I liked to sleep.

I liked to sleep a lot.

It was my superpower. That no matter what, I always fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow, and I slept all through the night, preferably for ten or eleven hours on weekends.

This weekend was no different. Even if my mind was spinning with what had happened at the restaurant, with the walk, with the falafel, with Tobirama Senju, I fell asleep immediately, absolutely exhausted.

And when I woke up at noon, there was already a text from him.

Unknown: Thank you for last night. I enjoyed myself, and I hope you did the same. Does tomorrow (Sunday) work for us to cook together? Kind regards, Tobirama

I smiled a little at how formal he was.

Me: I enjoyed myself, too. Tomorrow works fine! I look forward to it. Xx Izuna

Tobirama: Excellent. My chauffeur will pick you up at five pm. Please provide me a shopping list and I'll make sure I have all ingredients at home. Xx

I frowned, then burst out laughing. Was this man for real? I considered refusing the chauffeur, but figured he might not want to give out his address directly. I did, however, refuse to provide him a shopping list.

Me: I'll bring what we need. You provide the pots and pans and kitchen. Xx

Tobirama: I insist. Xx

I hesitated for a moment, but then made a decision; I felt daring.

Me: What are you gonna do, force me? ;)

Tobirama: You have no idea what I'm capable of...

I shivered and screeched a little; I couldn't help myself.

Me: No, but I really want to find out now...

Tobirama: See you tomorrow, then.

Me: See you tomorrow

I texted my gay friend Callum, who was part of the gang at the restaurant, in a panic on the Sunday.

Me: Please help. Tobirama's place in 2 h to cook. What should I wear?

Callum: I'll come over.

Callum was there in fifteen minutes. He was a tall, gangly ginger with amazing freckles, and he immediately broke into my tiny walk in closet, flicking out outfit after outfit onto my bed. He looked at each one on, deep in thought. I just stood next to him, hand-fallen. I knew I could dress myself, but my mind had gone blank today because I felt so much pressure.

Finally, he picked an outfit.

"Here."

I frowned.

"You sure?"

Callum nodded earnestly.

"Yes. It seems to be a casual date. You always look lovely at uni. You should go for something similar."

I put on my skinny black jeans that were slightly too long making them collect neatly at the ankles, a black-and-white striped, long-sleeved T-shirt and a huge black T-shirt on top. He gave me a necklace consisting of a thick chain and a small locker from his own pocket.

"Good. Now, take it off and go shower and wash your hair."

I did, and when I was done, he cut the ends of my hair in a beautiful and rounded line, thinning out the tips and even creating a curtain bang for me before he blow-dried it; Callum had worked as a stylist before he applied for art school. I put on the outfit again, and checked myself in the mirror.

"One last thing", he said and handed me an adorable grey beanie. "I knitted this for you."

I looked at him, oddly touched.

"Wow, thank you. You really didn't have to."

He waved it away.

"I know. See it as my autumn gift for you."

I put it on, and it brought my new hair and my face to the skies. I applied some lipstick as my only make-up, then hugged Callum before he left.

At exactly five, a sleek, black car came to stand outside my apartment.

The chauffeur stopped outside the skyscraper where Tobirama's apartment lay. I couldn't help but gape. It was one of the highest and most beautiful ones in the city, its windows beautifully bright, the skyscraper not rectangular but thinning out to the top, making it triangular-shaped.

The chauffeur helped me carry the paper bags of groceries I had bought the same morning, acting like a proper gentleman. I put my backpack on and followed the chauffeur to the lobby. The skyscraper even had its own reception. We went to the elevator, and I was surprised that the chauffeur pressed the button to go all the way to the top. I noticed that in order to do that, he had to use a key, an identity card and a six-digit code on a panel in the elevator.

And I soon understood why.

The elevator opened directly into Tobirama Senju's apartment. I gaped. I had understood he must be loaded, but his apartment complex was wild. Absolutely and utterly magical.

I had expected something minimalistic, something black and grey with highly technological solutions. But his apartment was nothing of the sort.

First of all, the place was much, much bigger than one could have imagined, considered it was at the very top of the pyramidal-shaped skyscraper. The solution was open, the kitchen and living room and bedroom going into one another. But the size was the least interesting thing about Tobirama Senju's apartment.

The most interesting thing about Tobirama Senju's apartment was that it was an indoor garden. It wasn't just filled with plants. It was an actual garden. The two floors above us only spanned the edges, leaving the middle area open making the top of the pyramidal skyscraper reaching high above us where we stood on the lowest floor. The top, being made entirely out of glass, let in the last evening light, providing nourishment for the grass that had been installed in the centre of his apartment instead of the polished wood where I stood after having exited the elevator. There were trees and bushes and patches of beautiful flowers that were incredibly well tended to. There were beautifully designed benches and magical lamp posts, and even a big fountain that didn't at all look tacky, but welcoming and fairy tale-like. There were two big ponds with beautiful koi that played among pink water lilies. And there even was a greenhouse within this greenhouse where every thinkable and unthinkable vegetable seemed to be growing.

In one corner was a hyper-modern kitchen, completely covered in plants. There was even a climbing ivy coming up the walls of the kitchen island. On the gas stove stood a pot with something that smelled delicious; mulled wine, I realised, which was perfect for autumn. Next to it stood two glass mugs filled with raisins and almonds with one teaspoon each. Seemed like Tobirama had made me a warm welcoming drink.

Taking in all of this, I hadn't noticed Tobirama who stood right before me. He looked so different, wearing a pair of beige cargo trousers, a white T-shirt and a blue checked flannel shirt he hadn't buttoned. I saw he had a pair of gardening gloves in his pocket, and his fingernails were dirty.

I believed, when I thought about it afterwards, that that was the moment when I well and truly fell in love with him. When my heart started to reach out and search for his, hoping against hope that his heart would reach out, too. But at that moment, I could only stare at him.

"Thank you", Tobirama told his chauffeur, who smiled and left down the elevator after having put the paper bags next to me. "Welcome", he then said to me. "God, you look lovely."

I couldn't say anything.