A forceful first date
"I can't thank you guys enough for helping out with this mess."
Rise Kujikawa sighed as she stood on a makeshift stage, all her friends around her helping out, some putting away chairs, others helping with the electric wires hanging around.
Youske smiled up at her from where he stood with a rake. "You kidding? Rise Kujikawa makes a comeback and the first place she decides to perform is at the Inaba hill free of charge, of course we'd help out."
Chie grinned from where she stood, lifting a large crate. "Yeah, besides you are our friend, why shouldn't we help?"
Rise smiled. "You guys are the best… hey think you can hold down the fort for a while, I kinda promised to do some autograph signings and stuff."
Everyone nodded, Rise rushing off towards where a bunch of security personnel were holding back the screaming fans. Naoto sighed, leaning on the end of the stage, taking off her hat briefly to use it as a fan to her face.
"Even so, it is amazing that everything worked out as well as it did, no one tried to jump onto the stage, no musical malfunctions and most important of all, Rise seemed to have fun every second of it."
Yukiko smiled, standing out in the middle of the stage. "It must be fun though, standing center stage while the crowd is cheering your name. Makes you want to dance."
Yukiko reached out a hand to grab Naoto, dragging her out to the middle of the stage making her join in a childish little pirouette.
"H-h-hey, whoa, Yukiko Senpai, stop it."
"But I want to dance; don't you want to dance Naoto?"
Naoto blushed, trying to get loose from Yukiko's grasp. "Actually Senpai I don't feel the need to burst out into sporadic dances."
Naoto turned to their other friends, some looking at her with pity in their faces, others like they were seconds away from laughter, getting eye contact with Chie, sending her a pleading look.
Chie winked at her, getting up on the stage. "I'll dance with you Yukiko."
Yukiko, who had been making Naoto do a few more spins turned to look at Chie, smiling at her.
"I'd love to dance with my favorite prince."
Chie blushed. "We are never letting that go are we?"
"Why should we?" Yukiko said with a grin. "You are my dashing prince are you not?"
Naoto, who had rushed off the stage the moment Yukiko had let her go, smiled up at the two girls, as they embraced and started dancing to the non existing music.
A giggle made her turn around, Rise had come back from her fans. "Those two are so adorable together, I'm so happy for them."
Naoto smiled. "I agree, you don't have to be a detective to see that those two were made for each other."
Rise nodded sagely, before giving Naoto a small wicked grin. Maybe it was time for her to make her move for her other friends.
"Now if only the other two in our team who has feelings for each other would get a move on and admit it to each other too."
Naoto blinked in confusion, thinking over who was left of the group.
"Yuu Senpai and Youske Senpai?"
Rise gave Naoto a look of amazement, looking as if she thought it over.
"Ok, first of, while I admit that Youske Senpai probably has some inner closet problems I don't think that's an issue. Second of all no, I did not mean Youske Senpai and Yuu Senpai."
Naoto lifted a confused eyebrow. "Then who did you talk about?"
Rise sighed, rolling her eyes, before grasping hold of Naoto's shoulders pointing her gaze towards Kanji.
"Who the heck do you think?"
Naoto blushed a deep crimson red, trying to act as if she had no idea what Rise was talking about.
"Uhm... I don't think Kanji Kun would be Teddie's type."
Rise scowled and turned Naoto around; making sure the bluenette was looking straight into her own big brown eyes.
"Naoto as a persona user with the lovers as my arcane I want you to know that if you keep this up I will tie the two of you up together and throw you into a locked classroom and leave you two there."
Turning Naoto around on her heels Rise smacked her over the head.
"Now go and talk to him."
Naoto rubbed her head, still blushing and avoiding eye contact, looking worried over at Kanji who was finishing up with packing down the chairs from the concert.
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
Rise leaned forward. "Naoto... you do not want me as an enemy... again, lovers arcana... you sure you want to mess with me missy?"
Naoto didn't answer, simply looked at her feet, thinking silently to herself that it seemed her own arcana wheel of fortune must be in a reversed position this day.
