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Ken Takakura wasn’t confident, he wasn’t outgoing, he wasn’t popular. By his own admission, he was an awkward fellow.
And yet despite all of that, he was currently sat in a room, surrounded by people whom he called his friends. People who for whatever reason decided to call him “Okarun” instead of using his real name. People who he had risked his life for in order to combat supernatural and extra-terrestrial beings on a daily basis, and in turn they had done the same for him.
He never could have predicted that his life would lead him to this point. At the start of the school year, he had given up all hope of finding a true friend. The constant belittling from his fellow classmates forced him to retreat into his shell, focusing only on his science fiction and conspiracy books rather than seeking companionship.
But all that had changed when one girl had suddenly appeared next to him one day.
Momo Ayase. The moment that girl had entered his life, his entire world had turned upside down. And he couldn’t be any happier.
The mere thought about Miss Ayase made his heart flutter. There was something special about this girl. Something that Okarun had taken notice of almost immediately. He had never felt the need to go out of his way to force himself into a conversation with someone before. But when we saw the opportunity to potentially find a friend in the brown-haired girl, he didn’t so much as hesitate. Instead, he summoned all his courage and took a chance. Something he would never regret for the rest of his life. Because it was thanks to her barging her way into his life, like only she could that any of this would have been possible.
It was almost customary at this point that their little team would meet at the Ayase residence following a major victory. And tonight was no different. Thankfully tonight hadn’t been a total city-wide threat like in the past. It was more of a minor threat by their standards, but still enough cause to celebrate with a feast. The particulars of the spirit they had defeated were somewhat lost on Okarun who hadn’t taken too much interest in its background whilst fighting for his life, but he supposed it mattered little so long as they had won, and everything was the way it should be. Most of the team had sustained a few cuts and bruises for their efforts, a nice result considering they had all escaped without any serious injuries.
These were the moments that mattered most to Okarun, and he would cherish them for as long as they lasted. It wasn’t a proper dinner without Aira arguing with someone, Jiji saying his typical foolish things, Seiko being the oddly charming host, Turbo Granny berating the team and stealing food, Kinta boasting about his heroics or Bamora being confused by everything.
Okarun smiled as he watched their antics. But his eyes seemed to linger the most on Miss Ayase. She had just made some sort of flippant remark to her grandmother as she always seemed to do. She produced a loud huff at the response she got from Seiko, which Okarun failed to hear from being so transfixed at the way his schoolmate moved around the room. She had a way of bringing life to everything she was involved in. She moved in a way that dazzled Okarun every time he saw her. Even the smallest interactions with the girl made Okarun feel flushed and out of breath. And she was the cutest girl he’d ever met.
The boy blushed heavily at that thought. It hadn’t been long ago that he had started to fully appreciate just how majestic and beautiful Miss Ayase was. Her piercing gaze and flowing brown hair were truly a sight to behold. That, coupled with her one-of-a-kind personality and incredible powers made her the single most captivating person that Okarun had ever, and will ever meet.
So lost in his thoughts, Okarun was surprised when said girl forced her way to sit beside him at the table, clearly annoyed after her talk with Seiko she had decided to switch her sitting place to beside him. Her shoulder nudged against his, causing the boy to stiffen and mechanically adjust his glasses despite them being perfectly balanced on his face without the need to be touched.
“How’s it feeling?” Momo asked.
“Uh, what?” Okarun gulped, forcing away his previous thoughts.
“Your arm. Is it okay?” The girl gestured to his right arm which was bandaged from his wrist area to his elbow. During the fight Okarun had noticed debris collapsing from a building headed toward Miss Ayase, and without a moment’s hesitation bolted in her direction to help her. Thankfully he had managed to grab her at the last moment, though his arm had received several large gashes from some sharp pieces of metal cutting against the flesh. The wound wasn’t especially deep, but it did require a few stitches which Mr. Mantis Shrimp was able to assist with.
“A little sore still. But it should be alright” Okarun said, moving his arm around to demonstrate it had not impeded his movement.
Momo gave a lopsided frown, her gaze remained on his arm for several seconds before her hand rested on the surface of the bandage. The act made Okarun pause, and he watched with interest as the girls’ hands ran softly up and down the area. He silently lamented the need for a bandage, as he unconsciously wondered how it would feel to have her smooth hands travel along his skin without such a barrier. The pair sat for several seconds in the moment, the remaining team were all focused on their own business that they appeared to fade away from Okarun, and that the only people in the room were him and Miss Ayase.
