"Then you shake everything well and add a little nice decoration to the glass, and there you have it, the mixed drink," Nagihiko explained, Amu's future colleague. "Yes, okay, but that's just one of many.." Amu murmured quietly as she watched the purple-haired man. "It will be fine!"
He studied Amu more closely and sighed. "Are you sure you can and want to work? You look pretty exhausted," he said, taking her chin and moving her face back and forth to examine her dark circles. But Amu recoiled immediately, looking at him uncertainly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just noticed your dark circles," he scratched his head unsurely, wondering what had happened to her, as he didn't find this reaction normal.
"You know, there might be occasions when drunk guests get a bit touchy-feely. You don't seem like you can handle that very well," Nagihiko remarked.
Amu looked down and held her upper arm with her right hand. Since she had to endure everything every day, she wasn't good with touches anymore.
"So, if you decide against it, that's fine, of course. Probably the old man just picked you up off the street and didn't give you a choice," Nagihiko rolled his eyes briefly as he glanced over at his boss, then smiled and added that he was a good guy. Then he tied his hair up into a ponytail and winked at Amu. "I could also try to draw attention to myself. I can handle them just fine," he winked, disappearing briefly into one of the back rooms and returning in female clothing. Amu frowned and looked at him confused, to which he explained that depending on his mood, he worked as his "twin sister" Nadeshiko or as Nagihiko. It also depended a bit on the clientele. If there were many women present, Nagihiko naturally made a better impression, and tips were always welcome.
Amu sighed quietly to herself, feeling like she couldn't trust anyone.
"Don't be so sad; a smile would suit you much better," he smiled gently and winked at her again, which only prompted another sigh from Amu. She didn't want anyone to flirt with her; she was afraid of what would happen if Tadase somehow found out. "What, am I really that terrible?" he crossed his arms behind his head and observed her reaction.
"I.. I'm taken.." she murmured sadly and looked down. Of course, she hadn't revealed her real name; she introduced herself as Akane because she wasn't sure how widespread the name Amu was. Besides, revealing her true name would surely attract more attention, and people would recognize the resemblance and expose her. "Doesn't sound very happy; then I'll just steal you away and make sure you always have a smile on your lips." Amu could understand why he preferred to serve as Nagihiko with women. He was definitely charming and flirty; they would all fall for him.
"Stop the nonsense," she sighed and focused on the drink recipes.
"That's not nonsense." Normally, he would have now placed a hand on her cheek, but he didn't want to scare her again. Amu sighed again, feeling like everyone was just playing with her, first this mysterious stranger, and then Nagihiko. She probably should should have had these doubts about Tadase instead of those who meant well, but she still trusted him; she was convinced he wasn't inherently bad. Nagihiko watched her and sighed sadly. She exuded deep sadness.
Just before they opened, he decided to change clothes again and work as a man. He made it clear to every guest that 'Akane' was new, and anyone who dared to touch her would have problems with him. The familiar guests, who liked to flirt when they had a few drinks too many, already pouted and expressed with their eyes 'But she's so sweet', but these looks were immediately silenced by Nagihiko's threatening gaze. So the first few days passed without Amu having to deal with strange men, and she soon noticed that she owed this to Nagihiko's supervision. In the evenings, she always managed to get home so early that she even had time to shower, so that Tadase wouldn't notice any strange smells. Time passed quickly whenever she was there and she slowly forgot her worries and opened up more.
"Hey, Nagi.."
The purple-haired man turned to his charming colleague and looked at her with a gentle smile. "What's wrong, little one?"
"Thank you for looking out for me," she smiled gently and looked down.
"Ah, so you've noticed?" he scratched his head. He had actually wanted to do it secretly.
"Sure. There have been a few moments where someone reached out to me, but then suddenly recoiled with a shiver. You just had to follow their gaze," she chuckled a bit. "You can be quite intimidating."
