Perfect Catch

-26-

Yuto hummed happily as he placed the picture of him and Yuya on his desk. It was a simple picture of the two of them arriving into the train station on the first day of their vacation. Simple and perfect. "So that's the lucky guy huh?" Yuto looked to see the delivery guy, Crow smirking. "Must say, you guys look good together."

Yuto couldn't help but laugh. "Jealous, are we?" He questioned taking his seat.

"Well actually," Crow blushed.

"Seriously?" Yuto asked. He wasn't able to believe that Crow had met someone. As Crow usually just worked and then went straight home, Yuto didn't think Crow put time aside to actually try to meet someone. "What she like? Are you seeing her again?"

"Okay chill," Crow laughed. "I bumped into her yesterday and took her for hot drink because I may, or may not, have splashed her when I drove through a puddle."

Yuto lost it. He couldn't help but allow the laugh he was holding in to escape his lips. By far, it was one of the funniest ways to meet someone he had heard. It was almost a bad romance manga. "So, did you get her number?" He took deep breathes, calming himself as he asked the question. The look on Crow's face said it all. He had forgotten to get the number of the first human he showed any interest in. "Well better look next time."

"This is why you're nicknamed 'bird brain'," Came Shay's voice.

"Like you're getting any!" Crow yelled grabbing Shay by the collar.

"I am actually," That's when Crow put him down and he and Yuto stared in shock. Who could Shay possibly be dating without them, or even Lulu, knowing. "Don't look surprised!"

A cough interrupted the fighting. The three of them stood still as Declan entered the room, his face as serious as ever. "If you don't mind," He began, his voice low. "I would appreciate you be quiet today as we have visitors in the building." with that said Declan pushed up his glasses and his employees nodded. "Now Crow, I have some materials that need delivering to the aquarium today, can I entrust you with this task?"

"Yes Mr Akaba," Crow stuttered nervously as Declan handed over the delivery report before leaving. "Well seems I get a second chance." Crow grinned as he held the report tightly.

Shay just raised an eyebrow. "Meaning what shorty?" He asked rudely.

"The girl I met said she worked at the aquarium," Crow explained. "Perhaps I can 'bump' into her and give her my number."

Before the other two had a chance to speak, Crow was out of sight. "You don't think," Yuto started.

"It's going to be Emi, isn't it?" Shay laughed placing a hand on Yuto's shoulder.

---

The aquarium was fairly business for a weekday, children and parents lining up at the ticket office. Crow looked, seeing a poster for a new toddler friendly exhibition opening today. That would explain all the parents. Back to the task at hand, while yes, a part of the plan is to deliver the parcel, but it also involves getting Emi's number this time too. "Good morning everyone," Crow looked back to the line, Emi stood at the front with a boquet of balloons in each hand. "Whose ready to have some fun today?"

The children cheered as Emi went along the queue handing out balloons with another member of staff. Crow was memorised at her smile. So pure, so bright, he couldn't help but blush. "Okay everyone, I'm going to leave you with Micky who will lead you to the new area today," Emi bowed, waving as she walked away. Such professionalism. Emi jumped slightly as she noticed Crow in his delivery boys uniform holding a large parcel. "Can I help you?"

"Mr Akaba said you were expecting this," Crow laughed re-adjusting the weight of the parcel in his hands. "Are you able to show me where it needs to go?"

"Of course," Emi smiled, using her hand to gesture for Crow to follow her. Which like a puppy dog, he happily did. Emi led him to the back-room office, currently no one was around, which suited Crow so we he could try and get her number. "If you can place it on the cabinets that would be great. Say, I didn't know you worked for Declan."

"I've been there part time delivery boy since I started college," Crow explained placing the box down and getting the paperwork out of his bag for Emi to sign. The pair decided to sit down at the round table opposite, while the paperwork was completed. Okay Crow, just ask her, Crow tried to prepare himself mentally. "Um Emi, I was wondering-"

Crow stopped midway through his sentence, starting to lose the courage. "Are you okay?" Emi sounded worried, her face also showing it. "You don't look very well."

Crow shuck his head, then came up with an idea. "Well now that you mention it," He began, "Guess I have a bit of love sickness." As cheesy as the line is, it got Emi to laugh.

"Oh my, who's the lucky girl?" Crow couldn't believe it, he just tried to explain his feelings in the cheesiest way possible and yet somehow, Emi was oblivious.

"Um Emi," Crow began nervously. "Thing is, I'm trying to ask you out."

The atmosphere dropped at that point. Mermaids didn't really understand the concept of dating. Once you had found someone you connected with, that was it. You never really asked another mermaid out, you just kind of lived together. "I've - I've never been on a date before," Emi stuttered adverting her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Please, don't be sorry," Crow said. "I'm the one who brought it up suddenly. Besides, I haven't dated either but I would like to go out with you. If you want to, that is."

Emi thought for a moment, what do humans do on dates? This would be a good chance to learn about human interactions while also pursuing a sort of romantic- wait! She couldn't possibly be thinking of romance. As the thoughts ran through her head her face deepened in colour. "If you don't want to it's okay," Crow got up to leave but, in a panic, Emi grabbed his arm. What was she doing? Is there something off with her pendant that's making her human side stronger?

"I would like to go," Emi managed to speak after a couple of minutes.

"Really?" Crow smiled widely. He grabbed hold of both of Emi's hands. "I promise, I'll make it fun. What do you like to do?"

That was a hard question to answer for Emi, seeing as she didn't have much social life as a human, she didn't go out much. "Why don't you surprise me?" She tried to pass off the subject.

"Okay," Crow said digging into his pockets and handing Emi a piece of paper. "This is my number. Just drop me a message when you're free. I promise that you'll have fun."

With that Crow left leaving a stunned Emi in the office alone. What had she agreed to? More importantly, why couldn't she wait?
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A/n - author promise there's some good counterpartshipping smut next chapter to make up for the lack of it in these previous chapters - which I hope you enjoyed, some future chapters will also include a little bit of the side couple Declan and Shay too (if you would like smut of these two, happy to obliged just let me know)