Butterflies

"Girl! Stop pacing back and fourth!" Mizuki bones locked in place as the elderly co-owner of the ramen shop shouted to her. Mizuki turned to the man and gave a nervous smile.

"You are scaring the patrons. Come sit down!" The man turned around before she could apologize, and so she performed the walk of shame, apologizing to all the couples currently sitting in the small noodle shop. Most of them ignoredor graciously smiled back at her; others scoffed and simply wanted her to leave them alone.

"What is it?" The the co-owner asked. Mizuki plopped down in the seat in front of the stove top. She wasn't really sure what was bothering her, but there was a strong tug in her stomach. It made her pace, and her mind felt like it was racing towards a void. She was not thinking straight at all, yet her mind felt as if it was going a mile a minute, and all she could do was wait with the agony that is called anticipation.

"Ah, so its a special guy huh?" Mizuki gave a puzzled look. "A guy?"

"Oh so it's a her? No matter. Seems like she got a hold on you doesn't she."

Mizuki eyes bulged as she was read like an open book, too bad she didn't read it as she feverishly denied anything the man was suggesting. The man simply nodded before going back into the kitchen. Mizuki shook her head. Sure she was a bit… nervous with Tatsumaki coming, but no she was perfectly calm otherwise. Nothing to be concerned about. A bowl was then placed in front of her, and she looked up to see the warm smile of a small brunette woman; the co-owner of the ramen shop. Paullette was her name, which Mizuki found slightly odd since she had a non-Japanese name, but came directly from Japanese lineage. Not as odd as what everyone refers to her husband as Palores. Its nice to see how different cultures influence each other though.

"So I hear you are getting worked up over a special girl?"

"N-No. I am simply waiting for a dear friend. I mean new friend… Well we might not even be friends yet. Anyway, I shouldn't eat before she gets here." Mizuki pushed the bowl away in a desperate attempt to change the conversation.

"We both know that is only your first bowl out of three, and I intentionally made that one small." Paullettee stated through her signature smile while pushing the bowl back to Mizuki. Mizuki mumbled a thank you before shoving a spoonful in her mouth. She didn't even want to eat.

"Now tell me about this girl that is putting your head in a spin."

Mizuki sighed. There was no avoiding this she realized.

"She's just a co-worker for now. Tatsumaki." Paullette had her excitement plastered all over her face.

"Tatsumaki is coming to my ramen shop?" Mizuki nodded before starring back at her bowl. Paullette coughed to regain her composure, the girl infront of her was more important than her future plans of plastering "Home of the S-Class' Ramen" all over her store front.

"So, Tatsumaki seems to be a very powerful girl. A bit distant I noticed."

"Yeah she can appear that way, but don't make assumptions. I recently assumed something about her and embarrassed myself. I am taking her here as an apology." Mizuki

spun her spoon in her ramen (she only used chop sticks when there was meat and vegetables).

"Well I believe she will be grateful."

"Yea… I hope…"

"Is that all this is though? I noticed you haven't invited anyone here before. Just you, me, and my dunce of a husband!" Paullette yelled the last part to elicit a mocking response from her husband. Mizuki looked on as Paullettee grinned and Mizuki couldn't help but giggle.

"Well… I mean no. It's just that she seems so alone and distant sometimes. I just… I just wanted to be her friend. I mean of course I myself wouldn't mind to get to know her even better cause I always wanted to, and on top of that she really seems to be a nice girl. I would hate to disappoint her though. I'm scared I am just gonna be a doofus and embarrass myself again, or worse I bore her. Oh GODS WHAT IF I BORE HER?"

Mizuki's rant was clearly causing her to spiral, and Paullette looked up at a picture of her and her husband that sat above them.

"I remember the first day I met my husband. He was aloof and honestly was a bit of a jester even back then. It was a bit of a shock, and honestly I did not know if I wanted to ever speak to him again." Mizuki looked up at her. Her face was the most serious it had ever been, but at the same time… There was the gentle fondness of a memory on it.

"Well. What made you stick with him?"

"Nothing. Nothing made me stick with him. We simply connected. I went on a walk with him, and we ended up circling a fountain for hours. Laughing at each others jokes, and just getting to know each other. Neither of us really worried about anything in those moments, and even then we werejust comfortable around each other. We were… and really are just us. "

Mizuki looked at her in a mix of bewilderment and awe. Mizuki usually never stresses about anything, but at that moment she was the opposite of her usual self looking at her ideal self. Someone with confidence, and at peace with the love of her life. Mizuki craved it in her soul. Paullette turned back to her, and placed a gentle hand on hers.

