Chapter 1.2: First Date

Back in the classroom, I found Suzuki asleep at my desk.

I tapped her shoulder lightly, and unlike Mrs. Kobayashi, she grinned as she woke up.

"Suzuki."

"Yes?"

"Why are you smiling?"

"I'm just happy to see my boyfriend waking me up."

I blushed slightly, quickly grabbing my stuff and heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To my dorm room."

"What about our date?"

"What date?"

"The one we're supposed to have."

"The one you haven't told me about?"

"Yup," she grinned.

A date. I'd never been on one, but I knew the general idea: two people, potentially interested in each other, going out to have fun and deepen their bond.

"So, are we going now?"

"Yeah, let's."

She stood up, and we walked side by side. I tried to assess her as we went, noting her behavior and mannerisms.

From the direction we were heading, it seemed she was taking me to the mall.

As we walked toward the mall, I couldn't shake the thought—why was she so eager to spend time with me?

I wasn't exactly boyfriend material, and yet, here we were.

"So, Nakamura what are your hobbies?"

"Oh, you know stuff like... um existing, and existing."

I don't actually have a real hobby though what I said isn't exactly a lie. I enjoy just being left alone and just doing nothing.

"Oh, I enjoy baking."

"Oh ok."

We both went quiet after I replied her. The reason I acted so dry is because I was still assessing this girl. It didn't make sense that she liked me.

I had been boring and frankly uninteresting, yet she was supposedly in love with me rather infatuated, so I planned to continue to be like this until she showed her true colors, but what if I'm wron—

"Nakamura, do you have any friends?" Suzuki continued abruptly breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I have friends."

"Are they in our class?"

"Yeah some are."

"Are they female?" she asked, her brows slightly furrowed.

There was a hint of malice in her tone. I lied because I didn't know what her reaction would be.

"No," I answered plainly.

"Okay, good."

"Why did you—"

Before I could finish, the platinum-haired beast appeared in front of us.

What are the odds I'd run into her twice in one day?

"What an unappealing encounter?" She said glaring at me.

That's my line!!! Why am I in this unfortunate situation? Did I do something wrong... Oh right I happened to bump into her, well let's just see what she'll do.

"Suzuki, why are you with this man?"

"He's my boyfriend and also he has a name, it's Nakamura," Suzuki glared.

As Suzuki said those words, the platinum-haired girl's eyes lit up then she looked at then I saw a grin starting to form at the corners of her mouth.

Why though?

"So, it seems I've met an important man. No matter because in the end, a man is still a man."

It seems this girl has a deep hatred for men, but seems she is more tamed than before maybe because Suzuki is here. I wonder what the cause of her hatred could be.

"Well, we would like to continue our date?" Suzuki rolled her eyes.

Why is Suzuki being hostile? Is there tension between her and this girl? Maybe I was looking too deep into it, I mean we are having a date so that might be the reason for the anger.

"Ok see you too later especially you, Mr. Important Man." The platinum-haired girl left grinning at Suzuki and me—specifically me.

Why is she intrigued by me? I'm sure it leads back to what that lady said on the first day.

"Let's continue our date," Suzuki grinned cheerfully.

We continued walking to the mall without a hitch. I was actually surprised that Suzuki wasn't surrounded by her friends, she was quite the social magnet in class. She was even on par with Kagura who was friends with everyone.

You could say it was bad luck that she was my seatmate. Most of the time that I came back from break; my seat was quite crowded.

At any rate, I had gotten used to it, I mean it was not like I had many friends that would come to visit—in fact I had only one that wasn't from the class.

Enough with the negative talk, I have four friends, and I even have a girlfriend so that is at least good enough.

We got to the mall, just from outside it looked glamourous but on stepping inside it was something else.

The air conditioning was neither too cold nor too warm, it was basically perfect.  I expected Suzuki to say something, but she was just quiet.

Even after we entered the mall, Suzuki didn't say where we were going, and unfortunately, the school map didn't explain the inside. It had left me—the reader hanging.

Talk about useless!

