ᴀᴅᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ‣ ʳᵉᵒ ᵐⁱᵏᵃᵍᵉ ˣ ᶠᵉᵐ!ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

03

Another awkward situation. You had unknowingly agreed to go to a cafe with Kira after school. It was obvious he was trying to shoot his shot but none of that mattered to you. The thought of a hit and run occured to you one too many times.

Reo Mikage was the only guy who you were interested in. And speaking of him, you received a message earlier on telling you that he'd be absent for a while longer and to not worry about him.

"That was nice, want me to walk you home?" Giving you another one of his unnerving smiles, the two of you stepped out of the cafe.

"It's fine, I can handle myself." You rejected his offer.

"I see, that's fine then. Maybe another time!" He answered as happy as ever.

No. There's no next time. Stay away from me Kira Ryosuke. I don't like you. Especially that smile of yours, it's creepy. Stop trying to hang out with me, stop dropping hints. I see them and I don't care. I'm not interested in you. Leave me alone. We just met, I barely know who you are and yet you're already trying to walk into my life. Please stop it.

After waving a goodbye, you walked back home. Thoughts still running wildly through your head. You really wanted him to stop disturbing you, leave you alone. But he's friends with reo, and I have to be nice to him so reo will like me.

You stared wordlessly at the arcade, heart filling with regret. Despite hating kira, you still forced yourself to hang out with and entertain him. Because he's reo's friend, you'd tell yourself.

If it'll make Reo like you then you'd do it. If it means he'll spend time with you and give you his attention, you're okay with it. Anything to make Reo like you, anything to make this arranged marriage feel better.

"Here, you can have my tickets." Kira handed you his stack.

"oh, thanks..." Your eyes were devoid of any emotion as you plastered a fake smile.

Honestly with the way he was clinging to you and acting all mushy for you was making you sick. His eyes always light up when you come into his view, he'd follow you around like a lost puppy until you paid him attention. You wanted to throw up, stab yourself, jump off a cliff...

"Kira, actually... i'm not feeling very well. Can we do this another time?" You grabbed hold of the boy's attention, not wanting to spend more time with him.

"Huh, what's wrong?" He questioned.

You looked fine just a moment ago so he didn't understand your sudden change in demeanour.

"Nothing, I just don't feel well." You hung your head low, hoping that Kira would just let you go.

"oh how about we sit down for a while, huh? at least until you feel a little bit better."

No. What is wrong with you. I just want to go home, not sit down for a bit and then continue playing with you.

Shaking your head you spoke, "sorry, I don't feel like staying here... It's too crowded."

"Oh fine then, come on let's go."

Although you weren't to happy that Kira had to send you home, it was good enough. As long as you could be alone in the comfort of your bedroom instead of his presence was already more than enough.

You had part ways with him under your apartment building, refusing to let him walk you up just because you didn't want him to know where you stayed.

Putting on netflix, the sound of your microwave popcorn popping could be heard from the kitchen. You kicked a leg on top of the other, debating on what to watch.

Munching on the salted popcorn, the sun has set and your room was lit a warm orange. You had ended up watching Howls moving castle, it was one of your favourites.

You weren't quite sure how but Kira Ryusuke had somehow got your number and had been bombarding your phone with messages for the past five minutes. It was mainly him asking how you were feeling and trying to rearrange your little arcade adventure.

You blocked and deleted his number.

It was honestly annoying how he kept taking you out to eat or have fun. Although he hadn't asked you to go on a date, it was pretty obvious what he was aiming at. Truthfully you would have thought Reo had already told him about the arranged marriage, but with the way kira kept coming back to you...

— NAGI —

"sorry..." I mumbled to the lady I bumped into while playing my game.

It had been two days since Reo came to school, he told me he was busy with the family business but was welcome to drop by anytime.

I was getting bored alone at school, there was no one to play soccer with... or copy homework from... Such a hassle.

"Y/n! You're here, I thought you'd stay at home today!"

hm, that voice sounded familiar... ah it's the kira guy. I remember reo talking to him before, i think he's on the soccer team too.

Closing my game, I watched as Kira approached a surprised y/n. It was none of my business, but I felt kinda bad for her.

Reo mentioned that the two of them were to get married in a year or so for their parents mutual benefit. Weird, kira was exceptionally close to her. Does reo know this? I don't think he'd be happy to know that one of his friends was getting comfortable with his girl.

I should probably tell him...

"Kira," I caught up to the boy before he could approach her. "do you have a minute?"

"Oh Nagi, sorry I was actually going to ask y/n to eat lunch together... maybe another time." He shook me off

Eh...

They were even eating lunch together...

"Kira." I tried again, stopping him in his tracks.

"... yes?" I think he's annoyed.

"You do know y/n is out of bounds for you right?" Surely reo would have told him.

"huh? what do you mean?" oh. maybe reo didn't tell him.

"...you can't date her."

"yeah I can? What's your problem?" Funny.

It's probably because there was no one else in the classroom that he's speaking this way. If I thought hard enough, I think I remember moments where he'd quietly glare at people when no one was looking. Or mumble curses at others under his breath.

"...well reo wouldn't appreciate it..."

"Reo reo reo, is that all you know to say? Seriously get off my back already. If reo had a problem with me going after her he'd say something."

Ah, was that a glare? Yeah looks like one.

"Ne, reo..." I rolled over on his bed to face his direction.

"hm?" His table was messy, papers everywhere...

"You know kira is getting pretty close to y/n these days, are you going to do something about it?" I questioned.

It wasn't like me to stick my nose into other peoples business but if it was Reo, i'd try.

"...no, i'm sure y/n can deal with him on her own." Maybe I was just tired but there was a moment of hesitation in the way he answered.

"oh, you trust her that much huh."

— 30 March 2023 —