17 Taste of Forever

"Alright," Takeshi clapped his hands. "Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we make sure the choreography is perfect."

As the others gathered their things and started to disperse, I pulled out my phone, my heart pounding as I scrolled to Ai's number.

Tonight was the night. The night I'd finally ask Ai to be my girlfriend. I'd been thinking about it ever since that conversation with President Ichigo.

His words echoed in my head as I pressed the call button. "Take care of them, Akira. They're special."

I paced as the phone rang, my free hand running through my hair. What if she said no? What if it was too soon? What if...

"Hello?" Ai's voice, warm and slightly breathless, cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"Hey, Ai. It's Akira." I cringed at the obvious statement. Of course she knew it was me.

"Akira, hi! What's up?" She sounded genuinely pleased to hear from me, and my nerves settled a bit.

"I was wondering... are you free tonight? Around 7:30? I thought maybe we could have dinner."

There was a brief pause, and I could picture her checking her schedule. "You know what? I am. Dinner sounds lovely."

I let out the breath I'd been holding, a grin spreading across my face. "Great! Great. I'll pick you up at 7:30 then?"

"Perfect. I'm looking forward to it."

We said our goodbyes and I hung up, my heart now racing for an entirely different reason. She said yes. To dinner, at least. The rest of the evening was still a blank page, waiting to be written.

Dinner. I was going to cook for her. A proper, multi-course meal. Something to show her how much she meant to me.

The door to my apartment burst open as I rushed inside, groceries clutched to my chest. I had exactly two hours and thirty-seven minutes until Ai was due to arrive, and every second counted.

I set the bags down on the kitchen counter, my mind already racing through the menu I had planned. Salad, pasta, and chocolate mousse. Simple, classic, but executed with care and precision.

I pulled out the ingredients, laying them out like soldiers ready for battle. The fresh greens for the salad, the ripe tomatoes and fragrant basil for the pasta sauce, the rich dark chocolate for the mousse.

As I began to chop and sauté, the nervousness that had plagued me started to melt away, replaced by a sense of focus and purpose. This was my element. Creating something beautiful, something memorable.

The scent of garlic and onion filled the air as I started on the sauce, the sizzle of the pan a comforting backdrop to my thoughts.

I lost myself in the rhythm of cooking, my hands moving on autopilot as my mind wandered.

I thought of Ai, of her strength and her kindness, her unwavering devotion to her children and her craft. I thought of the way she made me feel, like I could take on the world as long as she was by my side.

I thought of the future I hoped to build with her. Not just stolen moments between rehearsals and performances, but a real life. A partnership.

As I stirred the pasta, watching the noodles swirl and dance in the boiling water, I felt a sense of rightness settle over me. This was where I was meant to be. Cooking for the woman I loved, preparing to lay my heart at her feet.

I tasted the sauce, adding a pinch more salt, a touch more pepper. It had to be perfect. Just like tonight.

With the pasta drained and the salad tossed, I turned my attention to the table. I laid out my best dishes, the ones I'd bought when I first moved into this apartment. A crisp white tablecloth, gleaming silverware, sparkling wine glasses.

In the center, I placed a single red rose in a slender vase. A touch of romance, a symbol of my intentions.

I stepped back, surveying my work. The food was ready, the table was set, the candles were lit. All that was missing was Ai.

I glanced at the clock. 6:45 PM. Just enough time to get ready. I headed to the bedroom, ready to transform myself for the night ahead.

Tonight, I wasn't just Akira the idol. I was Akira the man, ready to open my heart and take a chance on love.

[Ai POV]

I stood in front of the mirror, a flurry of butterflies in my stomach as I smoothed down my dress for the umpteenth time. It was a simple piece, a deep blue that Akira once complimented, saying it brought out my eyes.

"Mama, you look like a princess!" Ruby's voice drew my attention, and I turned to see her and Aqua standing in the doorway, watching me with wide eyes.

I smiled, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "Thank you, sweetie. I just want to look nice for dinner with Akira."

Aqua tilted his head. "Is this a special dinner, Mama?"

I paused, considering my words. How much should I say? How much did they already understand? "Well, Akira and I have become very close. This dinner... it's important to both of us."

Ruby clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes. "Are you and Akira going to get married?"

I nearly choked, a startled laugh escaping me. "No, no, nothing like that. Not yet, anyway." The 'yet' hung in the air, a promise and a question all at once.

Aqua, sensing my nervousness, came over and took my hand. "Mama, Akira makes you happy, doesn't he?"

I looked down at my son, marveling at his maturity. "Yes, he does. Very much so."

Aqua nodded, as if that settled everything. "Then that's all that matters."

I pulled both of them into a hug, blinking back sudden tears. "When did you two get so wise, hm?"

