moments with you.

15. Ice Cream

15.

"Are you free on Friday?" It is Thursday evening when Tadashi pops the question, his fingers twiddling with a strand of thread from his cardigan.

"Depends," GoGo grunts, squinting at her notes before regarding Tadashi in suspicion. "If this is about babysitting again–"

Tadashi beats her to it, thankfully. "No," he says quickly. "A new ice cream store opened up downtown. Want to take a look? I have coupons."

GoGo stares at him.

"Aunt Cass gave me the coupons and told me to take a friend."

GoGo crosses her arms.

"She wanted me to check out the competition."

GoGo raises an eyebrow.

"She said if I took a friend it wouldn't look as suspicious– What?" Tadashi breaks off midway when he sees GoGo narrowing her eyes.

"So why did you invite me? Fred likes ice cream too," she points out. And given how he's been describing Friday as 'nap day', he should be free for it.

Tadashi seems to struggle to say something.

"... Couple."

GoGo blinks. "What?"

"Aunt Cass said that we look like a couple, and if we look like a couple we'd draw less attention," Tadashi finally mumbles. GoGo stares and stares and stares before chucking a book at him. He catches it (he's had enough practice, she grudgingly admits) and starts to tell her to calm down just as she mutters a reluctant 'fine'.

Tadashi beams and GoGo finds her reluctance ebbing. Until he ruins that effect by promptly saying "Great, then it's a da–" GoGo chucks a pen at him this time. He fails to catch it and it hits his forehead with a satisfying bounce.

...

GoGo spends the rest of her Thursday insisting that it is not a date to everyone and anyone who asks. No one really believes her – not even Professor Callaghan.

...

"Hamada?"

"Y- yea?"

"How long are you going to keep staring?" GoGo snaps, crossing her arms protectively over her white top. The word 'Queen' is emblazoned on it in impressive curly letters; with the picture of a crown above. That much isn't bad, she's actually quite fond of the present Honey got her. What irks her is how Tadashi is wearing the same shirt with a crown and the word 'King' scripted in a similar fashion. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that it's meant to be a couple thing, GoGo thinks.

"Sorry," Tadashi apologises. "Now I know why Honey got me this, though." When GoGo doesn't answer, he grins uneasily.

"Here." Suddenly, Tadashi drapes his grey cardigan over her shoulders in smooth motion. "If you button it up, people wouldn't be able to tell."

"And risk looking like a nerd? Sorry, Hamada, I'd rather take my chances." But Tadashi knows her well enough to realise she's joking. He rolls his eyes and lets out a single "Unbelievable," before advancing. As she makes to follow him, GoGo doesn't button up the cardigan as he suggests. She simply pulls it closer to herself to obscure her top just a little.

(The cardigan happens to have Tadashi's smell – coffee and singed fabric.)

...

"It's impressive," Tadashi admits when they step into the cafe. For once, GoGo agrees. It is impressive. The tiles are marble grey and speckled black, matched with tall white tables and chairs. The counter resembles a cocktail bar, only done in paler colors with slabs of colorful ice cream instead of bottles of alcohol. Not that she'd know. She's only been to a bar once (and she doesn't want to talk about it).