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Madara slowed to a stop in front of the address he was given and put his darling Baby-chan in park after he stuck his foot out to catch the weight. He took off his helmet and sat it on the handles of his bike before turning to Anzu and smiling as she removed her own helmet. She adjusted her bangs from her face and looked at Madara before smiling.
“Thank you, i still say I could have taken a bus,” she sighed and stepped off the bike and grabbed her bag that was nestled between Madara’s back and her front.
“You could have,” he smiled at her, “but you agreed to ride with me.”
She only playfully rolled her eyes and nudged his thigh with her foot, “I only agreed because you were so insistently annoying.”
“Still agreed,” he smirked smugly which gave him a shove in the arm. Anzu just shook her head and tossed her bag over her arm before pausing as she turned to her house and saw the warm lights filling out onto the yard of dusks shadows. She turned to Madara and watched him put on his helmet before he turned to her and met her eyes. “Did you want a kiss princess? Im not opposed but it may not be the most professional act,” he said with a flirty tone.
“Have you eaten dinner today?” She asked as she ignored his flirtatious remarks.
Madara paused at that before chuckling, “not today, no.”
She smiled and nodded, “do you…want to come in for dinner? My mom loves when people come over.” Anzu just smiled and watched Madara’s expression shift through so many emotions all at once before landing on something she couldn’t quite read, but it looked like endearment.
“Are you being serious?” He asked as he looked off at the door behind Anzu to avoid eye contact with her.
“I mean, you don’t have to. I’m not going to force you, but it is pretty late,” Anzu smiled at him and adjusted her bag.
Madara looked at his bike and clicked his tongue before looking back at her, “your parents won’t..mind?”
“My step dad isn’t home for the week, he has some big job thing and my mom would be happy she had someone to entertain after work,” she smiled reassuringly.
“And…your step brother?”
“He already knows who you are from me and Ruka talking about you. You’ll be fine.”
He seemed to put in some thought before smiling and taking off his helmet, “it would be rude of me to deny an offer from you, Anzu.”
She smiled and shook her head at that, “come on,” she said as she motioned to her house and started to walk up to the door. Madara clicked the break into place before turning the bike off and putting his helmet under his arm to follow her. Anzu stopped at the door and turned to Madara, “do you speak any Spanish?”
“Uhhh, yeah I do, why?” He smiled at her.
“My mom is from Argentina, she speaks Spanish. Do you understand Argentinan Spanish?”
“I..I don’t know if I’ve heard the difference,” he chuckled and rubbed his neck. Anzu just smiled.
“I’ll translate if you want okay?“ she said and opened the door.
“I’m sure I can figure it out.”
When they walked into Anzu’s door the home was very obviously warm and welcoming, with warm and cozy colors of brown, beige, oranges. The living room was to the right with Anzu’s brother sitting on the couch watching a show that Madara was pretty sure Chiaki watched. To the left were stairs and a bit farther passed that was an office. Up ahead was what looked like the kitchen where another tv show was playing but it sounded vaguely like a crime show, but in Spanish.
“Ma, ya llegué! Traje a un amigo!” Anzu yelled as she took off her shoes and put them in the shoe rack under the stairs. (Mom, I’m home! I brought a friend!)
A voice came from the kitchen and the show that was playing stopped, “Que? Quien? Lo conozco?” (What? Who? Do I know them?)
“No, se llama Madara,” she smiled and motioned for Madara to put his shoes in the rack, “solo se queda a cenar.” (You don’t, his name is Madara… he’s just staying for dinner.)
“Ah! Es el pibe de la moto? El quilombero? Dejame verlo, dejame verlo!” Anzu’s mom stepped out from the kitchen and smiled at Anzu and Madara and looked him over. She was taller then Anzu by about 10cm’s with darker brown hair, tan skin and deep friendly brown eyes. She had on blue jeans and a beige top with her hair tied back in a loose ponytail, “Es este? Es re alto. Tiene linda cara al pibe, se ve fuerte. Ay mira esos ojos, son re brillantes y lindos! Es hermoso! Y esos músculos. Mi vida, es bastante lindo para ser 'solo un amigo'.” (Oh! Is he that biker boy? The trouble maker? Let me see him let me see him!…This is him? He’s very tall. He has a handsome face..very strong looking. Oh look at his eyes they are so bright and beautiful. He’s so beautiful! And his muscles. My life he’s quite handsome for a ‘friend’)
“Mamá,” Anzu deadpanned but her ears were turning red.
