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"I guess it's a good thing Ochako and Hagakure aren't here after all," Tsuyu quipped. Though the comment could be seen as rude she was simply trying to lighten the mood. Jirou looked like she wanted to murder someone, and Mina was glaring at everyone in the restaurant. "Or at least it's a good thing we came in the first place, even though we really didn't have to."
"Had I known Momo would've gotten stood up, I would've saved her from this disaster," Mina mumbled. She laid her head on the restaurant table, pushing her empty plate aside bitterly. Every time she glanced at Momo from across the restaurant things just seem to get worse. First the waiters, though just doing their job, weren't making anything better by constantly asking Momo if she wanted to order anything. Then the other people around them were staring at Momo like she was an enigma. Sure, she seemed to stick out like a sore thumb when everyone else had company and the chair across from her was empty, but they could at least mind their own business. Or at least make their staring or hushed whispers of pity less obvious.
It was an endless cycle and the three friends watching from afar felt like it lasted for hours. Momo's first actual proper date started with her waiting for her date for almost half an hour and would most likely end with her leaving the restaurant alone. The thought innervated Jirou, and she wanted nothing more than to walk up to Momo's table and fix this. Whether it be keeping her company or being the damn date herself, it all bothered her. Maybe it was because she was practically with Momo since the moment this guy and apparent date became a thing. It all started with a group project in Momo's English class, to only grow to occasional conversations and this guy's supposed genuine interest in her. Then from there Jirou would talk her through whether or not she did want to go on this date. Somehow, it had went from giving this guy a chance to the immediate gleeful look on Momo's face as she asked her what dress she should wear.
All of it was just Momo being genuinely happy and feeling like a normal kid, outside of her parent's riches and endless schoolwork. It was something she would finally have the chance to experience, and something she had heard a million times over from various classmates and friends. It was like Momo's sense of normalcy that she craved after being homeschooled all her life. Every conversation Jirou had ever had with Momo would just pry at her heart, as her mind was screaming at her to fix this. To do something. To do anything to stop the prying eyes, to stop the waiting, to stop the annoying beat of her heart against her chest as she watched her best friend long after a guy who couldn't even show up.
Yet, without fail, there was something about Momo's mannerisms that made her hold back. It was the constant checking of her phone as she texted someone, with a hopeful smile. Momo would bite her lip, her eyes would slightly crinkle, and she'd bow her head, pulling her phone close to her face as if there was somebody who could read her messages over her shoulder. Then minutes later she'd look up at the front entrance with every small gust of wind or service bell that'd ring with a beaming grin to only deflate in her chair and check her phone once again. When she'd look at the door of what almost seemed like innocence, it was the type of look on somebody's face that would make you hesitate. It was the sort of delusion that nobody would want to break, as if Jirou's presence herself would cement the truth to her friend.
"Do any of you have the guy's phone number?" Mina asked, sparing herself the trouble of looking at Momo's failure of a date any longer.
Tsuyu shook her head. "Had I had his phone number I would've called him a lot earlier than this, trust me."
"I would've made sure the guy actually showed up," Jirou spat. Her food was practically left untouched aside from the occasional fries Mina would steal from her plate and even the few Mina would feed her, claiming she needed to eat.
"Isn't there something we can do?" Tsuyu voiced aloud. She had given up hope on Momo's date showing up eightteen minutes ago.
A silence followed the table as Jirou texted Momo trying to keep her mind off her date, as Mina sat there pondering a thought. She piped up, sitting up properly as her eyes widened. "We can all pretend to be her dates, and she'll have a fun time because her friends will distract her from the asshole."
Jirou looked up from her phone at Mina, staring at her weirdly. "I get the intention but won't that bring even more attention to her? Plus, I feel like Momo would feel guilty if all three of us do that for her."
"Why don't you go over there and save her from her date then?" Mina sighed. "You know more about this whole thing than we do."
