Little Early for Valentine's Day, No? [Makoto, Shishiyuki]

There was something about being called Makoto dear that hit her different, it made her blush just a little bit more as they left and Makoto looked around for a moment. Ah, that's right. It was that way and so she took Shishiyuki's hand and lead her towards the ashiyu or where she remembered it was. Thankfully it was exactly where she thought it was and it saved her the embarrassing experience of needing to explain it.

"After you."

She said while looking at the humble little establishment, it didn't really stand out much and could almost be missed if Makoto hadn't done prior research of the area. On the otherhand, she could not speak for their quality since this whole thing was alien to her. She'd never been here before and for all she knew, it could be quite shoddy.

"I hope they're good."

It had actually worried Shishiyuki to think about whether or not Makoto would appreciate being called 'dear' again in a more general context, but she was rather glad to see that it had gone over well.

"I've no doubt that they are. This is a quite nice segment of the Seireitei, I would hardly think that it would remain here if it was not of a good quality."

Of course, for all Shishiyuki knew, perhaps that was entirely incorrect. But she didn't think that it would be, and besides, it was good to present an optimistic sort of outlook in these situations. Right?

"I suppose you're right."

It gave her a bit more confidence in her choice to hear Shishiyuki comment on the area was nice and they'd need to be nice to last out here but there was still that trepidation about the first impression of the place that she had taken her girlfriend.

Once inside and going through all the prep, she led followed along the owner, or maybe employee. They looked a little young, if she had to guess then maybe it was the establishment's child that worked in the family business? Nevermind the details for her attention was mostly on Shishiyuki and looking at the pond of water thoughtfully.

"Do you want to go first?"

She did her best to hide the fact that this was alien territory for her, it wasn't like places like this were common as she was growing up and once she joined the academy Makoto spent little time to try and build any spots of relaxation or enjoyment. It was her first time jumping into anything like this.

Well, this place did certainly seem quite lovely. No less quiet than the little shop that Shishiyuki loved so dearly, but that was a benefit, frankly. She rather liked those sorts of places, without any attention being called to them and where she could simply live without worrying about her appearances.

"Ah, certainly, certainly."

If Shishiyuki had noted Makoto's worry, then she certainly didn't give any indication of that fact, simply leading the way into the ashiyu with all her typical grace.

"Oh, this is lovely. Warm water at this time of year is always so pleasant."

After hearing her girlfriend's affirmation of that plan, she took a moment to ponder that maybe she did get the better end of this by being able to watch her step in with a hint of elegance that she carried herself with. She waited for Shishiyuki to take the lead and followed along to take a seat next to her and grin.

"I agree, I'm not a big fan of the cold. It was always so cold out in the Sakahone district about this year I used to always try and linger near my father's forge as he worked where it was warm..."

She paused a moment while she realised that she had spoken about her childhood so casually and that it wasn't something she ever did. That time of her life felt so buried underneath the trauma of how quickly it all changed after that night. It did not occur to her that the realisation did make her look at the pond of warm water a little solemnly.

Such a casual mention of her childhood did catch Shishiyuki off guard. Makoto tended to be rather reserved about her life, after all, and this was the first that Shishiyuki had ever heard of it. At first, she thought that she perhaps ought to ask more, but the way that Makoto's whole mood seemed to shift made it rather clear that perhaps she should not be quite so forward. Not yet, at any rate.

"That certainly sounds like a beautiful memory, Makoto."

She didn't wish to say anything more than that, simply because it felt like anything more would be completely superfluous. She simply took Makoto's hand gently in her own, wanting to support her in whatever way she could.

It wasn't the words that stirred her but the sudden grasp on her hand that made her give a small smile and lean in just a little closer for comfort. It was a nice memory, she wished that she didn't know the ending to it but Shishiyuki was here and Makoto did not want to spoil their time by lingering on past thoughts.

Her mind wanted to maybe share another memory just to move their conversation along, maybe show Shishiyuki that she was tougher than she her lapse made her seem but it didn't come.

"Yeah... I want to make more memories like that."

She said while moving her feet around a little bit, a rogue foot moving over to lightly tap at the other woman's like it was some small game of footsies between them.

It brought a smile to Shishiyuki's own lips to see Makoto's mood lighten once again, and she gladly leaned into her girlfriend as well, perfectly content to sit here for as long as she wished, hand in hand. It was a tranquility she was not certain that she had ever known in her life.

"Then we can certainly make them together, my dear. Countless more."

She nearly began to speak in lengthy, poetic words about it, but Shishiyuki stopped herself before she began to do so. It seemed so unnecessary in this moment, when there was instead such a simple peace in this moment. She smiled just a touch wider at Makoto's foot touching against her own, and met the gesture in kind.

As she turned what was just a single gesture into a playful back and forth of foot nudging Makoto pondered her response. For the moment she felt content, pleasant with the cool air and warm water on her feet with the calming presence of Shishiyuki to her side. A little hesitation before she took a glance behind and notice they were alone and leaned in to plant a small, almost cheeky kiss on the older woman's cheek.

A little pause afterwards while wondering if it was a little too forward. Would she appreciate it or be a little caught off guard? Maybe they were only at the holding hands stage in public, though it wasn't really public here was it? They'd also had a much stronger kiss before so this was mild but it didn't stop her fretting over it.

She thought it was nice though.

Shishiyuki was only a little bit surprised by the kiss, and while she blushed at it, that hardly meant she'd minded it. Instead, she simply held Makoto's hand closer, turning to look into her eyes. There were plenty of things that she thought she could say, countless little poems she could come up with.

But, instead, she simply leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't the sort of exploratory, almost desperate kiss that they'd shared the first night they were together. No, by contrast it was a fairly plain thing, a short kiss that put their lips together only for a moment.

She'd have been perfectly content in this place for as long as they stayed, but...well, she wasn't sure what might be able to compare after this pleasant little moment. No words felt necessary, really.