She turned and looked at Rise. "But."
"No buts missy, go and talk to him, or I will get the rope."
Naoto sighed. It was no use running from this it would seem, Rise was being her usual stubborn self.
Taking a deep breath she walked over to Kanji kun, who noticed her, a small blush on his own face.
"N-Naoto… so… sup?"
Naoto matched Kanji's blush. This was ridiculous… and all Rise's fault. "uhm... nothing much Kanji kun."
Out of habit Naoto raised her hand to pull at her hat, looking over her shoulder, only to see Rise hiding in the shadows nearby the stage, smiling at her, giving her arm signals that were probably meant to give positive support. It didn't really work all that well.
"Listen... uhm... you can say no if you want but... would you like to... go out for ice cream sometime?"
Naoto blinked in shock as Kanji turned a dark tomato red, his voice cracking into an impressively high tone as he tried to respond.
"Ahem, uh, y-yeah, s-sounds cool...so, uh...Fraturday good with you?"
Naoto blinked in surprise. He accepted? Sure he seemed to be a tad flustered but he accepted. She gave a small smile.
"Yes… I am free both Friday and Saturday, whatever works best for you."
"C-cool, I'll, uh, let ma know-err, I mean, see ya at that ice cream place white the cute-ass mascot on Saturday?"
Naoto thought it over, remembering the place as well as the mascot, nodding.
"Yes I know the place, shall we say at around 13:00?"
"Yeah, sure, works fine with me."
Naoto smiled. "I'll look forward to it."
And with that said she turned and walked back to behind the stage where Rise stood like a grinning oaf, Naoto more or less collapsing on the ground as her legs started to shake.
"Oh holy mother of god that was the most terrifying thing I have ever done in my life."
Naoto took a few deep breaths, glaring at Rise who was still grinning.
"I blame you for this."
Rise giggled. "You are welcome."
Naoto scowled at her. "I hate you so much right now."
Rise giggled. "Silly Naoto you can't hate someone who has the lovers arcana, we are universally loved. Now come on, we have to get you something cool to wear for your date."
Rise dragged Naoto up to her feet, turning around to her friends.
"Hey guys, me and Naoto have a quick emergency we need to fix asap, is it ok if we leave you guys alone for a while?"
Youske smiled from his position, throwing garbage bags into the nearby container.
"Yeah no problem, we are about done here anyways, you guys have fun."
Naoto tried to object. "But- wait- Rise san, I don't need any."
"Don't be silly Naoto you are going on a date, you need some pretty duds."
Naoto cursed her lack of upper body strength as Rise dragged her off to her own personal limo, telling her driver to head straight for Croco fur in Okina.
…
No more than 20 minutes later Rise dragged Naoto through the doors of Croco fur, turning to the lady at the desk.
"Hi, do you know who I am?"
The woman gave Rise one look before her eyes widened in recognition.
"Yeah I get that a lot" Rise said, holding out five one thousand yen notes. "I need you to close down this shop for me and my friend so we can shop in private; we will probably be here for a little while, is that ok?"
"For you Miss Kujikawa, anything."
The woman took the money, calling out to the customers that the store needed to be closed down for a few hours. Luckily there where only a few women shopping, exiting the shop without much of a fuss.
Naoto sighed, scowling at Rise. "This isn't necessary Rise san. I don't need any new clothes I have plenty of nice shirts and ties at home."
Rise looked at her with a small smile. "What about something cute? Do you have that?"
When Naoto didn't answer, simply blushed and reached a hand up to her hat once more Rise nodded.
"I thought so. Don't worry, I promise it won't be pink, frilly or overly revealing. Idol's honor."
"But I don't need…" Naoto sighed as Rise was more or less bouncing on her toes. How she still had this much energy left after that musical performance she couldn't even fathom.
"Listen; accordingly to you Kanji Kun already likes me, why should I dress any differently from my normal clothes?"
"Naoto-kuuuuun, it's a DATE. It's supposed to be all cute and romantic."
Naoto sighed once more, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "You're not going to let this go are you?"