The thought came to her mind before, prying at her brain as if trying to uncover secrets she hadn't even come to face yet. Every time the thought occurred she quickly dismissed it, whether it be the look on Momo's face as she waited for her date or the whole concept of randomly showing up out of the blue. It seemed out of nowhere and performative, something that she didn't exactly like the feeling of. "I'm not the one she wants to see. Besides, I'm pretty sure this restaurant would have something to say about two girls on a date." The last past was mumbled underneath her breath, but Mina seemed to get the message. The restaurant, though nice and serving good food, did have a reputation of kicking out two people of the same sex going out on a date. Where even if it was actually just two friends, they still kicked them out due to the common implication of the restaurant being for romantic stuff. It was a stupid concept Jirou absolutely loathed but they served good food, the guy proposed this location in the first place, and she, Mina and Tsuyu only had managed to get in due to showing up as a group. Ultimately, complaining over the close-minded views of a mildly successful, stingy restaurant seemed almost ridiculous in the grand scheme of things.
"But you are the one she's closest to," Tsuyu pointed out after taking a small sip of her soda. She paused tilting her head towards Jirou in Momo's direction. "If there's anyone, she wouldn't mind interrupting her 'date' I feel like it's you. You're the one she's most comfortable around."
"There's a difference between a friend and a date she's going on." Jirou sighed.
Mina rolled her eyes, nudging Jirou's plate of food towards her. "Well, yeah, but I don't really care about the difference when this is her first date. This is supposed to be a good experience for her."
"I just don't want her to leave this restaurant with a sour taste in her mouth," Tsuyu muttered, agreeing with Mina. "Wasn't that the whole point of coming here anyway? To make sure Momo's first date is one she can positively look back on."
Jirou bit her lip. Maybe they were being a bit overprotective with spying on Momo during her first date. But really, it felt like a natural sequence of events when you mixed how much Jirou cared for Momo and Mina's ever so creative solutions and approach on things.
"Plus, the solution to this restaurant and its whole deal is simple," Mina offered with an almost mischievous look in her eye. "You dress up as a dude."
"You do have short hair," Tsuyu added. "Some styling and maybe a different outfit and this could totally work."
Jirou sighed. "If you guys like it so much, like it's seeming to be, why don't you do it?"
Mina pointed a thumb towards her chest followed by a quick glance over at Tsuyu. "We might take longer to do a whole makeover," she said. "Although, we could always just drag Momo away and take her on some wonderland of a date. Sweep her off her feet and show her how this man was supposed to treat her."
Jirou spared a glance back towards Momo's direction, hating the way she seemed so awkward. It was a restaurant that looked so high-end and fancy, and somehow Momo Yaoyorozu, who had unnecessarily rich parents stood out. It bothered her. This all just bothered her. "None of this is right or fair," she could only manage out in a murmur.
"The night may be going terribly," Tsuyu started, "but it's never too late to change how things will go."
Jirou continued playing around with the thought as they all just seemed to wait for some sign of Momo's date. Another waiter stopped by and simply left a plate of bread and a glass of water at the table, not even bothering to ask Momo if she needed anything. Mina and Tsuyu's comments constantly came back to the forefront of her mind, and she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to be the person that forces Momo to acknowledge that her date isn't showing up. Yet by the time a couple nearby pointed at Momo with pitying stares and hushed words underneath their breath, whilst Momo seemed to notice and only forced a smile, Jirou had enough. There was only one thing she wanted to do and that was to save Momo from her 'date,' even if she had to change a bit to do so.
"Where are you going?" Mina quirked her eyebrow with a smirk, as if she was expecting it.
"I need to take a call," Jirou said, just as she gathered her stuff and stood up. "Don't do anything stupid." She muttered as she purposely went through the exit on the other side of the restaurant, just so Momo wouldn't spot her. Even though Jirou had a feeling Momo knew that her friends were spying on her date. They weren't exactly subtle when it came to asking about it in the group chat with the other girls.
