WWC13. For Paulina.

10/31

Day 19: First Christmas

Kosuke sighed contentedly as he gazed at the woman across from him--beautiful, graceful, and surrounded by an aura of determination and fierceness. Even when they were just studying for finals, and everyone was frazzled till their hair stood up, Emiko was completely composed and calm, as if the rest of the world wasn't falling into chaos.

"...You'll never get enough study in if you keep staring at me, Kosuke-san."

Kosuke flinched, blushing deeply and looking down at his textbook. Emiko hadn't even looked up from her work--Kosuke never could quite figure out how she paid attention to absolutely everything like that, even when it looked like she wasn't. "S-sorry, can't help it... my mind wanders sometimes." Because I still can't believe I'm dating you. Me--of all guys... I'm lucky and I know it.

Emiko giggled. "Cute." She mused, finally looking up and resting her chin on the back of her hand, "Is it so hard to focus with me here?"

"Um, no, it's not that... I'm just... I think I'll be okay for the final. I'm really good at this stuff anyhow." Kosuke rubbed his head sheepishly--and it was true. He had already memorized most of his studies--it was his passion after all.

"So am I, but it's still good to study." Emiko quirked an eyebrow in amusement, and Kosuke glanced down at her work--math formulas and engineering diagrams scattered across every page... he shuddered a bit--he couldn't even imagine being good at any of that stuff. Math wasn't his forte, as he preferred the literary arts and history studies, but Emiko excelled in all things logic and physics. It was one of the things Kosuke liked about her--she was an absolute genius, the top of her class (which was saying something, considering how many people were in the engineering courses--and how many of them were female). She was way out of his league.

And she still picked me.

"I think it's about time for a break then, huh?" Emiko yawned, stretching her arms above her head, "Want to go get some coffee?"

"Ah, sure." Kosuke nodded, packing up his things so they could leave the library and find the nearest coffee shop. Emiko was doing the same.

"So, what are your plans after finals?" Emiko asked idly as they entered the campus coffee stop, adjusting her bag over her shoulder.

"Huh? Oh, uh, I don't know... I was going to stay in the dorm." Kosuke shrugged, "My family's a bit far away, but regardless of that, they told me they were going to America for the holidays anyhow... so it would be useless going home."

"...Your family just went on vacation without you?" Emiko lifted an eyebrow.

"It's not strange... I'm a full-grown man, they don't need to take me on their vacations..." He shrugged uneasily.

"Want to spend time together over the break, then?" Emiko asked as she looked ahead, stepping once as the line moved slowly, "I'm sure my dad would love to meet you."

Kosuke flushed dark red, his eyes widening. Him, meet her dad? But they'd only been going out a few weeks--wasn't meeting her dad sort of a signal they were getting serious?

"U-uhhh--"

"I think it'd be fun if you joined us for Christmas. Do you even celebrate Christmas? My family is Christian, so we do a small celebration every year..." Emiko glanced up at him, then looked away when they got to the front of the line, ordering coffee for them both. They moved aside to wait for it, letting the next person in line order.

"Um, I don't celebrate Christmas, but, uh, I'd--love to spend it, w-with you." Kosuke gulped nervously, rubbing his head shyly. "I mean, I'd love to see how your traditions go, and, uh, meet your dad, and, uh--"

"Oh, Kosuke-san." Emiko giggled, leaning up and giving him a quick peck on the cheek, "Don't be so nervous. It'll be fun--I promise my dad's not a mean guy, too."

Kosuke turned an even darker red, if that was possible. "I-I'm sure, Niwa-san..." He stammered, smiling shyly. She grinned at them, grabbing their coffees when they came up, going to find a place to sit with him. "Is this, um, going a little fast, though? I mean, spending the holidays, and meeting your dad..."

Emiko paused, sipping her coffee. "...I don't know, actually. You're the first guy I've ever really dated, so..."

Kosuke blinked slowly. First?

"I mean, I see it in books and manga all the time though? The whole... 'couple's first Christmas together' thing. It looks fun, so I didn't think it'd be bad." Emiko shrugged. "Is this going too fast for you?"

"Oh, uh, to be honest, just a little bit. But then again... I've never met anyone as intense as you, Niwa-san." Kosuke grinned sheepishly, glancing down at the coffee he was currently using to warm his fingers, "I guess I should have expected it."

"Well, when I like someone, I really like someone, so I guess you're right." Emiko grinned back, amused that he got even more flustered by her words, "So, it's settled, right? You're going to spend Christmas at my place?"