“Qué?! Es lindo pibe!” Anzu’s mom laughed before smiling at Madara, “It’s lovely to meet you,” she chuckled at him. (What! He’s a handsome boy!)
Madara smiled at her and rubbed his neck, “lovely to meet you too, I hope you don’t mind me staying.”
“Oh of course not! I love when Anzu brings friends,” she smiled, her Spanish accent still obvious in her speech but her Japanese just as perfect as Madara expected from the mother of Anzu Takamishi.
“Awww she says I’m a friend!” Madara giggled and received an elbow in the side from Anzu.
“Of course! She talks about you all the time!” She beamed, “Oh the amount of times she’s talked about you-“ Anzu’s mom was cut off by Anzu interrupting her.
“Ignore her Mikejima, she loves starting stuff,” she sighed and gave her mom a look before turning back to Madara. Anzu’s mom continued to smile.
“She’s just embarrassed,” Anzu’s mom smiled, “you two can head upstairs if you want. It’ll be done in a bit.” She smiled and turned around but paused, “Madara, do you like empanadas?”
“I’ve only tried them once but I mean I like them,” he smiled at her. Anzu’s mom nodded in response and waved her hand to dismiss the two before she went back into the kitchen. Madara looked at Anzu and smiled at her which gave him a playful shove from her in response.
“Come on,” she sighed and motioned for him to follow her up the stairs to her room, obediently Madara followed.
“Your mom is nice,” Madara smiled as he walked next to Anzu and observed the tan walls of her upstairs hallway. Pictures of the family littered the halls with the most recent being of Anzu and her brother in their 1st year school uniforms. Madara still finds it funny that the school Anzu left, or was kicked out of as that’s the more accurate way to say it, is now the school her brother produces; and vise versa. He’s glad she left the academy though, Anzu’s fixed some of the corruption of Yumenosaki and brought life to most everyone lives. Including
Madara.
“She’s nice don’t get me wrong shes just super invasive and shares way too much,” she sighed as she opened up the door to her room, “go ahead on the bed, I need to change.” She sighed and popped her back as Madara walked past her and stared at her room, it was a lot more feminine than Madara had anticipated but that wasn’t by much. Her room had beige walls with the only one a different color her north most wall that was a rosey flushed pink. That wall had posters upon posters most were units and a few were some of her favorite shows or just one of a cat playing with yarn. Her desk was pressed against this wall along with a book shelf that held a tone of books and one shelf specifically for merchandise. Next ti the desk was the bed and it had thick brown sheets with little cats on the trim of it and white and pastel yellow pillows, she had two huge squishmallows, one of a cat that he remembered Arashi bought her and another of a large smiling boba tea. The bed was extremely comfy and on the floor at the end of the bed Madara couod see more plushies on what looked like a crate that probably had some extra blankets or important items. Across the bed was the closet that had her Yumenosaki uniform hung on the back. Next to the closet was a tall wall mirror and if Madara angled his body right he could see himself. Anzu didn’t seem to have a lot of pictures on her walls they mostly were by her bedroom door on a board, she probably had more somewhere but that didn’t matter. What mattered is that Madara could see on the board were units, classmates, her close middle school friends, and her close friends of Yumenosaki pictured. Of those friends were Arashi, Hajime, Adonis, Mao, Nazuna, Her brother, and himself.
Wait
Madara stared at the photo longer and saw it was a picture of him and Anzu when they both went to school and at the park, he remembered that day. He had invited Anzu to try out a boba place she seemed interested in and they ended up at a park playing on the equipment like they were 8 again. He was glad she kept it.
Madara was so distracted he hadn’t even noticed when Anzu left the room but he noticed when she entered. She tossed her dirty ensemble square suit in the dirty clothes and walked over to the bed and face planted onto the soft sheets. She changed into a black t shirt that went below her butt and some comfy looking shorts, her hair was down and she smelled a little more like flowers. She probably put some more body spray on.
“Comfy?” He asked with a smile as he looked at her. She let out a noise before turning her head to him and smiling back.
“Yeah, if I had to walk around in that suit in my own home any longer I was going to start getting an attitude with my own mom.”
“Even me—e,” he purred and she reacted with a small shove.