Though I wasn't angry, I mean, the mall was five stories, and I was happy to discover it myself.

From boutiques to general-purpose stores, I was in awe, as I'd never been to the mall.

Even though I had memorized the map, I had only gone to the dorms, the school, and the convenience store.

We kept walking as I silently admired the place, until the plant behind ruffled slightly—most people wouldn't hear it.

Is someone following me? It seems Suzuki hasn't noticed, I'll humor them. Let's see what they want. What if it's a stalker?

I mean Suzuki was popular, but I doubt with all the school's cameras that they wouldn't notice, I mean they boasted about safety.

After some more walking around, Suzuki took me to a café on the third floor named Palate.

She took me to a seat by the window. Her friends were on the table.

So she brought her friends. Well that's ok I guess.

After we sat down, they went to discuss make-up and other feminine subjects, I kept quiet following one of the best principles of life; Do not speak until spoken to.

I may or may not have adopted that principle because of a certain white-haired girl who told me to die.

After a while a friend that was supposedly called Aiko spoke to me.

"You've been really quiet why don't you join? Don't tell us you're scared?"

This is my chance to truly assess Suzuki. If I flirt with her friends, will she react?

"Why won't I be nervous when there are so many beautiful girls in front of me?"

This was the best I could come up with that wouldn't blatantly show that I was flirting.

As I said that, Suzuki's two friends blushed momentarily. It was cheesy but should be more than enough for a Japanese adolescent female, at least one that hadn't dated yet.

As I said those words, Suzuki looked at me, keeping her expression neutral as if saying, 'Do your worst.'

I backed down after that but still behaved as sociable as possible. It's not like I can't be sociable; it's just I hate the spotlight.

"Nakamura, what's your favorite show?" the girl named 'Aiko' asked.

"I prefer books than TV shows."

"Is that so?" she stared intensely at me.

"Yeah."

"I find it hard to believe that someone that's my age doesn't watch TV shows."

"Yeah, for real. Are you sure you're a first-year high schooler," Suzuki's second friend agreed.

"Trust me I am."

"I highly doubt it," Suzuki's two friends said in unison.

"I'm more into novels than shows."

"Boring, like there's no way you're normal. Come on tell me the truth," 'Aiko' stated blatantly.

"I promise."

"Ok then tell me a novel you've read," she put her hand under her chin and grinned, thinking I was lying.

"A Certain Magi—"

"Oh I know that one."

"Really?!" I feigned interest.

"Well, I've watched the anime," she laughed nervously scratching her head.

"I see. What about you Suzuki?"

"Oh me, I've never been into that kind of stuff, I read books but not novels."

"Yup Aiya's super mature, the way a high schooler should be." 'Aiko' said, her eyes lighting up.

Suzuki's second friend nodded in affirmation.

The way a high schooler should be my ass. Just say that she's allowed to read books but I'm not.

After we finished talking, we all went shopping. I was not really into clothes but might as well get some outfits—then again it was my fault for packing a few clothes.

The place was called Hana no Keshiki. It was on the 3rd floor and quite large for a place to buy clothes.

The boutique was a shrine of luxury—gleaming marble floors, gilded racks, and mirrored walls that made the place feel endless.

Everything smelled faintly of flowers, a world way too polished for me.

While Suzuki and her friends dove into racks of intricate, overpriced clothes, I leaned against a wall, counting seconds and wondering how long we'll have to stay here.

They picked out their favorite clothes and swarmed into the fitting rooms, giggling and calling for each other's opinions.

Moments later, they emerged, each wearing something that seemed to glow extravagantly.

Suzuki stepped out first, wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her figure perfectly. I couldn't help but grin—pervertedly so.

"You look amazing," I said, honestly.

Suzuki friends twirled around in vibrant outfits, each being equally eye-catching.

"How do we look?" 'Aiko' asked her hands on her hips, beaming.

"You all look great," I said, trying to sound convincing. Honestly, I'm not a clothes person.

I cleared my throat, feeling a wave of discomfort as the person tailing was still behind us.