As she exited the restaurant she stood by the neighboring cafe, taking out her phone to call someone. Though he wouldn't usually be her first choice to call, he was the one closest to the restaurant and he also happened to be Mina's roommate.
"Hey Denki, can you bring me one of your old suits?"
-
By the time Denki arrived he definitely went all out. Not only did he bring a black tuxedo that Jirou was positive he ironed, but he also showed up with a mini bag filled with makeup and hair products. It was almost impressive that he had managed to show up in almost less than ten minutes.
"Uh.." Jirou hesitated, stepping away from Denki as if the inanimate objects could hurt her. "Is all of that really necessary? You do realize all I asked for was a suit, right?"
"Yup," he grinned, handing Jirou the suit and walking towards the cafe as he motioned Jirou to follow him. "Go get changed. I'll handle your hair and makeup. I'm no Mina Ashido but you take what you can get."
"Is all of this really necessary?" Jirou looked at the bathroom nervously. Who knows, maybe Momo's date actually did arrive by now. Then she'd be able to ditch this situation she found herself in, and Momo could be happy going on a date with the person she was originally intended to.
Denki sighed, ushering her towards the unisex bathroom. Ignoring the one staff from the neighboring cafe that looked at the two weirdly. "Of course it is. Mina updated me on the situation and told me to get her bag for, and I quote 'Jirou's first date with Momo.'"
"It's not a date," Jirou replied upon instinct before begrudgingly entering the bathroom to change into the suit. The suit was a bit big on her, but it was one of Denki's older ones, so it fit her a lot better compared to any of Denki's other clothes. She had to fold both the pants and arm sleeves a bit, but it wasn't too obvious that the suit was too big on her. If anything, the looseness and bagginess of the partially tucked white button up in the black slack pants helped hide her chest. The belt seemed like the sort of thing her dad would wear on dates with her mother, giving it an almost homey look. If she were to be honest, she looked like a young boy who got passed down a suit from his father for his first school dance.
When she exited the bathroom, she was met face to face with Denki's excited beaming grin as he looked down at her, holding Mina's makeup bag like he was a child on Halloween.
"No," Jirou said, attempting to push Denki aside. "I don't need makeup. Besides, Momo's probably already out of that restaurant by now. It's been way too long for any of this."
"Nah," Denki said with a passive shrug. "Mina texted me that she's finally eating so we still have a couple of minutes. Add on the fact of her apparent occasional moping and we have a solid amount of time."
She furrowed her brows at the unnecessary added comment. " That sounds almost rude," Jirou sighed out in between closed teeth before pausing. "Fine, but not too much of literally anything."
Denki was no makeup artist. Jirou swore just last week he learned that there are different kinds of makeup brushes. He needed help matching Jirou's skin tone with all sorts of foundation in a variety pack Mina had for some reason. She had to help him so much over the most minor of things to the point she might as well be doing it herself. His hand was careful nonetheless as he attempted to make Jirou's face seem less soft and more defined. The makeup brush was held like a pencil, and his actions had almost the sort of shakiness that only fake confidence could have.
"Okay," Denki said, grinning at his attempt at makeup as he took a step back to take a look at Jirou's face. "Next thing to deal with is your hair." Denki took out a pair of scissors.
"What the fuck?!" Jirou squealed, jumping away from Denki immediately. "You're not cutting my hair! I'm not trying to change my entire appearance here! There's no way you genuinely thought I was getting a haircut from you."
"Fine," Denki sighed dejectedly. "I knew it wasn't going to happen, but it seemed like fun to give a shot." He put the scissors away before squinting at Jirou as if she were an art piece to be critiqued. "Just at least let me style it."
Not a lot with her hair changed, due to its already short length. The only truly apparent difference was that her hair was now behind her ears, much to the insistence of Denki. Even though she believed she looked stupid, Denki just continued doing as he pleased. The occasional brushing aside of random hair strands, or even the way he wet his hands with the sink water, before plopping it onto the top of her head. She closed her eyes, resisting the urge to smack Denki as he brushed through her bangs with a comb, the bristles tickling her forehead lightly.
