Chapter 49
After the cheeky kiss on the bench and Mika’s adorably indignant response, the atmosphere between them softened. Mika had made it clear—Kokoro wasn’t getting off that easily. Her punishment? Another date. A proper, leisurely afternoon date around the heart of Tokyo. It was, in her words, the only fair price for her wounded pride.
So now, hand in hand, the two wandered beneath the towering buildings and bustling neon signs of central Tokyo. The city’s energy buzzed around them—laughter, traffic, the distant music of a street performer strumming a shamisen near a food stall. Mika wore a cute cream beret and an off-shoulder top with her white skirt, effortlessly drawing glances from passersby. Kokoro, now back in a more normal get-up—hoodie, jeans, sneakers—walked beside her, his fingers interlocked with hers.
What Kokoro didn’t know, however, was that they weren’t alone.
From hidden corners, balconies, and among the pedestrians, Mika’s secret bodyguards kept careful watch. Dressed in absurd disguises—one with a long red wig and another in a polka-dotted dress that did little to hide his sheer bulk—they whispered among themselves with a blend of pride and sorrow.
"Our little lady’s finally found someone..." one muttered, dabbing his eye with a tissue.
"She’s growing up so fast," another sobbed behind oversized pink sunglasses.
Back with the couple, Mika was gleaming with joy as she pulled Kokoro along toward a cozy ice cream stand by the park. But Kokoro, after some hesitation, tugged gently on her hand to stop.
"Mika," he said, voice low.
She turned to him, slightly tilting her head. "Hm?"
"I want to tell you something. About tomorrow."
Mika blinked. "Tomorrow?"
Kokoro nodded, scratching the back of his neck. "I’ve... I’ve made a promise. With Sakura."