Randomness [2]

Part of a Oneshot

Here's, um, part of a oneshot that I'm currently writing. Or maybe it'll be the first part of a two-shot thing? I'm not sure to be honest. The word count at the bottom was in my draft just to separate that section in case I wanted to split the whole thing in half (it's already longer than I expected). Why am I posting this? I guess I just wanted to know if it was decent so far, and maybe to prove that I'm still writing something. I may post the entire thing on A03, but I may also post the whole thing here, so... I dunno. Either way, here's a preview, for the few of you all reading this.

Shuichi Saihara: The Ultimate Seducer

"Shuichi!"

"What?"

"You aren't even looking at me?"

"Sorry."

Shuichi marked his place in his book and closed it to look up at his friend, Kaede. She was standing above him as he lounged comfortably on the couch. "Now, what did you want?"

"Look, I mean this in the kindest way possible, but..." Kaede looked over to the side with a nervous smile on her face. "You're kind of... lame."

Shuichi looked up at her with a slightly disheartened expression. "W-What do you mean by that?"

The girl jumped back a bit and put her hands up. "Ah, sorry! I didn't want you to feel about it! It's just that, well... You don't do much. Aside from the stuff that you do for your job, all I ever see you do is read. The only way that you get out of the house is if either Kaito or I drag you out!"

Shuichi just looked back down, staring at the book in his hands. "Well... What's so wrong with that?" He started to draw shapes and patterns on the book's cover with his index finger, feeling the smooth texture.

"Not to mention that you're so old and you still manage to be single!"

Shuichi looked back up at Kaede, who was now pouting at him and crossing her arms. "Oh come on, I'm not that old... I'm only 25. I have plenty of time to get someone before it's too late."

"It's never too early to try, though! Besides, you need someone besides me and Kaito to talk to."

"I have other friends, you know..."

"Sure, but that's not what we're talking about." She smiled widely and balled her hands into fists, looking down at him with a determined glint in her eye. "That's it! My mission is to get you... a girlfriend!!!"

Shuichi cringed. He thought about multiple times in the past where Kaede had set him up on blind dates that he was never warned about up until that evening. They always ended on an awkward note. The poor guy hoped that Kaede would have learned her lesson at this point, that it was no point in helping him in the field of romance.

But no, here she goes again... he groaned mentally.

"You may be cringing now," Kaede spoke, cutting off his thoughts, "but I'm going to turn you into a love machine! Girls will be all over you in no time, Shuichi!"

Shuichi let out a sigh and gave her an exasperated smile. "I thought you remembered the last times you tried to help me? Besides, I'd feel almost like a player if I had so many girls... falling for me." He had to force himself to say the last part. Someone falling for him? Let alone a pretty and nice girl? Ha, yeah right.

"W-Well, this time will be different! I swear!" She suddenly grabbed a book out from nowhere and shoved it in Shuichi's face. "See? I've studied the art of seduction for a while now, and now I feel that I'm finally qualified to help you!"

Shuichi stayed silent for a while before curling in on himself and hiding his head. He let out a muffled grunt.

"So let's take this away--!" Kaede suddenly pulled the book out of Shuichi's hands, causing him to flinch and immediately look up. "And now this is what you should be reading! There's no escaping it this time. I will help you to get a hot girlfriend!" She winked at him before leaving the room.