”Especially you.” Anzu smiled and sat up on her bed and look at him, “is that comfy for you? Jeans, a shirt, and a leather jacket?”
“I mean I’m used to it, but I don’t really have anything to change into,” he smiled and let out a small chuckle.
She stared him over and seemed to think about something before getting up and walking over her closet and looking through the hanging clothes which had jackets, cardigans, sweatshirts and dresses.
“Anzu that’s sweet but I can’t fit into anything you own,” he smiled at her and stood up from the bed and made his way over to stand a bit behind her.
Anzu gave him a quick glance before looking over the jackets and sweatshirts, “where is it…”
“Where’s what?”
“I have this extra large jacket in here that could fit you in not sure,” she explained as she grabbed one and looked at how big it was.
“Why do you have it?” He asked as he leaned against the wall next to the closet.
“Sometimes I just want to wear a big jacket with nothing under it and some shorts. It’s comfy, I feel nice, and it helps me sleep.”
“Sleeping topless under a jacket with shorts that I’m going to guess barely cover your butt helps you sleep better Miss Producer?” He chuckled but his brain was already pumping in the image of Anzu laid out on her bed in nothing but the jacket and a pair of short black shorts, tv on, a little sleepy, and with not a care in the world. Maybe the tv was playing some cooking show she liked, maybe she was watching an idol performance, a movie? Maybe a true crime show. His mind settled on a romance movie that was between a flirty and comedic man and a independent and confident woman who isn’t focused on love but finds herself enjoying the odd company of the man. Maybe they have equally playful banter and slowly feelings form, a lingering touch here or there, maybe playful dates, maybe the man helps her secretly with her work but she finds out snd thanks him with a gift like a crepe cake. Specifically a matcha one. Maybe with a dusting of blush on her cheeks as she did so. She’d do it in a private place like a classroom outside a coffee shop where no one would ask questions. The idea did make him blush a bit, especially with his mind wandering into very familiar territory. This thought was broken by Anzu’s voice.
“Well…yeah? Just don’t think about it too much and it’s fine,” she chuckled before letting out a noise of joy as she pulled a purple jacket from her closet and held it up to Madara, “try it.”
He stared at it and then Anzu, “and if it doesn’t fit?”
“Then stay uncomfortable,” she shrugged and held the jacket waiting for him to take it when Madara dropped his own jacket to the floor. No big deal. But the deal became bug when he reached his arms behind him and lifted his shirt over his head and right off with no regard of where he was and WHO he was in front of. Anzu had seen plenty of shirtless guys in her time, I mean her idols were almost all guys except for Arashi and HiMERU but having one of those idols shirtless in her room was a little too…intimate. She blushed and looked away from him respectfully and put her hands by her side when he took the jacket gently from her, his hand grazing against hers by accident(it wasn’t). She looked back after a moment as he tried to zip it up, the jacket did fit him and Madara let out a chuckle.
“This must be huge on you Anzu.”
“Well yeah I made sure it was a few sizes to big,” she said as she ignored the rising heat to her cheeks.
“You must like big things,” the second it left his mouth he froze and waited for the scolding.
“I mean yeah I-no.” She immediately deadpanned once it set in and she punched Madara’s arm, “you weirdo!” She gasped at him and playful hit him, “don’t say such sexual things in my room!”
“I didn’t mean it like that! You took it that way!” He laughed but he knew it was sexual a second after he said it. He reached for her wrists to stop her but Anzu had learned how to deal with him and wasn’t giving him a good chance to grab her wrists. “Gimme your hands or stop hitting,” he smiled as he made another reach but Anzu grabbed his wrist.
“Nope I’m not done playfully hitting you,” she smiled and continued the playful assault.
“I don’t want to have to do this..but you leave me no choice,” Madara hated that it came to this. She was so young…he lowered his head and pushed it against her stomach which caught her off guard and she gasped,
He gripped her legs and lifted her up off the ground and over his shoulder.
“Wh-AH! Madara Mikejima! Put me down!” Anzu’s horrible screams of anguish echoed in Madara’s ears as he walked to her bed and tossed her down. Anzu bounced on the bed and laughed before attempting to push the approaching man away with her feet.
“Get away you big oaf!” She chuckled but he was much too heavy and he just laid across her body with a chuckle. Anzu struggled to get an arm free and gave up after she realized she wasn’t going to get free. “Jerk.”
