TᕼE ᗰOᑎᔕTEᖇ IᑎᔕIᗪE [1]

a night of chicken leads to blushing and something amazing

it's been two days since the internship started, and i've already learned quite a bit from backdraft. he's been nothing but kind so far, and so has the rest of the fire department, aside from those who are just naturally prickly people. venom sometimes mutters about how he'd rather be interning from a battle hero, but i'm determined that it's better for me to be a rescue hero.

getting off work was relieving, because jirou and i have taken to talking to each other as often as possible, and i smile when i see her name on the screen as soon as i open my phone.

jirou<3: you off yet? how was your day?

me: i'm off now, and my day was fine. how was yours?

jirou<3: eh. didn't do much today. hey, i was thinking about something during break

me: what were you thinking about

jirou<3: i think it's time i called in that date you owe me

i stopped walking momentarily as i stared at my phone, rubbing my eyes to see if i was seeing things

holy shit. i think she means it, dumbass, it's right there

"shush!" i quietly say, moving to sit on a bench to concentrate on what i'm typing.

me: wait seriously??? you were serious???

jirou<3: of course i was. where should i pick you up?

me: uh, how about we meet up at that one fried chicken restaurant over on xxx in hosu? i've heard their chicken is really good

jirou<3: sounds good to me. see you soon, sasaki-chan

you've got a date, you've got a date

"quiet! she's probably only doing this so that i won't have to worry about being indebted to her anymore for helping us."

well, considering she stares at you almost as much as you stare at her, i'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say that she's got the fucking hots for you

"you don't have to say it like that!"

it's not like anyone else can hear me talk shit, dumbass

"i can't with you, sometimes."

likewise

we travel home, so i can get changed into more comfortable clothes and put my costume case away, and i grin in excitement. this is my first date! and with such a cute girl!

wait.

since when did i get this lucky?

venom slithers back to me after i leave my room, reentering my body as i contemplate when and why everything started to feel calm and go right for once.

"something bad is gonna happen soon. nothing good happens to us without something bad coming after sooner or later."

or maybe, for once, the universe has decided to do us a solid and give us some peace and quiet. whatever the fuck is going on, ignore everything and just go on your date

"you're being oddly supportive," i stare, raising an eyebrow at the floating head of the symbiote, who turns to me with an unamused look.

i'm just fucking tired of you always being so pessimistic all the damn time. it's annoying as fuck and i just wanna enjoy life without having to worry about your problems

i shake my head at him as i grab my necessities and put them in a small off the shoulder bag, opening and locking the front door behind me as i leave to head out.

"you goin somewhere, kiddo?" i hear a familiar voice call out, and i quietly groan. my neighbors suck ass.

"yes, tatsuo-san, i'm heading out and i don't have much time to talk, so have a nice day!" i try to brush him off, but the man is persistent and comes closer as i try to leave. he stares me down, and i almost start to shake at the intensity, but he backs off with a sigh, and i bolt out of there.

"now we just have to get there..."

after a couple of train rides later, i finally get to the restaurant, but i don't see jirou anywhere. either she isn't here yet, is waiting inside, or didn't show up. hopefully, it's one of the formers.

"sasaki-chan!" a voice exclaims to my right, and i snap my head to the side eagerly to see jirou jogging over, a small but noticeable smile on her face.

"let's head inside, shall we?" with that, we walk in, getting escorted to a table after a short wait, and chat as we look over the menus.

"i'm glad we could meet up to do this. i've been trying to ask you for a while, but i've never really gotten the courage to ask you out even though we kind of already planned this last time we ate together," she starts off, and i nod with a small blush. i swear to god, i'm literally going to fucking die by the end of this.

"yeah, i was excited we got to do this, too. i don't really meet up with people a lot, and even then, it's with people i've known for a long time," i continue, and she nods in understanding. the waiter comes over and we order quickly, going back to talking as we wait.

jirou is an avid fan of a lot of types of music, and plays a lot of different instruments do to her interest in all the different types. she's also a lot shyer than she's shown me to be, because when i asked her about what she likes or her hobbies, she got really embarrassed and stuff.

once the food came back, we didn't really talk, considering we were trying to eat the delicious chicken, and it wasn't until after the meal and the bill was paid that the conversation really resumed.

"that was really fun. just talking and getting to know each other, you know?" i state, and she smiles brightly at me, making me blush and making my heart clench. this girl is doing unhealthy things to me, but i love it.

"this was really fun. i hope we get to do it again. but, um, sasaki-chan..?"

"yeah?"

"if you want, and this is totally up to you, you can call me by my first name... i just, we're getting really close now, and i know we kind of just started this whole thing, but i really really like you, and i'm totally fine with taking it slow, but i'd like to give us a try, if you're okay with it? you don't have to, i'm sorry if i made you uncomfortable with this, it's just-."

i cut her off by putting a finger against her lips, effectively quieting her, and i smile at her as i feel my face heat up.

fucking say yes, bitch

"you can call me by my first name, too, kyoka-chan. i really really like you, and as long as you're fine with it, i'm alright with us giving us a try."

a wide grin spreads on her face, her cheeks red with merriment and i can't help but grin along with her.

"yes! i'm totally fine with it! i'm more than fine with it! yes!" she exclaims happily, laughing brightly and causing me to chuckle at her.

kyoka takes hold of my hand, twining our fingers together and i try to hide my blush behind my other hand.

she chuckles cutely.

"you're too cute, rin-chan."