"Only when I have to be," he crossed his arms behind his head again and continued to smile at her. "Do you trust me a bit more now?"
Amu thought quietly for a moment, not sure what he meant. She had trusted him all along, or was it about touches? She sighed softly at the thought. That didn't necessarily have anything to do with trust for her, so how should she answer now? Eventually, she nodded and looked at him. Nagihiko lowered his arms and looked at her more seriously but still gently and carefully clasped her face in his hands to give her a kiss on the forehead before enfolding her in his arms. Amu instinctively wanted to pull away but fought against it and allowed it, eventually hugging him back as well. She hadn't had a warm hug in so long; it felt good to let go. Nagihiko held her tightly and laid his head on hers for a moment, closing his eyes.
"Romance in the workplace? I'm not sure what to make of that," Aaron, their boss, emerged from the cellar and spotted the two, raising an eyebrow. "As if that would interest you, old man," Nagihiko grinned and stuck his tongue out at him. "Say, how do you talk to me?" Aaron laughed.
"T-that's not a romance!" Amu interjected, distancing herself from Nagihiko.
"Sounds like a rejection, my friend," the owner glanced at Nagihiko, shrugging his shoulders.
The purple-haired man sighed. "I just need more time," he grinned confidently at Amu, who took a hesitant step back. "Taken!" she repeated, as she had done so many times in the past few days, and then raised her left hand to show her engagement ring. "Engaged.."
"Oh, Akane. Nothing is set in stone, and obviously, the guy doesn't make you happy," he pulled her back towards him with one arm around her shoulder. Amu sighed as she looked down. She wasn't even honest with them. Nagihiko would surely want nothing more to do with her once he found out that everything was a lie.
"Girl, if he annoys you too much or gets too pushy, let me know, I'll straighten him out," Aaron grinned, crossing his arms.
"What.. oh.. um.." Amu was a bit overwhelmed by the situation.
"I surely wouldn't annoy you, would I?" he took her chin and looked at her with puppy eyes. Amu blushed slightly and tried to create some distance, but shortly after, Aaron's fist landed on Nagi's head. He let go of Amu and held his head. "Ouch! What was that for?" he whined, looking at his boss.
"I warned you, kid."
"You don't have to be so rough.." he rubbed his head and pouted, crossing his arms.
"It's about time someone put you in your place, wannabe Casanova," Aaron grinned, looking down at Nagihiko.
"I'm not a wannabe Casanova.." the purple-haired man sighed but was distracted by laughter. Amu couldn't help but laugh at the two men. They glanced at each other briefly, looking surprised, but then also started laughing. The black-haired girl enjoyed the atmosphere in the inn very much; it was relaxed and mostly fun.
Yoru hadn't spent much time watching Amu while she was at the inn lately, as he was busy exploring all the magic sensors for Ikuto. Besides, he felt that she was safe and well looked after there. When he finally found a way that should ensure Ikuto's safe movement, he immediately shared it with him. He also shared a meeting point with him, as he found it safer for Ikuto to follow him rather than walk alone through the city, as Yoru had definitely burned into his memory which route was safe and which was not. He didn't have to wait long outside the walls before a familiar aura stood before him. He tilted his head slightly at the sight that greeted him. For a moment, he wasn't sure if it was really Ikuto, but upon closer inspection, he could still make out his face. "I'm not sure if I like brown on you."
"Don't have to like it, just has to work," Ikuto shrugged.
"I wouldn't claim that. If Amu finds you absolutely unattractive, you won't get any closer to her." The cat turned around and began to show the way, and Ikuto followed quietly.
The inn had been open for a few hours now, and Nagihiko decided for the first time in a few days to work in his female form, which made Amu a little unsure because as a man, he kept the weird guys away from her, but maybe nobody would be interested in her next to Nadeshiko anyway. When Ikuto finally entered the inn, 'Nadeshiko' was just teasing Amu again and pulled her close to him, then hugged her from behind.
