Chapter Text
Kotone was sitting in class, chatting with her friends, exchanging ideas to try to come up with a solution to a rising issue. It felt strange for the leader of SEES to be troubled about something unrelated to Shadows, Tartarus or saving the world as we know it. This was, for once, a normal highschool girl problem.
Ever since her very first day of school, Kotone had very quickly become popular. Her looks and fun personality made her desired by a lot of people. Especially single boys in quest for love.
Not finding a romantic letter in her locker or being met with a face-to-face confession became a rare occurrence for her. Kotone didn’t really mind but she always rejected them. A relationship wasn’t really her main goal at the moment with everything going on in her life. Especially with a person she didn’t even know.
Most of them thankfully took the rejection well and those who didn’t quickly learned they shouldn’t mess with her. While she wasn’t a savage, her temper was quick. Most of the time, a harsh verbal scolding usually did the trick. However, while the girl wasn’t a troublemaker, she actually felt the need to get violent once against a particularly touchy student.
This incident made her learn the hard way how the school’s policy cared more about physical assault rather than sexual harassment. A black-eyed student harmed the school’s reputation more than young women complaining about unwanted sexual advances she supposed.
She had gotten into trouble badly that day. This was her first and last warning, the school board even threatened exclusion if something of the sort would happen again. Needless to say, ever since that day Kotone made sure to not mess up again. Not only would getting kicked out hinger her mission as a SEES member, she also still cared about her future and education. At the very least, punching this guy seemed to do the trick. The brown-haired girl was left alone most of the time and when people did try to hit on her they weren’t being pushy.
A certain someone however clearly didn’t seem to get the hint. Over time, Kotone gained a rather determined admirer to say the least. While creepy, he wasn’t inappropriate. He was simply a social outcast who did not understand how he should behave and speak around other people.
The music-lover was getting rather desperate as this person just wouldn’t leave her. She tried telling him off both gently and aggressively. She tried yelling and she even tried threatening but nothing seemed to work. If anything, it seemed like he took it as a challenge.
At the moment the poor girl was wondering how she could make him understand to leave her be without using violence. It was early in the morning and class was going to start soon. Before that, she was brainstorming with her friends, looking for solutions while trying to ignore her admirer staring at her from afar.
“You guys don’t get it. I’ve told him like ten times that I’m not interested. He just keeps coming back ! I don’t even know his name !” she said exasperly.
“Sheesh, what kind of guy does that ?” Junpei said, a bit incredulous at this random classmate’s behaviour.
“Must be nice being a dude. You’d be surprised with how many weirdos we have to deal with.” Yukari provided, feeling Kotone's pain. However she had to admit, she never met anyone as forceful as this boy.
“Worst part is he doesn’t even seem like a bad guy. Just feels like I’m talking to a child who doesn’t want to listen. Or shower. If you ask me, his mom’s probably the only girl he talks to.”
“You sure you don’t want me to deck him in the nose or something ?” Junpei asked while cracking his knuckles, trying to look threatening. Despite hurting himself while doing so.
“And what do you think’s gonna happen to you, Stupei ? Punching that other douche was her first misstep and she almost got kicked out despite having perfect grades, which you clearly don’t have.” Yukari scolded.
“Hey ! At least I’m trying to help !”
“You’d be a better help if you just stayed quiet.”
Kotone broke them out by using her ‘leader voice’ before they could start arguing. “Guys, please ! Can we stay on topic here ?”
“Sorry, sorry. Dumb question. Did you try telling a teacher ?” Yukari asked.
“Yeah but they don’t give a crap. As long as he’s not lifting up my skirt in front of them, he can do whatever the hell he wants.”
“Maybe you should just ignore him ? How bad could it be ?”
“Dude, he literally follows me around everywhere and I mean everywhere. One day he waited for me to get out of the bathroom to ask me out.”
Both visibly cringed at her story as everyone fell silent, trying to come up with another solution. Yukari was the one who broke the silence by asking.
“Wait. Why not just tell him you’re dating someone already ?”
“Oh yeah ! Why didn’t I think of that !”
