First Sight

10: Her

Izumi sat there in a daze, while Melissa was going on rambling about her work recently. 

'That blind date is tonight... I haven't gone on a date in a long time. Does this mean I have to find something nice to wear?' 

"Izumi? Izumi!" 

The greenette snapped her head and saw the blonde looking at her. 

"Are you okay? You look really tired recently? Everything okay with the house issue?" Melissa asked. 

"So far it's fine... but I've been thinking of something else..." Izumi said, rubbing her neck. 

"Something else, is it your new novel that's already bothering you?" 

"No... it's- um..." 

"What is it?" 

Izumi felt embarrassed just asking for help to get ready for a blind date.

"I- um... I've got a blind date..." Izumi mumbled feeling like it was a crime to talk about. Melissa batted her eyes a few times and then jumped up from her seat. 

"A blind date?!?! When is it?!?" 

"I-It's tonight... My mom set it up for me." Izumi said, feeling ashamed just talking about this. 

"Hey, why do you look so down?" 

"Because... I need that time to work since I'm financially in trouble. Hah- why does it have to be so expensive for treatment?" Izumi said, resting her head on the table. 

"Treatment, is your mom okay?" 

"Not really... and she has an expensive treatment... I'm gonna be broke if I don't find another job." Izumi moaned. 

"What about your next novel? You said you had a new idea, so what is it?" Melissa asked. 

"I'll let you know officially once I work on it... I gotta go do something before I go back to work, I'll see you later, Melissa." Izumi said, getting up from the table and leaving the blonde alone. 

'I hope she's okay, I haven't seen her look this defeated since Uncle Might's passing.'

"Izumi, surprised to see you wanting to talk to me, what's wrong?" Iris said, putting down the papers she was reading. 

"Hah- I'm in a bit of a fumble." Izumi said, adjusting her glasses. 

"Fumble? Like what?" 

"I've got... a blind date tonight... and I don't have any clothes for it..." Izumi said, trying not to look at the bluenette. 

"A blind date? When's the last time you went on one of those?" 

"I've never really gone on any kind of date for the past 7 years... so now I need help..." Izumi said, rubbing her arm nervously. The bluenette noticed how distressed Izumi looked and knew this would be the prefect time to help the greenette out.

"Hmph, you don't need to ask for help from me. I've been looking forward to this day actually." Iris said, getting up from her desk. 

"What do you mean by that?" Izumi asked, getting curious. 

"After seeing how you looked at the banquet, I collected a few other options for dates that would come eventually." Iris said. Iris headed to the door closest to her desk and opened it to reveal it was practically a closet! 

"Why do you have a closet at work?" 

"This isn't just any ordinary closet, dear Izumi. This is a room specifically designed for any kind of event situation. And blind dates are an important option." Iris said proudly.