Ruby giggled, snuggling into my embrace. "We learned from the best, Mama."

I held them close for a long moment, drawing strength from their love, their unwavering support. They were my world, my reason for everything. But maybe, just maybe, there was room in that world for one more.

A knock at the door startled us, and I felt my heart leap into my throat. He was here.

I took a deep breath, smoothing my hair one last time. "Okay, you two. Be good for Miyako, alright? I'll be back later tonight."

They both nodded, smiles on their faces as they watched me grab my purse and head for the door.

As I walked, I felt a flutter of doubt. What if this wasn't what I thought it was? What if Akira just saw this as a friendly dinner, nothing more?

But then I remembered the nervous tremble in his voice. The way he'd been there for me, for the kids, time and time again.

No, this was more than just a friendly dinner. This was a beginning, a chance at something real and wonderful and terrifying all at once.

I opened the door, and there he was. Handsome and nervous and perfect, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"Ai," he breathed, his eyes drinking me in. "You look... wow."

I smiled, feeling a blush stain my cheeks. "You don't look so bad yourself."

He offered me his arm, and I took it, feeling the warmth of his skin through his shirt. "Shall we?"

I nodded, casting one last look over my shoulder at Aqua and Ruby, who were watching with wide, excited eyes.

"Let's go."

[Akira POV]

I led Ai into my apartment, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched her reaction. Her eyes widened as she took in the candlelit table, the soft music playing in the background.

"Akira," she breathed, turning to me with a smile that made my knees weak. "This is beautiful. You did all this for me?"

I nodded, suddenly feeling shy. "I wanted tonight to be special. Because you're special, Ai."

She blushed, ducking her head. "You're pretty special too, you know."

I grinned, feeling a rush of confidence. "Come on, let's eat before it gets cold."

I pulled out her chair, waiting for her to sit before taking my own seat. As I served the salad, I felt a sense of pride. I'd made this, created this moment for us.

We fell into easy conversation as we ate, talking about our days, our dreams. Ai told me about a funny moment on set, her eyes sparkling with laughter. I found myself getting lost in her stories, in the way her face lit up when she talked about her passions.

As we moved on to the main course, I couldn't help but compliment her. "You were incredible in that drama, Ai. The way you brought your character to life... it was amazing to watch."

She blushed, twirling her pasta on her fork. "Thank you, Akira. That means a lot, coming from you."

I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. "I mean it. You're amazing, Ai. In so many ways."

She squeezed my hand, her eyes soft. "So are you, Akira. I've never met anyone like you. Someone so caring, so genuine."

My heart swelled at her words. This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for.

As we finished our dessert, I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Ai, there's something I want to ask you."

She looked up, her expression curious. "What is it, Akira?"

"Ai, detting to know you, spending time with you and the kids... it's made me realize what I want. What I've been looking for all this time."

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. "I'm falling for you, Ai. Deeply, completely. You're the first thing I think about when I wake up, and the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep. You make me want to be a better man, a better partner."

Ai's eyes were shining, her hands trembling in mine. "Akira..."

"I want to be with you, Ai. Not just as friends, but as something more. I want to support you, to cherish you, to be there for you and the kids, always."

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. "Ai Hoshino, will you be my girlfriend?"

There was a moment of silence that seemed to stretch for eternity. Then, slowly, a smile bloomed across Ai's face. A smile brighter than any spotlight, warmer than any sun.

"Yes," she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Yes, Akira. I would love to be your girlfriend."

I surged to my feet, pulling her up with me. We were both laughing, giddy with joy and relief.

I cupped her face in my hands, wiping her tears with my thumbs. "I promise, Ai. I promise to always be there for you, to always support you and the kids... you're my family now."

Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, we moved closer. Her eyes fluttered shut, her lips parting slightly.

I closed the distance, pressing my lips to hers in a soft, tender kiss. It was gentle at first, a brush of skin on skin. But as Ai wound her arms around my neck, pulling me closer, the kiss deepened.

My hands slid to her waist, pulling her flush against me. I could feel the race of her heart, the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her dress.

Ai's fingers tangled in my hair, a soft sigh escaping her as I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue. She opened for me, and I lost myself in the taste of her, in the soft slide of her tongue against mine.

It was a kiss that spoke of passion, of promise. A seal on the words we'd spoken, the commitments we'd made.

When we finally parted, we were both breathless, our chests heaving. I rested my forehead against hers, a smile on my kiss-swollen lips.

"Wow," I whispered.

Ai laughed softly, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck. "Wow indeed."

At that moment, everything else fell away. The challenges, the uncertainties... none of it mattered.

All that mattered was this. Ai in my arms, her heart entrusted to me.

It was everything. She was everything.

And I was the luckiest man in the world.