"We have to work, what does that look like" Amu tried to free herself from his clutches, but was immediately tickled as punishment and couldn't help but laugh.
"Stop it," she mouthed while continuing to laugh and had at least managed to turn around to look at him. "I'll counter in a minute"
"Go ahead" he stuck his tongue out at her and deliberately held her just tight enough so that she couldn't get away but could still move her arms freely. When Amu tried to tickle him, he just looked at her with amusement and confidence, as he was only ticklish in a few places. The current black-haired girl pulled a quick pout, but didn't give up so easily and eventually figured out that his neck was one of the few places. He tried to keep his laughter in check though.
"I'm not letting go of you anyway"
"Guys, clientele. Don't neglect the work" Aaron finally interrupted the two and pointed at the brown-haired Ikuto.
"Sorry!" Amu continued to apologize in a laughing voice, even though she wasn't even to blame.
\\By the way, that girl there is a guy\\\ Yoru mentally informed his master. He stayed in his usual place to not be associated with Ikuto.
\\Why am I only finding out about this now? \\You could clearly see that he was annoyed and didn't like it at all.
\\I also saw them together like this for the first time, I was out the last few days when she was here.\\
Ikuto sighed in annoyance at the realization that he now not only had to fight Tadase, but also the guy who was already far too close to her.
Amu finally disengaged from Nagihiko and approached the new guest to lead him to the table. "Sorry for keeping you waiting," she apologized politely, bowing and offering him the menu to order. Ikuto ordered a glass of liquor without much hesitation, reluctantly, as he rarely drank alcohol, but it was something he could quickly consume since it was only a small amount. Amu nodded and went to the counter to fill the glass and then placed it on the table with a friendly smile. Just as she turned around, she heard the word 'server' behind her. She turned and saw the brown-haired man, to whom she had just served the glass less than 10 seconds ago, holding the glass up and smiling confidently at her. She raised an eyebrow and went back to him. "Yes?"
"I'll have another one, please," he said, looking deep into her eyes and maintaining his grin. Amu sighed at the thought of having another drunkard here soon but accepted the glass and went to get a new one. Nagihiko observed the whole thing skeptically and, while maintaining eye contact with Ikuto, pulled Amu closer by her waist with one arm to whisper in her ear. "He's definitely going to be pushy. Let me know if I should take over." He also noticed Ikuto's disapproving glances, so he took Amu's chin and first looked deeply into her eyes and then at her lips. His breath quickened for a moment, but ultimately he regained control and let her go. Amu noticed the glances and the breath and briefly looked down before giggling softly and gently kissing him on the cheek, then quickly moving on with the next glass to the guest. She often forgot her actual life in his presence, and when she realized this again, she sighed inwardly. She shouldn't be doing such things, and she had to be very careful to keep her feelings in check and not accidentally fall in love with Nagihiko.
Nagi looked perplexed and held his cheek with a gentle smile. "You know, that looks a bit odd to outsiders, doesn't it?" Aaron stood next to 'Nadeshiko' now and put an arm around him, pulling him closer so only the two of them could hear what he said. "After all, you're currently two girls. Your teasing earlier could still be seen as friends teasing each other, but the kiss on the cheek?" Nagi shrugged; he didn't care what others thought. "Brings in more customers, old man," he said confidently, returning to work. Aaron wasn't actually that old, but it had become a kind of joke between them over time. Initially, he used to get annoyed every time Nagihiko called him that.
The black-haired girl placed the second glass on the table for Ikuto and smiled again, even though she couldn't understand or particularly tolerate people who drank so much alcohol. "You and your girlfriend seem very close. You're not into guys, are you?" With this question, he stopped her from turning away immediately and leaving.
