Chapter 2: Humiliated

'Fate must hate me,' Aizawa thought. 'THIS is my soulmate.?'

"Soooo," Ms. Joke started. "You into cats?" Aizawa nodded slowly and hesitatingly. "Do you know what kind of cats like to bowling? ALLEY cats." The audience laughed. "Did you do something with your hair? Because it looks PUURRR-fect." The audience laughed again and Aizawa started to feel embarrassed. He HATED being the butt of the joke.

"You're awful," Aizawa said.

"You mean CLAW-ful?" Joke responded. The drums went off in the back. The audience continued to laugh there heads off. "But let's get FUR real." The audience continued laughing. "I am glad I had the FUR-tunate of meeting you. I'm FELINE good. Are you CLAW-ver with puns as I am?" Aizawa was starting to get overwhelmed at this point with all the puns and laughter. This was an introvert's worst nightmare and now it was his reality. It was humiliating. "Purr-haps I could have the PAW-sibility of meeting up you later tonight? No CAT-ch." She giggled. "What do you say?" Aizawa couldn't find words. "Paw-don me but I didn't hear your answer. What do mew think?"

"I need to go," Aizawa stated before jumping off the stage and getting the heck out of there. His face flushing and his head reeling the entire time.

"Aizawa!" Nemuri yelled, but Shota didn't respond. He had never felt more humiliated in his life. What he didn't see as he exited the room was Ms. Joke's blank and unresponsive stare. She felt utterly defeated; she had ruined her chance with her soulmate.

Aizawa ran out of the theater and into the cold air. He desperately needed to clear his head after that encounter.

"Why did I agree to this?" Aizawa muttered. "I KNEW this was a bad idea but did I listen to myself? NO. I went anyways because Nemuri begged me. I...I can't even..." He let out a frustrated groan. He couldn't even be mad at her since it wasn't her fault that happened. It was just by some unfur...unFORrtunate chance that this happened. He was leaning against the wall taking deep breaths and trying to process what just occurred. Someone else came out of the theater and walked towards him until they were shadowing over him.

"If you're not someone I know then GO AWAY," Aizawa said without looking up.

"Shota, it's me," Nemuri said. He looked up and saw Nemuri in front of him looking concerned and worried. "You okay?" Aizawa shook his head and let out a huge sigh. "I'll get the car. You stay here."

"No, I'm going with you," Aizawa responded. "I don't want anyone to see me."

"Okay," Nemuri responded. They walked towards the car in total silence with Nemuri leading the way. When they reached the car Nemuri got into the driver's seat while Shota went into the passenger side. They drove off towards Nemuri's house in silence for the first several minutes.

"Shota I..." Nemuri started.

"Don't," Aizawa interrupted. "Please don't."

"I'm sorry," Nemuri responded.

"It's not your fault," Aizawa said. "You didn't know that would happen."

"But I'm the one who dragged you to this thing," Nemuri replied. "And I'm the one raised your hand for you to participate."

"Nemuri, it's not your fault," Aizawa repeated. "What's done is done." Nemuri sighed.

"Anyways...wait," Nemuri said. She looked behind her seat. "OH...SHOot!"

"What?" Aizawa asked.

"I left my purse there!" Nemuri exclaimed. "Shoot!" She huffed out a sigh. "Well, not much I can do about it now. I'll just go back and grab it after I drop you off. Again, I'm sorry I ruined your night." Aizawa sighed.

"It's not like there was much to ruin," Aizawa told her. The rest of the ride was in silence. When they arrived Shota got out and made his way to his car. Nemuri then drove off back towards the theater while Aizawa drove home.

'Okay, where did we sit?' Nemuri thought. She was back in the theater retracing her steps. 'Wait, it should say what seat we were supposed to sit in on the tickets. Except I left them in my purse! Ugg! This is why they need to make more cute dresses with pockets! Uuugggggg!' She soon reached their seats.

"AHHHAA," Nemuri exclaimed. "Here it is." She grabbed her purse and started to walk out when someone gently grabbed her shoulder. She started to turn around. "Is there something you..." She looked over her shoulder and saw that it was Ms. Joke.

"Hey, can we talk?" Joke asked.

"Is this about your soulmate?" Nemuri guessed. Joke nodded.

"Look I know I messed up," Joke started. "Can you help me?"

Aizawa arrived home at eight-thirty which surprised Hitoshi who saw him walk in.

"You're home early," Hitoshi said. "Something happen?"

"Something like that," Aizawa responded. "Is Eri in bed?" Hitoshi nodded.

"Yeah, she's asleep," Hitoshi told him. "So what happened?"

"None of your business," Aizawa said. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning. Be in bed by ten. Goodnight." He then went into his bedroom and closed the door. He leaned against his door, slid down to the floor, and sighed. His phone rang. "Hey."

"Hey," Nemuri responded.

"Did you get your purse?" Aizawa asked.

"Yeah I got it," Nemuri answered. "You doing alright?"

"Yeah, I'm doing alright," Aizawa said. "I just needed a breather. I'm sorry I ruined your night."

"OH, it's fine," Nemuri responded. "Completely fine." Aizawa raised his eyebrow at her tone.

"You okay?" Aizawa questioned. "You sound...ditsy."

"Oh, puu, I'm FINE," Nemuri said. "Why?"

"You sound drunk," Aizawa stated. He then heard a faint "Give it here." over the line.

"Hey, Aizawa!" Hizashi exclaimed over the line. "Sorry about Nemuri. She's being a bit weird. And no she's not drunk. Don't worry. She didn't drive drunk. Anyway, how are you?"

"I'm fine," Aizawa responded. "How was your meeting?"

"Oh. It was SSOOOOOO boring," Hizashi complained. "Honestly it could have waited till next week when we had our board meeting. But WHATEVER! And stop snickering! I know you're snickering over there."

"Oh, how did you know?" Aizawa replied dryly.

"Hhhaa, very funny," Hizashi responded sarcastically. "OH! By the way! Do you think you could meet up with me and Nemuri next week for the last day of summer get together!?"

"Sure," Aizawa answered. "I'll have to let Hitoshi know but I'll be there."

"Great!" Hizashi exclaimed. "See you then! Bye!"

"Bye," Aizawa responded but Hizashi had already ended the call. "Odd."

"He said yes?" Nemuri asked. Hizashi nodded.

"Yes, he said yes," Hizashi responded.

"Yes!" She exclaimed. Hizashi gave her a confused expression.

"So why is this a good thing?" Hizashi asked. "Not that it's a bad thing but usually you're never that ditsy when talking with...well anyone unless you're drunk."

"I'll explain everything soon," Nemuri promised. "But first let me tell you about what happened tonight."

Note Updates every Thursday! And this story can also be found on Archive of My Own. Also, apologies if Ms. Joke's jokes aren't funny. I am not a comedian or a punny person.