Author Notes

I always have this feel to not spoil in the chapter title or front A/N, even though whose chapter it is, is revealed in like the second line. And apparently the chapter title can be seen already anyways~ :'3

May you enjoy~


Date Zero point Five OR Before Date One

Okay. Ask Honoka out to watch a movie. How hard could that be?

Maki has been considering asking the Leader of Muse, Kousaka Honoka out for a movie date for some time now. And it won't become reality if she put off asking the carefree girl out on a date soon.

Maki observed the gingerhead whenever she could and…Honoka seems to always be with someone.

Walking to school with the designer and lyricist of Muse in the morning. Chatting with a random classmate or schoolmate before homeroom. Having lunch with the designer and lyricist of Muse, before chatting with another random student again.

Can you stand somewhere alone for a second, Honoka?!

Honoka goes to the bathroom by herself, finally. So Maki stalks her.

Stop Honoka for a second. Ask her out. Done.

Maki started her approach, but her brain threw her a question.

What if Honoka doesn't say yes..?

Maki frowned at the thought.

Honoka can't say no to me. I won't let her anyways.

Maki crossed her arms for a show of defiance before uncrossing her arms to continue her brisk walk towards the girl's toilet.

"Honoka."

That's a good start.

Maki praised herself internally for not stuttering. Not that there is a reason for the redhead to.

Honoka turned around with her handkerchief in hand as she was drying herself, a huge smile grew on her face when she saw who greeted her.

"Maki-chan!"

Her smile is so cute…

"What's up?" Honoka was still beaming.

Maki was too distracted by the brilliance of the gingerhead's smile, and her heart rate was increasing too.

What's up..? Ask? Ask! Ask Honoka out, right!

Maki reminded herself as she cleared her throat.

"Um…Honoka…"

Honoka cocked her head to the side, waiting patiently (cutely) for Maki to continue.

Ugh, what's with that adorable head tilt? Focus, Maki. Focus.

"Um…Do you want to…"

"Do I want to?" Honoka urged with a smile, ever-friendly. Maki's eyes trained onto the gingerhead's soft-looking, pink lips.

"Do you want to go out to the movies with me, Honoka?"

"Yes, I do."

"Can I kiss you?"

"Mmph!"

"It's nothing. Bye." Maki turned on her heels immediately as she felt heat rushed her cheeks from the mini theatre of her asking Honoka out to the movies.

"Eh? Maki-chan?" Honoka blinked twice as she was left alone in the Ladies.

What was that, Maki?! Asking to kiss Honoka?! Ugh…

Maki berated herself as she went back to class.


The afterschool bell chimed and Maki sped out of the classroom before Rin or Hanayo could approach her to suggest walking to the clubroom together. She was hoping to catch Honoka alone in the clubroom.

Alas, the clubroom only had Nico in it, and Honoka arrived with her two childhood friends. Maki sighed.

Alone in the clubroom to ask Honoka out can't happen, huh.


After a few sets of dance practice, Maki watched Honoka trudge over to one side of the railings to rest. The redhead picked up her water bottle and walked over.

Offer some water to start up a conversation. Then ask Honoka out. Simple and perfect. As expected from me~

Maki smirked as she approached the gingerhead who was pulling the front of her practice shirt back and forth in an attempt to cool herself. Maki blushed slightly at the idea of sneaking a peek of under Honoka's shirt.

"Ahem." Maki cleared her throat to compose herself and get the leader's attention.

Honoka looked up and smiled. "Oh, Maki-chan~ Wanna rest with me?"

Maki pushed the water bottle in front of the gingerhead's face. "Here. Don't dehydrate."

Honoka gladly accepted the water and gulped down a few mouthful of liquid. "Pwah~ I'm refreshed and alive again~ Thank you, Maki-chan!"

You're welcome, Honoka.

Maki smiled sweetly at Honoka in her head, while her actual body crossed her arms and looked away.

"Yeah…"

Honoka pushed herself off the railing to take the redhead's hand. "Sit with me, Maki-chan~?"

