02: Yumiko Miura
"I can't believe you're going out with him." Rin Tohsaka is furious. Yumiko Miura ignores her friend completely. This doesn't make her happy. Not at all. She tries to act reasonable. "He is the same rotten dead fish eyed creep from last year. Just because he dresses up in finer clothes and wears an expensive watch doesn't make him a better man." No response. Rin tries once more. "What about Hayama?"
"Screw Hayama." Miura bites out. "I have had it with him. I'm better off going out on a date with Hikio."
"It's not a date Miura." Ai Hayasaka adds as she flips the pages of a magazine. "I'm pretty sure Hikigaya doesn't like you. He is just doing this because…" she thinks about it for a second and then, "Okay. I got nothing. I don't understand that guy. Not one bit."
"Well I don't understand him either." Miura grumbles. "But it is better than doing nothing on a Friday night. I mean c'mon. We are beautiful, young people. We should be living it up. Hitting the clubs, going out to parties, but no. We just sit here, reading a bunch of women's magazines, getting idiotic ideas in our heads after reading some tips from a stupid article, waiting for some prince to show up and sweep us off our feet, but that hasn't happened, has it?"
"I'm pretty sure you're the only one who still believes in fairy tales." Ai Hayasaka mumbles. "I don't need a prince or some silly romance to make my life more interesting. I have better things to do with my time."
"Like what?" Rin asks. "And you if you mention the name Kaguya Shinomiya, so help me, as god as my witness, I will punch you in the face."
"Go polish some jewelry Tohsaka." Hayasaka said, voice deadpan. "I bet it's the only thing you will be polishing tonight."
"What's the – What's that supposed to mean?" Rin asks heatedly.
"Hayasaka is just joking. She didn't mean anything by it." Miura says with a glare at her blonde friend which the latter shrugs off without a care in the world. She lets out a small sigh. How come she has these friends who don't get along with each other. Something to think about later. For the time being she wants them to focus on what's important. Miura actually blushes. "Do you think I will be doing some…polishing tonight?"
"Polishing what?" Rin Tohsaka can be so innocent sometimes. "Isn't he taking you out to dinner in some fancy restaurant? Or is he being a cheapskate and just inviting you back to his private suite, downstairs." Ai Hayasaka and Miura let out a tired sigh. They already know what she is about to say next. "You know I think it's still unfair that he gets his own private living space in the sorority house. With a nice bedroom with a king sized bed, a living room with a television, a kitchen where he can cook whatever the hell he wants, whenever he wants and a bathroom with a nice bathtub, I can imagine why he didn't put up much of a fight when he was made the den mother of our sorority house."
Ai Hayasaka snorted. "He's a guy who gets to live under the same roof as 75 other women. I don't care what he says. He's got a good thing going on. Unless he decides to stay cooped up in his room all the time, he can't walk five feet without bumping into a pair a breasts. Isn't that how you two met?" She asks Miura.
"We actually met in first year but I didn't take much notice of him." Miura admitted. "I was still thinking about hooking up with Hayato back then. And I think I kinda intimidated him a little bit as well. At least that's what he told me."
"You intimidated him." Rin Tohsaka believes her. At a first glance, the green eyed, blonde haired, buxom beauty simply known as Yumiko Miura can be a bit too much. But over time she can become a good friend. Even though they had strong opinions and butted heads over certain issues – like this so called date for instance – she still got along with her just fine. But what Miura just said set off warning bells. "You intimidated him. And now he wants to go out with you. Are you sure he's not a masochist."
"He fits the profile." Ai Hayasaka said. "He is a loner. He has rotten views about society and the world in general. He hasn't had much luck with women. Probably never been in a relationship and might still be a virgin. It stands to reason that he would be a pervert and might be into stuff like S&M." She gave the worried blonde a look. "Wow Miura. You sure know how to pick 'em. From the prince of douchebags to a masochistic knight. You sure have some range."
"He is not a masochist!" Miura shouts. The two other women give her a look and she tries to speak in a normal voice. "Look. Hikio is a nice guy. Yes, he asked me out. But I think he wants us to go out as friends. Yeah, I know. It's kinda lame. He is half-assing things, not really committing and that should be a big no-no. But you know what, I think I wouldn't mind being his friend." She scoffs. "I mean let's face it, the girl who decides to become his girlfriend has to live with the fact that he lives under the same roof as 75 other women. She has to be sure of herself, be really confident, trust him with all her heart and probably believe in the power of love or something. Me? I'm just looking for a movie and some nice dinner afterwards."
Both her friends went quiet for a moment, taking in all the information. Perhaps they were worried about nothing. This thing wasn't serious. Miura just needed to go out and have some fun. Now what constitutes as fun can be subjective and they might not agree on it, but still, they could support her as her friend. It was the least they can do. And later on they would reserve the right to tell her, 'I told you so' when ultimately the date becomes a nightmare.
"Fine. You can go out with Hikigaya." Hayasaka says.
"I was not exactly looking for your permission." Miura mutters. Then she cracks a smile. "But thanks, I guess."
"And no polishing his family jewels." Ai Hayasaka says smartly. "This is not a date. And even if it was, I'm pretty sure you can do those kinda stuff later. On date number five probably."
"What about date number three?" Miura asks cheekily.
"You can let him cop a feel."
"Hayasaka!" Rin sounds scandalized. "That's not right."
Ai Hayasaka scoffs. "Wait till you figure out what polishing means princess. Here's a hint. It has to do with a man's pen-"
But Ai Hayasaka isn't allowed to finish as there is a knock on the door.
"I guess this is it." Miura says. She takes a deep breath and smoothes her dress. "Do I look nervous?"
"You look fine." Hayasaka says.
"Go polish his socks off!" Rin Tohsaka shouts.
"Rin!" Yumiko Miura and Ai Hayasaka shouts in unison.
"What?" Rin Tohsaka blinks. A lightbulb turns on in her head. Family jewels. Aha. Oh no. No no no. She is reduced to a blushing mess. "I finally got it."
Miura smiles.
Hayasaka pats her on the shoulder. "Congratulation."
"I hate you." Rin says grabbing a pillow and holding it close to muffle her voice. She actually punches the pillow a couple of times. "I hate you both! So much!"
As expected, friends find joy in her misery.
A/N: Now, this chapter came out of nowhere because I faced a small problem.
Seishirou Tsugumi, Nino Nakano and Mafuyu Kirisu got 3 votes each. So, I couldn't decide who to feature on the next chapter. So, this time let's get a convincing win by a lot of votes.
Here are the options:
Option 1: Seishirou Tsugumi – Nisekoi.
Option 2: Nino Nakano – Quintessential Quintuplets.
Option 3: Mafuyu Kirisu – We Never Learn
Please pick any of the above options.
Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.
Leave lots and lots of reviews, follow and fave.
Won't betray your dreams.
P.S.: 'Demon-Maxwell' gave me an interesting idea. He said it would be better if I dedicate 3 to 5 chapters to a particular pair of characters, giving them their own mini-arcs. I'm okay with the idea. I think it's great.
But you, the readers, please share your opinion on this:
Option 1: GOOD (Character development. Mini-arcs. More interactions. A semblance of plot.)
Option 2: BAD (Stuck reading the same characters you don't know about or dislike for 3 to 5 chapters.)
Please decide, because this is really important.
Thank you.
Take care.