NeonHorizon: A challenger appears!

The environment inside the cat café was calm and pleasant. A wonderful contrast to the chaos and terror of the crowded street outside. As Shirayuki followed Shinsou to a table, she looked at the cute decorations in the café and the various cat furniture around them. Every cat tree in the area had content-looking felines lounging there.

So cute! They have so many cute cats here! Her pulse sped up as they sat at a table and she accepted a menu. It was almost too much. Shirayuki's gaze kept wandering to the cats and to the cute pictures on the walls. When she felt a hand rest on hers, she looked across the table and felt warmth rush to her cheeks. The sight of Shinsou's half-smile made everything else temporarily fade away.

"Is this okay?" His tone was gentle and it was clear that he had noticed her excitement.

"…y-yes…I like this…" She smiled behind her mask and lowered her gaze to the menu. He's…so sweet. Being here with him makes me feel so happy. And that kiss…made me feel so warm…and tingly. Bowing her head, she let her dark violet hair fall forward to hide the pink hue of her face.

"I didn't embarrass you, did I? I should have asked before I kissed you. I wasn't really thinking, I just…" Shinsou rubbed the back of his neck, indigo eyes flitting from the menu in his hand to the girl's face. "I'm sorry."

"…no…um…actually…I liked the surprise…it was…exciting…" Fidgeting with the hairband on her wrist, she glanced up to find him looking at her. The girl's smile grew more and she lowered her gaze again. When he looks at me that way, it makes my chest feel tight. I can't breathe. But it makes me feel so…happy. Like nothing else matters. Like we're the only ones here.

Of course, there were other people in the café as well. Mostly women, but at least two other couples that seemed to be there on a date. When the waitress came for their order, Shirayuki timidly ordered a latte that was affectionately referred to on the menu as "The Cat's Meow". When she had to order it, her face turned red with embarrassment, but it seemed to make Shinsou smile.

"Where do you want to go after this?" He jumped a little and looked down. As she considered his question, Shinsou leaned down and lifted a smoky gray Persian cat onto his lap.

Staring at the animal's cute, flat face, Shirayuki felt herself wanting to giggle. "…you…had plans…didn't you…?"

The cat was standing on its back legs, pressing its front paws against the boy's chest so it could tap its nose against his. Shinsou blinked, surprised. He carefully lowered it so it sat down on his lap again, rubbing his nose with his free hand. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to go home. This day hasn't really gone the way I thought that it would." He saw her shoulders droop a little and he frowned. "I'm still having a good time, but I know that you don't like crowds. And that lady on the sidewalk kind of ruined things."

"…I'm…having a good time…" she protested. It was true. Despite every odd occurrence that day, Shirayuki was still having a really good day. She was on a date with the boy that she liked. The girl was able to win him a prize playing that crane game. She was even visiting a cat café. "…this…has been a really good date…"

When he heard her say this, his face started to turn pink. Half-smiling, Shinsou turned his head and looked to the pastel purple wall to his right. "I'm really glad that you're having a good time. I've never been on a date before so I wasn't sure what to do," he admitted, his voice soft.

"…it's…one of the best days I've had…but…"

"What? What is it?" His head turned again, his eyes meeting hers.

She had her head bowed once more, her delicate fingers toying with a strand of dark violet hair. "…the best day…that I've had…was when you came over and…we just watched movies…and spent time together on the couch…" Feeling his stare, she slowly lifted her gaze. "…I-I mean…I've had fun today…and I do like going out like this…but…at home…it's just us…and…"

"I understand what you mean." Shinsou flashed her a full smile. "And I agree. That was a pretty good day."

"Aren't you a cute couple? Would you like a booth or a table?"

Shirayuki heard the waitress speak, but her attention was on Shinsou now as he struggled with the cat on his lap. It was reaching up with both front paws, trying to grab a lock of his hair. She put a hand over her mask, over her mouth, to try to muffle a laugh. While she did feel a little sorry for him, it was cute to see him try so hard to delicately push the cat away from his hair.

"…can I…?" She held out both hands for the cat and accepted it from her friend. Immediately, the cat began to paw at her mask and she could not help but giggle. Its face is so cute, but…it looks so serious! The girl stroked behind its ears, making it start to purr as its attention turned to her hair. It was much easier for the cat to bat at her hair since it was so long and she had no problem with letting it.

Shinsou leaned his chin in his hand as he watched, still wearing a half-smile. "How many cats are at your house?"

