Tsukushi sighs from exhaustion after she and her bandmates had wrapped up today's band practice.

They decided to be at CiRCLE today seeing as Nanami's parents needed to use the atelier today.

Exiting the studio, they walk over to Marina and (Y/N) to turn in the keys, before they start chatting about what they will be doing for the rest of the day.

"Me and Nanami will be heading to the mall together, she wanted to show me some new plushies they have in-stock, hehe..." Mashiro is the first one to tell her plans together with Nanami.

"I will be meeting up with Stephy~! We are going to go visit Tokyo Tower as he hasn't been there yet!" Touko says, as ever excited to do activities together with her boyfriend, which makes most of her bandmates giggle.

"I will be finishing up with this week's homework and practice more with the violin at home." Rui says soon after, which wasn't too surprising that she would go for these things, considering how she is in general quite "elegant" of her.

Then it comes to Tsukushi, though she feels lost about what she will be doing. All her bandmates are doing their own thing, yet she doesn't know what to do next.

"Uhm..." She begins, but is unsure what to say next. Tsukushi could hang out with Mashiro and Nanami, but she feels like she would be a burden due to her not being too much for toy collecting or plushies.

Touko she can't really hang out with at all currently unless she wants to be a third wheeler. The guitarist would be too much occupied doting upon her boyfriend, who she met after he began part timing on CiRCLE as well like (Y/N).

Rui is out of the question due to her rather wanting to be on her own when doing homework or practicing.

"I will be... doing something at least!" She soon replies, which makes her bandmates look at her for a moment, before nodding.

"Alright, see you on Monday then, Tsukushi!" Nanami says as everyone heads out to do their activities, before Tsukushi sighs in a sad tone.

"So much for being a dependable person. I don't even have anything to do, I just look like a boring band leader..." She says to herself before she begins exiting the live house as well to head home.

"Tsukushi, Tsukushi..." (Y/N) mutters after having seen the drummer look so sad. He decides to head out as well to catch up with her.

"H-huh? (Y/N)?" She says as the same aged boy goes up to her. "Aren't you supposed to finish up with the last task for today?"

"Of course, but you looked sad back there, so I wanted to check what was wrong." He replies as Tsukushi looks down on the ground for a moment, before meeting his eyes again.

"It's... nothing." She lies, cringing at herself for doing that, but she doesn't want to appear as someone who has worries.

"Dependable people does not have worries." She thinks to herself, before she begins walking again, but (Y/N) stops her.

"How you looked back together is definitely 'nothing'. You can tell me, Tsukushi." (Y/N) tells her, but she just shakes her head. "...Well, how about this; Let's hang out after I help Marina with the last stuff for today in the livehouse, what do you say?"

"Wait, hang out?"

"Or date, whatever you want to call it."

Tsukushi thinks for a moment after getting this invitation. "A date with (Y/N)? Maybe won't hurt, he's pretty cool of him..."

She soon looks to him as she nods, which (Y/N) responds to with a smile. "Great, let's meet up outside CiRCLE then later after we have changed into our casuals. Oh, and let's share each other's number, just so we can hear from the other in case anything happens."

They do that, before heading their own way, Tsukushi towards her home and (Y/N) back to CiRCLE.

On the way home, she thinks a bit to herself what they should even do on this date. Though she wonders if she should just call it a hang out instead, because the word "date" she associate more with love.

Albeit, when love comes to mind, so does (Y/N) after he had begun as a part timer. She is unsure if this means that she has a thing for him, or it just happens that he comes to mind due to some of the girls in the other bands seemingly having interest in him.

Shaking her head, she continues on with quick steps, before arriving at her home. No one is home, as her dad is currently with her sisters to watch a movie in the theaters, while her mother is on a seminar.

She goes at once for showering, considering they took it from the very top today with practice.

While taking off her school uniform, she still has (Y/N) on her mind, more than ever now after she got invited by him to go on a date. She begins blushing as well, before dismissing the thoughts and taking off the rest of her clothes before heading inside the bathroom.

After showering, with the towel covering her body, Tsukushi starts deciding which clothes to wear, but finally, she decides on her usual spring casual.

She goes back and forth with if she should do her hair in the usual twintail style or just leave it be. The braids Touko taught her to do is an option as well, but she rather want to finish up quick with preparing for the date.

She messages (Y/N) about this, to have his opinion regarding it.

(Y/N): Come just as you are

In the end, after that reply, she decides on twintails. She is the most comfortable with that after all, and typically just go with other hairstyles for lives, hair down being the only other she doesn't mind in public.

She messages (Y/N) that she is done and will be heading back to CiRCLE so they can meet up like he had suggested.

(Y/N): Great, will be waiting for you

He was once again quick with replying, which Tsukushi appreciates. Makes him quite dependable that he holds his words.

She mutters again after thinking that, considering her thoughts earlier on the day. "I should just try to not think about that. (Y/N) can't be worried about me."

Later, she is at CiRCLE, and there is (Y/N), also in his casual clothes. "Hey there, Tsukushi. Happy you didn't opt out or anything."

"Eh, why would I do that?"

"Considering how you looked sad earlier on the day, I sorta assumed you maybe changed your mind. Glad to know that was not the case."

"Of course, I am feeling much better now!" She says, even if she is still worried about if she really is dependable or not.

They head towards the mall to start off their date. Though Tsukushi spots something that throw her off.

