TRUST ME | Brothers Conflict | ✔

06

The sunlight was blinding after having watched a movie for three hours straight.

"It was so horrible that it was funny," I commented, clutching the ticket in my hand.

"Don't you think the aliens were convincing?" Kaoru joked, reminding me of the terrible plot, which involved an alien invasion.

"I feel sorry for them," I huffed, shielding my eyes from the light with my other hand. "At some point, I was kind of rooting for them."

He led me to a café, the bells above the door ringing when he opened the door. I followed him inside, the smell of coffee and sugar thick in the air. The café was relatively small. Without a moment's hesitation, Kaoru walked to a table in the corner, navigating around the small tables.

"We should watch the sequel," he decided. "It's said to be released in six months."

"I would like that," I agreed, wondering whether we would still be dating in six months. Compared to most dates I had been on, this one was going incredibly well.

"What do you want to order?" he asked me, passing me the menu card.

"We were lucky that we were could take off from work today. Wouldn't have wanted to miss this piece of art."

"Ah, this was the last time this movie aired, wasn't it?"

When a waitress approached our table, Kaoru ordered black coffee, while I ordered chocolate. If I compared this date to my evening with Nagisa, I grew a bit giddy and bitter. I would already have forgotten about that night if Kaname hadn't saved the day. Nevertheless, I couldn't stop comparing Kaoru to a blond man who had taken a permanent spot in my mind.

Although Kaname had been in an especially foul mood the last times I had met him, Kaoru paled in comparison.

I knew this wasn't fair toward Karou who was trying his best to be good company -and he was trustworthy, friendly and gentlemanly. And I knew that Kaname was all that Kaoru wasn't, which didn't work in Kaname's favour for once.

Notwithstanding his sweet demeanour, Kaoru was boring compared to Kaname. Still, it was doubtful whether the excitement Kaname offered was a good thing.

After all, even as a friend, Kaname was a royal pain in the neck.

My heart didn't care about the pain my head would go through, preferring Kaname nevertheless.

Once the waitress had brought our drinks, Kaoru ticked his glass against mine.

"To third dates," he said.

"Was that an invitation?" I asked, reaching for my glass.

"What do you say?"

"I would love to go on another date with you," I said, forcing all thoughts about Kaname into a little corner in my mind where they couldn't bother me as much.

"Next week, there'll be a festival in a shrine a little outside the city. We could go there," Kaoru suggested, reminding me of another festival.

"If the weather forecast is good, I would love to go."

"Can I call you later tonight to arrange the details?" he asked, looking at me over his cup.

I had tried to explain to him that he didn't need my permission to call me on our first date. That hadn't gone too well, so I had decided to accept it as a quirk.

"Of course."

I flattened the fabric of my yukata, cursing the fact that I had wanted to impress Kaoru. Most people were wearing casual clothes, which made me stand out. While Kaoru was buying us something to eat, I had taken a seat on a bench close to the bathrooms. It was quiet in this corner of the festival, as it was far away from the main attractions.