Mino was walking down the pavement as he took another quick look at his watch. It showed 5:50 pm. Maina didn't tell him the exact time, so he was really confused.
"That girl sure knows how to mess with others, doesn't she..."
As he crossed the street with quick light steps, (quite unexpected from a person who generally stayed in his home all the time, but it was a skill he picked up from running to school everyday) a person approached him.
That person was wearing a pitch black full sleeved T-Shirt and ash grey pants. Even though it was quite hot, a scarf was wound around his neck. Even though it didn't match the summer fashion at all when models are busy to show off some skin and wear light coloured clothing, it suited him very much.
His hair was dark and voluminous and his gaze was super sharp. In other words, he was someone others would describe as a handsome person. Mino felt irritated by just looking at him. It's due to people like him that the average joes are even deprived of average looking girls.
The young man, perhaps in his twenties, made a complicated face and started speaking a troubled voice,
"Ah... well may I ask for your help?"
".....Actually I have limited time. If it's something I can help you with but won't take much of my time, then of course I'll help you."
"Ah it will only take a few moments. Where's the supermarket here? Actually I'm new here and so don't know much regarding what's where and so."
"It is located in the central sector."
"Could you show me the way please?"
"Since it's on the way, sure."
"That would be a real help. Thanks."
They started walking towards their destination. The brick and granite like rocks which constituted the footpath gave it a layered appearance. As they walked, a mutual silence was observed by both the parties, making Mino uncomfortable.
"What's your name?"
"I am Mino. May I have the pleasure?"
"Sure you do, I am Josh."
After exchanging minor formalities, they started chatting as they walked. But whenever Mino looked at Josh, he would glare at him intensely.
Used to detect killing intent aimed at him, Josh noticed the glare this time too.
"Ay ay Mino," he called out to him in an excessively casual manner, as if they are of the best of friends, "Why such a glare?"
Faced with such a casual approach and a straightforward question he replied with his own straightforward casual reply.
"Honestly speaking, overly handsome pricks like you should just die. It's due to guys like you that the average boys can't hope to even get average girlfriends."
"That's aggressive... but are you prepared to die young?"
Josh replied in an amused manner.
"What? Why the hell am I …."
The meaning of those words finally hit him.
"H...hey! Please don't get too cocky. Just because you look good doesn't mean that you can say anything you want to average people like me!"
[There's no way he's complimenting me. But man! I don't think I look that bad...]
Mino was misunderstanding things.
Josh realized that too, he chuckled in glee and voiced his words out theatrically.
"Ah haha... What I Meant Was Completely True Though."
".....!!!!....."
But suddenly his expression turned dead serious and his voice too. He stared into Mino's eyes intensely.
Mino was surprised by this sudden change in attitude and started to sweat nervously.
[Fuck! Did I piss him off?]
"Mino, I don't know whether we'll meet again or not, so let me tell you. I don't remember when I had enjoyed such a light-hearted chit-chat in the last three years. Let me offer you a piece of advice. Never undermine yourself. Know your limits, and thus your powers and weaknesses. Use your power to solve the problems, or overcome your weaknesses to remove them. I'm sure you will follow my advice well. You are clearly thinking yourself to be the worst, why so? Don't be like that."
He stopped his words, but the seriousness seemed to linger in the air.
Listening to the sounds of honking cars, announcements, voices of people and their own footsteps, they finally reached a four road intersection.
"We part ways now. Take the one on your left and walk straight. You will reach Aomuri Mart in no time. You can see people coming this way with shopping bags can't you?"
"Thanks a lot, you saved me! Anyways, farewell Mino. If lady luck smiles upon me, perhaps we can meet again."
"Jeez! Bye Josh! Hope I don't meet another guy as handsome as you dammit!"
Mino continued straight. His mind was a lot lighter than before. Flashing a beaming smile, he thought to himself [Perhaps he really meant it...]
*Ping ping ping*
A beeping sound came from his wristwatch.
Forcefully dragged out from his reverie, he took a look and...
"FUCK! I'M GONNA BE LATE!"
But this time he didn't run. It would be a waste to go to a party with a sweaty smell. He quickened his pace and within minutes he was there. (Actually it took more time since he had to ask others about the exact location, it was his first time going there.)
He found himself standing in front of a two storied house.
A dark brown coloured door with beautiful carvings. The floor near the door was adorned with mosaic. Holding his breath while looking at the elegant design of the walls in awe, he said, "Woah... she's rich isn't she? Oh I remember her telling that it's her ancestral house. The house was maintained so well that you wouldn't be able to guess that it was nearly 200 years old.
"Ahem...!"
Coughing loudly to compose himself, he finally went ahead and pressed the doorbell.
*Dingggggg Donggggggg*
"Such a generic doorbell huh? Hehe..."
Trying to calm himself down by talking some arbitrary bullshit, he took in a deep breath.
*Click* *kiyeee*
With a clicking sound of the latch being undone, the door opened slowly with a shrill sound. The person standing behind was...
".....!!!!!...."
A gasp could be heard. However...
It was not Mino. The one who gasped was Maina.
"Ummm... is there something one my face, Maina?"
He felt compelled to ask. Just what the heck was on his face that made her stare at him so intently! He was getting nervous by the minute!
"Eh...err....ehmm...mmmm...M-Mi-Mino..."
"Errr.... Yeah?"
He replied awkwardly. Not a single thing was making sense to him!
"Well... you see.... You look very handsome today!...fweh..."
Apparently saying those words to Mino was a herculean task for her, she was panting lightly after she had successfully said that (It wasn't due to fatigue at all though...). Her face was bright red, although she was smiling on the outside, her insides were in an absolute chaos.
[Why the hell am I reacting in such a manner? I was the one who wanted to solicit such a reaction from him...]
She felt like slapping herself. But at the same time, she wanted to keep looking at him.... forever...
[What the hell am I even thinking! And why does he look so good at now of all times! Everyday in school he looked like an average Joe and now... JUST WHY!!! It's illegal! Illegal...Illegal...ILLEGAL!!! As she was trying to solve her internal conflict, she noticed Mino standing by the door.
[FUCK!! He's still here! I can't space out! I bet he's thinking 'What a weirdo haha' !]
Meanwhile Mino...
[Why the fuck is she reacting like that... do I look like weirdo...?]
The one he thought to be a weirdo was a completely different person.
"C-come i-in! W-why a-are you st-standing here...?"
She hurriedly beckoned him to come inside.
"Of course!"