Breaking the Curse - Kuroneko's Fan Fiction

by Sorata Daidouji

This is a story I just created one day about her, meeting someone who will love her, this takes place AFTER the end of the show and light novels, while she is living in Matsudo. It centers around video games creation, skateboarding and playing video games. I've done my best to keep it simple and sorry about typos or grammatical errors, English is not my native language.

7. Chapter 7

Volume 2, Chapter 6: Beta Test 1.0 - Video Games

It was mid-August, NatsuCon has already passed and such.

I went with my little sister, we waited on the line for around 2 hours! It was hot as hell! But we were able to get in and she purchased everything she wanted, as I also did.

We didn't buy much, she bought some mangas, doujinshis and little figures.

I bought one T-Shirt of Maschera, one of Rurouni Kenshin and some stickers for my skateboard, which I can't place because it will affect my performance while grinding.

At the moment I was at the skate park.

Chuck recovered fully! He just broke his nose and he got uber scolded by me for trying something that stupid.

The doctors said the helmet saved his life, if he wasn't wearing one at the moment, his head would have cracked into pieces. I know, too gory!

Anyways he was ok, although there was a little mystery we weren't able to resolve.

How the hell did he broke his nose? Everyone say he just fell off the ramp while landing, but no one ever saw him smashing his face directly into the ground or something.

"Say, Chuck, how the hell did you broke your nose?"

He looked at me and gave me a thoughtful expression, he tried to remember but he just couldn't remember.

"Dude really, this is around the hundredth time I tell you, I don't freaking know!"

He really didn't remember what happened that day.

"But really Chuck! Why the hell did you have to try the 900th?! I told you that was merely impossible to perform!"

He looked at the sky and smiled.

"Well I wanted to escape from reality you know?"

I looked at him confused.

"Heh? Sorry? I don't quite get it…"

He looked at me with a sad expression.

"Well… do you remember the girl I told you was my girlfriend at the Regional competition?"

I remembered that girl, she was cute and had a really energetic personality.

"Ohh yeah! What's with her?"

He sighed and looked down with a really sad expression.

"Well, we broke up that day, and I got really depressed, so… I just felt like trying that, but I failed hehe"

He looked at me patting the back of his head, with teary eyes.

I felt horrible! I made him remember something really painful.

"Hey Chuck, calm down dude, sorry…"

I looked down and he just stood up and smiled.

"Hey, calm down man. I'm almost out of it! I am skating now right? And even, there are plenty of fish on the sea!"

He said this while giving me a thumbs up.

He is a really good guy, if my sister dated him I would so approve it! But I will keep an eye on them anyways.

He then looked at me with a suspicious smile.

"Hey! About that! What happened with that gothic Lolita?! Are you dating her already?!"

I backed up a little bit, and blushed a lot! It's Kuroneko who he is talking about! And well just thinking about that made me get all nervous, I do like her a lot.

"Eh… hehe I don't think she even sees me like that Chuck"

He looked at me disappointed.

"Ha!? Really? Ahh c'mon man! Haven't you even confessed yet?!"

Just thinking about doing that made me feel light headed.

"Of course not! I will never do something that shameful!"

"Dude, if you don't tell her anything she will never find out about it. I had a girlfriend I know what I am talking about"

He pumped his chest and looked so confident I felt sick. My sadistic side came out.

"You HAD one, so I won't hear you!"

He looked at me and let his shoulders and head down, he walked like a lingering soul in circles and looked at me with a really depressed face.

"Wow Sorata! You are so mean man! Re-open my wound and pour salt on it, really?!"

I laughed at him and pointed at his face.

"Hahaha you look pitiful dude!"

He wrapped his arm around my neck and tried to choke me, he was playing, nothing serious.

"You bastard! I was trying to help you out! Ahh Sorata you are so mean! I hope that girl rejects you the instant you confess!"

I started thinking about that. It will suck… but life continued and had to get over that, but what will happen at school? I couldn't go to the club anymore. I won't be able to see her anymore without wanting to burst into tears for a while.

"Yeah, that would suck hehehe"

He noticed I said this kind of depressed since I stopped struggling with him.

He let me go and faced me.

"Well don't let that happen, just go and confess!"

I wanted to do it so badly! But I found it wasn't time for that.

I didn't feel it like it.

"I don't think it's still time man. I want to wait a little bit longer"

He looked at me worried.

"Hey Sorata, I saw the girl, she is pretty damn cute! Have you even thought of the possibility of another guy hitting on her or confessing before? What will you do?!"

I froze! I didn't thought of that! What will happen!

Knowing Kuroneko, she will immediately reject him, she doesn't seem like someone who is a 'maiden waiting for her prince charming' or something like that. And she was really busy with gaming and cosplaying.

But I thought about it seriously and I didn't knew how she was, maybe she was a shy girl who was easy to attract or maybe she was a sadist who liked to toy around with guys?

Remembering how she has shown with myself, I thought she was a really shy girl when near someone she fell fond to.

But she didn't like me like that. She got all shy around me sometimes, but I guess she felt overwhelmed by me since her rude way of being and such didn't made me ignore her or chase me away.

Also I look her up and talk to her, maybe she gets shy around guys in general? She is not shy around Hideki, but that's because she knows he wants to date Kinomoto-san and well they promised all that about getting married after getting their professional degrees.

But I've never seen her around other guys, maybe she has only girl friends like Kirino and Saori?

I wanted to know more about her! I will try to talk to her when we get back to school. It's been almost a month without knowing about her, since I have no way of contacting her, and when I went to school she was not there or had already left.

Seeing how I was just staring to nothing, Chuck got worried and shook me to snap out of it.

"Hey! Earth calling Sorata! What the hell man?!"

"Ohh sorry dude, I spaced out"

I shook my head hard to get a grip of reality.

"Well I honestly don't think she will date someone, if there was someone who confessed to her, I don't know what will happen, but if it happens I will do my best to support her and win her over with time"

He looked at me surprised and placed both hands on my shoulders.

"That's the attitude son! Go get her tiger!"

He was talking like a father sending his son on the isle to get married.

"Haha stop it dude!"

I jumped off the bench and took my skateboard and skated in direction to the bowl.

"Let's skate dude! Forget about those things! You are recovered now! Just don't break your nose again!"

He smiled and gave me a challenging gaze.

"You are so going down on this round!"

We skated for a long time, after we finished it was 5:45 pm.

I wanted to go downtown to purchase a new pair of headphones, the ones I had were snatched by my little sister, stating she needed them for a trip and that she liked the colors and well… she also took them as a punishment as she said for being late the other day… yeah that one where I had to ride a delivery truck on the street.

I had to go and buy a new pair since I had none and I hated skating alone without music.

I sat down on the bench and let the sweat dry out.

"Holy mother of god! It's hot today! I have to go now Chuck!"

He looked at the hour and agreed with me.

"Yeah, I have some stuff to do, I'll see you around man! Have a nice one!"

"You too! See ya around!"

He both parted ways. I left on direction to downtown, he left west.

His house was around that zone.

I walked a little bit before I started skating.

I checked the clock, it was 6:05 PM.

The store I wanted to check was around 10 blocks away going straight forward and it closed at 7 pm. So I had plenty of time.

I started skating and did simple stuff, ollie'd down the side walk, ollie'd up the side walk, dodged people and animals. I even ollie'd a little Chihuahua!

Poor thing it was so tiny.

After the owner tried to chase me down because the poor dog was scared to death. I managed to ditch him off by getting on a different street I wasn't supposed to go.

It was a little street, it had a lot of stores, some restaurants and cafés and a convenience store.

I skated along the street, I planned on going along the street and turn left at the park that was near there to get back to the street I was originally skating on.

So I continued strolling over the side street and three stores before the convenience store I noticed around 5 guys looking at something.

'How strange, is there a street performer or something?'

I looked at their legs and noticed there was only one person before them. So I knew they were cornering someone.

I moved around them and I froze in place.

It was Kuroneko!

They were looking at her with a mocking expression, and were making fun of her, she was wearing her Queen of the Night Cosplay.

"Hey babe, so you like dressing in Goth attire? I had a girlfriend once who dressed like that too, she was really good with me"

I got really pissed off, but 1 vs. 5? It's a complete defeat for me. I can't afford to fight with all of them. But I can at least distract them and let Kuroneko run away. I can then skate off them, I could always cling to cars on the street to get away faster.

I've managed to avoid getting mugged and such by doing so.

Kuroneko just stood there defenseless, not saying a word and with teary eyes.

Another guy got near her.

"Hey! Say something Gothic Lolita! If you dress like that, expect to be treated like this!"

One guy got even nearer than the last one.

'I have to act or they could hurt her, I will have to just go with the flow'

I prayed the gods for protection and skated towards them.

"So what'cha think Gothic Loli? Don't be shy, we will be gentle with you! Come with us, let's play!"

All the guys started laughing.

Kuroneko covered her chest with one hand, in which she was holding a bag with some food or something; she placed her other hand in front of her long skirt and started backing away, but the guys started cornering her more.

I just skated as fast as I could and before I got behind her I stopped with a power slide. Which did a lot of noise, which made all of them besides Kuroneko, who was frozen in place, to look at me.

I smiled and waved my hand.

"Hey dear girl! There you are! Why did you left the store without saying anything?"

She trembled when she heard me saying that.

The guys backed a little bit and looked at me with a cocky pose.

"Who the fuck are you kid?!"

Said the tall guy with an afro, he looked scary but I wanted to laugh my ass of his hair, he looked ridiculous!

I walked next to Kuroneko and placed my hand on her shoulder, and moved her near me, she looked at me and blushed profusely and started shaking a lot.

I looked at her and our eyes met, I gave her the most confident look I could bring among my nerves.

"Who am I? Don't you see? I'm her boyfriend! Sorry if she troubled you guys, she got distracted and wandered alone here while I was looking for her! Hahaha"

Kuroneko was red as a tomato, I was blushing a lot too since I just auto proclaimed myself her boyfriend. Which was a lie, but Ohh I felt sooooo happy haha!

Another guy with a hoodie set up, looked at me with a suspicious face and said with a challenging voice.

"Prove it"

Kuroneko jumped a little bit and moved her head to look at me, her head moved to face me like a really worn down machine, like if the gears of a machine were missing a lot of oil and were really rusty.

She then looked at me with a full blushed face and really teary and scared eyes.

I gave her a troubled wry and held her even tighter to me to calm her down, which had the opposite effect since she started shaking even more!

"Pro-prove it? How? I told you she is my girlfriend, I am standing here against you guys aren't I? If she wasn't my girlfriend I would just pass by and act as if nothing happened"

Some of the guys nodded in approval, but then the tall guy looked at us and curved his mouth, he wasn't buying it.

"If you are really her boyfriend… Kiss her"

When he finished saying that I had my face fully red I was blushing like crazy and I looked at Kuroneko, who was frozen in place with her eyes opened wide as a plate.

She was blushing so hard I could even feel heat coming out of her ears! She looked at me with a troubled face and started to shake her head slowly.

I looked at her with a troubled face and tried to tell her with my gaze that we couldn't do anything else, if not, god knows what those guys would do to us.

She started shaking a lot and rotated her body to face me, slowly; I also did the same.

We faced each other, she tried to look away embarrassed but there wasn't anywhere to look since we were surrounded by this guys.

She looked down and then at me with teary eyes, she was scared like hell. I could tell she was more scared than embarrassed.

"So, we don't have all night, do it already or get lost kid!"

I looked at the guys with a really mad gaze, I was sick of their attitude.

"And why the hell do I need to kiss her in front of you? Are you a 'watch people kiss' fetishist?!"

The guy gave a step back offended of what I told him, he was getting mad, he clenched his fist, but he was really slow, if he wanted to hit me he will have to move faster.

I sucked at fighting, but I was good at dodging.

I could just distract them dodging his attacks until he got tired and that way Kuroneko would be able to run away.

"What the fuck did you called me kid?!"

He got near me, I stood in front of Kuroneko protecting her with my body.

"You've heard already scumbag! Now, I've already told you, I am her boyfriend, so just hit the road and leave us alone"

"If not?"

I changed my gaze into a challenging one, I had this weird look sometimes that could fend off people, since I looked really intimidating, I don't know if it was my eyes, eye brows, hair or what, but people usually just walked away when I did it, it was unconscious and I couldn't control it.

Chuck and the guys called it 'The Stare'. It has helped us get out of a lot of fights in the past.

I just hoped this time helped me out too.

"I just don't want to get into unnecessary violence with you, just leave us alone"

The guy started to fall for it, they were 5 and I was alone, but somehow they backed up and calmed down.

"Fuck this kid and his puny bitch! Let's get out of here, I'm just wasting my time"

He started to walk and passed beside us.

We looked at each other, he gave me a violent gaze and I countered with a challenging one, I was mad as hell but I didn't want to do something stupid and end up dead or in the hospital!

I hated hospitals!

When he was going to leave us back, he moved his hand and reached for Kuroneko's head, but I by instinct, moved my right hand and blocked the hand by grabbing him by the wrist.

I looked him with killer eyes and said in a really serious voice.

"Don't you fucking dare to touch my girlfriend, you piece of shit"

When I finished saying this, Kuroneko was looking at me in awe, trembling in place scared like hell.

I was about to shit on my pants honestly, but I had to act though or they will not stop bugging her.

The guy was really mad, he moved his hand back, and I let him go.

I kicked my skateboard from the tail which has been the whole time in front of my feet from the tail and grabbed it with my free left hand.

He moved to face me, I moved in front of Kuroneko and with my right hand I moved her behind me.

She grabbed my hand and didn't let it go, she was sweating a lot and was trembling like crazy.

"What did you just said you fucking cunt? You are so fucking dead now, trying to act all cocky in front of you girlfriend, that won't get you laid tonight I promise you, you won't be able to stand up when I'm finished with you!"

He threw a punch ,"Too slow…"

I squatted and dodged, then I used my skateboard to hit the guy on the knee which hurt a lot since I hit him with the front truck.

"Ahh you bastard!"

He kneeled down to grab the place where I just hit him.

I stood up, turned over grabbed Kuroneko's hand, and started running like hell in direction to the park that was nearby.

Kuroneko followed me running as fast as we could, she never let my hand go.

After running for around 5 minutes, we were really deep into the park, which was kind of big, around 5 blocks each side.

There was a lot of trees and kids games, a bicycle lane, a lane for people to run, a little artificial lake, two fountains, it was big, it was the biggest park in whole Matsudo, the downtown park.

I stopped in full, and let my skateboard drop on the grass and started catching up my breath.

I was about to kneel down but when I tried to squat my right hand didn't move, I looked over and I saw Kuroneko blushing a lot with her eyes gazing upon me.

She then looked below and I followed her eyes and found out we were holding hands all the way down here, but well we were running for your lives, we had no time to check on little details like that one.

I smiled and blushed a lot, and let her hand go.

I then kneeled and looked at the floor while catching up my breath.

In a really trembling and low voice Kuroneko broke the ice.

"Wh-wha-what was all that about Akasaka-san!"

I just laid on the grass and covered my eyes with one arm, while breathing heavily.

"What was what? I saw you getting cornered by some guys and I helped you out!"

She calmed herself and sat beside me on a bench. How could I miss that bench?!

"Y-yes I know, thanks a lot for that, r-really. But that's not what I am asking for"

I moved my arm away from my eyes and looked at her with a confused look and upping one of my eye brows.

"Huh? What do you want to know then?!"

She looked at me really mad and blushing profusely and then answered with a little tiny almost inaudible voice.

"Th-that! Y-you said that we, we-we-wer-were a c-co-c-co-couple!"

I sat down fast and looked at her surprised!

I know I was just fooling around to help her out, but it sounded so cute when she said it, my heart almost jumped from my chest.

But I had to clear up I did it to help her out of that situation. I didn't want her to think I am a creep. If I want to really date her I need to take things slow.

"Th-that! Ahahaha!"

I smiled and placed my left hand on the back of my head.

She looked at me and started to get mad.

"Yes that! What was that all about! Are you stupid? Are you a pervert?"

I looked at her scared, she was mad as hell! I guess she doesn't look me like that after all.

"Sorry about that Kuroneko, but it was the first thing that came to my head to state why I ran to you, I had to act like that to get you out of there!"

She looked at me and blushed.

"Bu-but! You even hugged me sideways! What kind of embarrassment do you want me to suffer?! I was so scared!"

I looked at her and started to feel bad, maybe I should just have grabbed her and ran with her like hell or something?

I hope she didn't see that what I did was an unconscious way of trying to go out with her, after all I really wanted to be her boyfriend, so those minutes even if I was scared like hell are precious to me now.

"I am sorry Kuroneko, I didn't intend to embarrass you or make you feel uncomfortable I just wanted to help you out"

I felt really sad, maybe by trying to help her out I just made her feel worst?

I just dropped myself on the grass again, it did a hollow noise while I hit the ground, Kuroneko closed her eyes for a moment.

She stood up and sat beside me on the grass.

I didn't want to see her directly to her eyes since she was really mad.

"I-it's ok, you did it because of the situation I understand, sorry for over reacting, but you really surprised me"

She said that in her regular calm voice.

I moved my arm a little bit and grasped a look at her, she was blushing and looking at me and then looking away, she was obviously really nervous.

She looked so beautiful, how the moon and the artificial lightning gave her pale skin this bluish tone which accentuated her eye color, also her blushing make her look really cute. I was bedazzled by her beauty.

"You are not mad at all Kuroneko? Sorry I really didn't want to cause any trouble"

She looked away and trembled a little bit.