“You are too kind,” he smiled and nuzzled a bit into her just to annoy her but she didn’t pull away or cringe. Just sat there. He turned his head to her and smiled his stupid dumb smile and Anzu smiled right back.
“Can I free a hand?”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Can I get a kiss?”
Anzu paused and stared at Madara before choosing to sit and stare at the ceiling.”
“Awww come on! I’m a great kisser!” Madara whined and sat up from laying on her and sat on the edge of the bed instead.
“Oh yeah? Said who? Leo? Kuro? Chiaki?”
Madara paused and narrowed his eyes, “yes.”
“Yeah I don’t trust their judgement. Leo is the same dude who’s basically engaged to Izumi Sena, Kuro has a type for bitchy rich boys with flat hair and then Nazuna, and Chiaki…well…Ryuseitai.”
“Hey I was apart of Ryuseitai!”
Anzu smiled and playfully grabbed his face between her hands”and that’s exactly why you ain’t getting anything.”
“That was the past now I’m in not one but two units!” He chuckled and leaned in, “come on Miss Producer can’t you give in to this cowboy?”
She let out a genuine laugh and smiled at him, “you think that’s gonna win me over, a cowboy roleplay? Who do you take me for?”
“An intelligent and beautiful woman,” he smiled, he got a small blush out of her before she gently pushed his face away.
“We can’t kiss I’m your producer.”
“So if you weren’t my producer you would?” He smiled.
“I never said that stupid,” she smiled and rolled her eyes.
“It’s implied,” he smiled softly at her, just staring for a moment. They both were. Just silently watching the other. Occasionally one would break eye contact to look around the room but that gaze would end up back on the other. Neither knew what the other was thinking and neither particularly cared something about just quietly looking at each other was comforting.
“You have really pretty eyes,” Anzu said suddenly, this caused Madara to blush, “their this bright curious green that’s a nice pop of color on your monochromatic style.” She smiled and shyly reached a hand up and caressed under his eyes. This sudden gentleness made Madara unconsciously lean into the small touch just noticeably enough that Anzu flattened her hand and cupped his face. It’s not like she’s never done this with someone or an idol, she’s cupped and caressed a few of her friends faces but with Madara it was…intimate. It wasn’t like a sweet and innocent kiss on the head with most of Ra*bits, hugging and squeezing Koga or Subaru before class, or the playful flirting with Arashi, something about Madara and her alone in her room with similar playful flirting was intimate. But neither pulled away.
“You have stunning eyes too, far more beautiful than mine, like rich topazes freshly shined and cleaned. Sparkling away on a display case for the whole world to see. Only it’s just me,” he smiled and reached slowly to touch her face. Anzu wasn’t one to like when she was touched first but she didn’t flinch, she let Madara touch her skin and he savored the way her skin felt on his slightly calloused hands.
“Don’t flatter me so much,” she smiled and pulled her hand back but Madara quickly took her hand right back and held it on his face and leaned into it. Anzu fell silent at this but she slowly moved her thumb across his cheek and watched as shuddered, as if he’s never even felt a touch like this. “How touch starved are you,” she asked as she sat up to meet his eyes. Madara’s eyes were focused down at her legs and his hand on her face had dropped.
Oh god.
Anzu gently moved his hand from hers and watched his eyes flick up to hers.
“Sorry I..I got distracted,” he chuckled and his smile and cheerful personality was back, but Anzu wasn’t buying it.
“Madara…” she started and put a hand on his knee to draw his attention. It did. He turned to her confused but attentive. “When was the last time someone showed you affection? I don’t mean attention I mean just gentle affection, a hug, a squeeze of the arm, laying their head on you, just something small.”
Madara paused and let out a nervous chuckle”well I mean…I’m friends give me a bunch of affection!”
“Gentle affection? Holding your hand? Holding you close? Just letting the moment pass naturally?”
“Anzu I’m confused?”
“Do you feel loved?” She asked as she squeezed his knee and he froze at the suddenness. Of course he felt loved, he had friends by his side who loved him, just because he melted into her touch doesn’t mean he’s unloved, his close friends are all clingy love giving angels.
“Of course…of course I do!”
She looked into his eyes and touched his hand and watched his expression become shocked for a moment. She sighed and stood up on the bed on her knees so she was above his eye level, “close your eyes and just relax okay. Tell me out it feels.”
