Strawberry Milk [COMPLETED]

❧Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Ichigo, at least save some for me!"

"Yours is so much better! Why'd you order me such a small cone?!"

"Because you're tiny!"

"My stomach is a bottomless pit! Have you not seen me eat? I've won 5 pie eating contests since last year!"

I brush the tip of my tongue over the side of Hajime's mint chocolate chip ice cream. Apparently it was his favorite — mine, too! I absolutely adored the flavor. For whatever reason, Hajime got me one of the smallest cones on the menu from an ice cream truck while I was in the bathroom. I finished it in 1 minute and almost choked on my waffle cone when I looked up and saw his horrified expression.

Hajime and I were on our first actual date since we'd told the whole school (and our families) that we were dating. The two of us had been so excited to go out, we could barely contain ourselves. We went out for a picnic this afternoon and had sandwiches and my favorite strawberry milk from the bakery.

Hajime told me about how he'd finally taken the opportunity to tell his father about how passionate he was about the bakery, and while Hajime said he hasn't gotten a direct answer from his father yet, he knew for sure he was getting through to him this time. He told me his reaction was different this time due to the fact that he hadn't given him the usual flat out "NO" as an answer. Instead, he told him to just give him some time.

During the picnic, I told Hajime about how Chisame was having twins and I was going to be the big sister to a little boy and girl. He told me he'd always wanted siblings and how I'd be great as an older sister. Honestly, I worried constantly about it. What would life be like with 2 other human beings running around the house? I had just gotten used to Chisame. And now I'd be responsible for 2 human beings for a really long time. Sure, I'd graduate in a year and probably move out (*coughs* hopefully with my boyfriend), but I know they'd still be under my care every once in awhile at that point.

But hearing Hajime tell me how much I'd helped him muster up the courage to speak to his dad and how grateful he was to have me in his life and by his side made me feel 1000 times better. If I told him he could speak to his father about his feelings and he did, then he could tell me I'd be a great big sister and I would. It was almost like a deal, sort of!

Right after our picnic, we saw the ice cream truck and had to stop. Now I knew not to ever let Hajime Matsuoka order anything for me.

"Geez, you're such a messy eater."

Hajime lifts his handkerchief out of his suit pocket and starts to wipe at my cheeks and the corners of my mouth like I was a child. I roll my eyes at him. Did he like spawn those in his pocket or something?

"Why do you always have a handkerchief in your pocket?"

Hajime stops wiping at my face and shrugs as if he had never thought much of it, "I don't know, I was just told to always have one when I was a kid.."

"And you're always in a suit whenever I see you! It's 90 degrees out here, aren't you hot in there?" I giggle. The majority of our date was outside and I had chosen to wear a cute sundress with banana print all over it. Hajime was in his usual suit that was either white, coffee, or cream colored.

The corners of his mouth upturn in a smirk and I watch the sweet blue of his eyes darken like an ocean storm. He puts his handkerchief back in his pocket and runs his fingers through his flawless, slicked back hair.

"Miss Manabe, are you perhaps suggesting I wear something a bit more revealing whenever we're together?"

I blushed, but burst into laughter nonetheless, "That's not what I meant! Although, I can't say I'm not curious! You're starting to make me think your clothes are apart of you, like you're an alien."

"An alien!" Hajime throws his head back and bursts into laughter. I love hearing him laugh. It's so sincere and it's so nice to hear him loosening up around me when he's always graceful and sort of uptight when we're at school.

I love you..

At moments like this, my feelings got so intense, my urge to show affection was uncontrollable. I thought Hajime was the most adorable creature in the universe.

While Hajime is laughing, I check the park trail to make sure no one is around and quickly kiss him on his cheek. Hajime smiles into the gentle kiss and wraps an arm around my waist to pull me close. I can feel his body quaking with suppressed laughter as he moves to whisper in my ear.

"I know a really great spot, it's perfect during the evening."

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"Hajime, it's gorgeous here..."

The "really great spot" Hajime had brought me to that night was absolutely breathtaking. We arrived on a bridge that once standing on, you had the most beautiful view of the colors changing in the sky. The sun was still going down, but it's warm colors mixed with the approaching night gave us a glimpse of today's twilight.

Hajime and I danced for awhile on the bridge, listening to no music in particular, but swaying in each other's embrace. We spoke about everything. We may have been out there for hours and I wouldn't have cared. There wasn't a second in time where I had to think when I was with him, all I had to do was relax. It was so natural for us to be together I was surprised I had lived so long without the feeling that my soulmate was missing from my life.

"Hajime."

"Yes?"

"What do you think about having a model for a girlfriend?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't fall asleep standing up..anyway, yesterday I went to a cafe with Emi and Natsu and this man came up to me and gave me his card. He said he was a modeling agent and that he wanted to find someone to do headshots for me...he thinks I could make a career out of modeling..."

"That's incredible, Ichigo! You'll do it, right?"

"I'm not sure about it, actually. I've never really known what I wanted to do with my life when I graduated, nor have I been very careful or caring of my appearance until now, but...I thought maybe I'd give it a try."

"I think you should. You'd be a beautiful model. The beauty industry needs someone like you. Someone who can pull off men and women's clothes and somehow make it look like the clothes were made for you."

I smile and rest my head on Hajime's chest, "You know, there is one job I've always wanted...I've never told anyone before."

"Oh, really?" Hajime tightens his grip on me, "What's that?"

"A wife and a mom."

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A/N: Thank y'all for reading! The next chapter will be the last. I'll do my best to make it a great ending!