"I-it's ok, as I told you already, it was because of the situation, so it's acceptable, just don't do it again!"

I looked at her and smiled, and sat normally beside her.

"What? Really? You are already dumping your helping out boyfriend?! I wanted to at least take my girlfriend on a gaming date as a reward for saving her!"

She opened her eyes wide, really wide and her pupils became tiny, she was really surprised.

I said everything as a joke, but I guess she thought I was serious.

I did want to go out with her, but it was impossible at the moment.

She looked at me while moving away her body from me, just the upper part, she was still sitting next to me.

"Wh-what? What are you saying? Are you stupid? Please ask for something else!"

She said that surprised, but not blushing or anything, she looked really annoyed by the idea.

It felt so cold and bad. I felt how her words again pierced and teared my heart apart.

I looked down and answered with a really depressed voice. I tried my best to conceal my disappointment.

"Hehe I'm joking Kuroneko. I helped you out because you are my friend and I care a lot about you. I will never let you alone in any situation. I don't need a reward or anything, knowing you are safe it's enough for me"

She looked at me and her face changed completely, she looked as if she was feeling down for some reason, but she didn't say a word.

We sat in silence for a little bit and then she broke the ice again.

"Akasaka-san, why were you skating on that street anyways? Do you live nearby?"

"Err, no. I was on my way to a store…"

I checked the hour and it was 8:00 PM already, the store was more than closed now.

"Ahh! Damn it's closed already! Hahaha"

She looked concerned and looked down at the bag of stuff she bought earlier at the convenience store.

"I am sorry you missed that store because of me"

I looked at her and started moving my hands in the air randomly to make her calm down

"N-NO! No way! I wasn't even going to pass on that street where I found you! I got detoured because of certain circumstances hehe"

She looked at me suspiciously.

"Exactly… why did you got detoured Akasaka…?"

I gave her a nervous wry and answered with a nervous voice.

"I got chased by the owner of a dog I jumped over since I wasn't able to skate around it"

She looked at me with a confused face.

"A dog? You jumped over a dog?"

"Err, yes… I know it's not okay but I wanted to reach the store fast"

She looked at the park in front of her and saw a little boy playing with his dog, it was a little Schnauzer and smiled at him.

"I don't like dogs you know, but you just made me want to thank one"

I was surprised, she was happy for a dog to make me take a detour? Well I can understand why, I helped her out of that situation.

"Hehe well yeah I'll also thank a dog. I was able to see you today because of that…"

It slipped out of my mind! I spoke out loud my thoughts!

I looked at Kuroneko who was blushing profusely and looking at me with an uneasy look.

I backed a little bit and looked at her, concerned and blushing.

"I-I mean! I didn't see any of my friends from school this summer! And well I went to school but never saw you! I thought you were on a trip with your family or something!"

I looked away to conceal my embarrassment and sighed to calm myself.

Kuroneko cleared her throat to calm down and continued.

"Ok, I also didn't see you around Akasaka-san I thought you were skating, did you help out at the club?"

I looked back at her, she was so pretty I could get lost on those blue eyes.

"Ah, yeah I helped Kinomoto-san and Hideki with some bugs on their scripts and finished my part of the exceptions for errors while selecting the options on the game"

"I see, that's good"

"Yeah, hehe"

We stood silent for a little bit again, I felt how she was nervous and I was so nervous I couldn't talk.

"By the way, which store where you going to visit?"

She was pretty talkative today huh?

"I was going to Music and More to buy a pair or headphones"

She gave it a little bit of time to think and she remembered then.

"Oh yeah, on that competition you were wearing some black and purple headphones right?"

I nodded while remembering that day, it was when I realized I loved her.

"Yeah, I lost those"

"Really? What happened?"

"My little sister took them from me, since she needed them for a school trip, so I'll buy another ones and let her keep those, they were pretty worn down anyways"

Kuroneko looked surprised, I've never told them I had a little sister, or if I had I didn't remember, I guess she didn't remember too.

"So, you gave your little sister a pair of high fidelity headphones?"

"Yeah pretty much, why?"

"Are you a Siscon or something?"

I looked at Kuroneko really surprised, what was with that super serious face! She asked that as if she was about get sick from just thinking that.

I looked at her with a really upset face and answered, she felt a little intimidated by it.

"What? Are you freaking nuts? Of course I am not! Why do you even think that Kuroneko?!"

She looked troubled, she was looking away and tried to hide her embarrassment, I guess she didn't thought I was going to react that way.

"Eh, no, sorry for asking I didn't meant to get you that upset"

I calmed down and continued.

"Well I am sorry but that's a really sick accusation! That only happens on anime and erogames and such! I just love my sister, she is my friend and well, I'll help her when she needs it, we have a good relationship after all our parents always made us play together and help each other and such"

Kuroneko looked at me surprised again, does she even have siblings or something? It looks like she's been on serious things before.

"I see, I'm glad to hear that"

She said that with a little smile.

She looked so cute!

"So, do you have siblings?"

"Yeah I do, younger sisters Hinata and Tamaki, I also love them and have a good relationship with them, I came to the convenience store to buy stuff for dinner, I cook most of the times, since both my parents are always out working"

She looked so happy while talking about them, she must really love her sisters. I hope I get to know them one day.

"Ohh I see, so that day in Golden Week you were buying stuff to make dinner for them?" I asked remembering that time, people mistook us for a couple and I loved every second of it, she hated a lot.

She looked at me remembering that time, she trembled a little bit and shook her head as if wanting to erase the memory. I just continued to avoid an awkward moment again.

"Wow I never thought you had siblings, and more after you just called me a Siscon!"

She felt my accusation and looked down sad.

"Sorry I didn't mean to call you that, it's just I have been with some really strange friends who well… are on that kind of relationship"

I looked at her in awe, did she just said she knows a pair of siblings who live on an incestuous relationship?!

I mean I am open minded and I won't judge them at all, but isn't that illegal in Japan… I mean… in the whole world?!

"Oh I see, that's why you thought I was the same?"

She nodded while blushing a little bit, she felt really embarrassed for that accusation.

"Sorry but they have a long story, you already know one of them"

I started thinking about all of the persons I knew since I got to know her, but none of them ringed the bell.

She looked at my confused face and sighed.

"I'm talking about Kirino! Kousaka Kirino, she is living with her brother! They can't marry obviously but well, they will live together for all their life"

That shocked me like hell, I froze in place and remembered Kirino; she is really cute! How can she be into 'that'?

Well I guess love breaks barriers among tastes.

"Ohh wow, I never imagined that would happen haha! Well good for her! At least they are happy right?"

Kuroneko grit her teeth, she looked mad somehow, I don't know why.

"Yeah, they are really happy and I am happy for them… kind of"

"Kind of? Why? You don't approve their relationship? I mean it is love, if they truly love each other, you can't do anything to avoid them being together"

She looked away and you could tell she was kind of depressed, maybe something happened between them?

"Yeah I know, I don't think I will be able to keep my promise this time, since nothing will happen, but I will try my best"

I looked at her with a super confused face.

"Err, Kuroneko, I think I'm not following you on that one…"

She looked at me with a harsh glare.

"It's ok, it's better that way. I'll just state that the relationship she has, is with someone that is really special to me. But I can't talk to you about that at this moment I need to first sort some personal issues with him, sorry"

She looked sad, I guess Kuroneko was in love with Kirino's brother and since she can't be with him she is mad about that relationship?

If that's the case, earning her love will be even more difficult, but I will not give up!

This has given me additional motivation!

"It's ok Kuroneko, you can tell me everything when you feel ready, no rushing. I'm glad I'm getting to know you better"

I smiled at her, and she blushed a little bit, but she kept her head down.

I had to do something to help her ease her mind.

I stood up and picked up my skateboard, I then leaned over and gave her my hand while smiling.

"Don't worry Kuroneko, you are not alone, you never know who will try to ease your mind"

She heard this and opened her eyes wide, and blushed a lot, she lowered her gaze and grabbed the convenience store bag with one hand and took my hand with her other hand and stood up with my help.

She patted her skirt and dusted off all the dust.

It was a pretty hot night, and she was wearing that, and she didn't seem to be hot at all.

"Hey Kuroneko, I've noticed that… well it's really hot outside and you are still using your Queen of the Night Cosplay, don't you get hot under so many clothing?"

She looked at me surprised and then moved her gaze away from me.

"I-it's ok, I cover myself with a layer of black matter so heat won't pass through the fabric"

I looked at her confused. 'Black Matter'? A layer of it?

Wait a minute! Don't tell me she suffers from chuunibyou?!

IF she does, wow, that's ok! I will like that part of her a lot. I myself don't have it, but I find it rather interesting and charming.

"Ahh so you are indeed the Queen of the Night huh?"

She pumped her chest and looked at me with a lot of pride.

"Yes I am! And you are a mere mortal who don't even deserve talking next to me! Now! Be gone! And don't make fun of my clothing!"

I looked at her and smiled a lot, she looked confused.

"Haha you are awesome Kuroneko! I get it, sorry, you have a darkness power within your person right?!"

We started walking, I just followed her.

She blushed a little bit when I said this, and she looked at the sky.

"Yes I do, I am a creature of darkness, so you will never understand how my powers work"

I looked at her with a warm smile and answered in a natural way.

"Well honestly, one of your dark powers then is to charm people around you huh?"

She blushed a lot and hit me with her elbow.

"Be gone human! Shut up!"

"Ouch! Haha sorry…"

She looked away blushing, and gave me a little stare with the corner of her eye.

I then looked at the place, we had already left the park.

"Say, Kuroneko… where are we going now?"

Kuroneko stopped immediately and looked at me and then at the street.

"Oh! Sorry, my house is this way, I just started walking…"

"Ahh! Haha it's ok, I'll walk you home, it's kind of late and I don't want to be worried that you could be bothered by other people later, they just don't seem to respect people"

She looked troubled and denied with her hands

"N-no! it's ok! I can go by myself, don't worry I'm pretty sure you live pretty far from here!"

"Well that's not the case, if you leave near here, I will just skate my way home and get there in less than 20 minutes, so it's ok"

She looked at the floor and said with a tiny and embarrassed voice.

"Fine, follow me then"

I was going to walk with her to her home! I was so lucky! I wanted to go and pray for 1000 years as a way of thanking the gods for this opportunity.

I reached Kuroneko's convenience store bag. She looked at me scared and moved away.

"Hey what are you trying to do! Perverted dog! Get away from me!"

"I… sorry I just wanted to help you with your bag…"

I pointed to the bag she was carrying around it looked pretty heavy.

"Ohh.. I…"

She looked at the bag really troubled and embarrassed.

"It's ok Kuroneko I just want to help you out, it looks pretty heavy"

She blushed and said with a low voice.

"Okay I will let you help me out with it, but I want to carry your skateboard then"

I looked at her confused.

Again?! This is the second time she asks me! I've noticed she looked really sentimental when she is around it or looks at it, I don't know why.

"My skateboard? It's ok, I always tuck it under my right arm and carry it around. It doesn't even weight that much"

"Y-yeah, I won't hand over my bag if you don't hand over your skateboard"

I looked at her even more confused, but well I wanted to help her so I did it.

I stopped and handed her over my skateboard. She took it with a lot of caution and then gave me the bag she was carrying.

"Thanks my lady of darkness, it's a pleasure that you let this mere mortal carry your belongings and that thou carry thy skateboard! I hope you transfer some darkness powers to it!"

She looked at me wondered and blushed a lot, she looked down and placed the skateboard in front of her, and grabbed it with both hands while it rested on her skirt.

I looked at her she looked so cute! I wanted to snap a photo! But she will find it creepy so I just memorized and burned that image into my brain.

But then I noticed something awful! She was carrying the skateboard incorrectly!

The sand paper part was touching her dress and it will ruin it!

I reached quickly to take it, she got startled and moved one hand, we touched each other hands and got really nervous.

Her hands were really soft and delicate. I didn't notice before because we were running like hell and I had nothing on my head rather than getting away from those guys.

"So-sorry Kuroneko, don't place the skateboard like that, the sand paper part will ruin your dress"

She looked at me confused, I noticed she was grabbing the skateboard firmly with both hands but was like caressing it with her fingers, as if she felt sorry for how worn down it was.

I mean I do love my skateboard, but she almost looked as if she had a bond with it.

"I-I don't care, I want to carry it like this! If something happen to the dress, I can just repair it. I did this remember?"

Yeah, she was really skilled at sewing, so I guess repairing it would be no problem.

"Oh, ok, sorry. If something happens to your dress I will pay and help you repair it! I'm not good at sewing or anything, but I will help out as I can"

She smiled warmly, it was the first time I saw her do that, she looked so cute I was about to melt.

"Don't worry Akasaka-san, I will do it myself, and even though, nothing will happen to my dress I used high quality fabric and it's protected by a layer of dark matter remember?"

She winked her eye while saying this.

That's it, I'm done for, I've fallen so hard for this girl I will help her and protect her against anything! I will fight to get her love even if it cost's my life!

I am really dramatic aren't I? Excuse me, I am in love!

"Sorry I forgot you had darkness powers, don't kill me!"

She looked at me with a prideful look and smiled.

"I will let it slip this time! But never doubt my powers of darkness! They can surprise you whenever you don't expect them to!"

She was enjoying it! I loved that part of her, it's so cute!

And well if she truly had those powers and they could read my mind, I would be done for since she will know how I feel about her.

"Thanks my lady of Darkness"

She smiled a lot, she is enjoying it.

After walking for around 5 minutes, she stopped and looked at me concerned.

"Hey Akasaka-san… I forgot something to tell you"

I looked at her confused.

"What did you forgot Kuroneko? You wanted to hex me or something?"

She looked irritated, and then changed her face to a troubled one, she looked down and blushed a little bit. She then grabbed my skateboard with both hands tightly and took air to talk.

"About what happened in Akihabara, I am sorry for being so rude with you. I was really surprised to see you around that place! I thought you weren't that kind of person!"

"Ohh about that. It's ok Kuroneko I told you I understood you if you got mad because it looked like I was tailing you"

She looked at me with a face full of regret.

"I know you weren't doing that, I just felt weird for a school friend to get to know my otaku friends. I thought something bad will happen! But well they liked you a lot…"

She then stopped again and grabbed my skateboard and started to tremble, you could notice she was really irritated.

"That stupid Kirino even started mocking me, saying you liked me a lot and that that's why you were tailing us! She even made a personification of you saying 'Ohh yeah, my dear Kuroneko! Why did you leave me behind and went to Akihabara!' some stupid thing like that!"

I froze in place and looked at her dumbfounded, that girl Kirino was cute and all and she was pretty sharp! And her personification was perfect!

I just gave Kuroneko a nervous wry and answered with a really nervous voice.

"Ahh haha! She is crazy right? What is she talking about?!"

She looked at me with a suspicious smile and face and asked with a serious tone.

"Is she?"

I jumped a little bit and looked away nervous.

"I-I mean o-of course! She was joking around right?"

Kuroneko looked indifferent.

"I don't know, was she just assuming nonsensical stuff?"

She must know now! I need to say something or I will be told out!

Think Sorata! Think!

"Ahh hahah! Yeah, me liking you? You don't even like me! We always quarrel and such! Haha that girl is just crazy, right Kuroneko?"

Kuroneko looked at me with suspicious eyes and blushed a little bit, she grabbed my skateboard and pressed it against her body.

"Y-yeah… I guess so. But I don't hate you, you are a nice guy and quarreling doesn't always mean you hate the other person, keep that in mind"

She then started walking really fast I almost lost her I had to run back to catch up with her.

But what did she meant with that?

Does she also likes me? Well she said she doesn't hate me and that I'm a good guy! So I guess I can say we are friends! That's better! Yeah Sorata! Fight fight! Don't let her go!

"Hehe ok Kuroneko, apology accepted"

She smiled and walked with me.

After around another 10 minutes, she stopped at an intersection. She handed over my skateboard and asked for her bag with her hands. I handed it over and took my skateboard.

"Thanks a lot for today Akasaka I will continue on my own from here, my house is on the next block, so don't worry just go home okay?"

I looked at her and smiled and replied with a warm expression.

"It's ok Kuroneko, thanks a lot for letting me escort you! Have a nice night and well, I will see you later on, take care and be careful with people messing around with you"

She smiled and blushed a little bit.

She bowed and left.

I sighed while looking at her walking away, after she crossed the intersection I walked a little bit and placed my skateboard on the floor.

I kicked the floor and moved around 5 meters when I heard someone calling me.

"Akasaka! Akasaka! Wait!"

I power slid and stopped. Got off my skateboard and looked back.

It was Kuroneko who was running at me.

I walked over to her and stopped in front of her.

"What happened Kuroneko you forgot something?"

She looked down really embarrassed and blushing a lot, she introduced her hand into her skirt pocket and took out a black cellphone.

It was typical gothic decorated. It looked really cool, she flip opened it and said with a little voice.

"Y-your phone contact information… can I have it?"

I blushed a lot! She got me on that one! I was supposed to ask her that information first!

I stuck my hand inside my pocket and took out my cellphone and unlocked it.

"S-sure! Here!"

We transferred information.

She smiled pleased and looked at the screen.

I also looked at mine, her name was a ~ Fallen Angel Kuroneko ~ and it contained her information, cell phone number and email address.

Mine was pretty simple it said 'Sorata Sk8' I had to keep it like that to avoid issues with my skater friends.

"T-thank you very much"

She looked at me blushing and with a timid smile.