As her hands travelled along his arm, they pressed a little harder on a sensitive part of the wound, making Okarun jolt slightly. Momo pulled her hands away, tucking them into her lap.
“Sorry” she said.
“It’s okay. It’s just a little sensitive in some spots” Okarun was quick to reply.
“No. I mean, I’m sorry you got hurt in the first place” Momo’s eyes met his and he could see a pained and guilty expression on her face. “I got all caught up that I didn’t notice I was in danger. I thought I had enough distance” She clenched her fists, resting them on the table. “Gah. It’s so annoying. I mean, you wasted one of your all outs just to get to me. What if you needed an extra one instead of coming in to save my clueless ass?”
As Okarun was about to respond he was quickly interrupted by Aira giving her two cents.
“You should be sorry you air headed skank. If you had listened to your team leader like a good girl, then Ken wouldn’t have gotten hurt. Which I will never forgive you for by the way”
Momo glared at the pink haired girl. “Fuck you, you slut, when did I ask your opinion? Besides your ‘plans’ as you like to call them are usually bullshit and should never be followed unless we wanna get ourselves killed”
“Yeah well…” Aira began only for Jiji to step in and take hold of the girl.
“Okay. How about we calm down. Aira, let me walk you home” The tall boy laughed while dragging the girl to the exit. “Thanks for the dinner, ma’am. Delicious as usual. And I’ll see the rest of you at school”. Several curses could be heard as the pair exited and slowly left the premises.
“Hot-headed bitch needs to keep it down” Turbo Granny huffed from a pillow in the corner of the room.
Momo let out a snort. “Ugh, remind me again why we keep her around? She’s such a goddamn pain. It’s like were running a freaking zoo around her I swear”.
Okarun cracked a smile from his seated position beside her. “Don’t pay too much attention to it”.
Momo sighed. “She is right about one thing though. You did get hurt because of me. That seems to be a recurring theme as well. You’re always swooping into the get me out of something and getting hurt because of it. I’m sorry Okarun”.
Honestly Okarun was shocked by the girl’s admission. It was rare for her to show emotions after a battle. Usually, she was the one bringing the group closer, whether intentionally or not, being a large personality had a stranger effect on everyone in a positive way. Okarun steeled his gaze. “Don’t apologize Miss Ayase. You’re the most important member of our team. I mean, you’re the one that finds us a way to actually win most of the time. All I do is run fast and hit things” Okarun laughed and was thankful to see Momo crack a smile of her own.
“Fuck you, run fast and hit things?” Granny Turbo shouted. “You have no idea how to use my powers”.
Both teens decided to ignore the little cat toy.
“I mean, I know I’m incredible, don’t get me wrong” Momo poked out her tongue and smiled before frowning. “But it’s not really an excuse for you to be putting yourself on the line for me”.
Okarun nodded slowly. He understood what she was saying. If the positions were reversed, he would feel awful knowing Miss Ayase risked her life for him and came off second best. Whether she had the same reasons for feeling that way, he wasn’t sure, but he understood it all the same. But he wasn’t about to sit here and let her feel guilty on his expense.
Reaching up, Okarun placed a hand over her curled fist. He felt her lightly waver at the contact. “Miss Ayase. It doesn’t matter how many times I need to do it. If you’re in danger, I will always come to help you, even if I can no longer transform, I’ll do whatever I can. And it’s not just to get us the win. It’s because I can’t stand the thought of something bad happening to you”.
Momo’s eyes widened at his words. She met his gaze and there was a hint of colour in her face. She took in his determined face. The way he stared at her, with total conviction and honesty in his words. “Thanks, Okarun”. She tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear with her free hand. He other hand which was still under Okarun’s on the table uncurled from a fist and now laid flat. The boy attempted to move his hand away as she did so, but Momo quickly grabbed a hold of it before it could escape. She interlocked her fingers around his and let their conjoined hands fall under the table beside to the two of them.
She heard Okarun audibly gulp as they maintained their contact. “Uh… Miss Ayase. What are you...”.
