Matchamaking

Tsuki spent most of the day in the library after her encounter with Rune and Vanessa. They were two of her dear friends and she wanted to do her best to help them, but she didn’t really have any idea where to start and being in public was making her anxiety go haywire. She knew Vanessa was studying in the more restricted parts of the library, but she couldn’t even bring herself to say goodbye.

She hurried home as fast as her hooves would carry her. Once there, she closed the door behind her and leaned her back against it, taking a few deep breaths as she tried to steady her hands. “It’s okay, you’re home now,” she repeated to herself over and over. After a short while, she was able to pry herself away from the door. She moved deeper into her simple home and went straight to her kitchen.

She’d discovered a while back at Brewed for You that matcha lattes did wonders for her anxiety. She grabbed everything she’d need to brew it, but when she opened her fridge, she suddenly realized she didn’t have any milk left. She closed her eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. Her head hung low in defeat and she shut the door to her fridge gently.

“Could this day get any worse?” She asked herself quietly. With no matcha to calm her nerves, Tsuki settled on a quiet night on her couch. That is, she would’ve, if there hadn’t been a knock at her door just then.

“Who could that be? I’m not expecting anyone,” they said quietly to themselves. But still, they made their way quickly to the front door. They pulled it open just a crack to peek out, but when they saw who was on the other side, they threw it wide open.

“Jasper,” she said with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?”

The kindly barista smiled down at her and offered out one of two travel mugs from Brewed for You. “Vanessa called me. Said she saw you rushing out of the library and she asked me to come check up on you. So I brought your favorite, a matcha latte.”

Tsuki felt ready to cry with her friends’ kindness, but she fought against her tears and reached out with both hands to take the cup of tea from Jasper. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you and Vanessa are watching out for me. Um, would you like to come in?”

Jasper flashed her a bright smile and nodded. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said as he stepped inside. Once Tsuki closed the door behind him, they went to the living room to sit down together and relax while they each enjoyed their drink of choice. But Tsuki was still finding it difficult to relax.

She didn’t understand her feelings just yet but being alone with Jasper was making her nervous. She could feel a flush on her cheeks and she did her best to keep her eyes down at her own mug of coffee. Apparently, Jasper picked up on her discomfort because he decided to break the silence first.

“You know, I bet Vanessa really appreciates that you were trying to help her, even if she won’t say so. That’s just how she is,” he said with a soft laugh. “But I think it’s really kind of you to face your anxiety to help out a friend of yours.”

“O-Oh,” Tsuki said, quickly looking over at him. He had a kind, gentle smile on his face and hints of a bush on his cheeks. “Well, thank you, but I just did what any good friend would.”

Jasper shook his head and shrugged a little. “Maybe, but there’s not many people like you out in the world, you know. So I still think it should be praised.”

Tsuki swallowed nervously before forcing herself to just accept the compliment. “Thank you, Jasper. It really does mean a lot to me to hear. I always get so anxious. I can’t go out much and I worry that my friends get offended when I can’t do the same things everyone else can.”

Jasper nodded slowly and let Tsuki open up to him. She still seemed a little down, so once she was finished saying what she needed to, he reached over and put his large hand on her back, rubbing it gently.

“I think you’re a great friend, and I know for a fact that none of your friends mind coming to visit you. In fact, I’d really like if we could get closer. Could I come back sometime?”

Tsuki gasped and looked over at him shyly before she nodded. “Of course you can, I would really like to get closer with you too, Jasper.”

He laughed softly and grinned down at her sheepishly, letting some of his own embarrassment show. “Well, good. Next time we’ll make it a date. But for now, I should get back to the cafe. Who knows what mess Briar is getting into without me?”

Tsuki honestly had trouble processing his words after he said date. She was so caught off guard that all she could do was nod and see him out the door. The realization only really hit her once she closed the door after Jasper.

“A…date. With Jasper. At my house.” Her words were slow and methodical, as if she were still trying to digest them. Though this scenario would normally have made her even more anxious, she couldn’t help but be excited. She was looking forward to getting to know Jasper better.