The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the school courtyard as we made our way out. Mei walked beside me, her expression light, while Kaito kept a comfortable distance, hands in his pockets.
"Takashi and Yumi, huh? Who would've thought," Kaito said, smirking slightly.
"I did," Mei chimed in, nudging me with her elbow. "But honestly, they make a cute couple."
I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Takashi really stepped up. Who knew he had it in him?"
Kaito chuckled. "I guess karaoke does wonders. Or maybe it was just your brilliant idea to give them some alone time."
Mei grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, I'm all about giving love a little push."
We continued walking, the conversation flowing easily between us. There was a certain warmth in the air, the kind that comes after witnessing something pure, like two people finding their way to each other.
Kaito looked over at me, a sly grin spreading across his face. "So, Izumi, what's the deal with you and Mei? When are you two going to stop pretending and get together?"
I nearly tripped over my own feet. "Wh-what are you talking about?"
Mei burst out laughing, her voice ringing out in the quiet street. "Kaito, stop teasing him! Izumi's too dense to even realize what you're implying."
I scowled, trying to hide the blush creeping up my neck. "Let's just focus on the new couple, okay?"
"Sure, sure," Kaito replied, still smirking. "But you can't hide forever, Izumi."
Mei nudged me again, this time more playfully. "Maybe you should take a page out of Takashi's book. Who knows? Maybe karaoke is the key to all love confessions."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right. I'm not about to confess my undying love in a karaoke room."
"Don't knock it till you try it," Kaito said, his tone light.
We reached the point where our paths split, and Kaito waved us off, his grin still in place. "Alright, I'll catch you guys later. Try not to get into too much trouble, lovebirds."
Mei waved back, then looked at me with a smirk. "He's relentless,, isn't he?" And continued "don't take his words seriously."
I replied with a nod.
When I got home, the smell of dinner wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble. I kicked off my shoes and headed toward the kitchen, where I found Mom bustling around with Yuki helping her set the table.
"Hey, I'm home," I called out, dropping my bag on the floor.
"Welcome back, sweetie!" Mom greeted me, her voice cheerful as always.
Yuki glanced up, giving me a half-smile. "You're late."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, ruffling her hair as I walked by. "Had some stuff to take care of."
We all sat down for dinner, the usual chatter filling the room. But as we ate, I noticed Yuki was quieter than usual, pushing her food around more than actually eating it.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked, nudging her foot under the table.
She shrugged, not meeting my eyes. "I'm fine."
Mom looked between us, raising an eyebrow. "You two aren't fighting again, are you?"
"No," I said quickly, trying to avoid another lecture. "Just asking."
Yuki finally looked up, her expression a bit more serious. "You never hang out with me anymore, you know that?"
I blinked, surprised by the sudden shift. "What do you mean? We hang out all the time."
"Not really," she muttered, poking at her food again. "You're always busy with your friends. And now you're taking some girl out on a date or something."
I nearly choked on my food. "Wait, what? Who told you that?"
Yuki looked up, her eyes narrowing. "You did, dummy. You were talking in your sleep or something this morning."
*This morning in the bed * "mei i promise our date will make us even closer and....we could even-"
I replied"wait ,what! You were stalking me?,yuki?"
Mom's eyes widened, a grin slowly spreading across her face. "Izumi, are you going on a date?"
I could feel the heat rising in my face as I stammered, "I-it's not a date! We're just hanging out!"
Yuki pouted, crossing her arms. "Still, you never take me out anywhere. What's so special about this girl?"
"It's not like that," I insisted, but Yuki didn't seem convinced.
Mom chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Well, whoever this girl is, she's got you all flustered. It's adorable."
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Can we not do this right now?"
But Yuki didn't let up, her pout deepening. "I just don't get why you're going out with her and not me. We used to hangout together all the time."
I frowned, guilt gnawing at me. "Hey, Yuki… why do you look so down?"
She bit her lip, glancing away. "It's just… I miss hanging out with you, that's all. It's like you're too busy for me now. "
My heart sank a little at her words. I reached over, ruffling her hair again, this time more gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way."
She finally looked at me, her eyes softening. "Just… don't forget about me, okay?"