Momo smiled shyly. She felt a little awkward but was not willing to let go of his hand just yet. It wasn’t the first time she had reached for his hand; she could recall the feeling of contentment it had brought her, and she supposed there was no harm in experiencing that again. “Just making sure you don’t go anywhere and get yourself hurt anymore. There’s nothing wrong with that is there?”
“No, that’s okay” He stuttered out, allowing his fingers to intertwine with hers.
“Good” She hummed, clearly pleased with the answer.
The night continued on in the usual manner. Plenty of food was eaten, arguments were had, and laughter was abundant. The main difference this time however was the fact that neither Okarun nor Momo had moved from their spot. Both remained sat beside one another, hands remaining conjoined through the evening. Even as the remaining members of the team left and retired to bed, they simply enjoyed one another’s company, occasionally trading verbal jabs or sitting in a comfortable silence.
Now the only noise in the room was the television playing reruns of Seiko’s favourite programs, who was lounging on the floor with a lit cigarette. Okarun checked his watch on his free arm and sighed. It was far later than he usually would stay, and considering they had school in the morning he didn’t have much choice in whether he should stay a little longer.
“I should probably head home Miss Ayase”. Okarun stated with some sense of regret.
Momo regarded him for a moment and nodded in resignation. “I’ll walk you to the gate” she said, quickly standing up, but not releasing her grip on his hand. Okarun felt his arm be pulled upwards as she did so. “Come on you lazy ass. Let’s get you home before you pass out”. The girl then let out a long yawn, making Okarun laugh.
“Miss Ayase, I doubt you can even make it upstairs without passing out”.
“Shove it” She quipped. Dragging the boy towards the door.
“Thank you for the meal, Seiko” Okarun bowed.
Seiko just raised a hand, eyes still on the tv. “Yeah, yeah kid. Stay away from the bad spirits and all that”.
As the pair walked toward the gate, the cool evening air swept over the two. Though the chill brought a shudder to the pair, the warmth that they felt in each other’s company and contact seemed to negate it. Reaching the border of the estate, both appeared unwilling to let go of one another just yet. A silence fell upon them, neither sure of what to say.
“Okarun” Momo said softly. “What you said earlier, about jumping in to save me, and all that stuff” She looked at the ground awkwardly. “I just wanted to say that I appreciate it. And I promise to work harder, just like you have been to get stronger. Then you won’t have to worry so much about me out there”.
Okarun as always was quick to chime in. “Miss Ayase, it’s okay…”
“No, it isn’t” She responded with a hint of resentment. “I don’t like seeing you get hurt out there either. And it fucking sucks doubly when it’s because of me” She paused and took a deep breath. “I trust you, Okarun. I know that when things are going bad, as long as you’re beside me, I’ll be okay. But I need to start returning that favour more often. So just let me be a damn downer about this for a while, okay?”
Okarun nodded. He understood what she was saying. After all, the main reason he had pushed himself to get stronger in the first place was after seeing Miss Ayase in danger and being powerless to stop it. “I trust you too Miss Ayase. I know you’ll get stronger”. He flashed her a grin and was please when she returned it.
“Damn right I will” She laughed.
The pair looked over the landscape for a while, letting the moment sink in. Okarun pondered on all the unspoken words between them over the time they had grown closer. He thought he understood Miss Ayase and her view of him a little better now. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but he wondered if she felt the same way about him that he did about her. It really was ironic that he could face the greatest threats without hesitation yet froze entirely when he looked upon a teenage girl’s face. He inwardly laughed at how ridiculous it all was.
“You should probably head home. It’s pretty late” Momo stated, finally allowing for her hand to relinquish its hold on his. The warmth that enveloped the two appeared to dissipate and they both fought the urge to reach out to regain it once more. “I’ll see you tomorrow” she said in their usual farewell gesture, before turning and slowly walking back to her house without waiting for a response.
Okarun watched her walk away. He wasn’t sure if it was confidence born from his recent contact with Miss Ayase, or conviction created by his supposed understanding of her recent comments. But whatever it was, it made him call out to her one more time.
“Miss Ayase” Okarun closed the distance between them. As she turned, the boy grabbed both of her hands in his, brining them up to chest height. The sudden action made Momo pause. “There is something I need to tell you. I haven’t been honest with you Miss Ayase”.
“About what?” Momo questioned softly, somewhat unnerved by how close the boy was to her.