“Maybe because I already tried. Then I had a brain fart when he asked me who it was. So yeah, if I don’t have the living proof right in front of him, he won’t believe me.”
“Geez man, learn how to take a hint…” Junpei said out loud while glaring at the person in question who was still watching in the door frame. Until his eyes lit up and a massive grin took over his features.
“I just got a great idea ! Get yourself a fake boyfriend ! I saw it in a manga once !”
Yukari just looked oddly at him “What kind of manga do you read ?”
“That’s… not important.” he said sheepishly.
“I guess that could work. Whatever, I'm literally willing to do anything to get rid of him. So Junpei, wanna go tell him you’re my BF ?”
“Huh ? Why me ?
“Wh-. You gotta be kidding me ! You’re the one who came up with the idea !”
“So what ? I never said I wanted to be your pretend hubbie !”
“Wow Junpei, way to make a girl feel good about herself.” Yukari provided.
“It’s not that ! It’s just… If rumors spread out well… I don’t want Chidori to get the wrong idea.” He admitted with a blush on his face. “Besides, if you’re really doing this the act has got the last. Dude’s just gonna try again if it’s a one time thing.”
“Fiiine, I’ll find someone else… But you owe me !”
“How the hell do I owe you ! I’m still the one who came up with the idea !”
Ignoring him, Kotone started thinking about potential fake dates.
“Well, since Junpei is an unreliable meanie, who could I do this with ?”
“Why not Sanada-senpai? I’m sure he’d be willing to help you out.” Yukari said, completely cutting Junpei’s indignant response to the other girl.
“Hell no! I don’t wanna deal with his fan club. I’m not suicidal yet. Plus Akihiko-senpai’s a total goof when it comes to this stuff.”
“What about Aragaki-senpai, then? I bet he’d scare off the guy at least.”
“Hahaha ! You really think he would agree to this ?!” said Junpei, laughing out loud, trying to imagine their intidating senpai in this position.
“Yeaaah I’m on the traitor’s side for this one. I’m not sure Shinjiro-senpai is even allowed to be near school grounds anymore.”
After going through most of Kotone's male friends, classmates and acquaintances without success. She suddenly came up with an idea.
“Wait! I got it!” The girl exclaimed as both her friends looked at her expectantly, clearly wanting to get this over with. Kotone grabbed Yukari’s hand and told her with a mock suave voice.
“Yukari Takeba, would you do the honor of being my totally real girlfriend ?”
A moment passed before Yukari answered with a deadpan look on her face.
“No. Way.” she dryly told her while letting go of her hand.
“What?! Why not?!”
“I deal with enough rumours as it is, and I actually plan on finding an actual date, you know?”
“You’re both traitors! And making me feel bad about myself” Kotone exclaimed dramatically before asking. “What about Fuuka? You think she’ll say yes?”
“Wow dude, you’re getting desperate. No way in hell she would agree to this.” Junpei answered.
“Yeah, sorry to burst your bubble but I honestly don’t think any of the girls we know would agree to this.”
“Man… I hang out with too many straight girls…”
“Hey! I’m into girls and I still said no !” Junpei said.
“Sexual orientation really isn’t the problem here.” Yukari added
“Geez, so what? Am I the trouble, then?
"Calm down, Kotone. Nobody said that." Yukari told her gently.
"I know... I know... Ugh… What am I gonna do…” defeated, Kotone lay face first on her desk. The other two were starting to feel bad for their friend despite their recent teasing. They weren’t really sure what they could do about it anymore.
As class was starting, her homeroom teacher, stalker and a very familiar face entered the classroom. She almost forgot, this was Aigis’ first day. As her blonde teammate's eyes met hers, Kotone's face lit up before muttering to herself. “My hero…”
"Wait... You're not thinking..."
All but one pair of eyes were on Aigis now as everyone, aside from Kotone's admirer, were interested in the new transfer student. Not so discreet whispers could be heard from the whole class. Be it calling the android cute or wondering what she was wearing on her head. Miss Toriumi asked for everyone to settle down before introducing the new girl to everyone.