I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "How could I? You're my annoying little sister."
She huffed, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "You better make it up to me. " she continued with a little blush "maybe..... you can take me to shopping next weekend"
"Deal," I said, relieved to see her mood lifting.
Mom watched us with a warm smile, clearly enjoying the little exchange. "Well, I'm glad that's settled. But I still want to hear more about this girl."
"Mom!" I protested, but she just laughed, waving off my embarrassment.
Yuki, however, wasn't done yet. She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands. "So, what are you guys going to do? Is it a date-date, or just hanging out?"
I hesitated, not sure how to explain it. "Well, we're just going to see a movie and maybe grab some food afterward. It's not like a romantic thing… I think."
Yuki raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sounds like a date to me. Are you nervous?"
"No!" I said a bit too quickly, which only made her grin.
"Right, because you've been on so many dates before," she teased, her mood much lighter now.
I sighed, feeling the conversation slipping out of my control. "Look, it's not that big of a deal. We're just friends."
Mom smiled knowingly. "Friends who are going to the movies together. It's sweet."
"Can we please stop talking about this?" I begged, feeling the blush returning to my face.
Yuki finally relented, though she was still smiling mischievously. "Fine, fine. But I'm going to want all the details when you get back."
"In your dreams," I muttered, earning a laugh from both her and Mom.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about Yuki's words. It had been a while since we spent any real time together. I hadn't realized how much she missed it. And then there was the whole "date" thing with Mei. Was it really a date? I mean, we were just hanging out… right?
I sighed, staring up at the ceiling. Sunday was going to be interesting, to say the least. But before that, I needed to make sure Yuki knew she was still important to me. Maybe I could plan something special for her, too.
But for now, all I could do was wait for Sunday and hope I didn't completely screw things up.
Sunday morning. 9:30 am.
The sun was already high in the sky when I arrived at the meeting spot, the soft breeze carrying the scent of freshly bloomed flowers. It was one of those perfect days, the kind that made you want to linger outside just a little longer. I stood there, checking my watch, trying not to look too nervous. I wasn't sure why I was feeling this way—after all, it was just Mei, my friend. But something about today felt… different.
I didn't have to wait long before I saw Mei approaching. As she walked towards me, I couldn't help but notice how the sunlight caught in her hair, making it shimmer. She was wearing a light, casual dress, its soft pastel colors bringing out the warmth in her eyes,it was my first time seeing her in such a cute dress. She looked… Gorgeous.
"Hey, Izumi!" she called out, waving as she closed the distance between us.
"Hey, Mei," I replied, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. "You… uh, you look really nice and....cute."
Mei smiled, a blush coloring her cheeks while avoiding eye contacting . "T..Thanks. You also look good in that dress."
We exchanged a few more pleasantries as we walked toward the shopping mall. The streets were bustling with weekend shoppers, and the lively atmosphere helped ease some of the tension I was feeling.
"So," Mei began as we entered the mall, "what's the plan? Where should we start?"
I shrugged, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "Up to you. This is your day, after all."
She grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "In that case, let's hit the accessories section first. I've been thinking about getting a new bag."
We made our way to the accessories section, where we were immediately greeted by rows upon rows of bags, wallets, and other small items. Mei's eyes sparkled as she started browsing, her fingers trailing over the different materials and styles.
"What do you think of this one?" she asked, holding up a sleek black handbag with gold accents.
I examined it for a moment before nodding. "It suits you. It's stylish but also practical. You could definitely pull that off."
Mei smiled, but after a moment of consideration, she put the bag back on the shelf. "Maybe. But I think I want something a bit different."
We continued browsing for a while longer, with Mei occasionally picking up a bag or accessory, only to put it back after a moment's thought. It was clear she was being particular, but I didn't mind. Seeing her so focused was kind of endearing.
After we left the accessories section, Mei turned to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Okay, now it's time for the main event. Let's go check out the women's section. I've been wanting to try on some new dresses."
I blinked, surprised by the sudden shift. "Uh, sure. Lead the way."
We made our way to the women's section, where Mei immediately started picking out dresses from the racks. She had an eye for fashion, that was for sure. Every dress she picked out seemed to suit her perfectly, even before she tried them on.