I blushed a lot and smiled back

"It's ok, thanks to you. If something comes up or you just feel like so, call me or mail me whenever you want ok?"

She smiled and nodded her head.

"Expect news soon, ok? And if you also need something let me know. I'm off now! Have a nice night Akasaka"

She turned over and ran back to her house.

I just stood there grasping at my cell phone smiling like an idiot looking at the cute little angel running away to her house.

"This was definitely a really god day"

I skated all the way home and barely made it on the curfew time.

It was 8:00 AM in the morning, we were still on summer vacation, so I woke up a little bit later than usual. I sat on the edge of my bed and walked to my computer and switched it on.

I then dragged myself to the restroom. I knocked the door and opened it.

It was free. I washed my face and my teeth and felt how I slowly woke up.

I then started walking normally and entered my room.

I passed my little sister's room, which was really quiet. It was weird since she woke up at the same time that I did most of the times, she always went out to take a walk in the morning.

While entering my room I heard a hollow noise coming out of my sister's bedroom. I walked back and knocked the door.

"Hey! Ichigo, are you okay what happened?"

I heard how someone shuffled inside the room and then I heard her answering.

"No-nothing! It's ok, just go back to your room!"

That sounded fishy.

"I'm coming in!"

"N-noo! I'm not dressed!"

"Ah who cares, you are my sister, like hell I care looking at you naked!"

I opened the door, and my sister was buried in her bed, she covered with the blanket and only left half her face uncovered.

I looked directly into her eyes, she was embarrassed.

"What happened? Don't tell me you snuck a guy inside!"

I turned on the lights and opened her closet, but no one was there.

"What the hell! Who do you think I am?!"

She got really mad, but if that wasn't the case, then why didn't she want me to enter her room.

"Then why in the world did you sound so fishy?!"

She covered all her face in the blankets, she then uncovered half of it and looked at me with teary eyes.

"I-I… I had a nightmare and fell off the bed"

I'm not buying it!

I looked at her suspiciously and got near her bed.

"Really Ichigo, what's going on?!"

I squatted near to her bed and looked at her with a warm expression. I wanted her to calm down.

She looked at me and then she blushed a lot.

"I… I… please don't get mad at me…"

"I won't just spill it out already!"

She sat on her bed with her legs bent below her butt, like a Japanese girl but they were more relaxed, her butt was touching the bed, so it wasn't traditional Japanese sitting.

She was holding something with her, it was a picture frame.

"What's that? A picture from someone?"

She nodded and showed it to me.

It was a picture of Chuck and me from the competition, where did she get it?

I looked at it and remembered that was the day Chuck introduced me with her now Ex-Girlfriend.

"So yeah, it's Chuck and me, what about it? You know him from a long time so I don't find it weird you own a picture of us."

She blushed a lot and looked at the photograph, then looked at me and said in a shy voice.

"I… was checking his internet social networking information and it showed up that he just broke up with his girlfriend, is that true?"

I looked over her and I saw her smartphone indeed displaying a social network website.

"Ichigo… do you like Chuck or something?"

She looked at me and blushed a lot, from ear to ear and then looked at me scared.

"I won't get mad, just answer me"

She then nodded shyly and looked back at me.

I knew it! She liked him! But well they are 3 years apart, so I guess it's not that much of a difference. He is a nice guy and all, but I don't know if he will accept she is an otaku.

"Ichigo, you know he hates otakus right?"

She nodded shyly again.

"Onii-chan… what should I do? I fell of the bed because I got so excited"

I patted her head and then sat next to her, she leaned on my shoulder.

"Well Ichigo, I know Chuck, he is a nice guy and he is kind of sad right now because of what happened with her ex. I don't know the circumstances of why they broke up. But don't go and attack him right now, let him heal"

She looked at me surprised I guess she didn't think I knew so much about love.

I didn't either! I just found out I'm in love for the first time!

She smiled and nodded.

"Okay I will, but in that case, help me get closer to him!"

I looked at her confused, how am I supposed to do that?

"I like both of you guys, but I don't know what to do to help you out with that, and even! Aren't you too young to get a boyfriend? You are 13!"

She looked at me and pouted.

"I will be 15 in 3 weeks!"

"I don't care! You are too young! Wait a couple of years and I will help you out"

I smiled and she groaned.

"Fine! I won't use your help!"

She stood up and walked out of the room stomping down the stairs.

I sighed and stood up and left to my room.

'I will have to let Chuck know this and see if he can dump her or something. I will support her is she gets sad'

I entered my room and my computer was on.

I logged in and opened my email inbox.

I had 5 emails from Kinomoto Mina and 2 from Hideki Suzumiya.

All of them contained stuff from the game we were developing. I downloaded all the files and opened them in my editor.

"Let's see… Macros for attacks, video entering and outing sequence and character sheet creation. I see, they look so complicated! I now know why Hideki was offered an overseas scholarship"

I looked at the code and checked for bugs, I removed some issues with some nested if that had some errors and made them become infinite loops.

After around and hour and a half I finished and replied with the debugged files.

I stretched on the chair and looked to the celling, then looked down and saw my skateboard.

I remembered how Kuroneko held it yesterday and instinctively grabbed it and placed it the same way. I looked so girlish I'd die if someone just saw me.

I then remembered she caressed it with her fingers, the way she was holding it, she was touching the middle part of the skateboard, and it was pretty worn down.

I didn't understand how she felt so much pity for my poor skateboard, I love my skateboard and take care of it a lot, but I didn't knew why she didn't like to see it so beat down. I can't buy a new one until this one breaks, that's the rule I got with my parents.

I left my skateboard on the bed and went out of the room, down stairs, my sister wasn't there, I thought she left outside to the back yard or something but I just ignored it.

I opened the fridge and took a PET bottle of water and drank it, then tossed it on the plastics trash can and went upstairs again.

I opened the door of my room and entered it, I walked to my desk and sat on the chair.

I saw my cellphone's 'alarm led' blinking green so I knew I just had a new email or text message.

I unlocked the screen and looked at it. My heart almost jumped out through my throat!

It was a message from Kuroneko! I opened it in a flash and read it.

'From: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

To: Akasaka Sorata

Subject: Closed Beta Period

Body: You have been selected to enter in a Closed Beta Period with the sender. Your offer for a Beta Test has been approved. Please reply this email as a sign of your approval, further instructions will be forwarded later on.

Kuroneko. '

I looked at the email confused and scratched my head while trying to decipher the meaning of it.

"Beta test? Closed Beta Period? What is this? Does she want me to try a game she is developing by herself?"

I replied to the text message.

'To: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

From: Sorata SK8

Subject: RE: Closed Beta Period?

Body: Kuroneko, hi! Err, I know we love video games and such, but I got a little bit confused. Closed Beta Period? Me being selected? Is this message also sent to Kinomoto-san and Hideki? Are you developing a game on your own? I will love to help if that's the case!

Sorata.'

After around 1 minute I got a reply.

'From: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

To: Akasaka Sorata

Subject: RE: Closed Beta Period FINAL NOTICE

Body: Are you stupid? You asked me yesterday for that; as a reward for helping me get away from those thugs, don't you remember? It was hard to review your offer! And I am accepting it! If you don't get it, you suck as a human being and I don't want to talk to you again in my life.

Kuroneko.'

I started to remember what happened yesterday.

I was skating and found her being cornered by some guys, after pretending being her boyfriend, which I loved every single second of it, we ran from them and stopped at a nearby park. While I was there with her, after apologizing for pretending being her boyfriend; I joked about taking her on a gaming date as a reward…

"Oh my god, is she accepting my proposal of a date? Is she being real? What the hell?!"

I started trembling like crazy and my heart started racing, but I had to ask her, if it wasn't the case she will simply reply 'no that's not it' or something and I will just have to apologize.

"Ok, let's see what happens"

I replied to her message again.

'To: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

From: Sorata SK8

Subject: Closed Beta Period Gaming?

Body: Are you accepting my offer of going on a gaming date as a reward for helping you yesterday? I was joking you know… well… not really. We had so much fun the last time I wanted to do it again. That's what you are talking about right? If not, please let me know to kill myself this instant.

Sorata.'

I waited on my desktop. My heart was beating like crazy you could hear it since there was no other noise on my room than the cooling fans from my desktop computer.

I left the cellphone laying on the desktop and I was looking at it uneasy, I was so nervous to read the reply.

After around 10 minutes, they were pure agony, AGONY I SAY!

She replied.

'Is she toying with me? She took longer than usual!'

I was thinking while trying to unlock my screen. I was so nervous I was trembling a lot and I missed the unlock code 5 times! I had a security option that made my cellphone erase everything on it after 10 failed attempts.

I calmed down and relaxed, I breathed in and out and got myself calm.

"Okay Sorata, don't mess up, let's see what's going on"

I unlocked the screen and opened the answer, I closed my eyes and prepared myself for any possible scenario and opened my eyes.

'From: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

To: Akasaka Sorata

Subject: Beta Test 1.0: Video Games

Body: Yes I am talking about that! Don't kill yourself! You are a beta tester! Don't you dare to do that or I swear I will use my dark magic on you and revive you to kill you again! (= ェ=)!

Ok, now back to the actual topic, yes, I have accepted your request to go on a research and gaming meeting with you, BUT it's merely because last time was really fun, no other hidden meanings! Depending of your performance on this one, other Beta Tests may arise. If you agree the terms and conditions, please reply with a single 'yes' and I will forward further instructions.

GM Kuroneko.'

I cried… no seriously, I was crying tears of joy! She accepted going out on a date with me! Even though she stated that it was because last time was really fun, I was still GOING ON A FREAKING DATE WITH HER! HELL YES!

I kneeled down and thanked the gods

I started shaking like crazy and then felt light headed my heart was pounding so fast I thought it was unnatural.

I managed to calm myself and replied.

'To: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

From: Sorata SK8

Subject: Beta Test 1.0: Video Games

Body: YES!

Beta Tester Sorata.'

I sighed in relief and waited to her reply.

She replied fast this time.

'From: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

To: Akasaka Sorata

Subject: Beta Test 1.0: Video Games Event Canceled

Body: I am sorry but I stated I wanted a single 'yes' word on the response, and you replied 'YES!' all caps and three exclamation marks, unfortunately our servers weren't able to acknowledge this response and the Beta Test has been canceled…'

I froze in place and was about to fall into a deep suicidal depression when my cellphone rang again, I dropped it because of the shock so I didn't see what's going on.

I dragged myself to where it had fallen, below my bed and grabbed it.

It had a new text message from Kuroneko.

I just wanted to die already, she was making it too painful! She is such a sadist!

I opened the message.

'From: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

To: Akasaka Sorata

Subject: -none-

Body: Just Kidding! (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ (=^ェ^=)

I will see you at the big park were we talked about this matter next Sunday at 10:00 AM okay?

GM Kuroneko.

P.S: It's just for fun and research!'

I started trembling again, she is my angel! I take away and fully back out from her being a sadist!

Well, she did toy with me, but I guess it means she has a sense of humor. A really dark and evil one, but she has one.

I can imagine her laughing her ass of right know because of that.

I was so happy nothing would ruin my joy, nothing!

I replied to her just to state it was a deal.

'To: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

From: Sorata SK8

Subject: Beta Test 1.0: Video Games - Confirmed

Body: Roger! Game Master, see you on Sunday!

Beta Tester Sorata.'

I sent it and didn't wait for a reply.

I left my phone there and looked at my email inbox again; no new messages.

I had to go to the store and get a new pair of headphones, I took my phone and all my belongings, changed into my regular skateboarding attire and left the house.

My sister wasn't around yet and so I guessed she went for a morning walk. It was around 10 am already.

I placed my skateboard on the floor and got over it, and started kicking the floor, I was skating all happy and excited because I was going to go on a date with Kuroneko even though it wasn't any formal date or anything, on Sunday, which was in two days, I couldn't wait!

I woke up in the morning, it was 8 am sharp.

I woke up BEFORE the alarm went off! Do you know this was the FIRST TIME in my whole life that had happened?

I was so excited, honestly I barely slept last night.

I was thinking what to do with Kuroneko on our 'research meeting', she called it yesterday.

Ohh yeah! She sent me another message, it said this:

'From: Fallen Angel Kuroneko

To: Akasaka Sorata

Subject: Research Meeting.

Body: GM Kuroneko here! Just texting back to double check the time: 10:00 am, at the big central Matsudo park, near that bench. Correct? I don't want to wander off the place! And if you don't arrive there at most 10:05 am, I am leaving home!

See you tomorrow.

GM Kuroneko

PS: It's a research meeting! For fun and gathering information for the game!'

Yep, that's her! Letting me know it's nothing serious.

I'm kind of sad she still emphasizes on that, but well, I'm going on a date (at least for me) with her, so I don't care how she calls it.

'Let's go then! Let's prepare!'

I left my room and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

Everyone was sleeping, so I had the whole bathroom for me, but I had to take a snap bath or I would be late to meet Kuroneko.

I went in and took a shower, I always changed my clothes inside the bathroom when I took a shower. I don't know why, I just had that habit.

I left the bathroom, already changed, well sort of, I got on some loose clothing I used when I was at home, after that I will change to my real attire on my room, which was nothing special.

When I walked down the aisle I looked that my little sister's room door was half open.

'She woke up already I guess, she heard someone taking a shower, so she went downstairs to that restroom'

I walked inside my room and sat on the edge of the bed, I felt strange, as if being observed.

'Hmm strange, what's going on…'

I stood up and walked around the room, I could sense someone was around, but I couldn't see anyone.

I checked below the bed, but there was no one there, just my skateboard and some spare parts for it.

I then walked towards the closet, but before I could reach it, the door opened in full and with a bam I got literally tackled by my little sister, she was hiding there!

"Wha! You! What were you doing there Ichigo?!"

She looked at me, she was in front of me pinning me down, since she fell over me.

She was still wearing her pajamas, which today it appears they were only her panties and a long sleeveless shirt with some bears on it.

It was hot last night so I guess that's why she slept like that.

"What? It's my house too! I can roam wherever I want to!"

I tried to get up, but she didn't move, so my body pressed against hers.

"Hey! Move away!"

She looked at me blushing, while I was trying to move her over, I got a glimpse (TOTALLY NOT ON PURPOSE!) of her cleavage, she was developing fast and really good, she looked more like a woman now and less as a middle-schooler.

"Where do you think you are looking you pervert!"

She slapped me on the face! Ouch! It hurt, she got back and cornered herself on the wall covering her chest with both hands. I could totally look at her panties now, which were just some regular blue and white striped panties.

"Ha?! Pervert? ME?! Who the hell snuck into my room in her pajamas and started spying on me while hiding inside my closet?! Did you want to see me get undressed or something? Wow Ichigo, I can't believe you are that perverted!"

She blushed a lot! But then she got her composure back and looked at me seriously, she stood up and walked right in front of me.

"You… where are you going today?"

I looked at her troubled, she is trying to avoid my questioning with another question?! She is getting better at this!

"Don't ask me another thing, why were you hiding in my closet Ichigo?"

I walked while saying this and sat on the chair in front of my computer, she then proceeded to lay on my bed, she was leaning face down, while her head rested on both her hands which she was using to support it while pressing her elbows against the bed, she also moved both her legs back and forth from the knee to the bottom.

What's with her sexy Lolita posture on my bed? Is she seducing me? Wow that's so disgusting I want to throw up already.

"Say… where are you going today Onii-chan?"

I looked at her with a really serious face and countered back.

"Ichigo, even if you lean on my bed like a sexy Lolita I won't fall for it, answer my question first…"

She looked at me, blushed and then sat down correctly, this time crossed her legs and placed both her hands between them to lower the shirt she was wearing to avoid exposing her panties.

"I…I…"

She looked down again and blushed, she was just like Kuroneko!

Now that I think about it, Kuroneko was the same, but she didn't like me in a romantic way like my sister. I mean my sister likes me, my sister loves me a lot, but as a brother and nothing else.

"Hey c'mon, answer me already! I am busy you know?!"

I looked at the clock and it was 8:45 am already! I had to go at least at 9:10 AM to arrive there, I wasn't going to skate there today to avoid sweating.

She continued looking down, she then looked at me and looked away in a second, she was really troubled, she closed her eyes and sighed, she took a time to order her thoughts and answered:

"I will be honest Onii-chan. I woke up when you walked past my room, you were humming! What the hell?! I saw it was 8:00 AM in a free day and you woke up so early! I knew something was going on!"

She paused and took air, I guess she was going to explain everything with one single breath.

"You won't be able…" I pointed at her with a cocky face.

She smiled in a challenging way and continued.

"So I snuck into your room and looked at your cellphone and found messages from some 'Kuroneko Angel' or something like that, asking you to see him or her at Matsudo's central park at 10:00 AM, but before I was able to leave you came back so I hid inside the closet until you discovered me"

She pouted and then stuck out her tongue and looked at me with the corner of the eye, she made it.

"Okay I acknowledge defeat… you did it"

I raised my hands in a signal of defeat, she smiled at me.

"Okay now, why are you just wearing that? I can totally see your underwear!"

She looked at me as if she didn't mind and continued.

"Don't change the subject Onii-chan! Who is this Kuroneko and where are you going today with him or her… I hope it's a her, honestly…" she said with a worried face while thinking about it.

I got really mad with that last one! I am not gay! The hell I will!

Any gay readers around there, please don't get mad I respect you a lot and I will totally be your friend, I just don't like boys!

"Yes it's a girl! She's a friend from school and we are going out to play video games at the arcade!"

I said this while clenching my hand and looking at her really mad.

