CHAPTER FORTY-TWO;
day three: ice cream

yui's dad

12:23 PM

rin

how are you

??

i'm ok

GOOD

NOW ASK ME HOW I AM

how are you

FREAKING HAPPYYY

EVER SINCE THE RIDE ON
THE WAY HERE

IVE BEEN EXCITED TO TRY
SNORKELING

yes, you told me during the
campfire

AND I DID!!!!!!!!

I FINISHED AN HOUR AGO

IM AT ONE OF THE HUTS HERE
BUT I JUST GOT THE PICTURES
I TOOK UNDERWATER

ah

i see

nvm💔

what

i wanted to show u but u
don't seem interested 💔💔💔

i didn't say i wasn't

WHATEVERRRR

send them

NAAHHHHHHHHH

y/n

WHAT!

ok fine

i saw this fish that looked
just like you LMAO

what do you mean

hold on

[dark grey fish that
looks like it's frowning.jpg]

BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH

i don't look like that

YOU DO

[picture of you with the dark
grey fish.jpg]

holy balls look at me

first picture with itoshi rin

tf

you look ridiculous with your

it looks too big on you

EXCUSE ME I LOOK ADORABLE

whatever

[selfie with clownfish, you're
making half a heart with your
hand.jpg]

these spot the difference
pictures are getting hard

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU 
MEAN????

both are clowns

WHAT THE FREAK

YOU KNOW WHAT

THIS IS YOU

[picture of a round as hell
pufferfish.jpg]

that's more of your look a like

OMFG SHUT UP

lol

did you have fun

DUUUUUUUUHHHHHH

OBVIOUSLY!!!!!

okay

good for you

WHAT ABOUT YOU

what did you do all morning

went to the gym

who works out on a vacation

nothing wrong with it

that's all you did?

yes

bruuhh

THAT REMINDS ME

THEEEEE

ICE CREAM VOUCHER WE
WON

what about it

LET'S GO USE IT LATER

we won't be leaving until
7pm anyway

no thanks

use it with your friends

IT'S ONLY FOR TWO PEOPLE
TTHOUGH

use it with your friend

im dead 

JUST COME WITH ME

do i have to

yes 

PLEAASSSEEEEE

i'll wash up when i
get back to my hotel
room first

and THEEENNN we
can go

ok

AWESOMEEE

BY THE WAY

[picture of a heart drawn
in the sand with a smiley face.jpg]

for u <3

lame

You stood outside Rin's room, hand poised to knock. You were dressed in a (favorite color) floral sundress, and your hair was done into a loose braid by Miwako. 

"This is basically a date," she had pointed out, securing the final strand, "You have to look cute."

She even tried convincing you to wear a bit of makeup, but under the bright sun and heavy heat? That was the last thing you wanted. Your base melting off your skin, or mascara smudging in the humidity was enough to make you decline.

Now, standing before Rin's door, your fingers curled into a small fist before finally knocking, anticipation settling in your chest.

After what felt like a full minute, the door finally creaked open, revealing Rin standing in the doorway. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, a few stray strands falling over his sharp eyes. The plain white t-shirt he wore was slightly wrinkled, paired with casual beach shorts.

"Hi, Rin!" you greeted with the biggest smile ever.

His gaze drifted over the dress that flowed down to your ankles, the delicate floral prints blooming against the fabric. Thin straps rested on your shoulders, leaving just enough skin for the sun to touch, while the gentle cinch at your waist framed you effortlessly. It wasn't just the dress itself, it was the way you wore it.

"Are you ready to go?" you asked, tilting your head to the side.

Then there was your hair. Miwako had woven it into a loose braid, but some strands had slipped free, framing your face in just the right places. 

But what really got him was your smile.

It wasn't the playful smirk you threw at him when you were teasing him, nor was it the forced politeness you used when dealing with people you didn't like. It was something quieter, softer.

Like the kind of smile someone wore when they weren't thinking about it, when they weren't trying. It settled so naturally on your lips, curving gently.

For a moment, Rin just stood there, staring, because how could he not?

Then, realizing he had been silent for too long, he cleared his throat and stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

"You didn't tell me you were here already," he muttered.

"Sorry, I arrived half an hour ago. I had to get ready still so," you drag the last word, walking down the hallway with him. You felt someone staring so you looked behind and saw three of your roommates peeking from your door, giving you a thumbs up with cheeky grins.

Rin waits for you to finish your sentence, "So?"

You quickly looked forward, placing a hand on his lower back to make him walk faster, he glanced at you, brows furrowing, "I didn't want you to get ready so soon when I haven't even showered yet, waiting is no fun."

"I know how to wait."

A grin escapes your lips, "Really?"

He hummed, nodding.

"Do you know the way there?" you asked.

"Yeah," 

You had underestimated just how crowded the town would be. This place was popular for vacations and tourists, what could you have expected? You weren't exactly pleased with the sea of people.

No one seemed to care about bumping into you. No murmured apologies, no second glances. Just an endless wave of bodies pushing past, caught up in their own excitement.

Just as another shoulder was about to bump into you, a firm yet careful grip settled on you.

Before you could react, Rin pulled you in front of him, he positioned you just within the space he had carved out for himself. His hand lingered on your shoulder for a second longer before he let it drop.

"Stay here," he muttered, voice barely audible over the noise.

You glanced up at him, feeling the warmth of his presence behind you.

The space around you felt a little less suffocating now, shielded from the worst of the crowd by him.

"Didn't think it'd be this packed," you admitted.

"Yeah, no kidding," Rin replied, his voice even. His gaze flickered ahead, scanning the crowd as if already mapping the best way through.

His sweat mixed with his cologne, though he didn't smell bad.

"Follow me." he says, his hand wrapping around your wrist tightly. He kept muttering "Excuse me," in English for the foreigners who blocked the way towards the ice cream parlor.

The moment you stepped inside, a wave of cool air washed over you, offering instant relief from the scorching summer heat outside. The store carried a comforting scent of vanilla, warm and sweet, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly made waffle cones and sugary toppings.

The place was packed, customers lining up at the counter, some chatting animatedly while others scanned the menu above the register.

Rin leaned down slightly, his voice low enough for only you to hear over the hum of conversation, "Go find us a seat," he instructed, his breath fanning lightly against your ear, "What flavor do you want?"

You glanced up at him, "(Flavor) please, and... (topping)," 

He raised both brows slightly in acknowledgment, a silent got it before shifting his attention back to the menu. Taking that as your cue, you turned on your heel and started weaving through the crowded shop, eyes scanning for an empty table.

Thankfully, you managed to find an empty table tucked near the window, away from most of the crowd. With a relieved sigh, you sank into the seat, letting your fingers trail over the cool surface of the table before your gaze instinctively found Rin.

He stood at the far back of the line, arms crossed, his usual indifferent expression in place, but you knew better.

He didn't seem like the type to have the patience for things like long queues, and sure enough, you could already see the subtle signs of his growing irritation.

The way his fingers tapped against his arm, the slight shift of his weight from one foot to the other.

Despite that, he stayed put.

Nearly ten minutes passed before he finally made his way back, placing the cups onto the table before settling into the chair across from you. You wasted no time grabbing your order, the coolness of the dessert already soothing against your palm.

"That was a long wait," you said, stirring your spoon into the cup, "I could've switched with you."

"It wasn't," he replied flatly, digging into his own cup without looking up.

But it was. He had felt every dragging second of it, frustration simmering beneath the surface with each slow-moving step forward. Yet, for reasons he wasn't willing to admit, he had pushed through.