Emergency Disguise

-----Yui's POV

Yui: "Hahh!~"

Laying down in bed, I think back on today, more specifically; Kaede. I was honestly afraid to ask that question, asking if we're still friends or not. But I didn't expect that reaction... And even after when we were walking together, she just ran off out of nowhere. I really wanted to chase her, but I caught myself before I could do anything. What would I have said? She easily grabs my attention, even grabbing me by the hand and shirt when she needs, but I can't even do that?

Yui: "...I want to see her."

Before, I was wondering if this is the feeling I was thinking of, but seeing Kaede shine so brightly during that run. I was left speechless at the sight of her, but breathless might be more accurate.

Yui: "She better join the club..."

Thinking that, I take out my phone to message Ken, messaging him about how the three of them plan on joining. If those other three girls are kicked out, then I'm sure there's no problem. I can already feel my heart growing warm just at the thought of spending more time with Kaede. She's so radiant, like I feel she can do anything.

Yui: "...Kaede."

I find myself touching my lips with a finger as I recall our kiss... I wonder if it's okay to see her tomorrow.

-----Kaede's POV

Once I got the message from Maria, I bolted out of the house, ignoring my parents' words, trying my best to not show my face, or in this case, eyes to anyone. I even went to grab the wide hat I tend to wear in summer to help hide my face. Maria texted me her address and despite the sun being out, I can already tell that it'll be dark out by the time I get home. Thankfully tomorrow isn't a school day, so this could all work out, but I'm preparing to be scolded by my father when I return.

It didn't take long to reach Maria's house as the same feeling I got when I was racing Yui overcame my body, like I was gliding along the footpath once more. But taking a proper look around, Maria seems to live at quite an expensive looking street, and taking a look at her house, she even has a gate that looks to have an intercom thing? Walking up to it, I press the button as a "beep" sound could be heard.

Kaede: "U-uhm!"

How is this supposed to work? Do I say something? Or do I wait?

Man: "Yes? Who is this?"

Kaede: "I-I'm!-

Maria: "Ah! Don't worry father, she's a friend. Come in, Kaede!~"

Just then, the intercom shit off followed by a buzzer as the gate opened up for me. I thought my parents were on the wealthy end, but Maria's parents seem to be on a whole other level. It almost feels wrong for me to step through, but regardless, I need to fix this problem. And so, I make my way through as the door soon opened to reveal Maria, waiting for me.

Maria: "Hey~"

I avoid eye contact, pulling more of my hat down to hide my face.

Kaede: "H-hi."

Maria: "Hmm? You coming inside?"

I kind of want to just do this out here, but looking at Maria, she doesn't seem to be holding anything. Plus I'm already being a bother by being here. I may as well...

...

A few moments pass as I finally enter Maria's home, still trying to avoid eye contact as much as possible, using my hat as best I can.

Maria: "Cute hat."

Kaede: "Th-thanks..."

Maria: "...Let's head up to my room."

And so, I'm guided by Maria as we soon enter her room. It's a lot more spacious that my own, but it's quite clean looking. No eye candy that would scream that it's a girls room. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this was her fathers room or something.

Maria: "Take a seat."

I end up taking my seat at a table as Maria went and grabbed some snacks from one of the cupboards before sitting down to join me. Even now, I'm still hiding my eyes with the hat.

Maria: "So? I'm sure that hat isn't to block out the sun, right?"

Kaede: "..."

Maria: "We're friends, right? You can show-

Just then, I tilt my head up straight, looking Maria directly in her eyes.

Maria: "-me..."

Judging by her reaction, even stopping mid sentence like that, I can only imagine that my eyes are still dyed in scarlet red... I guess it wasn't my imagination...

Maria: "What? Is this why you were asking about contacts? You sounded more like you were unfamiliar with them."

Kaede: "...I am."

Maria: "But you're wearing some pretty stylish ones! Makes you have like a completely different aura!"

Kaede: "..."

How the hell am I meant to tell her? It's not like I can just take out these "contacts." I'd need to replace my whole damn eyes!

Maria: "Where'd you get them?

Kaede: ..."

Maria: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "They're not contacts."

Maria: "Eh?"

Kaede: "..."

...

Kaede: "Hnnnn~"

Maria: "You're right! they're not contacts!"

Maria ended up shining her phone's light to my eyes to inspect properly, asking me to move my eyes around back and forth before removing the light.

Maria: "Normally, contacts like these wouldn't allow your pupils to expand like that. Plus, this red in your eyes... After taking a closer look, it's definitely a part of of your iris. I don't see any outline of any contacts either."

