"NT-4021, are you going to the lungs? Can you deliver this note to your senpai? I'm sure you'll have no problem finding her." That was the request that U-1146 had for the young, red blood cell. Considering he and her senpai had helped her in the past, it would have been distasteful to reject him. After all, it was something that she did anyway: delivery job.
With the note in her bag, and an oxygen box in hand, she constantly looked around, searching for her senpai. More than once, she bumped into other cells and had to apologize respectfully. She came to realize how hard her job is, when she isn't 100% focused on it. Just as she was starting to get a bit irritated, she noticed her senpai in front of a glucose vending machine.
NT-4021 walked to the side and called out to her. Soon, the two were sitting on the bench next to the vending machine. After some small talk regarding how each of their work had gone since the last time they met, NT-4021 looked through her bag and handed the small note from U-1146.
"Here, your neutrophil friend asked me to deliver this to you. I haven't read it, since it would be disrespectful to both of you." Said the kouhai with an air of professionalism.
"Oh, thanks a lot! And don't worry, we don't really have many secrets. You know what? As payment, I'll read it out loud to you, since I know that underneath that strict exterior, there is a little, curious girl." AE-3803 chuckled as she opened the note.
"It's not that! W-Well… it's a bit like you said. But at the same time, I've been looking for you for a while! I'd like to know if, at least, it was for something important!" NT-4201 protested.
"Hey, AE. How have you been? Do you remember what we discussed after your kouhai and U-4989 left that day? I think today's a good day for that. Meet me at the Nasal hot springs for our d…" AE-3038 turned bright red and stopped reading.
"D…? Discussion? Debate?" NT-4021 asked, curiously.
"N-No… neither of those, it says "…date at the lake."
"Date? I thought you were just friends?" NT-4021 says calmly, as her curiosity burned inside her.
"F-Friends can have dates too, right? Yeah, yeah. That's what is happening, just a friendly date between friends." AE-3803 said rapidly as she started hyperventilating from the shock.
"Senpai, senpai! It's okay, it's okay. I believe you." NT-4021 said, trying to get her senpai to calm down. "Still, I thought you only go on dates when you become a couple, like me and U-4989." She casually wondered.
"I think we are both confus… eh?" AE-3803 stopped dead on her tracks, as her kouhai's words resonated through her mind. "Y-you, you, you and U-4989, a couple? Already? It hasn't been that long since we helped you!" AE-3803's head was spinning around due to all this new information she was getting.
"When it comes to true love, you don't get to decide what you want, your heart just speaks for itself." NT-4021 said with dreamy eyes. Clearly, she still was an idealistic teenager. Her fantasies of becoming a delicate damsel took the better of her when she said that phrase.
"O-Ok… that's a chat for another day. Kouhai, you need to help me! What am I supposed to do in these dates!?" She grabbed NT-4021's shoulders and shook her around, begging for help.
"Senpai! Stop!" She managed to push AE-3803 off, who pulled back sobbing. "It's not that I don't want to help you. It's just that… We just do what we always do: chat about our day, joke around, and maybe eat somewhere? We haven't gone anywhere specific to have a date, like Mr. U-1146 suggests here."
"I see." AE-3803 seemed to have calmed down. "Then, I need someone else to help me, someone with more experience! Let's see." She pulled out her notes and started to list out the possible candidates, as her kouhai gave her opinion on them.
"5100-senpai?"
"If it was hard to find you, I can't even imagine finding her, and time is of the essence."
"That's true. Eosinophil?"
"I think that she is probably helping Mr. U-1146, I saw them together as I looked for you."
"I see. Mast cell?"
"Do we even know where she lives?"
"I guess not. Platelet?"
"Senpai, she is a child."
"I know, shut up! NK… let's just skip that. Macrophage?"
"They do look and behave very lady-like, they must have some experience when it comes to dating, right? That sounds like our best option."
"I agree. Let's go, we need to find one of them! There's not time to waste."
The two erythrocytes looked around the blood stream. Asking around, they managed to spot Macrophage. They rushed to her without realizing that she wasn't alone. As the two got to her. They noticed her company.
"Hey, you two. Don't go running around like that, you wouldn't want me thinking you are an antigen that needs to be removed right?" NK cell said with a smirk, as she looked down at the two red blood cells, resting one arm on her hips. This made both of them back away slowly.
"Now, now. I'm sure they have a good reason to do this, right?" Macrophage smiled and tried to calmed AE-3803 and her kouhai. "What brings you here?"
"R-Right! Miss Macrophage. We do have a reason we were looking for you, but it's a bit personal." AE-3803 said as a slight blush covered her face.
