Objective: Have fun.
Parameters: Unknown.
Success conditions: Undefined.
Failure conditions: Embarrassment? Social rejection? Fatal misunderstanding?
Saito Kagami stared at his phone, rereading the group message Riko had sent the night before:
[Kumijo Riko]: Meet at 11AM. East Mall Station. Dress comfy. Don't be late, Kagami or I will find you. 🔪❤️
He took that emoji combination… literally.
Which is why he was now standing outside the station at 10:45AM, wearing his cleanest casual clothes (neutral hoodie, dark jeans, white sneakers — statistically unremarkable) and mentally preparing for what was, to him, a diplomatic mission into uncharted territory.
He checked his reflection in a vending machine.
Expression: neutral.
Posture: correct.
Emotional state: …strange.
He was nervous.
But also… something else.
Curious?
"Yo! Kagami!"
Saito turned.
Riko waved as she jogged up with two girls and a guy following behind her.
She wore a cropped jacket and a flowy skirt. A simple look, but it suited her in a way that made his brain stop for half a second.
"You're early!" she said, stopping in front of him with a grin. "Color me shocked."
"You threatened me with a knife emoji."
"Effective, wasn't it?"
The guy behind her chuckled. "You're Kagami, huh?"
He had short black hair, glasses, and a loud voice.
"I'm Shun. This is Kana and Mari."
The two girls smiled — Kana with a friendly wave, Mari with a subtle nod and sharp eyes.
"Hi~ You're taller than I imagined," Mari said.
"Didn't think Serious-face-kun would show," Kanai added, elbowing Riko.
"I stopped calling him that," Riko replied, smugly.
Noted. Saito stored that detail.
Location One: Mall plaza.
"Alright," Shun said, arms stretched wide, "where to first?"
"Food court," Mari said.
"Arcade," Kana said.
"Purikaaaaaa~" Riko sang.
"Too many choices," Saito muttered.
He was trying to map the flow of this social cluster. There were no ranks. No rules. Everyone just… acted.
This is chaos.
They ended up getting snacks first.
Saito, who had never voluntarily eaten mall takoyaki before, bit into one and nearly burned his tongue. Riko noticed and handed him her drink without comment.
"Thanks."
"No problem, Serious—Kagami."
He blinked.
The rest of the group exchanged glances.
Kana leaned toward Riko with a whisper that was not quiet enough.
"Wait, are you calling him by name now?"
"Shhh!"
Location Two: Purikura booth.
Saito didn't know what "Purikura" was until he was dragged bodily into the glowing pink machine.
"SMILE, KAGAMI!"
"Why."
"BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FACE AND WE NEED IT TO EMOTE."
He blinked as the flash went off.
The photos that came out featured Saito looking like a confused ghost while the others struck cute poses around him.
Riko burst out laughing.
"Oh my god, you look like someone took your soul."
"They did. Through photography."
Location Three: Clothing shop.
Somehow, he got roped into giving an opinion on skirts.
"Be honest," Mari said, holding up two hangers. "Black or plaid?"
Saito blinked.
"…Is there a difference in fabric quality?"
"Wrong answer."
Mari handed him a shirt and shoved him toward the changing room.
"This would look good on you. Go try it."
"…Why?"
"Because you have no fashion sense."
He complied without argument.
When he stepped out, the group stared.
Even Riko went quiet.
"…Okay," she said slowly. "That—actually kinda works?"
"I look the same."
"Nope. That shirt's doing things."
Saito looked down.
It was a dark green button-up.
He filed that under: acceptable future use.
Location Four: Arcade.
This was where the chaos truly began.
Shun challenged Saito to a rhythm game. Saito, never one to refuse a test of reflex, accepted.
Riko cheered them on. The two girls watched like judges at a competition.
Saito crushed Shun by 130,000 points.
The entire machine lit up with rainbow letters spelling "S-RANK".
"WHAT THE HELL," Shun shouted.
"I counted the beats in advance," Saito replied, completely straight-faced.
"You're not human."
"I'm efficient."
"Same thing," Mari muttered.
After that, Riko pulled him toward a claw machine.
"I want that penguin," she said, pointing.
Saito examined the interior angles, calculated the claw strength, and retrieved it in one try.
Riko stared at him.
"Do you just… always succeed?"
"No. I've failed socially many times."
"That's… wow, I can't tell if that's humble or tragic."
He handed her the plush.
She blinked.
"…You're not keeping it?"
"You claimed it."
She held it to her chest and smiled.
"Okay. Maybe you are a little fun."
Location Five: Karaoke.
This was the final boss, as far as Saito was concerned.
He had never entered a karaoke booth.
He had certainly never sung in public.
"You've got to go," Kana said, shoving the mic toward him.
"No."
"Come onnn," Shun added. "Don't be a coward!"
"I'm not scared. I simply lack experience."
"That's even worse."
Riko leaned forward with a wicked grin.
"…Please."
He took the mic.
Selected a song.
Everyone braced for disaster.
Then—
He opened his mouth.
And sang.
It wasn't just good.
It was stupidly good.
Smooth. Controlled. Rich and steady with zero sign of stage fright.
Riko's jaw dropped.
Mari slowly turned to Shun.
"…Is he even real???"
Kana had both hands on her cheeks. "I didn't know he had a voice like that!"
When the song ended, Saito set the mic down and adjusted his sleeves like nothing happened.
"Passable?"
Everyone stared.
Riko looked at him, eyes unreadable.
"You've been hiding that this whole time?"
"I did Opera when I was younger."
"Okay, you're officially banned from being good at more things."
"Is that a rule?"
"Yes."
He blinked.
It was nearly evening by the time they left the mall.
Sunset lit the streets in soft pinks and oranges. Everyone said their goodbyes at the train crossing, and the group began to split off.
Saito started walking down the hill toward the station—
Until he heard footsteps beside him.
Riko.
"…You're heading to Okamura line too?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Huh. Me too."
They walked in silence for a bit.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… quieter now.
The buzz of the day had faded into a gentle hum.
They reached the platform. Saito stood near the bench while Riko leaned against the railing.
She was hugging the penguin plush.
"…Today was fun," she said softly.
Saito looked at her.
She wasn't grinning. She wasn't teasing.
Just… sincere.
He thought for a moment.
Then replied, "Yes."
She laughed lightly.
"That's it? Just 'yes'?"
"I believe I achieved the objective."
"What, of having fun?"
He nodded once. "Mission: accomplished."
Riko tilted her head.
"You're weird."
"I know."
"But…"
She smiled.
"I'm really glad you came."
He didn't know how to respond.
But he didn't have to.
The train arrived. They boarded, side by side.
And as they sat together in the quiet car, the city lights blinking outside the window, Saito Kagami felt something shift.
Not logically.
Not predictably.
Just… quietly.
Day 22
Mission: Have Fun
Status: Complete
Results: Unexpected.
Desire to repeat: …yes.