She looked at me with a suspicious and teasing look, she raised one eye brow and smiled.

Damn it! I fell for it! She intended me to do that from the beginning! Now what will I say? She will tell I am in love with Kuroneko! She is really sharp for her age.

I looked at the ground.

"So… Onii-chan, you just got yourself a date? Wow I am really proud of you! I started to think you were going to be living here forever skating and using your computer!"

She said this like if she was a queen and I was a mere slave, she was kind of mad. I could tell that.

I reacted as if something just punched me in the face, those were harsh words.

"Wow, hey what the hell, you aren't this mean! What's wrong with you?!"

She looked at me with a superiority aura around her, she looked directly into my eyes, I had a really concerned face, and it had an effect on her, she looked down and blushed.

"Onii-chan… will you ever cease to love me and leave my side?"

That was a really weird question. I felt so sad just thinking about that, after all she was my little sister, she will get married one day and leave me too.

"Ah… Ichi, I will never leave you! I'm pretty sure you will leave me first and get married!"

She looked at me with a troubled face and then looked away.

"Well I am beautiful! Someday Chuck-san will look at me and get married with me! I could bet my allowance to that!"

Haha! That was a really easy bet to win! But I'm not that cruel.

"Well, see? You will leave me first, I do have a gaming reunion with Kuroneko, and I am super excited for it, but we are not dating or anything. We are just going out to play video games like good friends, and even, she doesn't even sees me in a romantic way, so don't worry"

I said this last part with a little sadness added to it, I mean I really wanted to be her boyfriend! But well one day it will happen or I'll just get rejected.

Ichigo looked at me and smiled, she started to calm down.

"Just as friends playing video games huh?"

"Yes, just as friends that's it, no hidden motives"

I said this last part and remembered Kuroneko's message, I smiled a little bit and felt excited again.

Then I remembered something.

I looked at Ichigo with a surprised stare and pointed my finger at her, she looked at me confused and tilted her head to a side while sitting.

"Y-you! You read my messages! How dare you do that! Respect my privacy!"

She looked surprised and jumped off the bed and rushed out of my room and snuck into hers, I tried to run behind her, but I could only see a weird blur of white and blue colors on her butt while she escaped.

She was pretty fast, what does she do on her free time?

'Damn it, she ran away. Whatever I have more important things to do'

I started getting changed.

Today I was wearing a regular attire, it was a black buttoned shirt, and a white internal shirt, blue jeans, and regular shoes, no skating shoes or anything. The only thing "off" from the attire were the new Bose Headphones I bought the other day after Ichigo snatched mine since I am sure they won't be coming back ever again.

I was going on a date, even though it was to play video games at an arcade, I wanted to look good.

I mean, I knew Kuroneko will be using her Cosplay of Queen of Nightmare, so I wanted to look good by her side, that's why I selected this specific color combination on my Shirt and internal shirt.

Her Cosplay had mostly those colors, and some purple and pink flowers around it.

I looked at the clock, it was 8:55 am already, time to leave!

"I'm off!" I shouted for my sister to hear, she didn't answer.

My parents were sleeping so I didn't do too much noise.

I got in front of the door, put on the shoes I had on my hands and left the house.

I have 1 hour to arrive to the park and find that place again, I didn't pay too much attention when we were running the other day so I had blurry images of the place and how to get there.

I mean we were so concentrated in running away that we didn't even noticed we were holding hands the whole time.

'Let's go Sorata, don't let this opportunity go!"

I opened the door and went out of the house, my perfect day with Kuroneko was about to begin.

I smiled and walked away. It felt strange to walk instead of skating to a place.

It was around 9:15 when I passed by the place where I met Kuroneko for the first time, that day I was skating down to get that book from the carrier I ordered from internet.

After walking for around 30 minutes, I finally saw the street where I helped Kuroneko get out of a weird situation with some bullies.

I mean she looks so cute on her Queen of Nightmare outfit, I don't know why people will bully her, I mean she looks super nice on it!

I looked around and stopped for a moment.

"Where the hell did we ran that time?"

I looked around and I was completely lost! I ran that day like crazy and didn't notice in which direction I headed.

"Well I can always ask for directions I mean… It's a freaking huge park!"

I entered the store where Kuroneko bought those groceries for her sisters. I looked for the clerk and before I was able to talk to him, I found a map of the city pasted on one of the walls, it had directions in English I guess for tourists and such.

"Okay, I need to head west!"

I looked at the time: 9:50 AM I panicked.

Went out of the place and ran like hell!

Until I found it the big ass park was in front of me, I then stopped again.

"Which direction I ran into?!"

I was feeling really bad and started to panic again.

I then started to remember the places and started walking around I had 5 minutes to get to the rendezvous point.

I started moving and I found the bench where Kuroneko sat last time. I looked at it and smiled, and sat on it, after around 30 seconds, I just laid on it.

I closed my eyes and then started to doze out but I kept myself awake the best I could.

After around 5 more minutes I heard footsteps getting closer, but I didn't pay attention to it, until I heard a voice.

"Really? 10:00 am and you are sleeping? Is my dark magic this powerful even in the morning? Or are you really this lazy?"

I moved my hand off my eyes and looked, there she was, Kuroneko, obviously wearing her Queen of Nightmare Cosplay, but she was off by something.

I looked at her carefully into her eyes, she looked at me and blushed, gave a step back and placed the back part of her hand on her lips and said.

"W-what are you looking at? Really? Sexual harassment this early?"

I sighed and sat on the bench, then looked at her eyes, she looked away and closed them.

"Hey Kuroneko…"

She jumped a little bit and looked at me nervous.

"W-what do you want pervert?"

"Why are your eyes blue today? Isn't the Queen of Nightmare a character with Red eyes?"

She looked at me confused, but then reacted to me and lowered her head and looked to the floor.

"I-I know! But my red contacts got dirty and I wasn't able to wash them for use today"

"Ohh I see… I prefer your natural blue eyes, they are cute"

She looked at me and got all red, she then stood straight and started moving.

"Let's go!"

"W-wait!"

She walked fast and never looked back, as if she knew where to go, but I guessed she was just trying to avoid talking to me. Why is she like this?

'Should I ask her? I mean this question is killing me for some time! Dah I will ask it I don't care, I really want to know'

I ran behind Kuroneko until I was able to catch up with her.

"Hey! Don't run off like that!"

She continued walking.

"Well don't be so slow? You skate don't you? Be faster!"

I was fast with a skateboard and I could run too, but she just walked super-fast. I'm starting to think she does indeed have dark magic powers.

She was so cold, I don't get why she is like this.

"So, where are we going now Kuroneko?"

She stopped and looked back at me with a bored expression.

"Huh? Why do you ask that? Didn't you ask me out on a gaming research meeting?"

I hated her called it like that, but ohh well… I'm with her, so that's ok.

"Yes I know, I just wanted to know, I don't know any arcades around here, I just play on the ones we did that competition and the ones from Akiba"

She looked surprised.

"Akiba? You call it like that too? You don't even look like an otaku! Aren't you a poser?"

Ouch! That one hurt, she is really harsh when she wants to. A poser it's someone who pretend to be part of a community or something, but doesn't even know a bit about it. I've known a lot of skate posers.

"A poser? Are you kidding me?!"

She continued walking, so I just followed her.

"Yes, I've never seen you with anything revolving anime, you do wear a Rurouni Kenshin T-Shirt below your uniform though"

I almost tripped over when she said that. How could she notice it! I do use it since I skate to school and I don't want to sweat all my uniform, so I usually wear something like that on my way to school, since it's impossible to see Chuck and the others on my way to school.

Sometimes I get lazy and don't remove it, and just place my regular uniform over it, I know it gets some sweat, but it's ok.

"H-how! How do you know about that? Are you stalking me?!"

I pointed my finger at her, she just made a smirk and did a little 'heh' on me.

"Are you stupid? I'll never stalk you or anything! That's impossible! I just like to watch people that gains my interest"

So she is interested in me? I doubt it's romantically anyways.

"So, you are interested in me? Wow Kuroneko that's pretty straight forward…"

I looked at her with a taunting smile, I was clearly making fun of her.

But she reacted really strange, she first blushed a little bit, then looked at me with emotionless eyes, I mean void eyes, not a single expression came out of them.

"Well Akasaka-san, you do interest me, since you are my main debugger…"

I knew it! She was just interested because of that game.

"I see"

I looked down and continued walking, she looked to the front and continued walking.

I broke the ice with some hesitation.

"So, how's the game going?"

"It's going all right, I will need you more at the club, since we are on the last steps and you are the main one here, we need debugging and balancing for every single piece of the game structure"

"I see, well its ok, I can debug stuff as soon as you give me the information and such"

She just nodded. I started feeling really uneasy, she was being extremely cold towards me and she seemed weird, like if she was uncomfortable around me or something.

We walked for a couple of places, until she noticed something.

"So you bought the headphones after all?"

I looked at her and then touched my neck, and I remembered I was wearing them around it the whole time.

"Ohh yeah, I went yesterday and bought them, that was the original cause I left my friends that day"

She looked at them and smiled.

"Nice color scheme"

I took them off and looked at them. They were the same as the ones my little sister got from me.

"Well, they are the same ones my little sister took from me, I like the color mix, that's why I bought the same ones. Although this aren't my favorite colors, I like how the mix"

Kuroneko looked at them in wonder, I guess she liked Black and Purple a lot.

I handed them over and she looked at me puzzled.

"Here, if you want, you can check them, I've seen you have a smartphone so I guess you have music on it"

She gave me a thankful look and grabbed them. I unplugged them from my phone and gave the jack to her, our hands touched for a little bit.

She took out her cell phone and plugged in the headphones, she then clicked some icons on her phone and got a music player running and started hearing some music.

The music was kind of loud, since I could hear it, it was some kind of classical piece, it sounded nice, I'll ask the composer later.

She started banging her head to the rhythm of the music, I didn't knew you could head bang to classical music! You learn something new every day.

I reached to her head and removed them, she jumped in shock and looked at me, she froze in place and didn't say anything.

I looked at her and smiled.

"What? Do you think I'm sexually harassing you again because I took off my own headset from you? I just wanted to show you why I really bought them besides the color scheme"

She relaxed and took out her phone and changed the track, this one was kind of like a Pop song, but I didn't understood the lyrics I guess they were being sung on a different language.

"Here, place them on, and check this"

She placed the headphones on again and listened to the music, I placed myself in front of her, she blushed a little bit and tried to back up but stopped and just looked at me clenching her hands.

I was really nervous, I was really close to her, but I relaxed and spoke.

"You can hear my voice right?"

She nodded while looking down.

"You are using your usual volume to hear music?"

She nodded again and I smiled.

"Check this out Kuroneko, whenever I want to be alone and forget about everything, I take this babies to a stroll or I go out to skate with them after school or something and do the following"

She just looked at me confused, I then reached to the right headphone, she backed a little bit showing she was nervous, I just placed my hand on the headphone and told her:

"Let your music take to a different world Ru….."

I moved a switch and the noise cancelling function went on.

Her eyes widened in shock and I asked.

"Do you hear my voice now?"

She looked at me while doing this expression someone will do when they have issues hearing someone.

"You can't hear a thing right?"

She started looking around and placed a wondered face, she spun on her place looking everything while smiling really big, she was fascinated with this headset.

She looked back at me and stared in awe.

"You can't hear a thing right?"

She just shook her head trying to let me know she didn't hear a thing.

"Hahaha yeah, that's why I use them…"

"Ohh by the way… I love you Ruri"

I smiled and she looked at me confused, she then blushed, but I was pretty sure she wouldn't hear a thing. I just wanted to take it off my chest and practice!

I will freeze when I get the time to say it for real.

But it was so nice I loved how it sounded.

She continued blushing while not doing anything, just looking at me and then she looked away and continued hearing her song.

I was worried she could read lips! I never thought about that! If she does, I am so screwed.

I knew she wouldn't hear a thing. One time I was skating with this option on and a truck kept honking at me to move away from the street and I never heard it, until I looked back and saw the driver who was really pissed by that moment.

After around 2 or 3 minutes, she looked down and took off the headphones, and handed them over without looking at me, she was being really cute and all, but I felt somewhat weird, why is she like this at some times?

I had to ask her.

"Th-they are really nice, I love that function. I would use them daily at my house, I won't have to hear my noisy sisters when I'm not in the mood, I love them don't get me wrong"

I smiled and took the headphones and looked at them.

"Yeah, they really help you travel a different place…"

I placed them back over my neck like they have been for the past hour.

"Y-yeah, I liked them, where did you bought them?"

I looked around and saw we were close that shop.

"I told you the other day. I bought them at a near shop, do you want to drop by? It's called Music & More"

She nodded happily.

"OK then follow me"

She nodded and started following me, the party changed, now I'm the leader!

"Why do you even need to use them on the first place Akasaka-san? I mean your sister is not nosy right?"

I remembered and looked at her with a thinking face.

"Well now that you put it that way… yeah she is quite silent when she needs to"

She sighed.

"That's so nice, I've known some sisters who are a mess!"

But she wasn't talking about her sisters, she was talking about someone else, I could tell.

"You are talking about Kirino-san right?"

"Yeah, she is quite a noisy person"

"I see, hehe, it's ok, if you want to use them at your house I can lend them to you, I just use them when I want to be alone"

I turned left and we arrived at the store. I checked the hour, it was 10:55 am.

Kuroneko looked at the building with a sad expression.

"Closed: Operation hours 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM Mon - Sun"

So, the place was closed! I never went to it before 12 pm, so I didn't knew.

I bowed to Kuroneko and apologized.

"Sorry! I didn't knew they opened this late!"

"I-it's ok, it's not a big deal, we can come later, and I won't take your headphones, you just bought them"

I gave her a warm expression.

"C'mon Kuroneko! You are my friend! If I can lend them to help you out I will definitely do so! So don't feel bad"

She looked down and blushed a little and said with a really timid voice.

"Thanks I will do so"

"Okay, if you need them today I will lend them to you"

She looked at me with bright eyes.

"R-really?"

"Sure! Why not?"

She smiled a little bit and nodded while almost whispering.

"Thanks…"

She then walked again faster and said.

"Let's go, we need to start researching"

I ran to catch up, and we walked downtown.

After around 10 minutes of walking we arrived at a local Arcade, the place was kind of packed, it's Sunday and it's summer, so that's why.

"Hey Kuroneko, wait here. I'll go and get some tokens for the arcades ok?"

She nodded and waited at the entrance, a lot of people looked at her in weird ways. I mean she is wearing a gothic Lolita outfit, so she stood up a lot.

After being in line for a while I was able to get tokens.

I walked back and Kuroneko was still there waiting for me.

"Yo! I've got tokens!" I said while waving at her.

She just looked me with a cold gaze but immediately changed it to awe.

"Wha-what?! Why did you bought so many?!"

She was pointing at a plastic bag I got at the machine, I bought around 1,000 yens worth of tokens.

"Err… well we are researching right? Don't we need a lot of tokens for that?"

She dropped her shoulders and sighed.

"Akasaka you didn't have to purchase that many, we can do other things besides playing games you know?"

She blushed a little bit, is she inviting me to do other things?! That would definitely qualify as a date!

I am so happy… but wait, maybe she is saying that because the place is packed and she hates being around too many people.

I sighed and lowered my shoulders, she looked at me confused and tilted her head sideways.

"Why did you got sad all off the sudden Akasaka?"

"Eh? Ohh no, it's nothing! Hahaha! Let's play shall we?"

I walked into the place, she sighed and tagged along.

"So, Kuroneko researcher chief, which game should we research first?"

"D-don't call me that! It's embarrassing! Just call me Kuroneko!"

"Hehe sorry…"

She looked so cute troubled.

"Let's try that one first"

She pointed to a fighting game, it wasn't Siscaly, it looked kind of old.

"Samurai Showdown… it seems interesting"

I looked at the screen, it was made for Neo-Geo, which was created back in 1990! It was almost 20 years old! I love oldies.

"So, will you play or not?"

Kuroneko was already sitting at her stool waiting for me.

"Y-yeah! I didn't knew you liked oldies"

"I am researching Akasaka-san, I need to try out games from all ages and times"

"Hmmm now that you put it that way, you are correct! Wow you really are an amazing leader for this, I am glad I let you take the role"

She blushed a little bit and quickly inserted a coin and pressed start.

She was on the P1 seat by the way, I was on the P2 seat, she was really close to me, I could smell her perfume, it was really relaxing. I think it was Lavender scented.

From time to time I was able to touch her elbow with mine, and that made me lose concentration.

She beat me on the first round.

"Well… you are bad! Why did you even chose to play against me Akasaka?!"

She looked down on me, and that fired me up.

"Hah! Sorry I was adapting to this attack scheme! But I got it now, it's just about doing U's and Hadoukens, it's simple"

"Heh, it's easier said than done you know"

"Just press rematch!"

She pressed the rematch option and we faced the second round of the game.

This time I was able to win, barely. She was really good at playing this game, maybe she came before and practiced?

"Ha! I got you Kuroneko!"

She bit her lip a little bit and one of her eye brows started to tremble, she was mad! She is a really bad loser!

"Y-you! You got me this time because I was going easy on you"

"Ohh yeah? Well, how about we bet something? Let's make this interesting!"

She backed up a little bit and looked at me with a challenging face.

"Heh, simple mortal, what do you want to bet, you can't win against the fallen angel of darkness! Retreat now that you can!"

I retorted back and bursted out in laughter and while doing a cool pose I pointed my finger at her.

