Over summer break, Hinako got a part-time job working at a flower shop. She had no intention of going back to her parents’ oceanless city during the height of surfing season, and she had even less intention of being away from Minato.
Three months had passed since their first date, and every day with him was so magical, she almost wondered if she was dreaming. But she didn’t spend every single day surfing, obviously. On weekends, Minato would pick her up in the Bakeratta and take her someplace fun as a surprise—like a poppy garden with entire fields full of flowers, or an aquarium on a rainy day, or an airport with flashing lights at night, or a spa resort with a neon fountain show.
On every drive, they always ended up listening to the same song they had played on their first surfing trip: Brand New Story. They sang the lyrics so much, the rearview mirror plushies were probably sick to death of it. Sometimes they went out for mega-double-cheeseburgers, and one time Minato even took her on a surprise motor paragliding date!
But truth be told, Hinako didn’t really care where they went. What made her happiest of all was simply the opportunity to share these little moments with Minato, be they pretty views, tasty food, jokes, or surprises.
One day found them driving along the coast of the Boso Peninsula to one specific beach famous for its gently sloping shores and beautiful sunsets.
“C’mon, hurry!”
Hinako ran down the wooden pier that extended into the ocean. Sundown was just a few moments away, and the sun was nearly about to kiss the horizon.
Holding hands, they sat down at the very edge of the pier. The sky was a brilliant blend of scarlet and burnt orange. In the distance, Mt. Fuji was slowly turning to shadow. All that surrounded them were gentle waves, ebbing and flowing.
The air was full of so much love, it drowned out the need for words. Their fingers entwined to match their hearts. Hinako had nothing to say—all she needed was the hand wrapped around hers. As the sun finally sank beneath the horizon, their lips were drawn together, like magnets.
It was their first kiss, and in that moment, Hinako was the happiest girl in the world.
As far as boyfriends went, Minato was flawless from every angle, like a 24-karat diamond. He was completely out of Hinako’s league, and if she let him slip away, she’d never find another man as good as him—according to Jun and Ai, anyway. Of course, Hinako knew this all too well…but that didn’t mean their relationship was totally perfect…
“This flower shop guy is so hot!”
“I know, right?!”
As Hinako was trimming the plant stems, a group of yukata-clad girls came into the store and crowded around Minato.
“I don’t actually work here,” he replied, looking perplexed.
But Hinako found herself wishing he would’ve been a bit more specific, like, Sorry but I’m waiting for my girlfriend to get off work.
“Where are you from?”
“We’re going to see the fireworks after this. Would you wanna come with us?”
This was Hinako’s biggest problem. Whenever she took her eyes off Minato for five seconds—even in the middle of a date—girls would surround him like moths drawn to a flame. She couldn’t even run to the restroom in peace!
“Sorry, but I already have plans,” said Minato.
Yeah, with your girlfriend! You’re letting them down too gently!
Scowling, Hinako tried to focus on her work…but then she caught sight of her own face in the reflection of the glass.
Hmmm… Maybe I need to chill out.
In the reflection, she could see the girls behind her in their pretty yukatas, with their full makeup, perfectly styled hair, and painted nails. They had all put serious effort into their appearance. This made their red, swollen feet all the more adorably pitiful.
But then there’s me…
Damaged hair from the salt water and UV rays (hence she wore it in a bun all the time). No makeup, just sunscreen. No girly outfits, either—most days she rocked a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. But just because Minato was understanding, it didn’t mean she was allowed to be lazy! Belatedly, Hinako realized just how little effort she’d put into taking care of herself.
A few days later, Hinako and Minato donned yukatas of their own to attend a different fireworks festival. Minato was wearing a striped yukata with a bucket hat—casual, yet stylish. Hinako had done her best to dress up too, following instructional videos online (although the bow in the back was just a clip-on).
But for the first time, she learned just how fun it could be to dress up for the man she loved…and the accomplishment she felt when he called her beautiful.
That summer was a summer of surfing. Hinako and Minato spent all their free time out on the water, riding countless waves. Then autumn started to take root, and right as Hinako swapped out her bikini and bun for a wetsuit with her hair down, Minato’s twenty-third birthday rolled around.
“Happy birthday!”
They brought a cake to a karaoke room and celebrated together, just the two of them. The cake had frosting shaped like waves and a little chocolate plaque in the shape of a surfer, and believe it or not, it was homemade—okay, no, it wasn’t. But it was custom-ordered from the bakery, and Hinako paid for it herself.
“Tadaaaa!”
The next thing she pulled out was a giant plastic porpoise—the inflatable kind, big enough that two people could have curled up inside it.
“It’s huge!”
Sure enough, Minato loved it. But he only had himself to thank, because he was the one who’d taught Hinako how amazing it felt to have someone special put their heart and soul into planning the perfect gift. To commemorate the moment, they took a picture of themselves with the porpoise squished between them.
Hinako’s next gift to Minato was a pair of matching smartphone covers. When pressed together from the side, they formed a single smiling porpoise. That way, even when they were apart, they’d always be together! Okay, maybe that was a melodramatic way to put it. But still.
Minato put their song into the karaoke machine and sang passionately while accompanying himself on a ukulele. Hinako hadn’t even known he could play the ukulele!
Over the past six months together, Hinako had learned so much about Minato: his love of surprises, his competitive side, the way he laughed when something tickled his funny bone just right… Oh, and he hated broccoli—but because he was so stubborn, he always ate it anyway. What a dweeb.
Happy birthday, Minato. There’s still so much more I want to learn…about you, and about love.