"Jirou," Denki paused.
Jirou hummed, as if to tell Denki she was listening. The combing stopped but she had a feeling there was something more he wanted to do.
"I'm going to put on some hair gel."
"What-"
Before Jirou could even get another word out or attempt to stop him, she felt a small clump of cold gel fall onto her head. Denki was quick to push Jirou's hair back with the gel, not forgetting her bangs that were practically a part of her signature look at this point. Her hair was fully pushed back, giving off a shiny appearance due to the gel. She cringed at the mere thought of how she looked. She didn't like it when her forehead was showing.
Jirou could rarely recognize herself when she looked in the mirror. Her dark purple hair was pushed back, no longer covering her forehead or pierced ears, and her jaw seemed more defined than usual. There were the occasional small tufts of hair that curled out at the very end against her neck. Denki really wanted her to look like a guy for this 'date.' If you looked closely, you could definitely tell she was a girl, but the makeup and hair really helped make her appear differently.
-
Jirou stood nervously outside the restaurant door. Through the small window she could see Momo eating her food, an evident gloomy expression on her face. Denki had left earlier but not before giving her the most useless pep talk consisting of basic human respect and manners. Taking a deep breath she opened the door, hyper aware of everything going on around her. From across the restaurant she spotted Mina and Tsuyu in the corner of her eye. Mina was laughing like Jirou crossdressing was peak comedy whereas Tsuyu gave Jirou a thumbs up in show of support.
"Do you have a reservation?" The guy at the front asked, clearly bored.
"Ah," Jirou paused before remembering the tone of her voice. She purposely lowered it, cringing at the fact she spoke in a manner that was weird and forced. "I'm with her," Jirou pointed at Momo's table. "The reservation should be under Momo Yaoyorozu."
He looked at her weirdly. "You do realize your date has been waiting for you for nearly an hour?" His eyes seemed to ingrain into Jirou's soul, making her nervously chuckle.
"Busy day at work," Jirou squeaked out the excuse with a nervous grin. "We were understaffed."
"You know what,' the worker sighed with the small wave of his hand. "I don't care." He pushed the thought aside, motioning her towards the table.
As soon as Jirou approached Momo's table, she was hyper aware of a couple of eyes looking at her. In particular that very same couple that had pointed at Momo and whispered about her before Jirou left. "Wow the traffic was crazy, Momo," Jirou said, lying in between her teeth, as she sat down. "I'm so sorry I'm late you know how crazy it is for me back at the hospital." Momo's date didn't even work at a hospital, let alone have a job, it was just the first thing that slipped out. Heck, she wouldn't even know how the hell a college student would manage to snag a job at a hospital but that was beside the point. Though if anything, it did seem to get some of the wandering gazes off of them. For the first time her eyes locked with Momo's, and she looked both confused and relieved. Her dark eyes were swimming with a million questions and all she could do was look at Jirou as if she would always be the solution to her problem. Almost like a guide or some sort of presence that would offer aid or even a shoulder to lean on, the sort of person in your life that you would be able to always turn to.
"What are you doing here?" Momo asked.
"I'm being your date," Jirou said, underneath her breath, offering Momo a small smile. She pulled out her chair before sitting down and slowly scooted herself forward. "Well, friend date anyway." She specified with an awkward chuckle.
"You didn't have to do that for me," Momo said, a hand nervously reaching towards her side bangs to adjust it.
"I know, I just wanted to." Jirou looked down at her hands, growing anxious of the eye contact. "I'm sorry this isn't what you were expecting."
"It's fine," Momo smiled. "Did you dress up just for me?"
Jirou ran a hand through her hair lightly, blushing out of embarrassment at the question. She hated the feeling of the way the hair gel stuck to her head. A forced chuckle brought about by her nerves coming out of her lips. "I look stupid, don't I?" She pulled at the tie subconsciously, feeling like the tie was choking her.
