Chapter 19: An Anime Awakening…?

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The room was tense.

No.. not because of any grand battle, dramatic twist or intense emotional moment.

It was because Emi. Takeshi's mysterious, delinquent-esque girlfriend. was about to watch anime for the first time in her life!

Kaoru, Kaede, and Aya had gathered around like they were about to witness history. Even Takeshi, despite his overwhelming fear of being judged by Emi, had no choice but to sit through this event.

And the Narrator?

"Oh come on. Again? Another stupidly long, frustratingly dense moment that will end in absolutely nothing? Nope. Not this time. I refuse. I'm taking my third vacation."

With that. the omnipresent voice disappeared, leaving the characters to their own devices.

"Alright Emi." Kaoru cracked his knuckles as he grabbed the remote. "We're gonna start you off easy. No crazy mecha battles, no mind-breaking psychological thrillers, and definitely no endless filler arcs."

Kaede scoffed. "Why not just start her with a romance anime?"

Kaoru dramatically pointed at her. "Because romance anime requires an emotional investment! If we go too deep and too fast. she'll just roll her eyes and walk out!"

Emi leaned back on the couch. chewing her gum. "I'm still sitting right here you know."

Aya sighed. "Just play something already."

Kaoru smirked. "Fine, fine. We'll start with K-**!"

The opening song blasted through the speakers a cheerful tune about high school girls forming a band and enjoying their youth. The animation was bright. the characters were adorable. and everything screamed fun and lighthearted.

Emi watched.

The others watched her.

She didn't react.

Not a single muscle moved on her face.

Kaede was the first to break. "Wait, she's not even smiling. Not even a little."

Kaoru narrowed his eyes. "Hmm. Alright. That's fine. Let's change it up."

He switched the anime. This time. it was One ***** Man. Action, comedy, peak satire of superhero tropes how could she not enjoy it!?

Sai**ma punched through an enemy in one blow. Ge*os monologued dramatically. The over-the-top soundtrack roared.

Emi blinked.

Takeshi started sweating. "Uh Emi? Are you… enjoying it?"

Emi shrugged. "It's fine.. I guess."

Kaoru nearly choked. "Fine?!"

Kaede leaned in. "Wait! you're telling me that didn't impress you? Do you even have any emotions?"

Aya sighed. "I knew this was a bad idea."

Kaoru slammed the remote down. "Alright! Plan C."

Kaede gasped. "Wait wait wait! You're not thinking of-"

Kaoru smirked as he clicked the next anime.

The opening scene played.

A young boy stood alone in the rain.. staring at a grave. His best friend had just been taken from him. The music swelled with sadness.

Kaoru whispered "If this doesn't work. nothing will.."

Aya immediately groaned. "You're making her watch Your Lie ** *****?!"

Kaede facepalmed. "Dude. she's not emotionally invested yet! You can't just drop an anime designed to break your soul!"

Kaoru crossed his arms. "No one survives this anime unscathed."

Emi watched for a full five minutes.

Then she stood up.

Everyone froze.

She stretched. "Yeah. this really isn't for me."

Kaoru looked like he had just been personally betrayed by the entire anime industry. "No… way…"

Kaede dramatically collapsed onto the couch. "We failed. We failed as anime fans."

Takeshi sighed in relief. "Whew.. at least now I don't have to worry about her getting obsessed with anime like you guys."

Emi raised an eyebrow. "Yeah no offense. but I don't get the hype. I mean.. it's fine. but I wouldn't call it life-changing or anything."

Kaoru looked away defeated. "So this is what it feels like… when your entire worldview is shattered…"

Aya smirked. "Good. Now you know how I feel when you ruin romance manga with your dumb ideas."

Kaoru shot her a glare. "Excuse me?"

Aya placed a hand on her hip. "You know exactly what I mean. Every time I give you good feedback, you throw in some nonsense like 'What if the heroine secretly has amnesia and also controls gravity?'"

Kaoru crossed his arms. "That's called creative writing."

Aya sighed. "That's called making my job harder."

Emi suddenly looked between the two of them.

She narrowed her eyes.

Then she smirked.

"Ohhh. I get it now."

Kaoru blinked. "Huh?"

Emi leaned forward, grinning. "You two are dating. aren't you?"

Aya immediately turned red."WHA-WHAT?!"

Kaoru, without missing a beat, waved her off. "Nah.. we're just friends."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Aya's eye twitched. "You…"

"Dam.. friend zoned TWICE." As the Narrator tries to hold his laughter

Emi chuckled. "Oh.. wow. That was fast."

Kaede burst out laughing. "HAHAHAHA! Bro.. you just friend-zoned her AGAIN! before she could even deny it!"

Aya looked shattered. Her soul visibly left her body. "I-I wasn't even going to say yes.. but-"

Kaoru continued being completely oblivious. "I mean.. Aya's cool and all. but I don't see her that way."

Aya clenched her fists. "Stop. Talking."

Emi smirked. "This is the funniest thing I've seen all day."

Kaede wiped a tear from her eye. "I wish I recorded that. The timing was perfect."

Aya groaned and covered her face. "I hate all of you."

Emi stretched. "Welp. this was fun. But I think I've had enough anime for today."

Kaoru muttered under his breath. "She didn't even cry during **** *** in April… she's a monster…"

Aya sighed and stood up. "Come on.. idiot. We still have work to do."

Kaoru blinked. "Huh?"

Aya grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward his desk. "Your manga. remember? I'm supposed to be helping you."

For once.. Kaoru didn't argue. He sat down, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Aya, still slightly flustered from the earlier comment focused on flipping through his manuscript.

Kaede smirked whispering to Emi. "Okay. maybe they aren't dating… but you have to admit! they've got something going on."

Emi shrugged. "Maybe. But with how dense that guy is.. she might as well be in a slow burn romance anime where the confession doesn't happen until episode 24."

Kaede nodded. "Yeah. or one of those rom-coms where the guy's too dumb to realize the girl actually likes him."

Takeshi exhaled. "Oh god. please don't start shipping our friends."

Kaede grinned. "Too late."

Meanwhile.. Aya and Kaoru sat quietly at the desk.

For the first time all day. Kaoru wasn't being loud. He wasn't being over-the-top. He wasn't making dumb jokes.

He just… worked.

Aya glanced at him, her fingers lightly tapping the desk.

She didn't say anything.

But for the first time. she actually liked the silence.

And the Narrator?

"…Alright fine. That was kind of romantic. I'll cancel half my vacation."

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End of Chapter Nineteen.