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Kamome Academy felt too bright today.
Mitsuba squinted as sunlight poured in through the windows of the third-year hallway, the one students usually avoided since it was “haunted.”, according to Yokoo and Satou. Which, in his opinion, was just rude. He wasn’t haunting it—he just existed in it. There was a difference.
He sat cross-legged on the top of a shoe locker by the stairs, chewing on a stick of pocky and pretending he wasn’t waiting. Definitely not waiting for a certain idiot with a stupid smile and a tendency to show up uninvited.
“You’re late,” he said flatly when Kou finally jogged up the stairs.
“You didn’t even tell me to meet you here,” Kou replied, breathless. “You passed a note to Senpai telling me to come saying, ‘I’m bored. Entertain me.’”
“Yeah, and you’re supposed to know what that means.”
Kou rolled his eyes and dropped his bag onto the floor. “You’re impossible.”
“Thanks. I try.”
Mitsuba snapped off the end of his pocky stick and looked away, like he wasn’t waiting for Kou’s attention.
Kou watched him for a moment. “You know,” he said, reaching into his bag, “if you’re bored, maybe we can do something… normal. Like, human stuff.”
Mitsuba raised an eyebrow. “Is this a trap? Are you going to try to ‘cleanse’ me with a friendship circle or whatever?”
“No,” Kou said, pulling out a convenience store bag. He flashed Mitsuba toothy grin, his sharp canines visible. “But I had an idea! We’re going to eat lunch together. I got mystery snacks for a price deal!”
Mitsuba snorted. “Wow, what a thrilling human experience. Food roulette.”
But he eyed the bag in Kou’s hand thoughtfully, his bright, magenta eyes full of curiosity.
“Is that… a triangle shaped food?”
“Uh, yeah. It’s called onigiri. Rice balls.”
“I know what rice is, genius.” Mitsuba grabbed one, poking the wrapper suspiciously. “How do you even open this?”
“You… just peel the sides.” Kou leaned over to help.
“I knew that,” Mitsuba snapped, yanking it away before Kou could touch it. “I was just testing you.”
Kou rolled his eyes to himself, but didn’t say anything.
They sat on the floor by the stairwell, backs against the wall, as Mitsuba took his first bite. His eyes widened just slightly.
“…This is good.”
“Yeah,” Kou said casually, as if his heart hadn’t just stuttered. “Tuna mayo. Classic.”
Mitsuba chewed slowly, thoughtfully, gaze drifting down the hall. “I never ate this before. I mean… not that I got the chance to. Tsukasa-kun only ever gets gross supernaturals for me.”
Silence settled uncomfortably with the mention of Tsukasa’s name.
Kou deadpanned and tried his best not to roll his eyes. What could Tsukasa do that he couldn’t? Suddenly, he took Mitsuba by the shoulders, blue staring straight into pink. “You wanna feel more human, right?”
This inquire received a hasty look from the ghost as he whipped his head around to meet intense, azul eyes.
Rubbing the crook of his neck, Kou sighed, looking away. “I’m serious. You don’t know this stuff. So let’s do it. One thing at a time. Eat lunch. Explore places. Normal stuff. Shop for clothes. Y’know.”
“As if you had any fashion taste…”
“Hey!”
Giggling to himself, the ghost looked away. “…In that case, can we visit the aquarium agai-“ Mitsuba suddenly faltered mid sentence. “Oh yeah. That’s gone, huh?”
“Yeah…” Kou trailed off, racking his head through all the options. The moment Mitsuba opened up to him, he couldn’t even deliver. How was he supposed to help any of his problems if he couldn’t even tackle this simple request? Kou hated that—hated how helpless he felt when it came to the things Mitsuba couldn’t have.
As he grew more increasingly frustrated, an idea popped into his head. The blonde exclaimed with a grin, “Oh wait; if you enjoyed the aquarium that much, we could visit the zoo instead! It’s kinda similar; there’s lots of animals there as well!”
“…a zoo? I think I saw that in your biology book last period.”
“Yeah! Wait how did you see-“
“ANYWAYS let’s go!! Meet you at the gate!” Mitsuba waved him off eagerly as he slunk back into the mirror.
—————————————————————————
Kou wasn’t sure that skipping school to take a ghost to the zoo was a good idea, but here they were. He had come up with an excuse to get away, saying that he had come down with some sort of fever. It didn’t matter what Mitsuba asked of Kou anyway. He would do it; or at least, say he would.