“Class, we have a new student who will be joining us. She just transferred here.” She shifted her attention to Aigis to directly demand her.
“Please introduce yourself.”
Aigis politely introduced herself with her slightly robotic yet charming voice.
“My name is Aigis. I am pleased to meet you all.”
After a few comments from Miss Toriumi, one of which involving Aigis’ status as a humanoid tactical weapon which did not fail to scare the three SEES members. Seriously, what was Ikutsuki thinking ? They collectively thought to themselves. The Composition teacher suggested for the new girl to sit herself next to Kotone.
The android, who never fails to make a great first impression, exclaimed out loud as she was sitting.
“This spot will be perfect… My highest priority is to be with this person at all times.”
Casting a quick glance at her stalker’s very jealous and downright furious eyes while very excited chatter flew around her, Kotone could only think.
‘Oh yeah. It’s all coming together.’
Aside from the blonde girl’s presence and the ten different love confessions from the same person, the rest of the day was rather uneventful. Kotone only wished for classes to end so she could ask out Aigis, so to speak. Perhaps she’ll have to wait for them to get to the dorms first. She had a feeling a certain classmate wouldn't let her have a single moment of privacy.
As she got back to the dorms, Kotone made sure to tell Fuuka they wouldn’t be going to Tartarus tonight. She got to Aigis who was sitting on the couch and started a bit of small talk with her. Ever since she joined, the brown-haired girl always took the time to talk to her. Even if the android didn’t behave like a human being, the SEES leader didn’t want her to feel left out, if that was even possible. Besides, with the favor she had to ask of her, she needed to ease her up a little into the conversation.
“Heeey Aigis! So how was your first day of school ?”
“It was very informative. I am glad I could sit next to you.”
“Yeah I’m happy too!" She said genuinely. "What about the lessons themselves? Bet it’s all too easy for you huh?”
“I must admit I actually struggled throughout the day. Everything we’ve learned today was very new for me. Not only that but my memory was created to be similar to humans. It was quite difficult to remember it all.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Aigis. I didn’t realise. Say, I could help you out if you want?”
“I do not wish for you to waste your time on me, Kotone. My academic performances do not matter in the slightest.”
Kotone hated when the android spoke about herself this way. Maybe it was her sense of leadership or Aigis’ humanlike perfect face, but to her she was as much part of the team as everyone else.
“Hey don’t say things like that, okay ? If you’re having trouble then it matters to me. Plus, studying together just the two of us could be fun ! Dontcha think ?”
“Your reasoning is illogical but I will gladly accept your offer if it makes you happy.”
She supposed this was the best answer she was gonna get.
“Fair enough… Say, Aigis, unrelated but… I need to ask you a favor. A pretty big one actually.”
“Of course. I am here for you.”
“Cool, cool. Um… Can we talk about this in my room? In private?”
“Very well. I shall follow your lead.”
The two girls were now heading upstairs to Kotone's room. Before she could take the stairs, the music-lover was stopped by Yukari who easily managed to put together her friend’s plan.
“Hey, are you really sure about this? Aigis’ a little special, you know ?”
“Yukari, I can’t deal with this guy any more, and you know how I can get. If he asks me out again I might commit a crime. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?” She answered dismissively.
“If you say so…”
Finally in the comfort and privacy of her room. Kotone was now realising how silly her situation was. She was about to ask her murder robot friend to start fake dating to trick her creepy stalker.
‘What has my life come to.’
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by said robot girl.
“Did you wish to ask me something?”
“R-right. Um… Gosh, where to start…?" Kotone trailed off, not even sure Aigis was familiar with any of this. "D-do you know what dating means Aigis?”
“As in establishing the date of a certain object or event ?”
“I-. No. I meant as in romantic dating.”
“Oh. I believe I am familiar with this subject but I am rather uneducated on it. I request that you explain it to me in more detail.”
“Oh boy… How should I put this ? You see… When two people really like each other…”
Kotone closed her eyes, covering them with her hands in exasperation.
