The First Date!?

Hajite met up with Nishira and ate at the usual restaurant, at the usual seat. They together walked to school, as usual, continued their school lessons as usual. They spent their lunch at the usual table, but with an additional mate, Kiena Fujima.

“Fujima-san, where is your brother?” Hajite asked.

“He is hanging out with his usual mates,” Kiena unwrapped her lunchbox, “Yesterday, I forced him to eat with you, that is why.”

“Oh, I see…” Hajite quickly unwrapped his ordered fast-food lunch meal.

“Does no one usually cook for you at home?” Kiena asked Hajite.

“No, and I can’t cook either,” Hajite answered.

“Why is that?”

“I am too busy to learn how to cook.”

“No, I mean, are your parents usually at home to cook?”

Hajite paused and sighed, and Nishira covered for Hajite, “H—he moved out of his home.”

“Oh,’ was the only response Kiena could muster, and the three ate their lunch in silence.

After they finished their lunch, they walked together to the classroom with Hajite on the lead and the two trailings behind. Hajite looked up and noticed a balloon stuck between the door and the doorway above. He turns to Nishira and Kiena, “Don’t use this door.”

“Huh?” Nishira reacted.

“There is some kind of prank in this door,” Hajite motioned the two to stay away, “stand back.

Hajite opened the door with his right hand and outstretched his other hand and caught the balloon. It turns out that it was a water balloon, but fortunately, when it landed on his left hand, it didn’t explode. Hajite left the classroom with the water balloon to the restroom.

“What was that all about?” Nishira asked.

“No idea,” Kiena responded.

The two entered the classroom to see their classmates with shocked expressions.

“Did you see that?” one student asked.

“He expected it, and caught it without it exploding!” another remarked.

“To think that trick would fail,” Mito clenched his fist.

“Did you do that?” Kiena angrily asked.

“Did what?” Mito composed himself.

“Don’t act dumb, Mito,” Kiena stomped her way to Mito, “Get ready, you idiot!”

“Woah, woah,” Mito raised both of his hands, “what is with you and that guy? Why are you defending him?”

“What is wi—,” Kiena blushed, “don’t try to change the subject! Admit that you tried to trick him just now!”

“Tch, did he threaten you? Did he embarrass you perhaps?”

“You—!”

Hajite entered the classroom, “Alright, that’s enough. It’s no big deal.” Hajite walked casually to his seat.

Mito glared at Hajite and the classroom calmed down before the lesson.

As Hajite was leaving the gate with Nishira, Kiena ran and caught up with them, “Kalitashi-kun, I’m sorry. I didn’t think my brother would dare do such a thing.”

“It’s no problem,” Hajite waved his hand, “please ask your brother what could be the problem between me and him.”

“Actually,” Kiena faced Hajite, “we are step-siblings.”

“Oh?”

Nishira looked at Kiena with shock.

“Wait, what does that to do with anything?” Hajite asked.

“W—well…” Kiena pauses.

Hajite’s eyes widened in shock, “Could it be that you and—!”

“No! No! No!” Kiena fidgeted around in panic, “but he does have some feelings for me…” Kiena rubbed her arm shyly.

Hajite’s expression dropped, but not in shock, but in confusion, “I still don’t get it though.”

“Nevermind! Nevermind…” Nishira started to mutter to herself, “I can’t believe he would be this dumb.”

“E—excuse me?” Hajite heard what she had muttered.

“Whatever! Goodbye!” Kiena stomped off back to the school building.

Hajite looked at Nishira, “What is that all about?”

Nishira giggled.

“What are you laughing for?”

“Nothing! Nothing at all.”

“You people…” Hajite sighed and looked up to the sky, “I don’t get it at all. Anyway, shall we rush to Fellio’s Café?”

“Wait, right now?” Nishira looked at Hajite with wide eyes.

“Yeah, right now,” Hajite pulled out his wallet, “I miss some brewed coffee. Oh, right, do you mind?”

“N—no, I don’t mind at all,” Nishira fidgeted and she turned her face away from Hajite, “I would love to.”

“Oh, right, again, yes, sorry, didn’t notice,” Hajite spoke in panic, “my treat.”

“Ah, okay, thank you!” Nishira smiled but Hajite wasn’t able to see it.