"Okay, I've got a few options," she said, her arms full of hangers. "I'm going to try them on. You wait here, and I'll show you each one, okay?"
"Sure," I replied, settling into a nearby chair. "Take your time."
She disappeared into the dressing room, and I waited, trying not to let my thoughts run wild. This was just a normal shopping trip, nothing more. But somehow, the anticipation of seeing Mei in different outfits had my heart racing.
The curtain to the dressing room parted, and Mei stepped out in her first dress—a simple, casual sundress that flowed around her knees. The soft, light fabric complemented her figure perfectly, making her look effortlessly graceful.
"What do you think?" she asked, twirling slightly to show off the dress.
I smiled, genuinely impressed. "It looks great on you, Mei. You have a real talent for picking out clothes."
She blushed slightly, pleased by the compliment. "Thanks. But wait, there's more."
She disappeared back into the dressing room, only to emerge a few moments later in a second dress. This one was a bit more formal, a sleek navy blue number that hugged her figure in all the right places. It was elegant, yet understated, and it made her look even more mature.
"Wow," I said, struggling to find the right words. "You look… very mature and elegant. Really."
Mei grinned, clearly enjoying the attention. "You're just saying that."
"No, really," I insisted. "You could wear that to any fancy event and turn heads."
She chuckled softly, then retreated to the dressing room again. The next few dresses followed a similar pattern—each one showcasing a different aspect of Mei's style and personality. A floral print dress that made her look sweet and approachable, a chic black dress that gave her an air of mystery, and a bold red dress that exuded confidence.
Each time she came out, I found myself more and more impressed. Mei had a way of making every dress look like it was made just for her. And each time, I made sure to compliment her, earning a blush or a smile in return.
Finally, Mei disappeared into the dressing room for the sixth time. But when she emerged, my breath caught in my throat. The dress she wore was unlike any of the others—this one was bold, daring, and left very little to the imagination. It revealed a lot of skin, but it wasn't just about that. The way it was cut, the way it clung to her curves, it made her look both incredibly hot and unbelievably cute at the same time.
I stared at her, completely speechless. My mind raced, trying to process what I was seeing.
I blunted out "that's so cute and hot!"
Mei noticed my reaction and shifted slightly, suddenly looking a bit self-conscious. And rushed inside the dressing room and said to herself inside the room while crawling up "I-I might have gone a little too bold with this one…and what was up with his reaction? Ah...."
I finally managed to find my voice, though it came out a bit more strained than I intended and said to her while she was still inside. "N-no, it's not that. You look… really hot. Really."
She blushed deeply, her earlier confidence faltering for a moment. "thanks but stop! … but I m glad you liked it"
There was a moment of silence
She quickly retreated into the dressing room, clearly flustered. I couldn't blame her—I was feeling pretty flustered myself. That last dress had been… something else.
A few minutes later, Mei came out, back in her original outfit, but still looking a bit embarrassed. "I think I've had enough of trying on dresses for today," she said, her voice a bit shaky.
I nodded, trying to act like I wasn't still reeling from what I'd just seen. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea."
I bought her the first 2 dresses ,she at first insisted on paying it herself but later agreed.
After that we left the women's section, walking side by side through the mall. The tension from earlier had eased, replaced by a comfortable silence as we headed to the next part of our day. But the memory of Mei in that dress lingered in my mind, leaving me more flustered than I cared to admit.
After wrapping up their shopping, Mei and I decided to grab a some popcorns before heading to the movie. The anticipation was building, and I could feel a mix of excitement and nervousness buzzing in the air. We settled into the theater just as the lights dimmed, casting a warm glow across the rows of seats.
The movie started with a light-hearted romantic comedy vibe, full of laughs and awkward moments between the leads, which mirrored our own situation a little too well. Mei and I exchanged glances and chuckles, the atmosphere between us comfortable yet charged with something unspoken.
As the film progressed, the romance deepened, with scenes that were sweet but also provocatively teasing. The main characters shared a moment where they were inches away from each other, and I could feel Mei shifting slightly beside me. I glanced at her, and our eyes met for a split second longer than usual before we both looked away, almost in sync.