It was a warm afternoon, the kind that made the vending machines hum and cicadas scream. Kamome Zoo was a little rundown—some peeling signs, faded murals of cartoon animals; but the tiger was real enough, pacing lazily behind the reinforced glass. For this occasion, Kou had decided to thrown on a pair of jorts and a simple, plain white tee.
Okay, explain this again,” Mitsuba said, eyeing the map like it had personally offended him. “What exactly are we supposed to do here?”
Kou blinked. “I told you. We look at animals. Like, that’s kind of the whole point. You know… like the aquarium?”
“Okay, so are we going to hurry or?”
Kou let out a heavy sigh. Of course he was choosing to be difficult.
They started walking again, Kou munching on a stick of grilled dango while Mitsuba reluctantly held a zoo map upside down. He could touch objects, sure—but navigating a public space where no one else could see him was… weird.
Mitsuba squinted at the map. “What is a ‘red panda’? Is it just a panda that got sunburned?”
Kou laughed. “No, it’s like… a raccoon, kind of. But fluffier. Come on, I’ll show you.”
They turned a corner and passed a cluster of elementary school kids yelling about flamingos. Mitsuba stared after them, frowning a little.
“You okay?” Kou asked.
“What’s a flamingo? Is that a type of snack?”
“Oh.” Maybe to you to would be. Kou pointed down the path. “They’re actually right near the red pandas. They’re birds. Big ones. Pink. You’ll like them.”
“Pink?” Mitsuba tilted his head. “Like me?”
Kou smiled, trying not to make it obvious. “Yeah. Kind of exactly like you.”
They strolled over, passing by several animals.
Kou pointed out every animal along the way, rambling little facts about each one—not because he thought Mitsuba needed them, but because it made him feel useful. It made him feel useful, like someone worth needing.
“I always liked lions when I was a kid,” Kou said, casually tossing the empty skewer into a bin. “Thought they were kind of like me.”
Mitsuba snorted. “You mean loud and overly dramatic?”
“Hey! That’s you!”
“Okay, okay.” Mitsuba smirked. “Maybe just… less strong. Less cute. Less everything.”
Kou scowled, but couldn’t hide the faint blush. “Whatever.”
Finally, they reached the flamingo exhibit.
Mitsuba pressed up against the railing, eyes wide as he watched the birds strut slowly through the water. They were tall and oddly graceful, their feathers bright and surreal under the sun.
“Oh my gosh, Minamoto-kun,” he said, genuinely delighted. “They’re so pretty! They are just like me. Pink, obviously. And totally cute.”
Kou watched him, amused. Mitsuba’s face was lit up, unguarded for once, and Kou almost forgot to respond, his lips parted.
“Told you so,” he said, a little soft, but smiling.
After a full round through the flamingos, red pandas, the two of them found themselves drifting toward the souvenir shop near the zoo entrance.
It was small, air-conditioned, and cluttered with plushies, keychains, and overpriced snacks. The kind of place where you could buy a novelty flamingo pen or a tiger-print towel and regret it instantly.
Kou leaned on the doorframe, still sipping a bottle of juice. “You don’t have to get anything, you know.”
Mitsuba glanced around the store like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “Obviously. It’s all cheap tourist junk.”
Still, he wandered in.
Kou followed, watching as Mitsuba hovered from shelf to shelf, fingers ghosting over rows of colorful items. It was strange to see him like this—curious, unsure, but kind of enchanted. He stopped at a rack of plush animals and picked up a tiny red panda, turning it over like it might bite.
“It’s soft,” he said after a pause.
Kou blinked. “You like it?”
Mitsuba looked insulted. “I didn’t say that.”
“…Do you want it?”
“No!” He shoved it back on the shelf and immediately picked up a flamingo keychain instead, inspecting the shiny pink charm with exaggerated disinterest. “This is hideous. Not as hideous as your earring though.”
Kou raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh.”
Mitsuba stood there a moment longer, holding it tighter than necessary.
Kou exhaled through his nose, then quietly took the keychain from his hand and brought it to the counter. He paid in cash without saying a word, then walked back over and dropped the tiny pink bird into Mitsuba’s palm. It was his chance to actually do something for Mitsuba; of course he wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass.
“There,” he said. “Now it’s your hideous keychain. This makes up for your broken penguin one too.”
Mitsuba stared at it. “You’re the worst.”
“Totally.”