Rise shook her head. "Nope, we are not leaving before we find you something cute and fitting for the situation."
"Fine... but nothing frilly or pink."
Rise fist pumped the air in success. "I promise. Trust me, I know just the thing. Be right back."
And with that Rise's face disappeared as she more or less dived into a clothing rack. Naoto sighed, looking around uncomfortable in the very girly clothing shop, speaking up without thinking.
"I suppose you are going to try buying me bras and underwear too?" She clasped her hands over her mouth the moment she finished talking, cursing herself for giving Rise more ideas.
Rise came out from the clothing rack carrying a black cat hoodie with a sewn on blue collar and a zipper shaped like a bell.
"Naoto kun, you're a genius. Not that I didn't already know that, but...hold this, I'll be right back once more."
Naoto yelped as she suddenly found herself holding the hoodie, looking at it with a deep blush.
"What is with you people and your obsessions with dressing me like a cat? This is the Halloween party all over again. And no, not happening, I am not trying on lacy underwear."
Naoto was scowling now, trying to appear like she actually have a choice in this matter.
Rise came back from the lingerie department, holding a pair of dark blue boy shorts with a small, black ribbon and a matching plain bra.
"Don't worry, I promised nothing pink and frilly. Also, that's a cute cat, not a sexy one...not that Kanji-kun would object either way."
The grin Rise sent Naoto did not help in any way on her blush.
"You can't be serious."
Rise's only answer was to hold out the underwear in Naoto's general direction, making Naoto groan for the umpteenth time that hour alone.
"Listen, I know you are eager but I don't need any pretty bras or underwear, Kanji kun is not going to see anything anyways not after only one date... and seriously why cats? Why is it always cats?"
"Because cats are universally cute. But if you don't like it, I saw some dog hoodies, too. I was thinking of going for a German shepherd one, but it didn't match the whole blue scheme very well..."
Naoto sighed, getting a better look at the hoodie. "If you insists in forcing me to wear animal clothing I suppose I can deal with the cat thing… and of course it has a tail too, isnt that typical."
Rise giggled. "And sleeve paws! Isn't it cu-wait a minute...I just remembered, one sec."
Once more Rise disappeared into the rack, emerging with another hoodie, this one being labrador-themed with a bone in place of the bell, and a third one being light gray shiba-themed.
"See? Now you have options."
Naoto just gave her the most unimpressed look the idol had ever seen.
"No Rise... no Shiba shirt, and no unneeded underwear, stop shoving those underpants in my face Rise Chan it is not happening."
"These are really comfy, though. You gotta let those puppies breathe from time to time."
Naoto reacted to that particular subject like he always did, crossing her arms over her chest, looking around distraught.
"Hush, the clerk can hear you."
Rise smiled at Naoto's bashfulness. It seemed she still hadn't totally accepted her girl side.
"It's okay, I told the clerk this was a private matter. Seriously, though, how do they not suffocate under all those layers of binding? As a good friend, I think your ribs need some relief. That's why this is on the house, like it or not."
Naoto sighed, knowing Rise well enough to know that she was never going to let this lie. She scowled at her. "Bloody idols and their stubbornness."
Rise grinned. "In my profession that's taken as a compliment. Now go try on the hoodie, I want to see how cute you look in them."
Naoto snorted, taking the bra and boy shorts with her together with the hoodie.
"Fine, I'll try them on... but I won't like it."
"You don't have to try them right now if you don't want to... you may not remember but I saw your size at the hospital, remember?"
Naoto stopped, blushing.
"And the underwear?"
"Yeah that's Teddie's fault."
Naoto growled. "I'll kill that bear."
"Date first" Rise said grinning, taking the hoodie out from Naoto's arms, opening the zipper. "Now come on, try it on."
Naoto sighed, indulging Rise, dragging on the hoodie's arms over her shirt, feeling the hoodie fit perfectly over her arms. Rise jumped in joy, reaching out to drag up the bell like zipper, taking Naoto's hat and dragging the hood over her eyes.
"Oh my god you are the cutest thing ever, Kanji is going to be a bigger ball of a stuttering mess than usual."
