Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I flattened down the front and back of my outfit and fixed my hair. Looking presentable was the best way to go, though I didn't know if being dressed up was the best move. I hummed, profiling what I was wearing and tried to think of other opinions in case I came up with just one bad thing about the outfit. So far, the only thing I noticed was that it brought out my best features, which I thought was nice.

I stuck with it.

On my way down to my apartment's lobby, I still had second-thoughts about the context of this meeting with Tendou. Though I still wasn't sure whether this counted as a date or not, I played it safe by wearing a semi-formal outfit, but I was reluctant in showing up in this attire.

"We should have talked about it more," I groaned quietly, pressing a hand to my head in worry, "What if he had a completely different idea than I did?" In the midst of my troubled thinking, I felt a buzz come from my phone. Taking it out, I found that Tendou had messaged me:

 I'm here!

I was now hurrying down the stairs, hoping to meet him as soon as possible without ruining my appearance too badly. A slight breeze blew against my skin as I neared the entrance, already feeling the coldness of the evening start to seep into the room. The balls of my feet tapped against the floor as I finally pushed myself to fling open the door and find Tendou, standing there, dressed in black dress pants and a white dress shirt, holding a bouquet of lavender and gypsophilia. 

Turns out I wasn't overdressed after all.

After we just stared at each other for a couple of moments, I found the courage to speak, though the words came out in stammers.

"You look-" I cleared my throat and started again after an inconsistency came up, embarrassedly chuckling all the way through. "You look amazing, Tendou." The chocolatier gave a shy laugh and extended his hand with the bouquet in it out to me. My cheeks flared, their beet-red coloration standing out against the delicate backdrop of the cold-colored building.

"You're stunning." There he went, gracing my ears with only two words that took every last letter from my mind and turned them into mush. Flustered and breathless, I could only laugh and thank the redhead for such kind compliments. As I made my way to his side, I found that Tendou had crooked his arm for mine to loop around. Though I didn't expect the sudden gesture, I took it anyway as a means to not disappoint.

When he leaned in closer, I could get whiffs of Madagascar vanilla from his collar. It was a pleasant but not overpoweringly sweet scent that reminded me of the very chocolate shop that we first met at. The scent refreshed my olfactory, bringing a clarity and sharpness to the sense. 

But in being more than "humble," I noticed how much I was enjoying myself, as compared to Tendou, who this dinner was for. I couldn't help but just say my mind, realizing too late that I thought this was a bit much, considering that I wasn't showing the proper manners as a host. 

"I thought I was the one who was repaying you," I said, fretfully accepting the bunches of sweet-smelling flowers Tedou offered, "You didn't have to do all of this, you know." The redhead set his opposite on my forearm and patted it two times, reassuring me that there was nothing to worry about.

"It's the first time I've ever done something like this, so I wanted to make it special." His eyes were creased and radiating warmth as they floated to settle upon me. I noticed how he kept his hand resting on my arm as we continued to walk. 

"That's so sweet," I then replied, tightening my grip on the chocolatier's arm, "Pun intended."

__

When we arrived at the dining establishment, our coats were taken by waiters and we were led to a small booth on the outside patio, where only a few others were. I booked this specific table so Tendou and I could spend some time getting to know each other without being interrupted too frequently. As I sat down in one of the cushioned chairs, my eyes were drawn to the strings of fairy lights that were delicately strung above, their faint glow just barely illuminating the space so that the sky's magnificence was amplified. Parisians and tourists alike were finally able to see the beauty held within the cosmos without artificial light from street lamps shading it.

Tendou must've noticed the change in my expression, as he said nothing and waited patiently in silence until I'd brought my gaze down, back to Earth. It took a few minutes for me to realize that the chocolatier hadn't spoken a word to me since we arrived, and that a slight smirk played on his lips as he bemusedly observed me and my childlike wonder. Turning red, I quickly pounced on the opportunity to fill the silence with a spontaneous, albeit awkward, question. There was no harm that came from asking, as this date was all about getting to know him, but I felt anxious, somehow. 

Maybe it was because of the way his eyes bore into mine — how genuinely they sparked and reflected emotion, like perfectly imperfect rubies. 

We ordered our food shortly after, and continued to talk, describing our day-to-day lives and interesting experiences we've gotten to live through. Turns out, Tendou was originally from Japan, and during his high school years, was on a nationally-ranked team for volleyball. He showed me pictures of his old self, which I found particularly endearing. With wild hair and vivid eyes, I could see why he was an intimidating blocker, but I never would have guessed it based on his persona now.

The redhead told me about his friend Ushijima, who was preparing for his debut on Japan's National Team. Awestruck, I commended the feat and wished the volleyball player the best of luck in his match, hoping that Japan would take the win from Argentina. Tendou laughed at my reaction, then happily nodded the agreement, saying that, he too, would "love for Wakatoshi to take home a victory, like old times."

When our food arrived, my date had just finished explaining how volleyball works to me — a topic that I'd suddenly become interested in, for "reasons unknown." Deciding that it was best that we drop the hefty chatter for a moment and take the time to eat, I dug unto my dish, joyfully relishing in the delicious flavors of classic French cuisine. It was savory, with hints of citron and light but heavily scented spices — the taste of Paris, of passion and home.

