CM: For You, Only

From the Kotodaikoen Station to Sendai, riding on the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa 14 and Saikyo Line, it takes nearly two hours to reach Tokyo alone.
Futakuchi Kenji relieves a sigh as the last train comes to a stop and he nudges the restful figure on his shoulder to wake her. He’s only glad that they left early that morning, knowing it would take some time to reach their destination. But they aren’t there, just yet.

“Natsumi,” he urges, quickly pulling at the girl to wake her. Even in her sleep, the distant frown on her lips is relevant and she quickly regains her composure when Kenji pushes her off the train, so that they do not miss their stop. “We’re here,” he insists as soon as they are off the Yurakucho subway train and now standing on the platform where a sea of people swarm around them. On instinct, Kenji’s fingers quickly find Natsumi’s earnestly, wrapping around her palm- as much as she might complain to him. He’s not too worried, however, instead for the worry if he were to somehow lose her in such a large crowd!
“Kenji, you can let my hand go!” Such harsh words, but her face is surely red from the skin of his rough fingertips on her own. It takes a few minutes for the duo to find the connecting rail at Shinkiba Station, searching for the Keiyo line that will lead them to their final destination. Futakuchi Kenji can tell that Natsumi is still very tired from the ride, but who wouldn’t be? The trip to Tokyo, itself, was a handful and took lots of time. They have crossed the border to the Chiba prefecture, however, and now only concern themselves with their next train, which will depart in four mere minutes, according to the clock that stares Kenji down. He doesn’t want to let go of Natsumi’s hand, however. He wants to keep holding onto it. For as long as possible.

“Ah, Kenji!” Natsumi slaps at the ace’s arm to grasp his attention. Albeit fogged with fatigue, Seno Natsumi’s eyes are sharp as ever, spotting the face of the train they are waiting for, bustling through crowds of middle-class workers and teenagers alike, before catching the Keyio line that will take them towards Soga. It is a short ride, so Kenji and Natsumi do not mind having to stand in the car. He remembers the first train, early that morning, that he and Natsumi furnished themselves in- be it for a short time- and yawned until both their mouths could have been permanently gaping. As the train begins to shuffle out of the station, Kenji’s eyes wander to his wrist watch, informing him of the time. It has been nearly three hours since he first met Natsumi at her house that morning at the ungodly hour of seven in the morning. At least, to Futakuchi it is horrible, as he remembers that Natsumi is used to waking up early- a fatal reminder of her hobby to jog in the morning. How does she do it, he’ll never know, eyes still brimming in distaste from hearing his alarm blare at half after six. When he looks to Natsumi’s apathetic visage, there is a stirring in his chest, although her lips do not curve up in excitement like others girl’s would. But she is not like other girls.
Futakuchi finds himself smiling inwardly, though not taking note of it until his is caught from his daze by Natsumi, snapping him back to reality. No, other girls do not compare to Seno Natsumi, in her silent elegance and passive glee. Her eyes twinkle with more radiance than the sun, like the moon that Kenji has looked at so many nights in wonder. He corrects himself once- other girls are not like Seno Natsumi.
After another handful of minutes, the train strains to the stop the two have been waiting all morning for, as Natsumi drags him out of the car so the doors do not close in front of his face.


“Disneyland?” Natsumi is baffled, though it is hidden from her facial features. Futakuchi’s memory wanders to the book he remembers finding in her duffle sports bag one day, falling out from the loose confines when she asked him to get it for her. He barely had time to even question it, himself, before stuffing the novel to her bag once more, chasing off the thought. But since, it has never left the confines of his mind. Before that day, Kenji would have no idea that Seno Natsumi had an appetite for fairytales. Although “The Frog Prince” is an international fantasy tale, popular among young girls especially, Kenji knew exactly what it was when he saw it. Over time, he began to notice more and more notices following Natsumi like a shadow- from her affinity for other romantic fantasies like “Alice In Wonderland”. No thanks to the variety of books he sometimes found her school bag or duffle bag after her volleyball practice, he learned more than ever before.
“Yeah, I thought it might be fun,” Kenji pressures, peering to watch Natsumi’s reaction as he suckles at the bottle of water, now half empty after their workout. Time has caught up to Kenji, and his mind looks to the future- specifically next month, when Natsumi will turn seventeen. When she finally stops in her exercises to come near Kenji, her eyebrows knit together and her gaze cuts directly at him.
“I guess,” she admits, shrugging away the idea. She cannot admit to Futakuchi Kenji- of all people- that she is excited. But the later that night, she lies in her bed, waiting for sleep to take her, despite the entourage of gladness that fills her mind at the thought of visiting the park. Even the night before the day came, she was still tingling with anxiety, biting her lip in glee.

