"Mamoru-kun! Are you picking a suit as well?"
"Well, yes..." He held his neck. "...At least I'm trying."
"Why are you alone?" She entered. "Nobody came to accompany you?"
"I... I preferred coming alone... My mother is busy and... my friends as well."
"I see." She put her index on her nose as she was thinking. "Actually, do you mind if I help you pick? I have eyes for suits."
Mamoru's heartbeats were shaking his body whole. He couldn't find a way to hide the excitement blinding his eyes.
"No! I mean, yes!" He wiped his forehead with his palm, quietly gathering his thoughts.
"It'd really make me happy if Aoi-san helps me pick a suitable suit."
"Great then." She turned to the manager. "Miss, please bring the collection up here and no need for the try-on assistant."
"Yes!"
A huge variety of suits were coming and going uncountable. You would find them identical even though they all have a difference. And for the slightest change they had, Aoi's face was adopting a completely different expression.
"Mamoru-kun, you must be tired, right? Sorry, I just want to see you all set in the perfect suit."
she stood up and walked towards him with all her focus on his shirt's collar.
She then reached her hands to straighten it, making Mamoru flinch.
He was throwing down his sight to watch her hands briefly touching his neck, then slowly slide it up to consider her face. And when he felt like she would notice him, he would quickly look down again. Things went like that for a while.
He was breathing slowly and heavily for not to blow his breath out at her.
"Is... is there a problem, Aoi-san?"
She backed off a little, letting him breathe finally.
She then swept a look between the edges of his board shoulders and gave them a gentle hit in the end.
"As I thought! This colour is perfect for your warm looks!"
She smiled at him, and he smiled back.
"Still, there is this yarn coming out of the shirt. I need to get rid of it."
<
"It's fine..." Said Mamoru with his most faint voice. Even Aoi didn't hear him.
"Assistant, would you please bring me suitable scissors." commanded Aoi.
"Ah... y, yes! Please wait a minute." Answered the manager.
Noticing the disappointed expression sliding slowly on Mamoru's face. Aoi turned to lock eyes with him, drawing a soft smile to reassure him.
"Don't worry, Mamoru-kun. The yarn is a common thing in clothes. They're not ruined or anything."
"Yes... I mean, that's relieving."
Then he smiled back.
"Now that we decided your suit. Can you help me pick Usui's. It is for tomorrow's event at school."
"Ah, the Journée costumée? Yes, of course, how can I help you?"
"Great! Wait. Stand still! Don't move."
She scanned him from head to toes, then, with a quick move, stepped closer to him. He could feel her chest stroking his at a certain point, even through the thick layer of clothes. Thus, he hurried to turn his head away from hers unconsciously.
"I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable, Mamoru-kun." Said Aoi as she was sliding her shoulder on his. "I can estimate Usui's size by comparing it with mine because I can remember it through the close-up views of each time I was near him."
She put her hand on the edge of her shoulder and then swept it to the edge of his to estimate their size difference. Mamoru felt completely paralysed.
Finally, she backed off, and he got to let out an awaited exhale.
"As I thought, you two have approximately the same size. I'll just ask for a slightly bigger one. But about the suit, are you settled on it? I think it's perfect."
"Yes, I...*sigh*, I really like it."
"What's wrong, Mamoru-kun? You seem bothered with something. Is it that the shirt is itchy somewhere? Or is it the trousers?"
"No, no! Everything is fine! Really! Thanks to Aoi-san, I am able to look my best tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? You mean at my presentation?"
"Yes! Tomorrow, there will be a lot of people attending. But I want to look my best for you. Ah!! I... I mean for that... will be a lot of them seeing me!!"
Aoi looked confused for a moment as she was looking for words. Fortunately, the manager's entry broke the awkward silence.
She came in a hurry as usual, holding the scissors in her hand.
Suddenly, one of her heels broke. Obviously, because of all the running. Causing her to fall. Seeing that Aoi was in her way, Mamoru feared that she would hurt her with the scissors she was recklessly holding.
He quickly held her to his chest, slightly backed off, and turned around to make sure Aoi was alright in his embrace. His hand was gently covering her head as he bowed down his eyes to meet hers.