"Uh, I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom."

The girls didn't seem to mind, too absorbed in their fashion show to notice my escape. I walked away, to finally meet this mysterious person.

I turned the corner and entered the restroom, but they didn't

They didn't enter the restroom with me, maybe it's a girl. Wait don't tell me...

After I left the restroom, I saw the person waiting outside, it seemed my theory was right, begrudgingly so.

It was the platinum-haired girl, how was I so unlucky?

"Can I help you?" I winced.

"Let's have a chat."

Aren't you supposed to ask if we can have a chat?

"Uhh—" I said contemplating my answer.

"If you say no, I'll have no other choice but to kill you."

So, basically, I have no other choice but to hear her out. Let's just get this over with.

"Fine."

She led me to an elevator. I was surprised that we were not talking on this floor.

The elevator was quite cramped, and I may or may not have unintentionally inappropriately touched the platinum-haired girl on her butt.

It was firm and well-defined, like an orange—no it was bigger than that. Her figure resembled an athlete. It was probably why she could run so fast.

She squirmed around but she said nothing. I'm guessing because we were in a crowd though she seemed like someone who would always do what they liked regardless of the situation.

We reached the ground we were going to—the fifth floor, the rooftop—it was a garden. It was luscious and held the world's rarest trees—or at least that was what it seemed.

She led me to a bench and sat me down beside her.

"Nakamura, what are your intentions on Suzuki?" she asked firmly.

"Nothing," I said plainly.

"Then why are you dating her?"

"She's the one who asked me out."

"But you accepted her confession."

"It was the heat of the moment."

"I see... but Nakamura Eiya, I swear one thing," she stood up to leave.

 "If you try to harm Aiya then I, Takamine Hoshiko will take on you, Satou Gotou, and any other man."

So she's that Takamine girl. It seems she's serious about this but what does Satou Gotou, the school president have to do with all of this?

I feel there is something I don't know yet, a crucial detail. Let's try and get that information, I feel it's important.

"Why did you mention, Satou is he someone important?"

"..." She just averted her gaze and stared at the ground.

"Takamine-senpai, how is Satou involve—"

"Oh Nakamura what's up."

I was interrupted by Kisaragi, he seemed to be with a brown-haired Mexican boy. I turned around toward him and greeted him.

"Same old same old. What about you, Kisaragi," I grinned.

"Uh..." I turned back trying to continue my conversation with Takamine, but she already left.

After I exchanged pleasantries with Kisaragi, I went to meet up with Suzuki. She was angry that I left her and her friends. She led me back to that café.

"I'm sorry I just happened to meet a friend of mine," I said plainly.

"Was that person male?" she narrowed her eyes, focusing it on me—a hint of anger hidden under her voice.

"Yes, I can confirm the person was masculine in gender."

"And all you did was just meet up with that friend?"

"Yes, that was all I did."

Of course, this was a lie but there was no point in telling her until I figured out what was going on.

After our date, I just went back to my dorm room. I lay on my bed, thinking about what had happened that day, and started to drift to sleep until I received a call—it had no call ID.

In this school, the name of your account will show when you call unless you use another account but that's not possible as it is directly linked to your school ID. Even teaching staff abide by this.

The call couldn't also be from outside the school as the government has specific cell towers made for the purpose of this school. Moreover, the phone only picks up signals from those specific cell towers as the phone doesn't even have a SIM card.

Therefore, the caller is using a special kind of software, let's hear what they have to say.

"Wow, you picked up so fast what was that, three seconds? Don't tell you're not scared."

 This is definitely Kagura's voice. But why isn't she calling me the normal way?

"Why are you calling me?" I replied as plainly as I could to hide my surprise and shock.

"I want you to break up with Suzuki."

"And if I say no—"

"You'll get expelled."

How do those two things correlate? Needless to say, she's gotten my attention.

"Why is that?"

She cut the call. Now I had no answers. Her words echoed in my mind as the line went dead.

Break up with Suzuki—or get expelled. What was she playing at? And why was this so important to her?