Makoto Kikuchi slid to the floor against the front doors of the agency. "One hundred twenty," she announced. "I counted one hundred twenty while I was running for my life. And I think I missed some of them."
"I take it you didn't get the chips?" Producer confirmed. Makoto shook her head.
"Just one," she muttered bitterly. "Just one obsessive male fan who joins that crowd. Is that really too much to ask?!"
Producer sighed. "Look, do you want me to just go get the chips?"
"No way." Makoto stood slowly. The crowd of female fans had slowly started to dwindle. Only a couple of the more persistent ones were still banging at the doors. Makoto gave them an awkward smile and shrugged as if to say, "Some important business came up. Please go away. Sorry!"
Producer shook his head. "You're the third person I've sent out to get chips. It's my birthday, and all I want are some chips. I just want my chips, Makoto..."
"I'll get the chips," Makoto insisted. "As soon as they all go away."
One by one, the last girls wandered away from the agency. When Makoto could see that they were all gone, she pushed open the doors again.
"Why didn't you just go out and greet them?" Producer asked her. "They are your fans, after all."
"One of them tried to steal my shirt," Makoto snapped. "Do you really think I was going to go back out there? They just get more and more aggressive every day."
"Sorry," Producer said sympathetically. "But, you know...I do still want those chips."
Makoto waved her hand at him. "Yeah, yeah...I'll go get the chips. If I don't come back, blame my father."
Producer chuckled. "Alright, then. Good luck."
"Thank you, I needed that."
Makoto closed the doors behind her and sighed. She was about to turn around and start her walk to the store, and was in the process of putting on her over-sized hat as a disguise, when she heard the voice calling her name.
"Makoto-sama?"
Not another one, Makoto groaned in her mind. She smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah, that's me..." She trailed off.
The person who'd spoken was a boy.
The boy blushed. "Um...I was waiting for you to come out..."
"Oh...well, I've been waiting for you to show up, so I guess we're even."
"You have...? Um, sorry..."
"Well, you sure took your sweet time."
The boy scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. "Ah...um, I guess I was just nervous...anyway, I was just wondering if I could get your autograph..."
Makoto giggled to herself. "Sure. Hey, what's your name?"
"Kenchi Nakamura."
"Nice to meet you."
Kenchi blushed again. "Y-yeah...you too..."
Makoto approached him. "So...you're a boy, right?" She reached out and took the pen and paper from Kenchi's hands.
"...Um, yes...unless my parents have been lying to me. But yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm a boy," he said.
Makoto giggled. "Just making sure."
Kenchi nodded. "I understand, I think..." He took the now-autographed paper from Makoto. Makoto smiled.
"It was nice meeting you. At last."
"I still don't quite understand that," Kenchi admitted. "You've been waiting for me...?"
Makoto shrugged. "Well, not you in particular. But a male fan, yes..."
Kenchi looked away. "Oh...well, that's me." Makoto giggled again.
"Gyaah...I've gotta go get those chips. Hey, I'll see you later, OK, Kenchi?" she said with a wink. Kenchi blushed even harder.
"R-right...um, goodbye...Makoto-sama..."
Makoto smiled at him one last time and walked off. She could almost feel Kenchi staring at her until she was gone.
She was so busy thinking about Kenchi that she tripped over herself on the way to That General Store that sold Producer's favorite chips. She was prepared to hit the ground, but she felt herself caught and lifted instead. She brushed herself off uncomfortably.
"Hey, thanks for that...I don't know why I'm so clumsy right now," she said, looking up at her "rescuer". The blue eyes that stared into hers seemed achingly familiar. "Well, um...see you later..."
"Wait a second," her "rescuer" insisted. "Makoto...right? Makoto Kikuchi?"
She paused. "Yeah..."
"It's me. Hokuto."
Makoto turned back around slowly. In an instant, her mind clicked and she suddenly realized why her rescuer had seemed so familiar.
"Right! I forgot your face for a second there," Makoto admitted.
Hokuto chuckled. "It's alright. I thought I recognized you."
Makoto nodded. "So, how are things?"
Hokuto shrugged. "Well, we've managed to find jobs...that's a good thing."
Makoto nodded again. "Good, good..."
Hokuto gazed at her for a moment before asking, "Are you busy?"
Makoto blinked. "Well, I have to go get chips from That General Store on the corner, but other then that, no..."
Hokuto turned towards the ice-cream shop behind him. "Want me to buy you ice-cream?"
Makoto blushed. "I-I guess...I mean, you don't have to..."
Hokuto shrugged. "Why not. What flavor?"
"Hm...do they have bubblegum?"
"Looks like it."
