Tatsuki and Ichigo made their way to a secluded part of the school, specifically behind the storage shed where the PE equipment was kept. On the way there, the childhood friends drew a few curious glances.
At that moment, Ichigo stood on the grass while Tatsuki was on the concrete step, giving the illusion that she stood above him, a visual metaphor that wasn't entirely untrue.
Tapping her foot, arms crossed and an irritated scowl on her face, Tatsuki demanded:
"So, what does the 'noble prince of Galilee' wish to discuss with this mere peasant?"
Ichigo raised an eyebrow but took a deep breath to calm himself.
Clearing his throat, he began his speech:
"Tatsuki, I want to apologize to you, for pushing you away, and for how that might've hurt you. Today, I woke up with a... new perspective on my life. I want our friendship to go back to how it was. I don't want to make you sad or upset anymore."
Ichigo paused, waiting for her reaction.
Tatsuki was speechless, watching Ichigo who seemed so... 'vulnerable'? Not in a bad way, but in a way that brought back memories of their days at the dojo.
How was she supposed to respond to that? Ichigo had never been this open in all these years. The image of a younger, softer Ichigo briefly overlaid the boy in front of her.
She felt her face heat up, her cheeks turning pink.
And to top it all off, he said, "Tatsuki, do you forgive me?"
"I-I!" Tatsuki's face grew even redder. She and a tomato could've been siblings at that point.
Tatsuki had always had a small crush on Ichigo, but she hid it from everyone and tried to forget it herself. But today, that little flame reignited.
Ichigo, noticing her increasingly flushed face, began to approach her, concerned that she might be feeling unwell. Tatsuki, flustered, took small steps backward.
When her feet touched the cold wall of the storage shed, her whole body shivered.
In a panic, Tatsuki pushed Ichigo, causing him to stumble. Reflexively, he grabbed her, and she fell on top of him, her head resting on his chest.
'And here we go again...' Ichigo rolled his eyes.
Ashamed, Tatsuki kept her head down. Then, she muttered:
"Idiot..."
Her voice was so muffled that Ichigo couldn't quite catch what she said.
"Could you repeat tha—"
With surprising force, Tatsuki punched him in the ribs and then gripped his uniform.
"IDIOT! Do you know how hard it was for me to see you like that? To feel powerless while watching my best friend suffer like that? And instead of letting me in, you just pushed me away and shut me out! I just..." Her frustration poured out through her trembling voice.
"!!"
Ichigo hugged her, gently stroking her black hair.
"Sorry. I'm not very good at handling emotions." he admitted.
Then the teenage boy felt his uniform becoming damp. Looking down at the girl still lying on top of him, he heard soft sobs.
He frowned, it was the first time he had ever seen Tatsuki cry. Usually, he was the one crying in front of her.
Ichigo kept caressing her head until her sobs finally quieted.
Rising from the now-wet Ichigo, Tatsuki sat on the grass with her knees up, wiping her face.
Ichigo followed suit and sat cross-legged beside her.
They stared at each other for a few moments, and once again, Tatsuki blushed.
Looking away and pouting, she asked: "You just gonna sit there and say nothing?"
In response, Ichigo gave a faint smile and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black box, extending it to her.
Silently, Tatsuki took the little box and opened it, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"A necklace?" she asked instinctively, gazing at the western-style dragon pendant.
The dragon was red, its body coiled in a spiral. Its eyes looked like tiny green gemstones. The moment Tatsuki laid eyes on it, she felt a strange connection.
Scratching his head awkwardly, Ichigo confessed:
"Well... I wanted to give you something as an apology, but I didn't really know what to get. When I saw this necklace in a shop window, it immediately reminded me of you. Maybe it's a little cliché... but I tried!" That last line was delivered with more energy than he expected.
With hopeful eyes, he asked, "So... do you like it?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her slender fingers touched the pendant as if it were something fragile, precious...
The necklace aligned perfectly against her collarbone and flawless jade skin.
The setting sun gently illuminated Tatsuki's figure, casting a soft glow over her onyx hair and making the necklace shimmer slightly.
With a now calmer voice, Tatsuki Arisawa asked:
"How do I look?"
Ichigo Kurosaki had only one word in mind:
"Beautiful... you look beautiful."