The First Practice Date

Mikazuki chose a cozy cafe for their first "practice date". Lena stood outside, wearing a soft sweater paired with a floral dress. She didn't have many fancy clothes, as most of her days were spent in a school uniform and she didn't have much money for shopping. She hoped that Mikazuki wouldn't mind, and that she still looked acceptable. 

Taking a deep breath, Lena tried to calm her nerves. She glanced at the clock on her phone, which read 5:45pm. She was fifteen minutes early. 

The sound of footsteps approaching made her look up. Mikazuki arrived, wearing a Japanese-style jacket and a turtleneck sweater underneath. His hair was not styled up, so his bangs were falling naturally over his forehead. Lena thought the change in hairstyle made him look almost like a different person. He looked... younger, and more approachable.

"You're already here," Mikazuki said, mildly surprised. "Am I late?"

"NO, no!" Lena shook her head. She shyly continued, "I... I didn't want to keep you waiting."

"Good. Being punctual is a sign of respect. And you've passed with flying colours."

Lena smiled nervously, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "So… what's the plan?"

"We're going to have a normal date," Mikazuki replied. "The goal is for you to feel comfortable, learn how to hold a conversation, and maybe even have some fun."

Lena nodded eagerly. "Okay Sensei. Oops! I mean, Mikazuki-san."

“Just call me Mikazuki. Or, if it helps, pretend I’m someone you're genuinely interested in.” He opened the door for her. "Shall we head inside?"

As they browsed through the menu items, Mikazuki guided her. "When you're on a date, small talk can feel awkward, so start with simple questions. Like... What do you normally like to drink?"

Lena tapped her chin with a finger. "I usually get something sweet, like a caramel latte or a strawberry latte. Oh, but sometimes I just get hot chocolate, especially in winter. What about you?"

"I tend to go for something light, like tea. Keeps me focused."

Mikazuki ordered a herbal tea and Lena chose a strawberry latte. They sat down at a table by the window. Lena fiddled with a sugar packet, unsure of how to start the conversation. She looked small and somewhat vulnerable. Mikazuki noticed how nervous she was and tried to reassure her. 

"Relax. This is just practice. Treat me like any other date." 

"I haven't been on very many dates," Lena said, looking downwards. "I'm not even sure where to start."

Mikazuki placed his hands on the table and said, "Ask me a question. Something you would want to know about someone you're interested in."

"Okay..." Lena thought for a moment. "Ummm, what do you like to do for fun?"

"I correct funny essays for fun," he answered with a grin. "Like the one you wrote."

"Hey, that's mean!" Lena pouted at him. "I meant, outside of work. You know, in your spare time! Don't you have any hobbies?"

"Hmmm." Mikazuki paused to think, then said, "I suppose I like reading and studying literature, especially poetry from the Heian period."

"Huh? More reading...?" That answer was too typical for a history teacher. Lena felt like she wasn't getting far in the conversation. She tried not to let her disappointment show as she stirred her strawberry latte. "I mean, poetry, huh? That’s... um. Nice..." 

Mikazuki chuckled, noticing her reaction. "I know that's not the most exciting answer. But it's something I always found peaceful. What about you? Any hobbies you enjoy?"

"Well, I like shopping, but only window shopping most of the time. Oh, and I enjoy hanging out with Aki-nee. We have sleepovers sometimes, and we just talk about everything."

"That sounds nice. Simple things are often the most meaningful, don't you think?"

Lena nodded. "I guess so. But it doesn’t feel very... interesting. Like, who would want to date someone who only likes shopping and sleepovers?"

"The right person will enjoy doing activities together, because they enjoy spending time with you," Mikazuki reminded gently. "It's not about what you do, but about who you're with."

His comforting words made Lena feel a little more at ease. "Okay. I have another question. Why did you decide to become a teacher?"

"I became a teacher because I wanted to help others see the beauty in the past. There's a lot we can learn from history, and I enjoy sharing those lessons."

"That's... Actually pretty cool. I guess I never thought of history that way. I always saw it as just memorizing facts for tests."

Mikazuki laughed. "Most people do. But it's more than that. History is connections, and stories about where we come from."