"Hahaha! Fallen Angel of Darkness! You've found your rival on video games! Now perish to my power of spiritual rage and be gone!"

She looked at me and smiled a little bit. Am I getting infected with her Chuunibyou?!

Someone help!

She then moved facing me and bursted out in laughter while pointing at me and looking me with her eyes almost closed she said:

"Whahahah! Y-you! W-what are you saying?! Sit down and play!"

I was really embarrassed myself. I sat down and looked at the screen, she then whispered.

"The loser will buy drinks for both, got it?"

I looked at her surprised, she was being serious about betting!

"You-are-on!"

She pressed rematch and we played it. I was doing great at dodging and attacking back with low attacks, but she learned to combo me!

"Aww damn, you are good at this Kuroneko"

She looked at me with a face of self-gratification and pride.

She placed her hand on her chest and pumped it.

"Now, go and get me a drink you pitiful underling!"

She was having a lot of fun as you could tell.

"Hehe, you may have won this match, but my spiritual power has risen and you are going down on the next game!"

She smiled and covered her face with her right hand while giving me a signal to leave with her other hand.

I left her alone and went to a vending machine.

"Okay so, Green Tea for me, Parsley Tea for her"

I went back with the drinks, and she was standing waiting for me while looking around looking for more games to try out.

"There you go, oh great lord of Samurai Showdown"

I made a reverence and gave her the drink, she blushed and took it fast, opened it and drank a lot.

I smiled and opened mine and drank too.

She then whispered.

"Thanks Akasaka"

I was drinking, which made me stop and looked at her surprised.

"Hmm… you are welcome?"

She blushed and drank off her tea again. She is acting strange, she is having fun one second, the other one she is being gloomy or blushing like if I just kissed her, what's going on her head?

"So, research chief, where to play now?"

She blushed, I guess she really felt embarrassed by being called like that.

"I told you to stop calling me like that! And how about that one?"

She pointed at a game which consisted of breaking little colored balls by matching three or more of the same color.

"Ohh! I love those games haha! I used to play them a lot with my little sister, she was good at them"

She sat on the stool, but this time she sat on the P2 side, I just looked at her confused and sat on the P1 place.

"Why choose P2 now?"

"I just want to, can't I?"

"Ehh yeah sure, no problem! Here we go"

I inserted two coins and we both pressed the start button.

The game had little dragons as your character to play, I selected a blue one and she selected a purple one.

The game started, it was pretty simple, you just had to get the same color to group with the ball you just threw at the randomly allocated cluster of balls on the top, if the ball bumped with more than three of the same color, they broke and you send that amount of colored balls to your opponent, the first one who got it's screen filled with them lose the round.

We were playing and Kuroneko was good at matching colors quickly, she was getting me fast! But I was able to counter by doing the same thing I did to defeat my little sister when we played. I placed randomly some non-matching balls to two matching ones and then broke that cluster, the ones attached that didn't match the color scheme, would fall too and give you extra points and place more balls on the opponent's field.

Kuroneko started to strive against my offensive, since she only sent me clusters of three balls I was able to get rid of them quickly. I was sending her clusters of 4 to 7 balls at the same time.

In a matter of minutes I won the first round.

"Y-you! Cheater! How did you manage to punish me with 4 or more balls at the same time! You cheater!"

She was clearly mad, she was a really bad loser! But she looked cute while mad, and she didn't meant it.

I guess I will just let her know the secret. I'm pretty sure I will be doomed, but that will make the game more interesting.

"Hahaha you are a really bad loser Kuroneko! Calm down pretty"

She blushed and looked at me surprised.

"W-who are you calling pretty?! Stop this nonsense you pervert!"

"Hey hey, calm down I was joking… although you do look pretty with your Queen of Nightmare Cosplay, this is around the third time I tell you this"

She looked away and retorted.

"I made it myself! Of course I will look good on it! Now stop that praising as it will not change the fact you did something illegal to win this match"

I sighed and looked at the screen.

"Kuroneko, didn't you pay attention to how I was playing? I thought you'll at least see my tactics"

She backed a little bit and looked at me confused and mad at the same time.

"Which tactics!? Explain yourself now!"

I sighed, she was really pumped out.

"Look Kuroneko, you know this game is a puzzle game, and that the main goal is to break all the clusters in the fastest time, right?"

"Yes I do know that, what's with that basic introduction?"

"Well, on versus mode, you are supposed to get the highest amount of balls on your opponent's field for them to get overwhelmed and lose, a way of doing so is breaking the clusters of balls with mismatching colors attached to them and in the air, that way you will break a cluster of 4 or more balls and all of them will fall, granting you more points and sending more balls to your opponent"

She looked at the screen with a pensive face while processing all the information I just told her, after a few seconds she looked at me.

"Why did you just explained me how to beat you on your own game?"

I smiled at her and gave her an honest answer.

"Well, this way the game will be more interesting, what do you want to bet now?"

She smiled a little and gave me a challenging look again.

"The winner will choose the next game"

"Okay, let's do this"

We played the next two rounds, the second one was won by her she got a really nice cluster of balls to do exactly what I just told her to do and filled my screen with them really fast.

The third one was won by me since I was able to do the same faster, so it was my turn to choose the next game.

"Hehe you've gotten pretty good at it! Damn I almost lost!"

She looked at me with a resentful look but full of pride.

"You almost lost to my power of darkness, I will believe that your spiritual power was higher on this one, so let's continue with our research"

"Okay, since I won it's my turn to choose a game right?"

"Yes it is, choose wisely"

"Hmm…"

I thought about a lot of them, maybe a crane game, another puzzle game, a dance simulation game, shooting game? Then I saw a rally driving game and pointed at it.

"How about that one Kuroneko?"

She looked at the game and looked at me surprised and confused.

"A rally driving game? Do you like those kind of games?"

"W-well I do like sports and racing games, if you don't want to play on it, it's ok; I will choose a different one"

She looked away from me and walked towards the arcade.

I followed her and inserted two coins on each machine.

"Let's see, you know how to play it? You just need to drive around the road and win, that's it"

"Y-yeah I get it, start already"

She looked nervous, maybe she didn't knew how to drive? I did knew the basics and had driven my family car at parking lots and drove my mom to the super market sometimes.

We selected our cars, as the rule in coloring again, I got a blue one and she got a black and purple one.

Then I selected the easiest course on it, which kind of made Kuroneko mad.

"Why are you selecting the super novice track? Are you trying to say I am bad at it?"

I trembled a little bit, I didn't want to offend her.

"Ah… n-no! I just wanted to get the easy one to try out the game, I've never played it myself"

She pouted and looked at the screen, she then looked at all the things inside the cabin of the car.

"You know how to use them?"

She looked confused.

"D-don't underestimate the power of darkness! I will learn fast!"

I smiled and the game started, you had two options for shift transmission, which was automatic and manual, obviously it's better to go on Manual, but if you had no idea of how to use it, you will obviously lose.

I selected manual since I had practice with the family car.

She selected it too with while looking at me with a challenging gaze; you are not able to revert that selection after you've pressed the 'okay' option.

"Kuroneko, do you know how to drive a manual shift system?"

She looked at me confused and shook her head.

"Heh, let's not bet anything this time, you will lose for sure"

Her face turned red because of rage and looked at the screen.

"If you lose! You will do whatever I say one time okay?"

I looked at her dumbfounded, but got my composure back quickly.

"And what will you do if you lose?"

She looked at me and covered her body with both hands and blushed a lot.

"W-what did you meant with that? Pervert!"

I sighed and looked down.

"Why do you even think I am a pervert Kuroneko? I've never said or done anything for you look at me that way…"

She blushed and looked away. She then said in a really embarrassed tone:

"Y-you said I was your girlfriend and hugged me sideways! That's more than enough for me"

"B-but I was helping you! I will never pretend to be your b-boyfriend or do perverted things to you or something!"

She blushed even more and leaned against the racing seat the arcade had which covered her face since it had lateral support, it was like those street racing car seats you see on the movies.

"You did enjoy doing that, right?"

I was frozen; how did she even knew it? I never told her anything!

I had to say something to avoid her knowing.

"I didn't! I felt happy because I was able to help you out fend off those guys! That's all!"

She looked at me in a suspicious way and asked back:

"Are you hiding me something? Why did you felt so happy Akasaka?"

I was getting really nervous, but I calmed down and answered in the best possible way I was able to.

"I am not hiding anything! Just quit asking me stuff! I helped you and I felt good for doing so, you are my friend and I will never let you down, now, start the game already"

"Is that so… let's change the bet then… if you lose this round. You will become my dark underling and will do what I say for a whole week!"

I blushed profusely and looked at her dumbfounded.

"W-what is with that round reward first it was one time, now a whole week?! Do you like me or something?!"

She looked me with a serious way and blushed a little.

"I don't know, do I?"

I blushed a lot and looked away.

"What's with that answer?! Answer me honestly!" I cried out.

"L-let's leave that as our next game round reward" She said this while staring at the game screen.

"Okay… if you lose this game round, you will promise to answer a question for me, okay?"

"That's the same as making me answer before winning the next game round, so denied!"

She crossed her arms in front of her to form an X.

I looked at her displeased.

"It's not the same! You will answer me if you like me or not on the next game! That's not what I wanted to ask you if I win this time"

She looked at me confused and tilted her head to a side while placing her index finger near her lips. That looked so sensual.

"What do you mean?"

I looked away.

"W-what I just said…"

"Okay let's do this, if you win this round, I will choose the next game and you will ask the question, and if I also lose the next game I will answer both questions, how about that?"

It looked like a good way of settling it out, maybe she does like me. Although she might like me as a friend and not in a romantic way.

"Okay, let's do that then, but what if I lose on each round?"

She looked at me in a sadistic way and answered:

"If you lose on the next game, you will help me out with something and you won't be able to deny, and if you lose this one, you will become my underling for a whole week, ok?"

I looked at her surprised, she just gave me a superiority stare and waited for my response, either way she will take full control of me if I lost any of those matches.

"Deal"

We both agreed and shook hands, it was the second time I touched her hand, and it was so soft.

We started playing the game and obviously she was meant to lose, she wasn't able to shift gears and she drove slowly which made her really mad.

"Ahhh c'mon! Why is this thing going so slow! It's not fair! You cheated again!"

I looked at her while shifting gears with my right hand and driving with my left hand.

"Kuroneko, I told you if you selected manual shift mode you will lose if you didn't knew how to drive"

I shifted again and braked. She looked at me with a mad expression, but continued to drive how she could.

After around 5 minutes, the race was over and I won, against her, since the artificial intelligence of the game made it hard to beat.

She stood up and looked at me as if I was a traitor.

"Y-you! You know how to drive cars?!"

"Y-yeah I do, I've practiced a lot with my family car…"

"You've set me a trap Akasaka! You knew you were going to win!"

"Kuroneko I told you to stop playing this game in Manual Shift since it's really difficult!"

She calmed down and placed her hand on her temple while crossing her other arm below that one.

"I-it's my fault. You caught me off guard and deceived my powers of darkness, its ok. I will accept my defeat, and select the next game, and you will be able to ask the question…. BUT!"

She changed into a serious face and pointed at me.

"You will ask AFTER we finish the next game round! Okay?"

I felt strange she placed such a condition, but it's ok, at least I will be able to ask the question if I win.

"Okay, I accept, select the game"

She made a confident smile and posture and pointed at the game she wanted to play next.

"Beat me in Siscaly! And I will answer your questions!"

I looked at the arcade, people was playing around it, so it was like the last time. I guess she liked that time and wanted to repeat it.

But since I really want to ask her that question. I can't let her win, I am sorry Kuroneko.

"Are you sure? I've beaten you every time we've played this game"

She backed away a little bit and placed her hands on her waist, while looking at me with a fierce face.

"I will not lose this time! I've practiced a lot since the last time! You will perish in agony this time!"

"I've practiced too Kuroneko, and I won't go easy on you just because I am your friend! I really want those questions answered!"

She blushed and looked at me with a challenging expression.

"I-if y-you want to know about that, then beat me on a duel! Let's go!"

She started walking towards the game arcade while I followed her.

There was a queue line to play again.

She looked back at me and twitched her lips.

"Hehe it looks it's going to be like last time Kuroneko, should I go again and win for you to play against me?"

She looked at me full of confidence and said proudly:

"Humph, I will get rid of this scum by myself, just wait for your turn!"

I smiled and placed a hand on the back of my head.

"Haha as you wish my lady, go ahead and have fun"

We took our queue numbers, since they were randomly placed I was ahead of her, so we traded numbers, she will have to defeat 3 persons before me.

After some time, she was next, we didn't talk the whole time we waited, I guess she was concentrating a lot.

She looked back at me and smiled full of confidence and said in a cocky way:

"Don't you dare to take your eyes off me! I want you to witness the whole new level I had achieved!"

"I know! Just go already!"

She walked up the stairs into the 'stage' like place, her opponent was this guy wearing eye glasses he looked really intellectual.

"Good luck!"

I looked at her, she blushed a little bit and started playing.

The usual, she rushed the guy down the first round, but played defensively the second one until he let his guard off and she full hp comobo'ed him. The third round also ended fast with her rushing.

After that, she finished off the other two opponents fast.

It was my turn.

People gathered around again, and we looked at each other with defiant looks.

She moved her lips and said something.

'Good luck, you are going down Sorata!'

I stopped in full! Did she just spelled my name? Wow, what an honor.

She looked at the screen with a serious expression and said while selecting her the color of her little sister.

"Move and select your sister already…."

It might been the heat of the situation or the lightning but I think she was blushing while she said that.

I selected my little sister and we started the first round.

I knew she was going to rush me, since that's her style, so I played defensively.

She dashed forward and tried to hit me with a low kick, to which I jumped and placed my character behind her. I did a grab and sent her flying against a wall, which broke part of the scenery.

Ohh yeah on a previous update, the developers added scenery which was 'interactive'. It only meant you could break it with your actions, it helped sometimes to combo.

She groaned and stood up fast, but by that I was already over her and started punching, after 8 punches I was able to send her flying in the air with a medium kick and rapidly jumped towards her, and did a full aerial combo. Her hp was drained to around 30%

"Y-you!"

She was irritated, I told her I had practiced more, and well she got better.

"Let's just finish this round shall we?"

I dashed and made a fake attack, she jumped, I jumped right after she passed my character and made a grab, which sent her to the ground, I then landed, made a sweeping kick and continued to combo her until she died.

"That's 1 - 0 dear Kuroneko, ready for round two?"

She looked at me full of grief, she was red, all red, but it was of fury, not of embarrassment or something.

"Let's go… and don't you dare to call me 'dear' again in your life or I will tear your tongue"

Wow she was really mad. Well I did made fun of her to piss her off.

Round two started.

I rushed thinking she will play defensively, but I was wrong! She moved fast and combo'ed me! She finished her combo with a special! She made an ¾ hp combo. I was sitting around 15% hp and she was up to 100%.

I knew this round was a loss, and I had to strike back at the un-drawing round.

After I landed on the ground, she swept my character and continued a combo.

The people looking went nuts! And well, the round ended.

"P-E-R-F-E-C-T Round Akasaka! You really can't come up with my darkness power!"

I smiled and looked at her with a challenging face.

"That was just pure luck, prepare to lose!"

"Ha! I want to see you trying!"

The next round started.

We started playing the third and final round and she rushed at me, which made her stop before getting to my character, since I also rushed her.

"Wha-"

She stopped and dodged my attack, which was a normal medium punch, if I connected it, I would be able to drain her HP up to 20% or so.

She dodged and did a grab, but the game also supported a new function which let you release any grab if you pressed high punch and tried to move forward.

I was able to do so and cancel her grab attack.

She groaned and bit her lip.

I was having a hard time attacking; she went full defensive mode and started moving around and dodging my attacks.

"Hey stop running around Kuroneko!"

She looked at me and smiled, she intended me to get desperate and attack without thinking.

I moved and by mistake let my guard down, she jumped over me and did a downright kick, which stopped and stunned my character, she landed and started a full hp combo, if I didn't do something, I was doomed.

She started laughing like the villain of a movie. She even made me feel goose bumps.

"Take that mortal!"

"HA! Not that fast Kuroneko-chan!"

She trembled when she heard that and looked at me with a killing gaze.

'I will surely get yelled at because of that'

I didn't care I was going to win this!

In the middle of her combo, she had to grab me to continue it.

And thanks to the new function they implemented I was able to press high punch and forward and release myself from it. That made her chain combo to break and I was able to counter attack.

After I released my character from her grab attack I immediately did a medium diagonal hit which made her fall, I landed and swept her character with a kick, she got in the air and continued my combo.

I was with around 10% of hp left and she had 100% hp. When the combo ended I will be able to get her to 10% also and the game will be even.

She groaned and looked at me really displeased but I wanted to win.

I continued my combo until I finished, I will be able to continue it to a full hp combo if she didn't react after landing, which obviously will be nearly impossible.

I finished the combo we both were on 10% HP the people around us went nuts and started cheering both of us. Most of the guys sided with Kuroneko. I was a little bit jealous.

"Y-you are good Akasaka… but this is not the end!"

She went full berserk on me with a barrage of attacks, but I was able to parry block each of them, she was surprised.

"Heh C'mon Kuroneko! We both know that kind of strategy won't work on me!"

She looked at me with a mad expression but continued to press on.

"I'm not finished yet! I have to win! You will help me out with something and won't be able to deny it and I will take full advantage of that!"

She looked me in a sadistic way, I started to fear for my life I couldn't lose!

She made a grab attack and I canceled it, she did a special attack but I was able to cancel it before I took damage by doing a short jab on her character.

