Limitless

Chapter 22: "A Date?"

Thank you for the 800+ reads, everyone!

Just ask Maki about why she was quiet about her birthday. That's simple enough on paper. It would still be simple if it weren't for two things. One is that Maki was a telekinetic and could easily break all the bones in his body. Two, she was a trained assassin, so even if she didn't have her powers, she'd probably hurt him anyway. He felt like he was walking on extremely thin ice over the deepest part of a lake. Kaito reached the basement, expecting Maki to still be in her room. However, she was now sitting on the couch, too far in her book to even notice Kaito coming back downstairs. Kaito still couldn't wrap his head around as to why she kept her birthday a secret, but there had to be a reason behind it.

"Hey, mind if I sit there?" Kaito asked as he approached Maki. Maki glanced up at him silently, before her eyes went back to her book and shuffled over a little more to make more room for Kaito. Kaito smiled a little sheepishly and sat down next to her. After a full minute of contemplating and awkward silence, he finally decided to just say it out right. "Why didn't you say it was your birthday on Tuesday?" Maki looked at him sharply, looking very surprised. Judging by the look on her face, she assumed that he might have just taken a guess.

"Who told you?" She asked, keeping her voice steady.

"Keebo. I asked him, so if you're going to hurt someone, hurt me." Kaito answered, feeling nervous as Maki glared up at the door. After a few seconds, Maki stopped glaring and was about to continue reading her book as if nothing happened. Kaito gently took the book from her, wanting to try to have a conversation with her about this. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't say it was my birthday because I don't see the point in it." Maki sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to avoid this topic no matter what she did. "Besides, my birthdays consisted of people forgetting that it's my birthday, being forced to take care of young children and pain from training and the experiments." Now everything made sense. In all honesty, Kaito had almost forgotten what had happened to Maki before she fell victim to being at the Facility. He remembered that no one was allowed to celebrate their birthdays or Christmas or any other holiday season that Kaito could think of. He wouldn't be too surprised if some of the others forgot how old they are or when their birthdays are. They were never given a chance to be happy in that Hell. The fact that they are out now gives them a chance to be themselves again. Maki was only denying herself that chance because of what had happened in the past. The way that she spoke made it sound like she grew up too quick without being a chance to be a kid. She was turning eighteen now. This was a milestone for any teenager. It was something that should be celebrated immensely. The one thing that Kaito wants from her is to see her be Maki. A normal girl with a normal life, without having to think about her powers. After all that she had been through, Maki deserves that much.

"I think that you should get out of this basement for your birthday. Ever since we got here, you haven't been out much. You've barely been upstairs even or spoke to the others." Kaito announced after thinking over a couple of things.

"No one wants to talk to me other than you and Saihara." Maki argued, remembering long ago how she had tried to speak to the others when they first came to the Facility. Talking to kids just like her and trying to make a friend was all that she wanted. However, when the staff told the others what Maki was, they got scared of her and wouldn't even acknowledge her at times. That's when Maki gave up trying, reminding herself that a monster doesn't deserve to have friends.

"Even so, you've got to try to talk to the others." Kaito gently encouraged. Maki didn't look convinced. "And you honestly need to get out and try to have some fun. I haven't seen you have fun yet. You haven't-I haven't even seen you smile or laugh yet." It's true. Aside from going up to get something to eat or drink or to use the bathroom, Maki had rarely stepped out of the basement, let alone outside in the fresh air.

"To be honest, with how my life was, I don't think that I even know how to laugh or smile, let alone how to have fun." Maki muttered, gently taking the book back from Kaito and opened the page that she was reading. Again, reality hit Kaito. He remembered how Maki recounted how her childhood had been taken away from her cruelly. The assassins got the ultimate weapon that they had wanted, but what did Maki get? Painful reminders that all she was is the weapon that they wanted. And when the Facility "rescued" her, all Maki got was being locked away like an animal that couldn't be tamed.

"That's why, we're gonna do something outside this place that will be fun for you." Kaito declared, standing up and looking down at Maki with a wide smile. Enough was enough. Kaito was going to convince Maki that she was human, no matter how many times people drilled into her that she wasn't. Maki looked up at him again, a little surprised, but doubtful at the same time. "One hour. Just one hour. If you aren't happy, we can come back." An hour? Would that be enough? It'll have to be if Maki agreed to this. Maki contemplated this for a moment. An hour? That's all that Kaito was asking for? The offer is enticing, and Kaito did say that if Maki wasn't happy with this arrangement then she can back out early. It was like, aside from the location that they would be at, Kaito was letting her control everything else. He was making an effort to make her as comfortable as possible on the day. Maybe...maybe one hour won't hurt much.

"Fine. One hour." Maki sighed in defeat, getting the feeling that Kaito won't stop asking until she agreed to this. The way that he was asking her reminded her of the kids back at her orphanage. Whenever they got the chance to, they would latch onto her and beg her to play with them. When she said no, or tried to, they would keep begging until she agreed. How annoying....

"Alright! It's a date then!" Kaito smiled, happy with this victory.

"A date?" Maki repeated with a raised eyebrow. Kaito felt his face go red hot as he realised what he had said without knowing. Apparently his mouth was faster than his brain at that moment.

"D-d-did I say "date"?! I meant...uh...it's a date for us to have fun...as friends! Not...you know...as a couple. That'd be a bit weird." Kaito stammered over his words, trying to prevent himself from going further into this hole he suddenly dug for himself. Why did he say that word?!

"Yeah..." Maki said, a little awkwardly.

"I'm gonna go and find somewhere for us to hang out! See ya later!" Kaito suddenly said, deciding that it was best to retreat for now. Maki watched as he left. He didn't run, he flew up the stairs. With how fast he left, he may as well have gotten some of Ryoma's speed. As he closed the door and Maki heard him leave, she could help but suddenly feel a little bit of heat rising in her cheeks. Why was she blushing? She had no reason to. She could just be embarrassed herself after what Kaito had said was processed again through her mind. Maki shook it off and went back to reading. Or at least she was trying to. She didn't know why, but she kept finding herself being distracted by the thought of her birthday. She never really put any thought into it until now. She never really saw it as a time for her to have fun. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had a birthday present or cake. Kaito really wants to make an effort to make her happy. He wants to make sure that she knows that this day was all about her. Something that no one has ever done for her before.

Kaito Momota. He really was something else.

A quick author's note: I will be going on a small hiatus for a few days, a week at most. There are chapters that I plan to publish on particular days, some of them are planned to be published all in one day (I think you guys can probably figure out what I mean by that).

Hope you are all staying safe and hope you have a nice day (or night depending where you are) 💜