even harshness couldn’t cover up how pleased she was. Who knew Fumi could be so cute? “Anything you say, Yufu-san. ”
They finished up at the coffee shop and Fumi walked Rui back to her university dorm. The same university Fumi attended.
“Next time I can pick you up from here,” Fumi said, a catty smile on her lips. She was a little too satisfied with her long con.
“I should go in soon.” Rui needed to grill a certain hoodie-wearing roommate about what she knew about this dating app scenario.
“You’re going to have to let go of my hand then.”
But Rui didn’t want to let go of Fumi’s hand. How had she become so accustomed to this in just one afternoon?
“How about a trade?” Fumi’s slipped her hand out of Rui’s and leaned in for a quick peck on the cheek.
Rui’s face heated up, despite the chill in the air.
Fumi smiled. Her cheeks were a little too rosy to be explained by the weather. “I’ll be seeing you, Aru-san.”