Naoto sighed, taking off the hood so she could see again. "Listen Rise, I know you care, I know you mean well, and I know that you for some reason have probably already started looking at wedding dresses for me, but look, this is just one date, now you have made it clear, you are going to make me wear these underwear shorts and bra and you have forced this cat hoodie on me, now can I please go home?"
Rise pouted, having been looking forward to finding some matching accessories for the cute hoodie, but understanding that with Naoto baby steps would have to do for now.
"Aww, you're no fun...but alright, I won't keep you any longer. Just promise to have a good time on your date, y'know, chat, ice cream, all that fun first date stuff."
Naoto sighed in relief as she took off the hoodie, giving it to Rise as she walked over to the clerk.
"Yeah... I suppose... and you…" Naoto scowled, pointing an accusing finger at Rise's face. "I do not want you, or anyone else tailing me and Kanji kun this Saturday is that clear?...and I will know, you know I will know."
Now it was Rise's time to groan in agony. "Fine...just make sure to tell me how it went afterwards, ok? I can't wait to hear all about it."
Naoto shook her head, not amused by Rise's actions. "You act as if I am going to propose, it's just Ice cream Rise chan."
Rise giggled as she received the shopping bag from the cashier. "Well, with how awkward you two are, I'd say it's about the same level."
Naoto scowled at Rise as she got her bag. "You are doing this on purpose aren't you?"
Rise simply smiled and opened the door for Naoto. "Would you like a ride home to Inaba?"
Naoto groaned. "Yes please."
Rise giggled again, and together the two persona users headed back to Inaba.
…
It was Friday night. Naoto stood in front of her full length mirror, trying on the hoodie Rise had insisted on buying her. She was also wearing the bra under it, as well as one of her more comfortable silken blue shirts and standard blue pants.
She groaned, pulling at the hoodie, hiding her face. This was embarrassing. It was stupid. Why was she even doing this? Rise was insane, this was never going to work… was it worth going to the date in her usual clothes? Would Rise find out? Would she hate Naoto for not wearing the hoodie she had bought for the date?
Naoto didn't find an answer. So, she did what she always did when she was stuck. Taking off the hoodie and placing her trusted hat on her face she went outside her room, walking towards the Shirogane Estate's library.
"Grandpa? Are you there?"
Taro Shirogane had raised Naoto ever since her parents died when she was a small girl, he had seen her grow up in front of his eyes, proud of her intellect and never questioned her choices in dress or attitudes. But ever since they had moved to Inaba he had noticed a difference in her. She had gotten friends, started being more social, even taking time off of work to support her friends.
And now she stood in his library, clearly not wearing binders, blushing deeply, looking distraught.
Taro smiled at her, bookmarked the page he was in his book and placed it down. This was apparently serious. "Yes Naoto, what can I do for you?"
"I… seem to be having a rather distracting problem."
"All right… and what exactly is this problem?"
Naoto blushed and shuffled her feet. "Promise you won't laugh or think I am being silly?"
Taro blinked. "Wow this really must be serious… I promise, whatever it is, I will do my best to be impartial in any judgments."
Naoto took a deep breath, walking over to her Grandpa, sitting down in a chair across from him. "So… there is this boy… I kind of like him and…" Naoto blushed again. "He apparently likes me back and we are going out for ice cream tomorrow."
Naoto took a chance and looked up at her grandpa that was listening intently before she looked away again, continuing on with her problems.
"And we have this mutual friend who decided she wasn't going to let me go to any date without something new to wear that she figured I should wear."
Naoto blushed again. "And I suppose it's not really that bad, I mean it's not girly girly or frilly or pink or revealing or anything but… it's just so darn embarrassing and I don't know if I should really wear it, if I should just use clothes I normally wear, but if I don't wear the hooded jacket Rise got me and she finds out she'll probably hate me or something and I don't know what to do."
Naoto looked up at her grandfather who looked down at her with a smile.
"What are you smiling about, this is serious."
"I can tell… my little Naoto, growing up so fast, I can't believe you are going on a date, I am so proud of you."
