The door was being banged on heavily. I open it and see Mai. Mai Kuronewa, my childhood friend.
"Kaito! Open! Emergency!" Her voice echoed through the hallway like a fire alarm. The kind that makes you question your life choices.
I hurry out of my room, still half asleep. "Mai, it's seven in the morning. What kind of emergency happens at seven?"
She rushed past me the moment I unlocked the door, as if she owned the place. "A romantic emergency, obviously!"
"…that's not a real category."
"It is now." she said, dropping her bag on my couch. "Listen carefully. Today, you're going on a date."
I blinked. Twice. Confused. "With who? Myself?"
"No, with her."
"Huh?"
She pointed toward the doorway.
I was totally confused. I only saw Mai.
But then it struck me.
And that was when the girl stepped inside. Glossy purple hair, purple eyes, perfect posture, white teeth behind her pretty lips. I recognized her instantly.
Because last year, she was on actual movie posters.
"Um… good morning," she said softly. "I'm Mizuki Shinobu. Please take care of me today."
A national-level idol was standing in my living room. Me, out of all the people in this world.
And apparently, I was going on a date with her.
So much for a quiet morning.
I was completely fazed. The shock was as if truck-kun hit me at full speed. After a few seconds of silence, I let it out.
"EEEHHHHHHH?!"
Mizuki took a step back, frightened. Mai got upset with my reaction and started shaking me.
"You fool! You are going to scare poor little Mizuki there! She mustered up the courage to ask you on a date, and you scream like a Samurai Warlord?!"
"Of course! One of the prettiest girls in the country is standing in my living room! How could I not be shocked? Even more, she asked me out on a date, suddenly!"
Mizuki looked at me and went red.
"I am an…old friend of Mai. She said you're one of the best guys she knows and that we'd be a perfect match. And I wanted to give it a shot."
This whole situation was beyond me.
I started looking at Mai. She was smiling like an innocent child, saying "heeh, take that".
"Come on, drop the fuss and go dress up!"
I nodded, went up to my room to get dressed. "Okay..."
Among the mess in my room, my mind found itself in the same state.
"W-w-w-what?! This is reality, right?"
I pinched myself and confirmed I was not sleeping.
"Okay then, let's do this. For some reason, an Idol wants to be together with me."
Straight to the bathroom. Went and washed my face, picked the nicest clothes I had, and with a bit of hesitation, I headed downstairs, where the girls were waiting for me.
Mai looked at me teasingly, her eyes screaming, "Yeah, I got you this time, haha".
"W-well…let's go on, Mizuki-chan."
"Yes, let's go." she said as she clung to my arm.
I froze in place again, her face burning up with cheerfulness like a kid who goes to his favorite playground. I was embarrassed to the roof.
I remember something just as we are about to leave.
"W-wait, actually, don't we have high school today?"
Mai looks confused, and then her face starts shining with happiness.
"Dummy, it's a free day! We don't have any classes."
I remembered it was some national day…but what could it have been? National Jam Day? Wasn't that on the 20th of April…I give it up.
Mizuki, pouting, looks at me a bit angry.
"Come on, I want the two of us to have fun today... "
She grabs my hand and takes me on a walk.
I reach out my hand to Mai. "Help..."
She smiles at me and brushes me off. "I wonder what she wanted to talk about with him...because that's definetly not a date!"
As we stagger down the street, she looks happy. Reminds me of Mai. On the other hand, I was still exhausted from yesterday. Dear gods, did I do something wrong?
Mizuki notices I'm tired and starts reading me.
"Hey, you look awful. Is something the matter? Or is it possible that you don't want to be here with me?"
Her face saddened up a bit. Mizuki thought that she was being a pain for him.
I don't give a response, just continue walking.
"You've been cold! What is up?"
I'm still zoned out. "Nothing…"
"Kaito-san!" said Mizuki in an angry but cute tone.
"Y-yes?!"
"Stop avoiding me! Do you know why I brought you out here today?"
"For a...date?"
"No! That was a pretext I set up with Mai-chan to get you out of the house. I heard your voice yesterday at the Karaoke Booth! Your voice was so angelic!"
I stand there confused.
"Ohh…that's what it was."
I felt relieved for some reason.
