"-and that's why I'm here in Kamakura," she said while sipping on her coffee.
She lowered her cup and gently placed it on a ceramic plate, promptly grabbing a packet of sugar sitting on the right side of the table.
As she mixed the sugar with a spoon, it periodically hit against the sides of the cup, emitting a soft clattering, a sound which, in this empty café, resounded quite loudly.
Now as to what she was talking about… well… I don't really know.
I hadn't been paying much attention to the conversation going on before me and instead, my mind was still hung up on what happened with Tomiko.
'It's Kido! It's always been Kido!'
The words of Tomiko… or I should say Kido, lingered in my head.
After my encounter with her, I wasn't able to get a wink of sleep and instead I spent all night racking my brain, combing through every single memory I had as a kid, trying to recall anything that would give me a clue as to where we had met.
Elementary school? No it couldn't be, her name never popped up in the yearbook.
The park? Unlikely, someone as pretty as her would've definitely left an impression.
No exchange students either. Just Kei, Nakai and the usual lineup of classmates.
That only leaves…
One option remained. A ridiculous possibility which I couldn't disregard as much as I wanted to because unfortunately, it could explain why I seemingly don't remember her.
Did Kido… use to dress up as a boy…?
It's a crazy and embarrassing thought to even consider.
However it's also pretty on-brand with this world's whole trope ordeal and its goal to make my life as tedious as possible…
Seriously, would six-year-old me really make that kind of promise to another kid?!
No, probably not, there must have been some kind of mistake... right?
God, I just hope the next time we meet she doesn't tell me that her father is a gangster or that she has a mysterious key that can unlock a necklace.
"So," she spoke once again, momentarily snapping me out of my daydreaming.
"Are you fine knowing that…?" she asked while averting her eyes.
Uh… crap.
I wasn't sure what she was referring to, so after taking a sip from my choccy milk, I simply nodded along.
"I see… I'm relieved," she replied with a soft smile.
Still don't know what she's talking about.
Anyways, I now find myself in a rather strange dilemma.
On the one hand, I drove Kido away. Which meant she wouldn't approach me anymore and as such, no more bothersome cliches to deal with.
On the other hand… I had unintentionally done so, and furthermore, it was at the expense of her feelings, which left a sour taste in my mouth, it honestly felt like I had dumped her or something.
Sigh, I guess this is what you would call suffering from success.
Honestly, this would've been a whole lot easier to digest if I simply hated her… or if she hadn't made such a sorrowful expression as she ran away. But she did. And now I get to carry that with me.
In the end I'm left with two choices. Make up with Kido… or live on with being the human equivalent of discarded gum.
Not the most attractive of choices, especially because both options come with their downsides, but those are the cards I was handed.
Now would patching things up with Kido be counterproductive? Yes, yes it would.
Could I live with myself if I don't patch things up? Debatable.
I guess it really comes down to whether I want to-
"Are you listening?" she exclaimed with an eyebrow raised.
I stopped mid-sip to look at the girl sitting in front of me. My chocolate milk had gone lukewarm, and I had nodded about three seconds too late.
"You aren't listening at all are you?" she asked, finally snapping out of my thoughts for good.
Across from me, and with an unimpressed gaze, sat a girl who could've walked off a magazine cover.
Pink, cotton-candy hair. Big, suspicious star-like eyes. An outfit that screamed 'fashion chic' and the same girl who mistook me for a pervert a couple of days ago and knocked me out. Seo Misaki.
Although to be fair, she did see me in my underwear.
"I'm listening…" I mumbled, avoiding eye contact while stirring my cup.
"Hmm, is that so?"
Misaki stared at me without saying a word. It was almost as if she was trying to read my mind and gauge my expression.
But after a couple of seconds she let out a brief scoff.
You wouldn't…" she continued, "happen to be thinking of another girl while you're with me… right?"
Alright… maybe she is a mind reader…
Her eyes seemed even sharper now, as if scanning for any subtle movement that would give away what I was thinking and confirm her suspicions and soon enough a mischievous smile formed on Misaki's lips.
