Chapter Fifty-Four

Oh my bejeezus. It's been more than an entire freaking year since I updated. Wow. That's uh... that's a long time. Ok so, life update for those who care: I've started my life at college and it's uh... a thiiing… *ahem* Video game update: I've sunk about five months of my life into Splatoon 2 and my new Switch. Come find me if you caaaaan (I'm called Cereal and main a roller and I'm shiiiiiiit) Anyway, sorry about the wait.

Slight amount of swearing and homophobic language

"Do you have a girlfriend or something?" Tetsu asked one day.

Natsuki felt his mouth open in shock. "Umm no? Why?"

"No reason in particular," Tetsu shrugged and went back to eating his cup ramen.

The brunet stared at the other man until he gave in.

"Ok, so I've got a friend who says his sister is looking for a boyfriend and you just seem... I dunno, like you need it?"

"Like I need a girlfriend?"

"Like you need something to do."

Natuski stared down at his cup of tea and shrugged a little. "Maybe I do need it."

"So... you're interested?"

"Um, yeah sure but maybe not as a boyfriend-"

"Oh good! He kept hounding me about it," Tetsu was already punching in a number into his phone. "Hey man, I found a dude who said yes. ...for your sister, remember? Jackass. ...yeah sure. Now get off my back about it. ...I don't care if she's annoying! She's your sister, asshole."

As Tetsu gave Natsuki's number to his friend, the small brunet could only feel anxious.

unknown *ure natsuki right?

Natsuki *Yes? Are you Shigeru's sister?

unknown *take a wildass guess

Natsuki *So you are?

unknown *yup

*so when do u wana go out?

Natsuki *Go out?

unknown*yeah

*like a date?

*omg

*uve nvr gone on 1 have u

*u better b worth it

*meet me at the mall tmrw

*at 9

*u betr nt b late

*and wear smthg gud

Natsuki sighed and rolled around on the futon. He absolutely regretted not telling Tetsu he didn't want to date this girl. She seemed like a pain. And mean. Tomorrow was going to suck.

Natsuki was 100% not ready to get up at 7 to get ready for a date he didn't even want to go on. He rifled through his clothes for something to wear. It was going to be cold out, so he pulled out a turtleneck sweater. The next thing he pulled out was a pair of dark jeans. Were jeans ok to wear to a date with a girl? What does one wear on a date? Oh god, this was going to be terrible. This was a terrible idea. How do people do this? How do you even socialize again? Natsuki desperately tried to get his breathing under control because he really didn't need this right now.

Screw it. Who cares if it doesn't suit her tastes.

He arrived about 30 minutes early at the meeting point, worrying if the girl was going to be as mean as she sounded last night. The girl he was waiting for didn't show up until almost 10. When she did finally show up, she wore a scowl on her make up caked face. She gave Natsuki a once-over and her frown deepened.

"I was hoping for a man, not some girly faggot," she spat.

Natsuki wasn't sure how to respond to that. "I-I'm sorry?"

"You look like a girl. Fuck, you're barely taller than I am."

The girl, who was wearing leopard print wedges, stood eye to eye with the brunet.

"Oh, well, I'm sorry if I don't fit-" He bristled at her words but was cut off by the girl loudly popping a bubblegum bubble.

"You've got money, right?"

"Sorry, what?"

"Mo-ney? Y'know, the thing you buy things with? God, just my luck I get stuck with someone retarded."

"I know what money is!" Natsuki snarled. "And I'm not retarded, thank you!"

"Jesus, no need to shout. Take me shopping."

"What?"

"Oh my god. Shop-ping. I want to buy things. You're my date. You take me shopping."

Natsuki didn't even have a chance to protest before she walked off towards a shopping center.

In 5 hours, they had already stopped by 2 shoe stores, 3 clothing stores, and 5 makeup stores. Each and every time, she picked out something and waited for Natsuki to pay for it. He didn't even know this girl's name, and she probably didn't know his, but here he was, buying things for her. He was essentially a servant or something, being told to carry the massive amount of shopping bags. Whenever he tried to refuse, she spoke over him in a loud voice. When one of the employees tried to help him out, she glared at the poor woman until she finally backed down. Natsuki was grateful for the help even if it didn't really do anything.

Natsuki finally decided to just shut off his mind and do what she asked, following her around like a dog. He hadn't even noticed when the "date" had apparently ended.

"Hey!"

Natsuki jumped at the sudden yelling in his ear. "What?"

"Oh my god, I've been yelling at you for the past minute. We're done! Give me my stuff and leave already!"

"Oh. Well, here," the brunet shoved the many bags onto the girl and turned to walk away.

"Hey! Asshole!" He heard the girl shout after him.

He couldn't care less. All he wanted was to go back home and sleep. Maybe drink some tea first. Yeah. And then just sleep.

"Hey. How'd the date go?" Tetsu asked when he saw Natsuki come through the door.

The younger male groaned.

"That bad?"

Another groan.

"Dude, I'm sorry. Shigeru just now told me she's got some... problems."

"Problems?" Natsuki scoffed. "She treated me like some money lugging pack horse!"

"Uh... yeah. Sorry."

Natsuki was silent for a while. "I'm... I'm thinking of moving back to my parents' place," he finally said, pulling down a mug from the cupboard.

"Oh shit, really? If it's about the girlfriend thing that wasn't-"

"It's not that. I've just... been thinking. I, uh... I needed to get away from some stuff and I have. So now it's time to go back. That's all."

"Oh. Uh... good for you? I'm glad you could, uh, come to that conclusion?"

"Are you asking me?"

"No, it's just… forget it. Glad you sorted shit out, man."

"...Thanks, Tetsu."

Bada bing bada boom here I am again! *ahem* Uh so, sorry about disappearing off the Earth for a while… um, I'm back? For now at least. For like, the next few chapters? Merry Christmas? Happy New Year? Uhhhh…. yeeeah…. Splatoon 2 is fun. *ahem*

I just rewatched the Magic Kaito 1412 series and oh my god it was made in 2014? What year is it? 2019? 2014 feels like yesterday holy shit. (also ff won't let me use multiple question marks so my humor is now lost D:) I got this really weird feeling in my chest while watching it too, and got super sad. And all I could think of was that I thought I was dying or something because that's what it felt like and it was super weird.

NEXT TIME: I WANT TO GO HOME