I always loved seeing Tokyo at night. I never considered myself to be much of a rural girl, more of a "city slicker", as my mom would like to call it. I remembered I visited New York once, in my early 20s, and I instantly fell in love with the city lights, and the way people were hustling just trying to reach their destinations. After that one visit in New York, I knew I wanted to live in the city, but growing up in The States and wanting to live in the city was a bit of a challenge. It's a lot more expensive in The States and if you want a good paying job, you better expect to have a good education. I thought about this as Hinata was driving, I could hear a faint voice in the background.

"Did you hear me?"

"Oh! Uh, I'm sorry! I must have gotten lost in my thoughts." Hinata grinned at this.

"You don't go out much do you?"

"Is it that obvious?" I chuckled, knowing he was absolutely right.

"Ah! She smiles!" I felt my cheeks burning up. Hinata continued with, "You know you do have a really pretty smile." How long has it been since I received a compliment from the opposite sex? Hinata must've noticed the embarrassment written on my face, "I'm sorry I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable. I just think you look really cute when you get bashful."

I better respond so that way we can end this conversation, "N-no it's okay! I guess I just don't take compliments well." And just like that Hinata looked over with his cute eye smile and didn't say another word until we arrived at the destination.

Hinata pulled his car into the parking space that was located behind a building. Once we both got out of the car and started walking towards a restaurant, I thought to myself aloud, "I haven't been to this part of Tokyo." My outside thought must've been louder than I presumed, because Hinata responded with a cheery tone, "You haven't been to this side of Tokyo?"

"O-oh no I haven't."

"Well maybe after dinner we can walk around a bit." There he goes with that eye smile again.

As we entered the restaurant, it felt like Hinata was a celebrity. The whole restaurant immediately greeted Hinata and quickly called out someone from the back. Out of the back came a rather short older Japanese man, with a few missing teeth. "HINATA!", the short man shouted so loudly. Hinata shouted right back at the man swinging him in for a hug, "KIYOSHI!". They both started howling with laughter at their greeting.

After their hugs and fits of laughter, Hinata asked Kiyoshi, "Sei-san, 2-ri-yō no tēburu wa arimasu ka?"

"Nan demo shimasu yo!". Kiyoshi was still laughing as we started heading over to a booth located in the corner of the restaurant. We sat down and Kiyoshi immediately started up conversation with Hinata, "Au no wa dono kurai furidesu ka ne?"

"6-Kagetsu ijōdeshou!" Whatever Hinata said must've baffled Kiyoshi because the expression on his face seemed shocked, but also a little hurt. "Aikawarazu genki-sōdesu ne! And you brought a lady friend too!" I was taken aback suddenly when I started hearing English, not so much at what was said. Hinata chuckled at Kiyoshi and finally introduced me, "Ah Kiyoshi, this is Tabitha-san". I did a quick bow and so did he, but with much more ease.

Kiyoshi asked what we wanted for drinks, Hinata decided for the both of us to order a bottle of sake. I hated sake, but I did not protest and instead just gave a slight smile. Before Kiyoshi could walk away Hinata reached back his arm and grabbed Kiyoshi's. Kiyoshi had a bit of a frightened look on his face when Hinata grabbed him so suddenly, "We're ready to order too", Hinata said this with a grin on his face. Kiyoshi's expression changed to a sigh of relief, "Oh ok ok!" I started first with the fried egg yakisoba. Hinata decided to order the okonomiyaki, which surprised me because that type of dish is on the sweeter side. After placing our orders, Kiyoshi took off to the kitchen. I decided then to start the conversation for once.

"So okonomiyaki?" This was going to bug me and I needed an answer.

Hinata busted out laughing, "You caught on to that huh? I just really like the texture and savoriness of it. Wouldn't you agree that it's delicious?"

"Yeah I mean it's pretty good, I just didn't strike you as a guy that would order that kind of thing on a first date. I guess."

"Oh is that it? What kind of thing would you have expected me to order then?"

"Hmmm, something with a lot of meat I guess." Hinata found what I had said much funnier than I thought, which made me laugh a little at his reaction. While in the middle of this laughing session, I hadn't realized, but the sake was delivered to our table, and next thing I know Hinata is grabbing the bottle to pour my drink.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"No, please! Allow me to pour your drink." I frantically said while reaching for the bottle in his hands. He pulled the bottle further back from my reach, "I'm not really into the whole 'Japanese drinking etiquette' unless I'm with colleagues, so don't worry yourself." I slowly started lowering myself back down into my seat, if he says so then I'm not going to argue. Hinata poured both of our drinks and we did a toast, "Kompai!" While clinking our glass against one another.

We made small talk while we were casually drinking sake and waiting for our food to be served. Everytime I took a shot of the sake my face would make this God awful cringe. Hinata finally pointed it out, "You live in Japan, but don't like sake?"

