Chapter 2: Something New
Aichi left the cardshop after a few more battles and Misaki was a little crestfallen when he interrupted her reading to bid farewell for the day. He's gonna come back tomorrow so why frown? Misaki comforted herself. Why was she comforting herself about Aichi? Misaki didn't know.
Aichi started his journey home when a familiar voice called him from behind. He stopped and turned around to see his sister, Emi, running up to him.
"Aichi! You would not believe what happened today!" Emi shrilled in joy. "You can tell me when we get home sis. C'mon!" Aichi said, placing a hand on her shoulder, the duo walked off.
Misaki had saw this as she left the store for her tea break to get some coffee. She silently wished she and Aichi could walk like that one day. She turned and headed down the opposite direction to the nearest café.
Settling down at the café with her coffee, Misaki sipped silently from the cup. She glanced around and saw the usual customers here, at this time of day. Then, a scowl formed on her face as soon as she saw Kai and Miwa walking in the distance. She was still inwardly fuming and pissed at Kai's intrusion just now. Taking a sip from her cup, she got up and left with a nearly untouched cup of coffee in her hands.
"Hey Misaki!" Miwa called out cheerily as Misaki passed by them. She completely ignored Miwa and headed back to the card shop.
"What's eating her?" Miwa wondered out loud and Kai replied indifferently, "Why do you care?" Miwa paused for a moment to retort but it died in his mouth as Kai walked ahead, ignoring him as well. Oh well, guess I'll just have to drink my coffee by my lonesome then. Miwa thought, absentmindedly shrugging. Onlookers who noticed, all thought he was insane or loony or something.
Misaki was not in a very good mood. Upon her return from the café, her uncle, the shop manager, giggled in delight when he saw the cup of coffee in Misaki's hand and assumed she got it for him. He immediately took it from her and finished the entire cup in three gulps. Misaki went back to the counter and started on her book.
The assistant manager sensed Misaki's discontent and tried to cheer her up. Jumping up to her laps, the cute black kitten purred and lightly rubbed against her abdomen. Misaki glanced down from her book and stroked the kitten's fur. A few high school guys walked into the shop and paused at the counter, where a rather pretty cashier had her hands stroking it...
Then one of them let out a whistle and Misaki looked up and saw the lust in their eyes looking at her hand stroking it behind the counter and she got up suddenly. So suddenly in fact, the assistant manager flew out of her laps and into the face of the high school boy who whistled. The terrified and shocked cat started clawing at whatever it could, which in this case was the boy's face. He yelped in pain as little claws dug into his flesh and cut an opening for blood to flow out. He reared back as the assistant manager dropped back on to the counter.
Screaming in pain, the high school boy left in a hurry just as Misaki's uncle ran out from behind to inspect the racket. Seeing a lack of commotion, he shook his head and and went back behind. Must have been imagining things. He thought to himself.
Misaki's day finally ended as she and her uncle locked up the shop for the day. Carrying her book in one hand and placing the assistant manager on her shoulder, she went home.
Aichi was laying in bed as he reflected on the day. More specifically, when he held Misaki's hands. They were soft to touch and tender too, but why did he feel unexplained elation when they're hands met? Aichi cursed his hormones silently as he held up his hands. Misaki's skin was smooth and soft, it felt great to hold and a phantom feeling of her soft hands tingled in Aichi's own palm.
He reluctantly moved to the next highlight of his day. Or rather Emi's day. She was practically bobbing in her seat as she related the incident to Aichi (their mother was washing the dishes while they were watching the television).
"He was all over me! The resident bully in school was picking on me on my way out of school, when Kamui and his gang passed by the school gate! Then Kamui ran to shield me from her punch! He was so brave and daring! His entire body covered me and protected me! He finally lashed out and pushed the bully away! Then he grabbed my wrist and we away like in those cheesy romantic movies! Oh Kamui...!" Emi described with exagerrated hand actions and ended with a cute sigh.
Aichi was thoroughly shocked. His best friend, whom he knew had a crush on sister, had finally managed to get her attention! Aichi set his mind on a congratulations tomorrow.
Aichi leaned his head on the pillow and then..