"AHHH Just die already!"

She was clearly frustrated because I was dodging everything.

After she finished with her attempt to combo me I was able to counter attack.

I moved forward and jumped over her, while doing this, exactly before I passed her character I made a down ward attack and stunned her.

"Sorry Kuroneko-sama I need to win this"

"Y-you! I HATE YOU!" she said while she grabbed the joystick with a lot of force.

I moved and combo'ed her until she was about to die, just before she was going to take the last hit, she block parried my attack and did a grab, she kicked me and I went down to around 2% of hp, she was around that amount too, we both desperately at the same time, did our special move.

I closed my eyes and people just screamed like crazy.

"I-I can't believe it… How did this ended up like this?!"

I looked at the screen… No character stood up, and no CG was on the screen.

On the screen you could only see one word.

'Draw'

I looked at the screen and started laughing, I laughed like a mad person.

Everyone looked at me scared, maybe they thought I was a bad loser and I was about to rampage on everyone.

Kuroneko was standing there, still grabbing the controls and looked at the screen in awe, she couldn't believe it either.

"T-this! How did this ended like this?! Y-You! What did you do?!"

She stomped her way near me, I was still laughing and tears rolled down my face I was already crying because of laughter.

"Hahahaah! Hahaha! Oh my god! I-I can't believe it! This is the first time I've ever finished in a draw on any game in my life! Hahahahaha this is insane!"

Kuroneko was looking at me with her fist clenched in front of her face in a way to express her frustration.

Everyone was silent as asking themselves 'what's gonna happen now?'

I sighed and glanced at Kuroneko who was looking at the screen which still said 'Draw'.

"So, what do you want to do?"

She clicked her tongue and walked away.

"It was a draw wasn't it? Let's go and settle this somewhere else"

I sighed and walked behind her.

Two guys approached and tried to talk to Kuroneko, who just with a cold stare, made them think about it twice and moved to a side to let her pass.

"Sorry guys, she is a bad loser hehe"

They awkward smiled at me and one asked in a timid way.

"A-are you pro or something? You guys were incredible!"

I smiled and looked at them with a humble expression.

"No, we just play this game a lot. Go ahead, take our turns, have fun!"

I continued walking and waved my hand to say my goodbyes and to let them know it was ok for them to take our place.

After I was able to get out of the crowd I looked for Kuroneko but she wasn't around.

"Well, where did she go? We have plenty of tokens so I don't think she left to get more"

I walked to pass by all the places I have already visited with her.

After looking for her around I finally found her, she was playing Tohou Proyect alone while cursing to the screen. She didn't notice I was behind her.

"Stupid kid, why is he so good at that game! Argh! It pisses me off so much!"

She pressed a button with a lot of force a normal person would have their finger fractured for sure.

I gave a few steps behind to avoid her noticing me and kept silent.

"Arg! I lost a life! Stupid game! I hate everyone! Why! Why is he like him! Why!?"

I was shocked 'Why is he like him?'

Like who? I don't look like anyone we both know, maybe she is talking about a friend from Chiba?

I wanted to talk but she continued rambling by herself.

"Stupid Akasaka, why is he so gentle! Why does he make me nervous! He is just a stupid boy with a stupid skateboard! He is not even a darkness being! Ahh I hate this so much!"

She then let her head and shoulders down in depression and whispered.

"I have to keep my promise…"

Promise? What promise? Did she promised someone she will be good at playing Siscalypse? Or maybe she is talking about something else.

I didn't knew but I had to stop her, she stopped playing and she was losing lives. I walked and tapped her shoulder.

She jumped a little bit from her seat and hastly turned around.

I looked at her and gave her a wry since I couldn't calm myself.

"H-hey Kuroneko, why did you left me back there? I was looking for you!"

She glared at me with an ice cold stare and groaned and continued talking with a really displeased voice.

"Huh? Well you've found me, stop whining… what do you need?"

I felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on me, she is being a little bit too harsh.

I swallowed hard and answered.

"Hey calm down Kuroneko, it's just a game! Besides you said you wanted to settle this on another game, just name it and we play…"

I didn't want to play with her in that state, if she said Tohou Proyect I was doomed.

She kind of calmed down and looked to the ground and muttered.

"It's not the game… just forget it…"

"Ha?! Then please tell me why are you so mad?"

She completely turned around, so I was looking at her back.

"Is that your winning question?"

I was surprised, she wanted to continue with that?

"Kuroneko… it was a draw, so…"

"We both win!"

She turned around again and she faced me with a really serious look.

"Huh?"

I looked at her so confused I didn't even knew what to answer.

She stood up and pointed at me.

"You, Akasaka Sorata, will now accept to help me with something and can't deny about it!"

She looked down at me like a queen taking to a servant.

I sighed.

"So, basically you are saying we both win and we both get to claim our bet prizes"

She backed up a little bit and pressed both hands holding each other to her chest and looked down.

"I-it was a draw after all, if that's how it ends, then I will accept the conditions"

I smiled and patted her head as if she were my little sister. She would be so mad if she found out.

Kuroneko moved away and looked at me blushing profusely while shivering and tried to say something but words didn't came out of her mouth.

I backed a little bit and excused myself while adopting a defensive stance.

"H-Hey sorry, you are just such a good sport. Don't get me wrong!"

She looked away and stomped her way out of there, we were almost outside of the arcade when I saw a Guitar Hero 3 arcade machine.

"Hey Kuroneko! Wait! Please!"

She stopped and turned around glancing at me, she sighed and walked near me.

"Are you going to play this again Akasaka?"

I smiled nervously and grabbed one guitar.

"Sorry I just love to play this game, since I suck at music and can't play well I at least try to play this from time to time"

She adopted a thinking pose and moved to a side.

"Fine, just play already, but I will select the song"

I inserted a coin and selected 'Solo play Expert Mode' and then faced her to let her select the song.

She pressed the strum bar until she got to the last song, and then pressed a button to get to the 'Bonus tracks'.

I sighed and knew exactly which song she was going to select.

"Kukuku…. Try to play this!"

She selected the most difficult song from the whole game 'Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce'.

It was a really difficult song, and it also lasted a lot, around 5 minutes of so, it was full of complicated solos and really fast parts.

I sighed and looked at her with contempt.

"Kuroneko…"

She gave me a sadistic glare and pressed the green button while smiling over my apparent demise.

"Now, play and get frustrated as I was!"

She backed away and the song started.

It started with a solo, which was really easy to perform after you understood the sequence.

I performed it with both hands on the 'frets'.

After the solo, she looked at me surprised and said.

"Y-you! Are you a machine?! I thought that part was impossible!"

I looked at her while playing the other part which was just a lot of 'shredding'.

"Kuroneko, this is the most played song on versus mode. I've played it at least a thousand times with my friends. I know it by heart"

She pouted in anger and looked at the screen while I played the song. I lost a lot of notes obviously. I wasn't a pro and she was near me so I was nervous after all.

I then finished the song and looked at her while clenching my hands to release the stress the song caused on them.

"Phew, that was a fun song, but next time, select another one, that one's too easy"

She looked at me with an ice cold glare and muttered.

"Show-off…"

"HA? You selected the song! C'mon!"

She walked away and didn't look back.

I sighed and followed her. I still wanted to talk to her to know what will happen with our bet prizes.

After around 10 minutes of walking while looking at her back she stopped and turned around.

"I am hungry, aren't you Akasaka?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, let's eat something. We need to discuss what will you ask me to do and what will I ask you"

She gave me a nervous wry.

"Y-yeah… let's go there"

She pointed at a café on the other side of the street.

"A café huh? Sure, why not"

I made a relaxed posture and looked at her with rejecting eyes.

"This is too mainstream for me, why would I go to that café? Let's get a Starbucks or something or my hipster level will fall"

She looked at me seriously and confused. Wow she really didn't knew what a hipster was?

"If you don't like it, just say it, you don't need to babble that much you know…"

I stood up straight and recovered my regular posture.

"Hmm Kuroneko I was joking, haven't you heard of hipsters before?"

She tilted her head.

"Nope, never heard of that"

I sighed.

"Let's go, I'll explain when we are there"

"Hmmmm okay"

We crossed the street and entered the café.

It was a regular café, they sold the usual, latte, espresso, macchiato, and such. They also had pastries.

We sat near the window, I was so nervous, I was on a café with the girl I liked, but I couldn't act strangely.

We ordered some tea and some cake and didn't say a word. It was so awkward I had to do something. Incredibly, Kuroneko broke the ice.

"So… this hipsters…. What are they?"

She wanted to divert from the main topic huh?

"Well, they are persons who just try to do something "out of the ordinary" like, not hanging out at popular places and such, they will always use and do stuff that it's not 'mainstream' or popular, and they always use weird clothing"

She looked at me attentively.

"So, they are normal persons, they just have their way of showing how unique they are"

She nodded.

"They sound interesting, but annoying at the same time"

"Yeah they are hehe"

Another awkward silence, she was looking at the cup of tea she had in front of her, but she looked nervous too.

I have to ask, so I just went for it.

"So… Kuroneko… what will you ask me to do for you for our bet?"

She jumped a little bit in surprise and then looked at me blushing a little bit.

"T-that's simple, we will go shopping"

I was surprised, shopping? What? A gift maybe?

"Shopping? Is that a date you are suggesting?!" I gave her a teasing look.

Her eyes widened and she pressed her body to the booth seat where she was sitting.

"N-no! It's not like that! I just want your opinion on fabrics! They are for a Cosplay"

I calmed down and felt sad at the same time. I really wanted to go on a date with her like that.

"Ohh I see… Well I don't know about that, is that ok?"

"You seem disappointed Akasaka… did you expect something else?"

She looked at me curiously.

I looked away in embarrassment

"Err… no, sorry I thought you were going to ask me for something different"

"Ohh yeah? Like what?"

I blushed a little bit and looked at the cup of tea I had in front of me, she was looking at me with a piercing glare, and she wanted to know!

"I don't know, like using a Cosplay or something to ridicule me"

"HA?! Who do you think I am Akasaka?!" She looked offended, crap, she might stop talking to me!

I retorted and waved my hands in front of me.

"I-I mean! Not like that! Sorry! Just like a joke or something! I don't think you are a bad person Kuroneko!"

She calmed down and said seriously.

"I mean I do hate you a little bit because you always beat me on Siscalypse, but I will never do such a thing! I just want to buy some fabric and I need your opinion! The place is near so we can go after this"

"Ohh it's ok, sorry for saying that out loud"

I bowed my head, she blushed in embarrassment, people started to look this way, but I didn't care.

"H-hey! Stop that! It's ok! Just stop it!"

"Hehe sorry… now, what type of Cosplay are you going to do with it? Is it going to be for the winter convention?"

"I can't tell you, sorry, it's a secret, but you will see later on if you attend it"

"I see, well I can go if I don't have to do something that day, which day will you attend this convention?"

She looked down confused.

"Well the exact date hasn't been set yet. I will just let you know when they tell me"

"Hmm ok, are you a model or something?"

She blushed a lot, but she also looked kind of angry.

"I am not Kirino!"

"I know I know, sorry hehe"

She took a sip of her cup of tea and looked at me embarrassed and mumbled.

"And about your question…"

I looked at her surprised!

"Why are you surprised? I am a girl of word you know!"

I calmed down and cleaned my throat.

"Sorry, sorry I thought you were going to avoid that"

She denied with her head.

"I won't, just ask it and I will answer both of them"

I calmed down and took a deep breath.

I'll just let it out, whatever happens, it's up to her.

"Why do you seem to feel uncomfortable around me? You act uneasy around me, sometimes you are harsh with me and other times I find you acting timid. Did I said or did something to make you that uncomfortable?"

Kuroneko looked at me worried and also really nervous.

She looked down at her cup of tea, which by the way, was already empty, she looked at me and then away and stood up and said in a low voice.

"Let's go somewhere else, I can't discuss this here"

I looked at her confused and kind of concerned, after all she looked really troubled, maybe I should retract about that question and ask something else?

I looked at her gently and told her while standing.

"It's ok Kuroneko, you don't have to answer that question, let me ask another one if you like, sorry"

She shook her head and looked at me with a serious face while answering.

"I told you already I am a girl of word, let's go"

"Hmm…. Ok let's go"

We left the café, we paid in advance so we just left.

She walked besides me but never looked at me, she looked really troubled and kind of sad, I wanted to know what happened or why she was like that.

After around 10 or 15 minutes of walking silently, yeah it was reaaaaaaaally awkward. She stopped at the park and went to the same bench where I met her first.

It was around 3 pm already we played a lot of time without even knowing.

She sat at the bench and looked at me as if commanding me to sit next to her.

"So, I guess here we are?"

She looked at the park and talked with a calm tone.

"Ok Akasaka, I just wanted to recap, your questions are: If I like you and why I am like this sometimes with you, right?"

She looked really stern and calm, not as troubled as the last time, maybe walking all this time in silence helped her calm down and sort her ideas.

I was surprised and super nervous, she remembered the questions after all and didn't try to ditch me on any one of them.

"Y-yeah… but If you don't wa…."

"No, like I said I am a girl of word…"

She interrupted me and kept saying that.

I just gave up and let her say whatever she wanted to say and hoped for the best.

She sighed, breathed in and continued.

"Akasaka, you remember Kirino right?"

I looked at her confused, I mean we talked about her the other day right?

"Ah… yeah? Cute girl, sharp tongue and she likes Stardust Witch Meruru"

She looked at me displeased I guess she hated Meruru so much she didn't even wanted the name to be pronounced near her.

She cleared her throat to calm down and continued.

"Well, yeah, she has a brother Kyou…"

She hesitated a little bit and continued.

"Ahem… Kousaka Kyousuke… its Kirino's older brother"

"Yeah you told me they lived together and that they were in 'that' kind of relationship"

She sighed and looked down really depressed.

"W-well… they do live together and all, and they are in 'that' kind of relationship even though they promised to be a regular pair of siblings, well they couldn't an eloped around 10 months ago, but I still see them"

Wow they eloped, really? Is this a Little Sister erogame or something?!

"Y-yeah so, what about that?"

She continued looking down kind of depressed but I felt how she started to calm down and get nervous while she talked, I felt she was going to reject me or something.

I wanted to die so badly!

"W-well…. The reason why I am like that with you it's that in a certain way you kind of remind me of him… sorry… I didn't want to, but I just can't forget it"

I felt really bad, like a bucket of ice cold water was poured on me, so she was stating that I remembered her of someone?

"W-what, wait a minute Kuroneko… what does this have to do with my question?"

She looked at me irritated.

"Aren't you listening to me? What's wrong with you pitiful mortal?!"

"W-well sorry I've never been told this before"

I made a concerned expression, she stood up and looked at me with guilty eyes.

"Don't get me wrong Akasaka, I'll answer you one question, I do like you, you are a good person and friend, I kind of trust you so don't feel bad or as a replacement"

'A good person and friend'

Those words kept resonating in my head, she liked me as a friend…. So I guess I am on the friend zone train people! Yeah kill me already please…

"Y-yeah… thanks… I guess?"

She crossed both of her arms in front of her and continued talking.

"The thing is… I'm not sad because you remember me of him or something, it's another thing that happened this exact same day more than a year ago or so"

I looked at her with hollow eyes, she wanted to continue torturing me? Wow she is indeed a sadist, but well I will just see what happens, I asked the questions to begin with.

"So, you are stating you are harsh to me one day and then you are cute another because I remember you of someone?"

She looked at me surprised and sat down next to me.

She then looked directly at me, which almost made me die of nervousness.

"Look I don't even know why I am like that, don't feel bad and please bear it with me. I'll never try to hurt you or something okay?"

Says the one who cracked my cheek a couple of months ago with a tea can… She is acting weird, what is wrong with her?

"I-it's ok Kuroneko, sorry for asking you such stupid questions. But as we stated I asked them both and well you can stop there, we can do something else if you want, unless you want to end your gaming da…. Research reunion"

She looked at me with a questioning face.

"Did you just said gaming date?"

I was surprised and blushed a lot I backed away a little bit and denied with all my might.

Although I wanted to see it as that, she didn't.

"N-no! I said research reunion! You even stated on your messages it was for fun and research right? Right?!"

I was breathing heavily because I was really nervous, I started to calm down.

She sighed and looked at me nervously and blushed a little.

"L-let's continue I didn't woke up early to leave now"

She started blushing a lot and looked away and pouted.

"A-and you said we were going to go to Music & More and to buy fabric with me didn't you?"

I wanted to cry, does she really like me as a friend? Oh my god I can't tell!

I looked at her and smiled, I felt different, and knew she was being serious.

"A-ah! Haha yeah I forgot about that, you are all energetic now don't you Kuroneko?!"

She looked down again and talked in a sad voice.

"You know Akasaka… I am depressed because of something that happened a long time ago. Kyousuke and I, used to date…"

I felt sooooooooooo sad when she said that…. But I instantly recalled "used to" so I knew it was on the past I may have a chance?

I regained hope and started to get excited.

Or maybe she still loved him?

I got depressed again. This is so freaking complicated!

Does anyone know if there is a manual for love? If you do, please tell me where to get it!

"I-I see… wow, interesting, but you told me he is in love with his sister…"

She looked down and got teary eyes.

"Y-yeah, they are… it's just I dated him the whole summer, we went out a couple of times and such, but after a series of events, this day… I broke up with him"

"A series of events? I mean did you have a fight with Kirino-san or something?"

She looked at the sky and answered.

