12DoD #1: Helping Yuri Be More Social

Yuri and I walk hand in hand down the streets of Sendai after enjoying some time in Christmas shops and strolling through a park, the Christmas season is in full bloom and lights adorn all of the trees along the sidewalk. Everywhere around us couples walk very similarly to us, visiting shops and putting on displays of affection that surely would have made me extremely jealous last Christmas before I knew Yuri. As my thoughts turn to her I direct my eyes away from the other couples and onto my sweet girlfriend. She's dressed up for our little outing in an adorable Christmas sweater which I bought her, paired with a skirt and her usual leggings leading into winter boots. She notices that I'm looking at her and gives me a small and shy smile that shines brighter than any of the lights. I really am so lucky to have her.

"So what do you want to do next Yuri?" I ask, the night is still young and I certainly don't want our date to end yet.

Yuri's faces becomes thoughtful for a moment and she speaks.

"Maybe we could get some food? There are a lot of couples out dating right now so we might have to wait for too long though..." Yuri trails off before jumping slightly. "N-not that I wouldn't want to hold hands with you in line or anything it's just that, um..." she trails off again.

I'm used to it at this point and know now's when I can step in to help.

"Yuri it's fine, we'll just find somewhere without a long wait."

I begin looking around for a restaurant without a line of people leading out of the door, and my eyes come to find one. A small restaurant called 'The Emperor's Blueprint' seems to be open without being full, and there a small poster hanging underneath the name.

"Huh, couple's speed dating special?" I think aloud and turn back to Yuri, "You know this could be the perfect chance to help you come out of your shell!"

"W-what? I couldn't manage that! I have trouble talking to you sometimes..."

Taking both her hands in mine I decide to boost her confidence.

"Yuri I know it's scary to talk to new people but I also know how much you wish you could, taking a small risk like this is the only way to do it." I turn her chin up to face me and give her a smile, "Besides, I'll be there as your wingman."

Yuri lets out a breath to steady herself before she speaks.

"Okay Anon, I trust you. We should do this before I get nervous again."

Smiling, I walk her by the hand across the street to the restaurant before entering. We meet the man running the front counter and when we tell him that we're interested in the couple's speed dating special he leads us to our seats across from another couple who are waiting with food, they must have the dinner already prepared for couples so you don't have to order. We take our seats and the ten minute timer begins. I figure I'll begin the introductions.

"It's nice to meet you both, my name is Anon Emous, and this is my girlfriend." I pause for a moment, hoping that Yuri would take her queue to introduce herself, but she seems to have frozen. I try to subtly nudge her out of her trance.

"Oh! Um, I'm Yuri [REDACTED] and, well..." she freezes again, silently looking at me for help.

"Well what about you two? What are your names, I mean!" That certainly wasn't the smoothest way I could have asked, but Yuri's nerves might be rubbing off on me.

The man across from me starts first, I notice for the first time just how small he seems to be, probably around Sayori's height.

"The names Dan, Dan S̶͞͡á͘l̵̡̧v҉̨̨a̴̷̕͜t̶̶͘͢ó͏̢" the man says, something about that last name seems wrong, and he clearly is putting on false confidence that he doesn't posses. "I'm kind of a big deal in the whole video game scene if ya didn't know, real big shot!"

As Dan finishes his introduction, the woman next to him looks up from her phone to speak. She seems completely out of his league, and height range, with her bombshell figure and blonde hair.

"Mah name's Christi and this here hunk of man is my lovely Danny" she purrs, placing her hand on Dan's scrawny and sad chest.

With that, what is going on fully clicks in my mind, this idiot brought an escort with him to speed date! Glancing a Yuri she seems to have realized too and is visibly uncomfortable with the fact that she's sitting opposite an escort and that in the pause since Christi finished speaking she has been getting more handsy. Deciding to interrupt before we get to the live midget porn, I speak.

"Dan you said you work with video games? I've never seen you before, what do you do?" I ask, of course even if he was a big shot it would be easy to miss someone so small.

His faux confidence seems to crack for a moment as he tries to think of how to reply.