At one point, the female lead in the movie playfully teased the male lead, who was clearly flustered. Mei leaned closer to me, whispering, "You think he'd survive a day with me teasing him like that?"
I swallowed, trying to sound nonchalant. "I think he'd be a goner. You'd have him blushing non-stop."
Mei smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. "And what about you, Izumi? How much teasing can you handle?"
Her question hung in the air for a moment, and I could feel my face heat up. "Depends on the kind of teasing," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh?" Mei's smile widened, leaning a bit closer. "And what kind do you think I specialize in?"
My heart started racing hearing her question I said to myself"why is mei so looking bold and cute today...it seems as if she is my girlfriend..."
The tension between us was palpable, and I found myself at a loss for words, the playful banter turning into something more intense. The movie continued, but my focus was divided between the screen and Mei, who seemed to be enjoying how flustered I was getting.
During one of the more romantic scenes, where the leads were confessing their feelings in the rain, Mei sighed softly. "It's always the rain, isn't it? Makes everything feel so much more dramatic."
I nodded, my thoughts scattered. "Yeah, there's something about it... like it washes away everything else, leaving just the two of them."
She looked at me, her gaze softening. "Would you ever do something like that? Confess in the rain?"
I thought about it, the idea both appealing and nerve-wracking. "Maybe... if the moment was right."
Mei seemed to ponder this, then leaned back in her seat, her eyes still on me. "You know, Izumi, I think you'd be the type to get all awkward and fumble through it, but it'd be endearing."
I chuckled nervously. "Thanks for the vote of confidence.but I wouldn't let my lover to get wet in the rain "
"Hey, it's not a bad thing. It's cute," she said, her tone light but with a hint of sincerity that caught me off guard.
As the movie reached its more intense scenes, with the characters dealing with their own internal conflicts, I could feel Mei's arm brush against mine. The subtle contact sent a shiver down my spine, and I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She seemed engrossed in the movie, but there was a small, almost imperceptible smile on her lips.As the movie went there was an intense scene and mei clinged to me . My arm was touching her chest . I was totally flustered by that feeling that I forgot to concentrate on the movie ,she kind of looked like she was comfortable clinging to me . But is it just my imagination?
The atmosphere grew heavier as the movie delved into deeper emotions, the leads grappling with their feelings. In one particularly steamy scene, the tension between the characters reached a boiling point, and I could feel my own heartbeat quicken. Mei shifted beside me again, and this time, she leaned slightly into me, her shoulder resting against mine.
I didn't move, letting the warmth of her presence seep into me. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of the movie, the closeness of Mei, and the realization that this wasn't just any ordinary hangout. There was something more here, something neither of us had acknowledged yet.
When the movie ended, the lights slowly came back on, and I blinked, trying to reorient myself. Mei stretched her arms above her head, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "That was a pretty intense movie, huh?"
"Yeah," I agreed, still feeling the aftereffects of the emotions it had stirred up. "Intense, but... good."
She glanced at me, her eyes catching mine. "Did you enjoy it?"
I nodded, my voice a bit quieter than usual. "Yeah, I did."
Mei asked me "Izumi do you like being kissed?"
I was flattered by her question and replied with a blush "wait why do you ask? ".
She replied "just asking" with a silly smile.
There was a moment of silence between us, filled with unspoken thoughts and feelings. Then Mei grinned, breaking the tension. "I guess that means our next movie hangout should be something lighter. Can't have you getting too emotional on me, Izumi."
I laughed, the tension finally easing. "Yeah, wouldn't want that."
We stood up, the spell of the movie finally breaking as we left the theater. But even as we walked out, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. I wasn't sure what it meant yet, but I knew things wouldn't be the same after today.I kind of felt Mei trying to get closer to me ,but it could just be because she wants to be my best friend,like why would such a beautiful girl fall in love with such a loser.
As we stepped out of the movie theater, the warm afternoon sun greeted us, casting long shadows on the pavement. I checked my watch—it was around 2 PM, and we still had plenty of time before the day was over. I noticed Mei stretching, a satisfied look on her face after the movie.
"You know," I began, trying to come up with something that would keep the good vibes going, "how about I treat you to some ice cream? My treat."
Mei glanced at me with a playful smirk. "Ice cream? Really, Izumi? You trying to make me fat?"