"Then I'll have lime, please."
Hokuto looked at her and chuckled again. "Good job being difficult. I'll see if they have it."
"Thanks," Makoto added.
Hokuto smiled and held up two fingers. "No problem. Ciao!"
Makoto smiled back and sat down at a table to wait. She'd been sitting down for about ten minutes when someone put a hand on her shoulder. She turned. The person before her also somehow seemed familiar—short, light brown hair and green-hazel eyes.
"Are you Makoto Kikuchi?" the person asked. Their voice also seemed familiar to Makoto. She nodded. "I knew it was you! Do you remember me?"
Makoto opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, she closed it again and simply shook her head.
"Ryo Akizuki? Does that name sound familiar?"
Makoto nodded. "Yeah, I knew a...wait a second, Ryo?! Hey, it is you!" Makoto stood. "Long time no see, huh?"
Ryo smiled. "I knew you'd remember..."
"Sorry, I haven't been very good with remembering people lately...I forgot Hokuto earlier too," Makoto pointed out.
Ryo smiled warmly. "It's OK. You really have no memory, do you?"
Makoto cocked her head. "What's 'memory'?" she asked innocently.
Ryo looked at the ice-cream shop. "Um...a new flavor of ice-cream."
"Oh, really? I think I'll try some." Makoto looked over at Hokuto. "Hey, Hokuto! I changed my mind! I want memory instead!" she called. Hokuto looked at her quizzically.
"What?"
"Never mind."
Ryo laughed quietly. "You really haven't changed, Makoto..."
"You either," Makoto laughed. "It's good to see you again. Oh, hey, have you been in That General Store lately?"
Ryo nodded. "Ai and Eri asked me to get some chips for them, so I was just there. Did you know it's Ai's birthday in three days?"
"Really?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah, we're having a party today," Ryo informed her.
Makoto smiled. "Tell her I said happy birthday. Did they have any Special Yummy Chip Things left by any chance?"
Ryo seemed to be thinking. "I think I got the last bag."
Makoto sighed, defeated. "Dang it...I needed to pick some up for Producer's birthday today..."
"Well, then..." Ryo lifted a bag of chips from the ground and handed it to Makoto.
"But what about Ai?" Makoto gasped, looking down at the bag in Ryo's extended hand.
Ryo shrugged. "I can get some more tomorrow; I don't think Ai will mind."
"You really don't have to..."
"Consider it a gift."
Makoto took the bag gratefully. "Thanks, Ryo..." She turned to the ice-cream stand. Hokuto was just finishing buying her ice-cream.
Ryo smiled. "Well, I have to go," he commented. Quickly, he leaned across and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you around, Makoto!" Then he turned, hurried off, and was gone in an instant. Makoto blushed and lifted a hand to her cheek. Hokuto returned with the ice-cream.
"Makoto, were you attacked by perverts or something?" he asked jokingly. "Your face is all red. Here, take this ice-cream."
"N-nothing's wrong!" Makoto insisted hastily. "A-anyways, thanks for the ice-cream..."
Hokuto shrugged. "No problem." He sat. "Are you going to sit?"
Makoto sat in the chair Hokuto was gesturing to and started to eat the ice-cream. Hokuto laid his hand on hers gently.
"Sorry it took a while. The line was long," he explained. "Makoto, your face just got even redder..."
"Hm?" Makoto turned to him. "Oh...w-well, I mean..."
"Oh, so you're blushing because I'm holding your hand? I guess this is kind of your first date, isn't it?" Hokuto asked cheekily.
"Am not!" Makoto pouted. "You're mean..."
Hokuto blinked. "At least I'm not a liar."
"Neither am I!"
"Right..."
Makoto stood and picked up the ice-cream in one hand. In the other hand, she held the bag of chips. "Look, I appreciate it and all, but I have to get back now. Bye, Hokuto..."
"Where did you get those chips?" Hokuto asked.
"From your mom. OK, bye."
"See you soon?"
Makoto turned back. Hokuto stood and winked. "Tomorrow, this same time? I'll buy you a pretzel."
Makoto blushed. "...maybe. If I'm free," she muttered awkwardly. Hokuto smiled.
"Good, then. Ciao!"
"Bye."
It was another fifteen minutes before Makoto made it back to the agency. Producer was by the door, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Where were you?" he asked worriedly. "I thought you might have gotten lost. I was worried."
"Relax, Producer. I'm fine," Makoto sniffed.
"Well, call me next time, or something. I thought your fans attacked you and stole your money or something. But, they'd probably rather steal your face, I guess..."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Makoto held up the bag. "Oh yeah, and I got the chips."
