A/N: Tadaa. This one features everyone's favourite Composer.
09 - Vignette- Post-Another Day
Another Experiment
"Ha. Ha. Ha. I laughed at your joke. So will you just leave?"
Neku had just been eating lunch at Ramen Don, having been bribed by Ken Doi to try his experimental dish in exchange for Neku's favourite ramen being free the whole of next week. Yes, this dish was killing his taste buds, but he'd rather eat it than have to entertain a certain platinum-blond haired weirdo.
"Hee hee. I never said it was a joke."
The kid was probably smirking. Neku couldn't be bothered to look up from his food to check. "Yeah. But seeing as pigs can't fly yet..."
To Neku's utmost annoyance, Yoshiya Kiryu took a seat next to him, ordering one Shio Ramen from Ken. "It's true though, Nekky."
He twitched at the nickname. "You really expect me to believe that you and Shiki Misaki are going out."
"Not really. But it's still true."
"Dammit Kiryu, just let me eat my lunch in peace." Although that wasn't possible even without him there, seeing as how the last bite Neku took of his ramen made him want to throw up.
"Now, now, didn't I say you could call me Joshua?"
"Didn't I say 'piss off'?"
"Ah, but girls love the name Joshua. It makes them think I'm not local." He then asked in a perfect accent, "Parlez vous Français? "
Huh. So he is half Japanense."I don't know what you said - I don't speak French. In any case, I swear that you…well, you know..."
Joshua twirled his hair. "Yes?"
"...played for the other team," Neku finished. This is awkward.
"Ah that. Hmm not exactly - you could say I'm being experimental." Experimental!? Suddenly it felt like Joshua had a lot in common with Neku's lunch. "Shiki doesn't mind though."
He keeps coming back to Shiki. He couldn't possibly have asked her out and Shiki would never have said yes. I was going to ask her out, and who'd take Gigglesover me?
...Crap. Who wouldn't take him over me? He's a freakin mini-Eiji Ouji. And everyone knows how much Shiki loves Eiji Ouji.
"Hey, buddy - Joshua. You're not serious are you? About going out with Shiki?" Neku forced a smile on his face, trying to look friendly. And failing – quite miserably.
"Ah, but Neku, I'm extremely serious. In fact we're going to go to Ten-Four today. In fact, she should be here right around..."
"Hey! Joshua!"
"...now."
The world really hated Neku. Shiki had indeed showed up, her pink hair bouncing as she ran up to them. Joshua stood up, while Neku merely turned from his seat.
"Oh! Blue, you're here too?"
She calls him Joshua but calls me Blue?She turned to Joshua "Is he coming with us?"
Neku seethed. "No, Green. I'm not going along with your little date with Rainbow."
"Wha-?"
"In fact - I hope you have a spectacular time." He shot obvious death glares at Joshua. "I'm sure you two make a wonderfulcouple."
"Um Blue I'm not-"
"Because he's obviously better than me."
"- dating him."
...Wait, what?
"But Joshua said-" The blond's smile turned very cheshire-like.
"I recall my exact words were, 'Hey, Neku! Guess what? Me and Shiki are going out.' I never said we were dating."
Neku blinked.
"Yes, as in going out to ten-four. Poor Nekky got confused, didn't you?" Joshua made an open armed gesture. "Part of my plan, though. I've got great material my column in my school's magazine. This week's topic: 'Do boys get more jealous than girls do?'."
If there was a hole lying around in Shibuya, Neku would gladly crawl into it.
"Well, I'm off. We're going to have to hold off our shopping spree 'till next time, Shiki. See ya."
Joshua practically skipped away with glee. Neku just stared at the space he left, trying not to make eye contact with Shiki. Unfortunately, Shiki filled that space, taking a seat next to Neku, so it made it harder.
"Sheesh, first he ditches me, and then he just leaves behind perfectly edible ramen," she complained purposefully, acting as if the whole thing hadn't occurred.
Neku was grateful for it. He would've left if she had teased him and made him feel even more embarrassed than he was.
They ate their lunch in a comfortable silence (his ramen was still disgusting though). Finally, after Shiki had finished, she spoke.
"Blue - I mean - Neku, um, I'm not interested in Joshua that way." Neku's peeked out of his imaginary hole. "So, um, I was wondering...would this possibly count for a date?"
Neku nearly choked on his food, and felt his face warm up. He was now dancing around his ex-hole with victory music playing in the background. Clearing his throat, he said, "Only if you want it to."
...
"Um, then, after this, would you like to come to the CD shop with me? I hear there are some new albums on sale."
"Would that still count for a date?"
She smiled at him shyly."Only if you want it to."
Heh. The ramen didn't taste so bad now. "It's a date."
A/N: Hehe, that was fun to write. Well, Joshua could be like ramen...his hair is stringy for example. -insert Joshua getting offended here- But he did kind of match up Neku with Shiki, so all's good. Oh, and kudos to anyone who got the irony of the answer Neku gave to Joshua's French question. (Joshua could totally be half-japanese...psh.)
Until next time!
- 9/10/2012