The park is crowded- as to be expected- and the fatigue that once dotted Natsumi’s vision slowly ebbs away as she gazes to the life that has entered her sight, upon stepping through the gates of the park. The sound of shrieking children does not bother her much, as she is already too wrapped up in simply looking around where she stands. Although she wouldn’t want to ever admit it to someone like Futakuchi Kenji, even, she is excited for the fantasy she has entered. It’s like a dream to Natsumi, in a hazy fog of her imagination, seeing the pastel colors of the fairytales she has read as a child fly over her head with such leisure.

Kenji and Natsumi are lucky that the Maihama Station is located so close to the park entrance, leading them straight to their adventure. From the South Gate, Natsumi is quick to find the Bon Voyage shop, offering merchandise that makes her eyes gleam before they have barely entered the park, even! Her gaze floats over stuffed plushes of famed Disney characters and a plethora of other items to buy. Her eyes wander to and fro, but Kenji’s never change, watching her form move around like a hummingbird, amongst small children scattered about the first floor. He basks in the pleasure of confusing his eyes while Natsumi contemplates a variety of plushies.
“How about we come back later,” Kenji suddenly presses, faring against the slight frown that throngs at Natsumi’s lips. “I’ll pay,” he promises sincerely, much to her surprise. “We’ll come back at the end, so you’ll get the whole experience.”
Even against Natsumi’s chagrin, she nods, never removing her focus from his hand that gingerly steps on her wrist, not freeing her until they manage their way out of the gift shop and move to the directory where they locate their next stop. They only plan to circuit the Disneyland Park, excluding the sea park that is right beside them, since the weather is not as good as it was before, now breezing with the warning breath of fall. The sun still shines, however, and Kenji’s fingers never want to leave the warmth of Seno Natsumi’s smooth palms.


The World Bazaar and the area around it takes nearly an hour and a half for Natsumi and Kenji to journey through, but it leaves a refreshing stain on their mind even after exiting to follow the trail of the park. The Disney Gallery is breathtaking to the two, analyzing the sketches and figurines of Disney characters throughout the exhibit and even passing by a small in-class seminar of people learning to draw characters, sneaking around for a minute or two to watch as they sketch Mickey Mouse at the lined rows of desks set up. Kenji almost drags Natsumi into the Penny Arcade, where they find a spectacle of old-fashioned games; from pinball machines to mechanic fortune tellers and a display of claw games waiting for them. Natsumi limits him to only a few games, but it doesn’t stop him from winning a palm-size plush clip of Winnie the Pooh for her bag. That is, after having tried twice already and failed!
“It looks cute, doesn’t it?” Kenji bargains with Natsumi to put it on her purse handle, though she consistently insists he should have it, since he won it. “That’s no fun though,” he pressures, clipping it to her tote bag himself, “I won it for you, anyways.” Natsumi’s cheeks redden while facing his grinning visage. Even so, she can’t help but admire the stuffed toy that hangs from her side, petting the fabric of the smiling bear.

At Fantasyland, there is a plethora of children running amuck, grinning ear-to-ear as they pass by Kenji and Natsumi. Even without noticing it, Natsumi’s ever-passive face wards off the young boys and girls, hovering away when they see the glare in her gaze or the light frown that ponders her lips. It raises a stifle of a laugh from Kenji as he glances over, hushing his titters before she can notice. But of course, she does notice, anyways.
“What?” Her stare is sharp as she cuts Kenjj in half, practically, lowering a smile to her before gently pulling her along so she is back at his side.
“Nothing,” he reassures, earning an untrustworthy huff from his partner. In short time, Kenji is able to persuade Natsumi to come onto the carousel they are approaching; standing for only a handful of moments in line before Natsumi- crossed arms and all- suddenly speaks up to grasp the spiker’s attention.
“I...want to ride the frog.” Promptly, her voice shifts to hushed tones, as if she were embarrassed to admit such a thing, but as Kenji glances to the moving animals of the ride, he notices what she is talking about. It is a small, green frog, complete with a red flowing cape, fit for a king, and topped with a tiny gold crown. Beside it, he notices a brown hare seated, grinning when he glances back to Natsumi.
“I’ll take the hare then,” he promises, exposing the pink of her cheeks when she looks away and waits patiently for the ride to stop.

The day drags on, and the duo venture further into Fantasyland, stopping soon for a break at Captain Hook’s galley to devour on the warm slices of pizza they serve or other snacks available. They take a peek in Cinderella’s castle and tour through the halls that are bespeckled with imaginary clouds of blues, and lights that shimmer in the grand hallways.

