Fast forward to the afternoon. Kaori and I spent hours talking about random topics—half of it nonsense, honestly. Time slipped by faster than I realized, and before I knew it, the sky had turned a soft gradient of orange and pink. It was already evening, almost 8 PM.
"Hey! Yuto! See you tomorrow, bye!" she said cheerfully, waving as she turned to leave.
"U-umm, yeah. See ya," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Bye."
As I walked home, her voice echoed in my mind. My thoughts swirled with every little detail about her—her laugh, the way her hair fell just right under the glow of the setting sun, her bright smile. How could someone be so adorable? So sweet? She wasn't just pretty; she was angelic. A literal angel, I thought, shaking my head as warmth spread through my chest.
By the time I got home, I felt exhausted—not physically, but mentally. My head was so full of her that I didn't even notice the slight chill running down my spine as I opened the front door. Tossing my bag onto the floor, I was about to flop onto the couch when the sudden sound of the phone jolted me.
Ringgg.
For a moment, I stared at it. Who could be calling me this late? After hesitating, I picked it up.
"H-Hello?"
"Hey, it's me, Kaori."
"H-huh?"
Hearing her voice again made my heart skip a beat, but confusion quickly took over. How did she even know my number? I racked my brain, trying to remember if I'd ever given it to her. Considering we were only pretending to date for her parents, I didn't think I had.
"How did you know my number?" I blurted out, unable to hold back my curiosity.
"Your number? Oh, remember when we talked earlier? I happened to see your ID on the table, and my eyes caught your number. So, I saved it. Convenient, right?" she said, her tone casual like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I blinked, processing her words. "Uh, okay… So, why did you call me?"
"Well, it's perfect timing! My parents just called, and they're having dinner at this famous restaurant tonight. They said we must be there. They're rooting for you, so there's no skipping this."
"What?!" I exclaimed, nearly dropping the phone.
I'd been looking forward to spending my evening unwinding in front of my favorite anime. Now I was being dragged into another one of her family's formal events?
"We need to prepare early and get a suit for you," she added, as if it were no big deal.
"But didn't you just buy me a suit the other day? Can't I wear that again?"
"No way," she said, her voice firm. "My parents would be disappointed if you repeated an outfit. We need something new."
"Ugh, fine. If you say so," I muttered, resigning myself to my fate.
That's just how it was with Kaori. Being a rich kid meant she could buy whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. She didn't even think twice about things like this.
"Meet me at the shop," she said. "I'll be waiting."
"Oh, okay. Understood," I replied.
...
At the Shop.
For once, I arrived before Kaori. The store was like something out of a movie—bright lights, glossy floors, and expensive displays that practically screamed, "You can't afford me." Everywhere I looked, there were racks of designer suits and dresses, each one more extravagant than the last. Even the customers here seemed to radiate wealth.
I wandered around aimlessly, admiring the clothes and trying not to look too out of place. I couldn't help but marvel at how fancy everything was. These were the kinds of things you only saw celebrities wear.
As I turned a corner, I heard a familiar voice.
"Hey! Yuto!"
I froze, my stomach sinking. That wasn't Kaori's voice. Turning slowly, I saw her—Hoshino Chi, standing just a few feet away.
"Oh, so you're here, K-Kaor—" I started, but my brain short-circuited mid-sentence.
"What?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"N-Nothing," I stammered, quickly trying to recover. "So, uh… why are you here, Ms. Hoshino?"
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my flustered state. "Shopping, of course. I needed something for an event."
Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be her? Hoshino Chi, the class secretary. My former crush. The girl who rejected me back in high school.
What an unlucky day indeed.
Chi's gaze lingered on me for a moment, and I felt my palms start to sweat. "And you? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Uh, just… waiting for someone," I replied vaguely.
Her lips curved into a small smile. "I see. Well, I'll leave you to it."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, trying to steady my nerves.
Before I could fully process what had just happened, Kaori's voice broke through my thoughts.
"There you are, Yuto!" she called, appearing from across the store.
"Oh, Kaori. You're finally here," I said, relieved to see her.
She frowned slightly. "What's with that tone? Were you waiting long?"
"No, not really," I lied, not wanting to admit I'd been wandering around aimlessly.
Kaori stepped closer, her sharp eyes scanning me. "Did something happen?"
"Nope. Nothing at all," I said quickly, hoping she wouldn't press further.
"Hmm," she said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, let's not waste any more time. We need to find you a suit."
And just like that, I was whisked away into the whirlwind that was Kaori's shopping spree.