"Um... no, we're just friends, besides, I have a fiancé," she emphasized that it was a man. "Besides, it's none of your business; I'm sorry if that seems rude to you." Ikuto grinned and looked at Nagihiko again, then back at Amu. "Did you tell her too? Even a blind man can see that she's in love with you." With these words, the black-haired girl turned to the person in question. Nagihiko noticed her gaze and smiled cheerfully at her with his head slightly tilted.
"Of course, she knows."
"You like her, don't you?"
"What? No!"
"Lying is rude," Ikuto grinned cockily.
"That's still none of your business!" Amu couldn't believe how this stranger dared to interfere so much.
"I have to say, I don't like how popular you are," he sighed, resting his face on his right hand.
Amu blinked several times in disbelief and shook her head before turning wordlessly. What did this guy think of himself to speak like that? Again, she didn't get far because immediately after turning around, the voice of this brown-haired man sounded again. Amu pursed her lips and turned around, only to see the glass in the air again. "Another one, yes?"
The brown-haired man nodded, grinning. Of course, he didn't miss the opportunity to talk to her with each new glass she brought to the table.
"You know, I hate to disappoint you, but you won't belong to either her or your fiancé; I just won't accept it." With these words, he let his blue eyes appear for a brief moment. The girl was about to reprimand him when she noticed the eyes and suddenly remembered the ball. "You?..."
Ikuto held his glass in his hand and waved it slightly while looking at it; his eyes were already brown again. "Are you some kind of perverted obsessed freak?" she had a pretty emotionless yet cool expression. "Who knows," he grinned and drank the glass in one gulp. "If you didn't always run away, I wouldn't have to drink so much of this stuff." He already noticed that he was starting to drink too much; after all, he had downed every glass and was not particularly enduring with alcohol due to lack of practice.
"Well, then you have a lot ahead of you," she stuck out her tongue at him and walked away with the empty glass, but before she left, she said, "Yeah, yeah, I know, another one." Behind the counter, Nagihiko asked if they should switch. Amu glanced briefly at the table where Ikuto was sitting and then sighed, declining, even though she couldn't explain to herself why.
This time, she placed the glass in front of him and sat opposite him. "What do you want? I don't even know you, why do you keep talking about me belonging to you?"
"Because it's true."
Amu's right eye twitched annoyed for a moment, but she immediately regained her composure and sighed.
"You just unfortunately don't remember.." Since he was already a bit drunk, he no longer paid attention to everything he said, as this statement would only make him look crazy in her eyes and would therefore have been better left unspoken.
"Oh, I see. Well then. I should really be worried about my safety. How did you even know who I am and that I'm here? Are you stalking me?" she narrowed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows.
"I would recognize your eyes anywhere, no matter how much you change your appearance." The crown princess sighed and stood up again, considering it pointless to talk to this guy, only to be handed an empty glass again shortly afterwards and then to bring a new one. The game repeated itself quite often in a few minutes, as Amu no longer reacted to his statements and immediately left every time until Ikuto was lying on the table with his upper body and looked quite exhausted. Only now did she sit down with him again, maybe now he would finally speak the truth.
He slowly reached out his hand to hers and held it while looking at her with his head on the table. Nagihiko noticed the situation and joined them. He was about to admonish him not to touch the waitress, but Amu sent him away with an 'It's okay.'
"Are you maybe talkative now?" she smiled a little and looked down at him.
"I wish I had married you earlier.." Ikuto could hardly organize his thoughts and feelings anymore and just felt weak in general. He hated alcohol.
The girl shook her head and sighed at the realization that now only more nonsense than before was bubbling out of this guy.
"Why do I remember everything and you remember nothing... that's unfair.." he continued with a pitiful voice and closed his eyes.
"You really mean all this, don't you..?"
"Of course.." his voice was soft and weak, he was too tired.
She took a deep breath and silently watched him for a few moments. She couldn't deny that his touches gave her a strangely familiar feeling. "Who are you anyway?"
"I can't tell you yet.."
"And I'm supposed to trust you like this?"
"I'm sorry..." his grip on her hand tightened a little.