Her eyes lifted to his as she smiled behind her mask. "…we have…seven cats…and we still have one kitten left…"

"You and your grandmother must really love cats. I noticed you have all of those waving cat statues."

"…ah…those…were actually my father's…he collected them…and half of the cats we have…we're letting them stay…until there's room for them at a shelter…"

Shift P.O.V

"What are you getting? This sample tray looks really good! Check out this drink list!" Kirishima looked across the table and saw a dark expression on his classmate's face. He followed his line of sight to a table across the café where their friend was on her date. "Hey, Bakugou! If I get this, you wanna split it?"

"What're you talking about, shitty hair?" He finally turned his head and saw Kirishima pointing at something on the menu. "Fine. Whatever. I don't care."

"What did Yuki get? I bet she got something pretty good; she's got good taste in food." The redhead squinted, trying to see what was being brought to his friend's table. "Is that a coffee?"

"Shut up! I can't hear what they're saying!"

Kirishima rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the menu. "Why'd we follow her? She's going to be upset that we're here."

"You saw what he did!"

"Yeah; he kissed her. They're on a date, dude. It happens."

"They're not even-! Ugh! This is stupid! I don't have to explain myself to you; just shut the hell up so I can hear them!" Bakugou crossed his arms and tried to focus on what was being said, but his concentration was shattered when the waitress showed up to get their orders.

"I want this sample tray and what kind of drink did that girl get? That looks good." Kirishima was pointing at Shirayuki when the blond boy looked over.

"Oh! She got "The Cat's Meow"! It's a latte, but we do a little design in the milk foam on top! It's pretty popular!"

"I want that! Can they draw something manly on mine? And he'll have one, too." Seeing that Bakugou was going to shout at him, he grinned. "My treat."

The blond bristled at this, but knew that this was an argument he would not win. "Fine, whatever. But you're not paying for mine!"

Looking at Shirayuki and her date made his blood boil. It was bad enough that she humiliated him by not even being home that morning, but then she actually went out on a date with another guy. It set his teeth on edge. He hated the boy from the first time he saw him.

Who the hell does he think he is? He's all over her like she's already his. This is so stupid. What does she even see in that guy? She keeps smiling at him. What's he saying to her that's so great? Bakugou's pulse was so fast and so hard that he could feel it in his ears. It made his head hurt. The longer he sat there doing nothing, watching Shirayuki interact with this boy from another class, the worse his head started to feel. He became sick to his stomach with anger.

"Man, I should've asked her out when I had the chance. Those two look pretty serious," Kirishima remarked.

"Shut up! They're just on a date; it doesn't even mean anything!"

"I don't know. Look how happy she is." The redhead grinned. "That smile is adorable. I'd die for that smile."

"Shut up! Damn it, I can't take this anymore!"

Shift P.O.V

The girl's mask was pulled down so she could enjoy her latte. When it had arrived, she was delighted to see that they had drawn a fluffy kitten in the foam on top. As she was about to take her first sip, Shirayuki saw a figure approaching their table from the side and tensed. She quickly set down the cup and moved to cover her mouth again.

A hand darted out to grab her wrist and crimson eyes glared down into hers. "What the hell, Ume?! What the hell is this? You're on a date with a guy like him?"

Shinsou reached across the table, grabbing his wrist tightly and glowering up at him. "Don't touch her."

"This doesn't concern you! I wasn't even talking to you! Ume, are you seriously on a date with this guy?!"

"…stop…" She tried to pull away, but found him leaning down close to her face. "…Bakugou-kun…don't…"

"You went on a date with this guy, but you avoid me after one stupid kiss?!"

"Let go of her." There was a warning tone to Shinsou's words now. "You're making her upset."

"Shut up!" The blond turned his attention back to her now. "What's he have that I don't have, huh?! You didn't even give me a chance! You keep avoiding me!"

"…I…I'm not avoiding you…I'm…just busy…" she argued.

"So what?! Make time!"

"…I'm…on a date…so please…just leave me alone…"

"I'm not leaving!"

"Hey, everyone calm down!" Kirishima grinned and gently took Bakugou's upper arm to try to help Shirayuki get free. "Okay, how about this? Bakugou, you let Yuki finish her date with her friend and maybe she'll give you a chance tomorrow? We don't have school tomorrow so you're both free, right?"

He smirked. "Fine. I'm picking you up tomorrow morning. Don't make me wait around for you, Ume!"