Naoto groaned as she suddenly found her grandfather hugging her.
"Grandpa I am being serious."
"Oh all right… now you said you were unsure on the outfit your friend picked out?"
"Yes."
"All right, let me see it and see what I think."
Naoto sighed. "All right, I'll go get it."
Taro smiled and sat down again as Naoto walked out, wondering how a single piece of clothing could affect her this badly.
"Grandpa?"
Taro looked up at Naoto's voice, blinking at what he saw.
The black hood with a blue sewn on collar fastened by a zipper bell, accompanied by the ears sprouting out of the hood's top made him stop.
"Well Grandpa?"
Taro replied the only way he knew how. "If being cute was a criminal offence no lawyers could rescue you from the maximum penalty."
Naoto groaned. "That's what I was afraid of. That's it, I am returning the jacket, or hiding it somewhere no one will ever find it."
"Hey now, Naoto, come here."
Naoto looked up at her grandfather, still a blushing mess.
"Listen, you know how we in the Shirogane family does it… now, do you think you look ugly in this jacket?"
Naoto frowned, looking at the ground. "No."
"Do you think it's too vulgar to be worn?"
"No."
"All right… do you love this boy you are going on a date with?"
Naoto's face turned scarlet. "Yes."
"Do you think he will like seeing you dressed like this?"
"…definitively."
"Do you think he'll ridicule you if you wear this to your date?"
Naoto snorted. "No."
"Well then… I don't see any reason for you not to wear that cat jacket."
Naoto sighed. "I suppose you are right… thanks grandpa, sorry for disturbing you."
Naoto hugged her grandpa who chuckled at her.
"Don't be silly, my door is always open for you Naoto, you know that."
Naoto nodded, before turning around and heading back, Taro smiling as he noticed the small sewn on tail in the back.
Naoto again returned to her room, looking at the reflection in the mirror once more, sighing before finding her phone, sending a text to Rise.
When this date falls flat on its ass and turns everything into a mess I will come to your house and smack you for ever making me do this, I hope you are happy with making me miserable
Rise's answer came a few minutes later, and Naoto could practically hear her friend's insistent happy tone of a voice while reading it.
And when it works and you two officially become the cutest couple in Inaba, know that seeing you two being adorable together is all the thanks I need.
Naoto blushed deeply again, her agitated mind not thinking as she sent another response.
You are impossible and I hate you and I hate this stupid cat hoodie and nothing is logical with anything anymore and I blame you for this
Naoto took a deep breath, regretting the anger she had portrayed in the text. Quickly she sent one more message.
I am sorry... I didn't mean that... I'm just really freaking out
Rise responded quickly, apparently not the least bit offended.
It's alright, anyone would feel nervous before a big day! Does it help if I tell you that I never ever would've done this if I had any doubts about its success?
Naoto decided that the truth was better illustrated than tact… that and she was still annoyed at this situation.
No. no it does not help, because I see how you swarm over Senpai and that certainly isn't going to go anywhere
The fact that Rise's answer took some time to get into her inbox clued her in that maybe she had gone a tad to far.
That's mean! I'll have you know that I'm allowing myself to mess up sometimes in my own love life, but never in the love lives of others!
Naoto sighed. This dating thing was freaking her out. Best to stop the texting now before things got to out of hand.
I am sorry... you are right, that was uncalled for... I just... seeing myself in the mirror with this hoodie isn't making myself feel any more reassured… I am going to bed now… and remember, I don't want to see any people lurking behind bushes, house walls or in windows tomorrow, do I make myself clear?
A small emoticon of what Naoto assumed to be a cat and a heart came back with the answer
Don't worry Naoto kun, I haven't said anything to anyone and I have already promised that I will not go after you myself. Have fun tomorrow =(^w^)= 3
Naoto turned off her phone and looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She sighed. 'One date Naoto… one date and you will hopefully never have to do this again.'