"Hmmm~ So you are thinking of another girl, and no less while you're on a date Naoki-kun"
"I uh…"
Misaki leaned forward, resting her chin on her folded hands.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Naoki-kun. You're quite the playboy, aren't you?" she said in a playful and mockful tone.
That again?! Do I really give that impression?
"I'm not a playboy alright? I just had some stuff to think about…"
"Oh? Like another girl? I don't know about you but thinking about another girl while on a date seems like a pretty typical playboy move to me Naoki." She said with a slight grin.
"That's…"
Damn it… she's completely right…
"How mean of you," she interrupted while rubbing her eyes and wiping away her nonexistent tears, "Here I am inviting you to a nice café and giving you the time of my day only for my pure intentions to be reciprocated with indifference, and not to mention, for you to be thinking about a completely different woman."
I couldn't help but avert my eyes.
This girl is completely playing with me like a fiddle.
Misaki noticing that I was taken aback, seized the opportunity and immediately leaned close.
"So Naoki," She began to whisper, "how are you going to make it up to me?"
I immediately pulled away, and once again I was reminded that despite this girl's innocent demeanor, she was not to be trifled with.
"Ha… Is there something you want?" I replied with hesitation and caution.
"Hmmm let me think…"
I'll just go along with it for now, I just hope she doesn't request something outrageous…
Noticing my troubled expression, Misaki began to giggle.
"Too easy…" said before leaning back into her seat.
"You're too nice for your own good sometimes Naoki, you know people will take advantage of you right?" she said with a smile.
Too nice for my own good huh… if only she knew.
"Are you one of those people?"
"Maybe, maybe not. I guess you'll just have to get to know me better if you want to find out, and if I had to say, I guess there is something I want."
Misaki proceeded to give a cunning smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
Her personality wasn't the only thing that threw me off, but also her very way of doing things.
When she first asked me out, I was pretty excited especially because of the fact she is quite stunning. But that excitement died down pretty quick when I was forced to text an old man for the location of the date.
Not only that, but when he gave me an address that led to a hidden café, tucked behind what looked like a retired futon shop, with no signs, no music and no people, I was almost certain I was being lured into an organ-harvesting scheme.
Fortunately, Misaki was waiting outside in that hella-drip outfit that probably cost more than my monthly allowance.
As for me? I looked like a sea urchin someone stepped on in comparison.
My first thought upon seeing her was to wonder if she was an actual model doing some promo work for a high-end fashion brand or something.
After all, she had that sort of vibe, and heck, even Tanaka, the old man I had to text seemed like the manager type. The way he spoke, how formal he was… it all made a little too much sense.
"If you're going to ask me for a favor related to your modeling work then I'm afraid I'm going to have to refuse."
"Modeling?"
Her expression flickered just for a second, then she settled into an amused smile.
"Was I way off…? I was pretty convinced you were like a magazine model or something…"
"You seem to have a lot of preconceived notions of me Naoki-Kun," she said looking at me like a cat who had just found a fun ball of yarn to play with. "I wonder what else you've assumed about me."
She's lowkey scary…
"Sorry, I didn't mean to jump to conclusions, and if it means anything, you are a pretty hard person to predict."
"Is that meant to be a compliment?"
Way to go me…
"I didn't mean it in a bad way," I responded, "What I meant is that with the way you carry yourself, you just give off that sort of feeling."
"Hmm?" What sort of feeling are you referring to?" she asked with curiosity.
"Well… mature and fashionable? Like those people you see walking around in Harajuku district that only go to aesthetic places."
She gave a light laugh and looked around. "I'm flattered, and I do suppose this place also fits the aesthetic criteria, don't you think?"
I followed her gaze.
The café we were in was quiet, with just Misaki, me, and an old lady tending to the counter.
The place itself had wood tones, warm lights, soft jazz, plants decorations everywhere and a tv hanged up in a corner of the room playing news. Definitely a hidden gem tucked away in a secluded part of this neighborhood.