"Kind of… in the end I really left him because I knew how they felt about each other and I do love them both a lot, I just wanted them to be happy"

I looked at her in awe, did she just said she broke up with him to let Kirino have him while she watched how she took the guy she was dating away?

Wow I respect her so much and well this shows me she did love them a lot, which kind of bothered me.

"Wow… just wow Kuroneko, that's…. well I don't have words to describe it, I respect you a lot now a whole lot I mean….. wow"

She blushed and looked at the ground, she was clearly sad.

"It's ok Akasaka, I love them both and we are still friends!"

She gave me a fake smile, I knew she was sad, I hated that guy, she left her, but well we can't control love I guess.

"B-but Kuroneko, I know you love them both and such, but what about you, how can you still see them and not feel bad about it?"

She shrugged her shoulders and looked at me with the same fake smile.

"I… it still hurts to remember all this, sorry Akasaka. I can't talk to you about this, not because I don't trust you or anything, I just can't"

I patted her shoulder, she jumped a little bit and smiled, she gave me a really warm and charming smile.

I remembered why I fell for her, she is just so cute and charming, I could never let her alone like that.

I've made up my mind. Yes people, I will fight and get out of the friend zone! I know it won't be easy and it might be a loss for me, but well wish me luck!

"Hey hey! Calm down Kuroneko, its ok, no pressure you just answered me what you wanted and I respect that, but let me tell you something girl"

She looked at me with a curious expression and tilted her head to a side.

"You are not alone Kuroneko, you've got friends, new friends and old friends and I will help you and support you with everything I can, don't feel down"

She smiled and blushed a lot, and looked down and whispered.

"Thanks… skater boy, you are indeed a good person, but you know, this promise and curse… are the ones that prevent me of talking about this stuff with anyone"

Curse? Promise? What are they?! Please tell me already!

"Ahh I'm not following you on that one"

I looked at her dumbfounded.

"I-I told you already! I am a creature of Nightmare! I cursed Kyousuke when we were dating and promised him I will not release that curse until some requirements were met"

"Requirements? Did you guys form a blood pact or something?!"

She giggled a little bit.

"More than a blood pact, it was a different pact, you will never understand"

"Did you guys di…."

She instantly blushed fully, she pushed me furiously and I fell off the bench, she looked at me with raging eyes, her temple was trembling.

I am scared guys, really…. Scared to my knees.

"What are you freaking trying to say Akasaka? You are a disgusting pervert! Die already!"

"H-hey! I didn't even finished what I was going to say! Who is the pervert putting words in my mouth?!"

She blushed and stood up while looking at me.

"I-I didn't say anything! You are the one who was going to say something perverted! I'm sure of that Akasaka!"

"Ha?! Who do you think I am?! What's with all this cursing?! What did you guys did?!"

She looked at me like a pile of trash.

"Nothing we did nothing perverted Akasaka! I cursed him to be able to be happy! That's all! I've already told you, when I feel ok talking about this things with you and everyone, the curse will lift and I will have fulfilled my promise"

I calmed down and looked at her concerned.

"I am sorry Kuroneko, really, I didn't wanted to sound perverted or anything, it's ok I won't pressure you or something if you ever feel like wanting to talk about it I will be more than glad to hear and help you out. I will help you out lifting that curse, just wait!"

She blushed profusely and opened her eyes like a pair of plates, she looked away and whispered.

"O-ok… I will accept your apology, I am sorry for over reacting"

She looked at me with the corner of her eye and then sat down on the bench. Ohh yeah I've been on the floor this whole time hahaha.

I didn't understood why she blushed so much when I told her I was going to help her lift the curse, I'll just ask her later.

"Thanks, you are indeed a good person, that's why I like you"

My heart almost jumped off my chest, did she said she liked me? I mean like as a friend I guess, but she doesn't hate me!

Everyone! She likes me! In a mysterious way! But I will fight for it since there's still hope!

"Hoo, so you like me?! Well I am honored my lady of Nightmare!"

I kneeled on one knee like an English warrior.

She blushed profusely and denied it with all her might.

"Y-you stupid Akasaka! Stop saying that, people could misunderstand you know?! You are a good person! That's it! Shut up already about that!"

I smiled and stood up and offered my hand to help her get up.

"Well, you wanted to buy fabric and also wanted to go to Music & More didn't you?! Let's go! It's still early!"

She blushed a little bit and smiled, she took my hand and stood up.

By the way this is the 3rd time I've touched her hand and I can't get enough of it! It has been definitely a really good day!

"L-let's go Akasaka you are officially my underling for the rest of the day!"

I stopped in full and looked at her with a disgusted face and retorted.

"W-what?! That was not part of the rewards!"

She looked and pointed her finger at me while talking in a superiority tone.

"You are my underling, so don't complain! It should be an honor for you to be even considered an underling by such a Darkness Queen like me! You said you were going to do something without asking why right? Well just hush and let's go already!"

She got me, I mean she had already asked me to help her with fabric, so this wasn't part of the rewards, but it's her and I love being around her, so I'll just go with the flow and play along.

"Oh ok, my all mighty Queen of Darkness…"

She was walking already, she was blushing and smiling, but not in a bad way. It was like an accomplishment smile, like if she felt good for completing a goal or something.

Maybe her intention since the beginning was to make me her underling.

I just tagged along and walked with her.

We went to Music & More first, this was a regular music shop, but they also sold musical instruments. I bought my bass here, which I hardly ever play by the way, I spend most of the time skating and now at the club than at home.

I know, I know, I am a bad person for not using it, I just need to be in the mood to play it honestly.

Kuroneko by the way walked by my side and looked me from time to time, but she wasn't getting shy or something, she looked me with such a pleased stare, she was truly enjoying this.

"Say Kuroneko…."

She stopped for a moment and looked at me with a superiority glare.

"What do you want underling? You need to ask for permission to talk you know"

"And how am I supposed to do that if I can't talk?!"

She hit me with her elbow and looked away.

"Just hush okay!"

I kept my mouth shut and continued walking with her, she looked kind of nervous but she also looked happy I guess she was having a good time.

I just hope she forgets about that sad talk we had, but honestly I want to know more about her.

After around 10 minutes walking we arrived at the store, it was open now and people was already inside it was kind of famous.

"So, this is the store where you bought them?"

I nodded.

"I see, it's nice, I like it"

She smiled and entered happily.

I'm pretty sure she is enjoying having her own underling with her.

"Ah, Kuroneko, the headphones are over there you know"

She looked at me as if she was going to say something about me talking, but she stopped middle way and started walking to where I told her.

The store was simple, there where musical instruments in the front part and on the left side of it before the register, on the other side you could see music CD's and also concert DVD's and BluRays .

The back part had the accessories area, you could find from guitar and bass straps, drum kit spare parts and well amplifiers and headphones, microphones and such.

Kuroneko walked before me so I looked at the sides and checked some dvd's I found interesting, this store also had a secret basement with anime and otaku stuff, but you needed to know the sales person to get there since they were limited to avoid hurting the Rock Star and such theme of the store.

While I was looking at the DVDs, Kuroneko arrived at the area where all the headphones where, she started looking for the same model I was carrying around my neck the whole time.

I got near her but she didn't notice.

"So, are you looking for the same model as mine or you want a different one?"

Kuroneko jumped a little bit since she got surprised and looked away while whispering.

"I want the same you have, I like the color scheme and the noise cancelling function"

I loved how she looked when she talked like that, she is good at making me almost die because of her cuteness.

"I see, let me look for them with you"

"O-okay thanks"

We started looking they had around 100 different models, yeah it was a big place and they had plenty of stock.

After searching for around 5 minutes, we realized something.

"There are none…"

She said with a sad expression.

I looked at her and gave her a comforting look.

"Hey don't feel so down, when I bought mine there were a lot of them maybe they just placed them on the warehouse behind this wall, let me go and ask"

I started walking to look for a store clerk but before I was able to leave something tugged to my shirt and stopped me in full.

I looked to my right side and Kuroneko was blushing a little bit and looking at the floor while she said.

"W-where are you going underling?! You can't leave your owner alone! What's wrong with you?!"

I stopped and froze, I mean the store is kind of big but it's simple, I don't think she could get lost in here! There's only one exit!

"Ha?! What? I was going to get a store clerk! I'm not leaving you here alone or something!"

She changed her expression, she started to get fed up, she let me go and got near me, took away my headphones while looking away blushing and walked past me.

"L-let's go, we need to find that store clerk you stupid underling!"

"Hey now now, calm down, sorry, let's go"

She started walking and you could feel she was relaxed now, I guess she really think she owns me now, wow is that good guys? Being her property means she cares about me? Right?

After walking a little bit we found one guy, he was wearing a Katatonia t-shirt, regular jeans and shoes and had spiked red hair, he looked like a certain char from an anime I've watched before, I just can't manage to remember which one at the moment.

Kuroneko walked near him, he instantly looked at her and gave her an ok look, I guess punk and metal girls dress flashier than goth lolitas, but he must be used to them since they have a whole music industry.

"Excuse me, do you have this headphone model available?"

The guy took the headphones and looked at us, he smiled and walked away, we just followed him.

"Let's see kids… I think we have a pair of those, let me go and look at the warehouse please stay here"

"Sure, thanks man!"

He left us alone again, Kuroneko started looking a keyboard that was on the center of the store, she started inspecting it and continued to touch it while kind of feeling the soul of it or something.

"Do you know how to play it Kuroneko?!"

She didn't answer and continued looking at it. She was immerse in her own world I'll just let her be.

I walked near the bass and guitar section and looked at them, they were only "regular" right handed guitars.

I took an Ibanez bass from the stand, it looked like a classic cello it was so cool.

Later I got to know it was used by the famous musician Paul McCartney! It was signed and I didn't notice!

"So you like playing bass Underling?!"

I looked back and Kuroneko was there staring at me with a curious stare.

I got nervous and stepped back but managed to calm down.

"Y-yeah but I am not good at all hahaha"

She looked at me disappointed, maybe she wanted to hear me play, which by the way I would refuse since I only know one song hahaha

"I see, interesting, that's why you play Guitar Hero right?"

"Yeah kind of…"

I said this and placed the bass in its place, she looked at me confused.

"Why? Do you suck that bad? It wouldn't be that strange honestly"

She said this with a teasing stare, she was making fun of me!

I hate her so much! But I also love her so much, is that even normal? Anyone help?!

"Well yeah haha I am kind of bad with it, and I don't play it regularly I do play it as a lefty as you can remember when we played the other day"

She looked mad while remembering at that time I beat her up so badly she stopped in the middle of the song and refused to continue since she was not that good at it.

"Y-yeah that was just pure luck! I crushed you on other games!"

I looked at her with a proud look and teased her a little bit.

"Hahaha yeah but we are talking about musical games not puzzle ones! You lost accept it!"

"I-I only let you win because I felt bad about you, you were new on that club!"

Now that she mentioned that, Kinomoto-san told me she also entered the club this year so we are the same.

"Hey! But Kinomoto-san told me you also entered this year on the club too! We are the same! Did you also transferred this school term?"

She looked sad and her expression changed, she looked at the floor and placed her hands together but before she was able to answer, the store clerk came back.

Damn him! Even though he was a good person.

"Hey kids! You are lucky we have a pair in stock, I placed it with the other models so you guys can check it out"

"Thanks man! Let's check it Kuroneko"

She relaxed a little bit and walked behind me, we arrived and the box was placed in a high stand, I just took it down and looked at it.

Kuroneko extended her arm as asking me to give her the box, so I did.

"So, what do you think, it's the same model I have"

She looked happy and started smiling a little bit while she examined the box, but after a little bit, she stopped in full and her expression changed from happiness to awe.

"Hey what's wrong Kuroneko?!"

She looked at me with a troubled expression and hander over the box.

"T-they are nice but I think I'll just pass on those, a-after all their sound quality isn't the best, you know?!"

She looked uneasy and started looking at another pair of headphones.

I looked shocked, why did she change her mind?

I mean they are a pair of Bose headphones, they are the best possible headphones you could get.

I then remembered something and looked at the price tag.

"30,000 yens…" I whispered.

She looked with the corner of the eye and did as if I had said nothing.

"Y-yeah haha I forgot, they are kind of expensive hahaha I had to save for around 4 or 5 months to get them hahahaha sorry"

"I-It's ok, I just don't have money for that right now, I need to purchase fabric, so let's go and get that underling, and NO complaining! Ok?"

I raised my hands in sign of defeat and walked with her.

We got out of the store and she started walking really fast as if she wanted to get away from the store as fast as she could.

"H-hey Kuroneko slow down, it's ok it's 4:30 pm those stores close around 6 or 7 right?"

She stopped and turned around she looked at me really mad, as if I was making fun of her.

"It's funny right? Go ahead laugh!"

I looked at her confused.

"Huh?!"

She clenched her hands and looked at me with a furious face.

"Yeah! Go ahead Akasaka! Make fun of me because I can't afford those stupid headphones even though I liked them so much!"

She stood there trembling and looking at the floor with a really angry face as expecting the blow from me.

I looked at her I wanted to hug her and told her everything was all right but I knew that will end killing me so I just placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a warm smile.

She looked at me when I touched her and blushed a lot.

"W-what are you doing, psychological torture? You are the worst stupid underling, cut if off already!"

"Hey calm down, why the hell would I even make fun of you? I mean we are not rich, I told you already I saved for more than 4 months to get mine! Even though I could just go and get my old ones back from my sister! So calm down Kuroneko!"

"Y-you… I always was made fun of on junior high because I didn't have a lot of money, I went to a public school, but people with significant purchase power studied there and made fun of me because of that"

I was shocked! If I ever manage to find any of them I'll freaking beat the crap out of them even though I not good at fighting, really bully because of that? What the hell is wrong with this people now days?!

"Now now I'm not a scumbag like that Kuroneko, as I told you I'm not rich also and struggle to purchase stuff, so don't feel down, I've already told you I could lend my headphones if you wanted, here… take them"

I took them off and handed them over.

She stood there motionless looking at me in complete awe, she was blushing a lot. I guess she really thought I was going to make fun of her. Like, who does she think I am?!

She hesitated and backed a little bit, she then looked away and snatched them as fast as she could and placed them in her bag.

"F-fine j-just because you told me before I could use them and I am making you a favor of taking them and cleaning them for you, they are so filthy! full of sweat and dirt, really, you are such an irresponsible underling…"

She turned away and continued walking at a fast pace, I am pretty sure she was happy since I could notice a little smirk on her, while she was walking, she said in a really tiny almost inaudible voice.

"Thanks… I'll take good care of them"

I just smiled a lot and walked behind her without saying a word.

After three or four blocks, we arrived at a local fabric store.

Kuroneko instantly almost ran to a section of the store.

This one was big, it had 3 levels, the first floor with a lot of fabrics rolled and placed vertically on stands, the register was in the middle, on the left side you could see some handcrafting stuff, the second floor which was also filled with fabric was a mezzanine so you could see it from the first floor, by the way this is where Kuroneko rushed. As I could see the basement was full of plastic wrappings and special fabrics to create blankets and curtains.

When she reached the second level of the store she turned around and looked at me with an imposing glare and talked with a superiority tone.

"Hey underling what are you doing there wasting my time? Get here already!"

She looked happy I guess she loved this kind of places.

I just sighed and walked to where she was, people smiled and giggled I guess they thought I was a pitiful person by letting myself get bossed around by such a little girl.

I arrived there and Kuroneko was already looking at a fabric that looked like plush, it was brown like the one teddy bears were made of.

"H-hey! Do you like this color?"

I looked at her confused and got near to touch the fabric, she backed away and blushed a little bit.

"W-what are you doing? J-just answer me!"

"I like the color and the fabric feels sturdy I guess it's a good quality one?"

She looked at me shocked I guess she didn't expect me answering like that?

"Yes it is! It's one of the best plush fabrics you'll ever get!"

She looked at the price and then called someone and ask for 1 meter of it, the person cut the fabric and entered a code in a little machine which gave her a ticket and handed it over to Kuroneko who happily took it, the lady left with the fabric.

"Ahh… about the fabric?"

Kuroneko immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me over to her and looked at me mad.

"S-shut up stupid! That's how things work around here, don't make me look like a fool!"

I was confused but was more nervous about her grabbing my hand which by the way was almost crushed with the force she took it, she is pretty strong!

She realized that and let me go and blushed, she then proceeded to look at a fabric roll in front of her by stretching it with both her hands in front of her almost covering her whole body with it I could only see her silhouette, while she talked with a shy voice.

"S-sorry, I got carried away, that person gave me a ticket, after we are done here we need to go to the register and pay for the fabric, after that, we need to go to pick up the fabric with a different person"

That sounded so stupidly inefficient! But well I guess that's how business work around here.

"Can't they just give us the fabric and we check out and leave?"

She looked at me mad again, you are doing well Sorata! She will definitely love you know!

"Are you stupid? Do you think someone could see the other fabrics while carrying them around? Wow Akasaka I didn't think you were to dense!"

Well yeah, that's me, linear and methodic.

"S-sorry I could carry them for you if you need, now what?"

She continued walking around, there were a lot of different fabric types, shiny ones, really elegant ones, some filled with frills and wavy stuff, some were clearly made to create pajamas and some other looked like plastic, they were really shiny but if you looked at the back there was a fabric part and the other one was plastic.

She then stopped and looked at a really nice fabric, it was pure white like her skin and looked really cool, she looked at it and got kind of sad, she then took it and asked me to get close to her.

"Here, check this one, do you like the color and feel of it?"