…
The next day Naoto woke up fifteen minutes earlier than her alarm clock. She didn't think she had ever been this nervous about something in her life. She had been at countless police stations making speeches, been held at gunpoint by insane criminals more than once and been kidnapped and thrown into a TV.
None of these experiences made her as freaked out as she was at the current moment. Taking her time showering to make sure she didn't smell like the horrible sweaty mess she felt like she was, she went back to her room, sighing as she reached for the underwear Rise had bought her. The idol had been right; it was comfortable… and fit her to a tee.
Deciding to not drag this out any longer but to rather get it over with, Naoto got dressed in her new clothes as well as a pair of her most comfortable blue jeans, heading out the door towards Inaba central.
She arrived first, sitting down at the café, politely telling the man behind the counter that she was waiting for her friend before looking at her watch.
She was ten minutes early, Kanji was probably on his way. No sooner had she thought this before she heard footsteps, seeing Kanji walk towards her.
He stopped dead as he noticed her, blushing hard. Naoto groaned and pulled at the ear covered hoodie, regretting this already.
"Uh… hi Naoto… you look uhh different."
Naoto sighed. "Rise insisted."
Kanji nodded, Naoto noticing that he was wearing a white shirt and a tie, and seemed to have combed his hair.
"You look nice yourself."
Kanji blushed deeper, looking away embarrassed. "When ma found out I was going on a date she kinda freaked out. Refused to let me leave before I put on the nice shirt."
Naoto smiled. "Your mom cares about you… so… should we get some ice cream?"
"I'll handle it" Kanji said, stepping up. "I know you technically asked me but… it's the manly thing to pay for the food right?"
Naoto smiled. "If you insist… I like Strawberry, vanilla and chocolate… and pistachio if they have it."
Kanji nodded, and headed towards the guy behind the counter what he wanted. He came back a while later carrying 2 glasses of strawberry ice cream with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and a cherry on the top.
"Too much?"
Naoto smiled at his worried expression? "No… its perfect, thank you Kanji kun."
Kanji blushed, sitting down opposite Naoto. "So… I feel like I need to talk a little."
Naoto looked up at Kanji, who was poking at his ice cream, looking determined to have his say.
"All right… I am listening."
Kanji cleared his throat, taking a deep breath. "Ok… so… the first time we met… I thought you were a man."
Naoto didn't say anything, just let Kanji talk.
"And it made me very confused, because you had come up to me, and said you where interested in me and wanted to meet up with me the next day."
Naoto looked up at Kanji who didn't meet her gaze, but looked at the table, a red blush on his cheeks.
"I was so confused the next day, and while we walked around my mind went a mile a minute. Do I like guys? Do I like this guy in particular? What is wrong with me?"
Kanji sighed. "And then Namatame came and threw me into the TV… has anyone told you about the others shadows?"
Naoto shook her head under her hoodie. "No, I never asked. I figured it wasn't my place to pry."
Kanji nodded. "I came in as number 5… Senpai never had a shadow, Youske Senpai apparently had some lingering issues after having moved to this small town after living in the city… as for Chie Senpai and Yukiko Senpai I can only guess, but Youske says they have gotten a lot closer since they got their persona's and Yukiko is always the one who starts groaning when Teddy brings up scoring with a hot stud, so I suppose I can guess the general theme of their shadows… Mine was a flamboyant fop running around in a towel in a steam house making innuendo jokes."
Naoto momentarily choked on her ice cream as that mental image, trying hard to not look like she was half between dying of laughter and choking on strawberry ice cream, waving her hand at Kanji who didn't seem to put out about this reaction.
"Yeah I know, you can imagine how good I reacted to it, right? Basically all my life I have gotten close to a girl I always got the same reactions. You sew? That's not manly, but you're a guy, you don't act like a guy. Kanji sighed. After a while I just figured that girls where annoying… and then you showed up, this dude who made my heart skip a beat and made me a confused mess."
Kanji sighed. "I accepted my shadow… after punching it in the face, saying the truth… that I was simply overly terrified of rejections. Genders didn't matter."