“Are you about to do something to me?” He asked with a nervous smile.
“Not anything you won’t dislike” she said with a smile. Madara trusted Anzu so he closed his eyes. A moment or two passed before two hands cupped the back of his head and pulled him into something soft and comfortably squishy. A subtle heartbeat drummed in his ear and the something rose and fell like the oceans waves. He paused.
“Anzu-..” he started but she shushed him and ran a hand through his hairs and with the other held his head against her chest. He didn’t know how to react, on one hand this was a dream come true and he could die happy, on the other he’s never felt so many emotions and so much heat rising on his cheeks and behind his eyes. Her gentle fingers stroking his hair and running the stress out of it, the hand supporting his head, and even the subtle way she silently shifted on the bed to pull Madara closer, it made him tear up and struggle to fight back said tears.
“I’m going to move,” she warned as she moved to sit on her butt and pull Madara between her legs, with almost no hesitation at all he situated himself comfortably between her legs and moved his arms around her back to feel her against him, feel the comfort he didn’t know or didn’t realize he needed. “How does it feel?”
His breath hitched and that seemed to be enough for her and she held him close, “just relax, I’ve got you,” she soothed and Madara’s dam of tears broke and the cowboy began to silently cry. Not a loud cry you couldn’t hide at all but a silent cry that let out the emotions that were built up like a water balloon filled to the brim tied with a knot that barely held it all together. He didn’t know how much he needed this, the tender love and care from this woman seemed to shatter his walls. He didn’t even know she had broken them down that much, not until he was clinging to her shirt and relaxing against her chest while she rubbed and massaged the stress from his back.
“You’re too nice,” Madara whispered and held a bit tighter.
“Why do you say that?”
“Look at you, holding a pathetic man like me against your chest like it was nothing…just like it was an everyday thing.”
She sighed, “Madara…comforting the people I care about is something I do, it isn’t something you earn. You just have to accept that as someone I deeply care about you are going to get taken care of when you need it. And now you need it,” she smiled. “Besides, I don’t know any other time we’d be alone together this long.”
He chuckled and turned his head to the side so he was just resting on her chest, “I can think of one.”
“Oh? When.”
He smiled and looked up at her with a bit of smugness rising to his face, “a date.”
“A date,” she repeated and shook her head; amused.
“I think you’d really enjoy a date with me Anzu, I mean I’m kind, I’m strong, i’m handsome, I’m respectful, I’m super fun and social, I have a fucking motorcycle, I’m handsome, I’m…hm,” he paused.
“Handsome?”
Madara chuckled and nodded, “so you agree, I’m handsome~”
“Never said you weren’t,” she smiled and caressed his cheek slowly but quickly realized that was out of line and moved her hand away. Something like that implied more meaning and a deeper agenda for her words. Really she just found Madara attractive, can’t a girl find one of her guy best friends attractive?”
Madara chuckled at that and nudged her chest with his head, “you’re cute.”
Anzu smiled and ignored the soft blush that rose to her cheeks, “oh shut up, you’re gonna ruin the moment.”
“The moment where I lay on your chest and we discuss a date?”
“No stupid, the moment where you lay on my chest and I pretend like I didn’t feel your hands under my shirt,” she smirked. Madara slowly removed his hands, though she wasn’t really that bothered by it. She then paused and turned to her door as foot steps creaked on the stairs, “I think that’s my mom..” she whispered and shoved Madara off of her and watched him scramble to sit up. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the home screen at the end of the bed while Anzu turned to her side and to look completely unsuspicious she reached for her phone and did the same as Madara. The door opened and her brother walked in.
“Hey, mom said dinners ready,” he said as he stared at them and how extremely suspicious they looked.
“Mkay, thanks,” she said relaxed and calm as she looked up from the phone she wasn’t even using. Her brother stared at them and raised a brow before shrugging and walking out of the room. Madara and Anzu both let out a sigh of relief before Madara got up.
“I feel like he thought we did something,” he chuckled at Anzu.
“Oh he definitely did,” she sighed and stood up from the bed as well, “I’ll have to spend a bit of time convincing him we didn’t do anything weird.”
“Will it work?” He asked as he opened the door for her.
“Probably not, he’s a little shit,” she smiled and playfully nudged Madara’s arm before the two headed downstairs where Anzu’s mom had empanadas, rice, beans, and a spicy mango sauce on the table.