"Yeah," I said. "It's actually, really nice."
"Mhm." She nodded and then looked reminiscently outside the window. "I do have an impeccable taste when it comes to choosing places. Places like these help me stop thinking so much."
Thinking huh…
She had a point. I'd also been drowning in my own thoughts all week and a place like this? It was a refreshing change of pace to say the least.
"You probably get what I mean right? Work, people. Those kinds of thoughts," she continued with a thin smile.
Her expression made it clear that she had someone or something in mind as she said that.
I guess even someone like Misaki had her own fair share of problems. At least in that aspect we were similar.
"I guess you're also a fellow connoisseur of tranquility." I replied half-jokingly trying to brighten up the mood.
Misaki let out a small scoff.
She looked at me again, but this time with a thoughtful smug look. "Say mister connoisseur, for someone who seems to value peace so highly, you seem like the type to always be involved in some sort of trouble… especially girl trouble"
I let out an awkward laugh.
God this girl is insanely perceptive.
"Right in the mark, is it?" She said with a proud smile.
"Listen, in my defense, I don't go out looking for trouble, okay? Rather, trouble comes looking for me." I responded way too seriously.
Misaki laughed at my response, "What are you John Wick? No wait, maybe it's more like that superhero guy, what's his name? Pace something? Pacemaker?"
"You mean Peacemaker?"
"Yeah him!" she said snapping her fingers.
Playing along with her comment I raised my hands to my face like a mask, "I cherish peace with all my heart. I don't care how many men, women, and children I need to kill to get it."
She snorted, trying to hold back her laughter, "Is that supposed to be you're impression of him?"
"Pretty good right?"
"Pretty silly I'd say." She grinned.
"Heh well if you think that's silly…" I cleared my throat and launched the worst Batman impression mankind has ever seen.
That broke her. She doubled over giggling, wiping her eyes. "You're such an idiot."
But she was smiling the whole time. And for a moment, the heavy thoughts gnawing at me finally let go.
"You're actually a pretty funny guy huh? Is this why you're so popular with the ladies?" she teased once again with a grin.
If only she knew most of my interactions usually end up with a slap to the face.
"I'm just messing with you," she continued, doing a soft punch to my chest, "After all, nobody in their right mind goes out of their way to look for trouble."
She took another quick sip from her cup, "I also know better than anyone else that when trouble comes, you don't have much say in it and you just deal with it."
Her expression seemed sorrowful just for a moment as she said that.
Crap, what am I supposed to say in these types of situations again?
"You uh… you alright?" I asked with hesitation.
Misaki let out another scoff, "Why do you sound so serious?"
"Oh, sorry, you just seemed to have something in your mind." I replied.
"Heh~ so you're not only a joker but also attentive. Such a lady killer Naoki."
Misaki took another sip from her cup.
"It's no big deal, seriously. Just job stuff and whatnot. I mean my job isn't the easiest when it comes to dealing with people, but what job is?"
I raised an eyebrow. "In what sense do you deal with people?"
"The sense where you always have to smile. Where people expect you to be a certain way, no matter how you're actually feeling."
As Misaki said that she didn't sound bitter or sad, just tired.
Ohhh now I see, so she works in retail.
I nodded along, having heard of the struggles and horrors of working in retail, "Sounds rough."
"You get used to it," she said. "But some days it's like... everyone's wearing a mask. And they expect you to wear yours tighter than everyone else's."
Is… is that what retail is like…?
"Why don't you just quit?" I asked, maybe too bluntly.
Misaki seemed surprised by my suggestion, "Quit? You can't be serious right?"
"I mean why not? If it makes you this upset, why keep doing it?"
"That's…" she hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh, "It's not the job itself that I hate… rather the people... they're the exhausting part."
"And from what you've told me, that interaction is an inevitable part of the job."
She looked out the window again, realizing it was true.
"You make it sound easy, but it's a lot more complicated than that… I'd… be letting a lot of people down… and besides quitting would feel like I was running away from my problems."
