Springtime was here. The sun was out, and birds were chirping. Dakota sat in one of the trees, looking up at the nest he liked to watch. This was his safe spot in the small forest behind his house. While he had a bird feeder to keep the birds from pecking him, he preferred watching the hawk chicks over the ones who visited the feeder. He'd seen the hawk pair for the past few years, and had grown a little attached to seeing them every year.

Seeing the hawks together flying through the sky this year was different for him. He finally reunited with his old childhood friend, Lucia, last year. After a few months of visiting each other, Dakota felt like he was falling for her. He'd been in and out of love before, some ending on good terms, while others not so much. Nothing lasted for more than two years, so if he asked her, would they even last?

Dakota held his cape tightly, scared of the possible outcomes. He could handle her answer being no, but what if they didn't last? Could they still be friends? He didn't notice he was shaking until he heard a voice call out to him. He looked down from the tree, smiling when he saw Lucia waving at him. Dakota took a deep breath before jumping down. If he didn't ask her now, he wasn't sure when he'd get the courage to try again.

"Your dad said you weren't home, so I thought I'd find you here! Do you wanna hang out? I could take you to the skating rink." Lucia beamed. "You can bring those skates you bought. You haven't gotten to use them much yet, have you?"

Dakota shook his head. "They've just been sitting in my room since I got them. Going skating with you sounds nice." He was fidgeting with his cape, looking down as he tried finding the words. How could he phrase this? Should he outright say it? Should he get her roses or something? Maybe a flower that blooms in the winter? She was living on Patrune for a long time. While he was lost in thought, he didn't noticed Lucia talking to him.

"Dakota? Hey, Dakota. Are you okay? You keep spacing out when we hang out. What's wrong?" Lucia tapped his shoulder, causing him to jump and look up at her. Right. He actually needs to say something. The skating rink could be their first date. He could always look in to winter flowers some other time. Hopefully she'd still want to go skating even if it's a no.

Dakota had a hard time looking into her eyes as he tried finding the words. "Y-yeah, I'm okay, sorry. I just... I have something I've been wanting to tell you." This was it. No going back now. As he tried finding the words, he could only stutter as Lucia tipped her head. He wasn't expecting the hug which calmed him down a little.

While he took a moment to think of the words to finally say, something stopped him as Lucia held him close. "I have a feeling I know what it is." She took the words right out of his mouth as she kissed him. Dakota was blushing as he wrapped his arms around her. That was the answer he wanted to hear. Once it was over, he noticed Lucia blushing as well.

"You like me, right? I feel the same way. I was actually going to ask you at the skating rink once we got there."

Dakota could only nod as he held her hand. He was too happy to speak! She liked him! The hawks had settled on the branch Dakota was on not long ago, and he liked to think they were congratulating him. He let Lucia lead the way as he listened to one of her stories. He always did love hearing her tales, even if she didn't admit which parts were made up. Dakota was smiling all the way to the rink, and enjoyed his first date with Lucia.