Maki flinched from the surprise contact, and wanted to run away even more when she took in the innocently smiling gingerhead; it was also a tad bit seductive with how the leader's hair and shirt was clinging to her skin thanks to the sweat.

Sit with her, Maki. Sit with her and ask her out.

"I…"

Honoka waited.

I'd love to.

"And if I sit with you, will you go out with me to the movies?"

"Of course!"

"Look at you, there's some sweat trickling down your adorable cheeks, Honoka." Maki uses the tip of her pointer finger to pick the sweat off Honoka, causing the gingerhead to turn redder.

Staring at the shining droplet on her finger for a moment, Maki licks it.

"So this is Honoka's taste~" Maki smiled slyly at the gingerhead whose cheeks exploded in flames.

"Maki-chan!"

"Maki-chan?" Honoka tugged the redhead's hand back to reality.

And in reality, Maki's face is the one that has exploded in flames; red hot flames.

"It's nothing." Maki spoke quickly and pulled her hand back before hurrying towards the roof's exit, refusing to look behind.

Once out and down a flight of steps, Maki slumped against the wall with a hand to her face.

What were you even thinking of Nishikino Maki?! Honoka's t-t-taste?! Ugh…


Maki was in front of the Kousaka Residence.

It can't be helped, after the little fantasy Maki's brain decided to conjure up for her during dance practice, the redhead couldn't find it in herself to approach the gingerhead in school.

Maki stared at the large sign that read "Homura" which indicates Honoka's home.

Maki took a deep breath.

Okay, Maki. Just go in there, get Honoka alone, and- DON'T. Don't over think things. Just ask her out for a movie.

Maki entered the Japanese Sweets Shop, and the first thought to invade her mind was:

This is a sweets shop alright. Honoka's welcome smile is so sweet…

"Welcome- Oh, Maki-chan~" Honoka dressed with a Homura apron waved enthusiastically at her junior who was staring at her in a daze by the entrance.

Earth to Maki. Take your order upstairs.

Maki blinked and considered punching the cell that was in charge of sending messages to her brain today, but placed that aside for the more crucial event at the moment.

"Honoka, I need you for a moment." Maki didn't wait for an answer as she grabbed the gingerhead's hand and pulled her upstairs.

"Eh? Maki-chan? Um, Mum, I'll be right back!" Honoka shouted to her mum to let her know of her absence.

Now inside the gingerhead's room, Honoka scratched her chin nervously.

"Um…Maki-chan? Is something wrong?"

Maki stepped closer to the leader of Muse who backed away till her back was against the wall as she was kind of intimidated by the redhead's silence and piercing stare.

"Maki-chan..?" Honoka gulped.

Maki placed both hands beside Honoka's head and took a long, deep breath.

"Are you free next weekend?"

"Eh? Um, I think so." Honoka smiled at the thought of a free weekend.

"Then…" Maki furrowed her eyebrows, fighting the urge to mess up and run away. "Want to go to the movies with me?"

I said it! Now for Honoka's answer…

"Aw~ Maki-chan's asking me out to the movies~?" Honoka forgot all about the intimidation and position she was in as she smiles broadly and had the cheek to try teasing the redhead.

"Just answer me, Honoka." Maki's violet orbs continued to gaze intensely into warm blue ones.

"Of course I'd like to, Maki-chan~ hehe~" Honoka giggled cheerfully. "I can't wait!"

Maki smiled in relief, and Honoka's pure happiness bubbling out of her was contagious. "Me too…"


Author Notes

Hey~ Sooo~ :'3 Maki's movie date chapter was short. Cos' I intended for a short one on her birthday. OvO Now~ I decided to let us see how Honoka and Maki got to go on a movie date together~ ;'D

How was it~? X'3

Leave a comment if you like~ XD (Maki will do her best to read them without being distracted by *certain* thoughts and fantasies about Honoka~ ;D)

Maki: Don't you even think about feeding my brain with possible lovey-dovey moments with Honoka. Don't. … I mean it, okay? Don't! It's not like I like thinking of Honoka anyways!

-Maki crosses her arms and turns away with a blush and pout-