He takes her on the Flying Elephant ride, glad that there are two seats available per car, albeit when he glances to Natsumi more than once, he feels as if she is more embarrassed- possibly because she is so close to him in the car- as they journey up and down on the multitude of rotating Dumbos. When they come off the ride, however, Kenji feels as if he doesn’t want to let her go from the state of bliss he has gotten her to, giving her a hand when she steps from the car to make sure she won’t slip or fall as she steps down. Even after, he doesn’t want to let go of her hand, although she persists against it and tries to pull away.
The entirety of Fantasyland grips Natsumi in it’s hold and takes her on flight to the pleasures of exploring it further with Kenji as the day prolongs further until the earliest hours of evening. By this time, they have re-routed their steps back down south and pass by exhibits and rides they already went on hours before. There is one ride, however, that they haven’t rode, Natsumi realizes when she halts in her spot. Her hand reaches to hold onto Kenji’s wrist before he can leave her behind, pulling him back to where she stands. “Can we go on that one?”
Is that a question, Futakuchi Kenji wonders, before all else. The ice cream that still lingers on his lips from one of the vendors is not nearly as sweet as the tone she plucks at his heart with, swallowing him whole in her gaze. Surely enough, it’s what she’s been looking for, probably, as Kenji stares at the children on the spinning teacups.

Futakuchi Kenji is quick to return the warm gaze she sucks him in before hugging her enroute to stand in the line. The teacup is a light blue and painted in hues of navy and white, decadent swirls and spirals that transform into blurs when the ride begins and they grasp at the metal plate to twirl their car faster. It flusters a grin tearing at Seno Natsumi’s sugary lips and brushes strings and threads of hair into her face, behind her ears and curling at her collarbone as they race around each other in spinning circles. Kenji is far too engrossed in the bliss that radiates from Seno Natsumi to even pay attention to ride, and thus, before he realizes it, they come to a close, stopping even though his hands still attempt to pull the metal plate around once more for a last spin. There is tresses of milk chocolate strands that fan against Natsumi’s cheeks and fold past the cartilage helix of her ear while she reaches back inside for Kenji before skipping to the exit.

The sun is dripping down to the tips of the horizon, glazed in a honey-orange radiance that reminds Futakuchi Kenji and Seno Natsumi that they should aim for the Maihama station before the evening settles in, in order to catch the train back on time. But the arrays of the Bon Voyage souvenir shop beckon and tease Natsumi as she passes through the store, glancing at each item that catches her interest. So far, five minutes have passed that Futakuchi Kenji has spent watching Natsumi tread the first floor of the shop, glancing to many souvenirs here and there- albeit she puts them back, regretting when she checks the price. Five minutes have passed, and still when he views to Natsumi, she carries only a small keychain. Eyes rolling, a titter soaked in amusement leaves Kenji’s lips, something glinting in his eyes when he looks to Seno Natsumi. The glass in his backpack feels a little heavier as he watches her further, biting his lip in reminisce.

She’ll like it. Of course she will. ...Will she like it?
Futakuchi Kenji plays a game of tug-of-war with himself. His eyes follow the glint of the glass in the afternoon sunlight sparkling in his viewfinder. To his left, his gaze follows, in making sure Natsumi has not come out of the bathroom halls already before sneaking into the small shop at the streets near Fantasyland. It’s peach, he argues, of course she will like it. Even if she doesn’t like him buying things for her, regardless.
Something inside Kenji releases a disappointed sigh, coming to meet Natsumi where she inspects an entourage of stuffed animals and plushies of characters, varying in all kinds of sizes. As he comes near her, she is about to replace an item back where it belongs after taking a peek at the price tag, yet again. HIs hand stops her at her wrist, offering a gentle smile. “I’ll pay for it, don’t worry.” Something of a complaint begins to rise in Natsumi’s throat, but Kenji is quick to catch it before it can spill from her lips. “I told you before, didn’t I? I’ll pay- it is your birthday, after all.” I wanted to do all this for you. His attention turns to the small plush she had been holding previously, purple and pink stripes running down the backside of cat as she holds it up to him. “Do you want this one?”
There is a grin that hides from her lips when she nods in return, though still unwavering her focus from Kenji and his words. Would he really do that for me?

There is the rest of the shop, including the second floor that Kenji and Natsumi wind themselves through, until the clock on his watch directs him to a quarter until six, when he and Natsumi need to be at the station to board their train home. By the end of it, Kenji is holding the plastic gift bag filled with goodies as Natsumi holds onto the frog stuffed toy she had instantly become attached to- along with just about anything else related to frogs in the store! Futakuchi Kenji remembers her expression when they entered the corner regarding all merchandise of Alice In Wonderland, as if they had entered wonderland, themselves.
For almost fifteen minutes alone, she scattered herself around the section, wondering what to get. Against Kenji’s memory, it ended with most of their final items being from said section, reminiscing to the check-out counter overflowed with the three total stuffed animal plushies- ranging from keychain size to the large frog she insisted on- as well as a Cheshire cat phone charm, grinning ear-to-ear, as always. Apart from the remaining small items, of which were little cost to Kenji, there was one last gift that he had managed to snag into her bag- even though Natsumi had initially decided against it. But, Kenji knows better, and he wanted to get it for her, therefore coming as a surprise to Natsumi when she spotted the blue dress and striped stockings in the gift bag, in her appropriate size. At this point, she might have already chided him for getting the costume for her, even when she decided against it, but her tongue has learned better, from the warning stares and warm smiles of Futakuchi Kenji when the reprimanding words rise like bile in her throat; quickly erasing away when he locks his gaze with hers to make her forget what she wanted to say.