"Well I play the greatest fighting game in the world of course! Super Smash Brothers Melee!" he puffs his tiny chest out with pride, and then turns his attention to Yuri. "Say uh, Yari was it? You seem pretty quiet, got anything to talk about?"

Realizing that this is the most irritating man I've ever met I prepare to interject on Yuri's behalf, but to my surprise she begins speaking.

"I...don't play very many video games unless Anon wants to, but if you can make a living of them that seems very...interesting." Yuri manages to say with only slight hesitations. It seems she's learned the most important part about talking to people, lying.

Thankfully before Dan can reply with some kind of stupid remark, the timer begins to ring quietly, ending our time together. Without much of a though Dan heads off to find two new partners to annoy with Christi in tow.

"Anon I'm not so sure about this, that was so awkward!" Yuri leans in and whispers to me.

"Anyone would have had an awkward time with someone like that Yuri, so you did very well considering" I reassure her.
"Now hopefully the next couple is decent enough that we can eat." I say, reaching down to try a dinner roll.

Upon the mention of food I hear Yuri's stomach grumble, and she too grabs something to eat while we wait for the next couple.

The next couple arrives and the cycle repeats albeit with much more grace. We give our introductions and Yuri seems much more confidant when dealing with decent people. Although when we talk about hobbies she finds that both our partners aren't much in the way of readers, especially Yuri's type of literature. From then on I carry the conversation of hobbies, of course I don't let the couple know that when I say 'I like to watch TV' I mean 'I watch anime every night' but that's just the lying principle of interactions coming into play again.

This pattern of introductions and conversation continue through the next 4 couples, with us moving booths every other couple. After the 4th couple Yuri and I have both filled up on food and I hear her let out a cute yawn next to me.

"Are you tired, Yu? We can go now if you want." I ask, using the petname I know she loves even if she denies it.

"I think I can do another...and don't call me Yu in public" Yuri says, then grabs my hand despite her protest of the name.
"Talking with people and getting to know them is more fun then I ever thought it could be, even if I don't share interests with them. So thank you for bringing me here Anon."

Before I can reply with something cutesy the next couple approaches our booth. The man is relatively normal looking, sort of like myself actually with his brown hair and average face. The girl he's with has shoulder length lavender hair and glasses, as well has a large moon shaped necklace resting on her chest. As they sit we run through the usual introductions and learn that their names are Matsuda and Rin. However, unlike the other times, when Yuri mentions reading as her hobby Rin's face seems to light up with excitement.

"Really? What kind of books do you like? What have you been reading recently?" Rin is now leaning forward far enough in her side of the booth that her necklace might drop into some ketchup at any moment.

Slightly shocked by the fact that someone here is so enthusiastic about reading, Yuri replies.

"W-well I usually enjoy the horror genre the most, especially ones that play with your expectations to scare you! Recently I've been rereading the book Portrait of Markov...for the 10th time" Yuri's voice seemed to get more confidant as her sentence went on, until her conclusion of it at least.

Rin's face somehow manages to beam even more, "You read Portrait of Markov! Oh my god I love that book so much! I must have read it at least 10 times too! What did you think of the main character's motivations?"

With this the two of them launch into a full on discussion of many parts of the book, while myself and Matsuda share a knowing look. The timer goes off and both Rin and Yuri look sad to have to stop their discussion, then Rin pulls out her phone.

"Oh Yuri, tell me your number and email so we can talk more about this! I love your ideas on all of the themes about human life!"

Yuri complies and gives Rin her number before we head out, paying the bill at the front desk.

"Tonight was so much fun Anon! I really do feel like you've helped me open up more around people." Yuri blushes and turns her face away from me as we hold hands, "And I want you to know that even if I do start getting more friends outside of you and the club, you'll still all be my number one."

"But I'll still be your favorite right?" I teasingly ask, leaning in towards her blushing face.

"Of course Anon, I love you." Yuri says as I kiss her softly.

I break the kiss for a moment to respond.

"I love you too Yuri."

With that we share a kiss in the festive atmosphere of the city, with Yuri placing her arms around my neck. I know this is true love, but what did I ever do to deserve someone as wonderful as her?