“Welcome to Fellio’s Café!” a cashier greeted.

Hajite leads Nishira as he walked to a table with familiarity in his stance.

“Have you been here often?” Nishira asked.

“Yes, twice a month, when I get my pay.” Hajite pulled a seat for Nishira out of courtesy.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Nishira took her seat and whispered, “It’s embarrassing.”

“It is?” Hajite took his seat and doesn’t give any reaction.

A waiter approached their table, “Hajite-san, you came in unexpectedly.”

“Yeah, I know, had a little something that I got,” Hajite smiled.

The waiter glanced at Nishira, “Oh, I see~” the waiter composed himself, “so should it be the usual then?”

“Yes, the usual. Nishira, what would you like? There is Espresso, Cappucino, Americana—”

“I’ll have what Kalitashi would be having please,” Nishira requested.

“Oh?” The waiter bowed to Hajite and whispered into his ear, “I think you should choose her coffee. The usual you would be having is Cappucino. That might be boring for her”

Hajite talked in his normal tone, “What are you talking about?”

The waiter’s posture shot straight up as he realized something, “Wait, this isn’t a date?”

“Excuse me?” Hajite reacted.

“H—heh?” Nishira squealed and her face turned redder than before.

The waiter awkwardly laughed it off, “Then, Cappucino for the both of you!” The waiter swiftly goes behind the counter.

Hajite looked at Nishira as he blushed. “It may have looked like that, but it wasn’t” Hajite half-muttered.

Nishira looked away to avoid Hajite’s eyes, “I—I know, it’s okay.” Nishira breathed heavily and tried to calm herself.

The waiter returned to the table and served their drinks with grace, “Here are your orders, esteemed customers!”

“For goodness’s sake, Arun!” Hajite covered his face.

“Ah, haha~” the waiter swiftly left their presence, and Nishira and Hajite awkwardly sipped their hot coffees in silence.

“This was supposed to be a fruitful conversation to get to know him better. Screw you, Arun—san, for making this unnecessarily awkward!” Hajite muttered.

“It’s just us two, me and Hajite, and yet, I couldn’t talk to him normally like we used to, and we only met days before! I hate this, I hate myself! I shouldn’t have thought like that and made it awkward for Hajite. I bet he is mad right now.” Nishira muttered.

As one of them glanced at the other, the other glanced in return, and when their eyes met, their face turned away and turned red. This happened for thirty minutes, in total silence.

“Hm-hm-hm,” Arun stifled his laugh, “it’s about time Hajite. You have been lonely for three months. I envy you, you know.”

“Ahem,” Hajite finally broke the silence, “anyway, h—how are you doing?”

“D—doing great, I guess,” Nishira answered.

“Ah, let’s see,” Hajite searched for a topic, “any songs you have been listening to lately?”

“Y—yes, umm, I have been listening to an artist named ‘Fraud’ lately.”

Hajite’s face looked to Nishira, “Fraud, you say?”

Nishira nodded, “Yes, Fraud. He released his new song today. It’s called ‘Red Sky.’”

Hajite’s face lights up in excitement, “Really!?” Hajite covered his mouth, and throttled his voice, “Really? How is the song?”

“Wait, you listen to ‘Fraud’?” Nishira faced Hajite.

“Well, technically I guess,” Hajite answered.

“Isn’t their songs amazing? The songs somehow hit the heart and mind, even their loops too!”

“Their loops too?”

“Yeah! The ‘Red Sky’ song even made me imagine the red sky somehow. They have some kind of magic in their songs.”

“Magic?”

“Yes, it’s like they poured their soul into it and gave life.”

“Oh, maybe I wouldn’t say it like that, but I guess it’s good.”

“Just good? You don’t appreciate their songs very much.”

“Well, it’s just…”

Nishira and Hajite continued their conversation about the MIDI music artist named Fraud for an hour. After that, they walked home.

“I can’t believe she listens to my songs,” Hajite thought. “It’s incredible she likes the songs to that extent,” Hajite sighed and looked up to the sky, “but I feel like my inspiration is failing, and I will only create loops soon. I must hide the fact that I am the artist so that I can hear unbiased opinions.” Hajite pumped his fist, “Yes, that will give me inspiration!”

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