"No!" Momo's tone was louder than she expected. "No, I don't think you look stupid. You look cute, Kyouka. I promise."
Jirou blushed. "Right. Uhh...how are you?"
"I could be better but I'm glad you're here," Momo smiled. "It makes the whole thing less embarrassing."
Jirou noticed the way Momo's eyes briefly looked towards the door as it opened. Whether it was out of habit or instinct, or some part of her that genuinely expected her actual date to show up, she didn't know. "Your date is a dick for not showing up. He's not worth it."
"I guess so. I just wish I knew why he stood me up," she huffed out. "A lot of his messages made it seem like he was on his way here or he was genuinely excited to go on a date with me." Her words turned into a soft sigh as she once again adjusted her hair. She had styled it differently compared to normal. Instead of her usual ponytail. her hair was down, parted slightly to the side. "Was he just messing with me or something?"
Jirou wanted to punch the sack of shit that made Momo feel like that. Hell, made Momo even question why anybody would be ridiculous enough to stand her up. "Either way it's his loss. I know multiple guys that would kill for a date with you." Jirou mumbled just loud enough for Momo to hear.
"That's a bit much," Momo chuckled, unbelieving of Jirou's words. "Does Mina and Tsuyu mind you ditching them for me?"
"Nah," Jirou silently laughed, as she glanced towards Mina who was inaudibly cheering like she was at a sports game. "If anything, I think they're happier now that I'm over here."
Momo turned towards the table as well. Tsuyu was ducking her head out of embarrassment as a waiter walked towards their table. She didn't quite know if it was to kick them out thinking they were a gay couple, or to calm Mina's unnecessarily erratic and distracting actions. "They really aren't subtle," she laughed.
As the laugh escaped her lips Jirou couldn't help but admire Momo. She didn't really think about taking in her outfit before but as she truly saw for all that she is Jirou couldn't help but stop and stare. Her deep red dress didn't show too much cleavage, a slit opening to her left leg she saw before when she was getting ready earlier that day. Light makeup on her face that defined her soft features yet still looked natural. Her hair was out of its usual ponytail, her black hair framing her face beautifully. Her gentle eyes complimented by long eyelashes all the way to a light shade of pink lipstick on her lips.
Momo's date was a fucking idiot for standing her up, because there was no way in anybody with half a brain would turn her down.
"Is there something on my face?" She asked, upon noticing Jirou's silence. She put a strand of hair behind her ear shyly. "Did I overdress? Did you feel like you couldn't tell me earlier because I was getting too excited? I get told I overdress a lot. I just never know when to wear what because usually my maids-"
"You look beautiful," Jirou interrupted her voice slightly cracking as she found the right words to express herself. "Sorry for staring," she looked away, positive that there was a pink blush rising to her cheeks and showing so clearly on her ears. "I just never really saw you in something this fancy. And even when I was helping you get ready it was all under the pretense of this being for the guy, you're on a date with and- and now this," she paused with an almost frustrated sigh. "This... it all just makes it seem like it's actually supposed to be for me," she confessed underneath her breath, panicking.
A beat passed. A waiter had passed by them, dropping off another guest's drink, their words he seemed to say to the other guests falling under muted ears who couldn't even process background noise. Momo's eyes widened as she had seemingly processed what Jirou was saying. Hell, what Jirou was apparently implying.
The silence scared Jirou. It felt weird between them, as if Jirou was prying over at a wall that was naturally built between them and what was their friendship. "It suits you, don't get me wrong!" She said in a panic before reiterating her words. "It's nice is all. It's nice to see you like this. And really any person dressing all pretty for me would make me feel flattered." Jirou continued on, backtracking on her previous statement.
Momo let out a shaky breath, her cheeks heating up as she looked down at her food. "Thank you," she softly spoke, poking at her food and pushing at it with her chopsticks.
A waiter soon came to ask Jirou what she'd like to order, breaking the moment and sucking the air out of the ambience that seemed to almost build around them. Refusing to speak in a deep voice, Jirou simply pointed at a small side dish, not truly caring for what she ordered at this point. How could she anyway? Her heart was beating against her chest and the thoughts that were once at the very back of her head were now very apparent and very relevant.
Jirou could only watch as Momo awkwardly took a sip of her water as she spared a glance at the date across from her. The date that was her best friend. The date that Jirou inserted herself in, in the first place to brighten Momo's mood.
She blinked her eyes once, then twice, before shaking her head with a sigh. This was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous.
"I'm sorry," Jirou apologized before chuckling as she met Momo's eyes. "This is weird. We're being weird, right?"
Momo's eyes did the small crinkle it did as a smile pulled at her cheeks. "Yeah," she breathed out. "We're being rather silly."
"Let's just talk as we always do," Jirou said. 'I mean come on! This is us! There's barely any awkwardness between us; there's no reason to start now just because you were supposed to be on a date."
"Right!" Momo agreed. "You're right. If anything, it should be easier with you. It should be the most natural with you. We already know each other."
"Exactly," Jirou smiled, she looked down at her tuxedo passingly, her eyes fixating on the sleeves that would look much better if the suit properly fit her. "Do I look weird as a guy?" She asked with a nervous smile.
"I wouldn't say weird," Momo said. "It's certainly different though."
"Good different or bad different?"
Momo rolled her eyes affectionately. "The sort of different where I'm trying to get used to your hair pushed back and a part of me is trying to imagine you with how you usually look instead."
"Good to know you prefer me as a girl."
"Well, what other Kyouka would I possibly prefer you as? If not the one I know and am friends with." She asked.
Jirou then smiled, lighting up at the sight of Momo starting to slowly open up in the restaurant. She wasn't uncomfortable. "You know," she paused. "If anything, this is a good chance to tell you about what my professor did about my grade in Intro to Psychology."
Momo huffed as if she was supposed to laugh. "Then tell me all about it, Jirou."
By the time Jirou's food arrived, conversation seemed to come naturally. There was no awkwardness of a first date or getting to know each other with absolutely mundane questions. It all felt natural as it wasn't anything new to them. They were just friends talking with a sort of familiarity as if they were standing on the edge of taking another step forward.
Occasionally Jirou would notice the way Momo's eyes would glance back at the door when she briefly looked at her phone, that same almost hopeful look still there. Yet, this time, it seemed different from before. She just couldn't quite put her finger on it. Nonetheless, the thought of Momo still waiting out for some guy that stood her up annoyed her, and she couldn't stop herself from asking.
"Is that guy really worth it at the end of the day?" Jirou suddenly asked. "I know he was supposed to be your first real date and that matters to you, and of course I get why. Hell, I was so happy for you when you seemed so excited. But was he really all that great when he stood you up?" She bit back her lips as if she said something wrong. If anything, Momo would always appreciate her honesty.
"I'm sorry," Momo apologized. "You're being there for me, and I appreciate it, but I'm still looking towards that door acting like he'll walk right in." She sighed, "I don't know him that well to make a judge on character, but I suppose it's just a random thought in my head."
Jirou tilted her head ever so slightly. She pulled on her tie once again, loosening it the point that the two ends of the tie nearly separated. She chanced a look at the restaurant and tables around them. Everyone was just simply minding their own business, regarding them as a normal couple. It felt weird in a way. "What do you mean?"
"It's not like I liked him and nor am I broken hearted or truly hurt over it, especially because you're here," Momo started. "I suppose it's just a thing of wondering why things turned out the way it did. He seemed genuinely interested in me and he was even texting me how excited he was for our date. It made me excited for what was supposed to be my real first date. So, now that things turned south, it makes me wonder what I did that made him run away."
Jirou frowned, the thought of Momo blaming herself before she even pushed the blame on the guy seemed so ridiculous.
