Just something I wrote many moons ago.

Lemme know what you think.

Disclaimer: MGLN doesn't belong to me.

Bright Lights and Tokyo Nights

-Chapter One-

It wasn't everyday that I found myself walking down unfamiliar roads during a Friday night. Usually at this time I would be at home, curled up with a nice cup of coffee as I try to rush through grading the papers so that I would have more time to spare for personal needs during the weekends. This kind of rare irregularity feels strange yet refreshing at the same time and I found myself slowing down my pace in order to absorb everything around me. The colorful lights that light up the warm Okinawan night earned most of my attention however. They have similar flashy kind of lights back in Tokyo, but the atmosphere surrounding them were different, as strange as that sounds.

People rushed around me, lightly shoving as they headed probably towards a festival that was held somewhere around here, judging from the faint cracklings of fireworks. If I didn't already have a plan, I'd love to join them and indulge myself in heaps and heaps of festival foods that smelled like heavens and tasted like home. And besides, Okinawan crowds look far more welcoming than the folks back in Tokyo, I might have to drop by to a festival before this short holiday of mine ended.

As though wanting to stop my endless thoughts, my pale ivory coach purse vibrates in a familiar rhythm that was set especially for personal contacts. I didn't have to know who it was before flipping my phone and pressed it against my ear.

"Hello?" I said while stepping aside on the pathway to avoid being run into as I talk.

"Nanoha-chan!" I find myself wincing as the shrill greeting reach my eardrum "Nanoha-chan! Nanoha-chan! Nanoha-chan! "

"…I can hear you fine the first time, Hayate-chan."

"Ufufufu, I was just checking, you know— in case you're inebriated, half-naked and incapable of remembering your own name unless someone shouts it at you."

"That was ONE time!" and she's still holding that against me! God!

"Hahaha! One memorable time, Nanoha-chan. Can't repeat the past from happening eh? Anyway, are you there yet?"

Now that she's finally on topic, I resume my pace towards my destination, walking slower than before to concentrate on the phone "No, not yet, I'm on my way."

"Well, hurry up then, chop chop! It's not good to be late on a date!"

"A blind date…to which I have no idea how I agreed to this in the first place." My memories regarding the circumstances of when she asked this of me were rather blurry. It must be that sneaky tanuki's fault.

So when said tanuki gave a smug tsk-tsk noise on the phone, I instantly knew I was right.

"You owed me one, remember?" No, I do not remember, "'Sides, with this date you get to go to Okinawa for a week of splendid holiday with all expense paid by yours truly! How much more awesome can I get?"

Well that's true…but with Hayate-chan paying for everything in the first place was also suspicious on itself. Not to mention I feel rather bad about spending her money…

"…You're right," I sigh as I wait for the crossing light to turn green "But you'll have to let me pay all this off somehow," of course; it all depends on how this…blind date will turn out. If she sets me up with a troll, I'll chase her off to the ends of the earth.

"Maa, maa, that's for later. You just enjoy tonight, okay Nanoha-chan? Don't forget to hit me up after the date ends, ne? First dibs on all the juicy info!"

I roll my eyes good-naturedly at my best friend's words "Yes, yes, I'll call you later. Or tomorrow, I dunno. Later Hayate-chan,"

And after she hangs up with a cheeky goodbye, I flip my phone close and cross the street towards the blinking green light at the other side of the road.

The place we're supposed to meet at was actually a western style vegan diner. I had to double check the address Hayate-chan gave me because, really? A vegan diner? Hasn't she known me for at least 15 years to know that I'm not that fond of rabbit food? The place was rather nice at least, so that's minus one reason to get me running away to my hotel room and order a room service instead.

Sighing, I relent and stepped inside the diner, alerting the whole place thanks to the bell on the door. The maître d immediately led me towards the rows of tables placed by the windows after I told him that I have a reservation under the 'Yagami' name. The place was dimly lit thanks to the softly glowing orange lamps placed on the walls, and it adds so much to the ambience. Seems like this place was nice both on the outside and on theinside. More and more I look around, the more I want to stay here, regardless of the food choice. The change of heart makes me think that maybe Hayate-chan knows me a bit too well…

"Your table, miss." At the voice, I snapped my focus back to the kind maitre d before a flash of yellow caught my eyes. Sitting across what's designated to be my seat was a (beautiful) long haired blonde dressed in a loose black tank top with a silver necklace hanging around her neck, deeply engrossed in the menu she was reading. Trying very hard not to stare at how the necklace plunge low into the chest area, I open my mouth to speak—

Only to let out a small croak because my brain went entirely blank at that moment. No witty greeting appeared other than 'waddap' in my mind.