"I'm sorry too that you have to endure all this, I wish I could get you out earlier.." he had barely spoken when his thoughts were pierced by a sharp \\Ikuto!!\\. He couldn't have known about it without Yoru, and he shouldn't have brought it up.
"How do you know about that..." her gaze became colder and gloomier, and she looked down at the table.
Ikuto pulled himself together and, with great effort, managed to get up from the table so he wasn't lying on it anymore. Once again, she only got the answer that he couldn't tell her yet. She hated this answer.
"Amu, I know.." he was immediately interrupted by her, as she pressed a finger to his lips. "Akane..." she whispered softly, hoping no one could hear him.
Ikuto smiled a little and sighed. "I know you always believe in the good in everyone, but you're wrong about him. Please, give up this love.." he noticed piercing looks at himself and briefly looked over at 'Nadeshiko', then turned away with a bitter smile and sighed. "I know, you're unconsciously already giving up on your love for Tadase, but please.. even if he's nice and okay, please don't.." Of course, she had noticed the looks and immediately knew what he was referring to. "So you know that too? That 'she' is a man?"
"His movements around you are easy to see through." This was not entirely untrue; although he knew about it thanks to Yoru, Nagi was definitely handling Amu like a man.
"Why not, if he's okay?" she looked a little annoyed and condescendingly at Ikuto. She couldn't stand that he constantly took it upon himself to make such remarks. It was her life and her feelings.
"Because I love you, and I couldn't bear to lose you after finally winning you over for myself. Why do I always have to fight, Akane? Why am I always the one who has to painstakingly win your favor?" he clenched his free hand into a fist and looked pained at the table.
"I... I don't know what to say... I don't understand where you're getting all this from..." she felt the sadness and pain emanating from him. He was telling the truth, even though she couldn't understand how that was possible. Ikuto finally stood up, swaying slowly around the table before gently taking Amu's chin. Their eyes met, and even though Amu immediately remembered the last time and instinctively pulled back a bit, their lips met again. He poured all his emotions into this kiss before collapsing, caught by Amu. "Why do you drink so much, if you can't handle it..." she breathed deeply and slid a bit to the side so she could place his lower body on the bench and only had to hold onto his upper body.
"I have to get closer to you somehow," he chuckled softly with an ironic undertone.
Nagihiko clenched his fists at the sight but calmed himself with a few deliberate breaths. Akane seemed too calm; she didn't seem bothered, so she would probably just send him away if he intervened now.
"Could you... could you maybe refrain from treating me like an object that belongs to you? Maybe I don't want to be kissed by you," she murmured a bit annoyed, looking down at the brunet's head, still in her arms.
To her dismay, she received no answer and only felt his arms wrap around her waist as she heard his soft, steady breathing. He had fallen asleep.
Nagihiko finally approached and placed a glass on the table. "Wake him up and let him drink, it should help pretty quickly in his condition." his whole aura was cooler than usual. "How is it that he seems to be able to do whatever he wants, but you were afraid of me just because I touched your chin?"
Amu briefly looked down silently, a bit overwhelmed by what she should answer. "I've met him before certain events... I've only started reacting like this to touches recently..." the truth was probably the easiest.
"I... I want to be able to do that too... I'm trying so hard to respect your boundaries, and he just does whatever he wants..." he hesitantly pressed quietly from his lips. Only now did her words echo in his head so he could process them. "What happened? Is it still happening?" the boy's face filled with sadness and concern, but also with incredible anger towards this person who apparently did something terrible to her.
"No, no, everything's fine." she had resigned herself to her fate and duties, and even though it still often hurt, and she still wished it would happen at least lovingly, it became less and less severe for her over time. Her feelings dulled. She glanced briefly at Ikuto, and his words once again flew through her thoughts. Was he really right about Tadase?