I rolled my eyes, chuckling. "Come on, Mei. You could use a little sweetness after that intense movie. Besides, I won't take no for an answer."
She put her hands on her hips, pretending to think it over. "Hmm, I don't know…"
I cut her off, already heading toward the nearest ice cream stand. "Too late, I'm getting it!"
"Fine, fine. atleast let me pay," she called after me, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Nope it's my treat" I went off to my buy two ice creams
"But don't think this means you've won anything." She said to herself
I waved her off, smiling as I approached the vendor. After ordering two cones, I made my way back to Mei, who was waiting patiently by the entrance of the mall. I handed her one of the cones, which she accepted with a grin.
"Thanks, Izumi," she said, taking a small bite. "You really do know how to sweeten someone up."
"Just looking out for you," I replied, taking a bite of my own ice cream. "So, what do you say?. I have some rizz don't I?"
She started laughing" you and rizz? " she continued this time in a little serious tone while looking away from me "if it were true you might have understood those"
"What do you mean ?" I asked
" Want to head to the park and relax a bit?" She said trying not to reply to my question.
"Sure, sounds like a plan," Mei agreed, still enjoying her ice cream.
We started walking toward the park, chatting about random things and laughing about the movie's funniest moments. As we strolled, Mei began to say something, her tone suddenly becoming softer, more personal.
"You know, Izumi, you're really..." She paused, a sweet smile on her lips as she looked at me. "I think I lik-"
Hearing her I was taken aback ,I think I knew exactly what she was about to say but I didn't believe it.
She continued after a short pause "like-".
But before she could finish her sentence, an overwhelming, oppressive presence washed over us. The air grew heavy, and I felt an icy chill run down my spine, a sensation so intense that I instinctively froze. My heart skipped a beat—this was unlike anything I had ever felt before. Even Mei's expression changed, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a look of concern.
I didn't have time to process it fully. "Mei... did you feel that?"
"Yeah," she replied, her voice serious. "This isn't normal. Even for a kaiju, this presence is... too much. It's feel like 'their' aura along with an overwhelming kaiju"
I nodded, swallowing hard. For someone like me who normally doesn't pick up on the presence of hidden kaijus, this was terrifyingly powerful. Mei didn't waste any time. She quickly activated her time pause barrier, freezing everything around us except for the two of us. The world fell silent, leaving only the sound of our breathing as we prepared ourselves.
"Izumi, stay close," Mei instructed, her eyes scanning the area. "I'll take a higher vantage point."
With that, Mei leaped gracefully onto a nearby electric pole, balancing perfectly on both legs as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Even from such a height, she looked cool and composed and was standing as if she were to said standing on the ground with no balance loss, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area for the source of the presence.
I began to look around as well, trying to pinpoint where this massive energy was coming from. The streets were eerily empty under the time pause, but the sense of dread lingered in the air, almost suffocating.
From her perch, Mei called down to me, "Izumi, can you see anything? The source seems to be moving, but it's hard to tell where it's coming from."
I shook my head, feeling increasingly uneasy. "Nothing yet. But this thing... it's like it's everywhere. It doesn't feel like a typical kaiju."
Mei frowned, her eyes narrowing. "This is bad. It's not just a kaiju ,along with them we might also have to face some even powerful being" she continued"so be on your guard"
She scanned the horizon once more before spotting something in the distance. Her gaze hardened, and without another word, she jumped off from the pole, landing gracefully on the ground a few yards away. The moment her feet touched the ground, she darted north, her speed and agility unmatched.
"Mei,wait for me!" I called out, but she was already on the move. Without a second thought, I took off after her, my legs pumping as I tried to keep up. The air around us seemed to grow thicker with each step, the oppressive presence looming ever closer.
Mei was a good distance ahead of me, her figure barely visible as she sprinted through the deserted streets. I could only just keep up with her, my mind racing as I tried to figure out what we were dealing with. Whatever this was, it was unlike anything we had encountered before, and the thought of what lay ahead filled me with both dread and determination. I had to keep up with her. We had to figure this out, together.
As I ran, I couldn't shake the feeling of the intensive feel of the aura that was still around.
To be continued...