Page 70 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze
We drink our coffee as we stroll down to one of the few stores open at this time, which is coincidentally one I wanted to visit. It's a store chain that has everything a tourist's heart desires.
We take our time strolling through it, laughing at some of the gimmicks they sell, and I make sure tograb some more souvenirs for home: some cute hand fans for Kayla and Millie, a Godzilla figurine for my brother, and some adorable chopsticks for Lucy. I even get a mug for Felix that he can use in our office with a shiba butt on it.
Then we walk past the sweets aisle, and I fill up the rest of my basket with matcha treats to snack on during the flight and bring back home.
"Are they that good?" Adam asks curiously and I nod.
"Just so you know, you can try one but I’m not sharing." I grin. "They'll last me three days, max, because that stuff isfuckingdelicious."
"Alright, alright," he concedes, raising his hands in a defensive gesture, grinning. Then he grabs two packs himself.
By the time I'm done shopping, the cafe next door is finally opening. Without even having to discuss it, we both turn in its direction and get in the line.
The small coffees from the convenience store were great to take the edge off, but they really are more milk and sweetener than coffee. But the coffees without milk or sweetener don’t taste great; it’s a struggle.
Which means I really need a proper one, especially considering that Adam had me awake until two in the morning. So I'm running on maybe four hours of sleep right now.
Adam shoots me an annoyed glance when I order an extra shot of espresso with my coffee. "Do I need to be worried about you getting a heart attack?"
I subtly raise my middle finger at him, pretending to swipe a strand of hair behind my ear. Then I beckon him down.
"Listen, you had me awake and screaming until two in the morning. I'm running on very little sleep here," I whisper into his ear, and when I let him go and our eyes meet, he's grinning, not looking apologetic at all.
"So let me have my goddamn coffee without giving me shit about it, alright?"
"Alright.” The grin widens, and I take a greedy sip as soon as the barista hands me order.
"God, this is good."
He takes his boring black coffee, and we walk back out into the early morning air. It's still going to take a bit more time until the fashion stores open, so we take a short walk around Shibuya until they do.
"Now I know what you mean," Adam says later as the streets start to fill with people, making it more and more challenging to walk next to each other while holding hands.
"Told you?" I say with a shrug, sidestepping a guy hurrying in the opposite direction with his eyes glued to his phone.
"Which store are we going to?" Instead of an answer, I pull him into the next store. I didn’t even check for the name, but it’s open and the clothes in the window display are cute.
I hand Adam a basket so I have my hands free to hold up clothes to inspect them, throwing anything that looks cute into it. Lucy is a good bit smaller and slimmer than me – she should fit into these sizes effortlessly.
It doesn't take long until the basket is full with a good array of clothes for her and I decide that even though it’s barely noon, it's time to go back to the hotel. I’m really fucking tired.
Even though I didn’t have a lot of plans for Tokyo, it seems I have crossed off all of them. I have all the souvenirs I wanted to get, I went to all the places I wanted to go to and then some… The only thing on my agenda today is a long nap once we’re back.
We get on the train and by a stroke of luck find two seats next to each other again. Adam lets me sit on the outer edge of the bench, a bit of a barrier to my right and him on my left.
Despite the coffee, I can barely keep my eyes open, and my head keeps falling onto his shoulder. Without hesitation, he raises his arm and wraps it around my shoulders, thumb stroking my upper arm, and I relax against his side, closing my eyes but not quite falling asleep.
But our station comes way too soon.
Before he can get up, I lay my hand on his thigh and look up at him with the best puppy eyes I can muster. I’m not ready for this morning to end yet.
"Can we just stay for a bit?" I ask him, noting how his face softens instantly. "The train is going in circles, so in about an hour, we’ll be back here again anyway.”
I'm not ready to get out yet, to burst this little blissful bubble.
The end of our time together is approaching, and I'm painfully aware of that.
It's hanging over my head like a dark cloud, and I hate how it makes me feel. Like impending doom, making my heartbeat race and anxiety claw at my skin.