"Yes! And since you're a match for my voice, I want the two of us to do some kind of project together. Mind rejoining the entertainment industry, possibly as a voice actor?"
"I don't think that's going to happen. I quit it a long time ago."
"But why? You were one of the two stars of the Z-Generation! You even had a nickname: Kai-star!"
My face turns gloomy.
"Please don't bring up my shameful past…wait, did you research on me?!"
"Nevermind that, come on, join me!"
"But you're an idol, we can't work in the same industry."
"Indeed, there are no male-idol groups for teenagers. But you can act with me in an upcoming movie! Our idol group is taking a break for now. We're on hiatus for a while. Meanwhile, I took up some voice acting jobs I received! I will return to being an idol, though."
"I will…think about it. Is that all you wanted to discuss?"
"Part of it."
I finally let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.
We stop by a vending machine along our way, and I grab a drink.
"Mizuki-chan, want anything?"
"Drop the polite words. Call me Mizuki. And if you can, get me a raspberry tea, please."
I pay and grab the drinks.
"Thank you!"
"No problem."
I pop the can open and start drinking.
"The other thing I wanted to talk with you...I want to live with you!"
I freeze, and then spill all the juice I drank. "WHAT?!"
"You heard me right!"
I was in a state of total shock. Acting in a movie with me, sure, that's acceptable, but living together?! Isn't that a bit too sudden?!
I was all red. Some could've said my face was an oversized tomato in that moment.
"What's up with the reaction?"
"Who wouldn't have such a reaction with this being the query?!"
"I guess you're right...so?"
"It's not happening."
Her face saddened up.
"Oh...I see. Mai told me this would've happened. She told me to tease you with this."
Damn Mai...
"But I'm going to live with Mai-chan! We're going to be neighbours."
"Good for you, I guess..."
We walk a little further, and I try to open up the conversation again.
"Want to do something fun? Since we're on a so-called 'date'?"
"Sure!"
I can at least act like a man, since she took her time to ask me about rejoining the industry with her.
I take her to the nearby arcade.
She felt like a child.
"Kaito, come here!"
I saw a claw machine that had a plushie with a cute bunny.
"Can you get it for me? Please!"
"Sure..."
I put 1000 yen in there. Fail. Fail.
I fail about 10 times. As I put in 500 more yen, it happens.
It grabs the plushie easily...and I got it!
"Yaaay! Thank you! You're the best."
The expression on her face was worth it.
She hugged me. I was flustered, heavily. "What are you doing...Mizuki?"
Mizuki realised what she was doing and pulled back.
"S-s-sorry, I just got caught in the moment..."
"No...problem."
My heart denied my statement.
"Let's call it a day since we talked about what I planned to."
"Okay, let's go home."
We walked back, and Mizuki was happily springing from one foot to the other, holding her plushie.
"Thank you for today, Kaito. Let's be good friends from now on!"
I let out a slight smile.
"Sure, Mizuki."
She let out a wide smile, looking very happy at me.
She was not a bad girl. After all the effort, I can at least be her friend, since we're neighbors now. And what hurt could there be since I already have 3 other girls as my best friends? The more, the merrier...I guess.
We get home, just after noon. Mizuki actually started to live with Mai, whose reaction was priceless. "Yeees, I waited for this day for sooo looong!"
I'm back in my room. I lay on my bed like a tired soldier and put my hands over my eyes.
I spent the rest of the day contemplating what happened earlier. The thought of me going back to the voice acting industry didn't sound so bad, but with Mizuki-chan? Act in the same movie? Progress into a steamy rom-com scene afterwards and end up together with her?
Oh, wait…I had these illusions before. It was actually the reason why…I quit voice acting. It was related to that incident, what happened to Marise-chan….I kept blaming myself and got out of the industry on a short notice.
The surroundings turn all black.
I fainted. I woke up in the evening, at about 4 PM. Actually, it was Mai that woke me up.
"Hey…how long are you going to sleep? The sun is almost setting."
"Oh…yeah, you're right."
Mai sat beside me, arms crossed, staring like she was trying to read my soul.
"You look awful. Did something happen with Mizuki?"
I forced a laugh.
"No, nothing like that. Just… tired."
"Tired enough to pass out on your bed fully dressed?"
