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“A-KI-TOOOO!”
There’s that voice I know so well. When I turn around, as I had guessed, Mizuki is running towards me. I smile and wave at them. Before I know it, they’ve grabbed my hand and are pulling me forward.
“Let’s go shopping together! There’s this new shop I’ve been meaning to go to!”
I huff, smiling again. Seems this shopping is going to be better than I thought it would be. I take Mizuki’s hand, force of habit. When we started doing that, Ena kept bugging me about it. She keeps saying even to this day that she never thought I could even get a date.
After surpassing RAD WEEKEND, I managed to surpass Ena’s expectations. 1-0 for me.
Next to me, Ena rolls her eyes. She crosses her arm and gives me an annoyed look. “So much for dragging you out of the house. I’d have called Mizuki right away had I known.” She immediately took her phone out of her handbag and called Airi, saying something along the lines of ‘my brother and my friend hate me, save me’. I nudge her arm and Mizuki pulls their tongue out before we head to the place they just told me about.
“So, what’s that place?” I decide to ask, striking conversation.
“Heheheh…” Mizuki snickers in my face. This either proves that the following events will be really good or really bad. Maybe I should make a run for it.
We talk about anything and everything while we’re walking. Remedial courses. Music. Fashion. Food. Music again. Mizuki tells me all about the new music videos they’ve been working on, and I tell them about my latest live performances. A few jabs here and there. The usual. Mizuki laughs. They have the habit of bringing their hand up to their mouth when they laugh. It’s cute. But it also looks like they’re about to start beatboxing, which I make sure to let them know every single time it happens. But it’s cute.
Mizuki finally stops in front of the shop they were so eager to bring me to. They point to it and turn to me, grinning. It’s… a pancake house.
Without even a second thought, I rush to the window where some of their confections are displayed. My mouth is watering. Turns out this is going really, REALLY well! Mizuki leans over to look too, using my head as their personal armrest.
“Wanna get one?” they ask me. I’m pretty sure it’s rhetorical though, because of course my answer will be yes.
We walk into the shop. The place is nicely decorated, a modern vibe to it. Vinyls are hanging out the wall, the wallpaper harbours music notes and instruments. I can definitely see the Vivid Street influence.
Mizuki pulls my chair for me. “M’lady.”
Which results in an immediate answer from me. “Idiot.” But I sit down.
I scan the QR code on the table to access the menu. Mizuki leans over the table to see it on my phone, because why would they bother with scanning it too when they can annoy me. I reach my hand and give them a light flick on the forehead.
“I hope the table tips over and you fall.”
“I’ll hold you tight so that you fall with me!” they retort, smirking proudly. “Oh, look, they have a seasonal menu! Ooh, look, there’s a peach one!”
I let out a small chuckle at their enthusiasm. “Let’s get that one then.” I get up from my seat and order at the counter. As I’m waiting for the order, I turn back to sneak a glance at Mizuki. They’re on their phone texting someone. Probably bragging to Ena, guessing from the way they’re snickering so mischievously. Once I get our order, I place the table right in the middle of the table and hand Mizuki a fork and knife. They immediately cut a piece and bring it to my mouth.
“Come on, say aah~” they say, a hint of mischief in their eyes. Again. And I feel my face heating up. My ears are probably bright red by now.
“Stop it, that’s embarrassing!”
“Please?”
Oh boy... It’s the puppy-dog eyes. Mizuki is so cunning, there’s no escaping it. I glance to the left and to the right, probably to make sure that no one is watching me, then bite. The pancake is soft, fluffy, and airy. The syrup is nice, a little sour, but it pairs well with the fluffy whipped cream topping the piece Mizuki gave me. And the peaches are incredibly fresh. It’s like my embarrassment suddenly subsides. I look at the pancake almost in awe. I’ve been blessed today!
We eat away slowly, constantly interrupted by a new topic. Even if we see each other at school practically every other day, we’ve never run out of conversation topics. Ever. It’s something I like about Mizuki. Talking to them comes easily.
Our plate finally empty, Mizuki leans back in their seat, sighing contentedly. “Thank you for taking care of the bill, Akito!”
…
I should have known.