もののけ | monster | soshiro hoshina (Kaiju No. 8) (COMPLETE)

ろく | six

もののけ | kaiju | monster

06

Soshiro

TOKYO JAPAN

"COME ON, SOSHIRO, JUST SMILE!" Kiyomi urged, her cheerful voice filling the tiny, brightly lit photo booth. I shifted awkwardly, feeling the walls of the booth close in on me. It wasn't that I didn't want to smile—I just felt so self-conscious.

"Okay, okay," I mumbled, trying to relax my face muscles. The countdown on the screen began, and I could feel Kiyomi's infectious energy beside me.

"Three, two, one!" The camera flashed, and I managed a small, tentative smile.

"Not bad, but we can do better!" Kiyomi laughed, changing her pose with a natural ease. She tilted her head and made a peace sign, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off my nerves. "Alright, let's do this," I said, attempting to mirror her playful pose. The next flash went off, capturing our moment of shared spontaneity.

"Now something silly!" Kiyomi declared, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer. She stuck her tongue out, and I couldn't help but chuckle. I made a goofy face, the tension melting away with each click of the camera.

As the countdown began for the final shot, Kiyomi suddenly leaned in and kissed my cheek. My eyes widened in surprise, and I felt a warm flush spread across my face. The camera captured the moment perfectly—the look of pure joy on her face and the astonished blush on mine.

The booth whirred, and the photo strip began to print. Kiyomi grabbed it excitedly, waving it in the air to dry the ink. "Let's see how they turned out!" she said, her enthusiasm contagious.

When she handed me the strip, I couldn't help but smile. The photos were a testament to our budding relationship, filled with genuine moments of joy and connection. Each picture told a story—our initial awkwardness, the shared laughter, and finally, the sweet kiss that had left me speechless.

"You see?" Kiyomi said, nudging me playfully. "You look great when you smile, Soshiro."

I chuckled, still gazing at the photos. "Thanks, Kiyomi. These are really nice."

She grinned, linking her arm with mine. "I told you we'd have fun. Now we have these memories to keep forever."

I decided I was going to keep this photo strip in my wallet. It was a perfect memento of our first day as a couple. As I tucked it safely away, I felt Kiyomi tugging on my sleeve.

"I'm starving!" she declared, her tone a mix of urgency and playfulness. "Do you know any good food stalls around here?"

I couldn't help but smile wider. Seeing her so happy made me happy. "Yeah, I know a place," I said, taking her hand and leading her through the bustling streets of Tokyo. "Let's head to Ameya-Yokocho in Ueno. They have some amazing street food there."