"…Maybe."
"Enough of that gloomy look. Come on, cheer up! How about I invite Akane and have a movie night together?"
"Sounds good. Call her and ask if she's free."
Mai goes to the terrace and calls Akane.
"Hey, Akane, are you free right now?"
"Hey, Mai, I'm out with my friends at the mall right now. Anything happened?
"I am having a movie night with Kaito. He seemed a bit depressed about something…want to join us?"
Akane was shocked. "M-MOVIE NIGHT?! JUST THE TWO OF THEM?!"
She pictured them falling asleep on each other and cuddling.
"Y-yes, I will be there in 30 minutes. Don't start without me!"
Akane goes to her friends and excuses herself.
"Sorry girls, I have to go right now! I'll make up for it next week!"
"Okay! No problem."
And she started rushing through the vast streets of central Tokyo towards Kaito's place.
"What are those two up to?! I'm sure they're all cozy by now! Or at least Mai is doing something like that again, even if Kaito doesn't necessarily want it!"
She busts the door open.
"Hey, you two-"
"Akane!"
Kaito was fixing some popcorn and Mai was preparing some drinks.
She lets out a sigh of relief.
"Hey, Akane! Any particular popcorn flavor you want?"
"No, I'm fine with anything really."
Mai looked at her while holding the bottle.
"Lemon Tea works?"
"Sure. Pour me a glass, please."
They all sit now in Kaito's living room. It's quite spacious, and his TV is big. After all, his parents were rich.
I start thinking what movie we should watch. "Well, any ideas on what movie to watch?"
Akane replies almost instantly. "How about we watch a rom-com anime? I saw a trailer of one, and it was pretty cool."
Mai looks at her teasingly and starts laughing.
"Whaaat? Akane, you wish that would be us?"
Akane started blushing like crazy.
"N-no…it just looked cool. I never saw Kaito like that and I never will!"
I look at her with a tear rolling down my face.
"Thanks…for being honest."
So far with my dignity. It feels like I've been stabbed by my closest friend alive with a harpoon.
"That's not what I meant…leave it alone for now! Mai, any suggestions?"
I come back to my senses and pay attention to Mai.
"Well, your suggestion sounds good. Let's do that."
And so I found myself watching a rom-com anime with my childhood friends. We eat popcorn, drink some tea, and laugh as hard as we can at the comedic situations in the anime. I can't say it was weird; I actually enjoyed that we had a night like the ones from when we were young.
About 3 hours have passed. We all fall asleep on the couch.
I wake myself up to both of them having the rest of their lives…but with my lap being their pillow.
What?
I can't say I was surprise to find Mai in this position, but…Akane? I guess she was just very tired.
I raise their heads up slowly, put actual pillows under their heads, turn off the TV, and go to sleep in my room.
Those two…reminds me of the times when we had sleepovers.
I fall asleep fast. It was about 11 PM after all, and tomorrow's a school day.
I find myself awoken by Mai the next morning. She was already dressed up from the previous day (she slept on my couch after all).
"Good morning, Kaito!"
"Good morning…Mai."
"Let's hurry up and go to school! Akane is also joining us today!"
"Well, that's new. I didn't expect that to happen anytime soon, given how cold she is to me."
I get dressed up, grab a sandwich and hurry out the door. As stated by Mai, Akane was waiting in front of my door.
"Took you long enough. Let's go already."
Does she not know she fell asleep on me?
"Sorry for making you wait. Let's go."
The same cold, crisp morning air made its presence felt. Just what you would expect of spring.
We made our way to the classroom, but this time we didn't argue on our way. What a change.
The first period started. It was the chemistry class.
The teacher started to pick out students to answer questions.
"Kaito. Could you please respond to the 9th question on page 108? What is the chemical composition of salt?"
I panicked. I was not paying attention whatsoever.
I look at Kaguya. She was doing maths. One of my hopes was shattered. She was an honor student after all.
Then I turn to Akane. She was staring me down. With an angry face, she whispers the answer to me and turns her head away.
"Sodium (Na) + Chlorine (Cl)"
The teacher, confused by the silence, asks me:
"So?"
"Uhh…Sodium + Chlorine?"
"Correct. You may sit now."
