*(Y/N)'s POV*
That Afternoon
Location: Haneoka Front Gates
Well, I'm happy now. Ran confessed her love to me.
She had to go home immediately after that because of her dad.
Her dad must be protective. If I want to date Ran without any problems, eventually, he'll have to know.
Oh, boy. Strict parents are certainly one place that I shine at getting along with... NOT!
I shiver at the thought. But...
If it's for Ran, I'll do it!
...But first things first, I need to find--
My thoughts were interrupted by a girl's voice.
"My, my, who do we have here, a lost kitten?"
I turned around to see Kaoru-kun.
"Oh, Kaoru-kun! You're going home late."
"Ahh," she said. "My faithful followers adored me to no end. I could not abandon them..."
Does Kaoru-kun really have so many followers that she can't leave?
I don't believe it, but at the same time, I do believe it.
"Yeah, my followers. More diverse than a fruits basket... ahh, how fleeting..."
"Hrmm, not sure what either of those mean, Kaoru-kun..."
"They mean... that we should walk together. I fear I may arouse attention once more."
"Uhh, sure," I said, beginning to walk with her.
Location: Near Haneoka High
"Hey, so, Kaoru-kun. I'd like to thank you from before. To put it bluntly, you saved our behinds."
"Oh? How so? I simply acted as I would to a friend."
"Well, we would've been stuck in Shibuya. We wouldn't have enough to take the subway... or a taxi... Just for a really nasty burger."
"Oh, do you mean Burger Buddy?" Kaoru-kun said. "WcDonald's is much more fleeting."
"I'll say... So thank you. I should thank Kokoro, too! Do you know where she is?"
"Why, as fate would have it, I am on my way to see her at her house. We are part of a band."
"A band? Really?" I asked. "Kaoru-kun, you're part of a band?"
"Yes, I am. With all my closest friends... Come now, come hither."
Kaoru-kun is something else.
May Babanbo-sama bless whoever's part of her band. They must live interesting lives...
* * * *
Location: Tsurumaki Residence, Outside
"Whoaaaaa," I said, looking up at the huge mansion nearby. "Who lives there?"
"Our dear Kokoro," Kaoru-kun said casually. "Since I am with you, the suits will allow you entry."
The suits?
Ohh, they're those strange black-suited people with Kokoro at the restautant, and the ones who drove the limo, and the ones that helped us avoid being punished by our teacher!
Location: Tsurumaki Residence, Inside
"Yaaaaaaaay!" someone cheered loudly. It was Kokoro, followed by an orange-haired girl.
Kokoro stopped when she saw Kaoru-kun and I.
"You! You're the one from before! Hi, hi! Welcome to my house!"
Well, I certainly feel welcome. I haven't had such a glowing response to me stepping into another girl's house since... ever.
I kinda like it. This one girl has this whole house to herself?! The whole city of Shibuya could live comfortably here!
She's practically dripping with wealth!
"Well, I kinda just dropped by to say thank you, Kokoro. Without you, we'd be stuck in Shibuya."
"Huh? Oh! No problem! We're friends now, so ask me for anything! Ride on my ship, the KT Smile, or on my helicopter, the Smilecopter, or my--"
"Ahaha, Kokoro, I think he gets it," someone interjected.
It was another girl, standing nearby.
"Sorry, Misaki!" Kokoro apologized.
Misaki walked up to me.
"You'd better save yourself, fast. These girls are a handful."
Hm? This Misaki girl doesn't seem like the rest.
Anyway, I can't heed her advice right now. I have to ask them one last thing.
"Hey, guys, do you know the best place for a date?" I asked.
They all thought it over.
"Possibly Mount Everest," Kaoru-kun suggested.
"...Within reason," I added.
"Anything's within reason with Kokoro," Misaki added.
"How about... uhh--"
"What about the top of the Statue of Liberty in the U.S.?" Kokoro said.
"N-no!" I shot that idea down as well. "I say, death to that idea!"
"Then what about--"
"Maybe the Moon?!" Kokoro told us.
"Ahem. As romantic as the idea of "lunar love" is, we don't have a spaceship--"
"Hey! Please listen to meeeeeeeeee!"
Someone shouted out.
A blue-haired girl got our attention. We all turned to her.
"Kanon? Do you have an idea?" Kaoru-kun asked.
"Yeah. Chisato-chan and I visited a beautiful flower field before..." Kanon said. "It made me feel relaxed..."
"Ahh, Chisato-chan... How fleeting..." Kaoru-kun said.
A flower field? Not a bad idea... I've heard Moca-chan say once that Ran likes flowers a lot.
That sounds perfect!
I'll do it tomorrow. Tomorrow is what? Wait, I'm lost...
Ack, I've lost track in some contradiction in my head!
Let me ignore that odd fact, and say tomorrow, which is Sunday.
Ran and I will have the perfect date tomorrow! I've waited for this moment.
I left the Tsurumaki residence after thanking Kaoru-kun, Kanon, and the others.
I got help from the most unexpected of places!
So, tomorrow, I will put my plan into action!
Kokoro allowed the suits to drive me home. It must be nice living a life of luxury.
But I've got Ran, and she is the love of my life.
I'll show her how much she means to me tomorrow. She'll see!
* * * *
*Ran's POV*
Location: Ran's house
Stuck in my room again...
My dad wants me to do more flower arranging.
He's been much more understanding recently, but it gets overwhelming sometimes.
"Ahh, (Y/N)..."
I love you so much.
If only I could show you. Or... maybe I could.
Suddenly, my dad knocked on my door.
"Ran? I'm both respecting your privacy by knocking, but asserting my authority as your father by coming in anyway."
He stepped in my room. So much for my privacy.
"Hm? What're you doing, sitting at your desk? And who's this (Y/N) I hear you talk about?"
What?! No way, was I really saying all that out loud?
"Just... a boy... friend of mine."
"Oh, good. It better be just friends. I say, you're too young for a relationship."
"Dad! I'm almost a third year in high school! I can make my own choices!"
"Hm. Okay. Not now, we're not going over this again. I'll leave you alone for now."
He left my room.
I tossed my pillow across the room.
Why...?
Will I be able to stay with (Y/N), and be happy?
Well, I'll do whatever I can to be with him and stay happy.
To be continued...