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Jirou’s ex had decided not to bother coming to Tokyo, so the whole Dragonfires escapade had been a waste. He seemed disappointed. With the way he’d been talking about how they’d been on and off for years, it seemed obvious to Haruka that he’d been hoping to use the visit to get back together with Rumi. Haruka didn’t like seeing him upset, annoying though he could be.
“Don’t you think she’s kinda … jerking you around?” she said to Jirou, over a cream soda at Donbura.
“Well, yeah, but I broke up with her to come here,” said Jirou. “And it’s not the first time! We’ll get back together eventually.”
Haruka took a deep breath. She was going to try to be delicate, and if that didn’t work, she’d have to go the tough love route. “When did you and Rumi first get together?”
“When we were seven!” Jirou said, with a huge grin. “I told her I liked her. She gave me a cute little plastic bracelet, and I caught a frog for her.”
Ugh. Haruka wrinkled her nose, “What age are you now?”
“21!” said Jirou.
“So that’s … like 14 years of constantly breaking up with this girl and getting back together. Isn’t it time you moved on?”
Jirou’s expression fell. “I really like her! And she’s going to be famous one day, and I can be her celebrity boyfriend!”
“That’s not really a good reason to be in a relationship with someone,” Haruka said. She was thinking of Hanamura. He’d conveniently liked her when she was successful with First Love Hero, then he’d moved on to the girl with a modelling contract, now he was messaging Haruka again right before First Love Hero got made into a movie.
“I would love her even if she were a wig maker or a maggot farmer!” said Jirou. His lower lip was wobbling.
Haruka petted his hand. “You should think seriously about the future of this relationship. Do you really think she respects you?” Jirou’s expression was completely blank. Maybe asking him to consider such matters was a step too far, “OK, never mind. I think you should go out with someone else.”
That got his interest. Jirou sat up, “Who? Are you asking me out?”
“No! No!” Haruka was trying hard not to cringe. Why did he have to say that? “I mean, you’re … not my type. We should find someone to go on a blind date with you.”
“I’ve never really been on a date with anyone other than Rumi. I don’t know how to act,” said Jirou.
“Just do what you would do if you were going out with her!” said Haruka.
“I can’t! It’s completely different with a stranger than a girl I’ve known all my life.”
Haruka had a brainwave. She might have just the right idea, “We could make it a double date.”
She had found herself thinking about Marina Maeda lately. They had hung out several times, and she was beginning to question if she had feelings for Marina. It would be the first time she’d had a crush on a girl, but she was happy with that. Some people liked more than one gender and she was pretty sure her friend Sakura was into girls. If she could talk Marina into being her date for the evening and pass it off as a favour to Jirou, it would give Haruka some space to figure out what she hoped for and whether she should talk to Marina about it.
When she got home, she called to invite Marina.
“You’re asking me to go on a double date with your friend?” said Marina.
“I’m asking if you could come on the date, but ... as my date. He already has someone.” It wasn’t a total lie. Haruka was going to find someone to go with Jirou, “I don’t really have anyone else I can ask. Most people at school aren’t talking to me, and Jirou is really shy about going on the date. I’m only going along to make him feel better, but we can’t have just three of us.”
There was silence for a moment and then Marina said “When were you thinking of? I have a couple of evenings off this week.”
Haruka silently thanked Jirou. Now all she had to do was find him a date. The problem was, like she’d said, that most of the girls she knew at school weren’t speaking to her over the plagiarism debacle. She and Jirou were several years apart in age, so it was unlikely they’d be able to go to the same goukon. From what Minako had told her, it seemed that Master was popular with girls. She should try asking him if he could find someone to set Jirou up with.
“I know an unattached young lady,” said Master, when Haruka asked him.
“And she’ll actually go on a date with Jirou?” said Haruka.
“Perhaps.”
“And she’s not, like, a ghost or a zombie or just weird?”
“No,” said Master.
“Just thought I’d ask,” said Haruka. You could never be too careful where Master was concerned.
***
Haruka had arranged with the others to get food and go for karaoke. It seemed like a fairly low-pressure date, although she could not decide what to wear or how to style her hair. She wanted to come across as casual but look attractive enough that Marina might see her differently. Haruka settled for wavy hair, dewy makeup, and a slightly more revealing shirt than she’d normally wear.
She was due to meet the others outside a seafood restaurant they’d agreed to go to. Jirou was already there when Haruka arrived. He’d taken absolutely none of her advice about style on board and was wearing his usual Journey to the West outfit.