A small smile crept from underneath. Mitsuba didn’t let go of it, even though he had only insulted it. Instead, he slipped the keychain into his pocket.
Letting out a huff, Mitsuba moved onto a rotating rack filled with keychains and squinted at them. Kou assumed he’d just criticize everything again—but instead, Mitsuba paused.
“What’s this?” he asked, pulling a thin, glossy booklet from a display near the front counter.
Kou blinked. “Oh, that? It’s like a… love fortune thing. Weekly summaries, horoscopes, dumb quizzes. Senpai buys them sometimes. I think she showed me one once.”
Mitsuba flipped through it, nose wrinkling. “It says… ‘Find out what kind of kisser your crush thinks you are!’ This is so stupid. Of course Daikon-senpai is into this.
“Yeah,” Kou said. “Super dumb.”
Mitsuba didn’t put it back.
He stood there reading it for a moment longer, pink eyes darting across the page. Then, casually—too casually—he asked, “So. Have you ever done any of this before?”
Kou blinked. “What, like the quizzes?”
“No. Like—” Mitsuba cut himself off, then shoved the magazine at Kou with a too-sharp glare. “This. The love stuff.”
“…What do you mean, love stuff?”
Mitsuba looked away, clutching the magazine tighter. “You know what I mean.”
There was a brief, stunned silence before Kou managed to speak. “Uh. No? I mean—not really. I guess not.”
Mitsuba eyed him for a second. Then, without fully looking at him, mumbled, “Do you want to try it?”
Kou stared, his heart skipping a beat, for whatever reason. “What?”
“This,” Mitsuba said quickly, tapping the magazine. “One of these dumb quizzes. I just… want to see what it says. For fun. Obviously not the lovey-dovey stuff.”
Kou hesitated. “You mean with—”
“With you, idiot.” Mitsuba’s ears were pink now. “Just—shut up. It’s not a big deal.”
Kou’s brain felt like it was buffering. He looked from the love quiz to Mitsuba and then back again.
“…Okay,” he said, before he could think about it too hard. “If you want. Sure. Let’s try it.”
Mitsuba handed him the magazine like it weighed a thousand pounds.
“You’re the one reading it,” he said, arms crossed. “I’m not doing the cheesy voice.”
Kou grimaced reluctantly, flipping to the quiz section. “Whatever. But if it says you’re the clingy type, I’m not letting you forget it.”
Mitsuba scoffed. “I’ll be the cute type. Obviously.”
“Yeah,” Kou muttered, more to himself than anything. “Obviously.”
Kou flipped to the quiz page, but before he could start reading, Mitsuba leaned over his shoulder with a smirk.
“No offense, Minamoto-kun,” he said, “but you’re way more the type to believe in this garbage than I am.”
Kou frowned. “You’re the one who picked it up!”
“Yeah, for research purposes. You’re the one who blushes when someone mentions hand-holding.”
“I do not—!”
Mitsuba snatched the booklet from him. “Let’s test that. Sit down. You’re the one taking the quiz.”
Kou blinked. “Wait, me?”
“Yeah,” Mitsuba said, already flipping to the first page. “I’m the quiz master now. Question one: ‘What do you do when your crush walks past you?’”
Kou crossed his arms. “Uh… I say hi? Maybe ask how their day’s going?”
“Eugh. Boring. Fine, next—‘Your ideal first date is…’”
“I don’t know. Something fun? Like the zoo. Akane-san said he wanted to go with Aoi-senpai one time. Something about giraffes.
Mitsuba narrowed his eyes. “That’s suspiciously convenient.”
“You dragged me here!”
“Details.”
Kou groaned, covering his face. “This is actually torture.”
Mitsuba cleared his throat. “ANYWAY.. the next question!” Holding the paper up to his face, he spoke slowly. “…kiss is…’” Mitsuba trailed off, the smirk twitching slightly.
Kou stared. “You gonna finish that?”
Mitsuba cleared his throat, eyes narrowing on the page. “Your ideal first kiss is—ugh, this writing is so embarrassing—A: under the stars, B: after a long buildup, C: spontaneous, or D: while joking around.”
Kou blinked rapidly, suddenly finding the souvenir shop very air-conditioned. “Uh…”
“Well?” Mitsuba pressed, elbow bumping into Kou’s arm. “Tick tock, Minamoto-kun.”
“…Maybe B?” Kou muttered. “Like, after a long buildup.”
Mitsuba arched a brow. “Ohhh, you’re the dramatic type. Big moment, big feelings.”