"Is that why you like wearing traditional clothing so much?" Lena asked. "I mean, you look really good in modern clothing too, but you seem to prefer the traditional style."

"Hahaha... I grew up with a strong sense of tradition in my family. I guess I feel comfortable, like I can be myself." He leaned back in his chair. "What about your family? Your grandmother seems traditional."

"Granny is traditional, but my parents are the exact opposite," Lena replied. "I don't really have a strong sense of tradition like you do. I'm still trying to figure out who I am."

"You have plenty of time for that," Mikazuki reassured her.

"Okay. I’ll keep that in mind. But you have to promise to be honest with me during these practice dates. If I’m doing something wrong or being... awkward, you'll tell me, right?"

"I promise."

As they finished their drinks, Mikazuki glanced at the time and hesitated for a moment. "Shall we call it a night? Or would you like to take a walk before heading home?"

"A walk sounds nice. It's still pretty early."

Mikazuki stood and, after a moment's hesitation, extended his hand toward her. "Ready to go?"

Lena blinked in confusion, as she looked from his hand to his face, then back to his hand again. She reached out slowly, her smaller hand fitting perfectly in his. He guided her to her feet, and Lena felt an unexpected flutter in her chest. She quickly pulled her hand back in embarrassment, unsure of how to feel about holding hands with her teacher.

Outside, the cool evening air greeted them as they strolled down the street. The glow of streetlights illuminated their path, and Lena found herself glancing up at Mikazuki's profile. This was all just practice, she reminded herself, but it felt more real than anything she'd experienced in a long time.

---

The two walked side by side in the direction of a nearby park. The evening air was chilly and Lena shivered, hugging her arms together when a breeze blew by.

"Are you cold?" Mikazuki asked.

Lena nodded, though she tried to be brave about it. "A little bit."

Mikazuki slid off his jacket and draped it over Lena's shoulders. Lena froze for a moment, looking up at him with wide eyes. 

"You should have brought a coat," Mikazuki said gently. 

"Yeah... thanks..." Lena pulled the warm fabric tightly around her body. She smelled his scent on the jacket, and couldn't stop herself from blushing again.

They continued their walk in silence before Lena spoke up again. "Do you think... I'll find someone who likes me for who I am? I feel like... Maybe I'm not enough."

Mikazuki stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. "Lena, you've always been enough. You don't need to change who you are to be loved. The right person will see all the little things that make you special and treasure them."

"How can you be sure?" 

"Because, I see them," Mikazuki said simply.

Lena looked at her feet, her heart beating fast. 'This is just practice,' she reminded herself, 'stop letting yourself feel so shaken! He's just trying to be nice...'

Mikazuki smiled faintly and gestured for them to keep walking. Lena adjusted his jacket around her shoulders and continued to follow him, keeping her pace to stay by his side.

---

When Lena got home, the porch light was on. She slipped off her shoes in the entryway and called out, "I'm home!"

Granny poked her head out from the kitchen after wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Lena-chan, you're home late. Did your tutor session run long?"

"Uh, yeah! Something like that," Lena said, keeping away any details. The practice date wasn't the usual tutor session after all. "Sorry if I worried you."

Her grandmother raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any further questions. "There's dinner left in the fridge if you're hungry."

"Thanks Granny!" Lena said, making her way upstairs to her room.

She slid off Mikazuki's jacket and folded it neatly to place on her desk. She completely forgot to return it! The faint scent of his cologne lingered, and she could smell it on herself now as well. She flopped onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind replayed the events of the evening... how Mikazuki's eyes looked when he smiled, and how warm his voice sounded when he reassured her with his kind words.

She reached for her phone and saw a text message from Aki.

[ Aki: ] How was tutoring? Did you survive History Sensei?

Lena smiled and typed back.

[ Lena: ] I'll tell you about it in person!

[ Aki: ] Tomorrow? Sleepover at my place?

[ Lena: ] Maybe! I'll let you know

Setting her phone aside, Lena curled up under her blanket. Despite her nervousness during the "date", she felt like maybe she had taken a small step forward. Maybe... Just maybe, she could figure out this whole "dating" and "love" thing, one step at a time.

Her last thought before drifting off to sleep was of Mikazuki's gentle smile and the way he said, "You've always been enough."