Finally, she laughed a little despairingly. "You're all terrible... Why do you play with my feelings like this? I'm engaged, I was sure of my feelings, and then both of you show up and play ping pong with them." How was she supposed to choose between them? For as long as she could remember, she loved Tadase, but he treated her terribly most of the time, although he had his good moments, and she still wanted to hold onto and believe in those good moments. But then there was Ikuto, who just naturally felt like a part of her soul, and Nagihiko also made her stomach flutter, and she felt free and unburdened with him. "And because of you, I feel like I'm betraying my fiancé all the time. I'm a bad person..." she murmured with a sigh, running her fingers through Ikuto's hair.
"If he does that to you, he doesn't deserve you..."
"Oh, don't jump to conclusions," she smiled and waved it off.
"Amu, I love you... so much... I don't want to see you suffer..." Her eyes widened as she heard her name, but even with his words, she felt her face warm and her heart race. This was the second declaration of love today, but she didn't have such a reaction with Ikuto. Was that her answer? She sighed and admitted to herself that it was probably because she didn't want to believe him most of the time and denied it. "How...?"
"You're almost in the news every day. Your eyes and your face are quite distinctive. Not many are as beautiful as you. You've been engaged for ages, hiding it won't do any good, little one." Amu looked down and sighed. "It's not his fault, his parents put him under so much pressure..."
"Do you really want to keep telling yourself that?" The girl remained silent.
"There are also moments when he's incredibly sweet and romantic... I firmly believe that's the real Tadase." She placed her hand against her heart and smiled gently.
"And yet you admitted earlier that you feel something for him," he pointed at Ikuto, "and me." He looked at her and took a step closer, growing more nervous. "Please..." he looked at her lips and swallowed.
Amu sighed, and a small part of her wished she had never left her room, then she wouldn't have met the stranger and Nagihiko. "We've only known each other for a few days, why? Aren't you letting yourself get carried away a little?" Nagi bit his lip and sighed. "You radiate a unique kindness. You're incredibly cute, and your heart is incredibly good. And deep inside you, there's a very cheerful, energetic girl hidden. You just captivate people. It overwhelms you without warning like a huge wave." he hoped she would quickly forget this ridiculous thought that he was just being carried away with this explanation. He had never fallen in love so quickly before, but he just couldn't help it.
She took a deep breath and didn't even understand herself what she was about to do. In contrast to Nagi's words, she felt like a terrible person; she was betraying Tadase, willfully, and in a weird twisted way, even Ikuto, who was still sleeping in her arms. "Do it..."
"Are you really sure? I respect your decision. I just want you to be happy." The words and the accompanying restraint cost him an incredible amount of effort and self-control, but as soon as Amu nodded, he let go of all of it and leaned in towards her face, first gently and then passionately kissing her. Amu closed her eyes and wrapped one of her arms around his neck. An uncontrollable tear ran down her cheek, which immediately made Nagi stop. "I'm sorry..."
"No, it's okay. I just don't see what you describe at all. I'm a cheater, a cheat..." she looked down and wiped away more tears.
"I... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."
Amu shook her head. "No, you're not to blame. I wanted to, and I don't regret it; I just regret my character." She smiled gently and once again placed her hand over her heart, which secretly was jumping for joy and couldn't calm down at all. Finally, she turned Ikuto over and lifted him slightly higher. "I don't think I can wake him up," she laughed a little. She still felt bad for allowing it, while he was directly on her lap, but she knew Nagihiko longer and better than him. She didn't even know his name. She reached for the glass, and when Nagihiko realized what her plan was, he grabbed the glass, made a denying gesture with his finger, grinned, and finally took it into his mouth to administer it to the sleeping one. Amu looked at him bewildered and horrified. Nagihiko couldn't answer her, as his lips, very much against his will, were otherwise engaged.