"If you simply show her the amazing girl we know you to be she can do nothing but respect you. Even if you don't hit it off at least you both won't have any regrets or questions about who the other person is, but I honestly have a feeling you two will get along just fine." Paullette smiled ear to ear.

"How do you know?" Mizuki asked as if she was speaking to some oracle.

"Call it old wisdom." Paullette suddenly looked up and she smiled even wider.

"Welcome! Welcome! To Paul's and Pal's Ramen Tatsumaki-san!"

Mizuki whirled around to see a Tatsumaki with a deadpan expression. She was currently floating and slightly wet. She was glaring at Mizuki before turning back to Paullette.

"Thank you but I think I might just leave." Everyone stopped what they were doing. Palores and Paullette face were an ashen white as an S-Class refused to eat in front of a full house of Patrons. What could possibly make her say that?

"Wha- What? Why?" Mizuki fumbled out.

"Clearly you decided I wasn't worth waiting for and decided to start eating without me." Tatsumaki shouted over her shoulder. The entire restaurant sighed in releif. The patrons continued eating their food without a concern of quality, and Paullette chuckled to herself as Mizuki sprinted after Tatsumaki. Paullette shared a knowing glance with Palores; its all apart of the game.

Tatsumaki was already 2-3 stories in the air before Mizuki managed to get out of the door. Mizuki was already getting a head start because she knew Tatsumaki was not gonna wait up, and so she took three long strides before leaping several stories in the air. She reached out to grab Tatsumaki's arm as she screamed wait, but was suddenly suspended mid air and knocked about 20 feet. She had barely grazed Tatsumaki arms, but she had a look of a startled bull.

"What the HELL do you think you are doing?!" Tatsumaki shouted. Mizuki could've sworn she saw fumes escaping from her temples.

"I didn't even want the ramen! I wasn't eating it! Don't go!" Tatsumaki snarled.

"So you were forced to eat a warm bowl of ramen after I had to find my way here by myself with those horrible instructions you gave me. A child could have given better instructions." Mizzuki gritted her teeth as her pride was slightly hurt.

"Listen-"

"No." Tatsumaki threw her to the ground, and Mizzuki landed on her feet. She looked up to see Tatsumaki flying away. In the rain Mizuki felt cold, embarrassed, and frustrated beyond belief. What was her problem?

"FINE! GO then! Be alone and all by yourself as USUAL!" Tatsumaki spun around.

"What-?"

"Don't give me that stupid look. All I wanted was to hang out with the great Tornado of Terror Tatsumaki and eat some stupid noodles. I get it. You're a lone wolf and don't need or have time for anyone else. Well good riddance. I guess I was stupid for trying to invite you to my stupid noodle shop to be my stupid friend." Mizuki huffed.

She stomped off leaving giant footprints in the concrete, and an audience of civilians. Her face was completely red as not only did she tell off Tatsumaki for the second time, but she also did it in front of an audience. What will the news say? Fuck the news. Not like she cared. She was now cold, wet, and alone. She kept stomping until she noticed she wasn't feeling the ground beneath her. She had the green glow of a certain psychic around her as she was forced to turn around halfway. Mizuki stubbornly resisted despite knowing Tatsumaki could've easily forced her to turn.

"Hey."

"What do you want?" Mizuki scoffed. She hated how she felt. She felt stupid and childish. Throwing a tantrum like this was new to her, and whats worse was that she didn't even start it. Tatsumaki was the one who really threw a tantrum.

"I was just teasing you. I didn't mean to upset you that much. Can you please turn around?"

Mizuki waved her arms and kicked her tall legs. Tatsumaki blankly stared at her before realizing she was preventing her from moving. Tatsumaki let her down and Mizuki stormed off. Leaving Tatsumaki in the rain and with a sick feeling in her stomach. Mizuki stopped in front of the ramen shop and held the door open.

"I am not gonna speak to you in the rain! So either leave or get inside." And with that Mizuki left a bewildered Tatsumaki in the rain. Mizuki sat down at the table, and asked for her favorite bowl of ramen. 3 Lambs Chops, 3 Steaks, Bunch of Veggies, 2 hard boiled eggs and light spices. It was basically dubbed the Mizuki special and really was served in a big ass stirring bowl. Paullette gave her a warm towel, and honestly felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl. She guessed she was wrong about the her heart, a slight rage brewed towards Tatsumaki for hurting her favorite daughter-like friend over there. That's when she heard the chime of the door opening, and saw a green little psych floating towards her counter. Mizuki barely looked up before she heard a seat pull up next to her. She looked up to see Tatsumaki completely dry looking towards Paullette.

"Four sakes on me."