Quiet reflections

	Tokyo was a modern city, with all the conveniences and comforts a big city has. The down, on the other hand, was the lack of contact with the more natural activities some people enjoyed; fishing was one such example. Residents had to use an artificial fishing hole, located in an unremarkable park, to sate their craving for the timeless battle of man versus fish. The loud concrete surroundings also ruined a bit of the atmosphere, but Sadayo liked it just fine; it saved the effort of going to a river out of town or to the open sea. Call her lazy, but she very much appreciated the ease of access to the relaxing activity, being just what she needed to take a break from all the work she had on her two jobs.
	She had also been surprised to discover some of the students in her school similarly enjoyed coming down here for some peace and quiet, especially that Sakamoto kid. One time she even found him dragging his partner in crime behind him and her curiosity had led her to spending the afternoon with them. It had been interesting, hearing the reverence in Sakamoto’s voice to her fishing skills, but what really made her day had been hearing the fuzzy haired transfer student call her ‘Master’ Kawakami. She couldn’t lie: that gave her quite a thrill.
	After spending some more time with her own Master, they got into a relationship. It had to be kept secret, considering their positions, but they found the time here and there to go on a few dates. Out of the blue, he suggested they spend their date at the fishing pond and, while confused about the choice, she went along with it. That was how she found herself here, sitting down on a crate next to her boyfriend, fishing rods on their hands.
	“I wouldn’t have pegged you as quite the fish enthusiast, you know?” She commented, her eyes never leaving her own bob.
	“Well, I like to come down here to reflect and plan about the job. It helps me focus.” He answered, sparing her just a quick sidelong glance.
	“Yeah, I imagine a lot of thought needs to go into it. Especially when you need to lead everyone.” Sadayo shot back, pondering on the responsibility her pupil had on his shoulders. Being involved in something like The Phantom Thieves must be taxing on the boy.
	“Sometimes, yeah. I need to keep all of the team in mind, though they can take care of themselves.” He chuckled. “Sometimes I think they’re the ones taking care of me.”
	“Well, I need to thank them sometime, then. If they make it possible for you to come back, they’re doing me a favor. You need SOMEONE keeping their eyes on you.” Her tone was teasing, but there was some real concern hidden below the surface.
	“They help me stay safe, yes, but they’re not the reason I come back.” That got her to look at him, raising an eyebrow.
	“Oh? And what would that be, then?” The boy raised his head to look at the orange sky.
	“That’s a good question. At first I thought it was just survival. I had lived to fight another day. Then, when things got too serious, I thought it was a sense of purpose, that I couldn’t stop until I saw it through. Now? I believe I have something way simpler but, at the same time, infinitely more important.” He paused, lowering his gaze to the reflections on the water.
	“I come back because I have to. Because I have people waiting for me.” At this his eyes shifted to hers.
	“Of course you do! Sakura-san would be pissed if you didn’t return…” She trailed off, hoping her point got across. He laughed.
	“I suppose he would. But that’s not it. There’s people here that mean too much to me, and I simply can’t let them down. My friends, my team, my family….you.” Her cheeks got warmer at that. “I come back for you all. I come back for YOU.” He shifted his position to face her. Little smiles were exchanged, then they turned back to the water, embarrassed about such talks in public.
	They spent some time just enjoying the proximity, feeling each other’s presence beside them. The world and it’s sounds faded, as if they were they only ones there, as if a bubble isolated them from the rest of the people, the problems, the responsibilities. As they sat there, entranced by the ripples in the surface of the water and the twin bobs floating side-by-side, it was like life had stopped for a moment, allowing them some privacy.
	The serene atmosphere allowed them both to relax, to shed the weight they both carried and bask in the company of the other, two weary souls seeking some rest from the battle that was their life. Still, the curiosity didn’t allow Kawakami to stay in this state forever and, with a bit of regret, she shattered the tranquility of the moment to ask something that had been nagging at her for quite a while now.
	“So, why did you choose this place, anyway?”
	“Huh?” That was his eloquent and well thought reply.
	“You just up and decided to come here all of a sudden; why?” He snorted at the question
	“What, can’t a guy take his girlfriend out on a relaxing and calming date? If you expect non-stop thrills, I’m afraid I can’t keep up.” He chuckled when she pouted.
	“I’m serious! It’s not like you to just throw a curveball out of nowhere like that.”
	“Says the teacher that was caught by her students in a maid suit in a random apartment.” Her shame could be clearly seen on her face.
	“Will you stop?! …Something doesn’t seem right here.” His easy smile fell off, leaving a far too neutral look on his face.
	“…I’m scared.” He finally said.
	“Of what?” Worry clear in her voice.
	“Scared of the stakes, of the scale everything has taken. What began as a simple after-school activity has become so much more and I’m afraid I can’t keep up, or that I might not consider something and it dooms me or that my rash actions may endanger someone close to me.” He wanted to say more, to tell her….but it wasn’t the time. As much as it pained him, she couldn’t know.
	“There’s too much on the line and a single mistake might be all it takes for everything to unravel.” Her head lowered, hair covering her eyes.
	“I know, but I trust you. No, I believe in you. You don’t know how much it worries me whenever you go on your adventures, but I know you’ll be fine. You haven’t disappointed me yet and you won’t in the future.” He was honestly surprised to hear such conviction in her voice, shaky as it was.
	“Thank you, Sadayo, for being so strong.” He smiled at her adoringly.
	“I’ll be waiting.”
	“Pardon?”
	“You said you came back because of me, right? So I’ll be waiting. I’ll wait as long as needed, if that’s what it takes to have you come back to me. As a gentleman thief, you wouldn’t dream of keeping a girl waiting long, would you?” She smirked at him and he couldn’t help responding with his own.
	“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. Besides, you are still far too useful to me to cut our relationship short.”
	“Yeah, how so?” She raised an eyebrow playfully.
	“Well, I still need lessons with Master Kawakami, after all.” That made her go red in 0.3 seconds flat.
	“W-what?”
	“Weren’t you boasting about how easy fishing was last time we were here? Well, I plan on putting that to the test. Y’see, there’s this golden fish I’ve been trying to snag and it’s just too slippery. I could use an experienced touch on this, Master.” She looked around, panicked, at what people hearing all this might think but no one spared the two of them a glance.
	“Y-You shouldn’t talk like that in public! What if someone gets the wrong idea?” His smirk turned downright smug.
	“What if I want them to? What if want you to?” He leaned in close to her, forcing her to back away. “I’ve been Master for too long, why don’t you take the title this time? You seemed to enjoy it quite a bit last time…” He knew! Oh gods, someone smite her right now…
	“C-Careful, if you keep this up you might b-bite off more than you can c-chew…” His hot breath tingled against her lips.
	“I don’t mind a bite or two. I’ll display it proudly, how about you?” This kid drove her insane! But she wouldn’t have it any other way and besides, she’d rather he be here and do that than the alternative.