The more Ikuto swallowed of the substance, the more awake he slowly became until he noticed that he was being indirectly kissed by a lilac-haired 'girl' through this infusion. He immediately jerked up and panickedly wiped his mouth. "Eww, why..." he complained and scooted further back, which essentially brought him closer to Amu, albeit unintentionally this time. Nagihiko spoke in his cutest voice. "But that's hurtful, I always thought I was pretty," 'she' pouted artificially and made a cute face. "He knows it..." Amu held her hand over her mouth to suppress and hide her laughter.
"Oh? That explains the looks," he grinned and now used his normal voice.
"What... was that?" Ikuto still looked like a beaten dog. "Somehow, I had to get you awake again. We're the last ones in here by now."
"But..."
"Nope, Amu is mine, she wouldn't do that." Nagihiko interrupted Ikuto immediately, as he already suspected where he was going with this, and stuck his tongue out at him.
For once, Amu decided to join in on this silly behavior and wrapped her arms around Ikuto's neck, resting her head on his shoulder since she was still sitting behind him. "Do you think so?"
"B-but Amu..." now Nagihiko looked like a beaten dog, and Ikuto had regained his confident grin.
"Listen, you two. This has to stop. Yes, I think there's something in me that belongs to both of you, but I don't want to become that kind of person. I'm in a relationship, and I want to work on that. Can't we just be friends?" Nagihiko crossed his arms and looked at her with an expression that said, 'Are you serious?' "You know, you can decide on that street mutt over there if you want, but this engagement will be dissolved." He was looking down on Ikuto while sharing this.
"Who are you calling a street mutt?!" Nagi stuck his tongue out at him and didn't engage further.
"Well, if the street mutt is good enough, she can't be that important to you. I would never just give her up," countered Ikuto, placing his hands on Amu's arms, which still encircled him.
"That's the difference between us. I love her so much that I put her happiness above mine." Nagihiko shrugged. These words made Ikuto quiet, and he looked down. He had always had in mind that he would win her back, that he wouldn't give her up. Was this guy's love really greater and purer than his?
"We'll see who she chooses..." there was no guarantee that she would ever remember what he had been assuming all along. Without this fact, he was acting really selfishly. If she remembered, she would surely choose him, but maybe that would never happen.
"Helloooo?! For Tadase?! Does anyone ever listen to me?" Amu whimpered and felt at that moment as if she weren't even present for the two.
However, Ikuto and Nagihiko immediately reacted in unison. "No way."
"Yeah... but...that.. you have no say in this! Seriously..."
"I'll destroy the entire kingdom if necessary; you won't marry that man." Ikuto's voice sounded as serious and threatening as ever. "I'm happy to help out." Nagi and Ikuto nodded at each other and, for once, didn't seem like archenemies.
Amu sighed and looked around the room until her eyes rested on a clock. "Oh damn, I have to go!" she jumped up, causing Ikuto to fall backward onto the bench and bump his head, then he held it. "Ow..."
"Right, you don't have much time left; we lost track of time..." Nagihiko murmured with a sigh.
"But I'll make it! See you tomorrow, Nagi," she smiled brightly at him. "And what about me...?" Ikuto whined, now sitting upright again and still holding his head.
She gave him a kiss on the cheek and headed for the door. "Now you're almost even," she stuck her tongue out at the two and made her way home. Yoru sighed and followed her. He gave Ikuto a shake of his head as he passed by.
"What does she mean by 'almost even'?" Ikuto muttered, looking at Nagi skeptically.
"Since we both got a kiss on the cheek today, and both kissed her, well, that's probably what she means..." he made a pensive gesture with his hand on his face.
"You got what?"
"She allowed it! Unlike your move!"
"She said almost. I'm still ahead of you."
"But she told me to do it, that evens it out," Nagi grinned contentedly. Ikuto crossed his arms and inwardly berated himself for never having received permission or instruction from her. But he also didn't know that Nagihiko had begged a little. Finally, he put the money for the evening on the table and also made his way home; he didn't have much time left before his transformation would give out.