"Look at this, they still haven't fixed these plates in the ground! Somebody will trip-"

"Tsukushi, take it easy. Just relax now and be more you."

"S-sorry, force of habit. I just want the best for everyone and everything!"

"It's great to be a dependable person, but don't overdo it. You need to take care about yourself as well."

"Right, I will keep that in mind." She replies, sort of realizing that he is right.

She thinks too much about being dependable or be the best she can be, but don't take a moment to think about that she is good already now as she is.

"I should be... just as I am." She thinks to herself, reminding herself of the message (Y/N) replied with when she asked him regarding the hairstyle she would sport.

"Hey, what do you say about taking a subway train to Shibuya? I know a pretty good takoyaki stand around there."

"But takoyaki is as good around here, right?"

"Haha, well that's true, Tsukushi. But it's a friend of mine part timing in that stand, so I figure we could pay her a visit." (Y/N) tells Tsukushi as he reaches out his hand to her.

"Alright, I think that can be fun..!"

An hour later, they are in Shibuya, and Tsukushi follows after (Y/N). Though she can't really keep up with him, until he takes her hand and go in a slower pace.

"Sorry about that, Tsukushi. I am used to walking fast, and there is a lot of people ahead, so we might lose each other in the crowd."

"Well, if I were much taller and had a more flashing appearance, it would be harder to lose me-"

"Tsukushi, you are great as you are already. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your height, you are still you."

"I... Alright, if you say so."

"It's okay to wanting to be greater. But if you are already great, there is no need to stress yourself."

Tsukushi takes in (Y/N)'s words, thinking about them over and over until they arrive at the takoyaki stand.

"Sup Chisato. Two servings of takoyaki, please."

"Huh, Chisato?" Tsukushi suddenly says, reacting to hearing the familiar name, but instead see a white haired girl around her age standing in the stand.

"Oh yeah, not Shirasagi Chisato. This is Arashi Chisato, my friend." (Y/N) introduces Tsukushi to this Chisato, which the latter replies with a wave.

"Heh, sorry about that. I forget sometimes that people can have the same name when I am already so familiar with people that don't share names."

"It's fine, most people around Shinjuku have unique names, so it's easier keeping track over there."

"Yeah, but heck, imagine! There are people out there that has my exact name, or has the same family name as well."

"Yes, but when I think of the name Tsukushi, you will always be the one I think about." (Y/N) tells Tsukushi as she begins blushing.

"That's... really nice. Well, I certainly think about only you as well when I hear your name, (Y/N)."

"And here I thought you would never make your move!" Chisato suddenly says to (Y/N) as he turns to her with wide eyes.

"Chisato, you didn't need to-"

"(Y/N), you... You like me?" Tsukushi asks him as she is shocked that the guy she actually had begun getting feelings for actually shares feelings back.

"...Yes, Tsukushi, I like you. But I did not want to get you out here to confess, I first and foremost wanted you to feel better because I see you push yourself too much at times to be dependable and someone everyone can trust."

Chisato finishes up the two servings of takoyaki hands them out to (Y/N). "I will not disturb here anymore!"

"Thank you for the food, Chisato." He replies as he hands the other serving to Tsukushi. "I know it was sudden. But that's why I want you to feel comfortable with who you already are. I love the Tsukushi I met when starting my part time job at CiRCLE after all, and I still do."

"Of course, improving as a person is always thoughtful as well and nothing wrong with. But as of now, you are great." (Y/N) finishes off as he smiles at Tsukushi, with the latter soon smiling back.

"Well, I like you as well, (Y/N). I will admit I would never have the chance to get a boyfriend due to my appearance not being much."

"Well, for example, Stephan fell in love with Touko mainly for her personality, he told me that himself. But by all means, he also thinks she is the most beautiful girl ever, his beloved Touko."

"So you mean from that that you like me both for my personality and how I look?" She asks him as he nods and smiles. "Oh, (Y/N)..."

"I just don't like you, Tsukushi, I love you. Maybe you don't feel ready that we call ourselves each others, and I am okay with that. But I wanted you to know either way that I love you just for who you are right here and now."

Tsukushi's heart beats really fast in her chest as she also feels lightheaded from it all.

"...I really though I would never find love due to being like I am. But I have been very wrong this whole time." She thinks to herself as she feels her whole body flutter before putting the takoyaki to the side and hugging (Y/N). "I love you, (Y/N) (L/N)!"

"And I love you, Tsukushi Futaba, exactly for who you are and always will be. You are amazing" (Y/N) replies as he puts his takoyaki to the side as well to hug Tsukushi back.

She can feel how she is getting tears in her eyes, but it doesn't matter, because she know there is nothing wrong with getting tears when you are happy, not anymore.

Thank you so much, (Y/N). I still want to be a dependable and trustable person, but if I am already amazing, then I will not push myself too much and keep on being myself and no one else.

The End

_________
Bonus:

"Hey, (Y/N), Touko told me the other day that she and Stephan had been to a love hotel together. Do you think that's something we should go to..?"

"Uuuh... I will just say, let's not go to one of those. I don't know how they managed, but we will be kicked out for sure..!"

"Wait a minute, love hotels are... OH!"

"Y-yeah..."

"Okay, let's not go to one, I am so sorry!"

"Hey, it's fine, Tsukushi. Let's just head to a cafeteria. That is already the most romantic place, right?"

"Hehe, yeah, right~"
_________