Hajime

“What is it?” Hajime asked as he stood up, having waited at the usual bench. The sun was beginning its rapid descent towards the horizon as she walked up to him. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah, I just…um…” She shuffled back and forth on her feet. She’d felt somewhat confident about this when the idea had first come, but now that she was actually in front of him, she felt more embarrassed. “I…I’m trying to build up the confidence.”

“To do…what?” He asked. She met his eyes and scanned them. She could see he was trying to keep his eyes on hers but continuously glanced down at her body. She still didn’t blame him for it, of course, but with what she was about to do, it was going to be much worse. She took a deep breath.