“Shut up. You’re the one making me take this!”
“Okay, okay,” Mitsuba interrupted, clearly savoring this, “next question: What kind of kiss would leave you speechless?”
Kou stared at him, frozen.
Mitsuba tilted his head, grinning now. “A: one you didn’t expect. B: one you really, really wanted. C: one that shuts you up.”
“…C,” Kou muttered without thinking.
“Hmm?”
Kou looked away. “C. One that… shuts me up.”
Mitsuba went quiet.
A long pause stretched between them.
Then, very slowly, Mitsuba dropped the magazine onto the counter. He took a single step closer. Kou’s eyes flicked up, startled.
“Don’t make this weird,” Mitsuba snapped, cheeks flushed. “It’s not a big deal.”
“I’M NOT MAKING ANYTHING WEIRD!” Kou retorted back, flustered. YOU’RE THE ONE MAKING IT WEIRD!”
His hand twitched at his side. Mitsuba glanced down at it. Their pinkies brushed.
Mitsuba looked at him.
And Kou didn’t think. He just moved.
Their lips met—awkward and sudden, a little too fast, a little too much teeth. It lasted maybe three seconds. When they pulled back, both of them were blinking like they’d been hit in the face with a frying pan.
“…That was…” Kou started.
“Shut up,” Mitsuba said, red as his keychain. “Just… shut up.”
The silence that followed the kiss was louder than any argument they’d ever had.
Kou pulled back, eyes wide. Mitsuba’s face was flushed from cheek to ear, lips parted like he wanted to say something—maybe a sarcastic jab, maybe nothing at all—but the words didn’t come.
“…You didn’t have to actually do it,” Mitsuba muttered finally, voice barely above a whisper.
“You said not to make it weird,” Kou replied, equally quiet. “So I didn’t.”
“That was weird.”
“Well—yeah.” Kou rubbed the back of his neck. “But, like… good weird? Maybe?”
Mitsuba looked at him then, eyes searching, trying to gauge how serious he was. Kou’s stare didn’t waver. There was no teasing in it. Just something real, buzzing between them like a taut wire.
“…You’re such an idiot,” Mitsuba said under his breath, looking away.
Kou offered a small smile. “Takes one to know one.”
They stood there for a moment, the souvenir shop humming faintly in the background, surrounded by cheap trinkets and fading sunlight through the windows. Mitsuba still hadn’t moved away. If anything, he was closer now than before.
Kou nudged his arm. “So… Should I keep going?”
“With the quiz?” Mitsuba asked, blinking like he’d forgotten that’s why they’d started this.
Kou nodded. “You kind of left me hanging at question five.”
Mitsuba snorted, the sound quiet but genuine. “Fine.”
He picked up the magazine again, fingers brushing Kou’s for a moment longer than necessary. Kou didn’t pull away.
When it was finally over, Mitsuba leaned over the results page with a little too much enthusiasm.
“Mostly C’s,” he said, eyes glittering. “You’re the romantic type. You love sweet moments, deep connections, and have a strong desire to be needed. You’re most likely to fall hard for someone without realizing it until it’s too late. You also want to be the one to solve all their problems.”
Kou stared at him. “That’s not true.”
“It’s completely true,” Mitsuba said, grinning. “You’re practically a walking shoujo manga.”
Kou turned pink. “You’re so annoying.”
“And you’re so easy to read,” Mitsuba shot back, still smug. “Seriously, ‘the zoo is your ideal date’? Couldn’t even try to hide it.”
“I didn’t mean it like that! This isn’t even a real date—!”
“Didn’t say it was.” Mitsuba tilted his head. “But you’re the one acting like it is.”
That shut Kou up for a second.
—————————————————————————
They stepped out of the souvenir shop and back into the afternoon sun, Mitsuba holding the rolled-up magazine like it was something delicate. The zoo was quieter now—school groups gone, cicadas louder. Kou walked beside him, hands stuffed into his pockets, trying not to replay every embarrassing quiz question in his head.
“You know,” Mitsuba said suddenly, eyes forward, “this whole thing was kind of dumb.”
Kou glanced over. “Yeah?”
“…But not, like, horrible.”
Kou smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Mitsuba didn’t answer. Just kept walking, pink hair catching the light like it belonged here, even though technically he didn’t. Technically, no one else could even see him. But he looked alive in that moment. Real. At least to Kou. And that was all that mattered for now.