“About how I feel about you” Okarun steeled his nerves. He’d come this far, might as well just finish it. “The truth is. Miss Ayase. I love you”. The weight lifted from Okarun as his words finally reached the ears of the one person who needed to hear them. For too long they had remained unspoken and buried under anxiety and denial, and finally they were laid bare, out in the open. “Every time you’re in danger it hurts me. Because I care about you more than anything”.
Momo’s eyes widened at his words. She had to admit that Okarun was full of surprises. From the day she had met him, she knew he was different. She initially wrote him off as a nerdy sci-fi fanatic. But now, she felt like she saw things about him that no one else did. He most definitely was a nerd, and she had no issue with teasing him about that even today. But on top of that, he was fiercely loyal, determined, sweet, funny and had a cute side to him that Momo definitely hadn’t seen at first. She looked into his determined eyes, the way they shone with fire, the way his soft features made her heart beat double time. And to think that at this current moment he was confessing his love for her. She supposed that without even considering it, she subconsciously had been searching for his true feelings for her. Her constant pestering and prodding weren’t just all in jest, they had an underlying investigative nature to uncover more about this boy and to see what makes him tick.
“Uh Miss Ayase” Okarun continued after not receiving a response, his cheeks were clearly red from what he had just said. “Can you please say something. I’m a bit of an awkward fellow after all, and you being silent isn’t helping”.
Normally Momo would have berated him for using a classic Ken Takakura line so brazenly. But she could only smile now and giggle at how on brand it was for Okarun to say such a thing.
“You definitely are an awkward fellow Okarun” She laughed at how he looked away in embarrassment. “But you’re also pretty damn cool” She recalled all the times he had jumped in to save the day, the way he pushed himself to get stronger. “And I guess I haven’t been very honest with you either. I love you too”.
“Really?” Okarun asked as if the mystery of the universe had unravelled before him.
“Of course, dummy” She laughed, hitting him lightly in the arm. “Don’t be so surprised. I happen to be an excellent judge of character, and you’re one of the best Okarun”.
The boy smiled dumbly. “It’s just crazy to think that the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met could feel the same way”. He rubbed his head awkwardly.
Momo blushed. “Who would’ve thought Okarun could be such a sweet talker” she tried to play off her own awkwardness with teasing, but inside his words made her melt.
The two stood in front of one another in silence. From an outside perspective, they would appear to be a couple of teens smiling their dumb smiles and not saying a word. But between them it was if the entire world ceased to exist as they embraced the moment.
“Are you going to kiss me, or what?” Momo asked after several moments.
“Uh, kiss you?” Okarun nearly shouted.
Momo rolled her eyes. “Duh. When you confess you have to kiss. It’s the rules after all” She stated as if it was obvious. Though she only said such a thing as she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold out to kiss this boy. She definitely wasn’t going to wait for another moment to come by.
“Really? Wow I didn’t know that. Okay, well… Then can I kiss you, Miss Ayase?”
“You’d better Okarun”.
And before the boy could make a move, Momo without even hesitating a single moment grabbed him by the shoulders and brought her lips to his. Being his first kiss (At least the first one he saw coming and consented to), Okarun wasn’t certain on what to expect. The kiss was short and didn’t go beyond a peck that lasted several seconds. But for the two teens, it was more than enough to convey all the pent-up feelings that they shared.
Momo took a few steps back and laughed at how Okarun appeared to have short circuited from the contact. She knocked lightly on the side of his head.
“Hello? anyone home?” She asked.
Okarun shook his head from side to side and smacked his cheeks.
“Haha. You damn near spaced out there space boy” Momo clutched her sides in laughter. Okarun for several seconds stared at her with a blank expression before joining in, laughing as well. “Oh boy, you really are something else”. The girl wiped a tear from her eyes. “That was great. I don’t think I’ll get tired of that”.
Okarun grinned. Even if it was at his expense, seeing Miss Ayase happy with more than enough for him. God, he loved that girl.
“I really should go home now Miss Ayase”
Momo nodded. “Okay. But I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” she played with her hair.
“Of course,” Okarun smiled. “And the day after that”
Momo gave the boy a quick peck on the cheek. “Good”.
She watched him leave the estate, holding his cheek as if her kiss would somehow escape if he removed his hand.
Oh yeah, she had definitely found one of the best ones. And she couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow.