CHAPTER 2: HASTY DATE

" わリと 門限きびしいって、 そんな ちゃんと 分かってるって、

だけどやっぱ いざとなる と 帰したくない。 "

" Your curfew is not lax, I know that. Making a date to see again in hasty. "

~ シンデレラガール (King & Prince) ~

" Kuro (苦炉)* come out. Shiro is here. " I hear Yagami's baritone voice so I lazily get off my bed. I took my time changing into hoodie and denim shorts that almost reached my knees and put on my bunny slippers.

After more than half an hour, I went down to the living room.

Yagami sit authoritatively with my mom on the coffee table facing two elegantly dressed adults and a guy. I went straight to the sofa and slumped in there.

Oh, that's right. Yagami is my mom's husband.

" Kuro! Watch your actions! Stop being disrespectful! " My mom started nagging again.

" Don't be angry. She's just a kid. "

I rolled my eyes. The almighty husband is talking again.

" But dear, if you keep on spoiling that kid, she will be more and more stubborn. We have to teach her a lesson. "

Tsss. What a perfect pair of couple.

" You're so gentle dear. " My great mom clinged to Yagami's arm like lovey-dovey. It makes me too cringe.

" Mom, I'm going out with Shiro. " I didn't let mom answer, I pulled Shiro out.

Actually, I didn't want to do this. But this is the only way to escape that thing in the house.

" So, where are we going Kuro? " Shiro smirked at me. Tss. Another annoying creature. It's really hard to deal with these kinds of people.

" It's up to you. As for me, I'm going to walk around. You don't need to accompany me. I am not a child. "

Without another word, I left him.

Oh, that's right, King & Prince do have an event today at Z*p mall. Maybe, I could go for it. 

I immediately head to the Z*p mall. But I was late. The meet & greet there is already finished.

" Eh? What a waste. I haven't seen Kuro(黒)** yet. " I mumbled to myself.

Ah, that's right. King & Prince is my idol group. They were a masked band consisting of 5 members. I may look cold and all but I'm still doing fangirling things. Yeah, yeah. Lame but I can't help it. 

And oh, Kuro is my ichiban(biased). I've haven't seen his face yet but I'm totally mesmerized by his voice. It was really enchanting.

" Kuro? That 'black guy'? "

I turn around to see the owner of the familiar voice I've heard, only to see that strange guy from the graduation ball. That Nagase guy.

He smiled. " Nice meeting you here Cindi. "

I smiled awkwardly. I thought he would totally forgot about me that's why I talked to him before. It turn out that he still remember me.

" Yeah. "

" Eh? I'm Ren, have you forgotten already? " He pouted. Seriously?

" Nope. "

His face brightened. " Ah, that's right. You were talking about Kuro awhile ago right? Is that Kuro from King & Prince group? " 

I look at him with a surprised look. He knows King & Prince?

" Are you a fan too? " I said excitedly. Finally, I can talk to a fellow fan.

He scratched his head in an awkward manner. " I guess you could say that. "

Woah! This is totally unexpected. I mean, a guy like him, being a fan of a boy band? That's totally unimaginable.

" Then, who is your ichiban? "

" Ah, about that, can we have a cup of coffee while talking? "

" Sure. "

Oh my. This is my first time talking to someone that has the same interest as me. And also my first time having coffee with a stranger.

" So, who is it? "

He smiled again and answered. " Kira(貴ラ)***. "

Oh, Kira huh. Indeed. Kira is one of the best members. He is really good in dancing that earned him the reputation as king of dance.

" Woah! Cool. Mine's Kuro. " I smiled. I really like Kuro. He shared the same name as me and the way he sang can cheer me up.

" Kuro? Why Kuro? "

I smiled. I don't know either. I just feel like it. Or it's because he share the same name as me.

" Who knows? Maybe because he is too handsome? " I shrugged my shoulders.