He wants to see her smile again, like today. For as long as possible. But he wonders how long that is, for them both. Forever? How long is forever, he ponders. “Sometimes, just one second.”
But he loves this second, this minute and the hours he’s spent with Natsumi today, alone, and he would never want to trade them otherwise.

“Ah, I also bought something else for you,” Kenji remembers, pulling his backpack to swing over his arm, opening the top zipper until he draws out a pink bag, unwrapping the plastic so she can see the pink-orange bottle in his hands. “I saw this at one of the other shops, while you were away,” Kenji explains, handing off the sunset perfume bottle to her, though her eyes trail on the gift, all but gaping. “I thought you would like it, since it’s peach,” his voice lowers in the slightest octave, practically murmuring beneath his breath now.
The gladness that fills Natsumi’s aqua eyes is doused in gratitude, chest tightening when she looks back to Kenji to think of how to properly thank him. She begins with speaking up as his voice lowers, “Thank you.” She doesn’t know what else to say, for all that he has done for her, today and in past days, weeks and months. “For everything,” she promises abruptly after, letting him file the bottle back into his backpack so it will not break- especially on account of Natsumi’s clumsiness! Her arms are still strewn around the lime green frog in her hands, though she feels as if burrowing her face into it would be a better idea, since she is sure her face is growing hotter by the second, even with the cool evening breeze sweeping back her skin. How does one repay another for their kindness- especially so much that they don’t deserve?
Her thoughts speak too soon and wither her focus away, before she realizes she has fallen against the cool concrete, unfamiliar with the notion since she notes she is still holding the stuffed animal beneath her. Kenji notices, however, immediately setting down the gift bag in his left hand to exchange for her own palm, helping her back up.

“Natsumi! Are you okay,” he continuously repeats the question when there is no instant response from said girl. When, finally, she does redirect his question with an answer, assuring she is alright, his hand still does not leave the soft of her fingertips, nor do his eyes venture elsewhere besides her own. “You idiot,” Kenji scolds in a small chuckle. “You’re really clumsy, you know that?” After so long, he pulls himself from his knees, urging to help Natsumi up to her feet as well. Her veins strain against her wrist that is locked around Futakuchi Kenji’s iron grasp.
Even an iron grip like his is as gentle as sand, though.

Seno Natsumi is sure her face is overheated by this point, having tied herself to Kenji so intimately, losing all her focus, even when she falls back down in her attempts to stand up.
“You probably hurt your ankle,” Kenji scoffs in disappointment, though there is much concern lingering in the chocolate abyss of his eyes. Natsumi is overwhelmed when he leans to her sitting height, helping her to his empty back.


“I’m sorry.” Seno Natsumi’s voice is serene and quieted by the fabric of Kenji’s shirt she presses her face against, much to her chagrin. Then again, most of the situation has become a mock to her chagrin-
Kenji doesn’t respond right away, still grasping the green plush hugging his side, along with Natsumi’s bag of gifts, while she holds onto his backpack at her spine. He doesn’t mind, in all truth. His smile comes first to relieve Natsumi of her worries and apologies, “Don’t be. I don’t mind.” Although his words are meant to be comforting, Natsumi cannot help but still feel guilty, tightening her grip in the slightest around his collarbone. “I enjoyed today,” he continues, “All of it. I got to be with you the entire day. I wanted to take you somewhere special for your birthday, so I hope you liked it, too.” She loves it.
He doesn’t even know how much Seno Natsumi has appreciated the entirety of the day, and him as a whole. She wants to spend more days like this with him. To have fun and not care about anything else in her day.

Seno Natsumi wants to relive this day, even if it’s just in her dreams tonight- so long as she hears Kenji’s voice again and watches him smile earnestly to her, once more. How has it changed- the two of them- from silent stares Natsumi was known for amongst nonexistent smiles and ceaseless frowns catered upon her lips. The looks that Futakuchi Kenji gave her despite all this, not paying much mind to her serious visage and seeing through her comely sky-eyes. She’s not the same as before, she understands, as she smiles into the comforting fabric on Kenji’s shoulder.

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“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” -Lewis Carroll

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