"You are an extremely depressed person."
That was the first thing Pai was told when he arrived at school that day. "What?" He pretended not to hear what she had said.
"I said that you're an extremely depressed person." Retasu said gently.
"And… this is supposed to make me happy?" Pai inquired as he pulled out the hose.
"Perhaps." Retasu responded with a slight smile as she turned on the water. Pai raised his left eyebrow at this. Was she… flirting?
"Why is this good news?" He asked as he turned his attention to the garden. Retasu giggled, and Pai almost immediately knew what was coming.
"It means that you get to spend the next week with me, going to fun places."
Pai paused at this answer and turned off the hose. "I'm going to spend the next week doing what now?" Retasu frowned and furrowed her brows.
"Are you having hearing problems today, Kurogawa-senpai?"
"I sure hope I am."
"That's not a very friendly response."
"I'm often told that I'm not a very friendly person."
"So, anyway, where do you want to go first?"
"You aren't really listening to me, are you?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"My point exactly…"
Retasu had asked him on a date, and he had accepted. What?
He didn't know how exactly he ended up like this, since he had for many years, been avoiding this kind of situation. But, then again, he just couldn't say no to Retasu. Maybe he should've started to write down all the annoying things about her. Then, he would probably have a full notebook. Lovely.
"Kurogawa-senpai, you have ice cream on your nose."
This was by far, the most embarrassing thing he had ever experienced. And, he was going to have to do this for the next week. You know, because of the whole 'Can't say no to Retasu' thing. Damn. He'd rather be hanging upside down, naked on the monkey bars, screaming 'I lost my loincloth!' than be in this situation. He didn't even want to contemplate what color his face was right now.
"Oh dear!" Retasu looked at her watch and frowned. "I'm going to be late for work if I don't hurry…" She turned to Pai and bowed. "I'm really sorry, but I have to go to work. I'll see you tomorrow!" Hallelujah! I don't have to see your irritatingly adorable face for the rest of the day! I think I almost want to cry, I'm so happy.
"I'll walk you to your job." What? That's definitely what I didn't want to say.
"Really?" Retasu blushed, and smiled slightly. "Thank you so much!" Now he really wouldn't be able to say no.
"No problem. I'll do this the rest of the week too if you want." If he had a gun, Pai might as well have shot himself in the head. Retasu stared at him incredulously, and then a giddy smile broke out onto her face.
"You're really a nice guy, aren't you?" Pai somehow found himself offering her his arm, which she gladly took. Whoopee flippin' do.
"No way in hell am I going in there!" Pai growled as Retasu gave Pai a pleading look. What was she pleading for him to do? She wanted him to go into the most girly café he had ever seen. "Please come in for just a minute. Akasaka-san is the best chef in the whole world." She said softly. "If I go in there, it'll burn my skin off because of that horrible paint job!" Pai turned bright red. "It's far too moe!" He cried as Retasu stared at him. "You know some weird words."
"Retasu, is that you?" A red haired girl burst out of Café Mew Mew, wearing something that confirmed Pai's suspicion of a moe infestation. "Ah! Ichigo-san!" Retasu smiled as Ichigo blinked very slowly, staring at Retasu's arm that rested on the arm of this mysterious young man. And then, this Ichigo person turned bright red. "O-oh my! Is this your boyfriend, Retasu?" She inquired as she tugged at Retasu's sleeve. "We're not going out!" Pai and Retasu cried in unison as they both began to blush.
"Oh?" Ichigo nodded her head to the side slightly. "You're not?" She asked, puzzled by this. And now, Pai would have to put up with some ditz. "No, we're not. Now please help me get him into the café." Retasu hissed as she turned even redder. Ichigo quickly recovered from her brief moment of stupidity, and grabbed Pai's wrist. "No!" He growled as he attempted to pull away from them, but instead, he found out that Ichigo was extremely strong, leading to the result of having no escape.
Then, he just gave up. As he was lead to one of the chairs inside the café, he took a moment to examine the interior of the 'pink palace,' he decided it should be called. It was indeed, very pink, and also very full. After a few minutes of resisting the urge to puke, Retasu returned with a menu in hand, wearing and outfit similar to Ichigo's. Pai immediately blushed and buried his face in the menu, attempting to hide his face's color.
Retasu left to answer the demands of some of the other customers as Pai eyed the words printed the paper. Once he decided on a fruit tart and milk tea, he glanced over toward the kitchen, where Retasu was talking to some blonde guy who was leaning against the wall. Pai immediately started to hate him. After a minute or so, Retasu returned and he placed his order.
"Oh, and, by the way… who was that guy that you were talking to?"
"That's Shirogane Ryou. He's my boss."
"Oh, I see."
"I'm home." Pai called out as he slipped off his shoes. Not long after he arrived home, he was suddenly sent flying backwards, due to the fact that his youngest brother, Taruto, had felt the urge to tackle him. "Welcome home, Pai!" He cried as he stuck a clothes pin on Pai's nose. "What the hell?" Pai growled as he kicked Taruto off him and pulled off the clothes pin. "Do that again, and I'll kill you!" So, of course, Taruto did it again. Pai glared at him as he pulled off the clothes pin and watched Taruto run off, cackling once again.
"You've become soft." Kisshu commented as he slinked into the room and smirked, his hands on his hips.
"Shut up."
"Oh, I know! It must be a girlfriend!"
"Shut up."
"That's where you've been going the past few days, right?"
"Kisshu…"
"Have you kissed yet?"
"This is your last warning…"
"Ha. Then again, knowing you and your reputation, you've probably already done it. Heh…"
Soon afterwards, Kisshu's screams echoed throughout the house.