His Neighbor

Her eyes were like cut jewels that scratched you the moment you make eye contact.

When she asked me if I wanted to come in my mind froze as it instantly went to a dirty place, but I had to consider possible cultural differences as well as the fact she seemed to personally know Kagami before cooking up an appropriate response.

"Sure. Um... Thanks."

Describing her simply as a cutie would be an understatement. She was underdressed now but I could already tell from all the girls I've seen before their transformation; she's already this adorable without makeup how much more would she be with it on?

More importantly, so I don't fuck anything up.

"What's your relationship with Kagami?" I asked as she opened the door.

"He's... a friend." Her tone became gentler just now.

He's in the friendzone? Hahhh, that guy has always had zero interest in girls. Does she have the hots for him? What about him?

Let's see how long it takes him to respond to her. Only time will tell.

"Oh." She awkwardly shifted around to face me, wide-eyed. "I didn't introduce myself, I'm Amara...Amamiya."

She's the shy type isn't she? Cute!

But a Japanese last name huh? She mixed?

"I'm-

A girl popped up out of nowhere startling both me and the neighbor.

"Is that your boyfriend?!" She asked dangling her head out from the side of the hall entrance

"Claire?!"

So she knew the intruder.

"What are you doing here? How did you even get in?!"

"I got mailed a spare key. I'm spending the summer here, didn't Aunt Naida tell you?"

Cousins? Mmm. There is a resemblance. Claire looked like a lighter version of Amara, with different colored eyes, straighter nose, and plumper lips. Her charm wasn't anywhere as endearing but she was still cute in her own way.

More importantly, Amara-san looked visibly miserable, it's kinda of how funny how peeved she got as she just walked around the girl without acknowledging her further.

"Are you dating? Am I interrupting? Should I leave?" The girl buzzed around me.

It was kind of hard to see indoors so I took off my shades.

"He's a friend of Kagami's." Amara explained from the kitchen. She glanced at me. "Did you eat yet?"

"No."

Claire-san hummed as she inspected me, her brows squinting at my unrecognized face.

Amara's phone buzzed.

She fished it out and studied the screen for a bit.

"Kitahara Izanagi-san?" Amara looked up from the phone.

My heart thudded in my chest, did she know?!

"You're from Kagami's old band?"

My panic faded. If she was a real fan she would have noticed me much sooner, man chill out.

"Mmm. What did he say?"

"He apologized but he can't really leave where he's at right now to see you. He would like your number if that's fine by you."

Ah.

It's been so long ago, that I forgot. I had to change my phone number when my exes started calling me nonstop after seeing me on tv. All those bi--hes who tried to dissuade me from investing my time in music to give them attention and all the girls who broke up with me that would always try to dish screamed how I lacked ambition, was talentless and would end up as a bum- which was fine until they all started calling spitting a totally different tune.

"I'll text you my number, what's yours, I'll type it in."

But more importantly, I never told Kagami, and here I wondered why he never stayed in touch.

Why am I realizing this just now? How big of an ass have I been? He must've thought we forgot about him or something. Well, I don't know about the others but I haven't spoken to him ever since he left. As much as he crossed my mind, he was always an afterthought...

Wow. I really am a piece of shit, aren't I?

"Kitahara Izanagi? Why does that sound familiar?" Claire-san held her chin in deep thought.

As Amara saved my contact she casually murmured, "Isn't he supposed to be famous or something?"

So she was aware. What's more amazing is how unbothered she was by it.

"You are?" Claire's eyes widened at me.

"Are you?" Amara glanced at me.

Both girls seemed visibly curious and clueless. I think I'll be able to breathe well in this house.

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