“Ugh… I can’t believe I’m doing this…” After taking a deep breath Kotone continued her very awkward explanation as she brought back her hands together.
“Okay. From the top. When two people are in love they start dating. And when they do they start doing things couples do together! Like huuuh... Holding hands, or kissing, long walks on the beach and you know… Stuff ? To show how much they like each other or something...” The brown haired girl cringed a little as her lack of experience in the romance departement was beginning to show.
“I see. Are you currently dating someone, Kotone?”
“Nope. Never have either. But this is where you come in!"
""Am I dating someone?" Aigis asked in an adorably innocent manner.
"I... Huh... I don't think so? But you better tell me if someone starts flirting with you!" Kotone tried to ignore how protective the hypothesis made her.
"Understood. What appears to be the dating-related issue then?"
"Ah right, the thing is there is someone who really really likes me and I really really REALLY don’t. I told him so but he’s not giving up on me. So I thought that if I started dating someone, he might actually leave me alone. Even if it’s not for real. See what I mean?”
“I believe I do. However, Kotone I do not comprehend why you are telling me all this.”
“W-well um… You see… I was thinking the both of us could start going out together ? N-not for real of course !”
“I would do anything to assist you, Kotone. Although I have a concern. Is it really socially acceptable for the two of us to start dating?
“Huh? Of course it is! There are plenty of couples with two girls or two guys, Aigis! Sheesh, I really hope they didn’t install a bigot chip in you somewhere.”
“I meant because I am an Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon.”
“O-oh. R-right. I knew that…” Kotone said, slightly ashamed of her outburst. “But I guess it should be fine? It’s not like anybody else knows you’re… You know ?” Kotone had trouble describing her friend as something like that, even if she could not deny it.
“I suppose you are right. In that case I accept your proposal, Kotone.”
"Great! Sooo I guess we’re girlfriends?”
“Fake girlfriends.” The android pointed out.
“Yes… That’s… true… But we don’t want other people to know that, don’t we?”
“Ah. I comprehend. Unfake girlfriends.”
Kotone sighed, this might be more complicated than she thought.
“Alright, Aigis. Here’s the plan. The dude’s gonna try to accost me tomorrow morning, so we gotta stay close at all times. If he tries to ask me out, and by that I mean he will, I’ll present you as my GF. And voilà ! We keep up the act for a year or two, he cries himself to sleep every night and all’s well that ends well ! Did you get all that ?”
Aigis only answered with a salute to confirm. Kotone couldn’t help but think the gesture was pretty cute. She supposed there were worse people to fake-date out there.
“I have a question, Kotone.”
“Sure go for it, girl.”
“Should we practice these couple gestures you were talking about? Like kissing? It seems like an interesting ritual.”
‘Oh god. What did I get myself into ?’ Kotone thought to herself along with a crimson blush on her face.
“That… probably won’t be necessary. Just follow my lead tomorrow okay ?”
“Oh… Very well.”
‘Does she actually seem disappointed? The first time I see her displaying an emotion and it’s for this? Maybe I need a confidence boost after this morning but I feel like this shouldn’t feel as flattering as it does…'
“Anyway, I think that’s enough date pep talk for today. I’m gonna head to bed, Aigis. See you tomorrow.”
“Understood. Goodnight Kotone.”
“G’night!”
As Kotone started getting ready for bed, she quickly noticed Aigis made no move to leave her room.
“Aigis? What are you doing?” She asked, confused.
“I thought we could spend the night together. Since we are now dating.”
“I- Wh- Aigis! Are you sure this is the first time you’ve heard about dating? Also we don’t need to pretend when it’s just the two of us!”
“But you’ve reprimanded me when I’ve called us fake girlfriends earlier.”
Kotone 's explanation died in her throat as soon as she realised she found none. Defeated, she simply told her.
“Just go to your room please.”
“Understood. I shall see you tomorrow morning, fake girlfriend. Sleep well.”
With that Aigis left the room. As she closed the door behind her, Kotone dropped on her bed with a heavy sigh.
‘Yep. Definitely gonna be more complicated than I thought...’