I took the fabric and felt it. I was really light and it felt fresh, I would imagine you could create a buttoned shirt or maybe a dress for summer? It's almost Fall so I don't think using it right now would be a good choice, but I expressed my honest opinion.

"Well I like the color and feel of it, it looks fresh, so using it right now that fall is approaching would be a bad idea right? Although you could create a shirt with it?"

"Hehe yeah, it's nice huh?"

I let the fabric go and looked at her smiling.

"You do have really good eye and taste for this Kuroneko, you should become a fashionista"

She blushed profusely and hit me with her hand forming a fist on the side.

"Ouch!"

"Y-you! Stop complimenting me, you won't get anywhere like that and it's embarrassing!"

She looked too cute, troubled Kuroneko I am a fan of that Kuroneko.

"Haha sorry! But you really are good at it, just look at your dress! It looks really well done! I can't even thread a needle properly!"

I laughed and placed my hand on the back of my head.

Kuroneko just looked me with a troubled face and blushed a little, and called someone to get a piece of that fabric, she bought 2.5 meters of it. She got her ticket and continued walking.

She then bought other stuff, aqua or cyan lacing and white buttons and a zipper, I guess she planned on doing a dress with all those things?

If hope it's for her, she will look ridiculously cute on it, I will definitely snap a photo if she does even though I would mostly die.

After that, we went and paid, it was around 2500 yens, we went with a new ticket… 'Is all this really necessary? Can't you just let us pay and get our fabric on the same place?' And picked up the fabric which was wrapped in two bags which by the way I ended up carrying.

"Good job underling, you are learning fast, if you continue like this you might become my dark underling full time!"

She stopped and blushed a lot but then got sad as if she remembered something.

I ran in front of her and looked at her smiling and then kneeled down.

"Yes my master! It would be an honor to become your underling, I will service you even if I die!"

She looked at me and blushed fully, grabbed me by the back of my shirt and made me stand up.

"S-stop it Akasaka! You are embarrassing me! What's wrong with you?!"

I laughed and looked at her she looked troubled.

"Haha sorry! I just felt like doing it, since you seem to be enjoying this"

"T-that's not true! Y-you didn't even help me out recharge my darkness powers! You are not a good underling!"

She just contradicted herself so I don't know what to think about.

"Hehe sorry for bugging you, I thought you had fun, sorry if I'm not fun at all…"

I looked at the floor disappointed and embarrassed, yeah 17 and not a single date? I suck right?

She looked at me shocked and did a troubled face, like she regret doing that commentary.

"Just go… forget about it…"

"Sure…"

She walked by my side and while looking away she said with a low voice.

"I'm having fun…"

I almost cried when she said this but I endured it! Courage Sorata! Courage! She will love you one day for sure!

We walked to the park again, it was almost 6 pm! We stayed at that store for around 1 and a half hours and didn't even notice! She did took some time looking at other fabrics and she took like forever to get the cyan lacing she was looking for.

We walked near a bench and she sat down, I left the bags on her side and walked to a vending machine.

"Do you want tea?"

She nodded with her head and signaled me to move faster.

Wow she still treats me as her underling, well I am with her at least.

I went and purchased Parsley Tea for her and Ice Tea for me and went back.

"Here, enjoy my master"

She gave me a proud smile, took the can and opened it and gave it a sip.

I sat on the other side of the bench, the bags were in the middle between us, I didn't care since she will keep her distance anyways.

She just drank the tea and didn't say a thing, but looked at me as if inquiring for me to talk about something, when I was about to do so, my cell phone rang.

"Ahh excuse me hehe I'll answer"

She just looked at me displeased and looked around.

I picked up the phone it was Chuck.

"What the HELL do you want Chuck I am busy man!"

"He-hey dude! I need your help something terrible happened!"

He sounded serious I stood up from the bench and asked worried, Kuroneko got worried too and looked at me the whole time waiting for me to answer.

"What? What happened dude are you all right?"

"N-no! Dude I need your help please!"

My heart started racing, I thought he got in a big accident or something.

"What? Dude what the hell, what's wrong?!"

He didn't answer and I got more worried.

"Chuck! Are you okay? Dude where are you?!"

And then with a crying voice he answered.

"My laptop! It died! Help me! I need to finish this paper by tomorrow and I can't continue! Sorata you are my only hope!"

I sat on the bench I was trembling and my temple started to shake because of how mad I was.

"DUDE GO TO HELL! I GOT SCARED WHAT THE FU... DANG IS WRONG WITH YOU! THAT'S NOT THAT URGENT! MY GOD!"

Kuroneko looked at me surprised and stared at me while sipping on her tea.

"Sorry man! But it's an urgent job! Please get here fast!"

"I am sorry I can't I'm busy you know…"

"What?! Don't do that! I need your help! This damn thing is not powering on!"

"I don't care! I told you to take care of it! It's ruined now! Go and buy a new one!"

"I don't have money for that! Don't be like that! Please help me out as soon as you can! I'll go to your house if you want!"

I calmed down and sighed.

"Fine, I'll see you there at 9 PM ok?!"

"Oh my god I love you! You are the best friend ever! I will buy you a new skateboard really!"

I laughed and answered with a serious voice.

"Please don't… I won't change it until it breaks or certain circumstances happen so I won't accept it. But I could use a new set of wheels and bearings you know?"

"HA?! That's a lot of money! You freaking bastard!"

I gave out a big laugh like the ones the villains from movies do before doing an atrocious act.

"HAHAHA that's the price you've got to pay! My time it's not cheap!"

He sighed on the other side of the line.

"Fine I'll do that, we can go tomorrow to REN and look for that stuff ok? Just please help me out! I'll see at 9 at your house!"

"Fine fine, I'll see you there, hang up already"

"Hey you are busy with that Gothic Lolita? Damn way to go Sorata!"

I blushed profusely to which Kuroneko just looked with a teasing face but looked away as soon as I looked to her way.

"Shut up dude! Bye!"

I hung up the phone and placed it inside my pocket and then sighed and relaxed.

"Hehe a friend of yours?"

I looked at Kuroneko with a fed up face and with soulless eyes.

"Yeah, that was Chuck you know him already"

She gave it a little thought and then answered me with a confident face.

"Oh the other useless human from that competition right? The one that knew about NicoNico Douga?"

"Yeah that's him haha"

She pressed against the back of the bench and looked at me.

"Hehe you seem to care about him a lot, does he know you are with me?"

I blushed a lot and looked away.

"I guess he saw us around or something? Hahaha"

She blushed a little bit and cleared her throat.

"W-what did he say? If I can know"

I was NOT going to tell her he asked about my date with her! I'll just act a fool and say something else.

"Y-yeah… ahaha" I laughed nervously I don't want to get told by him. "He has issues with his computer and he needs to work on a paper, but I'll see him later at night"

She gave me a teasing stare.

"Hmm? Is that so?"

I got all nervous and looked away again.

"Y-yeah! Wh-why Kuroneko? You are sure curious huh?"

"Hehe that's interesting I just wanted to know, so, he needs your help with that paper? Do you get bullied and asked to make someone else's homework?"

She looked concerned I don't know why.

"Haha of course not! He needs help with the laptop, it's not powering on I guess he messed up with the charger or something, but he will go home and well check…"

I stopped in full… he is going to go home! And my sister will be there! Ohh no! She will stick with us and he will ask about my date with Kuroneko and she will bug me too! And also I don't want her to start hitting on him or something sad could happened if he manages to turn her down on that matter! I can't comfort her right now!

"Akasaka? Hey? Are you all right?"

Kuroneko waved her hand in front of my face as to make me snap out of it, I looked at her and reacted.

"Ha? Ohh sorry! Haha I just remembered something which will be kind of troublesome at home hahaha"

She looked at me with a curious and teasing stare.

"Huh is that so? What's going on? You don't want him to get in it? He is not that of a friend with you? Why?"

I gave her a nervous wry.

"Hahaha let's just say I will have a hard time if they meet and bug me about this"

CRAP! I messed up! She will ask and I will get told! Think fast Sorata!

She blushed and asked with a teasing tone.

"What? Ask about what? Our gaming reunion?"

I froze in place… she got me, it's over guys! I'm done for, thanks for everything I'll jump off a bridge later on.

"W-wh-why do you think th-they'll ask about it? No one knows I am here with you"

She looked disappointed.

"Kukuku so, what's wrong? Are you that pitiful with girls that they can't believe I am here with you even thought this is a gaming reunion… JU-JUST FOR FUN AND RESEARCH!"

She blushed profusely when the said that.

Does she also see this as a date? I want to ask her but I can't! Although I don't think so, I mean she made me her underling and bossed me around and we quarreled a little!

How do I know this qualifies as a date? Can someone explain this to me? Please?!

"N-no, I'm not that pitiful! C'mon don't be like that! Hahah they just find it rare I am not skating or something haha But I do like being with you it's fun and we did researched a lot right?"

She looked at me with a proud and dominant stare, she puffed her chest and made a proud expression.

"HA! This was a really good day! I even got you become my underling and I beat you in a lot of games!"

I was speechless did she only liked that?

"Well the day almost ends so my Underling duty will end soon and I will be free! HAHA"

I jumped off the bench and stretched my arms.

Kuroneko stood up and grabbed me by the back of my shirt and forced me to seat on the bench, she then sat again.

"S-shut up underling! The day is not over yet so respect your master!"

She looked me with a superiority stare.

Why does she like this so much? Is she that dominant?

"Yeah yeah sorry master, you can punish me if you like"

She blushed a lot and looked excited, she than snapped out of it, wow is she into S&M or something?

"Stupid Akasaka! I'm not going to hit you or something!"

She then calmed down and looked at the floor depressed and with a sad tone of voice asked.

"D-did you have fun Akasaka?"

I looked at her and blushed a lot and calmed down I looked at the sky and answered while smiling.

"Honestly? I waited a lot for this day to come, I loved playing with you the last time. I had a lot of fun! You are a fun person Kuroneko I also like you a lot…"

Her eyes opened wide as plates and she blushed a lot but a lot. I also blushed a lot! A really lot!

I had to do something to avoid get told off.

"I-I m-mean as a g-gaming partner! As a gaming partner! As you said! Playing with you it's really fun!"

Phew! I hope this saves me.

Kuroneko calmed down and looked at me with a shy and serious face.

"W-Why do you like me if I am harsh with you? You don't need to endure this Akasaka"

I looked at her and smiled while patting the back of my head.

"Hahaha I just know you are a good person Kuroneko, kind of explosive sometimes hehe" I touched my cheek while doing this, she felt bad and looked down sad I rapidly moved my hands to let her know it was all right. "Haha but it's part of your nature as a person, I don't dislike it, I rather find it charming and interesting"

She blushed a lot and started trembling, she hugged herself and looked away.

"W-why? Don't you hate me?"

I smiled and let her know it was ok.

"Haha c'mon Kuroneko, how could I hate my lovely master! That's never gonna happen! And I also told you! I am your friend and I will help you out and support you with everything I can, don't feel bad around me I'll never hurt you"

She continued blushing and looked away. She than faced me and pushed me away with all the might which again! Made me fall down from the bench!

This girl is pretty strong! My god! Can I get an insurance policy against cat attacks?

"L-lo-lovely master? I am your master underling!" She stood up and stepped with one foot on the bench while standing and gave me an intimidating yet blushing stare while trying to look the most superior she could. "You have to fear me as an underling! Masters never sympathize with their underlings remember that!"

I looked at her and laughed a lot while standing up.

"Haha wow Kuroneko you sure are strong this is the second time you push me off the bench in a day hahaha And sorry master but if I can't become your friend then I don't want to become your underling"

I did this while crossing my hands forming an X.

She blushed a lot and looked away.

"F-fine… just stop it already, and also…" She looked at me with a shy face but with a warming smile. She almost made me faint, is she trying to kill me?! "We are friends Akasaka Sorata, you can also count on me for anything. Just don't bug me too much or I will freaking ignore you forever!"

I backed a little bit while signaling to calm down.

"Right right, sorry! I also am your friend Kuroneko, and by the way if you want just call me Sorata, I don't mind, since you are my friend and all"

She blushed a lot and looked at me with a troubled face, she looked around and didn't knew what to say.

"Eh… err…eek!"

She covered her face she was about to faint, by why I mean we are friends right?

I moved my hands to calm her down.

"Haha calm down Kuroneko! You don't have to if you don't want to! Just call me as you wish"

She calmed down and looked at me with teary eyes, I guess she had a hard time on that one.

"T-thanks Sora… PITIFUL UNDERLING! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE YOUR MASTER DO?!"

She threw me one of the bags with fabric, it was soft so it felt as being hit by a regular pillow.

"Hey hey! Stop it already! Haahha calm down Kuroneko-sama!"

She looked at me with a proud stare and pointed at me while heavily breathing and blushing.

"Th-that's right! You pitiful underling! Know your place and obey your master!"

I looked at her and we started laughing a little bit.

"Haha see? You are fun Kuroneko! That's why I like you! It's fun being around you"

She blushed and looked at me with a teasing face.

"S-shut up underling! I've already told you compliments won't work on me! Just be a good underling and more beta test invitations might arrive via email maybe…"

She said this and looked away while sitting, she was nervous you could tell, maybe she thought out loud.

I was so happy I could nearly cry, she liked being around me and also wanted to conduct more of this "Beta tests"…. Well maybe…

I got myself together and smiled.

"Ok ok I will be a good underling, just command me my master"

She smiled and looked at the hour, it was late, she looked at the clock and got sad, or rather disappointed?

"It's time to finish this beta test Akasaka, I need to go home and prepare dinner for my sisters"

I also felt sad I was having a blast with her, but well I will see her tomorrow.

"Ohh yeah, sorry for making you stay more of what you wanted to"

She stood up and grabbed the other bag, she than looked at me waiting for me to do something.

I stood there confused, what did she need? Maybe she forgot to bring money to purchase groceries?

She got impatient and grabbed my arm and pulled me over, but before I crashed with her, she stuffed the bag in my chest, which hurt a little since I wasn't ready for that.

She then went back to her normal "Kuroneko is your owner" mode and told me with a superiority glare and tone of voice as if I was a mere bug.

"You will carry that and the other one too, now let's go underling"

I looked at her dumbfounded and stood there looking at her.

Is she implying she wants me to accompany her to her house? Oh my god my cute angel Kuroneko is the best girl in the planet! Right? Right?! Do you guys now understand why I love this girl so much?

While I was in "Cute Little Kuroneko Land" she walked a little bit and then turned over and talked.

"Hey! Move it! I don't have all night! I need to get home before 7:30! Now grab those bags and move your pitiful and useless human body Sorata!"

She said it…. She said my name! I was picking up the other bag by the way when she said it. I looked at her, she looked at me and covered her mouth with both hands while backing a little bit and blushing profusely, she then rushed over to me, grabbed my wrist and pulled me to walk with her.

While she did this, she was smiling a little bit, I don't know if she felt fulfilled or what but I will engrave that image and moment and the whole thing in my brain for all eternity.

"S-sorry! Don't pull me like that I'll trip over!"

"S-Shut up and walk underling, you don't have the right to talk! Let's go!"

She giggled a little bit and looked away while walking.

After around 15 minutes she let me go and stopped at the same intersection where I left her the other day.

I guess she is really embarrassed since she didn't say a word or looked back at me while walking.

I would too, I'm not that used to call people by their names, just Ryuu, Hideki, Chuck and the gang, well and my parents, relatives and my little sister.

I stood by her side and we were looking away awkwardly, she then stretched her hand and signaled me to hand her over the bags, which I did happily.

She then looked at me while blushing a lot and bowed to me.

"T-thanks for t-the day…" no name this time? Aww I guess that was pure luck.

I blushed a lot and looked away and answered.

"It's been a pleasure Kuroneko, thanks to you too, I had a blast! I hope we can see each other like this later! It's fun playing with you"

She blushed and hit me with one of the bags while closing her eyes, I just laughed and looked at her. I love troubled Kuroneko! I can't get sick of it! I know I've told you guys this like 30 times but sorry! I am in love understand me please!

"I-I'll return your headphones later o-okay?"

I signaled her it was ok.

"Hey no probs just give them back when you want, I don't mind I can always snatch the ones from my little sister. I told you already, we a friends and I will help you out"

She looked down and with a little voice said.

"Even with the curse?"

I made a confident smile and made a proud pose.

"Yes! I've already told you! I'll help you out with that curse and break it apart!"

She looked sad and told me with a really serious and uneasy face and voice.

"T-that kind of ritual can't be done now… it will be really difficult to break that curse you know?"

I patted her head which made her blush a lot, she kicked me on the leg and backed up.

"W-what are you trying to do? Sexual Harassment again? Really?"

"No Kuroneko, don't look so down, I will help you don't worry, you will be free and be able to talk about whatever you want with me later, just trust me, now, go to your house! Your little sisters are waiting for you!"

"I'll do, thanks a lot, see you tomorrow at the club Sorata"

She smiled and turned over, she blushed a lot and ran to the other side of the street.

I looked in awe and waved her goodbye, she just left running with the bags in one direction without looking back, but I think I saw her smiling. I think it was my imagination but I will just fool myself thinking she was really smiling.

After I lost sight of her I walked back home and Chuck called after a while stating his computer worked and that it was an issue with the charger connector, and that he will take it to the store and make the warranty team take care of it.

I felt relieved that he and my little sister didn't team up and teased me about it.

Which by the way she wasn't home when I arrived, my mother and her were shopping for a gift for my dad, next month will be his birthday so I just got in, ate something quick, took a shower and left to sleep.