[Private] Cook's Corner.

Sumiko looks at both of them and nearly squeals. She quietly heads back into the store making sure not to make any noise so she does not interrupt there moment. Sumiko places here hear next to the glass wall to hear anything else they might say.

Izumi turns back to face her as he lets out a sigh of relief. His earlier fears seemed to subside and he had begun to smile much more genuinely. There was a more inherent gleam in his multicolored eyes that reflected upon his current state of peace. Izumi took a moment to gaze upon her before speaking. "I believe, no matter the forthcoming response, that I am confident enough in my current sentiment to ask this of you. "

He begins to gently squeeze her hand more just enough to note that it's a bit more secure but not to the extent that it's noticeably firm.

"Would you go out with me Chiharu? I am not sure if you've ever been with anyone and on my part I've never have. Then again, I've not ever been around such a virtuous and assuring girl such as you. It's been quite a long time since I've felt so truly in my convictions, that not even my first moment stepping upon the firmament of the great earth beyond interior life ever matched for a moment how glad I feel." Izumi's face begins to loosen as he awaits whatever comes his way.

She looks slightly down and around seeming, for the first time witnessed, nervous for a moment, before she focuses with her much more common look of curiosity to say, "Go out where?"

Izumi chuckled a bit before continuing on.

"There might not be much in this town or even in the outlying areas at first glance. However as I've alluded to before, I know many locations of interest that no-one bats much of an eye to. The world at large is, factors permitting favorably, our oyster. As long as you can confide in me just enough to lead you on safely, we can go anywhere we know of honestly. Who knows? We might discover even more secrets this way."

Izumi then looks back at her with an innocent interest to lessen the impact of his next less expressive commentary.

"There are also the more convention places in town and we could just hang out there, there's this tea-house over yonder that's rather homely. There is also if one cares to go further in the town, a restaurant. It's up to you if you'd want to agree to any of this."

"Heh, I thought my agreement was implied with the question. As for further plans,"
She pulls softly on his hand in an attempt to inch closer as she whispers surprisingly quietly.
"How about we wait till we have a little bit less of an audience."
Afterwards she lets out a smirk while non-chalantly motioning sideways towards the store with her head.

Izumi turns back and notices a silhouette of a person, who would seem to be a certain Sumiko peering back at them. He simply just nods in affirmation before whispering something in return.

"I suppose for being so perceptive, you get the honors of telling her we can see her peeking."

Chiharu shrugs and turns partially to look over to Sumiko as she smiles and says, "You ready?"

Sumiko nods and comes out
"Y-Yea, lets go." She goes a couple feet ahead of both of them
"S-sorry..."

"What for?" she asks quickly and genuinely.

As they begin walking, Chiharu keeps her hold on Izumi's hand. Her hand is comfortably rested in light contraction, much like one would hold a stuffed animal.

"I-I was... listening in on what you two where talking about. I-I came out a bit earlier but did not want to interrupt."

"Well, Thanks, I appreciate the effort to let us have our moment. Buut.. I, still don't understand what you should be sorry for?"

Sumiiko turns around and stops for a moment and bows
"Sorry Eavesdropping."

"That's what you're going on about? Heh, don't worry, it's fine. Now I can't speak for everyone, but I Definitely would be the biggest hypocrite ever if I judged you for eavesdropping."

Sumiko smiles
"Thanks for forgiving me." She slows down her pace and walks next to both of them

Izumi kept relatively quiet during their diatribe, simply relishing the walk back. Unlike earlier where his smile was simply a point of convention, on his countenance lied a more genuine and earnest smile of joy. He felt quite content in this state and wished not to disrupt it much. The afternoon seemed not to move in it's ways barely looking any different from when they began. Only through deep and meticulously thorough inspection would one notice the differences in cloud formation, and the position of where objects and other fauna lied. Izumi didn't pay much mind to these occurrences as much as he reveled in simply walking with the group. He was in good company and little weighed on him now. He knew this sentiment couldn't last so on he went, toward the promise of food and good tidings. That was enough for him right now.

"Yeah, it's no problem... Anyways, it's probably better that you know for sure. That way you don't have to keep wondering whether or not we're together."

Sumiko perks up a bit
"A-are you together now?"

Her hold becomes a bit tighter as she looks between Izumi and sumiko with a decent amount of uncertainty, despite her tone remaining impartial.
"Eh, I guess.. Yeah."

Izumi notes the difficulty she posed on phrasing this and decides to affirm. Whether or not the course of action was alright at the time didn't occur to him.

"I would say so, yes." he stated, with a bit more conviction that can be sensed. Whilst he knew Chiharu most certainly isn't used to this, and nor is he. He remains as convinced as he was when he confessed. The tone of which it was said however is not completely affirming as if he didn't want to impose unconsciously.

His affirmation brought forth relaxation and as it did, blood began flowing more easily, causing a sensation of comfortable warmth. Chiharu simply smiled and watched sumiko, anticipating her reaction to the answer of her question.

Sumiko could only smile as she started to walk ahead of them both
"I'm happy for both of you."
She quickly turns around again and looks at Inaba
"Pretty bold of you Inaba." She said with a giggle.

Izumi simply smirks as he states his next comment.

"I wanted fortune to favor me."

Chiharu sports a smirk of her own as she adds, "He may have had a bit of a nudge as well."

Again Sumiko giggles at Chiharu's comment and keeps walking
"Who's going to want to eat the first Dango once they are made and done?"

"I thought we could each make our own, if that's alright with you guys."

The weight of the bag Chiharu is holding begins to dig into her fingers and to try and fix this she shifts the bag to a different spot in her hand, but to no avail.