It complimented the mood and setting so perfectly.

Though as much as I grew to appreciate the scene, halfway through, I found Tendou taking the smallest bites of his coq au vin, seemingly distressed about something. I set my fork down with a frown, tugging on the sleeve of his dress shirt to get his attention.

"Hey, something wrong?" I asked, worried that he didn't like any of this, "Is the food bad?" Tendou whipped his head up and shook it rapidly, startled by my question.

"No! No, of course not!" he rambled, "I just don't usually have that big of an appetite." My frown got deeper, as I reckoned it was already past seven, and I didn't think he had anything since lunch, which was at noon.

"Is something bothering you?" I questioned softly, my expression becoming more and more gentle as the seconds passed, "You can tell me, you know." He looked reluctant at first, hesitating to even speak — a drastic change in personality from the man I'd met at shop and the market. 

"From jitters, I guess," Tendou admitted, a pale pink dust covering his cheeks, "I was actually pretty nervous for this. Spent at least an hour trying to find the right outfit and cologne and picked up the flowers just before I got to your place." My heart squeezed and my insides felt like they were about to erupt into multicolored confetti. Clasping the redhead's hands, my mouth split into a wide smile as I squeezed his palms affectionately. 

"Oh, Tendou," I laughed, "You're not alone. God, I spent hours fixing myself so that I'd look presentable." His eyes drifted over to me, looking at my outfit and hair, as if he was redefining his definition of "presentable" right then and there. I gave a chuckle and jabbed a finger towards the door, redirecting his attention from me to the exit.

"Why don't I get the bill and we can get out of here?" I whispered, winking at the chocolatier, "Sound good?" He gave a small grin, then nodded at me, a bright gleam igniting in his iris once more. I exhaled in relief as I let go of his hands and called for the check. 

Out of all the characters I've met in my life, the way Tendou acted and thought was rather peculiar, but I couldn't say I hated it — it was charming in its own way.

__

Soon, we were out of the restaurant and meandering about the semi-empty streets of Paris in a relaxed manner. Tendou seemed more bubbly, chattering nonstop as we walked together, going on and on about how though he never really thought of being a chocolatier, he'd always had the dream of doing something unexpected. I just listened contentedly, taking in the loveliness of the environment and wishing that it'd never cease.

Being around him made me feel at ease. When I looked at him, he seemed so fearless and positive, like there was nothing in the world that would thwart him and his abilities. And I certainly couldn't deny the appeal of not being alone again, thanks to him. 

When I felt the chocolatier's arm slip around my waist, a gentle tune started in the breeze that passed. Small, soft notes rang out like smooth velvet, coaxing us to follow the piece, to find it for ourselves if we wanted to hear more. After the delicate overture, the opening theme crashed down with a howl. 

What passion, what ardor stirred inside my heart! The sweet release of music, the blinding sounds of joy begged me to dance with the beat, inviting those willing to celebrate to the middle of the ballroom to waltz until the soles of their shoes grew holes. The moon above glowed jubilantly, and the navy sky stretched its arms to capture all the starshine dotted across the dark background. 

But why did I digress? I stepped forwards, but couldn't bring myself to move. I'd go off alone, like I always did. No matter how euphoric this pleasure was, I didn't know if it would ever satisfy my need for another, real being. 

In a rut, I turned to Tendou instinctively, as it to search for some kind of guidance, but only found that he was staring right at me. 

Our eyes met, then I grew breathless. I couldn't say anything -- I could only look as the world stopped. There was the air of brevity lingering upon the scene, but only for a moment, I'd gotten lost in his gaze. 

Then I closed my eyes, and his lips were on mine. 

Suddenly everything was right in the world. 

I felt the loving grip of his arms against my waist, holding me close and dear, pulling me into him as if he never wanted to let go. Carnations bloomed in my chest and sprouted in my mind, the petals tickling the finer organs, making me feel squeamish, but content nevertheless. 

We broke apart soon after, both of us a blushing mess after the lip-lock, but we laughed our nerves off. The atmosphere was lively and warm, reflected in the deepest pools of dark red that were Tendou's irises. Looking fondly at him, I realized that there was no need for words to know how he felt about me. 

I was wanted. 

I was safe.

After what seemed like eons, Tendou spoke in a hushed tone, his breath fanning against my lips. 

"Can you hear the music too?" he whispered, clasping my hand in his. It took my by surprise, as I gasped and stood there for a second. My eyes then widened and glossed over as I nodded rapidly, feeling my heartbeat quicken and my vision blur. The harmony of the violin and piano came together once more, a crescendo filling up the maximum capacity my ears could hold with ease. Dynamic keys resounded, lining the skies with streaks of silver and gold, sprinkles of diamonds showering down upon us as we lived.

No, not lived -- as we enjoyed. Enjoyed each others' presence, enjoyed with shimmer that seemed to be present in both of our gazes, and the potent essence of adoration that hung in the air. 

We both seemed to be drunk on happiness as our lips met again underneath the moonlight, the stars singing their secrets in the form of one harmonious melody.