I turn my head to Akane, who was smiling with the corner of her mouth.
"Thank you very much!"
"It's not like I could've left you for dead. Don't get the wrong idea!"
She was looking happy, that's what I could definitely tell.
She starts thinking while smiling like a kid. "Yay, I helped him!". But then she came back to her senses. "Wait, what am I thinking?!"
"Well…that's that."
Then something kind of odd happened. On the interphone, I was called to the student council office.
"Kaito Minase of class 1-C, please refer to the student council room immediately!"
I stand there without any idea why I was called.
"Teacher, may I go?"
"Yes. You're excused from the class."
I walk up the stairs, and after a short while, I reach the student council's room. I nod, gather up my courage, and knock.
"Entering! Please excuse me."
What I saw in front of me left me stunned.
The Student Council Vice President was…impressed with me? Looking at me like at a shooting star.
I was confused as to why, though.
"Minase-kun, I don't know how you pulled it off but…I must praise you."
"What…exactly did I do?"
"Don't act like you don't know."
"I genuinely have no clue what you are talking about."
"She mentioned you are the reason why she transferred here."
"Huh? Who are you talking about?"
"Oh man…I guess she mentioned you're a dense guy."
"Excuse me?"
"Nevermind. You'll find out soon enough."
I left the student council room confused. Who was she talking about? I decided to shrug it off and just return to my classroom, and go on with my day.
I sit down at my desk. It was break time.
Kaguya came to me.
"What happened?"
"Something about someone that transferred here because of me…or something."
"Well, aren't you a hot topic?"
"Come on, stop it."
She started laughing silently.
"I wonder who it is. Any idea?"
"Nope."
"I guess we will see tomorrow, then. I bet it's a girl."
"And what girl would do that for me.."
She turned back to her desk, while I'm out here questioning who would do such a thing.
Fast forward to the end of the classes. I head out the school gate alone and go towards the new crepe place that opened near Shinjuku Station.
"Hmm…I heard it's really good. The line is not too long…yeah, let's hit it."
I queue up in the line, wait for about 10 minutes and here comes my turn. It was a small shop.
The menu was varied: Pistachio cream crepes being their speciality. I decided to give it a try.
"One Pistachio cream crepe please!"
The cashier smiled.
"Sure! One Pistachio cream crepe coming up right now!"
I look around a little while waiting. I see two people from the class next to us sharing an indirect kiss via the crepe they just bought. I guess that's what being a couple is all about...
It wasn't long before I received it. It was looking sensational.
Then, just as I am about to bite into the delicious dessert…out of nowhere, Kaguya and Mai appear.
"What are you doing here, Kaito?"
I show it to both of them, putting it in front of their faces.
"Hey, I wanted to try this new dessert!"
"Wow, looks great! Kaguya, let's get some!"
Kaguya looks directly at my crepe. Without any second thoughts, she bites into it.
"Nom-nom. Tasty!"
I was looking devastated. My soul left me.
"Wait…KAGUYAA! I waited all week to try out that new crepe."
"Sorry…I couldn't help myself."
"It's not like you to be so impulsive…"
She puts her hand in her hair and smiles.
"Te-hee."
Mai looks curious at my crepe.
"Can I have a bite too?"
"No, you can't. I want to eat it already."
"You meanie…Kaguya, let's go buy some for ourselves!"
"Sure…"
And so, the girls go towards the Crepe Shop while I go towards my place and savour my treat. But something was strange.
"Kaguya biting that casually into my crepe? Well, I don't mind it but…"
Just as I said that, she catches up to me.
"Kaito! Here, bite into my crepe so we can be equal."
"Oh…Kaguya. But I already ate mine."
"Come on, you're going to make me feel bad."
I look hesitatingly at her kindness but choose to embrace it.
Who knows when I will get this chance again?
"S-Say ahh…"
My soul leaves my body once again: "HUUH?! WHAT?! ISN'T THIS LIKE A COUPLE'S THING?"
She was all red and embarrassed.
To not make the scene take any further embarrassment, I open my mouth and she feeds me like I'm a little chick.
"Thanks…I guess."
I could see she was happy.
"You're welcome!"
Then she bites into the same spot.
"W-WHAT?! Isn't that like an…indirect kiss?!"