Kaede: "So-"

Maria: "So what in the world happened?! Your eyes are red, Kaede!"

Kaede: "I-I'm aware... That's why I asked about contacts."

I'm glad to know that we're now on the same page, but seriously...

Maria: "Hmmm. Wait there-"

Suddenly, Maria stands up before opening up a drawer where a mirror sat atop of it. She then brings over to the table, a few trays of what looks to be contacts.

Maria: "Right! Here we are."

Kaede: "These are contacts?"

Maria: "Mhmm! I use a bunch of these sometimes when I do cosplays."

Kaede: "Cosplays?"

Maria: "Ah! F-forget I said that!"

Interesting. Well, Maria sure is attractive. It didn't come as too much of a surprise to learn about that.

Maria: "Anyway~ I'm assuming you want something that looked like your eyes?"

Kaede: "Y-yes."

Maria: "Hmmm."

I watch as Maria scours over the trays she has laid out, ranging from all different colors. Some of them even looked to be more like cat eyes and stuff.

Maria: "Ah, what about these?"

Just then, she picks up a pair of golden eyes. It's a bit brighter than my eyes, but it looks like its the closest one out of the bunch.

Kaede: "Y-yeah. They look good."

Maria: "Hehe. You can have them if you like."

Kaede: "Thank you very much!"

Maria: "No problem~ But seriously. What happened to your eyes?"

Kaede: "I... I don't know. I took a shower and the next thing I saw in the mirror was my eyes."

Maria: "Hmmm?~"

...

We ended up sitting around on our phones, looking up for any clues online as to what happened to me.

Maria: "What? I didn't know that you can change eye colors when you're a baby?!"

But instead of finding answers, Maria seemed to find a pretty interesting fact that I didn't even know about.

Maria: "Hmmm, but nothing drastic like this."

Kaede: "I see..."

Maria: "Well, anyways! Did you want to try these on?"

Kaede: "...S-sure. But can you help?

With the aid of Maria, after she washed her hands, she had me lay down on her bed as she gently moves to place one of the contacts on my eye.

Maria: "Just look at me, okay?"

Kaede: "Y-yeah."

Her hand is so steady, but I try my best to only look at her, not trying to look at her fingers that are slowly approaching my eye. And right as I felt something hit my eye, I instinctively blinked as I felt a slight scratchiness under my eyelid.

Maria: "It's okay, blink. Moisten up the contact bit by bit. It's a bit uncomfortable at first, but it'll fade."

And just like she said, after blinking for roughly 20 seconds, the scratchiness soon dissipates as I could finally open my eye normally.

Maria: "Ahh!~ You look so cute with heterochromia eyes!~"

Kaede: "C-could you get the next one on?"

Maria: "Ehh? Can I take a picture first?"

Kaede: "...Kay, but don't send it to anyone!"

Maria: "Kay~"

And so, after Maria took my picture, she prepped the next contact for my other eye. This one was a bit more easier to deal with after knowing what it actually felt like. Again, I looked directly at Maria and soon enough, I felt the contact touch my eye.

After a while more of blinking, I had successfully managed to put on contacts! Well, at least with Maria's help.

Maria: "Mhmm! Yup, you look more like your normal self now."

Kaede: "Thanks."

Maria: "Ah! But you can't sleep with them on, so make sure you remove them before you sleep."

Kaede: "H-how am I suppose to remove them? Do I need some sort of tool, or-"

Maria: "Pfft. No, silly. With your fingers~"

She went on to demonstrate by putting on a contact on her own eye. She put on a red colored contact over one of her green eyes as I'm now hit my the same feeling that she must've experienced.

Kaede: "Cute."

Maria: "Hehehe~ I told you! Heterochromia is so cute!"

Kaede: "Y-yeah, hehe."

Maria: "But yeah, you just do this-"

And just as quickly, she gently pinched the contact on her eyes before slowly pulling it away from her eyes, revealing her natural green eyes once more. She made it look so easy, but I guess I have no choice. It's not like I'll be able to come to Maria every time before bed.

Maria: "See?"

Kaede: "Thank you, Maria."

Maria: "Anytime."

Kaede: "But, could you keep this secret between us?"

Maria: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "I don't want anyone to know about this... My situation."

Maria: "Got it. I promise. My lips are sealed~"

As if right on time, my phone rings as it displays my mom's number.

Kaede: "S-sorry! I need to go home."

Maria: "It's okay~ I'm happy to help. Text me if you need a hand with anything."

Kaede: "Yes, I will."