Kanji took a bite of his melting ice cream, continuing on. Fast forward a little… you pulling that stupid stunt and getting yourself kidnapped. Naoto winched, taking another spoon of ice cream to get away from having to explain her actions.
"We entered the TV, found you… and figured out your secret."
Naoto sighed. "I bet that was a bombshell."
"Well yeah… though no one held it against you."
Naoto smiled. It was true. No one treated her like a freak, if anything the group tried their hardest to make her feel welcome.
"I was still an emotional wreck though" Kanji said. "I was so confused by my feelings for you. Did I like you? Did I care that you where a girl? Had my initial feelings been because I had thought you were a boy? That was why I insisted on you joining the beauty pageant, I figured seeing you more… you know, girly… maybe I'd find my answer."
Naoto blushed. "Where you disappointed when I didn't show up for the bikini contest?"
"Well yeah, sure, course I was… but I didn't blame you… and you still won."
Naoto groaned. "Don't remind me."
Kanji chuckled. "Yeah I suppose that's a sore spot…" Kanji took a deep breath and continued. "With all of the investigation and end of the world thing I didn't think much over my feelings for you… but now that it's all over I figured out the answer to the question I had about you… that in the end it didn't matter what your gender was… cause… I really like you."
Naoto looked at Kanji who met her gaze. Blushing scarlet yes, but he held her gaze until she looked away, pulling at her new hood once more.
"I… feel the same way."
Naoto blushed, looking towards the bottom of her now empty ice cream glass.
"Whenever we fought I could always count on you having my back… and while that was true with everyone, you where the one I unconditionally trusted… and I too had this strange feeling in my stomach every time I saw you… I tried to hide it but… well… Rise doesn't miss much."
Kanji sighed. "No, she really doesn't… she can be kinda pushy sometimes."
Naoto smiled. "I'm not mad at her though… she was the one who told me to ask you out."
Naoto looked up at Kanji, blushing. "I… enjoy your company Kanji Kun… and I would like it very much if we could do this again."
Kanji smiled. "Yeah… sure, I'd be up for that."
Naoto smiled, getting up from her chair to walk next to Kanji, kissing his cheek lightly. She giggled gently as he turned beet red.
"A little taste of what could happen next time" she said smiling. "Thank you for the ice cream, it was lovely."
Kanji stuttered out a response. "It strawberry pleasure chocolate paid."
Naoto giggled. "I should get home before Grandpa worries about me… I had fun Kanji kun, I'll see you at school?"
Kanji took a few deep breaths, still blushing before getting off his own seat, nervously stroking his cheek.
"Uh, yeah, sure, no prob, see ya around Naoto."
Naoto smiled and the two gave each other a quick awkward hug before walking home to their own homes. When Naoto came home, she was met with her grandfather standing in the entrance hall, looking out the door.
"I didn't invite him home" Naoto said simply.
Her grandfather sighed. "Pity, here I thought I could finally meet this mysterious man that has captured my granddaughter's heart."
Naoto huffed. "Yeah, no, I do not have any plans of dragging poor Kanji kun here only for you to start blathering about stupid stories from when I was a kid. Now excuse me, I need to go to my room… and lie down for a while."
Naoto walked past her grandfather who smiled. 'Kanji kun huh?'
…
Naoto got up to her room, opening her phone. She groaned but sent a single message to Rise, before taking off her hoodie.
OK fine… you were right. I don't hate you. Don't let that get to your head, I am still wondering why the heck I decided to even wear this bloody hood, next time I am using my regular clothes.
Naoto had just gotten on her usual jacket when the idol messaged her back.
There is going to be a next time? I KNEW IT. Tell me everything, was he nervous? Did he dress pretty? Who paid the bill? You promised me details.
It was with a little bit of devious glee that Naoto answered Rise.
I didn't promise you anything; you assumed that I agreed to your terms. Now I am going to start on my homework, I hope you have a nice day Rise chan, I sure did.
And with that Naoto sat down, muting her phone and placing it in her pocket as she got her school books out. She momentarily thought back to Kanji's face as she had kissed him, and smiled as she opened her text book. This was going to be a wonderful day.
End.