But before I could say a word…she ran away.
Well, I can't say I didn't expect it. It's a natural reaction after all…but did she really not think anything of that…indirect kiss?
"Whatever…let's just go home and call it a day."
Kaguya looks at her crepe and just eats it, like casual.
"Indirect kiss with Kaito, huh…?"
She smiled. She didn't blush or anything.
She goes on to her house, while enjoying every bite of the pistachio delight.
As the sun sets in a beautiful orange show, I approach my house.
I'm already tired from the past days. I just want a moment to relax.
But then, I see Akane in front of my House gate.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Were you waiting for me?"
Akane was blushing hard.
"Y-yes. I wanted to apologize for falling a-a-asleep on y-y-you last night. I was so tired that I literally passed out. Sorry. Don't get the wrong idea! It's not like I wanted to do it on purpose!"
I am confused but I decide to respond calmly.
"Um…okay, no big deal. I went to sleep in my room anyways."
"Then, if it's clarified, I'm going home. Have a good evening."
"Thanks! You too."
Uh, what a pain. She started her cold tone again. I guess she really depicts a tsundere character out of a bestseller rom-com manga. Speaking of which…I wonder if that new volume appeared. I'll check it out tomorrow.
I get home, take a shower, and head downstairs to prepare my dinner.
"Now…let's see. Katsu Chicken and Curry. Should be pretty simple. Onions, tomatoes, garlic, chicken, pank-…"
And there was my door busted open by Mai. It was bound to happen since it didn't happen this morning.
"Kaito!"
"Yes? How can I help you? And stop kicking my door open like you're from the special forces."
"Let's have dinner together!"
"Hmm…okay? But you don't really like Curry…do you?"
"I can manage it. I forgot to tell Mizuki I'm getting home early today, so the door's locked. I might have to spend the night at your place again."
"Not really a problem…you can sleep again on the couch."
Mai looks smug: "Hehe…I have a better plan."
"Well, dinner's almost ready. Could you help with the dishes?"
"Sure thing."
I plate out the rice, katsu, and curry in a Michelin-star style.
"Wow, looks amazing!"
We start to eat, enjoying every bite. It's the first time I've seen her enjoy my food this much.
"It was so good! Thanks for the meal! Can I borrow some of your pajamas?"
"Eh…sure. You can go on and use the bathroom and take a shower. There should be a spare toothbrush too, and some skincare products in the bathroom."
She goes on to do her things while I dress up and head to my bedroom. I fall asleep before she gets out of the bathroom.
Mai peeks out of the bathroom after she's done.
"Hehe…just what I waited for. He will be so surprised when he wakes up in the morning."
Without a second thought, she enters Kaito's bedroom.
Mai lies next to Kaito in his bed and hugs him tightly. He doesn't even feel it, due to how exhausted he was.
"I like this so much…sleeping next to you…"
And she fell asleep.
I'm awoken by the bright sun outside. I noticed something weird. Someone was hugging me.
I turn slowly. And for the third time this week, my soul left my body.
"M-MAI-CHAN?! W-W-W-W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Mai wakes up from the noise.
"Ehhh…good morning Kaito. What do you mean? Oh…why did I sleep next to you? Well…we haven't done that for a long time! Got your heart pounding?"
"GET OFF ME! And stop teasing me. This is the reason you don't have a boyfriend yet."
Mai looks angry and says to herself: "You're the reason why I don't have a boyfriend. I turn down everyone in hopes of you catching feelings for me."
"I'm plenty cute, you know? Many boys would die for me!"
"Go dress up. We'll be late for school."
We both get dressed up in our school uniforms and head towards class. Akane left early, so she couldn't join us.
We sit in our classroom, waiting for the class to start.
The teacher enters the classroom. I'm looking out the window, thinking about what our high school football team did at the prefecture tournament.
The classroom's door slides open. I turn to see who came.
"Students, we have a new student among us from today. Her name is Mizuki Shinobu. Please be kind to her."
"Nice to meet everyone. Especially you, Kaito-kun…"
"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!"
I stand up and the whole classroom goes silent.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
"Well, I transferred here just for you! Let's get along now, shall we?"
Just when I thought my life couldn't get more complicated…here it was. Another chaos factor.