French Cup: A Neighborhood Story

Chapter 23: -Gyeong-Wan- Bunny Kisses

In the late evening, I was rounding the corner towards French Cup. The more I walked the route, I saw how close it really was to my hotel. It seemed so far before, but now... Maybe my familiar steps made it closer. The anticipation, the joy. 

In my hand was a cellophane bag retied with a light pink ribbon. Inside were four bunny breads. I'd thought of putting six in there, an even half dozen, but I'd eaten six myself this afternoon and thought it was too many. They were delicious and I couldn't stop, but six was too many. Far too indulgent. However, it made me wonder about what's too much and what isn't. Was I being conservative in this opinion? Maybe it was joyful to indulge. 

My plan was to give these bunnies to Kazuya on our date. I didn't know how long we'd be out, and I didn't want to keep him long due to knowing how early he had to get up, but the thought of these cute bunnies in his hand was too much. He'd no doubt be delighted. 

However, something odd made me stop just beyond the coffee shop. My eyebrows rose, and I stepped closer. My hand went around the doorknob, seeing the lights still blazing at this late hour. As I turned the knob, a closer look made me swing the door open, the little bell jingling madly in the explosion of force. 

Curled against the top of a small table was Kazuya's form. His head was in his hands, not moving much. I hurried over to him, putting my hand on his shoulder and shaking him. I threw the bunnies on the table, using my other hand to shake his other shoulder, too. My mind was racing. Should I call an ambulance? Was he okay? Was he-

So slowly, his head emerged from his arms. His eyes blinked blearily in the bright light, and when his head turned he startled hugely. Like a cute child, his fists went to his eyes, rubbing them. My breath released as he yawned even more enormously. 

"Oh- good evening, Gyeong-Wan," he said, sleepily. 

He'd just been asleep. My hand went to my chest, relieved. "Good evening." I smiled down to him, sliding the opposite seat out and sitting down. "Are you tired?"

He made a Japanese noise of acceptance. "Yes, I was. I must have fallen asleep!" 

Too cute. But, if he was tired...

"Here, I brought these for you. Maybe you should take them and go home-"

He let out the biggest gasp, and I stopped myself from talking as I took him in. His grin was the widest I'd seen. It was as if the lights around us were shining just for him. His hair was messed up, his shirt collar scrunched from being against the table, but he was still...gorgeous. This thought made my fingers curl on the table. He took the bunnies in his hands, just like in my daydream, but he said something completely unexpected.

"Yuko told me that someone had bought her entire stock of these! Oh, I was there when she was making them this morning! I wanted one, but she wouldn't let me! Gyeong-Wan, was it you?!" 

Wow. Oh, wow. Intense pride showered over me, making my chest puff out a little. "Yes, it was me."

"Ahh, Gyeong-Wan!" Such a lovely way to say my name. Like it was twirling upward, a cute squeal. He hugged the bunnies to himself, making sure not to squeeze them. "You have no idea how wonderful that is! I'm so happy!" He started laughing, the cellophane of the bag crinkling in his movements. His intense happiness made me laugh, too, seeing him like this. That smile with abandon again, no shame at all. Showing his joy like this. 

"I want to see you eat one. You said you wanted one," I said, perhaps shyly. His smile was doing it. How cute he was. 

"Yes, I will. Let's see. Ah!" He grinned, taking apart the bow. It slipped away evenly, and the cellophane released. He set the bunnies on the table and selected two. Surprisingly, he handed one to me. I took it curiously.

He winked at me just like he had at my hotel. A blush was rising to my cheeks, making me hot. Remembering him just dropping in like that, so sudden. It also reminded me of the plate that was still in my locker.

"Ah, Kazuya, uh-"

He stood up, grinning himself still. Like blooming flowers, I saw pink blush rise to his cheeks, too. He pursed his lips, hypnotizing me, and my own parted. My mouth filled with water, too sudden. But-

The tip of his bunny touched mine. It was like a toast, but-

"They kissed," he announced, sitting back in his chair. 

My eyes were wide, my mouth still slightly open, completely stunned. His blush intensified, and I had no doubt I looked like a tomato, too. Without a second thought, I rose my bunny into the air. 

"He wants another kiss," I said, my voice probably too high in my embarrassment.

"Does he?" Kazuya gasped quietly, his cheeks filling with more color. 

"Yes, he does," I said, nodding rapidly, my bunny waiting, its pointed mouth waiting midair. 

"Okay," he grinned again. 

Very gently, elegantly, his bunny rose. Slowly, but with intent, they went to meet in the middle. Even sweeter than the jelly and cream inside, their noses met. They lingered. I found his eyes staring at me, his mouth open a little like mine. The grin was gone, instead replaced with what my face must surely look like: utter shock.

I had no idea what to do after this point. No plan at all. The tips of my ears were burning.

But, he took his bunny to himself, against his chest. He stroked the ears just as gently with one finger. "I bet they're in love," he said delicately. "It's like a fairy tale. I bet they lived up in the moon and made mochi together. Then, they fell to earth in this form. How fortunate that they met again. I bet they didn't even know they're in love, their memories gone when they fell. The impact must have been very hard."

"Indeed," I agreed, catching on. Their kiss wasn't about us. "Well, they know about each other now. Maybe in the next life, they can be together as real bunnies in a field."

"That would be wonderful," he sighed happily, smiling again. I'd missed it dearly in those few seconds when it wasn't on his face.

"One more kiss before good-bye," I said, nervous once more. But, it was just a story...

"Yes, one more." He was grinning again, so beautiful. 

We both stood up this time, taking cues from each other. Our bunnies met in the middle, and as they did, he said the Japanese word for "kiss", which is "chu". The cuteness of our bunnies, his cuteness of saying this word... It made me start giggling in my nervousness, an even worse case of the giggles than earlier today at that review. Once I started, I couldn't stop.

Luckily, he started laughing, too. His hand went over his mouth as we sat down together again, giggling like children. 

We'd eaten Thai food together again. I felt he was too tired to go out, so we had it delivered to his shop. We'd eaten silently together, the food too good to speak. I'd been adventurous and tried something else. If every item on the menu was as good as these two soups, then I'd have to eat it all. 

He bid me good-bye in front of his shop, and I watched him lock up. We lingered just like before, an awkwardness there. 

I wanted more than anything in the world to take him by the shoulders and kiss him at that moment. That's what that feeling had been when our bunnies had kissed. That shocked feeling, overcoming everything in my body. Even now, thinking about it as I got ready for bed, my deep blush rushed into my face with the force of a train.