"Running away's still running. Backwards, forward, either way, you're still moving." I continued, and as I said those words, a brief image of my old high school came to mind. "Sometimes, that's better than standing still and getting stomped on."
Misaki's gaze drifted toward her reflection in her cup.
She then let out a soft laugh, but there was no smile behind it.
"That's… surprisingly philosophical of you."
"Even a broken clock's right twice a day." I replied.
She shook her head, amused. "You're a pretty weird guy, Naoki."
"And yet you keep talking to me."
"Tch. Guess I like broken clocks." She replied in defeat.
Misaki took a deep breath, and in one swift motion, she stood up, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt.
"I'm going to the bathroom real quick. Don't run off while I'm gone, okay?" she said as she pointed at me.
"I'll try to contain my urge to flee." I replied sarcastically.
She smiled and walked off.
Running away from problems she says…?
I leaned back, staring at the café ceiling.
I questioned if my suggestion to quit was even appropriate. Somehow, it felt like I was just trying to justify myself to her unknowingly.
Maybe I should refrain from giving advice from now on. I thought to myself.
As I waited for Misaki to come back, the faint sound of the TV behind me caught my attention.
"Now on to our main story tonight."
I turned to look and on the screen was one of those celebrity news gossip channels that like to focus on dating scandals.
You know stuff like cheating allegations or infighting among an idol group. Things that people often make a bigger deal out of than they need to be.
I personally don't get what the fuss is all about, but I guess people just love to be nosey about other's lives.
Soon the news anchor transitioned into a new topic, and a large subtext appeared below her which read: [Starlight Symphony on halt after unexpected cease of activities.]
The news anchor, a lady in glasses began to speak, "Starlight Symphony, a rising talent idol group, who has recently garnered a lot of popularity has found itself in the spotlight once again, but this time in a sea of rumors, as their sudden raise in popularity was cut short by an unexpected halt in their activities."
Idols huh?
I was never really interested in the whole idol scene, but for some odd reason, a sense of discomfort grew within me as I watched on.
"The agency in charge of the group hasn't given any official statements regarding their sudden hiatus, however many people have begun to speculate that one of their key members, lead singer Lumi, has taken a leave of absence. These rumors come about after many fans have claimed sightings of her on Kamakura beach."
Huh. Kamakura, what a weird coincidence.
I do remember seeing a large crowd of people forming on the beach on my first day of school. Maybe that was her?
"However these are not the only rumors circulating these days. Insiders suggest disagreements among the group's core members may have contributed to that decision. While no details are confirmed, some close to the matter describe Lumi's sudden disappearance and the friction between the members as a major catalyst for the hiatus."
Disappearance? Friction?
Those two words seemed to stick out to me for some odd reason, but I couldn't exactly piece together why.
Regardless, it was surprising to hear that an idol could be in the vicinity.
Well Idols are people too, a break from dealing with all those people is probably necessary once in a while. I thought to myself as I continued staring at the tv.
Even someone like Misaki who exudes a confident demeanor also agrees that dealing with people can be a huge nuisance. Not that I can blame her, sometimes disappearing seems like the only option. That's probably why that night she was all by herself on the beach.
My cup clattered loudly against the plate it was on.
Wait a second. That night… on the beach… Misaki was… singing...
Wait.
No way.
I glanced in the direction Misaki had gone. The feeling of discomfort from before grew stronger.
Kamakura beach? Confident personality? A fashion sense out of this world? People problems? A great singer? AND extremely cute?!?!
I blinked rapidly.
No. Nope. I'm overthinking this.
Hahaha.
Hahahaha.
There's no way.
I shook my head.
Totally just a coincidence. Couldn't possibly be... her.
…Right?
Just then, I heard footsteps.
Misaki returned, brushing her hair behind her ear and looking refreshed.
She caught me staring and tilted her head.
"What's with that face?" she asked, grinning. "See a ghost or something?"
I slowly set my cup down.
I could see a red flag being hoisted on top of her head.
...I'm cooked.