Madara slipped back on his original clothes and tied his hair completely out of his face. He slipped his shoes back on and held his helmet under his arm, “thank you for allowing me to stay Miss Takamishi,” he bowed to Anzu’s mom.
“Of course, I’m glad you stayed, I hope you enjoyed it,” she smiled softly at him. Anzu’s brother was still in the kitchen washing dishes but he gave a faint “bye” in response to hearing Madara was taking his leave.
“I did! Hopefully if I come back again it’s more planned instead of me just stopping by.”
“Are you sure you have to leave? It’s dark out?” She asked with a gentle smile.
“I texted a friend of mine who’s still awake, he’s gonna leave his door unlocked so I can go there,” he smiled.
Anzu’s mom nodded and gave Madara a friendly little hug, “it was great to meet you Madara, I do hope you come again.”
“I do too,” he smiled and gave her a little squeeze before he walked to the door and headed out. Anzu had the garage door open and was waiting for him inside it. Part of her didn’t want him to leave so soon but she excused it as her being worried because it was so late. “You just waiting around for me?” Madara asked as he walked in.
“Yeah, I gotta make sure I say goodbye,” she smiled, “ya know I’m sure Rei would understand if you didn’t head over. It’s pretty late.”
“I’ve driven at night loads of times don’t worry,” he smiled and sat down on his bike, “you worried?”
“Maybe,” she smiled softly and nudged his arm softly.
“Aww, you do care about little ole me, I feel loved,” he smiled and put on his helmet leaving the visor off so Anzu could see his eyes. “I’ll see you…maybe tomorrow?”
“Yeah, if not then maybe like 9:30 on Saturday outside by the fountain in the square,” she smiled and watched his eyes for the reaction.
A heat rose to Madara’s cheeks and he chuckled, “are you asking me in a date?”
“I’m asking you to meet up, but if that’s what you consider it than I will not correct you,” she smiled and put her hands on his helmet and lifted it off of his head. “Well?”
Madara stared at her and his cheeks turned a soft shade of red before he raised a brow and smiled coyly, “yeah…I’ll meet you there.”
She smiled at that, “then it’s a date,” she smiled and pecked him softly on his lips before putting the helmet on. Madara stared at her and his brain was visibly short circulating, he was shocked, in amazement, bewildered, star struck. So many words and he couldn’t describe it. Her soft lips were everything and nothing like he imagined and it was everything he wished for all at once. He blinked a few times before making eye contact with Anzu.
“What a woman…” he whistled. Anzu rolled her eyes and gently shoved him, “get out of here. You’ve already overstayed.”
Madara smiled and turned on his motorcycle, “last time I came here I dropped you off after a wonderful little date, remember that?” He smiled
“How could I forget, you were so excited you carried me for 10 minutes on your shoulders,” she chuckled.
“And I’ll do it again..” he whispered and bit his inner cheek, “damn Anzu…you got me all bashful,” he laughed and rubbed his neck.
Anzu blushed at that but smiled, “that’s a good thing right..” she whispered but she knew it was a wonderful thing.
“You tell me, it’s a little unprofessional don’t you think?” He smiled.
“Nothing we did here was professional,” she smiled and shrugged, “but I don’t like being professional with you. You’re too…how do I say this...endearing? Kind? Stupid? Himboish, friendly….enamoring. Yeah that.”
He blushed and his heart jumped low in his body then right back up into his throat, for once, Madara Mikejima was speechless, he just blushed and stared at the woman with visibly read cheeks even through the helmet. Anzu saw this and she herself blushed almost as red, she looked off shyly and cleared her throat, “you should…go.”
“Right! Right right…” he smiled and put his visor down, “see you Saturday?” He smiled behind the black helmet. Anzu nodded and gave him a genuine smile. “See you soon then, Princess.”
“Call me anything but that,” she chuckled.
“Kitten?”
“No.”
“Angel?”
“Ew!”
“Babe?”
Anzu paused and smiled, “platonically of course.”
“Absolutely, of course,” he smiled and blew a kiss to her through the helmet which she ‘caught’. He gave her a small wave before rolling out of the driveway and on to the silent dark street where he pulled off. Anzu didn’t mean to stare but she did, she watched him go with an almost hopeless smile. She paused and shook her head.
“Get it together Anzu..,” she whispered before sighing and smiling to herself, “damn you Mikejima…”