"To be honest, no I don't. Anything other than sake."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"It's fine now."

"Yeah, but every time you take a sip, the expression on your face looks like you want to die."

I burst out laughing from this comment, and that's how I knew the sake was getting to me. Hinata joined in on the laughter!

"And she laughs too!" Hinata called out.

"I smile and laugh just like anyone else. You know I'm not a robot."

"Annnd now it looks like you're pouting! I guess I should give you sake more often!"

I rolled my eyes jokingly at his remark, "Whatever."

The evening continued on rather enjoyably, probably because of the sake. After we were done eating a waiter came to grab our food, and asked if we wanted any dessert. Hinata ignored the waiter's question, and asked for the bill instead, with the waiter promptly turning around to grab our bill for the drinks and food. However, paying for the bill became a little bit of a hassle because I insisted on paying for half of mine, and Hinata said that it wouldn't be very good of him to let the woman pay, especially on a first date.

After a heated debate on deciding who would pay the bill, alas, Hinata won. Kiyoshi came back out for a final time to say goodbye to Hinata and me. "Nice meeting you Tabitha. Hope to see you again soon." He said this with a little smirk on his face while giving a wink to Hinata. I giggled as Hinata suddenly was acting like a teenage boy. It was kind of endearing.

As we made our way outside, I started walking toward the car, expecting Hinata to do the same when I heard him calling from behind, "Where are you going? I said we were going to walk afterwards. Are you too drunk to remember?" Hinata cracked himself up on that one.

"Where exactly are we going to walk to?" I said this as I started trying to catch up to Hinata, who had already started walking without me.

"Do we need a destination?"

"I mean, I guess not. You lead the way then, sir."

"Whoa! Sir?" I giggled as I knew that would probably bother him.

"Okay, okay. I may be older than you, but it can't be by that much."

"If you're trying to ask me my age without actually asking me, you're doing a terrible job."

"A guy can try, right?"

It felt much later, but when I checked my phone it was only 10:30. This area seems so desolate, and you wouldn't think you were in Tokyo being here.

"What part of Tokyo are we in anyways?"

"Chuo City. This part is at the center of Tokyo's 23 wards. It's considered an old 'town'." Hinata was explaining this to me as I tried seeing how any of this was old. It all looked very modern to me. Then, without warning, I felt something fall into my shoulders. Startled by this, I jumped back.

"Whoa! Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you Tabitha!" Oh, that was Hinata.

"What were you trying to do just now?"

"I'm sorry. It seemed like the right moment." Oh, he was trying to put his arm around me. My mind is telling me no, but the sake is saying, "Go for it!"

I snuck back closer to Hinata, giving him the okay. Hinata smiled, and for the second attempt, reached his arm out around my shoulder. We walked side-by-side like this for about 30 minutes, not saying much to each other, until we got back to the car.

The drive back home felt long, the alcohol was wearing off and the drowsiness started taking over. I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, as hard as I tried, but ultimately failed. The next time I woke up was when Hinata turned the car off.

"We're here." Hinata said. I looked around, recognizing the surroundings, we're already back at my apartment.

"I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep."

"That's okay. You looked cute sleeping so I didn't want to wake you."

I hope he doesn't see my grin right now.

"Well thank you for tonight. I had a nice time."

"Thank you for letting me take you out."

Why does the air feel weird in the car right now? I needed to think fast, "Well, I guess I'll see you at work tomorrow." As I started reaching my hand out for the door handle, Hinata spoke up, "Can I take you out again?"

"Really? Why?" God, do I need to sound that insecure about myself?

"I kind of like you Tabitha, and I want to get to know you more too. Not just at work, but outside of it."

"Oh, I see." I pondered these thoughts for a second until Hinata interrupted.

"If you don't want to, I can understand, but I would really like another chance then, if that's the case."

"N-no I do. It's just... Hmm, how do I say this? I have a lot of baggage." There goes the liquor talking, "I just haven't done this kind of thing in awhile an-"

"I can be patient." Even with the soft blue glow from the dashboard, I could see that eye smile again.

"Okay, let's go on another date."

"That makes me happy to hear. As much as I want to plan out our next date, you should probably get to bed."

"Oh, right. Uh well, we'll talk again soon. Have a good night."

"You too Tabitha."

I stepped out of the car and started walking towards the front door of my apartment building. I heard the car drive off between the surrounding buildings, as it slowly started fading away. After such a long night I did not feel like taking a shower, I'll just take one in the morning. I brushed my teeth, removed my makeup, put on more comfortable clothes, and started laying down in bed. I was so exhausted that I didn't have much time to think about what had happened this evening. My eyelids are unable to stay open, and as I started drifting in the dreamland, his face came into my mind. I missed him so much. He is the only person that truly understood me. I felt the tears forming, but before they could fall down my cheek, I had drifted into the subconscious.