"I suppose,' Momo continued. "All the built-up expectations and my lack of experience made me build up some sort of idea in my head on how things we're supposed to go, and why he seemed so genuinely interested in the first place. It all just makes me wonder if something about me made it turn south."
"Something about you?" Jirou reiterated as if the statement itself was offending her. Without even thinking nor hesitating, she grabbed Momo's hand, holding it in her own. It was all natural for them. She squeezed her hand gently, her thumb brushing soft miscellaneous shapes against her skin. "Don't be ridiculous," she chuckled. "That guy's shitty actions says nothing about you or you as a person, and more on his."
Momo met Jirou's gaze and she unknowingly gulped, looking down at their joined hands to only look back up into her eyes. There was that same look in them from before. A million unanswered questions to a million thoughts that neither of them knew truly existed.
"I may not know why he stood you up," Jirou continued with a nervous edge to her voice. There it was again, that same bridge of unfamiliarity. "But what I do know is that whoever you go on a date with next will be the luckiest person in the world. No matter how that second date goes with whoever it may be, I'll always be there for you." She finished it there, letting go of Momo's hand as if she was giving her a second to breathe, simply letting the words hang there.
Momo looked at Jirou as if she didn't know what she was supposed to say. Her mouth would slightly open then close as if the words forming on her lips didn't quite match what was going on in her head. Then she tilted her head, letting the comfortable silence encapsulate her and whisk her away, with that same look in her eye that Jirou just couldn't erase. It all just made her think of slowly lingered thoughts that were brief and pushed away, putting more meaning on the sort of thoughts and emotions that remained in the back of her head.
"Thank you," Momo chuckled, as if at a loss for words. A simple thanks just never seemed like quite enough. "I always do love hearing your perspective on things. It helps ground me in a way."
Jirou visibly lit up with a smile. "I'm glad," she said. "It shows that my opinion matters to you, like you truly care for it."
"It's always been like that," Momo said, before pausing. Another beat passed. Jirou couldn't quite pick up on what was going on in the world around them. Not like she cared anyway. "Like, I've always noticed, but in particular there's always what seemed like a sparkle in your eye. Then sometimes you'd push down on your nape, as if you're massaging your neck, when you're nervous or on edge about something. It's especially obvious right now, especially when your hair is pushed back."
The laugh that came from Jirou was uncontrollable, as she pulled her hands away from her neck as if she were called out. "That's not how you're supposed to call out my nervous habit, Momo," Jirou said.
"My bad," she innocently chuckled with fake sympathy. "I'll keep that in mind next time."
The date went by blissfully and two hours passed in no time. Somewhere along the way, maybe before Momo and her ended up really talking (not that she really cared), Tsuyu left as she had classes in the morning. What Jirou did know though was that Tsuyu had to drag Mina out with her. They both left Jirou with text messages of words of encouragement, even though Mina's words of encouragement were bordering on a sexual joke. One that upon reading it she ended up choking on her drink, making Momo worry. As the date went on, they talked about classes all the way to fun memories with their respective, not once missing a beat. Yet, what made Jirou the happiest was when she noticed Momo hadn't once looked back at the front door waiting for her date to arrive. It was simply out of sight and out of mind, all of her attention on Jirou. The date ended naturally as the closing time was nearing, and Jirou couldn't help but wish for the date to go on for longer. They exited the restaurant side by side, their hands not quite touching, but their smiles infectious.
"Kyouka," Momo whispered. Had Jirou never heard it, Momo would've easily let her words go unheard.
Jirou turned towards Momo. "Yeah?" She let her finger brush lightly against Momo's as they walked.
"I think, no, I know that was a good first date," she smiled. "Thank you for that lovely experience."
Jirou's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but let out what was almost a shaky breath of air. Her eyes widened just letting the words lay there every implication wrapping around her heart as it infected every corner of her mind. A reel of a thousand memories giving more meaning to moments.
"Right!" Jirou squeaked, her voice coming out higher than expected. "I enjoyed our date too!"
"I hope the next time we hang out you don't have to dress up as a boy."