Tide Between Two Worlds

This Is Not A Date

       "A date," Kuronue shouted on the way to school, "You asked her out on a date?!" He was informed of yesterday's activities by Shuichi and couldn't believe the response. His best friend is on the verge of dating.

       Meanwhile, Shuichi wasn't too keen on the idea, "I was sorely convinced she'd say no. Then again, I wasn't too serious when I asked. I wouldn't say it's a date exactly. I had no idea what came over me. It just...slipped?"

       "Dude, you simply asked Ikeda if you could spend some time with her this weekend. That's a date, bro."

       "It's not a date," Shuichi insisted, "Besides, she had some...stipulations."

       "Stipulations. Ugh, what is up with these girls and their rules? Like yesterday. You followed Ikeda's rules and that still wasn't enough. Now there's more? What are the stipulations?"

       "Well...that's where you come in."

       "Eh? Me?"

       "Due to my faux pas yesterday, I'm afraid she's lost some trust in me. Thanks for telling her by the way. Playing the instigator role in that regard should not become you. Long story short, she won't go out with me unless we make it a group thing so..."

       "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...whoa...whoa. Number one, you were the dumbass who lied in the first place. So this isn't a date, number two. Three, if we do this, how is it going to work out?"

Inside the school, Kiyoni delivered her spiel to her friend and teammate, Mei. The girls are in different classrooms but Mei met up with Kiyoni in the girls bathroom to talk and make some adjustments. The former shuffled through her partially damp, pink, pixie cut hair, applied and adjusted her darkened, bob-cut wig for school, crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes over what she just heard.

       "So let me get this straight. You need me to go with you on a double date with Minamino...and Misaki?!"

       "I know, I know. It's ridiculous..." Kiyoni assured, "but there is absolutely no way I'm going on a...date with Minamino alone. He has to earn my trust from me."

       "Trust? What did he do?"

       "He lied to my face when I asked him about a dream he had, knowing that that's kinda my thing...with him."

       "And you think hanging with a jerk like Misaki will do the trick? Kiyoni, what were you thinking? Do you not know how dates work?"

       "First, I will not in any way consider this a date, okay? Second, that's where you come in. Look, my plan is this. If things...go wrong, you or I can come up with a stupid excuse to get away and then...get away. We can be each other's scapegoats! Mei, please? Please? I don't want to do this alone. Please, please, please?"

Mei was in total disbelief. She was happy for Kiyoni and her budding love life. That was a good thing. The bad thing was the conditions involved.

       "I'll say this, Ikeda," she declared, "If for any reason, any reason this doesn't work out–"

       "Deal," Kiyoni agreed, "You have a deal. Any reason, we'll leave. Is this a yes?"

       "Yeah, yeah," Kuronue answered, "That is if Ikeda can find someone to go with her. What's the plan?"

       "I was thinking of the local aquarium," Shuichi answered, "She suggested the activity center down the street."

       "Mushiyori Fun World?! I'm in! Laser tag, giant trampolines, arcades galore, go-kart racing. I'm in. I'm so in. Wait, what brought this up? [Gasp] You do like her! You like her, you like her!"