“You didn’t dress up at all,” said Haruka.
“I’m dressed as a hero! I want to look like myself, right?" he said.
“That’s the last thing you –” Haruka began, only to hear her own name being called. She turned around and saw Marina waving at her, “We’re over here.”
Marina headed towards them. She looked cheerful and relaxed; and was wearing shorts, which Haruka very much approved of.
“Is that my date?” said Jirou, who sounded far too eager for Haruka’s liking.
“No, my date,” said Haruka. “Marina, this is my friend Jirou.”
“Hi, Jirou!” Marina smiled at Haruka, and moved in to hug her, “Haruka, you look so cute!”
“Thanks.” Haruka’s heart was racing. She was probably more nervous than Jirou, now. Why had she thought a double date would be a good idea? Marina smelled of fruity shampoo or body spray or something, and she was pressed right up against Haruka. There was no doubt about it; Haruka had a huge crush on her. It was awkward, but if the evening went well, it would be a good starting point to ask for another date – a proper one this time.
Jirou looked at his watch and said “Where is she? Do you think she’ll really show up?”
“She should get here soon,” said Haruka, who had a photo that Master had given her. Jirou’s date was pretty cute, and she looked perfectly normal. Suspiciously normal for a friend of Master.
The girl arrived a few minutes later and introduced herself as Flint Goldtsuiker.
“What kind of name is that?” said Haruka.
“It’s my name,” said Flint, and glowered at her. Touchy.
“OK, OK,” said Haruka. Maybe Flint was some kind of influencer. That sounded like it might appeal to Jirou.
They headed to the restaurant and ordered drinks to start. Jirou was legal for alcohol but ordered a soft drink, unlike Flint, who cheerfully asked for a double rum and coke. She didn’t look much older than Haruka. Was she just youthful or did she have a fake ID?
“I’m destined to be a legendary warrior! What do you do?” Jirou asked Flint.
“I’m an inventor and a pirate.”
Jirou’s eyes lit up, “A real pirate?”
“Yeah,” said Flint.
“Do you have a ship?” said Jirou.
“Of course. I travel around the worlds with my brothers and plunder stuff,” said Flint.
Haruka’s mouth dropped open. She had heard about pirates on the news. They were active in South-East Asia, and raided ships and took part in many illegal activities. This girl was sitting right there, openly admitting to it. What was she going to tell them next? Was she a drug baron and racketeering as well?
“So cool! What kind of stuff do you rob?” said Jirou.
Flint held up one of her hands to display a large, blingy jewel, “I got this off some trader not too long ago. Obviously, we grabbed a lot more on that trip, but it’s a cute little ring.”
“Wow.” Jirou was practically drooling. It was giving Haruka serious second-hand embarrassment, “Can I buy you another drink?” he asked.
Haruka reached for Marina’s hand under the table and was surprised but grateful when Marina took it. If nothing else, she needed the moral support.
***
Haruka thought the evening had gone well enough, but Jirou informed her the next day that Flint had politely told him she was gay and only went on the date as a favour to Master. He seemed fine with that. Evidently, he hadn’t noticed Flint going through his pockets after he fell asleep halfway through the karaoke. He’d decided he wanted to see Rumi again and would try to get a weekend off to go back to his hometown.
That was the last time Haruka would ever try to help anyone out with their love life, especially Jirou. She had her own romantic concerns. Marina had said at the end of the date that she’d had a lovely time, and hugged Haruka again. Haruka had decided that she had to at least try to ask Marina out. If it didn’t work, they could stay friends, but she knew she’d regret it a lot if she didn’t ask.
Any hesitations Haruka might have had about what would be the right time were solved when Marina called her.
“I wanted to ask you something,” said Marina.
Haruka’s breath caught in her throat. Was it possible Marina had come to the same conclusion as Haruka during the date – that she really liked Marina and wanted to ask her out for real? “Yeah?”
“Would your friend Jirou be upset if I went on a date with Flint? She asked me out.”
“What!” Haruka couldn’t believe it. Just because Flint was a pirate didn’t mean she could make a move on Haruka’s crush, “And you said yes?!”
“Well, she’s very pretty and … I like her confidence,” Marina said.
It was completely unfair. Haruka was pretty, and confident, and not a self-confessed criminal. What did she have to do to get Marina’s attention, rob a bank?