ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

The Aftermath of the Ask

Izuko's POV

Saturday couldn't come soon enough. My heart raced at the thought of going out with Sarah. I spent the whole week overthinking every little detail—what to wear, what to say, and most importantly, how to act cool around her without completely losing my mind.

I settled on a casual but cute outfit, a floral sundress paired with a denim jacket. It felt right, and I hoped it would make me look confident. I had Nya help me pick it out, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Just be yourself, Izu!" she had said, grinning like she was on cloud nine. "Sarah already likes you, so you don't have to try too hard."

Easy for her to say. I just hoped I wouldn't trip over my own feet when I saw Sarah.

Nya's POV

As Izuko rushed around her room, putting on the final touches, I couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement. "You look amazing!" I exclaimed, giving her a thumbs-up.

"Thanks! I just hope I don't embarrass myself," she replied, biting her lip nervously.

"You won't! Just focus on having fun. You've got this!" I encouraged, pushing her towards the door. "Now go and get your girl!"

Sarah's POV

I had been looking forward to our date all week. When I walked into the café, I spotted Izuko right away, her hair blowing softly in the breeze as she stood by the entrance. She looked absolutely stunning, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Hey! You look amazing!" I said, trying to play it cool as I approached her.

Izuko's cheeks turned a shade of pink that made my heart flutter even more. "Thanks! You look great too!"

The moment felt electric, and I hoped we could keep this lighthearted and fun.

Izuko's POV

"Okay, let's get some snacks!" I said, trying to ease the butterflies dancing in my stomach. We walked inside, scanning the menu together.

"Any idea what you want?" Sarah asked, leaning slightly closer, her deep eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Um, I think I'll get a smoothie and maybe some pastries?" I replied, trying not to sound too excited.

"Good choice! I'm getting a hot chocolate," she smiled, and I couldn't help but smile back.

After ordering, we found a cozy spot by the window, sunlight pouring in and casting a warm glow over our table.

Sarah's POV

As we sat down, I couldn't shake the feeling of excitement. "So, how's your week been?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"Pretty good! Nya and I have been working on a new art project, and it's been a lot of fun," Izuko replied, her eyes lighting up.

"Sounds awesome! I'd love to see it sometime," I said, genuinely interested. I could feel the connection growing, but I wanted to dive a little deeper.

"What about you? What's been keeping you busy?" she asked, tilting her head in that adorable way that made my heart race.

"Oh, you know, just the usual—schoolwork, practicing for our next performance," I replied, not wanting to bore her with my routine. "But mostly just waiting for today," I added, hoping to gauge her reaction.

Her cheeks flushed, and I couldn't help but find it endearing. "Yeah, me too. I was really looking forward to this," she admitted, her voice a little shy.

Izuko's POV

As the conversation flowed, I felt the tension of the week melt away. I was having fun, and Sarah's laughter was infectious. But then, I saw Natasha walk in, her presence instantly dimming the mood.

"Great, just what I needed," I whispered under my breath.

"Everything okay?" Sarah asked, noticing my sudden change in demeanor.

"Uh, yeah. Just... not a big fan of Natasha," I admitted, glancing toward her. She spotted us and strutted over, that signature smirk plastered on her face.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the lovebirds," Natasha said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sarah's POV

"Seriously?" I shot back, feeling my protective instincts kick in. "What do you want, Natasha?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to see how the date's going. Izuko, I'm surprised you even had the guts to ask Sarah out," she sneered, crossing her arms.

"Maybe I have guts," Izuko replied, surprising me with her boldness. "Just because you don't understand how to connect with people doesn't mean I can't."

Natasha's expression faltered, and I could see the surprise flicker across her face. "Touché, Izuko," she said, her voice a little less confident.

Izuko's POV

I felt a surge of confidence, buoyed by Sarah's presence. "So, if you don't mind, we were having a date. If you could just go away, that would be great."

Natasha glared, but I held my ground. "I'm not scared of you. I'm done letting you push me around."

"Fine, enjoy your little date," Natasha said, rolling her eyes as she turned to leave.

Once she was gone, I turned back to Sarah, who looked impressed. "That was amazing!" she said, her eyes wide with admiration.

"I'm tired of her nonsense. I've got my own life to live," I said, feeling more empowered than I had in a long time.

Sarah's POV

I smiled, feeling a warmth bloom in my chest. "I'm proud of you, Izuko. Seriously. You handled that so well."

"Thanks," she said, a shy smile crossing her face. The moment felt electric, and I could see the spark between us grow even brighter.

"Now, where were we?" I asked, leaning in closer as we both relaxed into the moment.

As we chatted and laughed, I felt a sense of connection deepen between us, something stronger than just friendship.