It was mortifying.

The maître d left around that moment with his shoulders shaking a bit. I knew he's laughing at me, I knew it!

It was during this time did I feel the phone I've been clutching desperately in my hand vibrates faintly, signaling a new text message. I flipped it open and glanced at the screen.

'I forgot to tell you, she's a pretty blonde by the way. Have fun! Xoxo Hayate'

…Yes, I've seen. Hayate-chan should have given me an early warning. The breathtaking view almost gave me a small heart attack.

"Oh, hello there."

Oh no.

"Hi," I met the blonde's eyes (oh wow, red?) with a nervous smile and finally sat down across from her "sorry I'm late. Did you wait long?"

Blondie shook her head with a smile that I swore light up the place a bit "No, don't worry, I just got here myself." She placed the menu book back on the table with a small shrug "This place was rather hard to find,"

"Tell me about it, a vegan place located in the middle of nowhere."

"I didn't even know they had vegan diners in Okinawa." Blondie rolled her eyes good naturedly and I feel the corners of my lips lift up at the sight "Trust Hayate to choose weird places to meet up."

This made me blink "Huh? So you didn't choose the place?"

"Me? No," the red eyes blinked back at me in confusion "If it was me, I wouldn't have chosen a place like this, honestly. Rabbit food." She added in a low voice.

"Oh."

My answer must have shown her how dumbfounded I was at her words because she asked back "Why did you think I choose this place?"

Maybe because you look like the typical model that eats nothing but celery sticks and would faint at the sight of a cheesy greasy pizza?

I don't know how to make that sound less insulting so I opted for the safer one.

"…because you look like the type who likes nibbling on a carrot stick."

And Blondie burst out laughing to my surprise. And it's a pretty laugh too; nothing like the snort-giggle-fart people usually lets out, but the elegant upper-lady-like ufufufu kind of laugh. I wonder if she practices laughing perfectly like that.

"Oh wow, no, goodness no. I don't really like vegetables. They're pretty bland."

"Me too. I mean, I don't like vegetables that much too."

She smiled at this "I kind of figured." And to that kind of smile, it's hard not to smile back. So I did, immediately forgetting about my horrible brain fart moments earlier.

"But that means we're going to have a hard time," Blondie said again, nudging the menu across the table towards me "everything here contains veggies."

"But it says here they have cheeseburgers."

"With fat-free cheese and patties made from lettuces no doubt."

"Ugh."

"And potatoes, tomatoes and probably bell peppers."

"Ugh."

"Eh? What?"

"Peppers." I hissed through clenched teeth while flipping through the menu. Reading through the lists of food on the menu works only on getting rid of my appetite "There're lots and lots of them."

"Don't like that too?"

Too. I found myself grinning at this point "Hate it actually."

"And I despise tomatoes. Let's just get dessert and eat properly somewhere else."

"Sounds like a plan."

Looks like this date won't be so bad after all.

We ended up eating a bowl of ice cream each (strawberry for me and mint for her) and shared a plate of a very gooey chocolate fudge cake. It was no wonder that I feel my body temperature drop uncomfortably when we step back to the warm Okinawan air. Other than that, I noticed that Blondie's almost a full foot taller than me as we stand side by side. And, she's wearing flats while I'm wearing two inches heeled footwear.

How irritating.

"Ready for real food?" Blondie asked as she typed something on her glossy black phone, fingers dancing on the keypad like one of those high school girls these days "I saw a good sushi place somewhere around here."

A thoughtful hum as I looked around.

Sushi was good, but that's the typical food you can get anywhere. It's a waste if we don't try out the local cuisine in my opinion. My eyes landed on the stream of people walking towards the riverside and an idea popped up.

"How about we go eat at the festival?"

"Festival?" red eyes looked up from her phone and blinked at me.

"Yeah, they have street vendors there right? They'll have foods too; we might as well try out the local cuisine while we're here."

"Local cuisine…wow, that's a great idea."

"Right? Now let's go, good foods actually sells out early." And without anymore thoughts I grabbed Blondie's wrist and tugged her to a brisk walk. If I had looked behind me at that moment, I would have seen a dash of redness spreading across Blondie's cheeks.

And that would've been a sight to see.