"Yeah, she needs some love advice." Said NT-4021 in a casual manner.
"Oh my, that does seem like an important matter. Don't worry, I can probably help you." Macrophage smiled and looked at NK Cell, who just looked back, confused.
"You'll help my senpai? That's great! Now, I need to go back to work. I'll do senpai's deliveries too, so don't worry, okay?" NT-4021 bowed to the three cells and almost dashed away. Clearly, she didn't want part in this.
"Yeah, than…" NT-4021 was way too far by the time her senpai expressed her gratitude. AE-3803 then turned to NK Cell and mumbled "I-I don't know how exciting this would be for you, so if you wish to leave, it's okay."
"Huh? Are you asking me to leave or what?" NK scowled at the red blood cell.
"N-n-no, no. Then, are you interested in love?"
"Lo-ve?" NK looked at her as if that was an alien word.
"Don't pay attention to NK, she's just a bitter old lady." Macrophage giggled, which caused an enraged look from the Natural Killer.
"You now what? Just because of that comment, I won't leave. It's a boring day anyway." NK smirked at AE-3803. "Maybe this love talk will make it interesting."
"I see. So, the neutrophil you considered your friend is asking you out on a date. I think I get the idea, and why you're so confused about it." Macrophage said as she handed AE-3803 a cup of tea. They were in a small, private house's living room. With Macrophage sitting across the table and NK just leaning against the wall, looking a bit bored.
"Yeah, I just need to know what to do now. And… I would like some help when it comes to my appearance, dates are supposed to be special, right?"
"Oh, I don't think much can be done, since all we wear are our job uniforms, but maybe we can make yourself look a bit prettier, right NK?"
"You're the one who wears the cutesy dress and the complicated hairstyle. Do I look like the paragon of beauty and lady-ness to you?" She asked, a bit irritated. Going to the kitchen soon after, to grab something to eat.
"I know there's something you can help with. I think every lady should help another when in distress, right?" Macrophage raises her voice, but then giggles softly, motioning to AE-3803 and pointing at her lips.
"I guess I can give my opinions, that's it." NK said as she came back. The red blood cell noticed the soft make-up she was wearing, especially on her lips.
"Let's get this started then!" Macrophage said with passion as she looked at both of them.
They began to discuss what could be done to improve AE-3803's appearance. In reality, just as Macrophage said, there wasn't that much that they could do regarding her attire. Instead, they tried to focus on the things they could change. Macrophage made sure that her hair looked as cute and bright as ever. While NK, reluctantly, helped her with the make-up. During this time, AE-3803 asked both of them as they diligently worked.
"Uh, I know that Ms. NK doesn't understand love. What about you, Miss Macrophage, how should I act during the date."
"Mmm. Above all, you need to accept that this is a date, which means you two aren't just "friends" anymore. It's kind of hard to grasp at that concept at first. But it helps a lot when it comes to understanding the whole date situation. You don't need to be all lovey-dovey, of course. But you need to be confident, in the case that he opens up to you about his feelings. And be ready to reciprocate them, since you like him right?"
"Yes…" AE-3803 mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed admitting it.
"You'll be fine, kid." NK put a hand on her head, trying to mess with Macrophage's work. "I know the guy and I'm sure that whatever comes from his mouth, is sincere. You're a lucky one."
"Thanks, both of you, really. I didn't expect to be so supportive. Ms. Macrophage. Do you have someone you like?" AE-3803 asked curiously.
Macrophage giggled and said with glee. "That's a maiden's secret."
After around an hour of hard work and advice from Macrophage and NK, they were done. It wasn't much, but they managed to make AE-3803 even prettier.
"Thank you so much for this, it's amazing. You're amazing!" AE-3803 looked at both of them and bowed.
"It was nothing, you deserve to be happy, and if we can help you, we will. Always." Macrophage smiled and gave the red blood cell a soft hug. "Good luck."
"Hey, you should hurry. You wouldn't want your love to be waiting for you, right? Go nuts, kid. Slay that date." NK laughed after giving her support in her own way.
"Right. I'll be back, I promise, and I'll tell you all about what happened." She left running towards her destination.
"I'll listen to every bit!" Macrophage waved with her gentle smile.
"I don't care, but thanks." NK smirked as she watched AE-3803 disappear in the distance, then she went to sit on the chair, looking at Macrophage. "A maiden's secret, huh? What's my code word for it?"
Macrophage sat next to her and, softly, gave her a quick and tender kiss, chuckling soon after. "An assassin's secret?"
"I like that…" NK smiled back at her and returned the gentle kiss with one of her own.
