At the end of the evening, Hobi drove her home. As he escorted her out to his car and opened the door for her – she had learned that Hobi was, unfailingly, a gentleman – she saw her backpack sitting in her seat. Her eyes wide, she glanced up at him.
“Is that my backpack?”
“Does it look like it?”
She nodded.
He sighed. “No, I’m sorry. It isn’t. I bought you a new one. But I was hoping I’d found the same type.”
She leaned over and picked it up. “It looks exactly like this one.” She glanced up at him. “Thank you, Hobi! This is so nice of you!” She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She was going to miss him so much. Not wanting to let him go, she clung to him. She was fighting back tears. In her whole life, no one had ever been this kind to her.
Hobi’s arms came around her. Standing in the bright lights of the stadium parking lot. He knew it wasn’t wise to hug her like this. In full view of anyone coming or going. But he wasn’t about to push this girl away. He’d seen the gleam of tears in her eyes again.
“You’re welcome, Sakura. I’m only sorry that I wasn’t quicker last night. Or at least, that I could have found your original bag for you.”
“Hobi,” her voice was muffled by his shirt, “you are the kindest person I have ever met. And I am going to miss you so much!”
She squeezed him tighter. After a moment, she released him and climbed into the car. He shut the door for her and crossed to his door. A moment later, he’d slid into his seat and started the car. She unzipped the backpack and looked inside. She began to laugh as she pulled out a pair of sunglasses. Her eyes grew wide.
“They look just like the ones we fought over.”
“I know,” Hobi grinned as he pulled a matching pair out of his suit jacket pocket and put them on. Which was ridiculous since it was nearly midnight. He beamed at her. She put hers on, and they both laughed. He sobered. “Every time I wear these, I’ll think of you.”
Another tear was forming! “And I, you,” she murmured.
Suddenly, she really wanted to kiss him again.
What an odd thing to be thinking!
She’d just met him yesterday. But she was sure his lips would be like himself. Sweet. And gentle. And kind. Their touch would surely light up her life.
She looked back down into the backpack. “What’s that?” She pulled out an envelope. “SAKURA,” it read. She glanced at him.
“Save that for later,” he smiled. “What else is in there?”
She pulled out two chocolate bars. Smiling, she peered up at him. “For an emergency?”
He nodded. “I put two in because, well,” his gaze slid over her whole form, “you need to gain some weight! Dr. Sunshine prescribes a chocolate bar a day!”
“That would do it,” she muttered dryly.
Hobi laughed. “But really, please be kind to your body! All right?”
She nodded without thinking about what she was promising.