Concerned, he asked. "Aoi-san! Are you all right?"
Aoi was lost in his gaze for a considerable moment, then sneaked a look behind his shoulder to watch the assistants in front, who were helping the manager stand up.
Noticing that she was wrapping her arms around his waist, she quickly took them off.
"I... I am fine. Thanks."
It was obvious how her face and neck grew flushed. She looked down and murmured.
"I, if you don't mind... would you let... go?"
Late did he figure it out. He was still holding her head into his hand.
"Yes! O, of course!" He turned to the manager.
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Thank you for asking, sir. Apparently, the manager sprained her ankle. We will bring you new assistance in no time." Informed one of the assistants before helping the manager out.
Aoi grabbed the scissors up, then went to cut the thread off his shirt.
"Alright, while we're at it. Stay still."
His gaze was completely lost to her funny expression as she was focusing her eyes on the scissors.
"You have really pretty eyes... I... I mean, you have pretty GOOD eyes for clothes!! Can... can I ask for your help if I need to pick clothes again?"
"Yes, of course. I'm always up for help. You can give me a call anytime. Even if you call just to talk. I'll be listening."
She drew a soft smile and then locked eyes with him.
"Done with the shirt. Now, let's try these to pick one for Usui, okay?"
"Yes, alright."
Suddenly her phone rang, it was Usui.
☏"Oi, old lady, don't count me for dinner. I am going out with Ahmed."
"I understand. Okay then."
☏"Ye... I'll go th_"
"Wait!"
☏"Um?"
She lost words. She remained silent for a brief moment. Then, she continued when she knew she had collected enough courage to speak.
"I am sorry for being rude a while ago. I shouldn't have said that."
☏"Well, you owe me something then."
Her expression metamorphosed from worried to annoyed.
"Why would I owe you anything?"
☏"Just. You hurt my feelings, you know. I need something as compensation for that."
"You piec_"
She looked at Mamoru, and he smiled back.
"You are PRETTY understanding, young man! Haha... go, go with your friend and have fun. See you."
☏"Wait, what the fu_"
She hung up.
"That's pretty convenient then, dinner's on me. What do you think, Mamoru-kun?"
Excitement has revived inside his soul as his eyes opened wide.
"I'd love that! However, letting you pay is not really convincing."
"It's fine. I am older, so I'll pay. It's decided. That's it!"
Hearing that, Mamoru grinned joyfully.
"Hahaha! It's all right!
ꕤ*.° As long as I can spend time with you! ꕤ*.° "
*****
It's 9 pm, Amane came to a café per Megumi's invitation. She saw him sitting on the furthest table to the door, wearing a cap and sunglasses.
"Sunglasses at night are not really a wise pick."
"Haha. Well, as long as they don't recognise me."
He briefly scanned her from head to toes.
"You were on a date? Judging from your outfit, I doubt you dolled yourself up to meet me."
She shook her head twice, then went to sit facing him.
"Well, yeah. You are partially right. Though, I had to interrupt it because of your sudden call."
"Sorry, they were fresh infos. I thought you'd need to be careful about them."
"What is it?"
"We won't stay long here to not attract suspicions. So listen carefully. I heard that an anonymous drug has infiltrated parts of South Korea and some western provinces in China. The people who are said to be consuming that drug were all students. I assume it's the same drug as that one related to the Bana high accident. And maybe... JUST maybe, it's related to the drug your mother was poisoned with."
"So now, they're targeting teenagers to sell their drugs? And what about those who consumed it?"
"There are some guys who lost their minds permanently. But all the ladies are still in coma with a high chance to lose their minds as well."
"Seeing their mates disappearing one after the other... Megumi-kun, I doubt they are willingly consuming it."
Megumi's face adopted a concerned expression as he was considering Amane's assumption.
"You mean that...!"
"Yes! Maybe they are poisoning the students, either by food or by tricking them with snacks. What I'm sure about is that they are using things that they can't possibly be suspected of."
Megumi brushed his eyebrows with his thumb and index as he smirked in despair.
"Haha, shit... this is getting complicated."