He chuckled. Darn! How can he chuckle cutely like that? I feel my cheeks heated up. I've never been this casual to a man.

" How can you say so? " The side of his lips twitched up. It was an enchanting smirk, one that you'll never find annoying, instead it's really mesmerizing.

" I just feel it. Hahaha! " Oppsss. It slipped. I laughed.

" More handsome than me? " His smirk didn't disappear. I think I could stare at those smug smile forever. Nah, just kidding.

" I guess so. " I answered that made him laugh. Crap. That laughter  is really something.

Once again, his lips curve into a mesmerizing smile, different from those cute smirks he always showed. It was something different, something that is heartfelt. Something that could draw your eyes and drown your thoughts. And as I stare at that smile, I hear a faint throbbing sound inside my chest which beats faster and louder each second.

This is bad.

Really bad.

" Cindi? What's the matter? "

I stared at him coldly.

" You are just a stranger. " That's right. He was just someone I met randomly. He was nothing special. Not until I hear my chest pounding heavily.

His eyes flashed a hurting look.

And in that moment, I feel regret for what I said. This is the first time someone showed me different expressions. Everyone around me only showed annoyance for me. But he, a random stranger, actually make me feel that my words matter.

" That's right. I don't know you either. " He gave a deep sigh. But then he smile again. " But I still do have a plenty of time to know you better. And I hope you do too. "

I look away trying to hide the little blush in my cheeks. The line seems a little corny like it was taken from some cliche romantic drama but somehow, I can't suppress a smile forming on my lips.

" That is... " I paused when I saw a group of familiar looking guys  outside the cafe. I don't know if it's just my imagination but I think they are looking, ah no, they are staring at us. But that's no way! Why would they do that?

" That is... " My voice trailed off. I can't be wrong. They are...

Akari(赤リ), Kira(貴ラ), Sakimura(紫), Aoki(青木).

The King & Prince.

" Ah! They are here! " I exclaimed excitedly. I can't believe I can see them just like this. Ah!

But, where is Kuro? 

" Ah, Cindi- - -"

" I'm sorry Ren but I have to go! " I muttered hastily and stood up immediately. This is an emergency! This is King & Prince up close!

" Then, I look forward to next meeting. "

I smiled at him. No, there should be no next time. There shouldn't be. I won't allow it.

" Till then, Ren Nagase. "

*  *  *

Ren smiled as he watch the girl running in haste towards her idols until she vanished from his sight.

That cute blush on her pale white cheeks, the cute awkward smiles that contradicted her cold expressions and that crisp laugh at the mention of Kuro, it was all too precious.

" That's right Cindi, you might run away for now, but we'll definitely meet again. "

" Cindi who? "

He turned around and saw four guys wearing annoying grins. But he didn't get annoyed. He was too happy.

" Cinderella in rubber shoes. "

* * *

Konnichi wa minna-sama!!!

It's Yua and I'll be explaining the word play behind the names of King & Prince.

Kuro(苦炉). The kanji of her name came from 苦い, which literally means bitter and 炉, which means furnace. I choose this kanji because I think it suits her personality well.

*Kuro(黒). The kanji was written that way and is read as kuro which means black. Guess who is the jet black member of King & Prince ~___^

**Kira (貴ラ). The kanji Ki(貴) literally means yellow. And the sunflower yellow of King & Prince is non other than the dance king Kaito Takahashi.

***Akari(赤リ). Like others, Aka(赤) means red. And the red member of King & Prince is the dumb cute little Sho Hirano.

****Sakimura(紫). The kanji 紫 wasn't actually read as sakimura, instead it is read as murasaki. However, I decided to change it as murasaki sounds a little weird for me. I just put kanji for murasaki because Yuta Kishi of King & Prince color is purple.

*****Aoki(青木). Just like others, the name signifies blue. And the blue member of King & Prince is Yuta Jingui.

I hope you understand guys... Feel free to ask if you are confused...

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